A/N: Hi everyone! I'm very excited to be back with a new story for you all :') I can't wait to hear what you all think, I have big plans for this one! Please read and review and tell me what you think. Enjoy!

The Crimson Rose and the White

"I hope you know why I've called you here, Leopold."

"Yes, about my daughter."

King Leopold found his way to King George's castle upon a dire request. "Not just your daughter, Snow White, but the kingdom. My kingdom."

For the past few months, King George's kingdom had been crumbling beneath his feet. With his son James, married off to Princess Abigail in their own kingdom under King Midas' rule, George had to financially support his people on his own, which was not easy.

James helped the kingdom prosper by making the treacherous journey up the giants' bean stalk every so often. He'd gather beans to sell, gold to profit, and antiques worth more than anyone could imagine. The kingdom flourished with the wealth they had, up until his wedding with Princess Abigail.

They never joined kingdoms, King Midas and King George, for their only arrangement was to marry their children, after Midas found the strongest warrior to marry his daughter.

"Our economy has crumbled, villagers and peasants are struggling to provide for their families. Our trade with other kingdoms have cost us a price we cannot afford," King George explained.

"I know you are looking for a prince to marry your daughter, so that is why I brought you here, and how I can benefit from it as well if you concur. So I would like to establish an agreement where my son David, were to marry your daughter Snow, in exchange for you to help my kingdom prosper once again."

Leopold hesitates before shaking George's extended hand in agreement. "You have another son," he states more than a question before releasing his hand.

"Yes, and it's certainly about time for he to get married."

The sun hits the sky in a jumble of hues of pinks and reds and oranges as it begins to set. The air is warm, but a cool breeze passes by every so often to make it a perfect evening. A warm glow of light casts over the castle beautifully, enhancing its enchanting elegance.

A tall, frighteningly mesmerizing apple tree sits in the middle of the garden's stony pathway, centering its beauty. The apples on the tree are a remarkable shade of red that is no more eye-catching than the next.

The early evening light is all the more entrancing as it emits its luminous rays onto the roses of the garden.

David's hand touches a petal briefly as he waits his princess' arrival, marveling at its texture and color. The deep crimson flower contrasts beautifully next to the white, but their thorns just as piercing as the next.

He hadn't been waiting for too long, but more than he had expected. Though the thought fluttered out of his mind, occupied happily at the lovely sightings in the garden he waits.

He continued to touch the petals of the roses absentmindedly until he hears a voice behind him.

"Be careful, you might prick yourself."

David jerked his hand away from the roses, and blinked rapidly. He checked his hand to see if it was pricked, but paid no mind to the few spots of blood at the tips of his fingers as he turned, his eyes meeting the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

David tried to memorize the voice that had acknowledged him. It was deep and raspy, yet it had joyful lightness to it that made it all the more enticing. His eyes trailed to the lips of the woman walking towards him, wanting to hear more words spill out of her mouth that bore the color red.

His vision grew wider as he took in her whole body, wrapped in various silks and satins in a light shade of purple. He noticed the layers of her sleeves and skirt of her dress had dark undertones of blue and purple, framing her figure.

Her deep brown hair was pulled nicely to the side, if a bit wayward as curls tumbled down her left shoulder just below her breast.

David's eyes moved to her own as she caught his gaze, only a couple feet away from him.

She plucked a red rose from the garden next to them without breaking their fixed look. She brought it up to her nose and inhaled the sweet scent, her eyes fluttering closed at the moment.

David wanted to kiss her then. The way such a simple act could be done in such a beautiful way with such a beautiful woman had him practically floating. His mind was dazed, reeling with thoughts as his eyes were transfixed on the woman before him. He never felt so lucky in his life.

Her eyes opened slowly to meet his again, her fingers twirling the flower skillfully, careful not to prick herself.

"They say that there is a special rose language used as a secret way of communication between lovers," she says, placing the rose down on its side on the stone ledge that outlined the garden and the center pathway. "Lovers . . . that were not allowed to express their love for one another," she finishes, the last of her words leaving her lips in a broken whisper.

David notices how her eyesight suddenly fixates on something imaginable, a memory, perhaps. She blinks quickly and snaps out of the trance, her eyes meeting his so fast it takes her breath away. She notices now how brightly a blue David's are, how they manage to nearly break her spine in half for she felt that she could not withhold her weight any longer.

"It was forbidden," she whispers, losing the strength to voice her words completely.

She wanted to kiss him then, but she knew she couldn't. Trying anything remotely close to the possibility of ruining her life more was as forbidden as the rose itself. She could no longer pick up the pieces of her tragedy that haunted her being every moment of her life. She couldn't lose someone again.

