So there are some smaller changes in this. Mostly because I couldn't figure out a way for Regina to kill someone without Henry immediately noticing and I never understood why she did that anyway. I don't want each chapter to just be the episodes in chronological order cause I don't think that's fun for anyone even though I do change them around. But if there's anything you want in this, anything you want to see (though bear in mind I do have things planned for in the future) feel free to let me know. I want you guys to be a part of this too. But yeah, I hope you enjoy :)

There's a thrill that runs through her. This is by far the most dangerous thing she's ever done.

She's running away.

She'll finally be free of Mother, the proposal, lectures on becoming queen. She'll be tucked into a corner of the world, free from everything.

Her hand falls to her stomach, not yet noticeable. She couldn't wait to tell him. She'd planned to do it later, once they stop to rest in some inn. Regina has been picturing it since she suggested they run away and he said yes; They'd be lying there, basking in the freedom and she'll look at him in a certain way and tell him, place a hand where her hand is now and tell him. She couldn't wait.

She can hardly contain her excitement, pulling back the stable doors with more enthusiasm than she's ever had since she was eleven and Father woke her in the night to show Regina her birthday present. It's the same excitement, the same giddiness. In a few minutes she'll be riding out of the estate and away.

Yet she doesn't get that freedom. She doesn't even get to tell Daniel of their children. Her excitement and hope dies when she swings open that door and there is Daniel, lying on the barrels of hey, with Mother standing over him- the dust remains of his squished heart will dotted on her hands.

The floor beneath Regina disappears. She's being dragged down into nothing, a heaviness on her heart as she feels it grow darker and darker, sucking out that love, light, happiness. The Blind Witch's words surrounding her, a prophecy that was slowly coming true, and Mother's You need to be Queen. You need power. Power is everything.

She wakes with that same heavy heart. The same emptiness she's left all day.

That dream doesn't come too often anymore. Of late it's been of mobs, lead by Snow White and during Henry to her side. Snow White giving Henry the rope- the rope to kill her with.

But the dreams about Daniel only come on a particular day of the year.

The anniversary of his death.

There's a knock on the door and Regina turns away. She wonder if she could feign illness and sleep the day away, but she knows that isn't right. It isn't fair on Daniel, who rots in some makeshift grave, and it isn't fair on Henry, who deserves to visit his father.

Regina had told Henry about Daniel, when he became old enough to understand. Told him about how he died because of a secret, and also told him that secrets are very important and if someone asks you to keep a secret, you must do as they say otherwise bad things can happen to innocent people.

With that in mind, Regina rolls back over, sitting up and calling Come in! to which Eloise enters.

Eloise had been a present of sort. During the celebration of her wedding, Mother had presented Eloise in front of her. She was nothing more than eighteen herself, which is why Mother thought she was the perfect companion and maid for Regina. The butcher's daughter, she was; a shy girl who eat too much food and suffered the consequences of it. Perhaps Mother thought the girl could become another Anya of sorts. Later that night, Mother had said how she believed her childhood friend's death was the reason Regina found comfort in Daniel and that she could treat Eloise as she treated Anya, that Regina should trust Eloise and confide in her.

Regina never did trust the maid. And never once did Regina confide in her. Mother had found her from somewhere, promoted her to a castle instead of some shack, and no doubt made her one of her minions- a little spider on the wall, ready to disappear and spill all Regina had said.

"I'm here to help you dress, Your Majesty." Even at twenty-eight years old she was still as meek and shy as she had been at eighteen. No, if anything, she annoyed Regina now.

"I don't need your help," Regina says, climbing out of bed, fighting back a shiver when her bare feet hit the stone floor. She should really invest in carpet or something. "I can get dressed myself." She wasn't an invalid. She wasn't like all other women who struggled to lace up corsets and make their hair look pretty. She had magic, many forms of magic, and it was useful.

"You can go." Regina says rather sharply, pulling open her closet door. She really didn't want to deal with people today. Nobody but her son.

"Yes, Your Majesty." the girl says before scurrying off and thank the gods, even her breathing was getting on Regina's nerves.

They say the relationship between a Queen and her maid was supposed to be strong, but that was never the case for Regina and Eloise. Eloise had tried but after a while, and many failed attempts at conversation, she'd given up.

She's pinning up a stubborn piece of her when there's another knock on her door only this time, the person behind it doesn't wait for an answer, instead they're pushing it open and through the mirror, Regina watches Henry scurrying across the room.

