I don't even know what to say. I totally was not in the mood to write for the longest time and got side tracked from this story. I'm sorry!

Katie

Chapter 10

Over the next few weeks, Regina tried her best to talk to Snow about what had happened that day in the stables. However, it seemed her mother had other plans. She kept her darling Snow by her side at all times. Regina pretended not to notice that her stepdaughter was avoiding her like she had the plague.

It was also causing tension with her relationship with Daniel. He continually begged her run away with him and take their daughter with them. She knew that would most likely be the safest decision for Katie, but Regina knew she couldn't leave Snow all alone to be raised by Cora. Snow was her daughter now too, and she'd be damned if her mother was the one raising her child, even if it meant risking her relationship with Daniel. As long as Katie's paternity wasn't exposed, they could figure out the rest together.

Regina sighed loudly as she placed Katie in her wooden crib. Her baby was nearly a month old and she was learning to do different things everyday. She couldn't wait for Katie to start crawling and talking. She smiled down at her daughter as she rubbed her back and began to hum a lullaby. As soon as Katie was asleep, Regina decided to try and go find Snow, hoping that she would be able to talk with her.

As Regina slowly approached her stepdaughter's room, she could hear someone giggling. As she peered into the large bedroom, what she saw caused her to have a feeling of déjà vu. Snow was standing in front of a large mirror, dressed in a beautiful pink gown. Positioned behind her was Regina's mother, who was fussing over the young girl as a maid placed Snow's tiara upon her head.

"Oh my little Snow," Cora gasped, "You look absolutely beautiful. You look as if you are a grown up Queen, ready to rule her Kingdom."

Regina could see a blush forming on her stepdaughter's cheeks.

"Don't be silly, grandmama," Snow replied. "I'm still far too young. I'm so happy that I have you to help me look after the Kingdom until I'm old enough to truly be Queen."

Regina's eyes widened at Snow's response. Oh, no… her mother was already getting Snow to come to her side. One way or another, Cora would have control over the Kingdom. Regina knew she had to do something to stop it, but she would need Daniel's help.

Knowing that Snow and her mother were preoccupied, Regina slipped out of the palace and ran straight to the stables. She could already see Daniel sitting underneath the apple tree as she approached the fields. She called out to him.

"Regina!" His voice was heavy with concern. He stood up as she got closer to him. He scooped her up into his arms and hugged her tightly. "Are you all right?"

Regina took a second to breathe in the scent of her love. She could feel her heart beat slowly going back to normal as her anxiety levels dropped. She nodded her head against his chest, hoping that satisfied him.

"We need to get rid of my mother," she whispered. The statement must have shocked Daniel, as she felt herself being pushed away from him. He gripped her shoulders gently and stared down into her eyes. He looked extremely worried.

"Regina, what are you thinking? We can't do anything to your mother. How could we? I've heard things about her and her magic…" Noticing her reaction, he added: "It's true, isn't it?"

Regina swallowed hard at his question, but nodded just the same. "She's dangerous. She's taking control of Snow, just like she was trying to do with me. Snow is my daughter, not my mothers!"

Regina realized that her voice was rising with anger, so she gestured for Daniel to join her inside the stables.

"I know she's planning something! I don't know what Snow saw, but she must know something! That poor girl is going to be brainwashed into thinking my mother actually cares for her! And all I wanted to do was protect her!"

Tears were forming in Regina's eyes. Whether it was out of sadness or anger, she did not know. Daniel wrapped his arms around his love, trying his best to console her.

"We need to leave this place," Daniel whispered. "We can take Snow with us. It will be dangerous but she will be better off with us."

Regina shook her head.

"What about the Kingdom? With Snow gone, there will be no heir. My mother will brain wash these people to love her and make her the next Queen. I'm surprised she hasn't done it already."

Daniel placed a gentle kiss to Regina's forehead.

"We need to think of something, then. Fast."

Regina wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her shirt and sighed. Things just weren't going the way she had planned. No one was supposed to find out about her relationship with Daniel, especially not Snow. Now both of her children were in danger.

"I'd better get back before someone notices that I'm gone. I think my mother has been keeping tabs on me ever since Snow saw us kissing…"

Just as Regina finished her sentence, her mother appeared before the embracing couple. Her facial expression caused Regina to fidget. Her mother was clearly livid.

