Regina was numb.
She was currently slumped by her father's freshly dug grave. It had been two long, tortuous hours since they had buried him and yet, Regina still hadn't moved.
The distraught young woman just couldn't believe that her Daddy was gone. He was always there for her and now she would never see him again. He would never be there to give her words of encouragement and wisdom. The last good link to her childhood was gone.
A lone tear slid down her face and Regina quickly wiped it away when she heard footsteps come up behind her.
"Regina?" The woman in question was relieved to hear Snow's voice and not Daniel's or the huntsman's.
"Hello, Snow." Regina whispered, trying to sound cheerful but failing.
The little girl walked up beside the older female and gently lowered herself down next to her. "I'm sorry about your daddy, Regina. He was a very nice man. Like how grandpa's and daddy's are supposed to be." Snow whispered as she snuggled up to Regina.
The early evening breeze swept across the field they were in and Regina pulled the child into her lap. Partly to keep them both warm and partly to comfort herself. She just needed someone, something, solid to hold on to. "Thank you, baby." She said gratefully before pressing a kiss to the side of Snow's head.
The child rested her head on Regina's shoulder and began to play with the woman's blouse button distractedly.
Regina frowned, remembering how Snow had shied away from her the day before and she pulled the girl closer to her at the memory before she spoke. "Snow? Were you scared of me yesterday?"
Snow stayed silent but Regina felt her little body stiffen in her arms.
"Honey, please talk to me. I'm not mad. I just want you to know that I would never hurt you. Especially not with magic." Regina promised as she rubbed the little girl's back.
Snow hesitated briefly before she finally decided to respond. "I...I wasn't scared of you. It's just, I remembered C-Cora when I saw you blast my father away from us. I guess I just got a little spooked. Besides," she looked up at Regina and smiled, "I could never be afraid of you. You were just protecting me." She shrugged and rested her head back on Regina's shoulder.
Regina sighed in relief and began to rock them back and forth. She started humming a song she remembered one of her nanny's singing to her when she was little and after a few moments, Snow's breathing evened out letting Regina know that she had fallen asleep.
Regina spent about another half an hour sitting by her father's grave until it got dark enough that she decided it would be best if she went back to the camp they had set up nearby. "Goodbye, Daddy. I love you." She whispered into the darkness before she got up with Snow still in her arms. She then began the short trek back to where the campfire had been set up for the night.
XXX
When she got back to the camp, Regina blatantly ignored Daniel and the huntsman as she made her way over to the bed Daniel had set up for Snow. She gently lowered the little girl into the cushioning and covered her with two thick blankets before pressing a kiss to Snow's soft forehead.
She stayed by the child's side, not wanting to be near her two male companions and just sat thinking about everything; the past, the present day's events and the future she hoped to make with Daniel and Snow.
"Regina?" Daniel whispered as he shifted from foot to foot uncomfortably. He had watched her the whole time she had returned from her father's final resting place and he instantly knew she was mad at him.
"Not now, Daniel. Please." Regina begged, not wanting to cause a scene.
"If not now, when?" He responded. Instead of getting any response, Regina stayed silent as she swiped a piece of hair off of Snow's face. "Regina, please." He beseeched.
Regina scoffed and stood up carefully before stalking off to a secluded quiet area of camp, knowing Danie would follow her. "I don't know what you want me to say, Daniel. You tried to make me abandon my dying father and I don't know how you expected me to respond to that." The whole time she spoke, Regina kept her back to Daniel with her arms crossed.
"More Knights would have been after us!" Her fiancé suddenly burst out. "What did you want me to do?! I couldn't just-"
"You could have supported me!" At this, Regina had whirled around on the spot and she let her arms fall down to her side. "I expected you to stand by me and let me lean on you in one of my most weakest moments, but you didn't. Instead you tried to convince me to leave my father to the wolves!" A sob ripped through the young woman's throat as tears began to stream down her face.
