Greetings to all! This is the first fic I've done in quite a while. But, since I've started watching Once Upon a Time I have been itching to get some new stuff out there. Besides, there simply aren't enough stories about Belle and Regina. I found it my obligation to add one. Enjoy! Rated M for the best reasons. : This fic exists outside of canon (obviously) and a few days after "The Doctor" .

Regina woke feeling breathless. Christ, it was already noon. For the past three nights she had dreampt of Daniel. She closed her eyes and she could see him once more. It wasn't something that Regina could handle much more of. The savagry of Daniel's eyes continued to haunt her as she dressed. Looking in the mirror, Regina took a moment to give herself a good once-over. Everything fit nicely. It shaped a sleek sillouette accented only by the bits of red on her face.

"I look tired. Worn out." She thought. Her cheeks were red from crying in her sleep. Their hue matched the color of her lips of which she had been biting. Blood pooled and was licked away. Regina turned to her wardrobe. Its monochromatic contents stared solemnly back at her. Perhaps it was time that she considered color. She searched the closet and all of her dressers but was not able to find anything but a blue scarf. She sighed, it would have to do. Just then, her front door opened and heavy boots tracked across her foyer. Regina rushed out onto the balcony. Prince Charming and Henry stared up at her.

"Regina, we should talk." Charming commanded as he shut the front door behind him. She descended the stairs Henry walked hesitantly up to Regina. The Evil Queen smiled, her icy demeanor melting for the warm embrace of her adopted son. As she held him thoughts of Daniel seeped through her happy moment, tainting it with tragedy. When she pulled back there were tears in her eyes that she quickly wiped away to preserve her make-up. Charming tapped her shoulder and when she turned to him her voice was thick with ice.

"Of course." Regina led Charming into her den. He sat decisively on her sofa, watching her pace in front of the fireplace. David remained silent for a few moments, unsure of how to start. He fiddled with his hands, occasionally inhaling and then holding his breath. A thousand things were going through Regina's mind, but she mostly thought about Daniel. He could've killed Henry. She visualized his cold, dead eyes and cursed herself for letting things get out of hand.

"Well, Regina...In light of recent events...and I-uh...I'm sorry about Daniel..." He said slowly. She stopped pacing and pinpointed her gaze at him.

"I can't imagine what you must be going through, but I want you to know that Archie is still seeing people. He may have some insights." Regina bristled and turned away from him as he spoke.

"Save it, Charming. I'm seeing him already...but thank you for your concern. Now, is there anything else you need or can I have lunch with my son?" She snapped, tapping her finger on her mantle. He shrugged and told her that he would be back to pick him up in a few hours. Then, he was gone and a few precious hours of quality time with Henry could be had. As Regina glided toward the kitchen her thoughts turned to "why". The "why" of it all. Was bringing Henry over for lunch an act of kindness, or was it pity? The thought of being pitied sickened her to the core, but she decided that it was better to worry about these things later. Henry was sitting at the dining room table staring into its surface as though it were the most interesting thing in the world. Regina spent a few moments watching him, taking him in. He was all she had left and he didn't even want to see her. Ever since Emma and Snow had been sent back to the magical realm her son had lived with David. Henry wasn't wrong to fear her, not even to hate her. She was the monster she had always feared. Regina had taken so many lives and caused so much suffering that most of the time it seemed right to her that Henry lived elsewhere. But, in light of Daniel's second-death perhaps she deserved a little time with the one thing that made her most happy. Regina realized suddenly that she was just standing in the doorway and cleared her throat.

"So, is there anything you want to eat for lunch?" Her voice came out slightly chipper, but mostly tired and a little sad. Henry looked up from his spot on the table and shrugged. Neither of them knew what to say.

"We can have whatever you want." Henry tried to be comforting in his offer. Regina's lips curled into a sad smile.

"I doubt that..."

In the end Regina made them both some sandwiches with a pickle spear on each plate. Even in mourning it seemed that she had a sense of taste. Even the smallest of reassurances were a comfort. Neither woman nor child spoke much while they ate. Regina felt awful that she couldn't buck up the good spirit to be anything but melancholy. She cursed herself for not being strong enough. Her mother's voice echoed in the back of her mind.

"Love again? What a joke. The only one you've ever loved is yourself. Foolish girl." Regina sighed. Her food remained mostly untouched. Perhaps she wasn't ready to see Henry like this. She was fragile and she knew it. Perhaps losing Daniel...Daniel...Oh, God.

"Mom?" Regina's mind snapped back into place. Henry was looking up at her, concerned. Tears blurred her vision. She tried to steel herself for the sake of the boy, but it was impossible. Henry slowly rose from the table and made his way to her side. He put his hand on her shoulder and Regina lost all composure. She covered her face.

"I'm so sorry, Henry. I didn't want you to see me like this." She sobbed. The boy hugged her as tightly as he could and for just a moment Regina felt loved.