Oh, guys, I'm so so so sorry. I haven't update in ages. I was so busy, college is making me crazy! And, besides, my beta is really busy too and you all know I can do nothing without her. But, don't fear, my dear, I'm not letting this story die.
Need I say something about the season finale? My heart is broken (poor baby Regina) and at the same time I'm incredible excited about Elsa!
To CCangel; Wow, I'm so happy you feel all that things just reading my chapter, really! You can't understand how happy you make me feel when people like you show me that I can touch you with my words. Thank you so much!
To opheliafrump; heartbreaking huh? Wasn't it what you wanted? haha But don't get your hopes up, please ;)
To anapcmesquita; Agonia? Poxa, amiga, é porque você já sabe o que vai acontecer. Obrigado por sempre estar presente ;) E, dessa vez, estou te desafiando... review em português ok? ;*
To Gotapenname; wow hahahahaa I'm glad you thought last chapter was intense. About things getting better... I don't know, just don't get your hopes up, please ;) haha See you in the next?
To snooplydoodles17; How can I thank you enough? I will never be able to thank those who have been around for so long and never gave up on my story. Thank you for believing in this, believing that I could do this and for reading and always letting me reviews... it's so important. Thank you.
To MeMirellaVieira; Ah, miiii, obrigada por sempre reservar um tempo para me deixar comentários, eles são tão importantes. QUe bom que te deixei ansiosa pra saber o que aconteceu. Infelizmente, eu acho que você não vai conseguir algumas dessas respostas nesse capítulo, mas nós estamos quase lá, né? Só mais dois capítulos e essa história estará completa. Finalmente!
To mihpuretachi; Juro que li sua review pelo menos umas 20 vezes, não conseguia parar de imaginar essa cena. Você sentada no escritório com cara de desolada. É tão legal saber que eu posso fazer isso com vocês, sério! A riqueza de detalhes, eu simplesmente não consigo não escreve-los e é bom quando vocês percebem isso. Muito obrigada, mih. Eu sabia que você ia ficar louca com a interação entre a Emma e a Regina haha. Quanto a explosão... Regina derrotou Cora, mas "all magic comes with a price", right? Beeeeeijos ;**
To EvilRegalTwinnies; Thank you so much! Hope you enjoy this chapter.
To Livialittleliar; Noooosssa, suas palavras me deixam sempre com um sorriso bobo no rosto, caramba! Eu amo dramatizar no final, né? Ain, simplesmente não consigo deixar quieto haha Você vai ver isso... certo, minha goleirinha? Posse te chamar assim, né? Beeijos :* Aahhhh, adorei seu desejo pra Cora haha.
To md88; Hahaha Happy ending huh? I can't promisse you that, I think you'll have to keep around. Cora is permanently dead. I think doesn't matter who is nurse, she's not going to play any important character, but I can bring her back someday who knows? About the anaesthetic, it was an emergency surgery and when she got in the hospital, she was already dead, they didn't have time to anesthetize her, at last I don't think so. I'm sorry if I disappointed you, I hope not. Kiiiiisses ;*
To ouatamazing; Haha I'm so sorry for the longest delay in update this, but here is it. Hope you enjoy. ;***
To Britney; Haha Yeeeeeep, I'm happy you liked last chapter. Sorry about the delay, please. :* Hope you like this one too.
To Caio Martinelli; Ei, você é novo por aqui? Eu não sabia que havia meninos lendo essa história, então você simplesmente trouxe uma surpresa e me deixou tãaaaaao alegre. Muito muito obrigada, séerio mesmo! A continuação está aqui, aproveite! ;***
To Kristy; Thank youuu sooooo much! Lov u ;**
Enjoy!
CHAPTER 48 – THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DREAMS - PART 1
She felt incredibly comfortable. She couldn't remember feeling this kind of peace in years. She didn't remember much of anything actually. Everything was just a confused blur. A familiar scent brought an involuntary smile.
"Wake up. My love, wake up!" The voice called with some urgency and seemed almost frantic, but somehow was full of concern.
A soft and gentle voice that she remembered very well, but she knew it couldn't be real. Maybe that's why she decided to stay like this. Comfortable. She felt as if she was dreaming.
