Chapter 1
Part 1
Present Day-Storybrooke
As he lay down for what he hoped would be his last night in Peter Pan's body, he could not sleep. He had been stuck in a box for what seemed like an eternity, and now he was trapped in a body that was not his own. Sure, it would be awesome to be Spiderman, X-Man, or Batman, but not Pan, especially since he was a villain, oh yeah and Rumples' father. So, what did that make him? His great-grandfather. It was weird. He was stuck in his great-grandfather's body. All he wanted in that moment was to be back in his own body, to be able to read all the comic books and play all the video games he wanted, to be back in his old room, in his old bed, not this tiny loft of his grandmother's. Most of all, he missed his mom... his adoptive mom. He wished he could go back in time, to when they would go to the beach together and have fun like they used to. A warm smile tugged at his lips as he reminisced on those days.
He glanced at the clock, it was 2am. Wow, if his mother found out he was up this late she would be livid. He kept tossing and turning, feeling something unusual beneath his pillow. He flipped the pillow over and discovered several missing pages from the storybook. As he lifted them up, the first page had a beautiful illustration of a woman holding a baby in the air, reminiscent of the iconic image from the Lion King movie. At the bottom of the page was a caption that read, "Her name is Regina, for one day she will be Queen."
Henry gasped in disbelief. He couldn't believe his eyes - the baby was his mother!
He whispered in a voice that was not his own, "This must be her story." He was taken aback for a moment, as he had momentarily forgotten he was in Pan's body. He really wanted his body back. Anyway, he was certain that these pages had been removed from the book. He wondered, were they here before? Or did they just appear...like magic? He concluded that the latter must be true, for this was Story Brooke after all.
He thought that since he couldn't sleep, he might as well take this opportunity to pull an all-nighter. He knew that his mom would be furious if she found out he had done this, But he figured that he wouldn't get in trouble since he was technically in Pan's body. This thought made him chuckle. He then decided to read up on his adoptive mother's story and find out what her life was like before she became the Evil Queen. After all, Henry Daniel Mills was finally realizing that the fairytale world isn't always what it seems, and sometimes heroes can turn out to be villains, or vice versa.
A Queen is Born
Once upon a time, long ago, a child was born - an innocent pawn in her mother's vengeful and ambitious game. Cora, the Miller's daughter, wanted only one thing - power. She was willing to go to any lengths to secure it, even if it meant sacrificing her own heart. She had one goal in mind - to make her daughter, Regina, the Queen of the Enchanted Forest. Regina had beautiful brown eyes and raven hair, with soft olive skin. The fairest of them all. Any mother would have been overjoyed at their bundle of joy, but no, Cora only saw a future queen in the making. Regina's father was Prince Henry, the son of King Xavier and furthest in line from the throne. Despite his nobility, kindness, and honor, he was weak - his daughter, the most precious gift he had ever received, was his Achilles heel, and Cora would use this to her advantage for the power she so desperately desired. For Cora, love was nothing but a weakness.
Regina and Daniel-Enchanted Forest
"Come on, Rocinante!" the raven-haired young woman said to her warm chestnut mare while riding through the breeze of the fresh air. Her long braid flew through the wind, and she felt free and at peace. She was on her way to see her beloved, and with a quick jump off of Rocinante, she ran up the hill to greet him.
Daniel eagerly pulled her close and their lips met in a passionate, long-awaited kiss, there on the hill, beneath the outstretched branches of her beloved apple tree.
Breaking away from the kiss, Daniel gazed into her lovely brown eyes. He smiled at her and suggested, "I thought we could take a ride to Firefly Hill and make it by sundown. We can have a picnic there."
Regina was turning 18, and Daniel wanted to celebrate. She took a deep breath and looked into his caring blue eyes. "I can't...I...I have to be back in an hour. Tea time. A lady never misses her tea time." She sighed, "Then my ladies' maids must prepare me for the unwanted birthday ball mother has planned for me tonight."
Daniel scoffed, "This is absurd, stealing kisses between lunch and tea? When are you gonna tell your parents about us?"
Regina provided some sort of comfort, "It's not my parents. It's her." She put both hands on his shoulders in comfort and continued, "She thinks one's trajectory needs to keep moving up and..."
