I apologize once again for the wait you guys! Ive been super busy doing these drawing commissions and riding and working :/ I do however have another story planned out to take the spot of SLBP when it comes to and end and I am really excited for it! Anyway here is a nice long chapter for you all that's full of fun things :) enjoy! And please please review! :D

"Good morning," she grinned as she walked from her closet with a dark plum coloured dress hanging from a wooden hanger hooked on her fingers.

David furrowed his brow as he took a deep breath and stretched his waking muscles, "how the hell do you keep getting out of bed without waking me up? And why? It's Saturday, Regina."

"Because I have things to do and you sleep like a rock so it is not too difficult," she laughed under her breath with a bright smile and he sat up a little and braced his weight on his elbows.

Slowly a smirk curled his mouth as he watched her walk. Her hair and makeup were already done and he could just detect the soft scent of her perfume. Her strong lithe body was hardly covered. She wore only a pair of black lace panties and a matching black bra. The rest of her perfect body was left for him to stare at.

When she caught him staring she laid her dress on the end of the bed and proceeded to crawl up to him and on to him with a devious grin. She straddled his hips and stayed bent at the waist as her hands moved heavily up his chest but he didn't touch her and instead enjoyed the feeling of her on top of him and taking her time. Her fingers bent around the nape of his neck and she made her desires quite clear with her kiss.

Hard and passionate but not rushed as she pulled his head even closer to her own. Her hot breath skimming past his lips had shivers running down his spine and he sat up a little taller so he could hold up his own weight and lift his elbows off the bed and let his heavy hands roam.

They started around the bend of her knees and slowly made their way up her thighs and over her hips and then held her narrow waist and urged her closer. She had humoured him the night before and did not try to have sex but she imagined his mind had changed now. She laughed against his mouth when he flipped them over and laid on top of her and proceeded to slide his hands up her sides and over her ribs. He pushed her head back deeper in to the bed with a hard kiss and she arched her back in to him as he moved his hands up her arms and pinned her wrists above her head.

"Nice try," he whispered slowly and kissed her one last time before he climbed off of her and stood up before walking away with a smug grin.

Regina laid there for a few moments in confusion before she propped herself up on her elbows and look at him with her brow furrowed, "are you serious?"

"I told you," David smiled as he turned around to look at her and shrugged his shoulders up, "no sex for a week," he dropped his shoulders with a smile and she let out a single breathy laugh with an irritated and disbelieving smile of her own.

"You're serious?!"

"Absolutely."

She watched him turn back around with a more stern edge to his expression and her mouth was open in disbelief as she tried to find her voice but she had no words as he walked away from her toward the bathroom. So she closed her mouth and looked to her right and picked up his pillow and threw it at his back.

David laughed quietly and looked over his shoulder to find her squinting her eyes with a thoroughly irritated and sarcastic smile as she swung her legs off the side of the bed and snatched up her dress as she walked by it.

...

Regina stood in the kitchen bent at the waist with her elbow on the counter and her hand on her jaw holding her head up. Back and forth, back and forth, around in a circle and then back and forth before a pause...and then back and forth. She moved her free hand in different patterns and the bowl full of cereal followed the magic. Toward her, away from her, to the left, to the right. Boredom was etched on to her features as she followed the bowl with her eyes and Cora stood incredibly patiently with a spoon in her hand waiting for her to finish with her games.

Cora took a long silent breath as she watched Regina move her breakfast around the countertop. She understood why Regina was doing it but that didn't make it any less annoying. Compared to her many other stunts however, this was nothing. One could say she had grown a higher tolerance of Regina's antics. So she waited patiently in similar boredom to her daughter's and watched the bowl travel the counter as if on its own.

A little bowl pushing was nothing compared to Regina's sharp tongue the day before.

Dissatisfied with Cora's indifference, Regina let the bowl stand still in front of her mother and let a long breath out her nose as she put her other hand on the other side of her jaw to hold up her head. She watched as Cora took the bowl as though nothing had happened and began eating and Regina couldn't help but pull back her lip a little in distaste that Cora was adjusting.

"Playing nice?" David raised an eyebrow as he walked in to the kitchen but Regina completely ignored him.

"All is well, David," Cora nodded with a pleasant expression. Not really smiling but perhaps starting to.