She had to blink back tears and swallow her heart that begged to leap out of her chest.

"I didn't know that," David responded, his tone low and curious.

Her lips perked into a smile and she let out a laugh with a shake of her head, "not many people do."

David smiled with her smile, and laughed as she laughed. He could listen to the sweet tone of her voice for the rest of his life.

"Not many people believe it, that when a rose is brought about, it signifies forbidden love. But I do."

Her eyes are fixed to the ground, her mind tracing its way back to a moment with her Daniel, a day at the stables like no other. He had surprised her that day after her riding lesson, pulling out a rose from behind his back for her to take. It was only two days before his death. After his body was taken away from the stables, she noticed then that a rose, with petals strewn about the floor, dead and brown and lifeless, crossed her path. It was the rose he had given her.

David opened his mouth to ask why, but closed it when he saw two figures emerge from the castle.

Leopold and Snow walked up to the two of them, "ah," Leopold said, clasping his hands together, "I see you've met my wife, the Queen, Regina."

David nearly stumbled back. "Regina," he said in a mere whisper, and he was sure no one could possibly hear it. Her name felt heavenly on his tongue. He could say it over and over again for as long as he lived.

But he knew he couldn't. He knew he couldn't say her name over and over and over again. He couldn't whisper it sweetly into her ear, he couldn't say it in a lover's tone, because she wasn't the woman he was going to marry; he was going to marry -

"Snow," Leopold gestured to David, "this is David Charming. And David this is Snow White, my daughter who you will be marrying."

For the first time he looked towards Snow. He had to tear his eyes away from Regina. She was too old to be Regina's daughter, so he figured an arranged marriage of sorts must've taken place, much like his own. But she was still youthful, pretty in a porcelain doll kind of way.

Her red lips were a bold contrast to her pale, fair skin. Her features stood out strikingly, all framed by her long black hair. She was clothed in a white, feathery material that suggested her innocence and youth.

"Snow," David said, letting her name tumble off his lips as he took her hand in his. He feathered a kiss to the back of her hand. He could feel the warmth as he kissed her skin perpetrate throughout her very being.

"Hello," she greeted lightly, a small smile playing at her lips.

Regina averted her eyes and kept her head bowed. She gnawed the inside of her cheek and wrung her fingers together. It was great while it lasted.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." Just the small remark made Snow's whole body blush.

Regina found herself glancing over just once, and she had to suppress an eye roll at Snow's infatuated reaction. Though her's was no better as David turned towards her unexpectedly.

"David," she blurted on a breath. It was the first time she said his name. She almost let 'Charming' slip past her tongue, but she knew it to be informal to bring about a nickname. She knew who he was, and she knew his name before he arrived at the castle. She went out to meet him before the others knew he arrived. Regina wanted to see him first, to get a little taste of this dashing prince who was to marry her step-daughter.

She had hoped he was the uglier of the twins, an arrogant, selfless person who only cared for himself and his needs - anything to make Snow suffer just a little bit more. But he wasn't. He was more than charming, and with just the few words he spoke to her earlier she read him completely. She sensed his strong vibe of domesticity, nobility, and kindness when she approached him. And his overall personality certainly didn't help the warmth that boiled in her stomach as he took her hand in his ever so delicately, and placed a lingering kiss to her knuckles.

"My Queen," he bowed with his eyes reaching hers. She could've fainted then. Her left hand tingled with the print of his lips on her skin, the electricity she felt shot through her being, through her veins, evaporated into her blood that made her heart pound wildly. Yes, it had been great while it lasted, she thought as he pulled away.

She resisted the urge to grip his hand and pull her to him, feel his heartbeat against her ribcage that pounded fiercely on its own.

"Now that we've been properly introduced, I'd like to announce, and I'm sure your father, King George, has told you," Leopold stated, gesturing a hand to David. "That you will be staying at the palace until the wedding day, which has not been set yet."

Regina's ears perked at the notion that David would be staying at their palace. Though only frowned later as thoughts swarmed in her mind, reminding her that she would be the third wheel - watching as the two constructed lovers court each other after each passing, sickening day.

"Regina, I'd like to volunteer you to escort David throughout the castle as need be. He doesn't know much of the surroundings of our home yet."

Home.

David blushed and crossed his hands over his silvery vest. Regina clamped her mouth shut and nodded. She couldn't let the butterflies in her stomach escape her lips just yet.

"In fact, I would like you to take him up to his bedchambers. Show him around a bit before supper."

David bowed, "thank you, sir."

