Alrighty my peeps! Another update! Woohoo! Lol! And with a special request from a friend, I changed the outcome of the last scene in the previous chapter. Hope you guys enjoy the update :) time for me to go work on my other story! Please leave a review! :)

She was tense as she pulled the long pins from her hair. The promise of his love in full force had her nervous and the waiting had made her an anxious mess and now that she was sitting in front of the vanity in her room alone she felt like she was going to have a heart attack. Her heart was racing and she wasn't even doing anything. She was merely trying to get her uncooperative fingers to function enough to remove her jewelry.

She didn't realize he was in the room with her until she stood up from her seat at the vanity and turned only to find him leaning with one shoulder against the wooden post at the corner of her bed. It had her freezing for a moment in surprise but he simply continued to smile at her.

"You think too much," he nodded at her with a teasing smile and she ran her tongue over her teeth beneath her lip. She was absolutely stunning. Her face was clean of makeup, her long waves of silk hair drawn over one shoulder, a deep dark green silk robe tied around her flawless figure in a way that had one of her toned legs peaking out from the opening of the long shiny fabric. She was not wearing anything beneath it of that he was certain. He could see the stiffened peaks of her nipples beneath the thin silk and it had his chest tightening with want and need.

With an easy movement he pushed his weight off the bed post and extended his hand for her to take. The wariness in her expression as she looked him up and down made him smile with a tilt of his head and when she cautiously took his hand he gently pulled her toward him. When she was close enough he turned them around and gently pinned her back to the bed post he had been leaning against. With a smile and a long exhale he lifted his fingertips to trace the shape of her face from her cheekbone to her jaw and then her chin, admiring her beauty as the light of the fire warmed her skin and flickered in her dark eyes.

"Why are you so tense, my love," he questioned softly and she smiled a little with a shake of her head.

"I'll be fine."

"Tell me," he urged a little more sternly but his voice was still kind and gentle.

Relenting, Regina shook her head and dropped her eyes to the floor between them, "I just...sex has always been about power and passion and recreation...it's been a very long while since its been about more than that..." She told him quietly and made herself look him in the eye, "it's been a long time since I have wanted to have more or...give more."

David felt his heart warm in his chest at her words and he shook his head as he moved his thumb softly across her bottom lip, "you have given me so much, my love. You have given me your smile. You have given me your laughter. You have given me your thoughts. You have given me your heart. You have given me your time. You have given me your kiss," he whispered as he moved his thumb over her lips again and she let out a slow exhale as some of the tension left her shoulders and her eyes fell to his chest.

"I only wish for you to give me your body so that I may express to you what my words fail to tell," he whispered and as his fingers fell from her face and slowly trailed down her neck and chest between her breasts causing her breath to catch while her eyes focused on his mouth. They travelled over soft skin and slippery silk and when he reached her waist his fingers hooked through the tie holding the robe closed and slowly pulled, happy to feel her body relaxed enough to follow his tug, "the extent to which I love you," he whispered and a shaky exhale left her nose and blew across his cheek as he leaned in closer. She was waiting and he kept it that way as he nudged her nose lightly with his for her to tilt her head back and she did. He kept his lips hovering over hers, brushing lightly against hers until she was nearly frantic with want and only then did he kiss her. It was firm but tender and slow as he pulled her a little more by the tie of her robe and she lifted her hands to his face.

His hands were heavy on her and it had her heart beating out of rhythm and her skin tingling deliciously. His kiss was intoxicating and had her practically swooning in to him as she took half a step away from the bed post so she was as close to him as she could be as she gently scratched her nails over his scalp. She was still careful but she was no longer scared stiff at the thought of his loving touch as he held her close and warm and began untying the silk knot around her waist.

Her heart skipped in anticipation and the heat between her legs grew, her breath hitching when his warm hands slipped beneath the silk and moved over her skin to the small of her back. The contact was electric and she let out a shuddering breath against his lips before he moved them to her neck. She hummed lowly at the pleasure the heat of his mouth against her skin offered and as he continued over every inch of her skin she began pulling his shirt from the waist of his pants.

