A/N: eeep it's been awhile but I'm happy to be back! I got settled in with the first full week of school so I wanted to get this chapter done for you all. Please review and tell me what you think! Thank you all for sticking with this story :)

"I didn't think you'd care," she responded softly, averting her eyes from his gaze. He stepped up to her and grabbed her arms, "I do care about you."

Regina swallowed the lump in her throat. No one has ever cared for her before. Not in a million years. It was hard to get used to, no matter how simple it may have seemed to others.

"Why?" she asked, her voice cracking into a whisper.

David shook his head and gently took the rose out of her hands and set it down. "Because . . . because you're the one thing here that wasn't forced upon me. I never asked for any of this," he explained, throwing his hands up into the air, gesturing to the arranged marriage, "but you're the one thing that makes sense to me. The one person that makes sense to me. And yet . . . I can't have you."

Regina felt it hard to breathe and stand and blink all at the same time. She wasn't sure how long her mouth had been agape. She breathed in to say something but David continued.

"I mean you're the queen. I shouldn't even - I shouldn't even be allowed to touch you like this," he said, abruptly taking his hands off her arms. He turned around and rubbed his face with his hands. He sighed and continued, ". . . to kiss you. It's not right. I'm marrying your step-daughter. And you're already married to the king. And I'm prince -"

"David -"

His name came out of her mouth in a mere whisper. And though his voice escalated with paranoia and confusion, just the small note of her voice made him stop.

Her hand reached out to him sympathetically but he flinched away. David was so scared in the moment that her touch would surge all the feelings he had for her and he would never be able to stop. He was scared that someone would find out. With treachery so dangerous and explicit as whatever they had, it was bad. It could end in their deaths if anyone found out.

"You are the one real thing that has happened to me ever since I set foot in this castle six years ago. The one person who I can trust. And it's so hard for me to do that ever since . . . I want this," she confirmed, stepping up to him.

She took his face in her hands and scanned his face for an answer. "I want this to happen. I never felt so young and free and happy in my life. And as bad as our situation is, I don't care. I don't care what anyone thinks. This is my happiness. They will never know."

David rubbed his hands up and down her forearms in comfort. "They will never know," he repeated. Regina nodded as tears pricked her eyes.

She tugged his face towards hers and pressed her lips to his own firmly. David immediately parted her lips with his tongue to deepen the kiss. Her hands raked through his hair as he pulled her close. Her shawl drifted carelessly to the ground where the rose laid beneath the apple tree.

"Ready or not, here I come!" David announced with a chuckle. He shook his head at the ridiculous game he and Regina had been playing for hours now.

The bustle of preparing for the wedding had halted that day as the final touches were made for the traditional events to occur to honor the royal families. Though Regina was not too particularly happy about it, she made a joke that David "had to brush up on his horseback riding skills" if he wanted to "not look like a total idiot in front of the kingdom" for the jousting event.

With a wink and a shove of the arm, David followed Regina to her secret sanctuary of the forest in the late afternoon. They made quick pace as they wanted to spend as much time as possible with each other before either one of them was stolen away.

David jogged up to the nearest pine tree where he heard some rustling. He felt her giggle in the breeze and he pivoted his head quickly, with the thought of catching her in motion. A cool breeze shook past him and he laughed, "Regina?"

He felt something brush against his arm and he whipped around, hoping to catch her, but instead he saw the breeze that teased him draw and invisible path in which he followed curiously. David shook his head as he continued to follow the blown down blades of grass the breeze created until they stopped abruptly.

"Regina?" he questioned more softly. Looking around, he didn't see anyone, or feel the breeze. As he turned around, he jumped back with a gasp, startled at Regina's sudden presence, her arm outstretched towards him. She pulled her arm back with a deep cackle.

David groaned, rubbing his face with his hands. After a silent moment, he slowly pulled his face from his hands, dropping them to his side. Regina's smile faltered and suddenly remembered their game.

She backed up slowly when a smirk spread across David's face. "You shouldn't play games of your own, Regina," he taunted, walking towards her.

Regina swallowed her excitement, the ache to run and scream and laugh ran through her veins as she backed away from David. Regina bit her lip and turned her head to see if the path was open and clear for her to bolt before David could catch her.

She dared to look look back at him, locking eyes. "You better run," he challenged as he picked up pace towards her. With a screech, Regina pivoted briskly and bolted off through the trees.

She was remarkably fast, David had to admit. But that only made her a good challenge for him. He ran after her, increasing his speed as his boots dug into the soil.

Regina's long blue coat flowed in the wind behind her as she weaved her way through trees, attempting to catch David off guard. Her laughter increased and David couldn't help but to laugh along with her.

