A/N: Sorry this chapter took so long. I certainly hope it's worth the wait! Enjoy!
Regina arrived back at her house before her mother awoke. She climbed her apple tree and jumped to the windowsill, pulling herself through the window into her bedroom. She changed out of her riding clothes. When she pulled off her underwear, she discovered the bloodstain in the crotch area. She threw the garment under the bed so her mother wouldn't see it before changing into her nightgown.
Then she climbed under the sheets again, fully intending to go back to sleep, but her mind continued to swim with the memory of David filling her, making her feel things she'd never felt before.
Cora walked in a moment later. "Good morning, dear," she said, gently shaking her daughter.
Regina turned, pretending to be groggy. "Oh, good morning, mother."
"It is time to wake up. You have a big day ahead of you," she said, moving to the curtains and opening them. "Regina," she said curtly. "Why is your window open?"
Regina froze. "Uh, last night it got really warm in here," she lied. "So I opened the window for some fresh air."
"Hm," Cora said. "That's odd." She seemed convinced, which relieved Regina. "Come now, dear. We have to prepare for the ball."
"Mother, can't I sleep a bit longer?" Regina asked, trying to keep the whiny tone out of her voice.
"No. Tonight is very special, and you need to look your best. Now come. You need your bath."
Regina looked at the dress laid out on her bed. It was beautiful, but Regina had no desire to wear it tonight. All she wanted was to go back to David and hold him and make love to him again. She smiled at the memory of their morning together. She was so in love.
She heard something hit the floor of her bedroom and she looked down. A pebble was sitting on the floor. What the hell? She moved to the window, where she assumed it came from.
Sitting in her apple tree was the man she loved, grinning like an idiot. "My mother could have been in here," she whispered.
"Well, thank god she wasn't," he responded. He jumped, his hands grabbing the ledge. The shepherd effortlessly pulled himself up and into the girl's room. "Hi," he said stupidly.
She giggled. "Hello, dear," she said, wrapping her arms around his neck and giving him a long, soft kiss. "I wish we could just run away together," she said quietly when she pulled away.
"Nothing would make me happier," he responded, kissing her again.
"We could just spend all day riding horses, swimming, making love…" Another kiss.
"Sounds like a beautiful plan."
She smiled at the thought of running away with him. Leaving and never turning back. Of course they would miss Henry, Thomas, and Ruth… but it's all worth it if I can just be with my best friend, my love.
She just stood there and held him for a while as he rubbed circles on her back. "I don't want to go tonight," she said.
"I don't want you to go either," he responded. They both knew she had no choice though. He kissed her on the forehead. "But after tonight, you're completely mine," he said with a happy smile.
She stood on her toes and kissed him again. "I'm already completely yours," she whispered. "I love you."
"I love you too." They kissed one more time before Regina motioned for him to climb out the window. She offered him one last smile before closing the window and turning to the blue dress once more.
Regina arrived at the ball on Daniel's arm. She honestly did have a good time with him. She enjoyed his company, and he treated her like a person as opposed to just an object. She wished that they could have just been friends. She would have enjoyed having him as a friend and confidante. But she just didn't love him.
As she plastered on a smile and descended the stairs on the prince's arm. Her mind, however, wandered to her David. How she wished he was the one escorting her to the ball. She looked out over the crowd, taking in the sight of Daniel's fellow royals. They were all dressed in beautiful gowns. She picked out Snow White, King Leopold's annoying daughter. King Midas was there, wearing protective gloves so as not to turn anything (or anyone) into gold. She saw her mother across the room, smiling proudly as her daughter proceeded down the stairs, into what Cora believed was Regina's rightful place as a royal.
They landed on the floor, and Daniel took her waist and hand to begin twirling her about the ballroom. Around them, couples joined, taking the lead of their prince.
"You look beautiful, Regina," Daniel said into her ear when the music slowed.
"Thank you, dear," she responded, trying to sound genuine.
"Come with me," he said, taking her hand and escorting her from the room. They moved out to the balcony. The crisp night air felt good as she inhaled. "Regina," he said. "These last few months have been amazing. You are beautiful and smart. I love being with you…" He reached into his pocket and got down on his knee.
She gasped lightly as he pulled out the little box. She didn't even hear the rest of his proposal. Too many thoughts were flying through her head as she stared at the large diamond ring. She was planning to break up with him. She wanted to be with David.