"Good," he smiled and walked to Regina's side but when he got close to her she pushed against his chest with one hand. When he stepped backward a little to catch his balance that he had been startled out of, she waved her hand dismissively at him without so much as a glance his way. He let out a quiet amused chuckle in response and proceeded to turn away from her and opened the cupboard.

"Are you guys fighting?" Henry asked curiously as he stopped next to Cora. At the sharp look his mother gave him he took a large step sideways to increase the distance between himself and Cora. At the change, her gaze softened and she offered a small smile before looking away.

"Not really," David shook his head as he pulled a bowl from the cupboard and looked over his shoulder as he opened the drawer for a spoon, "bickering is a better word."

"Eat up, dear," Regina nodded toward Henry before she stood up tall and continued to ignore David as he laughed quietly behind her. Cora remained indifferent really, "your training starts today," she started and Henry's face lit up impressively before she turned to walk away but took the time to jab at David who had brought his things to the island and was standing next to her. She stepped up to him as she moved to go around him and lowered the tone of her voice just a little and lightly brushed her front against his side as she slowly walked by, "a good knight should start the day with a good meal."

David laughed quietly as he poured his cereal and she walked away. Henry hadn't noticed for he was too busy frantically trying to make himself a bowl of cereal so he could start with his mother but Cora had and she let it be known with a long sigh as she poked at her cereal with her spoon.

"You do realize that you have just made my life a whole lot more difficult. I could at least count on you to calm her down but now she is going to be a storm to be reckoned with."

"Think of it as achieving a higher status. Beginner to expert level," he chuckled and she shook her head in irritation.

...

"Good, good," Regina nodded and approved his movement as he swung his sword at her and she easily blocked him with her own. "Lighter on your feet, footwork is important," she smiled when he immediately changed his feet, "good."

"This is kinda tricky," he grinned with a laugh as he swung again and she effortlessly maneuvered her sword to stop him with a smile and he swung again.

"You are doing very well," she praised and blocked him again and then again and again.

"Have you had these swords in the house the whole time?"

"No," she chuckled when he swung a little harder and the metal clashed a little louder, "not in the house."

"Your vault then?"

"Mhm."

"And you never taught me how to use it?"

"What? And give you further proof that I was from another land?" She laughed and swung at him for a change and found her grin to only grow when he lifted his sword to block hers.

"Well really it would have pulled suspicion away from you being the Evil Queen because why would the Evil Queen feel the need to know how to use a sword? With all that magic and everything."

"Entertainment value," she laughed and he rolled his eyes with a laugh as well, "I did fight in a war you know. It was a useful skill and it was always amusing when a knight felt so courageous as to come at me with a blade only to find that I was more than capable to defend myself," she grinned and he shook his head with a laugh.

"The trick is to be great and let everyone know," she smiled and then caught his sword with hers and leaned down so her face was close to his, "but always keep a few things to yourself. That way people will still underestimate you and if they challenge you with something they believe you incapable of, you can put them back in their place and make them think twice about ever crossing you again," she nodded and then her closed smile brightened and she tapped his nose with her finger before she stood up tall again and removed her sword from against his.

Henry laughed quietly at the affectionate gesture and then repositioned his feet beneath him and lunged at her again only to have her easily block him once more, "I don't have anyone challenging me though."

"Well not yet. But I'm sure someday you will be in a fight. You are the son of the Evil Queen who is in a relationship with the married Prince Charming; the father of your other mother the Saviour. It will unfortunately cause some conflict at some point. And if not then you can use that secret later when you are older and out in the world living on your own," she smiled as she spun her blade to the other side of her pre-emptively and watched with a smile when Henry didn't get the chance to hit her because of it and he laughed in surprise that she had read his attempt to be sneaky and best her.

"I like your incentive, dear," she encouraged him happily, "you must think quicker however or you won't stand a chance against me," she smirked and watched as his resolve grew stronger along with his mischievous desire to beat her.

"Now come at me again," she nodded and took a step back to allow him space to do so, "and don't be afraid to move quicker or stronger. Just stay light on your feet and don't hurt yourself."

"Okay," Henry nodded and took a deep breath, shaking his arms out and closing his eyes. Then he opened his eyes and took half a second to focus on her before he swung his sword hard as he lunged forward, having faith that she would stop him before he hurt her. She laughed in delight as she raised her sword and blocked his hit as though it was one no different than his previously weaker hits.