David moaned against her throat when her soft hands slipped beneath his shirt and moved appreciatively over his abdomen. Her eager hands had him kissing her mouth one more time, hard and slow and deep before he leaned away from her only far enough to pull his shirt over his head and throw it to the side. His need for her only grew as her eyes raked over his newly exposed skin and her heavy palms slid up his chest as she leaned in to him. He wasted no time in dropping his head and kissing her and the moan that vibrated in her throat had his head spinning.

She could barely tell which way was up when he pulled her flush against him and looped an arm around her middle to keep her there. She could barely breathe she was so thrown by his touch. Their kiss was full of passion and desire and love but it was so thrillingly slow it was a wonder to her how she was still standing. Then his hands were cradling her head and he stepped her backward so her back was once again against the bedpost before he gently finished his kiss and kept his mouth hovering over hers so they breathed the same warm, sweet breath.

She shivered when his fingertips trailed lightly down her throat. A shaky breath blew over his lips when his hands parted ways at her collarbone so they could move to her shoulders and slowly push the dark green silk from her body. His touch left fire in its wake and when the silk fell from her shoulders to the bend in her elbows, his fingers took their time moving down her arms to catch up with it. His breaths were deep but far in between and her heart was racing faster than she believed it ever had before.

His touch was so gentle but his presence was so very strong and it had a lump growing in her throat for she had never felt such a strength hold her steady. It was overwhelming and she was quickly on the verge of tears. No one had had the desire to love her so fiercely over these many years. She hadn't realized how much she had yearned for it and now she had it and it hit her square in the chest. He was making her feel. He gave her no choice as his fingers ever so gently continued to push the silk from her arms.

He could feel the emotions building in her. He could feel it in the unsteadiness of her breath, in the tension slowly returning to her body, in the air around her. He could feel it and it only encouraged him as the silk robe fell to the floor in a small heap around her bare feet. "Let yourself feel, my love," he whispered softly and a shaky breath blew over his jaw. He waited just a moment more for her to give in to his words before he slowly leaned away from her again so he could look at her.

She stole his breath away. Slim and strong. Her body was soft and flawless, her muscles toned but not obvious, her breasts were round and perked, her long hair gently tousled by his hands, her face still free of makeup. But what affected him the most were the tears in her eyes as she looked at him. When was the last time this darling woman had been cherished?

"You are exquisite," he told her softly as his slow and thorough hands touched her again.

Those three little words said in that particular honest and loving tone had a tear falling down her cheek as one of his hands slipped around to her back and the other moved heavily up her stomach, between her breasts, over her chest, and hooked around the back of her neck so he could hold her as he pressed himself to her and enveloped her in a strong and slow kiss. A whimper mixed with a moan sounded against his mouth as her brow furrowed with the welcome ache of being loved. She didn't think she would ever have it again and now she did and it was stronger than the first time.

Every touch, every kiss, every movement, every breath against her skin was beautiful and overwhelming and when he gently took her to the edge of the bed she had no hesitance in following his touch and falling backward on to the bed with him on top of her.

-Storybrooke-

Nothing. He felt nothing as he pulled his wife closer. He tried. He tried to feel something, anything, but he felt nothing. He felt nothing as he moved his hands over her skin, nothing as his lips grazed her pulse point to find her heart hammering, nothing as her fingers raked through his hair. Nothing. Nothing but rage and heartache that she was not what he wanted. She should be all he ever wanted. She just wasn't enough. Wasn't good enough. So he stopped.

He tore himself away from her and spun around so he could slam his fists down on the counter behind him with an angry shout. And then he bent down so his elbows were on the counter and his hands were over his mouth as he breathed out a quiet cry that shook his shoulders. He was confused and angry. He was a man who wore his heart on his sleeve and let it lead him through his life but now he could not tell which direction it was pointing him in. But it wasn't to Snow and that hurt more than he thought possible and confused him to no end.

He was lost and hurting. He couldn't have Regina but he didn't need nor want Snow. He didn't know what to do. Slowly Snow's arms wrapped around his middle and she buried her face in to his back but he felt no comfort or relief at the gesture. Only further heartache. She should make him feel better, he should be comforted by her presence, he should be able to seek her out for support but it seemed that when he reached for her the connection was weak and shaky and untrustworthy.