Daniel looked down ashamed and tried to step towards his soon to be wife but Regina simply took a step back and shook her head before turning away from him once more. Daniel sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "Regina," he began, "I know you're hurting. I know the pain you're in so please...just let me be there for you now. I know I failed you today and I promise to try to make it up to you even if it kills me. I love you and I won't blame you if you never forgive me." The young man rambled sadly. He knew how close Regina and Henry were and he had to admit that he was pretty devastated over the old man's death himself.
Daniel saw Regina's body slump in defeat and felt his heart break when her shoulders began to shake with gut wrenching sobs. Deciding to risk his neck, he stepped up behind Regina and wrapped his arms around her tightly. Surprisingly, she responded by turning and burying her face in his chest as she clung to his shirt.
"Shhh. I know, honey. I know." He soothed as he stroked the back of her head and rubbed her back. "I'm sorry." He whispered before placing a kiss to the top of her head.
Regina pulled back slightly and took his face in her trembling hands. "I know. I forgive you. I just want to get far away from this wretched place as soon as possible. Maybe then we can finally be happy. Just me, you and Snow." She smiled slightly at him and decided to lighten the mood. "I know you've been a little jealous about how much time Snow and I spent with the huntsman today." She told him.
Daniel was about to protest her claim but she simply shook her head and placed a finger on his lips in a 'shh' gesture. "Nope. Don't try and deny it. I saw the look you had on your face the whole time Snow was off learning how to use a bow and arrow. Don't worry, you'll be there for the most important stuff." She assured him.
"Oh? And what is the 'important' stuff?" Daniel asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Hmmm...like I don't know, any young men whose attention she might gain-"
Regina hadn't yet finished talking when Daniel's eyes suddenly widened. "She's not courting until she's at least thirty!" He protested and before she could stop him, Daniel had detached himself from her and had hurried over to Snow who was sleeping.
"Daniel! Don't you dare-" she didn't manage reach them and her mouth fell open when Daniel had shook the confused little girl awake and said: "Snow! I forbid you to talk to or see any boys!"
XXX
Snow woke up the next morning squinty eyed. She looked around her and saw Regina and Daniel sleeping nearby with Graham on the other side of the camp.
For a few moments, all she did was stare up at the bright blue morning sky whilst she reflected on everything that had happened recently. The good and the bad; learning how to use a bow and arrow and getting to know Regina and her True Love. They felt like family already. It was on just the previous night when a piece of their family was torn away from them.
Regina's daddy was killed. Her possible future grandpa.
Oh, how she wanted Regina to be her mother and Daniel her father. She thought that they would make great parents. It had been such a long time since the little girl had felt the love of a parent. First her mommy died and then her...father turned mean.
Snow suddenly sniffed and wiped a tear from her eye. She didn't want to think about all the bad stuff. She just wanted to focus on the good things.
A blue butterfly flew into her line of sight and the child smiled. She loved wildlife and anything that was blue and this butterfly was both of those things. Naturally, Snow was mesmerised by the beautiful creature and she sat up so she could get a better look at it. She giggled how only a little girl could when the butterfly landed on her fingertip.
"Hello." She whispered in awe. "You're very pretty." She spoke as if the insect could respond.
Much to her dismay, the butterfly got off her finger and began to fly away. Her shoulders slumped but then her face perked up when her new friend flew back towards her and hovered in mid air.
"Do you want me to follow you?" Snow asked, excited at the prospect of going on an adventure.
The butterfly flew a few metres away once again and Snow took that as a sign that the butterfly did, in fact, want her to follow.
Snow looked around the camp to make sure that the adults were still sleeping before she quietly stood up. She then continued to follow the butterfly into the tree line that was close by, completely unaware that Regina was about to wake up in about ten minutes.
XXX
"Daniel."
The stable groaned. He didn't know what it was that woke him up. All he knew was that something had woken him.
"Daniel, you stupid man! Wake up!"