...

"So how are you holding up?" David asked as he stepped up next to Cora who was watching Regina teach Henry how to spar in the backyard.

"Fine."

"Well if you are anything like your daughter, 'fine' is code for 'so not fine and if you ask again I will tear your head off'," he nodded once and cocked his head, pausing there for a moment before he smiled and looked down at Cora who scowled back at him.

"I am fine," she repeated hotly.

"Whatever you say," David shrugged and looked back out the window in time to see Regina land a hit on Henry's side that had the boy dropping his head back with a laugh. It was by no means a hard hit, just a small smooth pressure of her blade against his ribs to indicate that she had won that spar. It had David laughing to himself as Regina grinned and likely explained how to better.

When there was a knock at the front door he twisted and looked over his shoulder toward the sound. Who would be at the door he didn't know but he left Cora at the window to watch and he made his way through the house to the front door and cocked his head curiously at his daughter when he opened the door, "Emma?"

"Uh yeah, hi," of all the times for David to answer the door, "Regina here?"

"She's in the back with Henry," he nodded with a smile and then stepped aside and opened his arm to let her inside. He watched as she hesitated and looked past him anxiously before smiling half a smile and walking inside. "You alright?" He questioned curiously as he closed the door and she walked up the stairs to the foyer and waited there for him to lead her to Regina.

"Yeah, fine, why?"

"You women and your 'fines'," he shook his head with a laugh to himself and Emma payed little mind to it and waited for him, "the last time you and Regina were left alone together she came back to me hiding a limp."

"That was an accident," she replied quietly as he approached her.

"So I've been told," he smiled a little and she fell in step just a little behind him.

"We're over it. No grudges held. I just have some concerns is all and Regina is the only one who can make them go away. We have crossed paths since that incident, stop being all protective of her," she scrunched her face a little with a small shake of her head, "it's weird."

David chuckled quietly and looked over his shoulder a little to see the good humour playing in her eyes and on her mouth. When he looked ahead of him again, Cora was turning around to face them and David took a deep breath, "Emma this is Cora, Regina's-"

"Mother," Emma finished for him with a polite smile, "we've actually already met."

"Yes," Cora concurred with a nod.

"When?"

"I uh ran in to her and Regina on their shopping trip or whatever," Emma waved it off and looked out the window in search of Regina, "I also talked to her on the phone for a second when she first showed up."

"How come I didn't know?"

"Well it wasn't all that significant," Cora answered with a small shrug of her shoulders and a quick shake of her head. When David closed his eyes with a long breath and pinched the bridge of his nose, Cora caught sight of something interesting in Emma's possession, "that is a pretty necklace," she commented as she reached forward and gently picked up the pea sized diamond that was enchanted with a spell. A spell to contain the wearers magic. Interesting.

"Thanks," Emma replied as easily as she could as she tried to keep herself calm and not back away from Cora's odd and unsettling character, "it was a gift."

"From who?"

"Easy there 'dad'," Emma laughed and Cora gently placed the diamond back on her chest with a smile as cold dark eyes began analyzing her. Very much like Regina's only much sharper.

"I swear to god, if it's the pirate-!"

"Calm down, it wasn't a guy!" Emma laughed as she turned to face him.

"Oh...oh!" He raised his eyebrows in understanding and nodded as he folded his arms over his chest, "well that makes my job both easier and harder. I mean I can throttle a man with little problem but a woman? No not so much. Not without trouble-"

"Oh my god that is so not what I meant!" Emma raised her hands and shook her head with a laugh as she closed her eyes for a moment and looked back up at him, "I'm glad you have no quarrels either way but I promise you she is just a friend!"

"Emma friends don't just give other friends diamonds unless there is something more they want."

"You are going to regret saying that the moment you find out who gave it to me," Emma pointed at him with a laugh and began backing away, "now may I go talk to your crazy mistress before my head explodes?"

"Still haven't accepted it huh?"

"Accepted that Prince Charming-my father-is sleeping with the Evil Queen-slash-thorn in my side? No not yet as a matter of fact," she shook her head as she continued walking backwards until her hand found the handle to the back door.

"Fair enough," he nodded with a smile and let her open the door and leave.

Emma walked across the manicured lawn with her hands in her pockets and a smile on her mouth at the sight and sounds of Henry laughing and enjoying himself. "Looking good, kid!" She laughed and Henry looked her way with a grin before there was suddenly a sword at his throat.

