Here's another chap for you guys. Hope you enjoy! Please R&R! I love to read reader comments. They provide inspiration to keep things moving :)

Daniel was once again sitting at the bar. However, this time he did have the Grand Slam in front of him and was quite thoroughly enjoying it. When Regina made her presence known, he turned and smiled at her with a smidge of ketchup on his bottom lip. "Have you tried this?! It's fantastic!" He exclaimed.

Regina chuckled and wiped the ketchup from his lip with her thumb. "I have. It is quite good." She smiled as she took a seat next to him. "You should try the hot chocolate too if you haven't already."

"Hot chocolate? How does that work?" He asked with a curious look on his face.

"It's not solid chocolate if that's what you're thinking." She grinned brightly. "You take some powdered chocolate and mix it with hot milk or water. Milk is definitely the better route to go."

His brows furrowed. "How do you get powdered... never mind. Ruby, dear, could you bring me a cup of hot chocolate? Made with milk?" Once the brunette went to do just that, Daniel turned to his ex. "Hi by the way," he said with a soft smile.

Regina laughed, finding his adjusting to this world adorable. She returned his smile as Ruby disappeared into the back. "Hi." She said softly. "How have you been sleeping here? I imagine Ruby and her grandmother are treating you well."

The man pushed his plate back and nodded. "They are. I feel as at home as I can here." He sighed softly. "I'm sorry about yesterday."

Regina shook her head. "Don't worry about it. But..." Her dark eyes locked with his. "It can't happen again." She knew this had to be difficult for him. To Daniel, it must have felt like just yesterday that they were together, in love and happy. But she had Emma now. And she didn't want to hurt her.

"I know. I hate that it can't because... nevermind." Daniel cleared his throat. "Where do we go from here, Regina?"

Regina's eyes gave away her sadness more than anything. A part of her was grateful to Whale for bringing Daniel back. Another part of her hated him because he didn't do it sooner, all those years ago in the Enchanted Forest. "How about we just take things slow? I can take you on a tour of town today."

"It's going to be hard to take it slow, but if that's what you want, then I'll do my best. As for the tour, I would very much appreciate that."

Regina nodded. And once Ruby had brought out Daniel's hot chocolate and a coffee for her, and both had finished their respective drinks, the two headed out of the diner and were on their way to see what little there was of Storybrooke. She saved the stables for last.

As soon as they were standing in front of them, Daniel took a deep breath in and smiled. "This smells like home." He turned and looked at her. "You didn't bring me all this way just to pet the horses, did you?"

Regina chuckled and walked past him to grab a saddle. "Of course not." She turned her head so their eyes met once more. "I thought we could go for a ride. Like we used to."

"Now that's the Regina I remember." He grinned and grabbed a saddle for a horse of his choosing since the queen must have made a deal with the owner. Daniel picked out a grey stallion and saddled him up. He then helped his love onto her horse the way he used to.

Regina had selected a black steed that reminded her of the one she'd owned back in the Enchanted Forest, when she and Daniel went for rides together. The two rode through the woods together, laughing and having fun as they raced and chased each other. Regina only slowed her steed's pace as they neared an opening that revealed a field full of gorgeous flowers.

Seeing the field, then how the sunlight hit the queen's face, Daniel couldn't take his eyes off of her. "You are even more beautiful than I remember. "

Regina's cheeks actually turned a slight pink, the brunette chuckling lightly. "Please. I'm not the fresh faced teenager you knew anymore. I've got years on me."

"You may have years on you, but my god, you're flawless. Everything about you is perfect." With a gentle smile, he stopped his horse in the field and dismounted. Walking around, he offered his hand to Regina.

Regina smiled warmly at him as she gave Daniel her hand and slid off her horse. That smile faded though as she spoke her next words. "You wouldn't think that of me if you knew of the things I've done."

"You know I'd never judge you like that. So why don't we take a little walk and you tell me everything?"

"Says the man who took digs at me the other day for my interest in a woman." Regina half teased and then sighed. "But yes, a walk and a talk seem doable."

And as they walked side by side through that field, the queen told Daniel of her pain and anger and then ultimate emptiness; of how she'd ruined lives in more ways than one to seek her vengeance.

Daniel didn't judge at all during that hour or so. Pulling Regina close to him, he hugged her tightly. "I can understand why you chose the path you did. But you made it through. You made the survivors stronger than they could've ever imagined and now you finally have me back. I have always believed everything happens for a reason. Sometimes we never learn that reason. I don't hate you for what you've done. I could never hate you."

Regina hugged Daniel close, her cheek resting on his chest and her arms around his waist. "Thank you. For not hating me. I don't think I could handle that." She pulled away to look up at him. "I wish I'd gotten you back sooner."

"As well as I, love." He sighed then kissed her forehead. "Has she ever hated you for what you've done in the past?"

He didn't say the name, but Regina knew exactly who he was talking about. "No, I don't think Emma has ever hated me. Not even when my foolishness almost cost us Henry." She cringed slightly just thinking about it. "She had every right to, but she didn't."

Daniel nodded his head. "What is it about this Emma that made you fall in love with her?" He asked curiously. "What is it about her that wont let you give her up for your true love?"

"Emma always puts others before herself, is always willing to help others out. She saved my hide multiple times despite the way I'd treated her. I couldn't help but to admire her bravo and the way she stood up to me. It was refreshing and appealing. It took guts." Regina sighed as she slid her hands down Daniel's arms and let him go. "You and Emma are different in many ways, but you're also very alike. And the way her and I's love grew is radically different from the way ours did, but it doesn't hold any less value."

Daniel nodded his head and sighed softly. "I'm going to do my very best to just be your friend. I'm not saying I won't be tempted but I'll try. For you."