"You can't stay asleep. Wake up! You need to wake up now." The voice insisted, and this time she could feel his hands shaking her shoulder in an attempt to wake her.
She groaned, but opened her eyes. The smile that left her lips was full of longing. She couldn't believe he was here, once again, her Daniel.
"Daniel." She whispered with a smirk.
"Hi, Gina." He grinned back. "You gave me a fright."
Then she began to look around them. The place wasn't familiar, but it was beautiful and peaceful. She was lying in bed and watching the room where she was, it seemed to be a kind of hut. The sun shone high out there.
"Where are we?" She asked confused. "Am I dead?"
"No." He widened his eyes and shook his head frantically. "You're not dead."
"But you are." She whispered in shame.
She could see it in his eyes, the sadness. But as quickly as it appeared, it was gone and in its place a playful smile appeared on his face and he held out his hands toward her, encouraging her to take it.
"Come on." He said happily. "I want to introduce you to this place. It's beautiful, you'll love it."
"But where are we?" She asked, taking his hand.
"Oh, don't be so boring, Regina. Come on."
She couldn't criticize him or fight with him for calling her boring. He could talk to her like that, because after all, she loved him and she trusted him. She grinned as he dragged her out of the hut.
"Come on, we can do anything you want. What do you want to do?" Daniel yelled running in front of her.
"Anything?" She asked anxiously.
"Anything. What do you want to do?"
"I... I don't know... I don't-"
"Always letting reason speak louder, I thought you had changed." He said between laughs when he saw her gaze.
"I don't let reason speak louder." She said pretending to be upset.
"No, of course not." He said, resolving to let it go. "There," He pointed to a tree in the middle of the field. "The last one to get there will have to pay for the other's food later."
When he was ready to run, he merely observed that she hadn't moved from her place and was now looking down with her eyes a little embarrassed and sad.
"What?" He called from afar. "You're a great runner, come on." He called, gesturing with his hand.
"I have no money." She said quietly.
He broke down and laughed out loud, really loud.
"What?" She asked, confused by the sudden explosion.
"I was joking with you, you won't need to pay for anything. I'll let you win."
"Hey!" She approached him. "You think I can't beat you?"
"I didn't say that."
"You said you'd let me win."
"Oh, that's right, I said that." He said with a playful smile.
"Take back what you said."
"No."
"Take it back." She threatened, but her eyes didn't present any threat, they were playful.
"I already said no."
"Okay, then. You asked for it." She said and in the next second she was running toward the tree as fast as she could.
"Hey, you cheated!" He screamed, but she gave no concern. He smiled to himself and started running, knowing that now he could no longer reach the tree before her.
"I told you to take back what you said." She said with a triumphant smile as she recovered her breath. Why did she feel so tired all of a sudden?
"You tricked me, so our bet was considered canceled." He said and began to climb the tree, earning a startled look from her.
"What are you doing?" She asked with wide eyes.
"Eating apples. What do you think?"
He could see the spark of fear in her eyes. She looked around and it was like she was expecting to be reprimanded or disciplined. Daniel frowned and then he realized what it was. She was afraid of Cora.
"Your mother is not here, let's go. The apple is a thousand times more delicious when you eat straight from the tree." He said with a bright smile.
"But... I don't... I think we shouldn't..." She was stuttering and it was funny to him. "We better not-"
"Like I said, you always let reason speak louder."
And, after some time trying, he managed to convince her. Now they were eating apples, both seated and anchored in different branches of the tree.
"So?"
"What," She asked absently.
"They are much better eating straight from the tree, aren't they?"
"Yes, much better." She said and gave a final bite on her apple, letting the rest of it fall to the floor, next to a bunch of the other debris.
Some time passed before Regina broke the comfortable silence that had been settled between them.
"Daniel." She called. "Can we get down now? I'm not feeling very well."
"What are you feeling?" He turned quickly toward her, his voice a little desperate and scared.
"Oh, it's nothing too serious. I'm just a little dizzy." She said, deciding to ignore the obvious desperation in his voice.
He quickly got down from the tree and carefully helped her down. Not caring what she could say, he put his hand on her forehead to see if she had some kind of fever.
"What are you doing?" She said walking away from him.