He dropped his head, "And I'm down." He walked away towards the apple tree, the tree that symbolized their love. He wanted to understand how this wasn't easy for her, especially with a mother like Cora Mills, but he didn't care anymore. He loved this beautiful young woman and would do anything for her happiness.
"Daniel, I'm sorry, but I promise after this extravaganza my mother insists on having and everything has abated, I will tell her." Regina walked up to him and caressed his cheek.
"Regina, tell her. She'll get over it. What can she do?" He asked.
She scoffed and pulled back from his embrace, "Have you not seen her magic? The real question is what can't she do?"
Daniel pulled Regina back into his embrace and caressed her cheek, "Who cares about magic. True love is the most powerful magic of all. It can overcome anything."
Regina looked into Daniel's beautiful blue eyes and was moved by his words. She knew at that moment... She didn't want to be with anyone else. He was her true love, the man she was destined to spend the rest of her life with, and she couldn't let her mother take this away from her.
Just as Regina was about to pull in for a kiss, they both heard someone screaming for help. "Shh! Someone's here!" Regina exclaimed. They turned their heads and saw a young girl struggling on her horse. She was close to falling off and possibly breaking her neck.
Regina ran towards Rocinante and jumped onto the mare's back, grabbing the reins tightly as she knew she had to do whatever was necessary to save the young girl. "I'm sorry, Daniel," she said, turning to him briefly. "I love you, but I have to do this."
Daniel wanted to continue their conversation, but he saw the determination in Regina's eyes and knew this was something she had to do. He reluctantly stepped back and watched her ride off, feeling a mixture of emotions as his love journeyed to save a stranger.
Unbeknownst to Regina, this act of bravery would come at a great expense to her. Despite the daunting consequences that lay ahead, she was determined to rescue the young girl and would not let her perish.
Regina and Snow-Enchantment Forest
Regina bravely succeeded in her mission to save the young girl, quickly pulling her off the frantic horse and safely onto the ground. She jumped off the horse and knelt down to the girl's level, brown eyes full of concern. "It's okay dear, you're safe," she spoke gently.
The young girl looked up into Regina's kind eyes and said, "You saved my life." Regina was still concerned for her well-being and asked, "Are you alright?"
"Yes, but I'll never ride again," the young girl said solemnly.
Regina chuckled and grabbed both of her hands, looking her in the eyes and telling her, "Nonsense, the only way to overcome fear is to face it. To get back on that horse as soon as possible." She smiled then said "Regina".
The young girl melted in the comfort she was receiving from Regina and thanked her.
"I'm Snow, Snow White," she said with a big smile on her face, jumping into Regina's embrace and giving her a hug. Regina, slightly taken aback, hugged her back with a smile.
In that moment, Snow realized that she didn't want to let any more time pass without being with this remarkable woman. She knew she had to share with her father the story of the brave young woman who had saved her life - a genuine savior... and possible stepmother.
The Ball-Enchanted Forest
As Regina's ladies' maids were preparing her for her mother's birthday extravaganza, she couldn't help but think of what Daniel had said about true love being the most powerful magic of all. Could her love for him overpower her mother's powerful magic? She had suffered under Cora's magic and was desperate to avoid it, If Regina didn't inform her mother soon about her relationship with Daniel, Cora would undoubtedly arrange her marriage to some wealthy old geezer. Regina desired nothing more than to be free. Just then, there was a knock at the door.
"How's my princess?" her father asked as he walked in.
"Hi Daddy," Regina smiled. "I'm not looking forward to this ball Mother insists on having... If that's what you are asking." She felt the urge to roll her eyes. "I know it's not a celebration for me, but for her. It's all about her ambition to gain more power for the kingdom." She began to get worked up. "I may be a 'stupid girl' in her eyes, but I'm not!"
Her father tried to calm her down. "I know, my darling. I know."
"Daddy, please, can't you do something to stop her from having this silly ball? All I really want is to spend time with Daniel," she begged pleadingly.
He was aware of her and Daniel's relationship, especially after he had caught them kissing in the stables. It wasn't one of Regina's fondest memories, but she was thankful it was her father and not her mother. That day he had said that if Daniel made her happy, then that was all that mattered. Ever since then, he had supported their relationship, but warned her to be careful.