Daniel's eyes snapped open when he felt someone tapping him on the face. The said taps transitioned from light to hard slaps and that's what made him focus.
"Regina?" He squinted as his fancé loomed over him.
"Snow is gone!" Regina blurted out, obviously in a panic.
"Snow...Snow is gone?!" Daniel exclaimed as he got up abruptly, Regina shrinking back in shock at his sudden movements.
"Snow!...Snow!" Daniel yelled as he walked around the field aimlessly looking for the child. "Snow, where-"
"She's obviously not here, Daniel." Regina called after him in frustration. She didn't mean to be so blunt with him. She just really wanted to find Snow.
"She probably went into the forest. There are footprints. My brother will track her." The huntsman spoke up, hearing the couple's worry.
"Thank you, Huntsman." Daniel said gratefully. He had to admit that he had been a godsend for the past couple of days. They wouldn't have been able to escape the castle without his distraction. They certainly wouldn't have been able to survive out in the Enchanted Forest all that time, either as much as the stable boy would try to deny it.
The huntsman simply nodded before he followed his wolf. The animal seemed to strangely understand what was going on.
Regina watched as the huntsman left before she quickly hurried over to Daniel. "Oh, Daniel! What if we don't find her? What if the Kings knights find her and take her back to that evil man?! He would kill her! Daniel-" she didn't get to finish her ramblings as she was cut off by Daniel.
"Regina! Calm down-"
"Calm down?! Calm down?! Daniel, my baby, is out there someone - probably scared stiff - and all you can say is 'calm down'?!" The young woman was now hysterical as she paced up and down.
Regina was suddenly stopped by Daniel who grabbed her shoulders and forced her to look him in the eyes. "Regina, listen to me - no - listen to me. We will find her. I will never let anything happen to her and so that's why I'm going to go and look for her." He promised as he reached up to wipe a few errant tears from Regina's face.
"Ok. I'm coming with you-"
"No." Daniel shook his head seriously.
"Excuse me?" Regina said annoyed.
"I said 'no', Regina. You should stay here just in case our little princess comes back. Like you said, she's probably scared and if she comes back and sees we're gone, she'll think we abandoned her. Plus, someone needs to stay here and watch our stuff and the horses. Who knows who will come through here." He didn't mention the fact that he thought Regina was too emotional to think clearly to be effective in the search for Snow.
Regina sighed as her shoulders slumped. She knew her future husband was right. "Fine. You bring her back to me, you hear?" She tried to sound strong but even she could hear the waver in her voice.
"I promise." Daniel vowed before he kissed her and left to find Snow.
XXX
Snow was scared.
She had been following the pretty butterfly so intensely that she didn't realise she had gone so deep into the woods. That was until now.
The butterfly had disappeared about half an hour ago and when she had lost sight of it, Snow had realised that she too was lost. The little girl knew nothing about making tracks so she could find her way back to where she had started. She had been relying on Regina and Daniel and her new friend, Graham.
Thinking about Regina and Daniel caused tears to pool in her eyes and she sniffled softly. She tried to suppress a sob as a thousand and one questions went through her mind.
What if she was lost forever? What if she never saw Regina and Daniel ever again? What if her father's Knights found her? What it, what if, what if...
"I'm lost." Snow whimpered to herself.
A sudden rustling was heard amongst the trees and Snow looked up, alarmed. She heard the noise again and she screamed before she set off running.
After a few minutes of running, Snow looked over her shoulder to see if whatever it was, was chasing her still. Unfortunately, she didn't see where she was going and so ended up tripping over a large tree root that was coming out of the ground. The little girl fell face down in the dirt, only reminding her of the time when she had run off after seeing Regina and Daniel kissing in the stables at Mills Manor. This only cause the child to burst out into tears. Her wails reverberated around the woods around her as she sat back and clutched at her knee that was now hurting her.
XXX
Daniel ran through the forest in a panic. Where was Snow? He hoped to God that no one had snatched her. What if she had been taken whilst she was still at the camp? What kind of father would that make him? He was so supposed to protect Snow!