"I'm checking if you have a fever." He answered with serious eyes.
"I'm fine, why would I have a fever?" She joked, but he didn't laugh and it caught her attention. "Daniel, is there something you're not telling me?"
He opened and closed his mouth a few times, no answer came. Regina frowned, but soon he was pulling her by the hand toward the open field.
"Come on. There are a lot of things and places I want to show you." He said excitedly.
Daniel led her to so many different places. Each one had some meaning for her, even though she didn't realize that. They rode on horses, he taught her to use a sword and even taught her to fight with the sword, even though he realized that she simply had no way to handle a sword.
The questions also came in a huge amount to tell the truth, but Daniel always ended up getting her distracted from the questions whose answers he didn't have to give, or just couldn't.
Now Daniel had taken her to a village and he was watching her, charmed. She was standing with a bunch of children, children of the villagers, playing. Happy shouts and laughter could be heard from afar. The children seemed tireless. They ran and danced and every moment they pulled Regina to and fro.
The happiness on her face was priceless. There, she was just the little girl who dreamed of being able to play with the villagers, but had been taught that this type of interaction wasn't for royals. Cora would never allow her to play with these types of children, no matter how many times she would be punished just for daring to ask for it.
"Come on, Daniel!" She shouted from afar, being pulled by one of the children.
He smiled and ran toward her only to be pulled by another child that grabbed his hand and now was dragging him toward a wheel that had been formed. He was on one side of the wheel and Regina was almost in front of him. The children were running, jumping, singing and dancing. They were happy. She was happy, her smile was silly and it was like she was realizing one of her childhood's dreams. And she was.
Amidst the dances and plays the silly grin gave way to a frown and Daniel saw Regina falling to the ground. When he reached her, he wrapped his arms around her body and put one of his hands on her cheek, staring intently at the now pale face.
"Regina, baby, what are you feeling?" He asked desperately. The children had stopped dancing and were all around them, looking frightened at the woman lying on the floor.
"I'm tired, Daniel." She whispered, closing her eyes for a brief moment and letting it go by with the feeling of comfort coming from her beloved's arms.
"Hey," He yelled and scared her. "Don't sleep."
She frowned. "Daniel, why don't you ever let me sleep?"
He gasped at the sudden question, but quickly came up with an answer. "Because there's so much we can still do, you know that."
"You're lying to me." She said with sad eyes. "What is this place? Why am I here? Why does it seem like I've been here for days, but I don't remember any night... it's as if there are no nights here."
He took her from the floor and pulled her away from the curious children.
"Regina, I'll show you-" He simply changed the subject, as he had done countless times before, but this time she wouldn't fall for this.
"No." She said aloud, and walked away from him. "No more lies, Daniel. I know you're lying to me. You're hiding things from me." She accused.
"I'm not lying." He spoke quickly and held out his hand for her to take it again, but she didn't.
"You are." She said sadly.
"Regina-"
"No! You're lying to me. Of all people, Daniel, you're the one that I thought would never lie to me and here you are." Her eyes were full of tears.
"Regina, let me explain." He asked once more.
"No. I want to be alone." She said, turned around and started walking in the direction of the houses in the village.
"Regina!" He called and ran over to her, pulling her arm in the way. "No! You won't be alone."
"Let me go, Daniel." She said irritably. "If you can't tell me the truth, you can't stay with me."
"Please stay with me." He begged.
"Tell me what's going on, Daniel." She asked again.
"I'm sorry." He said with sad eyes. "But I can't, Regina."
She looked even more disappointed and sad.
"Don't follow me." She said and ran away.
It looked like she was running for hours, but maybe it were just a few seconds. Who knows? The truth is that time just seemed to not pass by around here. She only stopped when she reached the isolated village halls. Her breathing was irregular and it seemed that her world was starting to spin again, but that wasn't what bothered her at that moment. Daniel was lying to her, he was hiding something and she knew it. She knew it since the first time she began to ask him questions.
Now, stopping to think, she realized she had no idea for how long she has been in here. It seemed like days... days that Daniel was trying to distract her with everything that came to his mind, but something was missing. Something was out of place. It is as if some piece of her heart wasn't there with her, but she couldn't tell what it was.
