"You'll wake up in the middle of the night.

He'll be the only thing on your mind.

Won't be able to shake it loose, when love gets ahold of you."

The next night my mind refused to rest. I still hadn't been able to see Daniel. Mother had insisted that I spend the day practicing ballroom dancing, something I hated more than anything else she forced upon me. Even as my feet ached, the sheets that surrounded me felt as if they were slowly suffocating me. I had to get out. I had to.

I grabbed my traveling cloak, which was hardly ever put to use, and slowly pushed open my creaky chamber door. With no sign of anyone as I glanced up and down the hallway once, twice, three times, I started in a run toward the door, shoes in hand. I couldn't risk the sound they made against the floor, not with Mother's ears in the castle.

I didn't bother to slip into my shoes once out the door, even as the cool night air hit the exposed parts of my skin. Adrenaline took over, and I ran as fast as my legs could carry my weight. Down the hill to the stable doors. The lights were still on.

With labored breath I pushed open the wooden doors and locked eyes with ocean blues.

Daniel said nothing. It was silent, other than my heavy breathing. I used the last of my energy to run straight into his arms.

Neither of us said a word that night. Words weren't necessary. His arms wrapped around the bulk of my travel cloak was all either of us needed. I don't remember how long we stood, perfectly still, just two people clinging to one another. Daniel's gentle touch, brushing a lock of my hair the wind had blown astray back into place, was what reminded me exactly what I had done. That I had to get back.

The light that reflected in his eyes gave enough will for tired legs to push their way back up the hill. I could feel those eyes on my back as I retreated back into the castle, to slip out of my cloak and back into bed for a night of peaceful rest.

The second night I went to visit Daniel was different. It was even later, and my hair was a mess. I had fallen asleep and woken up with the need to see him again.

"Regina?" Daniel whispered, peeking out from the dimly lit room of the stables. "Regina... What are you doing here? It's so late."

"I had to see you. I couldn't sleep..." I whispered, waiting for his arms to pull my body into their embrace once again.

I laid my head against his chest as they did, nearly shivering from the chilling night air. "Come sit down," He said, gently guiding me to the makeshift seat. A bale of hay stacked against the wall. The pieces felt as if they were stabbing at the skin on my back, but with tired eyes I only curled closer to him.

"Will you tell me about that place again? Firefly Hill?" I asked sheepishly, trying to stifle a soft yawn with my hand. Daniel was silent for a long moment, but when I looked up at him expectantly he smiled and began to repeat his tale.

I could never get enough of his soft voice, and each time he finished a story I asked for another. He spoke of the first time he rode a horse, when he'd broken his arm, and more. I felt a tear falling down my cheek as he spoke of his parents and the night he lost them. A young boy, forced to find his way on his own. My cheek rest against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart as he spoke.

"Regina," He whispered as I yawned again, my body unknowingly curling impossibly closer to him. "Regina, you have to go back... You're tired."

"No," I protested sleepily. "I don't want to go back. One night down here won't hurt, Daniel." Sleep was clearly taking over.

"Regina, you and I both know that's not true. You can't be caught down here." Daniel's voice wavered a bit, "I don't want to see what she would do to you if you were caught down here. Please..." He begged, and I could hear the unusual plead in his tone.

"No..." I whined, my eyes drifting shut as my entire body relaxed against him.

Daniel sighed, clearly unwilling to let my stubbornness go. "Come on, Regina..."

As I protested once again, sleep threatening to take over, I felt his body shift under my weight. Something moving under my legs, another supporting my head. Then an uncomfortable shift, all of my weight now on his two arms. We were moving away from the warmth of the candle lighting his 'home', and the bitter cold of the night hit my face.

I sleepily turned my face into his chest, hoping he was carrying me to a warmer place.

"Daniel...?" I murmured. "Yes, Regina?" He answered, his soft voice like a whisper of a dream. "Why is it so cold?" Daniel's soft chuckle brought a drowsy grin to my lips.

"Daniel...?" I murmured again. "Yes, Regina?" He looked down at me as he walked, holding me close. "The stars look so pretty at this time of night." He smiled, "That they do. They always look beautiful late at night when there are no clouds."

"Daniel...?" The stableboy continued to smile at my questions, "Yes, Regina?" My hand caressed his cheek, "Where are we going?" He turned his head, and I felt his lips against my fingers before my hand fell back to my lap. "Shh, Regina... We'll be there soon. Then you'll see."

"But Daniel," I tried to protest, but he gently hushed me again as my body shifted and suddenly we were standing in a much warmer place. My eyelids too heavy to keep open, I tried to whisper again, but my voice evaded me.

I was still shivering from the freezing outside air when I felt my body hit a soft surface, a familiar fabric being pulled over my limbs. Losing the warmth of his arms. My bed. My pillow. Back in my chambers. Back in my prison.

I felt someone's fingers brush over my cheek, pushing my mess of curls away from my eyes. But it wasn't the usual unsettling, cold touch of my Mother's hand.

"Daniel...?" I murmured again, trying to force my eyes open. "Yes, Regina?" I heard his soft voice reply, so close to me. "Daniel, I love you."

"I love you too, Regina." My body was at peace with those words. There was no more questioning of how I felt about him. Warm lips pressed against my own, and as sleep took prey over me I tried to return the tender touch of lips.

CORA MILLS watched the shaggy haired, fair skinned boy sneak out on the tip toes of his rugged shoes. She was carefully hidden around the corner so those ocean blue eyes her own daughter found so irresistible couldn't spot her.

How could Regina? The foolish girl had let this foul boy close to her. She'd fallen in love, like a child. She was forgetting her purpose. Regina was to become Queen, because Cora never could. Everything she had done for her daughter, and she wanted to throw it all away on some distasteful, loathsome stableboy.

Cora Mills would not have it.