"Henry, you know you always wait to enter," she tells him calmly.

He doesn't reply, which has Regina flicking her eyes up to his reflection. He sits glumly on her chaise, hands in her lap, rocking his legs.

"Henry?" Regina asks, concerned as to what's got him looking upset.

He's still rocking his feet back and forth, looking around the room, looking everywhere but at Regina and she feels herself frowning, waiting for his answer.

"Violet wants me to go to Church today."

Regina sighs, a quick countdown from ten. So he's not upset. He has a dilemma.

"I see," Regina says, standing from her seat and coming to sit next to Henry. "And have you told Violet you have other things planned for today?" She told them what day it was today, told him where they were going, if he's agreed to go with Violet...The little bitch already has her claws sunk into him and they're not even married yet.

"I told her I was busy but she said we have to go pray."

Of course she did. She just wants time alone with him so she can wrap him around her little finger.

"And what do you want to do, Henry?"

He shrugs, "You'll get angry," he mumbles, turning away from her.

She knows his answer. Knows what he wants to do. He wants to run off with Violet and play happy couples.

Your father died on this day, she desperately wants to tell him. You should be honouring him by visiting him today. Yet she can't tell him because as far as Henry knows, Leopold is his father. She's never hated a lie so much.

Her fingers dance across his cheek. She doesn't think she's taken her eyes off him since he was placed in her arms, she can't. So long as she keeps looking down, it's just her and her baby, nobody else.

Henry...

It's a name that just fit. A name she'd been thinking of since she found out she was with child. Regina had thought of Daniel at first but knew her mother would never allow it so she'd opted for Henry- something Mother couldn't deny her.

"Perhaps you should put him down," her father suggests. "Rest for a bit." He'd entered the room mere minutes ago, looking worn out and tired. A meeting with Mother and her husband-to-be, the main topic: Regina and Henry.

Regina shakes her head at his suggestion. Her arms may ache but she never wants to put Henry down, never.

"He can't be your safety blanket forever, Regina."

Regina frowns, glancing towards her father who is sitting in the chair beside the bed.

"I'm not using him as a safety blanket," Regina protests. "I just want to hold him." She looks back down, rocking Henry gently.

"You just want an excuse," She looks the other way, eyes growing hard for a second. Father's never been this blunt before. "You know as long as you hold Henry, you'll have an excuse when your mother comes in and what to speak with you."

She turns back towards her father, "I don't need an excuse. The midwife told me to stay in bed until she came back."

"And do you really think that's going to stop your mother?"

No, it's not and Regina knows that. Still, she wants to hold Henry because she can, because he's her child and he needs her. It's not about needing excuses or using him as a safety blanket. If Mother wants to talk to her she can talk to her here, while she holds Henry.

"What are they talking about?" Regina asks. She knows, knows it's about her and Henry but she wants the details.

Father sighs. "You, mostly. And Henry." Regina nods, knowing so much. "How they're going to convince the public that Henry is Leopold's."

Regina freezes. This was never in the bargain. Mother said that if she married Leopold, he'd be able to protect Henry from being named a bastard. It was never suggested that Leopold actually take a claim to Henry.

"And how are they planning on doing that?" Regina asks, her heart beating wildly.

Father just shrugs, however. "They didn't say."

Regina's gaze falls back on Henry. He's Daniel's son, will always be Daniel's son, yet she knew, knew deep down that Mother would never allow it to be like that.

"Is it okay if I go with Violet?" Henry asks, bringing Regina back to the present. She misses those days when she could hold him. If she didn't like something, she could just carry him out of the room but now he's making his own choices- choices that are prompted by Violet. "Ser Morgan says I should spend more time with her, get to know her before we get married."

God, she should just kill the man. And his daughter, too. Insipid fools.

"You can always go to church later." Regina tells him but Henry doesn't look convinced.

"Violet has lessons later," he says. "Lessons on being Queen."

Her hands clench around the edge of the chaise, sucking in a breath before releasing and unclenching her hand.

"So you've made your choice then," she says. "You're choosing Violet."

Henry looks away, as if ashamed and there's some hopeful part of Regina that thinks he might choice her.

His brow knits together as he stares at the floor. "I suppose I could tell Violet we can go another day." he says looking towards his mother.

Regina lets out another breath, smiling, as her hand strokes across his head, shifting a fallen piece of hair out of his eyes.

"You go on tell her," she tells him and Henry nods, giving her a small smile and hops off the chaise, running towards the door.