"You know he had a picnic planned for us, but I had to decline, because of... well, Mother." Her eyes brimmed with tears. "My happiness means nothing to her."
After the maids finished the final touches on her dress, they left the father and daughter alone. "Regina, you know your mother loves you and wants what's best for you," he said soothingly.
"Come on, Daddy," she said, her voice heavy with exasperation. "She's been controlling my life for the past 18 years!"
Henry paused and looked into his daughter's eyes, taking both of her hands in his own.
"Your mother doesn't know how to love very well, Regina, but I can assure you that I am immensely proud of you, my beloved daughter. You have grown into a compassionate and caring soul, exactly what I dreamed you would be. It makes me proud to be your father. I want you to have a wonderful night, despite this silly ball being more for your mother's benefit. Try to have a good time, okay?" He said with a smile.
Regina looked away from her father's eyes, which mirrored her own, and said softly, "I won't be able to enjoy myself without Daniel...but I'll try for you, Daddy."
He caressed her cheek and said, "I know, sweetheart. I think Daniel is a fine young man, and regardless of his status, I see the way he treats you and puts a smile on your face. He is perfect for you, my dear girl. If any man were to woo my daughter, I would choose him."
"Oh Daddy, that means so much. Thank you," Regina said, embracing him in a hug.
"Now, what do you say I escort you to the ball, so we don't keep your mother waiting?" he asked.
"Okay, only for you," Regina said with a smirk and a playful wink as she took her father's hand. They walked side by side towards the grand ballroom.
A couple of hours past...
Regina attempted to absorb her father's advice and savor the ball, yet she was unable to, due to the men who persistently groped her and told jokes that were anything but amusing. All the young women there were snooty and had their nose in the air. Regina resorted to taking sips of wine here and there to make the time pass quicker. Unable to tolerate it any longer, she decided to slip out of the ballroom and get some fresh air, confident that no one would even notice her absence. Her mother was too busy mingling with the other nobles and her father was deeply engaged in catching up with old friends while puffing on a cigar. Regina deemed it an excellent plan to check on her beloved horse, Rocinante, and thus, she hastened to the stables without giving much thought to her beautiful gown and high heels.
Once she made it to the stables, she quickly undid the lock and opened the door. Her mare greeted her with a nudge on the nose as she lovingly said, "Hey there, how's my best friend doing?"
Just then, she heard a voice call out her name. She recognized it immediately and turned around with a shy smile, "Daniel".
Daniel couldn't believe his eyes; he knew Regina was beautiful, but tonight she looked simply stunning. He wanted to run his hands through her gorgeous curls. He hesitated and said, "uh what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at the ball? The stables isn't a place for-"
"I'm quite aware of my location and attire, so please spare me the unnecessary commentary," she said, rolling her eyes as she cut him off before he could finish.
Daniel rolled his eyes in response, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He was no stranger to Regina's stubbornness, but it was just one of the many things he adored about her.
Daniel cleared his throat and said, "my apologies Regina, you look absolutely stunning. However... I would just hate to see a speck of horse manure on that beautiful gown of yours." He smirked.
Regina couldn't help but chuckle at his ridiculous response, glancing into his handsome face. "Well, I guess it's a good thing you're my stable boy, right?" she smirked mischievously. "Besides, I really don't care. I just needed to get away from that wretched ball. And I can't stand this corset; it's suffocating me!"
Daniel stepped closer and put his hands on her waist. He smirked at her and said, "If you need help getting out of this gown, I'd be more than happy to oblige."
Regina swatted his hands away and blushed, "Daniel!"
"I'm just joking, love. But I must say, you have truly taken me by surprise. I was just about to close up the stables when you showed up."
"Yeah, well... I'm surprised I'm here too. The ball went exactly as I expected; my mother's way of gaining power and finding potential suitors. I just couldn't take it anymore."
Regina could sense that was something Daniel did not want to hear so she stepped closer to him, wrapping her arms around his waist and gazing up at him with her, chocolate-colored eyes.
"I'm sorry about earlier today, Daniel. I'm happy I got to see you tonight, regardless of the circumstances. I'm really sorry we couldn't have the picnic you planned."
