"Hey, I'm going to find you something sweet," Red said, elbowing Snow while they walked. "It's your birthday! I'm going to make sure you can enjoy it!"

Snow rolled her eyes. "How many times do I have to tell you that's unnecessary?"

Red winked. "It sure as hell is! You're the true princess! You deserve it!"

Snow turned bright red. "You're embarrassing me."

Red considered that but then let out a small scream when Snow dragged her back from the road, a carriage approaching. As it got closer, however, with a loaded bow and a sword on her back, Snow went for it, expecting to find Regina and confront her. She was surprised, however, to not see any of the Queen's guards. Still, Snow jumped and got on one of the horses, taking the reins, and pulling the carriage to a stop. The second it stopped so suddenly, a man's startled yelp escaped from the carriage and Snow jumped down, prepared to rob. She missed, however, instead running into the man who was opening the door. He stared at her in disbelief, but then grabbed her wrist to stop her from falling down and harming herself. Red approached, ready to fight, but to both of their shocks, it was unnecessary.

"Didn't expect to be run by bandits," He joked with a self-assured smile. "You two ladies need anything?"

"Food and drinks," Red immediately told him. Much to her surprise, he tossed her three large bags of food and some flasks of water, beer, and wine. "Well, you're richy rich rich."

"Am I?" He quirked his eyebrows.

"WIth all due respect, we just needed some basic things," Snow said, crossing her arms. I sure as hell am not going to let slip I thought he could have been Regina. "I hope you know you're -"

"Hey, hey, I'm helping you two out," He said, hopping down from the carriage and smiling at them. "I am not going to be dishonourable and not help damsels in distress."

Red started laughing, wheezing a little.

"Charming," Snow dryly quipped.

"At your service," He replied, bowing. "You do look a little under the weather, though," He pulled some chocolate out of his pocket. "Have some. It always makes me feel better."

Snow hesitated but then sighed and took a bite.

Much to her annoyance, it was pretty good.

"So, Charming," Red joked. "Where are you headed?"

"Ironically, home to prepare for my wedding," He shook his head. "I'm not particularly excited about it, but it's my duty."

Snow's brow furrowed. Just like Regina….

"Are you marrying Misthaven's Queen?" Red asked him.

Charming took a step back, startled. "No," He said, laughing. "I've never met her. My father has, but from what I know she's very strange. He isn't fond of her child, either."

"You're a prince?" Red started laughing again too. "Neighbouring kingdom, I assume?"

He nodded. "My father is King George."

Snow watched him closely, surprised when she felt herself starting to tingle while she eyed him up and down.

"I'd much prefer to marry one of you," He said, rubbing his neck. "Someone normal, not a noble."

He doesn't know who I am, then, Snow breathed a small sigh of relief. Thank God.

"I hope we'll meet again, you two seem interesting," He took Red's hand and gentlemanly kissed it. Then, he turned to Snow but held onto her hand for a minute.

Am I….aroused?

"Have a safe journey," He said, finally kissing her hand. "As I said, I hope the two of you will meet with me again."

"You too," Snow said, her heart racing and her body tingling even more.

He hopped onto one of the horses and took off, waving at them as he departed.

"I think I found your man," Red teased. "And Imma make sure you two definitely meet again."

Snow blinked. "I genuinely," She started. "Don't know how to respond to that."

"I'm sorry…"

Regina's hands brushed over the glass of Daniel's coffin, her eyes still red and puffy from tears. It was one of those moments where she needed to be alone with him. Talking with Lynn more and more about him….I almost forgot how affected I still am. She closed her eyes for a few seconds. Focusing on the physical around her; her silk gloves on top of one of her heart boxes, her feet unusually bare underneath her long, sweeping gown. She wasn't going to be leaving the palace, certainly not for the rest of the day. When the Queen opened her eyes, she looked back down at the lifeless and perfectly preserved body of Daniel beneath her hands. More than anything, she wanted to kiss him again, feel his warm hands and steady heartbeat against her. Imagining him holding Lynn in his arms too, her looking at her daughter, one hand holding hers and the other on her husband's shoulder. It was the perfect life, the perfect fantasy.

But it was also exactly that. A fantasy.

"Regina?"

She whipped around, her chest rising and falling quickly, though her eyes softened a little bit when she realised it was only her father.

"What is it?" She irritably replied.

Henry shook his head. There's more sadness than anger behind her eyes.

"Lynn woke up from her nap," He said. "Some of the maid servants are taking care of her right now -"

"Taking care -" Regina began, her hands shaking while she snatched up her gloves.

"- she's fine," Henry reassured her. "But Lynn does have a bad cold. She's coughing a lot and had a bloody nose earlier."

Regina took in a sharp breath and then stormed past him. He quickly followed on her heel.

"Why the hell didn't you tell me sooner?" She exclaimed in disbelief.

Henry sighed "I didn't want to interrupt your moment alone with Daniel."

Regina paused to turn, her eyes narrowed.