It didn't make sense. She should mean everything to him just as she had in the past but now he felt like he was grasping at memories in hopes to bring them back to life so things could be as they once were. It was a hopeless practice and he continued to cry quietly with his back turned as Snow tried her best to comfort him.

-Enchanted Forest-

He woke up first that morning. What a gift that was. He shared her pillow and their legs were tangled together, her face just far enough from his that he could focus on it. Her features were relaxed in a way he had never seen before and it made him smile as his head sunk heavier in to the pillow. She was beautiful in every way and his heart ached for her, it throbbed for her, it beat for her. He adored her, he loved her. Murderous temper and all, he loved her. He could hardly stand himself he loved her so much.

He had shown her exactly how much last night and her reaction was beautiful and heartbreaking. It had been far too long since her tortured soul had been loved. He could still taste the tears he kissed on her cheeks, could still feel them against the pad of his thumb as he loved her and she quietly begged him not to stop as she writhed and arched beneath him. He couldn't imagine what it must have felt like for her. To feel such relief and love and passion. He knew she felt it. Even if she would never admit to him how deep it ran through her blood, he knew she felt it.

Her very first 'I love you' whispered against his lips when they finished and she was panting and sweaty beneath him and holding his face between her hands as he wiped the tears from her cheeks was more than enough to convince him of such.

He had gotten a lot more from her last night than he thought he would and he was not going to let that go unappreciated. This woman did things to him. She got in his head and made him question everything he thought he had ever known. He wanted so desperately for her to wake and open those captivating eyes and hear the seductive call of her voice.

These months with her were indescribable. He truly hated her in the beginning when he was pacing his cell in the dungeon. He never would have thought he would grow to love her with such passion. She brought out a wildness in him that he saw often in her. A reckless abandon in her spirit that came out in many forms depending on her state of mind. Much like a temperamental stallion wishing to make its mark on an untouched field, you were along for the ride whether you wanted to or not. He was quite ready to let the reins slip through his fingers and feel the thrill and the love for such a thing.

He wanted to kiss her awake but he stayed put and let her sleep as his mind wandered through thoughts and feelings of her and when she started to wake as the sky turned from orange to blue, he pulled her closer and nuzzled his face in to hers so his nose was against her cheek and his forehead was against hers.

Regina smiled and hummed a gentle laugh as she slowly woke up in the warmth that surrounded her. His breaths blew softly against her neck and chest and his fingers began to trail lightly up and down her spine and the feel of his fingers upon her bare skin wasn't any less amazing than their night spent tangled with one another panting and feeling. She had felt so much and as she woke up she felt lighter and more relaxed than ever before. She was loved and treasured and no longer alone. "Good morning," she breathed out and smiled a little when his fingers began needlessly combing the hair away from her face.

"Marry me."

Her eyes still closed, she breathed out a single laugh from her nose and her voice came out light with laughter and just above a whisper, "if I have you asking for my hand after that night I'm curious to see what you ask of me when things get really heated," she teased and moved with him when he rolled them over so she was on her back and he was on top of her. She was smiling and laughing softly until he kissed her.

It was slow and strong and deep and had her breath catching as she found herself lost in it. It was then that she realized he wasn't playing and that his offer of marriage was honest and true and it shook her to her core. It scared her but she was soothed by his devoted kiss and as their lips parted she opened her eyes to look at him and found him looking down at her with all of the love in the world. His fingertips moving repeatedly through the hair above her ear as his eyes studied her face and he spoke the same two words once more.

"Marry me," he whispered and her beautiful dark eyes flicked nervously back and forth between his. "It has hardly been a week but I have known you for many months on end. I know you. And I know what I feel for you is stronger than anything I have ever felt. I have seen you at your worst, you have tried to kill me on more than one occasion, and yet I cannot imagine going one day without you let alone my entire life. I know what I want. I want my dearest friend, my passion, my love, I want you at my side until death do us part. I know that-" his gentle voice was silenced with her lips upon his in a tender and loving kiss that had him sighing softly and relaxing further in to her as his hands slid up her bare sides.

