Thanks again for reading, following and reviewing!

So I took some liberties with magic and portals in this chapter, just a fair warning! ;)

DISCLAIMER: If it were mine, Regina would be much happier and get much more lovin' than she does.

Chapter 4

For Henry, his mother's story caused a million mixed feelings. Sure, she was right when she admitted that it was wrong to cast the curse, however… after hearing what she had been through, he could not in all honesty say that she was truly evil. She was just terribly sad. He sighed deeply, causing David to look at him with a small frown.

"What's wrong, Henry?"

Henry shrugged.

"I was just thinking about my mom… Gramps, do you think she'll ever have a true love again?"

"I don't know, buddy… maybe. Maybe it is possible to have more than one true love, maybe she'll meet someone and be happy."

Henry nodded and searched David's face, relieved when he saw the compassion the man clearly had.

"I just… I don't think she's evil, you know. I just think she's very sad."

After a long silence, David nodded.

"You know what, Henry? I think so too."

Henry moved, cuddling against David.

"I wanted the curse to break, I wanted to show everyone that she was the Evil Queen, but now… now I just want my mom to be happy."

As much as David wanted to, there was no comfort he could give. He could not make the promise that Regina would ever be happy and judging by the events of the previous day, the odds were certainly not in her favour.

Love again.

Daniel's words haunted him, and he thought deeply. Would he be able to love again? What if Snow and Emma never came back, what if he had to spend the rest of his life without his true love? Would he ever be able to love again or would he become what Regina was? A shell of the person he used to be, barely recognizable. It was Regina herself who broke through his thoughts as she descended the stairs. For a while, David observed her quietly. Before even meeting her, he had heard rumours of the Queen's astonishing beauty, yet he never truly believed it – until he saw her for the first time. He hated her, of course he did, but yet… When she saved him from King George – even when she threatened the life of his true love – there was a part of him that noticed her beauty. He would not have been human if he hadn't. He preferred the look she had as mayor over her sultry, seductive appearance as Queen, however. When he met her in the Enchanted Forest, her beauty was striking, but almost artificial – dark, seductive, alluring. As mayor, it was easier to spot her natural beauty. She did not need the extravagant make up and clothes to be beautiful – she simply was. He was too engrossed in his observations of her appearance to notice that she came to a standstill. Regina observed David worriedly – he was staring at her as though he was seeing her for the first time and truth be told, it unnerved her.

"David…? What's wrong?"

He shook his head dazedly and his ears turned red at his thoughts. Had he truly just been admiring Regina's appearance? She would probably have his head if she had any inclination of what he had been thinking. The words almost escaped his lips, but luckily he managed to prevent them.

"I was just thinking about how b… How much I miss Snow."

Regina bit down on her lip, considering her words carefully.

"I could help, you know? I don't know what I'd do, but I could try to help you find a way."

She looked at Henry nervously.

"I'd… I'd have to use magic though."

Henry's heart jumped painfully at her frightened statement. Once more he had something to feel guilty about – he had been so horrible to his mother, that she felt as though she needed his permission to use magic. Even if it was to help someone. Only now did he realize how much she loved him and how scared she was of losing him.

"It's okay, mom. You want to help and… It's okay if you use magic for good."

Regina knelt in front of Henry, looking at him earnestly. Her features were softened and like David, Henry could not help but notice how beautiful his mother was.

"I will never use it for evil again, Henry. I promise."

It had been a long day and both Regina and David were tired. They had spent the entire day, fruitlessly looking for a way to save Snow and Emma. Where they sat on Regina's couch, David could see that she was barely awake. Her eyes were closed and her head was leaned back against the couch. She jolted suddenly, eyes opening and she looked at him fervently.

"A portal! Why didn't I think of it? We need a portal."

David frowned and leaned forward.

"Regina, the hat was destroyed."

"Then we find another portal. I am sure it's possible, David… I can try to create one – it isn't easy and it will take some time, but I am one of the most powerful practitioners of magic who has ever lived, I can manage it - I'm sure of it."

David frowned slightly. Of course he wanted her to try, but he also knew that all magic came with a price and he did not think it fair if Regina had to be the one to pay that price.

"Won't it be dangerous?"

She hesitated and for just a second the truth flashed in her eyes. Then she put on a confident smile and shook her head.

"No. If I do it right – and I swear, I will – if I do it right, I promise you, David… no harm will come to Emma or Snow."

David leaned forward and took her hand in his. He figured that she was so used to being alone, she would not be able to believe that anyone could be concerned for her wellbeing.

"Regina, I wasn't talking about Emma or Snow. I was talking about you. Will you be safe?"

"Of course."

Her answer came too quickly and David pursed his lips.

"Don't lie to me, Regina."

She sighed and avoided his eyes.

"I don't know, David. It's complicated magic, there is no telling what the results will be."

His voice softened as he looked at the determination on her face.

"Regina… I don't want you to put yourself in danger. It isn't fair."

She could not help but think that his words were a far cry from his reaction when Emma and Snow first fell through the portal – he had gone from wanting to kill her himself to being concerned about her safety. She looked up at him and there was not a trace of sarcasm in her voice when she spoke.

"Why, David? I mean… why do you care all of a sudden?"

He sighed deeply. It was something that he had been thinking about too and he could not blame her for asking.

"Regina, I always saw you as the Evil Queen. Nothing more, nothing less. It never crossed my mind that there was more to you and now… you're human, Regina. As much as you try to show the world that you are made of steel, you're not."

She shrugged, feeling small and vulnerable.
"But you could get your wife and daughter back. Surely that outweighs any concern for my humanity."

"Henry would hate me if I allowed you to put yourself in danger and I… I'd never be able to forgive myself."

Regina moved her fingers to his chest softly, a strange look in her eyes.

"You must have such a pure heart, David."

It shocked him that there was no fear present in him as her fingers trailed over his chest. In another life, he would have pulled away – fearing the worst, but now… for some reason he just knew that Regina would not harm him. He caught her hand in his and squeezed it.

"I don't think your heart is as black as you think it is."

She plunged her heart into her chest without hesitation, pulling it out with her.

"Regina…"

David's voice was reduced to a gasp and she shrugged, observing the heart in her hands.

"Black as coal."

He took the beating heart out of her hands gently and she gasped, fearing that he would crush it as her mother had done to Daniel. Instead, he lifted it to observe it intently.

"No. No, it's not."

He held the heart out to her, pointing at a vague reddish hue forming underneath the black.

"I guess that's where Henry lives."

She inhaled sharply and he handed the heart back to her, watching as she put it where it belonged once more. The distraught expression on her face tore through him and he reached out, pulling her into her arms. For a few minutes it was uncomfortable and Regina wanted nothing more than to disappear. After a while, she relaxed in his embrace and although she would still not allow the tears to fall, she buried her face in his neck and allowed herself to feel safe.