"She is all I have besides you, and she is all I have left of him!" Her voice wavered, moving quickly again towards her bedchamber where Lynn had been napping, Henry still only a few paces behind her. "You should have told me!"

Henry said nothing more, only giving apologetic looks to the maid servants when Regina stormed into the room, only calming down when she saw Lynn. Her daughter looked to her and smiled, but she then started coughing again, and barely got down water without spitting it up. Her mother came over to her as quickly as she could, tossing her gloves onto her vanity. The maid servants took a few steps back, allowing their Queen to have space. Lynn hugged Regina, clinging to her mother. She kissed her baby girl's forehead and began to rub her back, comforted only when she could hear her daughter's heart beat. Without saying anything, she gave a look to her maid servants that told them to get the healing potion ingredients for her. The second they were out of the room and Henry was the only other person left alone with his daughter and granddaughter. Regina ruffled her daughter's hair, and held her close.

She really was hers and Daniel's perfect angel.

"Are you okay?" Regina murmured.

Lynn glanced up to her. "I feel bad momma…"

"I know, I know darling," Regina let out a small sigh. "You'll feel better soon. Momma's going make you feel better. You know I always take the sick away."

Lynn sniffled, starting to cry.

"Hey, darling," Regina cupped her cheek. "It's going to be okay."

Mother and daughter were silent for a few minutes, comforted by each other's embrace.

"You have always been a wonderful mother," Henry said with a proud smile. "I'm so happy to see it every day."

Regina looked to him, still rubbing her baby girl's back.

"I'm just doing the best I can."

"And you are doing a fine job," Henry assured her.

"I love you momma," Lynn said, staring at her mum with wide eyes.

Regina smiled. "I love you too, darling, as constant as the stars above."

"I found a set of books you might like, dearie."

Belle turned around suddenly, accidentally knocking a cup off a tray, just barely catching it in her nearest hand. Rumple chuckled, slamming the books down on a desk and winking at her. She let out a sigh of relief when she set down the cup on the tray again with the rest of the china, moving it to a less precarious spot. She watched him nervously while he began to walk over to inspect the china, clasping his hands together in anticipation and with a laugh. Belle continued to watch him while she cleaned things down, and her eyes fluttered open and shut every so often while she worked. She doubted Rumple knew (or, potentially, cared) that she had stayed up all night organising and cleaning for him. Still, she couldn't help but enjoy herself when she met Rumple's quips with her own, and she focused on that in order to try and stay awake, even for just an hour or so more. It was beginning to get dark, anyway.

"Thank you," Belle said, dusting off the books he had set down for her. "Are these for my personal use or do you want me to examine them for you?"

"Personal," He shortly replied.

"Rather kind of you," Belle said with a smile.

"Did you expect anything less?"

They both laughed, and then Rumple moved, setting both of his hands on her shoulders from behind.

"Have some time for yourself, I'm feeling charitable."

Belle stared at him in disbelief but then, once she was sure he was serious, nodded and swept up the books in her arms, slowly walking down towards her own room. He waited until he was certain she was gone, and then took a look around. His dwelling had become immaculate since she had become his maid. Then, after having walked around, inspecting some of the book shelves, he found himself satisfied. Leaning back against the wall, he smirked to himself, relishing in all he had done in just the past year alone. Having nothing else to do, Rumple laughed to himself and snapped his fingers. It was a matter of seconds, and he found himself rather amused when he appeared out of a dark cloud of haze in the Queen's palace. He began to laugh when her eyes went wide in the mirror, and she stood up suddenly, angrily turning around, a long, ornate, hair pin in one of her hands. Rumple merely grinned at her, rather amused by Regina's anger.

"What the fuck are you doing?" She snapped, her hand tightening around her pin. "I don't recall asking you to come here, let alone -"

"Ah, dearie, I doubted you had anything important happening," Rumple's hands tapped against each other, hopping one off the other. "i was correct, was I not?"

Regina scowled. "Is that so?"

"Have I struck a nerve?" Rumple snickered. "Are you still angry about my…..interruption of you last month?"

Regina's gaze only darkened. "You had no right to take that place. It is my spouse's and theirs alone."

"Hm?" Rumple's eyebrows shot up in amusement. "Well, dearie, you were forced to marry one and killed them, and the other has been dead since well before that marriage."

Regina turned suddenly, throwing the pin at and aiming for Rumple's left eye. She missed by mere inches.

"There it is!" He declared. "I did strike a nerve!"

"What do you want?" Regina hissed.

"Am I forbidden from dropping in on a friend?" Rumple said without missing a beat.

"Under what pretenses are we friends?"

Rumple considered her words, still snickering to himself.

"You'll have kinder feelings towards me once you cool down," He flippantly replied. "I have to say, that temper of yours lends it to a great deal of your power. You never cease to impress me."

Regina said nothing, though her bitterness was more than apparent without words.

"How is your search for the girl going?"

"If it were going well," Regina bit off. "Then why would I be here?"

Rumple smirked. "I knew you were not one to be crossed."

"I never have been," Regina shook in anger. "And you would do well to keep that in close mind."