I really need to update my other stories...siiiigh ;) lol! I hope you guys enjoy this one! Please please review! I write for you guys and I want to know what you think!

"Well the house is still standing," David commented as he swung his truck door shut and Henry jumped out of the passenger side.

"That's gotta count for something right?" Henry laughed and fell in step next David. They had been gone for nearly two hours hoping that that had been long enough for Regina and Cora to have at least found separate rooms to occupy.

David ruffled Henry's hair with his hand playfully when they reached the front door and Henry let out a quiet laugh as he ducked his head away and David opened the front door. At first glance he panicked because she looked dead but then her eyes flicked over to meet his and he released his breath. Cora sat on the floor with her back against the wall by the arched doorway in to the dining room. Her hands were in her lap and one leg was stretched out straight and the other bent at the knee so her foot was flat against the floor.

"Where's Regina?" He asked as he walked up the stairs in to the foyer and Cora remained unmoving.

"I don't know. She left some time ago."

"You alright?" He couldn't help but ask and she shook her head.

"No."

Not exactly sure how to proceed from that, David watched her for a moment and then turned away to go look for Regina in case she had slipped back in to the house without Cora's notice. When he reached the bottom of the staircase he looked over his shoulder and found Henry standing at Cora's feet directly in front of her and the pair were looking straight at one another.

Without a word Henry stepped up to her side and sunk down right next to Cora with his back against the wall as well. She leaned away from him but he wound his arms around her middle anyway and rested the side of his head on the front of her shoulder. She didn't touch him at first and was tense with the gesture but Henry stayed put and soon she relaxed and gently placed her arm around his back and cautiously rested her head against the top of his.

It was awkward at first but it was also rather comforting to have someone to hold after thinking through what would have happened to Regina had she held her in her arms more often than not. "Your mother has raised you well, child," she whispered without really realizing it.

"I know," Henry replied softly and felt Cora adjust her head so her chin rested on top of his head and she brought her other arm around him. It was only a few moments later the front door opened to reveal his mother. She didn't look great. She looked tired and her dark eyes were just the slightest bit puffy and lined with red. She had been crying and she had been crying a lot.

He watched her as she walked toward them with a strange expression on her face. Anger, pain, hatred, love, sorrow. All of it running amuck on her face as she walked up to them and turned away without a word as she spun something between her fingertips and began climbing the stairs. He didn't know what was said between Cora and his mother but clearly it wasn't anything nice.

David walked back down the hall after checking their empty bedroom and found her climbing the stairs. He waited for her at the top as she climbed the last few and bowed her head for a moment. She wasn't all there. Her mind was somewhere else thinking upon other things. Her eyes were glazed and empty as she waited for him to move out of her way. "Regina," he whispered slowly in concern but she didn't say anything, didn't even blink, "what happened, darling?"

Regina gave a small dismissive shake of her head, "I am tired, David. Please let me go by."

David frowned at her unusually hoarse voice and was hurt when he reached for her and at his touch she lifted her arms up and dropped her eyes as she took a step backward and down a stair and heard her hoarse voice start to shake.

"David don't. I don't want you right now, please just let me pass."

"Okay," he nodded with his whisper and pivoted a step to allow her room to pass and she did. She walked past him without looking at him and disappeared in to their room without another word. He contemplated following her but he concluded that it would not be best and instead walked back down the stairs with a bit of a sore heart and a very worried mind.

...

Regina laid her head on her arm on the edge of her bathtub and gently spun a silver horse on the cold white tub. She was deep in thought and wasn't brought out of them until Henry's face came in to view and she focused on his dark eyes.

"Aren't you supposed to fill the tub with water?" He chuckled quietly and his mother smiled, "and take your clothes off and stuff?"

"I was going to but," she shrugged with her soft raspy whisper and Henry smiled, "I changed my mind."

Henry hummed quietly and wiggled a little closer to the tub, "you okay?"

Regina smiled a little and shook her head slowly before she whispered, "no."

"Can I do anything?" He asked with a concerned cock of his head and his mother shook her head once more with a slow blink.

"No, sweetheart, this has nothing to do with you."

"I know. I thought I should check. Just in case," he smiled a little and Regina hummed softly through her small smile. After a few moments of silence he nodded at the elegant silver horse, "what is this?" It was two inches tall and it's neck was arched magnificently while it's left front leg was stretched out as far and high as it could reach while it's other three legs kept it balanced, it's tail lifted a little and swished to touch its hindquarters.

"This is Rocinante," Regina whispered and ran her fingertip along the top of her arched neck, "she was my only friend in the Enchanted Forest. We were very close. She was quiet, gentle, honourable, trustworthy, brave, clever, strong, and beautiful. And I miss her very much."

"What happened to her?"

"She died," Regina smiled sadly and left out the part where she was the one who had ripped her heart out in hopes it would suffice for the Dark Curse. "Before she died I took a piece of her and she will only come when I call for her," she whispered and studied the small horse.

