Sorry if this chapter is shorter than usual. Real life got in the way of my writing last night.

Just a little clarification. In my mind Daniel was like…25/26 when he died so now they'd be

Regina 35 and him 26… so it's not weird right? right?

Chapter 3

Regina and Daniel were walking home from Granny's later that night. With Emma and Snow back everyone was so happy that no one had minded Regina's presence there, Granny didn't even make her snotty comments like she used to do every time.

When Snow realized Daniel was there she had hugged him and apologized a thousand times but he quickly said there was no need to, and then Emma had demanded to know the whole story about, and I quote: "how the hell is he alive!?".

In the complex it had been a good night. One that Regina hadn't had in years, and now they were walking home and for the first time after almost forty years they were confident enough to walk with their arms around each other.

"I'm so proud of you…" out of nowhere Daniel whispered those words, and Regina couldn't help but smile sadly.

"There's not much to be proud of… I almost killed Snow and Emma…"

"But you didn't. What you were about to do was not right. But the important thing is that you stopped in time, and that you did it willingly."

Her sad smile left room for a genuinely content one, and she laid her head on his shoulder.

"Thank you. I really don't know what I'd do without you now." She whispered.

"Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere." He gently tightened his grip on her, and when she raised her head to look him in the eyes, the attraction he felt was so strong that he couldn't resist anymore, and he brought his lips closer and closer to hers until they collided in a kiss that they had both awaited for far too long. It was like it was the first time for both of them. Regina felt as she was eighteen years old again, the weight that she was forced to carry for all that time was magically gone from her shoulders and everything that mattered was him. Him, and the fact that nothing was in between them and their happiness now.

A couple of blocks down the street, two people were standing in the dark, watching the scene.

Cora was paralyzed, a mixture of confusion and pure rage in her eyes. What was he doing here!? How was he alive!? She had personally ripped his heart out, and now there he was! In the middle of a street kissing her daughter.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a low laugh behind her, and when she turned around she was greeted with the sight of Hook almost kneeling in the ground laughing.

"Ex..excuse me Cora but… that… that's your daughter!?" He said between laughter. "B… because it doesn't look like she needs mommy's help at all!" he kept laughing and laughing, pointing at Regina and Daniel. With a mere flick of her wrist Cora casted a spell on him that sent him lying on the ground.

"Ouch! Come on I was just kidding!" Hook groaned.

"Well you won't be laughing for long. Because this doesn't change anything. That boy may be alive but I am going to get what I came here for!"

"Oh yeah Cora!? And how do you plan on doing that!? It doesn't' look to me like Regina is desperate and needs your help, like you thought she would be."

"It doesn't matter. Her life is mine, and I'm going to take it. One way, or another."

The big house was silent, except for Daniel's slow breaths that only Regina could hear, laying her head on his bare chest.

They were finally together in her bed, their bed, her naked body laying on top of his and his arms gently circling her waist.

She couldn't, didn't want to close her eyes. She had dreamed of this moment for so long, knowing it was a hopeless dream that now she couldn't believe it had happened. She slowly traced the long scar on his chest and let her hand rest on it, feeling his heartbeat, and he subconsciously tightened his embrace on her waist. That simple unintentional gesture brought her back to the reality of the moment and all her fears disappeared, letting her slide in a content and restful sleep.

When she opened her eyes the next morning , she found herself in the same position she had fallen asleep in, with the difference that now a pair of ice blue eyes was looking at her and a hand was slowly moving through her hair.

"You should let them grow long again…" Daniel said with a small smile.

"Good morning to you too." She smiled at him and climbed the few inches between their faces to greet him with a kiss.

"And I'll think about it."

They spent the rest of the morning at home, both of them content to simply be together. Daniel still had to grasp the concept of "movie" and "DVD" so they watched a couple of classics, just laying on the couch and enjoying each other's company.

When Daniel found Disney movies in Henry's room he couldn't believe it was true so they watched a couple of those too. Sometimes even laughing at the mistakes they found in the stories.

"When Henry was five or six years old he fell in love with those cartoons and I had to buy all of them. Thank god he always liked The Lion King better than our actual stories." Regina explained to him between a movie and the other. He saw a shade of sadness appear in her as she said Henry's name, and he was quick to reassure her.

"Don't worry, he'll understand one day…"

"He probably already has, but he's right to avoid me. I made him feel like he was crazy while he was… the only one actually making sense. I deserve this, at least for now."

Daniel didn't know what to respond, so he simply tightened his arms around her as they both turned their attention to the mistakenly told story of Peter Pan.

"…who the hell is Peter Pan anyway?" asked Regina all of a sudden, and they both laughed at the comment.

In the afternoon Daniel went to the stables for his lesson with Henry. Now that snow and Emma were here the boy couldn't wait to show them how good he had become. Regina instead, went to go see Gold. They had agreed to meet to make sure that now that even that last portal was closed there was absolutely no way for Cora to come to Storybrooke.

She was on her way to pick Daniel up after that, when in the empty street she registered someone following her, steps so light that if it wasn't for her magical powers she would never have heard them. She stopped, and slowly turned her head, but not enough to recognize the person behind her.

"There is no one in the realm that can sneak up on me you know?"

"Believe me my dear, it wasn't my intention at all."

No it couldn't have been, she must be hearing things.

The smirk on her face slowly disappeared to make room for a genuinely terrified expression as she turned around. The confirmation of her fears in the sight of her mother standing there in front of her almost took her breath away.

"So it has come down to this… You and Rumple behaving like two scared little puppies because you're afraid of me?"

Cora spoke with a calm and unexpressive tone. "That's one way to greet your own mother Regina."

It was getting hard to breathe for Regina, the fear taking over her. Fear for Daniel, for Henry and for herself.

"H… how!?" was the only world she could whisper. Barely audible even for Cora that was standing a few inches from her.

"Oh come on my dear, did you really think that Snow and her daughter were strong enough to stop me? They merely gained some time."

"What… what do you want?"

"Strictly down to busyness I see. Let's talk for a moment! I want to spend some time catching up with my daughter first! I saw you the other night, with that boy… what was his name again!? David?… Delvin? How did you bring him back!?"

Uncontrollable fear was now running through her veins, and the fear turned to anger, a feeling that she had learned to concentrate into magic all too well. She felt the familiar tingling in her hands. Signal of her power that was ready to be unleashed.

"What. Do you. Want?"

Cora sighed. "Well I'm a quite simple person. I want what I always wanted. To guide you."

"Maybe you missed your clue the first time mother… I don't want your life!"

"Your life is mine Regina! It has always been!"

Before Regina could raise her hands to cast a spell on her, Cora immobilized her, and took a step closer. Now she was literally one inch from her face.

"You need me Regina, and I'm here to guide you now. Whether you want it, or not."

Cora's hand disappeared in Regina's chest, and the pain she felt wasn't comparable to anything she had ever felt.

Regina felt her mother's hand wrapping around her heart and squeeze it tight. Her chest burned, the pain blinded her, everything was on fire.