"Yes," she whispered against his lips and felt them curl in to a smile against her own which had her smiling with him as she lifted her hands, one moving over his jaw and the other playing with the short hair at the nape of his neck.

"Yes?" He questioned hopefully with a grin as he rested his forehead against hers and she nodded, her nose lightly bumping against his with the movement.

"Yes," she assured and felt her heart skip in excitement and her lips pull in to a wider grin when he closed the short distance and kissed her again. Soft and happy laughter filled the room as he gave her a series of kisses before he climbed off of her and the bed and she watched him with a grin, humming appreciatively as she watched the muscles move in his back. He glanced at her over his shoulder and it had her smiling more as she cocked her head and pulled her bottom lip between her teeth as she shamelessly watched him stand. He was as gorgeous a man in the morning as he was at night.

She was so glad to find he was not shy when it came to letting her see him without a stitch of clothing. She very much enjoyed looking. When he crouched down on the floor to rifle through his discarded clothing she propped herself up on her elbows and let the blankets fall from her bare chest as she waited for him to return to her. It didn't take long before he was climbing back on to the bed and she grinned as he shamelessly let his eyes fall to her breasts just as she had done to his bare figure.

He was grinning as he climbed on to the bed and over top of her and she was laughing quietly under her breath as he took her wrists in his hands and slowly pushed them above her head as he pushed her back down flat on the bed and kissed her. She was laughing quietly against his smiling mouth as his slow kiss continued and she left herself entirely limp and relaxed as he kissed her again and felt his hands slide higher from her wrists to her fingers. She laughed happily and excitedly when she felt a ring of cool metal slid me over her finger and that giddiness multiplied tenfold when he intertwined their fingers and continued to kiss her with their hands above their heads. This was right. This was the most right thing she had ever felt.

...

"Mom!" Henry greeted enthusiastically as he skipped up to her and David, "you guys have been in bed all morning! You totally missed Ruth trying to teach grandpa how to make bread," he laughed and David laughed with him.

"I don't imagine that went well. I suffered many insults to my intelligence and capability when she taught me," David chuckled and Henry laughed and nodded.

"Yeah I'm pretty sure he's gonna have some bruises on his arm with how many times she smacked him," he laughed.

"And what about yourself?" Regina inquired with a laugh and a raised eyebrow.

"I help my mom in Storybrooke make bread and stuff all the time! Ruth had very little to say," he defended and Regina laughed happily, "I bet she'd have a lot to say to you though if you were in there," he teased and she scoffed.

"From the stories I've heard I'm sure you'd have her throwing in the towel for the rest of her life," David chuckled and flinched away from her when she swatted his arm with the back of her hand.

"You can't even deny it can you," Henry grinned with a laugh and rocked forward on his toes.

"I-!..no," she conceded and Henry erupted in a fit of laughter as he threw his head back and clapped his hands. David was not much better as he laughed through his grin and tugged her in to his side with his hand over her hip.

"We'll make sure you don't starve to death," David teased and she rolled her eyes.

"I am not entirely incompetent," she defended and Henry laughed while David lifted an eyebrow with his smirk which had her biting back a smirk of her own, "I can hire people to cook for me."

He laughed good and heartily at that and this time she laughed with him and Henry. He loved laughing with her and he loved that quick tongue.

"So what are we doing today?" Henry asked cheerfully.

"Well I would rather like to have a picnic in the woods again. I quite enjoyed it the last time," she smiled and David kissed her jaw which had her smiling even more.

"I think that is a great idea," he agreed and then kissed her temple before nuzzling his nose in to her hair.

"I think so too," Henry agreed as he grinned in awe at the pair of them. He had never seen her so happy. In all of his life looking upon that face he had never seen it so at peace and truly happy than right then as she closed her eyes and turned her head to David. He couldn't wait to get home and try and replicate the results. Hopefully his mother in Storybrooke hadn't burned down the town in his absence. That would certainly make things more difficult.