"Thank you, Daniel. You have no idea what that means to me. I still care about you. Deeply. I wish I could offer more." Regina said sincerely.

"Maybe one day you can." He offered a smile. "Of course, I'm being a bit selfish on my part."

Regina shook her head and smiled a bit. "Maybe, but I can't really blame you." She took his hand in hers. "How about we continue that walk?"

Lacing their fingers, the stable boy grinned and nodded. "Sounds good." Walking with her in silence for a few moments Daniel decided to ask; "So, do people know about the two of you?"

Regina took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "No. Well, er, some do. Some have figured it out. But many don't. It's a long story I'm sure you don't really want to hear."

"Well, it seems obvious to me. You are the apparent 'Evil Queen' who set this world under a curse to destroy all happiness. Emma's the Savior of the town, here to take you down. It's understandable why the two of you haven't come out."

Regina's mouth dropped open slightly. "Well, I guess it's really not that long of a story." She chuckled. "Emma's and I relationship did not start off in an affectionate manner. But it certainly grew into that."

"At least you have love." He smiled softly, then looked back to the horses.

"Maybe, maybe not." Regina said, not truly knowing how Emma felt. "I love Emma, but I don't know if she's quite at that point yet."

"Oh, do you think she loves you?"

"I don't like to speculate." Regina looked over at Daniel and squeezed his hand lightly. "Let's talk about something else. What do you think of this world so far?"

Immediately he shut his mouth, keeping the next question from coming forth. "Oh, ah, it's different. I've seen some very strange looking carriages. I didn't see that many horses here to pull them all. Don't they get tired?"

Regina laughed, finding his naivety to this world adorable. When Emma had told her all about Ruby and how she'd helped Belle adjust, the queen had thought it'd be so annoying; all the questions and not knowing how things worked. But no, it really wasn't like that at all. "They're called cars. They don't require horses. They take an engine, a motor, to run."

"Oh." His brows furrowed as he tried to think about it. "Interesting. I'll have to ride on one someday."

"A lot of things in this world are run by mechanics and technology. You'll get used to it." Regina smiled and leaned in close enough to bump his shoulder with hers playfully. "You can take a ride in my car later."

His brows raised and he grinned. "Yeah? Promise?"

Regina nodded. "I promise." She smiled and walked with him back to the horses, getting on hers again with his assistance.

xxx

That night, Emma was sitting in her own apartment alone. Things were running through her mind. Regina hadn't spoken to her all day and she was worried senseless. With a beer in her hand, she got up and stood in front of the waist high window in just her red panties and white tank, looking out at nothing.

Regina had given Daniel a ride in her car as promised and dropped him off at Granny's afterwards. She wanted to spend more time with him badly. He'd been taken from her life for nearly forty years. But she also didn't want to encourage him in thinking they could be more than friends. The former mayor soon made her way over to the blonde sheriff's apartment, her heels clicking against pavement as she walked for the building's entrance.

Emma didn't even hear the key push into her lock. She was lost in her own little world as she sipped her fifth beer. Setting it down on the window sill, she slowly stroked the neck of the bottle with her thumb and index finger as her temple rested against the side of the window frame, watching her breath spot and fade on the glass.

"It seems you've had a thrilling day." Regina commented with little inflection as she stepped inside; her tone not biting nor sarcastic but not amused, either, as she hung her purse and jacket up on the coat rack. The brunette then turned to face Emma, her eyes already have taken in the lack of pants.

Emma flinched slightly then turned to see her girlfriend. "Hey, babe." She finished off her beer then tossed it in the trash along with the others. "It was okay. How about yours?"

"It was pleasant. I showed Daniel around today." There was no point in trying to keep her friendship with him secret. "I missed you, though." The queen took the few steps separating them and then kissed Emma's lips softly as her fingers gripped on to the tank.

"I missed you, too." She placed her hands on the sides of Regina's neck and kissed her back. "Glad you had fun. Bet you took him to the stables." She forced a small smile.

Regina nodded slightly, her forehead resting against the blonde's afterwards. "I did. I showed him just about everything in town, though."

"We should see if we can get him a job there." She suggested, slowly running her fingers through Regina's fluffy hair.

Regina leaned into Emma's touch and hummed contently. "Hmmm, that's a very good idea. I knew I liked you for more than your body." She chuckled.

There was finally a chuckle that came from Emma. "Oh, it took you this long to figure it out?"

"Well, I am typically blinded by my annoyance for you." She teased and kissed Emma again before she could protest.

And the blonde was about to protest with a comment about Regina hanging out with her ex, but instead lips crashed against hers. Gripping the back of her neck, she spun and pressed the queen against the wall.

A throaty groan escaped Regina's lips as she felt the blonde pressed against her, the taste of beer still on the sheriff's tongue mixed with what was uniquely Emma. The brunette's hands moved to her waist, one not bothering to waste anytime as she slipped it into Emma's underwear and stroked her.

Emma quickly undid the brunette's pants and moved her own hand down the front of her panties and started circling her sensitive bundle of nerves roughly before slipping her middling finger into her.

Regina moaned into Emma's mouth as she began to thrust in and out of her lover, the two rocking against each other frantically until they climaxed together, the brunette supporting the sheriff afterwards since she was the one with leverage against the wall.

Completely out of breath, Emma hummed softly and wrapped her arms around Regina's waist. "You want to stay here tonight?"

"Henry's staying with a friend, so yes. I'd love to." Regina kissed the top of the blonde's head, and after another moments rest, walked with the sheriff to her bedroom, crawling into bed with her.

Emma would surely worry about Regina's relationship with Daniel more in the days to come, but for now, she held the queen in her arms.