"Please, call me Leo!" the king said and patted the prince's shoulder.

David smiled and pivoted to Snow, placing a gentle kiss to her cheek. "See you soon, Charming."

Regina froze in her spot. If she learned a spell to blow someone's head off, now would be the opportune moment.

She turned on the walkway that led up to the castle, "this way, dear."

Regina guided David through the various corridors of the castle, twisting and turning through doors and staircases. They made it to one of the highest floors of the castle that occupied all the bedchambers.

"Here's your room," she motioned at the tall dark wooden door before them.

"Thank you," he said, giving her a smile.

She cleared her throat, "Snow and Leopold are just around that corner there. And I'm just down the end of the north wing," she points down the hall to the last double doors.

David blinks. "You don't sleep in the same room as the king?"

She was startled by his question but calmed her features. "No."

The look he gave her signaled for her to continue. Regina swallowed the lump in her throat as she was taken aback. No one ever cared to ask about her, how she was doing, anything about her at all until now.

She clasped her hands in front of her and stared at an invisible spot on the ground, "no, I - it was the one thing I requested when I married the king," her voice drifted to the moment of Leopold's proposal years ago. From that moment on she was surrounded by people and the one person she didn't love. She still felt empty. Having a space of her own only gave her a sliver of closure and that was almost enough for her as she blocked everything else from her mind.

David opened his mouth to respond, but he closed it at Regina's sad silence. The memories she seemed to have pained her, and he couldn't help but feel it in his heart, too.

"And just down the stairs is the dining hall where we passed. You can't miss it," she perked up, plastering on a fake smile and pointing down the other direction of her room.

Later that night, Regina walked down the halls, as she did every night to clear her mind. It never worked, it only made her think more, inevitably frustrating her, to which resulted in walking more.

As she turned a corner, she stopped in her tracks when she found David staring off a balcony. She padded next to him and pulled her robe closer as the cool night air struck her skin as she approached the balcony.

They didn't say anything for a few moments, just enjoying each other's peaceful company before Regina spoke, "couldn't sleep?"

The corner of David's mouth quivered into a smile as he heard her tired voice hit the crisp air.

He shook his head and looked up with disbelief as he leaned his forearms on the balcony's railing, "I'm getting married."

Regina hummed a note a disapproval but she didn't let it show. "It just . . . happened so suddenly. It's kind of hard to take it all in."

She leaned against the wall, "don't I know it."

David turned to her, "how long have you been married to the king?" he asked, his voice so soft she could melt.

"Six years," she says with a sigh. Her gaze traveled outside the balcony, transfixed on the night sky.

"Six years," he repeats quietly. He takes a step towards her, "six years you've been-"

"Here," she finished, her fingers tapping on the railing. She bit her lip and let out an empty laugh and threw her hands up, "all this time, I've been here."

Here, trapped in this castle for six years. Here, watching my step-daughter grow up to be beloved by all the kingdom. Here, without my once true love because he's dead. Here, trapped in a loveless marriage brought about by my manipulative mother.

She wished she could say it all at once. She never told anyone.

David took her by the shoulders and squeezed gently. He smelled her sweet yet spicy scent of apple as the distance nearly closed between them. Her tousled hair blew softly in the small breeze.. Regina was only thankful that it dried the tears that seemed to prick at the corners of her eyes.

"Regina," he breathed, his eyes darting between her dark ones with desperation. It was the first time he said her name, alone. Alone and quietly and meaningfully and beautifully as it rolled off his tongue with such grace Regina almost forgot her name herself and everything in between. "What happened?"

She almost asked him to say it again; almost asked him to hold her in his arms strongly, hear him ask her how she was, how she was feeling and how her day went.

She nearly choked up at his question, his concern for a woman who he only met hours ago. This was all going going going so fast. Her feet that seemed to float couldn't keep up.

David let go of her arms abruptly and took a step back. He ran a hand through his hair and let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding. "I'm sorry," he said. He didn't know what he was doing, what he was saying.

"You know," he said quickly with a breathy laugh, "I thought you were the woman I was supposed to marry when I first saw you."

Regina wanted to faint and kiss him and die and scream and curl into herself all at once. She swallowed down all her hopes and dreams as her mouth went dry.

"I - I should be getting back to bed," she stammered, her eyes darting everywhere looking anywhere but him. Since when did the cold, hard queen let her facade falter?

She turns to leave and only makes it a few feet away from him before he calls, "wait."

She freezes and nearly curses as she pivots to him, meeting his eyes. David closed his eyes and rubbed the nape of his neck. "Actually, I'm kind of lost. Can you show me the way back to my room?"