"Are you okay, miss?" She was interrupted from her thoughts by a woman who approached her with a child on her hip.
Something was pounding in her heart. The feeling that she was forgetting something important. The feeling that she should remember something, but she just didn't know what.
"Yes, I'm fine." Regina replied instantly, even though she wasn't feeling fine.
"You look tired. You are the new girl of the village, aren't you?"
"Yes, I think I am." She grinned.
The woman took her to her home and, realizing the tiredness in Regina's eyes, prepared a place so the brunette could rest for a little bit. The calm and peace in the room couldn't be more inviting and that's why she was carried away by fatigue and closed her eyes. The comfort of the sheets beneath her, the sweet smell, the soft pillow and small laughter coming from the child in the other room... it was like she could fly, it was like she was floating. She was carried away and finally fell asleep.
"Regina? Regina?!"
The cries brutally uprooted her from her place of peace. Strong hands were squeezing her shoulders and shaking her fiercely. She opened her eyes frightened and Daniel's shape soon began to appear. He was looking at her with angry eyes and it scared her. She had never seen him like that. Never with eyes like that.
"Daniel?" Regina whispered confused.
"I told you not to sleep. Why do you have to be so stubborn?" He was yelling at her. "You don't know anything about this place. I told you to not sleep and the first thing you do is go to sleep? Why do you have to be so stubborn? I'm tired of your stupid stubbornness!"
"Daniel, you're hurting me. Let me go!" She said with wide eyes as she felt the pressure that Daniel's hand was doing on her arm.
The man was startled, he hadn't even realized he was clutching Regina's arm until she realized the frightened look in her eyes. He had hurt her. He had just hurt Regina, the only woman who lived in his dreams, the only person for whom he would die.
"Regina, I'm sorry, I didn't-" Daniel tried to apologize, but was interrupted by her.
"Get out of here." She demanded with tears in her eyes. She had turned away from him and sat with her arms hugging her legs, which were now in contact with her chest.
"I'm so sorry, my love, please. I don't want to hurt you, I just-"
"You just what?!"
"You scared me... I thought... I thought-"
"You thought what?" She asked angrily. "I'm dead, aren't I? That's what you've been trying to hide from me, right?" She looks forward to a response.
"You want the truth, right?" He sighs as he watches her reaction. The anger in her eyes disappears instantly and she nods. "I'll tell you the truth."
With that, he sits on the bed, as close to her as possible and takes her hands in his. He was glad that this time she didn't push him away, on the contrary, she moved closer and rested her head on his chest. A tired smile invaded her lips. She had dreamed so many times about it. Having him so close, being able to touch him or hug him and now that she could do that, she didn't feel complete. Something was missing, but what?
"You're not dead." He said suddenly. "Something happened and you got really hurt." He began stroking her hair gently.
"But what happened?" She asked, removing her head from his chest so that she could look into his eyes. Curiosity, concern and confusion written all over her face.
"I know I said I'd tell you the whole truth and I will, I promise. But there are many things I can't tell you because I don't know. You need to remember it." He squeezed their still intertwined hands.
And there it was again, the feeling that something was missing, the feeling that she wasn't remembering something important.
"You need to remember."
Why did she have a feeling that this wasn't the first time she was hearing this?
"I don't know what you're talking about, Daniel. What do I need to remember? What is this place?" She asked confused.
"This place, the people... me... it's all in your head." He speaks quietly.
"What?!" She asks scared. "No! You're real, I can feel you, I can touch you. This can't be a dream."
"It's not a dream, Regina."
"So what is it? Where are we?"
"I believe that your mind created a kind of safe place."
"Safe place? What do you mean?"
This time he didn't answer, however. He gets out of bed and offers one of his hands so she could take it. "Come on, I'll tell you everything you need to know."
She doesn't think twice before accepting the hand and together they leave the house, but not before thanking the friendly woman who had welcomed Regina.
It was a few minutes that they were walking in silence. Clasped hands, slow but steady steps, and a flurry of unanswered questions. They had moved away from the village and were walking in a large field that looked more like a big, infinite green carpet.
"So," She called quietly. "A safe place?"
"Yes, a safe place."
"But what does that mean? I mean, why am I here?"