She opened her mouth to respond, but then Regina caught a glimpse of her mother out of the corner of her eye. The woman's gaze was boring into her almost threateningly.
"Regina," Daniel finished. "Will you be my wife?"
"David?"
He woke to the girl's whisper coming from his window. "Regina?" He said groggily. "What time is it?" She didn't answer. She just quickly moved to the bed at wrapped her arms around him. She was shaking. "Regina, is everything okay?"
She pulled away and he could tell she was crying. "Regina, what happened?"
"Let's do it," she said with a tearful smile.
"Do what?"
"Run away together," she said. "Get out of here."
He looked at her, smiling incredulously. "Are you crazy?"
"Maybe," she said, giggling a bit. Regina took his face in her hands. "Run away with me."
He looked into her eyes, filled with tears that formed in a combination of excitement, fear, joy and sadness. He kissed her passionately and a single tear fell from her eye. "Let's do it," he breathed.
She laughed. "Really?"
"Yes, really," he said with a smile.
She laughed excitedly and threw her arms around him again. "David, I love you so much."
"I love you, too," he said, holding her tightly and breathing in the smell of her hair. "Let me gather some things and we'll go. I'll meet you at the stables." She smiled and kissed him again before climbing out the window.
David packed a few of his things in a bag and made his way down the stairs. He passed his mother's room, pausing. He put his bag down and walked inside. He kissed her gently on the forehead, a tear falling down his cheek as he thought about what he was leaving behind. "I love you, mother," he whispered.
Across the field, Regina climbed through her bedroom window for the second time that day, quickly moving to her desk. She wanted to write a letter saying goodbye.
"My, my, where were you?"
Regina's blood chilled at the sound. "Mother," she said. "I was just out rid—"
"Don't lie to me, dear," Cora replied. Regina finally realized what Cora was holding in her hand. The bloodstained underwear from beneath her bed.
"I—I—" Regina struggled to respond, and in a flash, her back was pinned to the wall several feel above the ground with an invisible force. "Mother! You promised you wouldn't use magic on me!" She cried out.
"That was before you became an ungrateful little girl," Cora replied, her arm outstretched, her hand glowing with the magical force. "I've given you everything you need to become powerful!"
"I don't want power!" Regina shouted through her tears. "I just want to be free," she sobbed.
"You don't know what you want," Cora spat, her magic squeezing the girl a bit tighter.
"Mother, please, you're hurting me!"
Cora released her and the girl fell to the ground with a hard thud. "You are going to marry the prince," Cora growled, standing over her daughter. She grabbed Regina's arm, pulling her to her feet. Regina could feel a throbbing pain in her left knee, but she forced herself to stand tall in front of her mother. "You will forget this childish fling," she said, throwing the garment across the room. "And in just a few weeks, you will be queen."
Hard sobs came from the girl's throat. If she hadn't come back to the house—if she had just gone straight to the stables—she and David could be free. They could have be miles away, where Cora would never find them.
"Love is weakness, Regina," her mother said, repeating the words she'd said so many times before.
"Regina!" David called at the sight of his girlfriend walking into the stabled. He ran to her and embraced her. She didn't respond, instead pulling away. "What's wrong?"
"I'm marrying Daniel."
The words cut into his heart like a knife. "Regina, what are you talking about?"
"He proposed tonight at the ball. I'm going to marry him in three weeks' time. Then I will be queen."
She was cold and unfeeling, nothing like the Regina he'd known his whole life. "You're not making any sense. You've never wanted power."
"Who wouldn't want power?" She scoffed. "You really think I'd give up all of that for a simple shepherd like you?"
The tears were falling from his eyes as he grabbed her by the shoulders. "But what about love. I love you! And you love me! That's all we need! Why did you change your mind?"
They made eye contact. Her brown orbs were empty. "Love is weakness," she replied.
"No! I refuse to believe that you think that!" He said. He pulled her to him, kissing her hard. But she didn't reciprocate, instead pulling away from him quickly.
She turned on her heels and strode out of the stables. He watched her go and fell to his knees, sobbing as he watched the woman he loved leave the stables.
Around the corner, a cloud of blue smoke appeared, returning the woman to her true form as she sauntered back into her house.
Guhhhhh I hate Cora! But I just thought running away would be too easy. So I had to put a roadblock in their path. My poor babies! Please review. I love to hear your thoughts :)