Daniel wrapped his arms around her and looked deep into her brown eyes, which were locked with his blue ones. "No need to apologize, my love. I can only pray that soon, we'll be able to express our love for each other openly. You very well know, I'm so deeply in love with you Regina Mills. I love your kind heart, especially how you saved that little girl on the running horse; it was truly selfless of you. You're the woman I want to grow old with, the mother of my future children. You promised me six children in our cozy little cabin," he said with a chuckle and caressed her cheek tenderly. "You're so beautiful inside and out. Even with all the extravagant gowns and your title as princess. I see beyond all that; I just see... Regina."
Regina was rendered speechless; she clung to every word he said and gazed into his captivating ocean blue eyes. All she saw was unconditional love. Was this the magic he was talking about? How had she gotten so lucky? He is so perfect. She thought to herself, in that moment all she wanted to do was kiss him, kiss him like she had never kissed him before. He was hers, and she wanted to make sure he knew that, so she did, and Daniel returned the same intensity in the kiss. After a few lingering breaths, Regina looked into his eyes, which had deepened to a darker shade.
She didn't know if it was the liquid courage she had consumed, but she said the first thing that came to mind in that moment...
"Make love to me, Daniel."
Present Day-Storybrooke
Henry was deeply captivated by his mother's story and was delighted to read about her true love, Daniel. But he couldn't bring himself to read about or even contemplate what was going to happen next in the narrative.
He glossed over many of Snow White and Prince Charming's most passionate moments in their story, since the oft-repeated phrase "I will always find you" had become tiresome.
He quickly scanned and skipped paragraphs, ensuring that he had the gist of the material before continuing on.
Continuation
She didn't know if it was the liquid courage she had consumed, but she said the first thing that came to mind in that moment...
"Make love to me, Daniel."
Taken aback, Daniel paused for a moment, his brow furrowed. "Regina," he said slowly, "we can't, not here."
Regina was oblivious to the potential repercussions or whereabouts; her sole focus was the heartfelt declaration of love from her stable boy, and she was determined to be with him in that very instant.
Daniel felt a wave of desire wash over him as she put a finger to his lips to hush his protests of being a gentleman. She kissed his neck slowly and passionately as her hands started to unbuckle his trousers. "I need to feel you," she whispered seductively in his ear, sending a shiver down his spine.
Panting, Daniel stopped her movements and said in a breathless voice, "But your mother... your father caught us kissing not too long ago. We can't do this."
Regina was becoming frustrated. "Daniel, my mother is occupied with the nobility. She's not worried about where I am. And if you're scared of getting caught... well" She opened one of the empty stable stalls and smirked.
He chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. "Regina, come on. I want your first time to be somewhere special, not in the stables."
Regina was becoming increasingly flustered by his chivalry, "Do you not want me?"
He huffed in exasperation, casting his gaze downward at the part of himself that was sending a different message.
Regina's cheeks flushed a deep shade of red as she followed his gaze.
"Of course, I want you, Regina, but this is not the place."
She scoffed, her voice wavering with emotion. "Why not? This is where it all began. Daniel, this is where we met, where we shared our first kiss, and our first 'I love you'. This place- the stables- is where I want to share something even more special with you: to make love to you for the first time.
A tear dropped down her face as she continued, her voice growing more determined. "I don't want it to be in a royal four-poster bed, in some majestic castle. I want it to be here. As crazy as it may
seem, I need it to be here. I love you, Daniel Colter, and I need you-"
Daniel stepped closer to her, tenderly brushing away the single tear from her cheek with his thumb, before leaning down to kiss her passionately. Instantly, their tongues were intertwined and dancing to this 'new', but familiar tune they both knew so well. When he finally pulled away, they were both left breathless. He softly said, "are you certain, Regina."
She felt something inside her flutter as she said, "I've never been more certain in my life."
With a gentle smile, Daniel grabbed the picnic blanket they had used for their picnics at Firefly Hill, laying it down softly in the hay. He lit up a nearby lantern and placed it in the stable window, casting a golden glow over the night sky. After locking the stall gate, he pulled Regina down onto the blanket and said, "If you're certain, then I'd like to make love to you, my love."
So, they did.
Little did they know that their passionate- reckless lovemaking would bring about a miraculous
surprise, a blessing at the most inopportune time.