"As I said before, something happened and you got badly hurt."
"But what happened? How did I get hurt?"
"I can't tell you. You need to remember. You need to be strong as I know you are." He smiled sadly at her. "The strongest and bravest woman I know."
"But what do I need to remember? Why do I need to be strong?"
Ignoring the questions she was asking him, he suddenly stopped and pulled her closer to him so that she could pay full attention to what he would say.
"You asked me several times why you can't sleep," He began softly and she nodded, her brow furrowed in obvious sign of concentration. "You're alive, but if you sleep... it's a sign that you are giving up and you can't give up. If you sleep, you won't come back."
"But I'm tired-"
"I know you're tired, I can see that while the time passes by, but I need you to promise me you won't sleep. Whatever happens, you won't sleep, you promise?" He asked anxiously.
"Why would I want to come back? I just found you." She asked with a soft smile gracing her face.
Daniel's heart pounded in his chest, so strong that it scared him. He loved her. She was the woman of his dreams, the woman of his life and there was nothing in this world that he wanted more than to be able to have her in his arms forever.
But now she was no longer his. She had people waiting for her. People who needed her.
Now she had a family. A true family.
"They need you, Regina." He said with an encouraging smile, but his eyes weren't deceiving her. He was sad.
"They? Who are they?"
"I can't tell you, you need to remember."
She seemed upset again. Why couldn't he just tell her the truth?
"Daniel," She caught his eye. "Look at me." She said putting one of her hands on one side of his face, moving his face until his eyes were totally and completely focused on her and only on her. "I will always choose you."
"You don't understand."
"What don't I understand? I love you, Daniel."
"I know, I love you too. I love you too much and that's why you can't give up. You have a chance to be happy, like you've never had."
"But I can only be happy with you."
There was no use in arguing with her, Daniel took a long time to realize that, but he finally did. Regina didn't know what was happening. She didn't remember what she was leaving behind. She didn't remember what had happened, or how she had gotten here.
"What's the last thing you remember?" He asked expectantly.
"I..." She frowned. It was all a big blur. "I don't know."
He sighed sadly. "You will remember, I promise."
"I'm tired, Daniel." She whispered.
"I know, hold on just a little longer, okay? You remember what I said, do you? No sleeping."
She didn't answer, but he could feel the movement of her head against his back.
"Hold on, we need to get to the stables before the rain reaches us."
In response, he felt her hands tighten even more around his body. He ran as fast as he could, but the rain was faster than them. They were soaked in a matter of seconds, which didn't mean a good thing, since Regina had been considerably worse with each passing day.
In fact, he didn't even know how long they'd been here. He didn't know if they were here for months, days or just hours. Time just didn't seem to change even though they have done so many things, even though he has taken her to make and meet so many different things. He knew that time was running out, he didn't know how, but he knew it.
She was getting weaker and increasingly tired over time. A persistent fever had taken hold of her body and she felt more tired and exhausted than before.
"Hey, my princess, we're already almost there." He spoke against the wind hitting his face.
He received only a tired groan in response and felt the grip of her hands loosened considerably. Soon he felt the weight of her body increase. He panicked immediately.
"Regina?! Regina, what is happening?"
She responded with another groan and winced. He stopped in the middle of the field, not caring about the rain, just with the woman on the horse. He dismounted it and if hadn't he been fast enough, Regina would have fallen to the ground.
"Regina?"
"Tired, Daniel." She muttered as she tried to keep it standing.
"No... no... hold on a little longer." He insisted.
"I can't anymore, Daniel." She whispered, giving in to the weight of her own body and letting herself be supported by him and nothing more. "I really need to sleep."
"No! No sleeping, remember?" He cried in despair, but his world seemed to crumble when she closed her eyes and her body totally caved.
He didn't know what to do or what to think. It wasn't to be like this. She couldn't sleep, she needed to remember who she was, and remember the promises of people who were waiting for her.
He took her in his arms and ran desperately to the stables, running from the storm that had formed over their heads. Once inside, he laid her on the floor and began to call her. There was nothing more he could do, and if there was something, he didn't know what.
Some desperate attempts and she opened her eyes. He didn't wait for any reaction from her and by instinct got her to her feet. He didn't want her to sleep and being in a lying position did nothing to help.
