Hey everyone! Thank you for the reviews and views of this short fic so far, I don't know where you are all hiding but please come out and tell me what you think! This is the end of this fic and it kind of leads into the once upon a time story we all know and love I will now be writing the next chapter of "Tears of joy or sadness?" and hopefully starting my new fic too! So please keep watching and reading love Rouge xxx

Warning- Mention of some abuse

Regina: 16 years old

Regina ran outside as quickly as she could, racing towards her father and Pip her horse as she smiled excitedly. It has been a while since she has been able to ride and it was her favourite thing to do. She took Pip's reigns from her father and greeted her with a few gentle pats and strokes on her nose before she climbed onto her, taking a seat on the saddle and controlling the reigns. She sighed contented at the familiar feeling of freedom and noticed that her father had set up her fences she usually used to practice jumping. Her smile grew as she kicked Pip's sides gently telling her to go and Pip obeyed as she raced off towards the fences.

"Watch Daddy" she shouted as she always did before she raced and jumped over the first single fence followed closely by the second. It meant a lot to have her father watch her and spend time with her that was another part of riding that she loved, he had taught her how to ride and when she learnt and successfully jumped a new jump she loved that he would see. She knew that she could at least make him proud of her.

"I'm watching Regina" He chuckled to himself lightly as he watched her like always, making sure she was safe at all times and showing her how proud of her he was, shouting encouragement and guidance as she rode. "Careful, keep her steady" he encouraged Regina as he watched her jump over the fences on Pip and didn't grip the reins tight enough causing her to slip slightly, luckily she was able to recover quickly.

"I'm ok" she told her father regaining her confidence after the small stumble

"I know you are Regina, you are doing wonderfully" he encouraged making her smile and carry on jumping the fences.

Regina and Pip rode for nearly half an hour before she looked up at the sky and saw that the sun was indeed on its way to setting. Pip galloped around the open space and jumped gracefully over the fences that Regina guided her to. Regina gripped her reins a little tighter as she steered Pip to the triple fence jump, a very difficult fence to master but Regina had eventually managed to succeed with lots of practice when she was able to ride. Pip jumped over the fence and landed on the other side. "Yes" Regina whispered to herself at the landing and leant down to pat Pip's mane. "Good girl" she encouraged as she rode Pip back over to her father and jumped off.

"Well done darling, you did beautifully" her father said as he took the reins from her

"Thank you daddy" she smiled and walked back to the stables with him "I really must be getting back to studying though, mother will be most displeased if she is to return while we are out here" she informed

"Yes, I know Regina you should go, I hadn't realised how long we had been out here I'm sorry" he said as he removed Pip's reins and saddle.

"It it ok daddy, I haven't been out here for a while, you were right, I really needed to I had fun" she giggled gently. "I wish every month was my birthday though or christmas or another occasion where mother is always busy...that's the only time I don't have an exam" she sighed gently

"Well I wouldn't quite wish that Regina, remember your sixteenth birthday a few months ago?"

She shivered a little as the memory played inside her head.

Regina: 16th birthday

"It's only natural Regina that we have a ball in honour of you turning of age" Cora insisted

"But mother, royals have balls, we are not royals I am just turning sixteen besides, I don't know anyone to invite to a ball" Regina explained as she stood in her room in front of her full length mirror, her mother standing behind her as an elderly woman was kneeling down next to Regina fitting her for a dress she was to wear at her birthday celebrations that night that her mother had arranged without telling her.

"Regina, you are able to marry now, and you will be queen one day, it's only right that I present you to the people of the land and present their future queen to them"

"Mother, please, I don't want to be presented to anyone especially as a future queen" she frowned gently at the thought.

Cora came to her daughter's side and held onto her chin gently, turning her face to look at her "Everything is already set darling, the guests will be arriving in a few hours and you will not disappoint me" her grip on Regina's chin hardening a little.

"Yes mother" Regina replied gently staring into her mother's eyes and seeing the serious glimmer in them and knew not to argue. Cora let go of her chin and stepped back to admire her daughter, dressed as a royal should be dressed.

When the party hour approached, Regina stood, dressed in her new dress for the occasion in her room, her hair had been brushed and curled neatly, her natural curls controlled and ordered into place much like herself. She gently stroked over the red, silk material of the skirt of her dress as she struggled a little to breath with the corset tied so tight.

"Don't touch Regina!" her mother ordered coming in to collect her. Cora was also dressed up, in a lavish purple, velvet dress, her hair pinned back into place. "That dress is the finest and most expensive silk, I won't have you ruining it with finger marks" and Regina clasped her hands together resting them in front of her like her mother liked her to do.

Cora came to her daughter's side "Everyone is waiting for you dear" she said

"Who is here mother?" Regina questioned not knowing anyone from around the area.

"Everyone from the villages and some people of the forest and towns are all here to see their future queen". Regina highly doubted that the people downstairs were the poor from the villages that surrounded their land, she knew that her mother meant her higher acquaintances that she had gained over the years by playing up to the higher role she thought she deserved and not just a common miller's daughter were downstairs, people much like her mother.