"Don't get distracted," Regina singsonged with a smile as she withdrew the incredibly light touch of her sword upon the side of her son's neck as he laughed and dropped his head.

"Dang it!" He whined through his laugh and looked up at his grinning brunette mother, "I was so close that time!"

Regina hummed a laugh as she stepped forward and moved her fingers through his hair before she leaned down and kissed his hairline, "how about you go grab a drink of water and a snack while I talk to Miss Swan? We will pick it up again when you get back."

"Alright," he agreed with a laugh and handed his mother his sword so she could suspend it in mid air alongside her own with her magic before he hurried off to the house with a wave at Emma, "hi Emma!"

"Hey kid," she smiled and ruffled his hair with her hand as he passed. Emma peacefully held Regina's pleasant gaze and only when Henry was across the yard and closed in the house did Emma speak, "I cut myself this morning."

"Okay...?"

"Can you tell?" Emma lifted her hand with her slightly irritated tone and Regina's eyes flicked down to her hand.

"You are upset because your body healed itself?" She cocked her head and furrowed her brow, her lips pursed ever so slightly.

"No I'm upset because you told me that this necklace was going to stop my magic!" She hissed, careful to keep her voice quiet just in case.

Regina pulled her head back with a shake and kept her brow furrowed as she let out a single light laugh and folded her arms over her chest, "Emma your magic is a part of you. No one can stop it. The enchantment on that necklace merely keeps it in check so that you don't have to worry about it having a field day."

"Well that would have been nice to know!" She exclaimed with wide eyes and her hands out at her sides.

"Not once did I say I was taking your magic away from you," Regina shook her head gently, "it's basic science, dear. All of that energy? You can't destroy it, it can only move from place to place."

"Alright, conservation of energy and crap, got it."

Regina hummed in amusement and then nodded at the necklace, "it is working just fine. Your magic is contained and is only being used when it is necessary. Like when you cut yourself open."

"It wasn't that bad," Emma laughed with a small roll of her eyes and Regina's smile curled a little higher.

"Any other concerns?"

"No I'm good for now, thank you," she nodded and Regina moved to walk past her but Emma's voice kept her from taking a step, "why are you being so nice?"

"Nice?"

"Helping me with this. And not even just that but going out of your way to do so and doing it honestly and with respect."

"I am not always a monster, Miss Swan. Magic is a scary thing to possess and it is especially frightening when you have no knowledge of how to use it. I am far from oblivious to that. You have entrusted me with your well being, Miss Swan, which is something I know quite well you are very reluctant to do and I do not take that lightly. You are safe with me and you may come to me with whatever questions you have."

Emma let out a deep breath as she relaxed her shoulders and smiled a little at Regina who smiled a little in return, "thank you."

"You're welcome."

"No, seriously," Emma shook her head and then nodded, "thank you," she repeated and Regina smiled just a little more as she gave a single nod of her head.

"Mom! Mom I want to see you sword fight!" Henry exclaimed as he ran back with a bitten apple in his hand.

"Oh?"

"Please!?"

"You can actually use a sword?" Emma questioned with doubt and surprise as she looked Regina up and down with an amused smile, "I thought you were just teaching Henry the basics because David was busy or something."

"You insult me, Miss Swan," Regina drawled out and Henry laughed.

"Can I go get David!?" Henry grinned excitedly and Regina looked at him with a shake of her head.

"David and I are not on speaking terms at the moment," she replied simply.

"I'm gonna go get David!" Henry laughed and ran off toward the house after watching his mother close her eyes and shake her head.

Emma laughed under her breath and nodded her head toward Regina, "fighting already? Snow will be thrilled."

"No not fighting. I insulted dear Snow and now he has decided on succeeding that insult with a week of chastity," she sighed out and Emma couldn't help herself and started laughing low in her chest and through her teeth, "he is very stubborn."

"Never a dull moment in this household," Emma laughed with a shake of her head.

"With the Evil Queen, Prince Charming, the Queen of Hearts, and a child all under the same roof? Never."

"Hold up! Queen of Hearts? Like Alice in Wonderland Queen of Hearts?"

"Is there another?" Regina shook her head a little in amusement.

"Who the hell is the Queen of Hearts?!"

