Okay, this time I'm serious about not waiting so long to post the next chapter. Now that I know where I'm going, the writer's block won't hit as hard.

David made his way through the market. He'd been visiting Daniel's kingdom every chance he could in hopes of catching a glimpse of the soon-to-be-queen.

He'd tried to forget her. He tried to remind himself that Regina didn't love him anymore. But something about their last encounter didn't sit right with him. He just wanted to see her again. He wanted to see if her face would light up the way it used to at the sight of him. But of course she was never there.

David, you're an idiot. She doesn't love you anymore. Just let it go. Let her go.

Regina pushed her food around on her plate. She wasn't the least bit hungry. The wedding was the following day, and all she could do was hope that somehow she could find a way out.

"Regina, my love?" The young woman looked up across the table at her soon-to-be husband. "Is something troubling you?" He asked.

Regina shook her head and plastered on the fake smile she'd had so much practice in for the last two weeks she'd been living in the castle. "Nothing at all, dear," she lied. "Just a bit anxious about tomorrow."

"Any way I can ease your mind?" He responded.

She shook her head. "No. I think I just need some rest," she said, standing from the table. "I'm going to retire to my bedchamber for the night."

Daniel nodded and made his way to her side of the table. He took her hands in his and kissed her. She kissed him back, more out of obligation than love. She couldn't be happy with him. Not when her true love was still out there, hopefully waiting for her.

She moved swiftly to her bedchamber, where she sat at her vanity and unpinned her hair, ebony curls falling about her shoulders. The tears had started falling from her eyes before she even made it to the privacy of her room. She felt so broken and helpless. She was being forced into a marriage she didn't want solely because she so desperately wanted her mother's approval. She opened the drawer of her vanity to pull out a hairbrush.

Her eyes fell upon the spell book she had, for some reason, never returned to her mother. Fortunately Cora hadn't noticed. Regina found herself unable to pull her gaze away, and before she knew it, her hands were moving of their own accord, picking up the book. Before she could even stop herself, she had the book in her hand and was whispering the name, "Rumplestiltskin."

"You beckoned, dearie?" The imp greeted. Regina didn't even flinch at the usually startling voice.

"I need something," she said urgently.

"As I recall, you never wanted magic. And since that's the area in which I specialize, I don't see how I can help you."

She lifted her head high. "I don't want magic." She stepped a bit closer to the older man. "But I need it."

The Dark One looked her up and down. This is going to be fun.

"How are you, David?" Ruth said as her son walked through the door. David simply shook his head. "You've got to stop torturing yourself, dear."

David's head hit the table dejectedly. "I miss her so much," he said.

"I know you do." She covered his hand with hers. "I miss her, too, but I hate what this is doing to you."

"Are you telling me I should just give up?"

She looked at him through sad eyes. "I'm telling you to be happy again."

David looked at his mother for a moment, allowing her words to sink in. He stood up quickly and headed for the door. "I'm going to herd the sheep."

Regina dismissed the servants from her room and stood in front of the mirror, looking at her wedding dress. It's big, she thought. How am I supposed to sit in this thing? She looked herself up and down in the mirror. Well I guess I won't be doing much sitting.

She closed her eyes and thought of the wedding she'd always imagined having. Simple, but beautiful. Just her and David and their families. Something outdoors. She'd wear a beautiful, flowing white dress. A silent tear fell down her cheek as she thought of the wedding she'd always dreamed of. The family she wanted with the man she loved. She could almost feel his arms around her. His hand as it brushed her hair behind her ear. His lips as they met her neck, sucking gently as his hands moved to caress her breasts.

"Happy wedding day, dearie!"

Regina nearly jumped out of her skin at the sound of her teacher's voice. "What are you doing here?" She said, quickly wiping the tears away. She knew he'd already seen her crying, but something made her want to seem strong.

"I got you a wedding gift," he told her.

She turned to find an extraordinarily large present behind her. "What is this?" Regina asked, but her teacher was already gone as the sound of the doorknob turning hit her ears. "Hello, mother."

Sorry this chapter was so short, especially after the long wait, but there's going to be a time lapse here & I don't want it to occur in the middle of a chapter.