"Yes mother" she said

"Smile dear, they want to see you looking beautiful"

Regina smiled; she had a very beautiful smile that she had perfected to look real over the years.

"Very good dear, now come on, it's rude to keep your guests waiting" Cora said and turned leading Regina out of the room and to the top of the stairs. Regina tripped a little as she walked not used to wearing such a heavy and tight dress but she managed to make it to the stairs and waited while her mother descended downstairs. The young brunette wanted nothing more than to run. Run away from everyone downstairs who she thought were either here to see the extravagant taste of her mother, to see this supposed great future queen that they were all expecting or they were here to laugh at her. She would know none of her mother's friends she thought to herself and took some deep breaths. She could hear her mother introducing her and she swallowed hard as she held onto the banister and started to walk down the stairs.

Instantly she could feel everyone's eyes on her and could feel her cheeks turning pink. As she looked around she could see a few tens of people all dressed up in their best clothes, her mother's acquaintances were of course grand, higher powered people, Regina could point them out from the small gathered crowd a mile off. She was surprised to also see a few people who were dressed less extravagant that must be from the villages around here and she was happy to see that some were around her age. As she reached the bottom of the stairs she was feeling a little better after seeing some normal people here.

"Regina" her mother said quietly, gaining her attention "I am going to speak with my guests, I heard that they know of a prince that is looking for a bride, maybe if I am able to find out his name I can arrange a meeting for you" and she walked off towards the small group of elegantly dressed women. Regina sighed, she knew there was a reason for this party besides celebrating her birthday, Cora never went to as much trouble on her birthday. She gently brushed a curl from her face stepping backwards and bumping into someone.

"Oh I'm sorry" she said as she spun around and locked eyes with him. Her cheeks instantly returned to pink. The tall, brunette boy stood looking at her and smiled

"No, no, it was my fault I'm sorry" the stranger said. He was dressed in a simple pair of brown pants and a white shirt that wasn't tucked in properly. "So, you're the girl everyone is talking about?" he asked and smiled gently "I can see why"

"Why?" Regina questioned with a small panic in her voice, she looked down looking for something that would cause people to talk about her.

"Because you are so beautiful" he said and she looked up at him slowly and smiled, not her rehearsed, faked smile...her real, happy smile.

"Thank you" she replied accepting the compliment "You are very kind to say so".

"Hey, I only speak the truth" he said raising a hand to chest level "My mother isn't strict about anything apart from honesty" he laughed gently "We live in the small village a few miles from here" he told her.

So he lived in a village Regina thought to herself, he isn't someone he would expect to be at one of her mother's gatherings and from the hole in his left pant leg and his un-tucked shirt she could tell he wasn't from a wealthy family, however, there was something about him, about his face and his kind nature that Regina liked very much.

"I'm Regina" she introduced herself

"I'm Daniel" he replied "Pleased to meet you" the two stared at each other in silence for a little while before Regina asked

"I don't mean to be rude, but why are you here? I don't believe we have met before and unless your mother is a friend of mine I don't understand why you would come." She asked as gently as possible.

"Well, your mother came through the village a few days ago telling us that, well, you were going to be queen one day and you wished to meet your subjects and a few of us from the village decided to come and see what was going on" he said with a small chuckle and Regina couldn't hide her embarrassment.

"My mother really said that? I apologise" she shook her head "I would never...I don't think of you or anyone as subjects...this party wasn't even my idea, it was my mother's" she quickly tried to explain

"It's ok, anyone here can tell that is true, or anyone who meets your mother actually, don't worry I will take back news that the future queen is nice"

"That's not my idea either...being queen I mean, it's what my mother wants for me, I have no choice" she said and suddenly stopped herself realising that she was telling this boy she had just met secrets about her mother, she had no idea why but she just felt that she could tell him, like they were connected and he understood.

"You always have a choice" he replied and took her hand gently. His hand was soft and warm but yet strong, his touch was powerful and she felt a flutter in her stomach, her head went dizzy. She opened her mouth to reply...

"Regina!" her mother spoke firmly appearing at her side making her jump as she hadn't seen her approach. She quickly pulled her hand away from the boys before her mother saw.

"What are you doing talking to...this...boy" she said giving Daniel a look of disgust.

"Mother" Regina spoke quietly and Daniel frowned gently, noticing the difference in the young lady he had just been speaking to "This is Daniel mother, we were just talking..."

"Regina, we do not talk to under privileged people"

Regina was shocked and didn't know what to say or do, she wanted to apologise for her mother's language but she knew she couldn't. "I simple invited people like him here to see you, not to talk to you"

"But mother I..." she quietly started to reply

"Away Regina! Talk to someone who actually knows what to do with a bar of soap" Cora glared at Regina pushing her away from Daniel, the two gazes locked still between them as she sadly apologised to him with her eyes and she hoped he understood. Cora pushed her over to the group of wealthy visitors but she was pushing her too fast. Suddenly her dress got caught beneath her feet and she couldn't hold herself up, she fell, ripping the bottom of her dress. She lay there mortified for what seemed like hours, of course it only being seconds before she felt a gentle hand on her arm helping her up, she turned to see Daniel with worry and concern in his eyes.