She hasn't lost him to the snake yet, it seems.

.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.

He smiles as his arrow hits the target.

It's happened thousands of times before yet Robin doesn't think the proud feeling will ever fade.

He loads up another arrow, positioning it and aiming- aiming for the arrow already sticking out of the centre. Never once has he split an arrow. Today could be the day.

Robin pulls back the string and...the arrow hits just under the first one. Well, he thinks, slightly disappointed (perhaps its dulled by his lack of heart) there's always next time.

"The arrow never misses."

Robin looks up at the balcony, finding a man who holds a striking resemblance to the Violet girl watching him.

"Well, everyone says the arrow never misses but surely it should be the archer wielding the arrows that should get the title."

The man chuckles, making his way down the steps.

"Depends what you believe," he picks one of the arrows up, inspecting it from tip to feathers. "Gold pointed," the man says, placing it back down on the barrel. "A peasant like you could never afford such an arrow."

Robin bristles at the insult but lets it slide. "A present from the queen." he says coldly.

"Yes," the man says, eyes scanning the courtyard as he leans against another barrel. "I'd heard about that. The queen's new knight people call you."

Robin laughs, wondering where those people got that notion from. Does he look like he wanders around in armour all day? No, he prefers his much more comfortable clothing- clothing that's done him fine for the past ten years. He doesn't need any armour.

"She likes you, doesn't she- the queen?"

Robin pauses and frowns. He wouldn't go as far to say she liked him. Perhaps tolerated him on a good day- which seemed rare for the queen- despised him on bad days.

"Why?" Robin asks, placing his bow down.

"The marriage between my daughter and her son- she's taking her time with it. And don't give me the mourning shit, we all know she isn't mourning, not anymore. I was hoping you could talk to her, get her to speed it up."

Well, Robin doubts he has that much power if any power at all and when it comes to the queen and asking her to do things, he'd like to keep his head, thanks. Mind, his heart in locked away in a box only she can access so he wouldn't want it squished either. No, if it means potentially sacrificing his life for this man, Robin is not the guy for the job.

"Why are you in such a hurry you get your daughter married?" Robin asks, general curiosity.

The man shifts uncomfortably before regaining his posture.

"My daughter wants to be Queen- the only way to get that is to marry the king. Besides," the man leans forward, lowering his voice. "I hear rumours that there may be a war soon," At the mention of that, Robin frowns. Besides from the vendetta the queen has against Snow White and all the destruction she's caused since the king's death, it seemed quite peaceful. "Now we all know that Her Majesty will win- she's got armies and armies win wars no matter what. Now what's Snow White got? Nothing. Nothing but a claim to the throne."

"Snow White is a girl. The only way she has any real claim to the throne is if Henry was to die." Robin points out, it was common logic, it's how the Enchanted Forest work, boys come before women, regardless their ages.

"Not if the other rumours are true," Really? Is this realm just built on rumours? How many rumours are there? "Many people believe that Henry might not have been King Leopold's son," Robin's eyes widen. Where did this man get this from. This is powerful stuff if proven to be true.

"So if this is true, and you believe it, why are you marrying your daughter to a bastard?"

"Ah, because it won't matter. Even if Henry is found out to be a bastard, my daughter will remain Queen."

Robin frowns, not really understanding, his mind was never for politics anyway.

"And why are you telling me this?"

The man smiles. "There's not many people to talk to around here. Many good people. You seem to be a good person."

Robin doesn't know about that but, well, if the man wants to believe this and so he can.

The man moves away from him, but not before saying, "Perhaps you'd like to join me at the tavern just outside the gate later. We can discuss more rumours if you'd like."

"Why not." says Robin, he'd never turn down a good ale, especially if he wasn't the one paying for it.

"Good lad," the man says, pulling away and clapping Robin on the back.

As he walks away, Robin wonders more about the rumours. Could it be entirely possible that Henry isn't Leopold's?

.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.

The carriages were always bumpy things. Always rocking and swaying, wheels getting stuck on rocks or potholes in the ground. The journey from the castle to Firefly Hill, and her family's estate, is a long one; tedious with nothing but endless trees decorating their way. It sets Regina's mood on a low irritated buzz, strengthened by the urge to get to the hill right now. Why didn't she just poof herself there?

Henry, for the most part, has been quiet- her father too, who Regina had allowed to accompany them. He knows where they're going, even knows what day it is and for the past ten years has came to the spot with Regina. Her father and Henry are the only two people she can deal with on days like today.