"What do you mean?" He furrowed his brow a little and Regina smiled at him before she looked back at the small horse and softly blew on it. When her breath was gone she settled her chin on the back of her hand and Henry watched in fascination as the metal horse came to life. "Whoa," he whispered slowly as he leaned in to study the mare closer as she shook her head and neck and walked around a little before trotting a few steps and then halting, her silver hooves chinking on the ceramic tub, "that's so cool!"

Regina laughed a small quick laugh through her closed lips as her son became enthralled with the precious charm, do you want to hold her?"

"Can I really?!"

"Of course," Regina smiled and nodded as Henry's face lit up in excitement, "hold your hands out," she instructed and he eagerly obeyed and placed his open hands alongside the bath and she tapped a finger on the heel of his hand and Rocinante looked toward it, "I have someone here very excited to meet you," she spoke to her little mare and with a playful toss of her head, Rocinante cantered a couple strides toward Henry's hands and then slowed right down to a walk and stepped on to Henry's unfamiliar hands without hesitation. Regina missed having someone trust her so easily.

Henry laughed with a thrilled grin as the tiny mare dropped her head and curiously sniffed him as she walked to the middle of his hands. She was heavier than he expected her to be and she was also quite warm and she seemed to be truly alive when she lifted her head and looked straight at him.

"Introduce yourself, dear," Regina nodded at him and he looked back at her with a smile that she couldn't help but mirror, "we spoke often, I am certain she understands a fair amount."

"Hello Rocinante," Henry greeted and watched as her ears perked forward a little more as she tilted her head upward a little more toward him. The movement had him laughing happily, "my name is Henry and Regina is my mother. It is nice to meet you."

Regina cocked her head in adoration of her son and then laughed a little as Rocinante outstretched her front right leg as far as she could reach and moved it up and down in short reaching movements without touching the ground that was Henry's hand, "she's waving to you. It is how we used to greet one another," she smiled and felt the sharp pain of nostalgia stab her heart.

Henry laughed in enjoyment and carefully made sure she was all on one hand before he lifted his other a little and waved back. Much to the little mare's delight. Henry laughed as she stomped her front legs down repetitively on his palms and reared just a little before settling down and shaking her head.

Regina laughed quietly and happily, "if she had a voice you would have heard plenty of squealing with all of that excitement."

Henry laughed with his mother as he watched Rocinante turn her neck so she could look behind her to Regina, "is she in the book?"

"No," Regina shook her head with a smile, "my story isn't in your book. Besides I never took her anywhere in fear of her being harmed in the crossfire of people trying to hurt me. She was far too precious for such things," she whispered as she admired her little mare with a smile and then tilted her head a little, "she was the horse who aided me in saving Snow. She was also the one who restored Snow's confidence in riding."

"You taught Snow how to ride?" Henry asked curiously and His mother lifted her eyebrows a little and nodded.

"Of course."

"I didn't know that."

"I was her mother too," she cocked her head and smiled and Henry watched her intently, "I did care for her once. Everyone seems to forget that except for her and I."

"...do you still care for her?"

"...sometimes..." She whispered timidly and Henry tilted his head a little and the pair of them sat in silence and dropped their attention to Rocinante when she began moving around again.

With a smile he lowered his hands so that they were flush against the cool tub and Rocinante jumped from his hands and on to the edge of the tub, "will you teach me how to ride someday?"

Regina cocked her head and then smiled with a laughed breath out of her nose, "absolutely."

...

David hesitated at the bedroom door, unsure of what he would find if he were to enter. Would she be happy to see him? Or would she tell him she didn't want him again? Taking a deep breath to ready himself, he opened the door and quietly stepped inside. She sat on the end corner of the bed with her knees up and her arms wrapped around her legs and her face buried in to her thighs.

Her hair was damp but not soaking wet and she was dressed in a short little pastel blue nightgown. She didn't lift her head until he closed the door quietly and began walking toward her. He hated seeing such pain in her expression. And he hated even more seeing regret and fear grouped with it.

Gracefully and silently she straightened her legs and stood up on the floor so she could walk to him. He met her in the middle and while he stopped she took one more step and rose on her tip toes so she could wrap her arms around his neck. She hated how much worried tension left his body when she hugged him. Absolutely hated it. "I'm sorry," she whispered in to his neck and he nuzzled his face in to her hair and wound his arms around her a little tighter.

The fact that he didn't try to ease it over by saying that it was alright or that he understood made her feel even worse. Because he didn't understand and this time it wasn't even the smallest bit alright. "I didn't mean it," she promised against his neck, "I was overwhelmed and couldn't handle one more thing no matter how good that thing was," she whispered and moved her thumb back and forth through the hair on the nape of his neck. "I am so sorry, David. I should have come back downstairs but I just couldn't see her," she shook her head and felt tears burning again behind her closed eyes, "I never meant to hurt you."

David left a soft lingering kiss on the side of her head before he buried his face back in to her cool damp hair, "I love you, Regina."

"I love you too," she whispered and nuzzled her face in to his neck a little more.

"What happened today between you two?"

"She confessed and it hurt more than I thought it ever would," she replied quietly, a soft whine lacing her tired voice as she held back a cry.