Seeing her happy made him overjoyed and he could hardly stand still. And then he spotted a familiar ring on her finger. It took him a moment to recognize the green gem but he did recognize it as Snow's wedding ring back in Storybrooke. It had his grin faltering but his excitement growing as he put his hands out in front of him with his pointer fingers and thumbs extended so they both formed 'L's. One correct and one backward. Then he twisted his torso a bit so his confirmed left hand was in line with her ringed hand and settled his excited question, "you're getting married!" He cheered. It was weird, it was odd, it was going to take a little time to get used to the idea that David was not marrying Snow, but Henry was quite eager to get used to it.

"Yes," Regina answered with a smile at David as she leaned her head against his shoulder and looked in to those bright blue eyes that were smiling back down at her.

"When?! Soon?! It has to be soon!" He grinned as he hopped closer to them.

"Why is that?"

"Because you said I'm going home soon! But I want to see you get married here first! With all the people! And a big fancy dress! And then a big party! And lots of food! You have to do it soon!" He grinned as he bounced in excitement and both she and David laughed quietly in amusement, "you have to! You promised me a big party at the castle!"

"When did I do that?" Regina chuckled with a furrow of her brow.

"Right now!" Henry grinned and David laughed.

Regina smiled. It was a smile she tried to rein back so it didn't show her teeth. Henry was grinning like a damn fool and she was trying not to do the same even though she was just as excited as Henry over this proposal. She looked up to David for an answer and he breathed out a laugh as he lifted his hand to hold the side of her face.

Her dark eyes were full of life and sparkling with joy and excitement as her pretty mouth held a silent question and it had his heart filling with even more love for her, "my love, we can get married as soon as you wish," he assured with a smile that was still growing despite his belief that it couldn't grow any wider. Then she let out a giddy laugh as she turned and rose on her toes so she could take his face in her hands and kiss him. He was smiling with her as he kissed her back and she wrapped her arms around his neck and even when their lips parted she still stayed close and they shared a quiet breath of laughter as Henry rambled about how excited he was as he bounced around them. But David wasn't paying attention to the words Henry was spewing. He was far too focused on how happy Regina was and how happy he was.

-Storybrooke-

He had been looking for her all afternoon. She wasn't at home and she wasn't in her office, no one had seen her anywhere. But then he remembered her attire the night before and made his way to the stables only to lay his eyes upon her black Mercedes. He still didn't quite know what he was going to say to her. He hadn't been fair to her that previous night. He hadn't been fair to her or Snow. With a long breath he climbed out of his truck, musing as he passed the Mercedes how different she and him were.

She was nowhere to be found in the stable but the steady sound of hoofbeats led him outside. The sight had him smirking and pausing to take in the scene before he began walking to the white bar fencing the arena. She was perched on the back of a large bay horse. Black mane and tail, dark brown fur with black knees and hocks but four pristine white legs, and a white stripe down his face. He was a looker there was no argument. But Regina was the one that held his eye as they cleared jumps that were taller than himself.

Her hair was tucked in to her helmet and the perfect posture combined with the concentration on her face as they soared over a red and white oxer had him smiling pleasantly as he bent at the waist and folded his arms on the cool white metal that fenced the arena. She was good and it surprised him more than he thought it probably should. He had been told many times that the queen was a fine horsewoman but he had never gotten the opportunity to see her with them aside from when she was travelling in the Enchanted Forest. But that showed no talent. Not like this did.

He huffed a small laugh out his nose when she growled a comment at her mount for him to get up and get up he did. Up and over a particularly high jump with his head and neck tucked between his lifted knees and his hind legs tucked in as tight as they could while Regina helped him and stayed balanced and supportive upon his back. It was impressive to say the least and when they came back to solid ground and cantered off Regina was smiling and laughing as she let the reins slide from her fingers and leaned forward to pat his neck as he shook his head and neck.

Her congratulations continued until she brought him to a walk and she sat in the saddle while he stretched his neck out low and snorted. Then David started clapping and her smile faltered as her head snapped up to him but didn't stop her horse from walking toward him, "I had no idea you jumped."