"Snow!" He yelled, his voice hoarse from overuse. "Snow! Honey! Where are you?!" The young man knew that the little girl probably wasn't able to hear him but he thought it was worth a try. He would do anything to find her, to keep her safe.
He continued to run through the forest, not even stopping to duck from tree branches. It was a wonder that he hadn't fallen yet.
How long had Snow been missing? Minutes? Hours? She could be anywhere in any case. He ran faster at the thought of the little girl - his little girl - being scared and cold out there somewhere all alone. Was she crying for Regina? Was she crying for him? Daniel suddenly got a mental image of Snow curled up on the forest floor, sobbing and shivering. This picture only spurred him through the forest further and faster.
"Ahhh!"
Daniel whipped his head round at the sudden scream. However, it wasn't just any scream. He would recognise that sound anywhere. It was Snow!
Snow was screaming! Why was she screaming?! Was she hurt?! Had someone captured her? Daniel growled at the thought of someone, that wasn't him or Regina, touching the little girl.
"Snow?! Where are you, baby?!" Daniel suddenly stopped and looked around the clearing he found himself in.
There was a few minutes of silence as he just listened but then he heard his name being yelled from his right. "Daniel?!" Snow's voice was distant but boy, did he hear her. He knew right away she was frightened.
"I'm coming, honey! Stay where you are!" Daniel yelled out before beginning to run off in the direction of Snow's voice. "Keep talking, sweetheart! I'm coming!"
"Over here, Daniel!"
A few moments went by as Daniel ran towards the runaway princess. He finally found her huddled on the ground, clutching her knee to her chest. Her little face was contorted in pain and tears were streaming down her pale cheeks.
"Snow!" Daniel exclaimed as he rushed over to her.
"Daniel! Help!" Snow wailed as she rocked back and forth.
"Oh, come here, Snow." He whispered as he lifted the child up into his arms. Snow wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck as she sobbed with her head rested on his shoulder. "Shh. You're safe now, baby. Shh. There, there." Daniel soothed in a soft tone, swaying from side to side.
"I...I..." Snow was hiccuping through her sobs as she tried to catch her breath.
"Breath, sweetie. Just breath." Daniel instructed as he demonstrated deep and steady breathing.
Snow took big gulps of oxygen and Daniel felt her shivering in his arms. After a few moments, the little girls breathing evened out, allowing her to speak. "I was lost and I thought I would never see you or Regina again!" She exclaimed as she clung to Daniel just a little tighter.
"It's ok now. I found you, princess. I will always find you, ok?" As he said this, Snow had lifted her head and looked him right in the eyes. Green locked in blue.
"Ok." Snow whispered before resting her head back on his shoulder as she yawned.
Daniel pressed a kiss tithe side of Snow's head and smiled. "I think we should get you back to camp, don't you?" He felt Snow nod against him and he smiled. "Good because Regina was worried sick."
"Is she going to be mad with me?" Snow asked timidly.
"I'm sure she won't be, darling." Daniel said as he started off back towards their camp.
XXX
The huntsman had returned over twenty minutes ago without Snow and this only caused Regina to stress out even more. Regina was still pacing to relieve this stress when Daniel came through the tree line with Snow still in his arms. Of course, Regina didn't miss this and she ran over to them straight away.
"Snow! Oh Gods!" She cried as Daniel set Snow on the ground. The girl immediately raced towards Regina.
"Mama!" She yelled, not noticing what she had just said. She was just so happy to see Regina again.
Regina's eyes widened at the moniker that was directed at her but she didn't point it out. Instead, she focused her attention on wrapping her arms around Snow.
"Oh, baby! Thank God you're safe!" She whispered as she pulled Snow closer towards her. She was still in shock at being called 'mama' but she knew that was a conversation for another time. Right now she was just glad that Snow was back right where she belonged.