At that moment, Cora was devising a plan to engage King Leopold - her former lover and the father of Snow White - and Regina. All her hard work was now culminating, and it didn't matter what her daughter or feeble husband wished. She had slain Queen Eva, maliciously arranged for Snow to meet Regina, and now Regina must make contact with the King. Checkmate: Cora was ready to make her final move.
A couple of weeks past-Enchanted Forest
Regina's eyes sparkled with anticipation as she readied herself for her riding lesson with Daniel. As she fastened the buttons of her light blue riding coat, she felt her mother's magical force transform it into a stunning light blue ball gown, with her neatly plaited braid now shaped into graceful curls tumbling down her back.
Regina looked at her mother in confusion, her brow furrowed.
Cora walked up to her, gently brushing her hair away from her face and said with a warm, reassuring smile, "We don't want to disappoint him?"
"Who?"
Regina was utterly perplexed when her mother spoke of the King's imminent arrival to meet her. Cora praised her daughter for the first time, noting that the young girl she had saved was none other than Snow White, the King's beloved daughter.
Just like that, the king strode in with his entourage, and her father followed close behind. Was he also a part of this grand spectacle? She pondered curiously.
Regina was left speechless at the sight of the King. She had an uneasy feeling about him, as he stood there enamored by her beauty. He expressed his gratitude for saving his daughter and said he was deeply honored to be in her presence, bowing down to her as if she was a regal monarch. Cora, growing increasingly concerned for her daughter's silence, softly uttered, "Regina, my dear, the King is here to honor you. Please, say something." Regina finally found her words and responded humbly, "Oh...the honor is all mine," as she gracefully curtsied to the King.
The King looked at Regina with admiration and praised Cora for raising her daughter to be so kind and compassionate. He then mentioned the passing of his beloved Queen Eva and Regina softly expressed her condolences. The King then said he had searched across the land for a wife and a mother most suitable for his daughter, but he had yet to find one until now.
Regina's stomach churned as the King slowly went down on one knee and ask for her hand in marriage. Her eyes, however, were not drawn to the glittering diamond ring, but to the top of his shiny bald head with graying hairs poking out from his crown. Bile began to rise in her throat, but she managed to keep it down. She couldn't believe what was taking place, so her gaze shifted to her father, who was trembling yet remained silent instead of intervening. That was when Cora stepped forward and said with a malicious smirk, "Yes, yes!", accepting Leopold's proposal on Regina's behalf.
Regina gazed at her mother in disbelief, fear rising in her gut. She struggled to find her voice, her mind racing as she realized the only thing, she could do was find Daniel and flee. She had to get as far away from here as possible and never look back.
Hours later-Enchanted Forest
Cora thought it best to celebrate the royal engagement with a feast, but Regina had difficulty eating under her mother's stern gaze. Leopold had the nerve to rub her thigh beneath the table, finally taking ownership of his future young bride. Regina felt a wave of disgust wash over her. Unable to tolerate the false pretense any longer, she requested to be excused. Cora rolled her eyes in disdain, believing Regina was behaving like an irascible child.
Once outside the estate, Regina ran to the stables, silently praying Daniel was still there. When she reached the stables, she screamed his name. His presence brought a wave of relief over her. Daniel noticed that Regina was exhausted from running and asked with deep concern, "My love, what is wrong? Are you alright?"
Regina caught her breath and answered with glistening eyes, "Marry me."
"Regina, what are you doing? What happened? Did you tell your mother?" he asked, fear and hope evident in his voice.
"No... now I can never tell her. She won't understand. That girl I saved was the King's daughter and he proposed to me," Regina paused, her breath shallow as moisture pooled in her eyes. "My mother accepted!" She spun around, away from her lover's arms, and murmured, "The only way out is to run" She stepped back into his embrace and cried, "for us to be married and never come back."
Daniel's eyes widened in disbelief. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. He struggled to come up with something to say, "Regina, do you understand what that would mean? Life with a stable boy is a far cry from a life as Queen."
Regina tenderly caressed both sides of Daniel's cheeks and lovingly declared, "Being Queen means nothing. Daniel, all I care about is you."
