Chapter 3: Terrifying

"Don't be afraid to change. You may lose something good but you main gain something better."

A/N: Hello everyone! I don't really have anything to say so without further ado...

2 weeks passed...

Regina had woken up earlier than usual due to a horrible nightmare. She still had a couple hours left before work and there was no way she would be able to get more sleep.

So she forced herself out of bed and went to make a cup of coffee.

As she sat and drunk her coffee she thought about David.

He had been sick for one week and wasn't at work and sadly the pool had been so crowded the past week that they had barely been able to say hello to one another. So basically she's barely seen him and surprisingly, she misses him..a lot.

Today was the start of a new week and she hoped it wasn't as busy as the last.

Regina finished up her coffee and decided to go out and check the mail. She pulled her knee length robe tighter around her pajamas and stepped outside. She had a couple envelopes and a magazine.

Going back into the kitchen, she read through the letters and sighed as she noticed they were all bills except for one. She looked all over the envelope trying to find out where it came from but there was nothing. There wasn't even a stamp which must have meant someone put it in her mailbox themselves.

Frowning she opened it and discovered it was a letter.

Dear Regina,

I know you probably don't want to speak with me and I understand. I just want you to know that I'm sorry for everything I've done. I mean it. Prison helped me realize my mistakes. I've spent the last 7 years sitting in that cell wishing I had never done what I did, I could have been by your side and watched you grow up. Instead, I destroyed the chance of that ever happening. I'm assuming you heard of my release from prison before you received this letter, I got out early for 'good behavior'. I don't want to hurt you, my darling. I just wanted you to know that I love you and hope you'll take what I've said to heart.

All my love, Daddy.

Regina couldn't breath. She suddenly felt like she was 13 again and no longer safe.

~EC~

David frowned as he walked around the pool for the third time. He had been hoping to see Regina all day, but she must not be at work.

He seen that his sister was on break and decided to go talk to her.

"Hey Em, you're pretty good friends with Regina right?" He asked.

Emma looked up from her phone and frowned at him. "Yeah, why? If you want to get her in bed with you, I'm not helping." She said firmly.

David sighed frustrated. "Do you know where she is? I haven't seen her all day."

"She called me this morning and told me to tell Mr. Smith that she couldn't work today." Emma answered somewhat distracted by the game she had resumed playing on her phone.

"Did she say why?" David pressed. What if something was wrong with her?

"Look dude, I don't know. I'll admit she sounded kind of sick on the phone, but it just sounded like a cold. I'm sure she's fine, what's it to you anyways?"

"Look uh we're friends alright? I just want to make sure she's okay. Do you know where she lives?"

Emma sighed but decided Regina did need to be checked up on.

~EC~

Regina sat curled up tightly in her bed. Terrifying thoughts plagued her mind and she was sick of it. Why couldn't it just go away? Why was everything so loud?

Her head started spinning and she felt like she was going to throw up...again.

She hopped out of bed quickly, she barely caught herself from tripping in her rush to the bathroom.

After emptying the contents of her stomach for the third time that day, she brushed her teeth and planned to lay right back down in bed, but a knock on her front door caused her to pause.

She groaned as she heard his voice coming threw her apartment door.

"Regina? Regina are you home?"

Why couldn't she be left alone?

Checking her appearance in the mirror she winced. Her hair was sticking up in all different directions and her face was makeup free. The dark circles under her eyes were as prominent as ever.

Giving a huff she decided she didn't care. She would simply tell him to leave, even though deep inside she wanted him to stay. She longed for comfort and protection, but she couldn't. She should not trust so easily.

Stomping to the front door she flung it open roughly. It sounded like it was going to break off its hinges.

Davids shocked face could have made her laugh if she was in the right mindset.

"Uh Regina? You okay?" He asked softly. She looked oh so tired. He wanted to wrap her up and hold onto her tightly. Immediately, he could see the worry and sadness on her features, he wanted to take that away and replace it with one of her radiant smiles.

"I'm fine David, what are you doing here?"

Her voice. It wasn't her usually sexy tone (it was still plenty sexy) but it sounded different. Emma may have mistaken it for a cold, but David could clearly see the dried tear tracks on her face.

He couldn't resist pulling her into his arms and squeezing her to him tightly. He felt her whole body stiffen.

"Relax." He soothed. Moments later she allowed her firm shoulders to slump and she leaned into him heavily. "What's wrong, Regina?"

He felt her start to shake and then she released a gut wrenching sob.

"Let's go inside." He said softly. When she didn't move he decided to take matters into his own hands and picked her up bridal style. She didn't complain so he walked into her apartment and closed the door with his foot. Looking around, he took in the colorful place. It was obvious Regina liked colors because he swore every color of the damn rainbow was in here.

He soon realized he didn't know where to go and started to slowly walk in a random direction. He found the living room pretty easily and sat down on the couch. Regina moved herself to where she was now burrowed into his side with her head on his warm chest.

Snuggling closer her soft cries died out slowly.

"Will you tell me what's wrong, please? I'm worried." David admitted.

"I-I can't.." Regina whimpered.

"Okay." David said understandingly. "Your safe, Regina. I'll do whatever I can to help you. I promise."

"I'm s-sorry." She said as she wiped at her eyes.

"For what?" He asked as he ran his arm over her back comfortingly.

"I'm sorry for breaking down. I'm kinda disgusting right now." She laughed sadly.

"You disgusting?" He laughed. "You could make a trash back look good."

She chuckled softly.

"You've been here for 5 minutes and already made me feel better."

"It's the charm." He teased and she giggled again.

"Your ridiculous."

Ignoring her comment he look down at her clothing. "I like this." He chuckled as he pointed to her attire.

She was in a simple set of black pajamas but her robe on top of it was what had him laughing. It had had images of tacos all over it.

"Stop it." She covered her face with her hands in embarrassment. "It was April fools gift from a friend." She whined.

"And what made you decide to wear it?" He laughed.

"It's soft!" She argued.

"Well I think it's adorable." He smiled.

She rolled her eyes, but internally she was melting.

"So, you wanna tell me what's wrong now?" He regretted the question when he watched her face fall back into sadness.

"It's not something that anyone except for my mother knows..." She explained.

David nodded his head. "Well, if you change your mind I'm here for you."

"I know." She smiled. "You're a good friend, David."

He smiled back at her. Friend. He could do friends..for now.

They sat in silence and enjoyed each others company for a while.

Eventually, David heard Regina's breathing even out. He could not believe he had the most beautiful woman he had ever seen fast asleep in his arms. When had things become so different?

He allowed his head to rest on top of hers. Closing his eyes, he starting to wonder where things were going to go next. He was certain of only one thing, he would change for her.

So? Comments, questions, statements of hatred? What do you think? Btw, sorry for the short chapter. I'm hoping to start making them longer, but no promises. Haha!