"Well I haven't for awhile. But it gets me out of the house and keeps my mind focused on something other than Henry."

"That is certainly the job of the noble steed," David smiled and laughed a little when the horse stopped at the fence and looked at him, "to focus your mind on the task at hand."

"Indeed," she answered shortly as she unclipped her helmet.

David watched her remove her helmet and comb her fingers through her hair, biting back a laugh at the way her face scrunched in distaste when her fingers met sweaty dark locks, "what's his name?"

"Charlie."

"Well that's actually quite suiting," he chuckled at the horse but Regina was in no mood.

"What do you want, David?"

"I came to apologize," he started and she scowled at him.

"For what?"

"For last night. That wasn't fair. I crossed a line I shouldn't have and I am sorry," he apologized and she watched him, "I pulled you in to an issue between Snow and me and you don't deserve that. I wasn't in a good place last night and I dragged you down with me. I used you and I am so sorry. You are my friend and you are important to me and it makes my sick knowing that I could have ruined everything with that stunt I pulled last night."

"David," Regina started with a shake of her head as she looked off to the side before looking him right in the eye, "if you have developed a wish for something greater than friendship between us I need to know."

"I haven't," he lied and she nodded. Then he questioned, "have you?"

"Don't be ridiculous, David," she scolded and then lied, "of course I haven't."

"Are we okay?" He asked earnestly and she bowed her head as she fiddled with the buckle on her helmet's chinstrap.

Were they okay? Could she keep being in his company and ignore that constant pull toward him? That pull that multiplied tenfold last night when she was left alone with a bottle of amber liquid and images of what could have happened. Today she was not at the stables to take her mind away from Henry. That was yet another lie. She had come to ride away her thoughts of David. She hadn't expected him to come find her there. Could she keep up the facade? Would the urge to be more with him fade away?

It all didn't matter anyway. She couldn't lose him. She could suffer in silence over him but she couldn't lose him, "yes...we are okay," she replied quietly as she looked at him again. His exhale of relief felt like a shot through her heart. She only wished she could be so relieved. "However I still believe it's best you take a few days to get this midlife crisis under control, David," she stated quietly and started to try and get used to the ache in her heart. It wasn't going to be going away any time soon, "try and remember why you love your wife," she shrugged a little and took a deep breath. She would be fine. "I'll still be here once you're back on your feet."

David watched her carefully and she had him frowning. She was holding back. What it was he couldn't say exactly. But he had a sneaking suspicion that he had affected her a lot more than she was letting on. That he had hurt her a lot more than she was letting on, "...Regina."

"Yes?"

Her quiet voice was like a punch in the gut and his hand instinctively reached forward to rest on the horse's face to steady him when he shook his head and shifted his weight with an impatient flick of his tail. She wouldn't look at him and he knew her well enough now to know that that meant she was an emotional wreck on the inside but wouldn't let it show on the outside. "I don't want to lose you," he told her softly and she nodded but kept her eyes down, "even though the position I put you in was unfair, I meant it when I said you were invaluable to me."

"I know."

"Regina-"

"David you made me feel like an object," she breathed out in a conceding breath and crossed her jaw as her throat tightened and she watched his shoulders drop in the peripherals of her vision, "but only for a moment. Then you made me feel...wanted," she titled her head, her voice breaking on the word 'wanted'. She took a small breath and licked her lips as she tried to keep herself from crying, "and important. And then you were gone. It was the right decision. For you to leave. But...it uh...it didn't mean the effects disappeared with you. You had a bit of a breakdown and that's fine but it got to me and I just need a few days without you to get myself sorted once again. And you need to do the same. We are both on edge, we've both stirred one another up, we've both gotten a little too close to the point of no return. We need to settle down before we do something stupid that we can't take back."

He knew she was right. But he didn't want her to be. If she wasn't on the back of a horse and they were face to face he knew he would already be kissing her already. He was not stable and as it turned out neither was she. The both of them were playing with fire and they were both getting burned. He knew she was right.

"I need to go cool Charlie out," she stated quietly and gently turned her horse away from David and hung her helmet on a jump standard as she rode by.