"You need to remember." He insisted with desperate eyes. "Regina, you need to remember! We don't have much time."
But she didn't question him and she didn't answer. Instead, her eyes widened and she opened her mouth scared.
"Daniel?" She called in horror. "I can't... I can't breathe."
And with that, exalted breaths began to leave her mouth, but it wasn't working. As much as she tried to pull air, there was no use. She began to pant without success. She began to despair. She couldn't breathe.
"Daniel!" She said between interspersed breaths. "What is... happening? I can't... breathe."
"Remember, Regina. Please, remember. You need to remember. We don't have much time. Strive. You can't stay here." He said holding her in his arms.
She shook her head in an obvious sign of confusion.
"I want to stay... here... with you." Her eyes filled with tears.
"No!" He shook his head frantically. "They need you, you know that."
"I don't-"
However, she failed to finish. A cry broke into her ears. She forced her eyes around her, but she couldn't see where the sound was coming from, but it was getting louder. It was a baby crying.
"What... what is that?" She asked confused.
"Can you hear?" He asked hopefully. "Can you hear that?"
"There's... a baby crying, Daniel ... where is it?"
"You're remembering! You did this, I knew you would do that." He smiled with tears of joy starting to invade his eyes.
"Remembering what?" She question confused.
"Just listen. Try to remember, I know you can do that."
She looked at him a little confused, but the hope and certainty in his eyes encouraged her to force her mind. Just a little more.
So, it came all at once. The memories. Dreams, plans and projects. The joy that she didn't know she could feel. The feeling that something was missing went away immediately.
Henry. Her Henry, her little boy, who wasn't so small anymore, but that would always be her little prince. His family also appeared. Snow, David and Emma, but she didn't feel anger. Rather, she felt affection.
Green eyes surfaced and red hair came together. The peace, tranquility, love. Love? Then, eyes and hair turn into a face. Archie. Her true love.
Small black spots began to move and suddenly took shape. Two dogs began barking and play right before her eyes. Pongo and Perdita.
And the cries got higher. But this time she realized there wasn't only one crying, there were two, like if there were two babies crying. So a decorated room appeared right in front of her eyes. Two cots. Small pink outfits that she could almost sense its smell. She could feel them, but why couldn't she see their faces?
Names started dancing in her mind. Isabella. Lillian.
She gasped when the pictures were gone and only one was left behind. She needed to get away, she needed to go back. She wanted to go back.
All these things happened in a split second, but for Regina it was like an eternity. When she came to herself, when the images disappeared, she was still panting, trying to breathe.
"You remember, don't you?" Daniel asked, but he didn't need answers. She was disappearing.
"What is... happening to me?" She asked in shock when she realized her own skin becoming clearer over time.
"You chose to be happy." He whispered.
It wasn't an accusation, because Daniel would never do that to her, but she saw his eyes. There was a twinge of sadness there and it broke her heart again. She loved him so much. She loved him too much. She had cursed an entire kingdom just to take revenge for his death. She had killed and injured people so they could feel her loss.
She remembers saying to him that she always would choose him, but now... now she felt that her heart was no longer with him, her heart no longer belonged to him.
Her heart belonged to Archie now.
"Daniel, I'm... I'm so sorry," She whispered tearfully. She was crying openly now, he was too, but administering breathing and crying at the same time was too much.
"Don't be." He smiled and hugged her tight. He held her as if it was the last time he would do that, and probably it was. "Your heart made a choice and don't worry, it made the right choice." He sniffed. "You will be happy and I couldn't be happier."
"But... I don't want to lose you." She cried.
"You won't. I'll be in your heart." He said and pulled away from the embrace, holding her hands and looking deeply into her eyes. "I love you, I will always love you."
He smiled one last time and kissed her gently on the forehead.
Then, everything was gone.
So, what you think it's happening? Is she dying? Is she alive? Let me know what you think.
I feel like I need to warn you, though, we're getting close to an end (FINALLY!) haha Only two more chapters and we will be done! Yah!
Thank you, everybody!
Ahhhh, 500 fucking reviews?! Have you any idea what that means to me? I think you don't. Thank you so much for giving me this, you're amazing! Thank you very much!