Thanks for the reading, follows, favourites and reviews. I'm not one to beg for reviews, but I am breaking my own personal rule here... Please tell me what you think?

DISCLAIMER: Not mine.

Chapter 5

Weeks passed, and to David, Henry and Regina's frustration they were no closer to finding Snow and Emma than they had been on the dreadful day they were taken. David easily noticed that the frustration was getting to Regina – she was irritable, short-tempered and downright bitchy. It had been another long day, and after Henry had fallen asleep, Regina decided to bring the topic of magic up again.

"If you just let me create some sort of portal, if you let me…"

"No, Regina!"

She threw her hands up in the air at his harsh tone.

"Why not?"

David took a step closer and grabbed on to her shoulders.

"Because I don't want you to die, trying to save them."

Regina almost allowed herself to be touched by his kind words, but decided on taunting him instead.

"Why? Do you want to do it yourself after they are back?"

He shook his head angrily and almost shook her out of her stupidity.

"I do not want you to die."

"Why would you care whether I live or die?"

He could have used Henry – or even guilt – as an excuse, but deep down he knew it wasn't the truth. He looked down at her, struck once again by the emotion in her eyes.

"I don't know. I just do."

She was suddenly reminded of the time before the curse broke, when she had planned on seducing him. It was partly to hurt Snow (after all, most things she did was to hurt Snow), but he had been kind to her, caring and in that instant, she wanted to feel as though someone cared. She wanted him to desire her. His mouth was so close to her face and she wondered what it would be like to kiss him.

He wouldn't be rough like Graham, or passionate like Hook. She severely doubted that his kisses would be sloppy like Leopold's. If she had to compare, she guessed that his kiss would be soft, gentle… like Daniel's innocent kisses.

Daniel.

The thought of her true love woke her from her hazy thoughts and she pushed him away roughly.

"What are you doing?"

He took a large step black, suddenly pale.

"I'm sorry, Regina… I don't know what I was thinking, I just…"

David shrugged. Snow had been gone for a LONG time and he was a red blooded male – and Regina was a gorgeous woman, of course there would be some attraction caused by his immense sexual frustration. She still seemed offended where she leaned against the wall and David released a breath.

"You are beautiful."

She was trapped between his body and the wall once more and he bent his head down to kiss her. This time, so unlike before, it was Regina who pulled away, trying to duck his searching lips.

"David… don't."

She had meant for her voice to be forceful, but it came out as a pathetic whisper. Snow was the furthest thing from his mind as he allowed his eyes to travel over her. Dark hair, expressive chocolate eyes, flawless skin, full red lips… his hands moved to touch a scar he only now noticed on her upper lip.

"What happened?"

She slapped his hand away, unwilling to answer and turned her head to avoid his gaze. It did not deter him and he moved his hand to caress the small mark again.

"It doesn't matter. It makes you even more beautiful."

Regina pursed her lips. She could feel the magic bubbling in her fingertips, begging her to take the quick escape it could give her. She promised Henry though… All logical thought of promises and doing good left her when she saw him leaning in, his head coming closer and she lifted her hands, blasting him away from her. He winced when he landed against the wall and looked up at her petulantly.

Regina approached him and the look in her eyes clearly showed him why the Evil Queen was feared throughout the forest.

"Now you listen to me carefully, Charming… I am not some whore you can entertain yourself with while your precious wife is away. If you want to keep your hands attached to your body, I suggest you keep them off of me."

She spun on her heel and moved to the stairs, shooting him a last vicious glance.

"I do not expect to find you in my house tomorrow morning."

As much as David hated the thought of leaving Henry alone with Regina, he could clearly see that he did not have much of a choice. He hated himself for what he had almost done. How could he even think about noticing Regina in that way? The answer was right in front of him, as much as he hated it – ever since he saw her human side, her vulnerability, he had allowed himself to see her as an actual woman and he found that woman extremely alluring. He smirked to himself. He could only imagine Snow's reaction if she was ever to find out about his treacherous thoughts. Yet… a grin formed on his lips as he thought of Regina's threat. Although she was furious, there was a bit of fire that had returned to her eyes and he preferred the anger, any emotion, over the dead emptiness that had resided in her since Daniel's second death. He fell down on his bed with a deep sigh. The previous night, he had slept on Regina's bed with the woman right next to him and the thought of touching her – even in sleep – was terrifying. Tonight, his bed felt terribly empty and as much as he tried to deny it, he longed for a body next to him. What worried him was that the warm body he imagined next to him was not Snow's. Instead, as he closed his eyes and prepared to drift off to sleep, it was Regina's petite frame he imagined next to him.

In her own bed, Regina bristled with anger. She could not believe the audacity of the man. And he was supposed to be charming? Her entire body stiffened at the thought that he could have kissed her and she bit down on her lip hard when she realized that she wasn't truly repulsed by the thought. Angry, yes. Shocked, yes. Offended because of the situation with him being Snow's husband? Of course. Yet, not repulsed. After all, David was not the ugliest man in the world. He was no Daniel, of course. She stifled a sob and curled up in a small bundle. She missed Daniel with every fibre of her being and seeing him again after so many years, only to watch him slip through her fingers, was pure torture. She shouldn't have killed him – perhaps there was another way, a way to help him. Perhaps there was something she could have done to bring the real Daniel back to her, perhaps…

"Mom?"

Henry appeared in the doorway sleepily and Regina looked at him through her tears.

"Yes, dear?"

He moved closer hesitantly and crawled onto the bed with her. He nestled his head against her shoulder.

"I heard you crying."

Regina sniffed, embarrassed for showing so much weakness.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart."

Henry looked shocked and he shook his head.

"No, mom…don't be sorry. It's okay to be sad."

Regina forced herself to smile.

"But it's not okay to stop being a mother because of that sadness."

"You're still my mom. Where's gramps?"

Regina bit down on her lower lip, the image of David pinning her against the wall fresh in her mind again.
"He… he wanted to spend the night at his apartment. He missed Snow I guess and he didn't want to wake you."

Henry nodded.

"I'm glad he didn't wake me up. I'd rather stay here with you anyway."

Regina could hardly believe her son's words and almost started crying all over again. She pulled him closer, nearly smothering him in her embrace.

"I love you so much, Henry."

There was a time – not too long ago – when Henry would have doubted the truth behind her words, but all of that had changed in the last few days. So he snuggled up against her with a gentle smile.

"I know, mom. I love you too."