Daniel paused; his ocean blue eyes locked with Regina's Bambi brown. He felt a wave of emotion wash over him as he realized that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, hand in hand, chasing their dreams together. Taking a step away from her embrace, he reached into his saddle and brought out a makeshift engagement ring. With a gentle smile, he approached her and said, "If I'm to marry you, then we deserve a proper engagement. This ring may not be much, but it is a symbol of the love we share. Even though we're in the stables, this is where everything started, and it's where our future together begins." He paused, his voice shaking as tears started to well up in his eyes. He swallowed and continued, "It's where-"
Regina tenderly ran a finger across Daniel's lips, her eyes twinkling with joy. Chuckling softly, she whispered, "Shh! It's perfect and even here in the stables, it makes this engagement that much more special...Like...Magic." Her lips curled into the heart-warming smile that Daniel adored so much and they both leaned in, locking lips in a passionate kiss.
In that moment, their love seemed to consume them both, and they knew that love was the strongest magic of all. No matter what obstacles came their way, their love would prevail.
Little did they realize, innocent Snow White was just around the corner, ready to bear witness to the tender moment between the two lovers, a moment that was about to alter everything.
The aftermath-Enchanted Forest
After an uneventful night, Regina was feeling far from well. She stumbled into her bedchambers, where her beloved lady maid Rainy was waiting to help. Suddenly, Regina rushed to the washroom and groaned as she began to heave into the wash basin. Rainy was there to support her, gently holding back her hair. Once Regina had finished, Rainy retrieved a warm, wet cloth and delicately dabbed her forehead. Regina had no idea what she would do without the old woman's loving care.
Rainy asked gently, "It's quite late, but would you like me to warm a bath for you, my dear? You don't seem well." Regina, too exhausted to respond with words, simply nodded in agreement.
Rainy quickly warmed a bath for the young woman and helped her to relax in the tub, as she scrubbed and washed Regina's hair, as she had done when Regina was a young girl. Rainy was somewhat like a nurturing mother figure, since Cora lacked in that department. As Regina enjoyed the treatment Rainy was providing to her head, The wise older woman then asked the words that Regina was dreading to hear.
"I noticed your cycle has not arrived, should I be worried? Your mother-"
Regina's voice was sharp and cutting as she declared, "I'm 18 now, and as an engaged woman, my mother has no right to know anything about my life, cycle, or anything else. It's simply none of her business." She spat.
Regina's emotional turmoil from the day seemed to be reaching its peak, and she didn't want to take it out on the elderly lady. Taking a deep breath, she softly pleaded, "I kindly ask that you leave me now. I require some time to be by myself."
Rainy didn't want to cause the young woman any more distress; she was aware of all she had endured and wanted to ensure she was as relaxed as possible if her suspicions proved to be true. "As you wish," Rainy said softly.
As soon as Rainy had gone, the young brunette felt a tight knot in her throat. The urge to cry was overwhelming, for so many reasons. One reason in particular was Snow White. The audacity of her snooping around places she shouldn't be at this late hour.
Regina had to chase after Snow and explain why she was unable to wed her father, as her heart belonged to Daniel. She spoke of the words Daniel had told her,
"true love is magic, but not just any magic, it creates happiness."
This did the trick, and Snow's face lit up with an enchanting smile. Regina's heart melted at the sight of the young girl's innocence and nativity to the world around her. Snow insisted on telling her father about Regina's confession, but Regina begged her to keep the relationship a secret, especially from her mother. She had to ensure that Snow was absolutely certain about guarding this vital secret between herself and Regina exclusively. Snow promised she would, so all Regina could do was trust the young girl and pray to any fairy above who would care to listen that this secret mustn't reach the ears of her cruel mother. After walking Snow back to the Estate, Regina had to speak with Daniel one last time and make sure they had an escape plan for the following night.
With a heavy heart, Regina wept in the bathtub. She wept for the naive Snow White, whose innocence had caused her to be betrothed to King Leopold, a decision that had been accepted without hesitation by her emotionless mother. She wept for her weak father, who was unable to protect her from her mother's tyranny. She wept for Daniel, her beloved stable boy, and the uncertain future that awaited them. Finally, she wept for her unborn child, her tears a mix of sorrow and fear. She felt sure that she was pregnant, and yet dread filled her as she thought of the responsibilities she would have to face. She couldn't bear the thought of her child having to suffer under the same oppressive circumstances she had grown up with. Regina silently prayed that her child would never know the same suffering she had endured. Tears streaming down her cheeks, Regina released all her anguish into the water and wept.
TBC