"Confessed to what?"

"To never loving me," she whispered and shook her head, "not once even caring about me."

David furrowed his brow and frowned in to her hair as a sharp pang rang through his heart, "that's not fair."

"I had always known she didn't but-" she cut herself off with a sudden shaky breath that she wouldn't let grow in to a sob as she hugged him tighter.

"But you had always hoped," he finished for her in a whisper and she nodded miserably as he hugged her closer, pulling her in to the security that was himself.

...

The following morning was silent. David laid on his back as he stared up at the ceiling and twirled his fingers through Regina's soft dark hair. She laid on her side right up against him and hugged him close with her arms around his waist and her head on his chest. He honestly didn't know what to expect from this day with what happened the day before. Cora had been quiet all evening and had avoided going upstairs until it was late enough to go to bed. She knew what she had done.

"I promised Henry I'd spar with him again this morning," Regina whispered mindlessly.

"I'm sure he will forgive you if you are late," he whispered back as he continued playing with her hair.

"Hmmm yes well unless you are going to fuck me until I beg you to stop, there is really no reason I should be late."

David laughed and raised his arms up and let them drop limply on to the bed when she rolled away from him and stood up, "as if you would ever beg me to stop!"

Regina smirked and looked over her shoulder, "well then I assume your little chastity game is growing to be rather a nuisance for you."

"You left me with no choice," he shrugged as he sat up with a smirk of his own and she disappeared in to the closet.

"There is always a choice, dear."

"I am a man true to my word and therefore had no choice but to follow through," he chuckled and could just feel her roll her eyes despite not having her in view, "although it is a shame I don't get to hear you scream my name for another five and a half days," he grinned and she stepped in to the doorway of the closet and threw one of his shoes at him with mock offense. He simply laughed and lifted his arms to keep the shoe from hitting his face and she laughed under her breath as she turned and walked back in to the closet.

"Make the bed, you cocky bastard."

...

Whether she was feeling better or had shoved her pain down deep to deal with later, he couldn't say. But he left it be for the time being and allowed her to make breakfast without being bombarded by questions. Pancakes, bacon, eggs, and hash browns were on the menu and the smell was making him hungrier every second.

"How much longer?" Henry groaned with a small laugh as he stretched over the countertop.

"Almost done, sweetheart," Regina smiled as she flipped the pancakes on the griddle.

"Seriously the smell is killing us," David groaned along and Regina laughed quietly.

"And since when have I enjoyed the company of whiners?" She teased and David leaned in closer to her side but she didn't look at him and merely pursed her lips in a smirk.

"You love us," David grinned and Henry laughed. The boys nearly jumped out of their skin however when out of nowhere Regina turned vicious and in one smooth and incredibly fast movement, drew a large steel knife from the knife block, turned, and flung it through the air.

Cora gasped and quickly lifted her hands, catching the knife in mid air with her magic before it stabbed her between the eyes as she walked innocently around the corner in to the kitchen. She huffed out another breath and looked past the suspended knife to the three people occupying the kitchen. Henry and David looked as startled as she was while Regina glared at her with a thirst for blood.

Taking the rather blatant hint that her presence was not at all wanted by her daughter, Cora flicked her fingers and the knife disappeared from in front of her and reappeared on the cutting board next to David before she turned and walked away without a word.

Once Cora was out of sight, Henry and David shared a look while Regina turned back around and began taking the pancakes off the griddle. His earlier debate with himself over whether or not Regina was over it or burying it down was now answered. Breaking the incredibly tense silence and intentionally not delving in to what had just occurred, David started talking, "so I am taking you out for dinner tonight."

Regina growled in distaste and pulled her top lip back as she plated their breakfast.

"Don't make that face," David chuckled and she ignored him, "I told you I was going to show you off."

"I don't want to, I very much dislike people."

"I don't care if I have to drag you out of that door kicking and screaming," he enunciated slowly with a smile as he pushed his head forward and she scowled at him while Henry laughed quietly to himself, "you will be coming."

"There is not a restaurant in all of Storybrooke that can make better food than I."

"Henry's coming too," David smiled and Henry nodded when Regina looked to him with lips parted in exasperation.

"Yup! I'm gonna be the buffer!"

Regina rolled her eyes back to David, "you've roped him in to this?!"

"Actually it was his idea. I asked him if he had any thoughts on where to take you to make sure you wouldn't regret it and dig your heels in harder the next time I took you somewhere and he asked if he should come to help keep people off your back," he smiled and she crossed her jaw trying not to let Henry's endearing offer soften her resolve, "I for one think it is a great idea. At least for the first few outings."

Regina let out a long displeased huff out her nose and shook her head as she looked back to the plates, "fine."

"Excellent! A night on the town with a beautiful woman, her cute kid, and some mediocre food," he grinned and wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled himself in to her so her side was against his front and his forehead was leaning against the side of her head.

"I am dreading it," she drawled and handed him his plate with a scowl to which he smiled at and let go of her to take his plate.

"I love you," he smiled sweetly and she huffed in reply while turning to give Henry his plate before they all walked to the dining room.