Hello again! I am so sorry for the long wait. I have recently just moved into my own flat and with sorting everything out and the fact I have no internet in the house until Tuesday I have not been able to post anything. But I am nabbing onto my mum and dad's internet today so thought I would get a chapter up for you all. Hopefully it will not be as long a wait for the next one. I hope you enjoy this chapter! :-)

Hours had gone by and Regina and Robin had just talked and talked. Regina had told Robin everything. She had no idea why she was telling a stranger her life story. She didn't know if she could trust this handsome man in front of her, but she just got this feeling that she could. He had listened to her adding in comments and asking her questions.

Regina stopped talking when she realised she had done nothing but talk and tucked some of her long wavy brown hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry. I have done nothing but talk…and you probably didn't really want to know every single detail of my life." Regina said laughing nervously. "I don't have many visitors…"

"No I have loved hearing your story. You have a lovely voice. Singing and talking." Robin said making Regina blush a little and look down to the floor. Robin smiled and shuffled forward in his chair and took Regina's hands in his. "I have to go…but I would like to come and see you again. Would that be okay?"

"You would?" Regina asked in surprise. She looked up at him and tried to gauge if he was indeed telling the truth.

Robin nodded his head. "I would yes. I have loved every moment I have spent with you here Regina. I really do want to see you again. It may sound silly as I have only known you for a few hours but I feel as if I have known you for much longer and well I…would very much like to spend much more time with you mi'lady."

Regina smiled at his answer. She felt exactly the same way about him. It had been as if they had known one another for many years. They had seemed to feel too comfortable with one another. Regina didn't want to tell him…because she was sure it would sound so silly to say such a thing when they had only known one another for a few hours…but she had fallen in love with the handsome young thief that had walked right into her tower. "Well I would like it very much if you came back to visit me." Regina replied.

"Great." Robin said a grin forming on his face. A grin that gave him dimples that seemed to make Regina melt. He stood up and Regina joined him smoothing her dress down with her hands. She followed him over towards the door and Robin turned back to her. He glanced into her deep brown orbs and then his gaze flicked down to her lips. He really wanted to kiss her. He could feel the urge to do so but he wasn't so sure if he should. He had only known her a couple of hours. That would be a bit too forward wouldn't it? Perhaps next time. So he leaned forward and kissed her cheek. Regina blushed as he stepped back from her, looking down at the floor and fiddling with her fingers. "Until next time mi'lady." Robin said before turning round and leaving the tower. He made sure to lock the door behind him and quickly made his way out of the tower. He was just about to make his way over the meadow when he saw an older woman making her way over to the tower.

He looked around him trying to see if there was a place he could hide. He saw a bush beside him so he quickly moved to the back of the bush an watched as the older woman walked up to the door of the tower and walked in. Robin wasn't sure who the woman was but he considered it must be Regina's mother. He sighed and moved away from the bush and started to walk over the meadow. He decided he would travel back to the tower in a couple of days. He would go back to his camp, collect some supplies and make his way back here to see the beautiful woman he had fallen in love with.

"Regina?" Cora called as she open the door to the room of the tower and walked in.

Regina turned from looking out the window and gasped as she saw her mother. "Oh mother. Hello." Regina said. "I wasn't sure if you would be visiting me today."

"And why wouldn't I Regina? I always visit you every second day do I not?" Cora questioned as she sat in the arm chair by the fire.

"Yes mother you do but Zelena and Snow told me about the grand ball you have been planning at the castle so I presumed you would be busy with that." Regina answered as she knelt down at her mother's feet like she always done.

"Oh my child you should know never to presume anything." Cora said.

Regina bit her lip and looked down at her hands which were folded in her lap. "Yes mother. It was silly of me to do so." Regina said quietly. There was silence for a bit and Regina wondered whether she should ask her mother about the ball and whether she could go. She had a feeling she already knew the answer but she so desperately wanted to go. She had never attended such a thing and from what she had read and what her sisters had told her it sounded wonderful. She had always wished to dance with a prince and perhaps meet her true love. It was all stuff from fairytales but she couldn't help but dream. "Mother may I ask you something?" Regina said quietly and glanced up towards her mother.

"I suppose so." Cora sighed as she shifted her gaze from the fire and towards Regina.

"Well…you see mother…I was…I was just wondering…if…if it was okay with you…if I…" Regina stuttered. She wasn't sure how to form the question and the confidence she had built up was quickly fading as she started to ask the question. She knew what the answer was going to be. She knew it but she still wanted to ask.

"Oh for goodness sake Regina will you just spit it out!" Cora snapped making Regina jump a little.

Regina bit her lip and took a deep breath. "Yes mother. I'm sorry." Regina replied quickly. "I was just wondering if…it would be okay if I attended the ball?" Regina asked quickly.

"No Regina you may not." Cora replied quickly.

Regina sighed and slumped her shoulders. "Why may I not mother? I promise I will not do anything to embarrass you or Leopold. Mother please. I just wish to attend the ball."

"No Regina!" Cora shouted and Regina flinched again. "How dare you ask such a thing!" Cora shouted and her hand shot up and landed with a loud slap to Regina's cheek making her fall back slightly.

Regina caught herself on her hands. She put a hand to her now burning sore cheek and could feel the tears forming in her eyes. She had wished now she had not asked the question. She had known it would end this way.

"See…now look what you have made me do Regina…" Cora said with a softer voice. She moved forward in the chair and placed her hands on both of Regina's cheeks making Regina flinch at the contact. Cora moved Regina's face slightly so that she was looking up at her. "Regina I do not like it when you make me do such things."

"I'm sorry mother." Regina whispered as tears began to fall down her cheeks.

"Regina you should know that I do all this…" Cora said motioning around the room with one of her hands. "To protect you. You would not be able to handle the world out there. It is too dangerous for you child."

"But mother I…" Regina started and then stopped as she saw the look her mother was giving her. "Of course mother." Regina replied.

"Now my child no more stupid questions. Go and get us some food." Cora said sitting back in the chair.

"Yes mother." Regina said quietly as she stood up and made her way over to the kitchen area of the room. The tears were still flowing down her cheeks. She wished she could escape from this tower and from this miserable life she was stuck in.