"Oh yes, my darling. I have been keeping tabs on you and it appears to be for good reason," Cora spat, while starting at Daniel. "What exactly do you think you're doing?"

Regina stood in front of Daniel protectively. She felt his hands on her shoulders for support. "Please, Mother, listen to me…"

"Did you really think you could hide this from me, Regina? My own daughter…with a stable boy?"

If only you knew, mother…

"We love each other," Regina explained. "Daniel makes me happy. Please. Just let us be together. He would never hurt me," Regina reached for Daniel's hand. He squeezed hers in response.

Cora began to walk around the couple, which intimidated Regina. She didn't know what her mother was planning on doing to them. All she could think about was Katie.

"It's not about love, Regina, don't you know that?" Cora replied sharply, looking disgusted by their actions. "It's about power. What could this boy possibly offer you? You have a kingdom to rule."

Regina almost lost it. Instead, Daniel stepped forward to come face to face with Cora.

"I love your daughter with all my heart. Please let us come to an agreement. We will give you the kingdom. We will leave with Snow and Katie and never return."

Regina stared at Daniel with wide eyes. They hadn't agreed to any of this…

Cora raised an eyebrow at his suggestion. Suddenly, her mood seemed to shift.

"Well, when you put it that way… as a mother, I should really do what's best for my daughter and let her go with you. Perhaps I was wrong."

Regina's eyes grew even wider. How the hell was her mother agreeing to this? Relief washed over her as her mother smiled. As Regina stepped forward to hug her mother, what happened next almost caused her to faint. Her mother thrust her hand into Daniel's chest. Daniel winced in pain as Cora twisted her hand around. Regina quickly tried to stop her, but she was forced back by her mother's magic.

"I don't care if you love my daughter," Cora spat. "You will never be together. Ever again."

Regina watched with horror as her mother ripped Daniel's heart from his chest. Daniel's body fell swiftly to the ground with a large thud. Regina let out a strong cry and pushed through her mother's barrier, attempting to reach her fallen lover. Cora dropped her magic and Regina hurried to his side. She pulled his head into her lap and started to sob.

"Mother, what have you done?" She screamed at her. Cora simply stared at the bright heart that was pounding in her hand.

"I'm doing what's best for you, darling, getting rid of this boy." Cora began to put pressure on Daniel's heart and in response, Daniel began to thrash about and moan in pain.

"Stop it! Stop! You're hurting him!"

Cora grinned wickedly.

"That's the plan," Regina watched as her mother squeezed harder. Suddenly, the heart in her hand disappeared and turned into dust. Regina turned back to Daniel, scared of what she might see.

"Daniel! NO!" Regina tried her best to wake her true love up. She shook him, kissed him and placed her head onto his chest, trying to find his heartbeat. But there wasn't one. Her love was gone. And her mother had killed him. Tears streamed down Regina's face.

"Why?" She asked, "Why did you do this, mother?" Gripping Daniel's body closer to her, Regina stared up into her mother's triumphant eyes.

"One day you will understand, my daughter. Mothers do what is best for their children. Now that you have a child, you must know what I did was right."

Regina couldn't believe what her mother was saying.

"You've ruined everything! He loved me! He loved my child!" Regina spat. "You've taken away Katie's father now she'll never know what its like to grow up with…"

Regina clapped a hand to her mouth. She hadn't meant to say that. No, no, no, no…

"Katie's father was the King," Cora corrected. Seeing the look on her daughter's face caused her to think for a moment. "That little brat isn't really his, is she? She's the stable boy's daughter! A bastard! You dare try to pass off a bastard as the King's daughter?"

"Mother, please! I…"

Cora's eyes grew very, very dark. Regina swallowed hard. She knew her daughter was in danger because of the stupid mistake she had made. Regina carefully placed Daniel's head on the ground and after placing a kiss on his forehead; she stood and faced her mother.

"Katie has done nothing wrong," Regina stated. "You've already killed my true love, please, don't harm my daughter."

Cora raised a finger at her child.

"I will not harm the baby, my darling, but I will take her."

In response, Regina jumped forward to grab her mother but she was too late. She watched in disbelief as her mother vanished into thin air.

Regina began to panic.

Her true love was dead.

And their daughter was in danger.

As much as she wanted to stay by her lover's side, she had no choice but to run as fast as she could to her daughter's nursery, hoping she wasn't too late.

Again I'm sorry for the long wait, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Hopefully will post more this week!

- Jess