"Violet was upset when I told her I couldn't go to Church with her."

Regina resists the urge to roll her eyes. Can they please don't talk about Violet today? Just this once?

"Did you tell her that a king has other duties to attend to?" Father asks. Regina keeps quiet, not having the strength to drag herself through yet another conversation involving Violet.

Henry nods, "she just looks towards the ground with a sad look on her face."

"She'll get over it," says Regina, unable to keep quiet on the subject anymore. "No doubt she laughing about something stupid with her friends."

"Really?" asks Henry, sceptically.

"Yes. And you can take that guilty look off your face, too. Do you the king ever felt guilty when he chose Snow over me?"

Henry was never entirely oblivious to Leopold's dismissal of Regina. He experienced some of it himself whenever Leo paid more attention to Snow White over Henry. It's because Henry was never his. He could fool his people but never himself, the idiot. It had caused a few disagreement between Regina and the king as Regina pointed out, the people believed Henry was his heir and therefore Leo should treat Henry as his heir but he never listened. Regina's word meant nothing to him.

The carriage falls into silence as each person stares out of their own window as the carriage jostles once more. It's only when they're heading past the pastures that Regina sees something; people in some sort of gathering.

No, she doesn't need this today. Not at all.

"Stop the carriage." At the order, Father and Henry look up, each giving her questioning looks but Regina ignores them, gathering her skirts and opening the door to climb out.

"Good morning, subjects. Enjoying the meadow?

Her announcement startles them, each jumping and turning around. She catches sight of the rice, and the girl in the white dress. A wedding. She's interrupted a wedding on this day.

The pastor, Regina guesses, at least has the courtesy to speak.

"Indeed. It seemed a lovely place for our wedding ceremony."

Regina smiles, pretending to give her own study of the meadows.

"It is lovely," she agrees. "But these are the royal lands, and I don't remember giving you permission to marry here."

The penny drops. The realisation crossing their faces as those in the background look to one another. Regina smiles but it's no longer sweet, more a smirk at how form to her ideas.

"I'm sorry, we didn't-"

It's a swift and simple hand in the chest, pulling out of groom's heart as those around him, his bride in particular, gasp and squeal around him.

There's a second where Regina looks to the bride, sees that look across her face as her eyes keep darting from the heart to her groom and she's suddenly transported to a different time- a time of stables and manipulation.

Don't do it. Don't put the girl what we went through.

She's just a peasant. There's countless others in the village she can marry. She won't be married off to some unloving king like we were.

But she only loves him, you can see it. He's her true love, just like Daniel was to-

"Your Majesty," Regina startles at the voice. The real, living voice of her father standing next to her, and not the voices in her head. "maybe you're reacting to what day this is."

Regina inhales, feeling the warm heart beating in her hands. Is this what it was like for mother? Holding Daniel's...

"Don't remind me of this day!" she bites back. Her hand automatically tightens around the heart, the groom gasping in pain. She could crush it. Crush it and show them the consequences of breaking her laws, insert her power and-

"If not for them, then for Henry. He doesn't need to see this."

He's like another voice added to the already list of voices. But he's right. Maybe Henry doesn't need to see this. He has no magic, she won't teach him so he can't use heart ripping as a punishment. Regina turns her head to the carriage, finds Henry watching them- he's too far away to probably see what she's holding, thank gods.

She turns back, back to the worried pastor and the scared bride. Her glance flitters down to the heart then over to her father who's begging her with his eyes.

Her eyes are like stone when she looks towards the groom who is staring back at her, pleading with her not to do this.

"Consider yourself saved by the king's mercy." She chucks the heart towards the bride who just catches it with her fingertips and stares at the heart in horror.

When the carriage is presuming its journey through the trees once more, it's then Father speaks once more.

"You did the right thing," he says quietly. "You need supporters. Henry needs supporters."

Regina's gaze flickers to Henry who is absentmindedly staring out of the window, oblivious to the conversation. Since she was ten years old, she's never been able to get that image of the thrones, of the blood in the glass, and the ash in the bath.

Snow White ruined any chance of Henry's perfect reign.

The rest of the journey is taken in silence, only the rickety carriage against the ground their only source of noise.

Through the silence, an old voice creeps back up, one that had morphed into her own soon but hearing it now, the sickliness of it, sends a shiver through her, one she just manages to hide.

It was never Snow White. It was you.