"Really, Miss Swan? Do yourself a favour and do a head count of the people in my home."

"...your mother is the Queen of Hearts?! Man, this fairytale shit is getting absolutely insane," she gave a stressed and tired laugh as she brought a hand to her forehead while Regina laughed quietly to herself.

"Henry wants us to spar?" David chuckled and Regina shot him a predatory glare with the beginnings of a smirk, "I don't want to ruin your superior reputation."

"Oh, my dear," Regina laughed through her teeth and took a sword from its place suspended in mid air and removed the charm she had previously placed on it to blunt it's edge, "mine is not the reputation that will be blemished," she smirked and cocked her head as she offered him the sword and he reached for it with a cocky grin, his lips pursed just a little, "don't cut yourself."

"Hmm likewise, darling," he smirked and she cocked her head the other way with a hum and her dark eyes looked him up and down. Then half a second later he was lifting his blade just in time to stop the one she swung at him with a strength he didn't know she possessed a and her face was inches from his own.

Regina grinned madly with a hum of of laughter through her teeth that were bared with her grin, "that is so satisfying," she grinned as she looked him up and down and leaned in closer to him as she pushed her sword harder against his. "You're going to have to try a little harder," she whispered slowly with an amused tone and an open smile before she pushed him backward and stepped back herself to increase the space between them to allow him room to come at her.

David breathed out a laugh and tossed his sword up a little in his hand. Perhaps he had indeed underestimated her. So he lunged at her but she sidestepped him at the last possible moment and jammed the pommel of her sword in to his back. He spun around quickly only to have his sword stopped by Regina's and she wore a perfectly smug grin on that perfect mouth of hers.

So he swung again and again and again but every time she moved effortlessly out of the way and followed through with a small hit of her own. After yet another one he dropped his head back with a breathy laugh before he levelled it and turned around to face her. "Stop playing games with me, honey," his voice verging on too sweet a tone to be considered sweet at all. The corners of her smile simply lifted higher and when he moved to strike her this time, she stood her ground.

Their blades clashed loudly and they could both hear Henry's laughter as he applauded them. He couldn't help but laugh and grin at the wide grin gracing her mouth as they fought. She had an answer to every one of his movements and then all of a sudden his sword was ripped from his hand and the point of hers was pressed against him just beneath his ribcage with the blade angled upward and her palm on the flat side of the metal, ready to aid in guiding it in and through his body if necessary.

"Two out of three?" He offered and she laughed as she lowered her sword.

"That was awesome!" Henry laughed as he ran over to fetch David's discarded sword and bring it back to him, "I didn't think you were going to lose that badly."

"Hey!"

"David she's in three inch heels, on grass, and wearing a fitted dress that doesn't stretch. She kicked your ass and kicked it hard," Emma laughed as she folded her arms over her chest and David shook his head at her before looking back to Regina.

"Spare me a chance to reclaim my honour?" David smiled his most charming smile and Regina rolled her eyes.

"You don't want to quit while you're ahead? I assure you that continuing this won't do you any favours," she drew out the last word like a song through her amused smile. She got her answer when he swung at her again. She only laughed when not five movements later she had her blade against his throat.

David dropped his head back with a groan of laughter and a smile, "four out of seven?!" when she lowered her sword with a low chuckle he attacked her again as he listened to the laughter from Emma and Henry. She was using his build and strength against him with the easy and quick movements her lithe little body allowed for. She certainly knew how to use her strengths. The physical strength she possessed was surprising as well.

He knew she was strong having many a time felt and admired the muscles toning her body. But she had never used her strength against him. He was regretting coming out with such low expectations of her and such high ones for himself. He moved his sword faster and harder but she only reciprocated and the next thing he knew the point of her sword was pressed firmly against his side beneath his ribs and ready to be shoved up diagonally through him to his opposite shoulder.

"God damn it!" He laughed and she laughed through her teeth. So he tried again. And once again her sword was at his neck in a matter of a few seconds which in turn had everyone laughing harder, "alright! That's it!" He laughed and dropped his sword and knocked hers away before he tackled her and lifted her off the ground.

Regina threw her head back with a laugh and her hands pushed hard against his chest but his arms simply wrapped tighter around her middle. "Put me down, Charming!" She yelled through her laughter while Emma and Henry laughed along, Henry's laughter louder and freer than Emma's.

"No!"