"Are you ok?" he asked seeing tears well up in Regina's eyes "Don't be embarrassed it happens to everyone" he tried to comfort her and he didn't understand why she shook her head until Cora snatched her up from his grasp.

"Mother I'm sorry" Regina quickly apologised and Daniel could see the fear grow inside her

"Go to your room now Regina!" Cora was furious with her daughter but she couldn't show it with a room full of people. Regina picked up the bottom of her dress and quickly made her way upstairs, to her bedroom and cried.

Sometime later she had managed to calm herself a little and went to sit at her window looking out at the evening sky, her father had came to sit with her after the accident downstairs, he knew she would be upset and he wished he could help her. He held her to his chest as she looked out of the window knowing what was going to happen once the party was over downstairs.

"I will stop her this time Regina; I can't let her hurt you again"

"No daddy, please, don't do anything she will hurt you, you know this is what she does you can't stop it from happening" the brunette pulled away to look into her father's eyes "Promise me you won't do anything, she will only hurt me I just need to be better next time and not disappoint her" she said sadly feeling at blame.

Her father hugged his beautiful daughter again, he wished his wife would just love her for who she is and not try to mould her into becoming a queen, he knew that she wanted Regina to be what she couldn't be but he also knew that he had to be there to always protect her and watch over her and if he stood up to Cora he may not be around as long as he wanted to. "Ok Regina, I promise, but that doesn't mean that I want her to hurt you"

Regina just nodded against her father's chest letting him hold her, absorbing his warmth and love as she looked out of the window watching the sun set and the stars start to appear from their hiding places. Guests started to descend out of the house and her father moved towards her bedroom door, she gazed down and saw Daniel leaving, he stopped and looked up...he saw her and smiled gently, waving at her. She waved delicately and he saw she was crying, he was worried about her.

He suddenly saw Regina's head whip around behind her as she edged closer to the window, he looked around and all the other guests had gone, he stayed, stuck still to the spot wanting to see what was happening to the beautifully kind girl he had met and already felt so strongly about. Nothing could have prepared him to see Cora lift her daughter into the air with magical vines that grew from around her; he could hear a faint noise as if she was screaming out in both fear and pain. He ran forward to the front door but it was locked and no matter how he pulled it didn't open. He was forced to watch and listen to the faint cries, until finally the vines retreated and set Regina down out of sight, Daniel was angry, he had never felt so angry before. He knew she didn't deserve that kind of punishment if any and he was so angry that her own mother would do that to her. He took one last look at the bedroom window as the drapes closed before running off and promising himself that he would help her somehow.

Regina: 16 years old

"I suppose I don't wish it was my birthday every month, but I wish I didn't have these exams, what good will knowing how to make a Burn heal paste or a sleeping curse do, when I am to be living in a castle, according to my mother?"

"All queens need protection Regina, and you must learn magic, you never know what the future may bring" Her father explained "Go on go back to your studies I will clean up here"

She kissed her father's cheek goodbye and left the stables. She gasped seeing her mother's carriage in its place.

"Regina?!" she heard and she spun around, there was her mother right in front of her, she knew she couldn't lie as she was in her riding attire and the jumping fences were still set out, she braced herself for a scolding...but it didn't come. She looked up at her mother and didn't see anger in her face.

"Mother?" she questioned

"Regina darling I have a surprise for you" she said and Regina frowned lightly in confusion

"Don't frown dear you will get wrinkles" Cora ordered "However, I know that we need help around the land and in the stables so, I have found us a stable boy who comes highly recommended in his village, he will look after your horse and will teach you dear, where peasants' belong!" she snarled and stepped to the side. There standing a little away from her, was Daniel. She recognised him instantly but hid her smile.

"Remember dear that people who are higher deserve better and those who are beneath us belong with the animals, now come along back to your studies and I will look past the disobedience from you today" she ordered.

"Yes mother" Regina said "I will tell father you are home and be right in" she turned towards the stables and walked quickly off before her mother could protest. Cora started to walk back to the house and Daniel slowly walked to the stables himself, Regina grabbed his arm and pulled him behind the stables.

"What are you doing here?" she asked as her smile appeared

"I saw what happened to you that night at your party and I was so angry about it, she shouldn't hurt you" he said gently grazing his thumb over her soft cheek. "I'm sorry but I feel so protective over you I feel that we are connected"

"So do I" she giggled gently "I haven't stopped thinking about you since the party" she replied

"Me either, I knew I had to come back so I trained as a working farmer and hoped that one day your family would need help here as it is a very large plot of land and I would put myself forward for the job"

She smiled brightly feeling instantly safer

"I am here to help you Regina, I will protect you" Daniel promised