I hope you enjoy this chapter. I have the next chapter written. It is a pretty long one, and I will upload it soon. I would just like to get a couple of reviews on this chapter first. That is all I've really got to say. Feel free to send me constructive criticism or to PM me.

Special thanks to EvilRegalTwinnies who has been very helpful in talking through this story with me.


Regina made her way through the gardens after dinner, taking in the even edges of the hedges and the naturally perfumed air.

"I love the petunias what about you?" came a question from behind her. Regina turned her head to see Leopold walking quite briskly to catch up with her. She stood and waited.

"Ah Leopold, I did not expect to see you out here tonight" Regina answered.

"Well I was hoping to find you." Leopold answered, holding out his arm to Regina. Regina simply raised her eyebrows in surprise before accepting his arm and turning back to continue her walk.

"Is that so?" Regina answered, not sure what else to say.

"I was talking with Danielle earlier today, she is growing up so quickly isn't she?"

"Yes" Regina answered, a genuine smile spreading across her face.

"I remember when Snow was her age, she was so precocious, so full of questions. You could hardly keep up with her."

"Well she has grown up nicely too, she is nearly a woman now." Regina replied.

At that a genuine smile grew upon Leopold's face as well. "Do you want to know what Danielle asked me today?"

"Of course, I love hearing about her." Regina answered with a slight chuckle.

"Danielle asked me when she was going to get a little brother."

Regina paused, "honestly I don't know how some of those ideas get into her head."

"But it got me thinking, how much I really would like a son. Someone who will carry on the family name, who I can teach the things I know."

"You want a son?" Regina asked, making sure this wasn't all part of some bad dream.

"Yes, I really think I do."

"You have never expressed any desire before." She replied, her voice becoming more cold and less expressive with every word.

"I am not getting any younger dear, and, well, aging makes you look at your life differently, at what you have and what you want, while there is still time."

"Are you ill?" Regina asked.

"No, not that I am aware of; but I will soon be an old man and I want to complete my family while there is still time, so what do you think?"

"What do I think?"

"Of trying to have a son?"

"Well it is something to consider…but at another time. I am not feeling well I think that I should go in." Regina answered, wanting to escape this conversation before it got too out of hand.

"Of course my dear, should I walk you in, would you like me to call a doctor?"

"No, that is not necessary; I think I just need to lie down, good night."

The King wanted a son. No thanks to her mother, the idea was planted in her daughter's head. Which of course would get back to her father, Danielle was such a talkative child. And if the King wanted another child, it would happen. You don't say no to a King.


Four Months later

"MOMMY IT IS MY BIRTHDAY" Danielle yelled as she ran into the room and leaped onto Regina's bed.

"Sorry I tried to stop her, but you know how she can be and today is her birthday." Bridget's quiet voice came from the background.

"That is quite all right Bridget." Regina answered as she sat up and pulled Danielle into a large hug.

"And so my darling do you feel any different now that you are five?" Regina asked.

"Not really" Danielle answered, "what does five feel like?"

Regina sat and thought for a moment, "I can't remember, you will just have to tell me, but why don't you go and get dressed and then we can have your birthday breakfast."

"Can't I have a present before I go?" Danielle asked, looking up with large eyes.

"I guess so" Regina answered pulling Danielle in close to her as she whispered something in her ear.

Danielle pulled back and looked at Regina with awe. "Really?"

"Yes, my darling would I lie to you, and on your birthday of all days, now go get dressed."

"Thank you Mommy" Danielle said giving Regina a hug before she jumped off of the bed and ran out of the room and through the hall back to her room shouting, "I'M GOING TO BE A BIG SISTER!"

Regina hardly had time to get out of bed before her mother walked into her room.

"Wow, I am getting a lot of visitors this morning" Regina said.

"Well that is one way to make a birth announcement" Cora replied.

"What?" Regina asked.

"Danielle, I think the whole kingdom may know that you are expecting by the end of the hour, you are expecting?"

Regina took a deep breath, "yes mother I am."

"Fantastic, how far along are you?"

"About two or three months I think, now if you don't mind I would like to get dressed for breakfast."

"Yes of course dear, and congratulations."

"And mother I don't need to remind you that you will not use magic on my children."

"We can talk about that more later dear, I will see you at breakfast."

That evening Regina lay in bed with Danielle stroking her hair. "So did you have a nice day my darling?"

"Yes, it was the best birthday ever. I get to be a big sister, and that saddle was beautiful I can't wait to go riding with it. We will have fantastic adventure times, once my new brother or sister is born I can show them how to ride too."

"That would be nice darling, you like adventure time?"

"Oh yes mommy it is my favorite, going out and exploring the woods. It makes me feel like I am not a princess, if only for a little while."

"Do you not like being a princess?" Regina asked concerned.

"I mean, it is fun. I like the pretty dresses but it can get boring, I wish all the time could be adventure time out in the woods with our horses.

"Well I will just have to remember that darling, good night I love you very much" Regina said as she bent down and kissed Danielle on the forehead before heading back to her own room.


Regina ran through the black stumbling over unseen obstacles, running away from a figure that she somehow knew was bad. She tripped and fell and turned around to see a black silhouette standing over her, hands raised, yielding a knife. She tried to scream but found that she could make so sound as the figure lowered the knife thrusting it into her lower abdomen. Her body screamed out in pain as if it were on fire.

She opened her eyes catching her breath. It was all a bad dream, but the pain, the pain was still there. Regina pulled back her sheets to they were stained red. She rolled over to stand up, doubling over in pain and made her way over to a bell. She grabbed it before the pain sent her down to her knees. She swung her arm, ringing the bell, alerting whoever could hear that help was needed in the Queen's chambers.

"Regina?" Regina looked up and saw her father and he walked into the room, still half asleep but brought my the ringing of the bell.

"Daddy" She said through clenched teeth. It felt as if pain was the only thing that controlled her body now. "please help me"

"What can I do darling please just tell me." Henry asked as he knelt by his daughter, not touching her for fear that he would cause her more pain.

"I can't…just please make the pain go away." She begged.

"It will darling soon" Henry replied and he moved forward to stroke her head.

Regina screamed out in pain as it intensified before everything went black.


What's going to happen to mother and child? Like I said I've got the next chapter written but I would love to get some reviews before posting it so I can get a feel of what people like and don't like so I can edit things to please people more. Sending me a PM is also another way to let me know what you think or do open up a conversation.