She turned her head over her shoulder to see how close or far away he was but she slowed down to a halt when he wasn't there. "David?" she asked the air breathlessly. She placed a hand on a nearby tree and leaned heavily against it, catching her breath. Her eyes scanned the forest floor. She must've lost him.

The thought immediately vanished when she felt an arm snake around her waist. With a shriek she crashed into a warm body and fell to the ground. "David!" she yelped when she caught sight of him hovering atop of her.

"Gotcha," David said triumphantly. Regina gave him a punch in the arm. "You scared me!" she said on a breath.

David pushed a lock of hair out of her eyes innocently. "This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't cheated my dear," hinting at her using her magic. Regina scoffed and rested her hands on his chest. "I told you once I never play fair."

"Rule breaker."

"You're no fun."

David's eyes narrowed at her. "Is that a threat?"

Regina raised her brows and cocked her head. "What if it is?" she challenge, provocation thick on her tongue.

David looked down to his hands as they moved their way up her arms only to hold her hands that were resting on his chest. "I suppose I have to make it up to you."

On his last word, he pinned Regina down with his knees at her waist. He gripped her hands and pulled them above her head as he leaned down and roughly captured her lips. Regina groaned at the contact, arching her back into him.

David deepened the kiss and bit down hard against her bottom lip, nearly drawing blood. He sucked on it savagely, earning a deep moan from Regina.

She struggled against his grip, her wrists straining against his palms as she tried desperately to break free. Though she was strong, her strength was no match to his, so she fell prey to him. Regina couldn't deny she liked it, though.

David worked his way down her neck, leaving a trail of nips and kisses on her clavicle. She gasped when he sucked on the pressure point of her neck, her body deliciously colliding with his when his weight trapped her beneath him more when he moved down.

"David," Regina panted, her breath seized in her throat when he muted her with another biting kiss. A groan vibrated in her throat when his tongue moved past her lips.

He slid his hands down to her waist and Regina made no hesitance to scratch at the back of his neck and pull him close, her arms wrapped around him firmly. David wrapped his arms around her, the curvature of her back well off the ground as she leaned into him.

They froze suddenly when they heard hooves pounding against the ground. "Shh, someone's coming," Regina whispered, her eyes wide and focused in the direction where the sound was coming from.

They were still in each other's arms for a moment before shoving each other away when the sound of the hooves grew louder. Snow, atop Arion, trotted into view just in time as the couple stood a good few feet away from each other.

Snow pulled at the reigns as she approached them. "Step-mother, David," she nodded, "what are you two doing out here? It's nearly suppertime."

Regina looked up to the sky and noticed how it was much darker than it was when she and David first walked into the forest together that day.

"I suppose it is," Regina said, clearing her throat. "We ran into each other -"

"- on a walk," David finished for her. Regina glared at him but clamped her mouth shut. Snow breathed a laugh, "that's contradictory."

"Thing are never at all what they seem, dear," Regina muttered, flicking the tail of her coat behind her as she made her way back to the trails. She was half annoyed that Snow arrived abruptly, and half torn that she wasn't able to spend anymore time with David.

She turned back to see him hold out an elbow for her step-daughter to take after she dismounted her horse. Being shoved back into reality and not her own fairytale was a curse in of itself that she felt she could never break.

Regina seated herself in between Leopold and Snow, signaling for her guards to let the villagers of the kingdom to enter the arena. It was the end of the week and the jousting event had begun; the first of the many events that would soon lead to the wedding.

People of the kingdom began to pile into the arena, seated lower around the perimeter of the gated section of the palace grounds. On the floor beneath them were Regina's toughest guards and knights, one of which was going to go against David.

A knight named Sir Lorac of the roundtable was to challenge David that day. Though it was all just for fun and tradition, someone could seriously get hurt. The objective was to get the other person off their horse, and that alone was painful. Regina almost feared for David, but she knew he could defeat him. After all, he couldn't kill the next king to the throne.

She watched David intently otherwise, admiring him in his new black armor. He caught sight of her gaze and he gave her a smile. Her stomach flipped and she had to bite her lip before her smile grew even wider. They had to be careful around large crowds.

"Everyone take your seats, the game will begin shortly," Claude, one of Regina's most prestigious guards announced off to the side.

Sir Lorac moved to the right side of the arena, grabbing his lance and awaited to mount his horse. David moved up the stairs to where Regina, Snow, and Leopold were seated. He kneeled before Leo and he told him to rise with a bright smile.

David then moved over to one of the maids offside and took the two roses from her hands and gave her a nod. He went to Snow first, bowing before her as he handed her a white rose. A blush crept up her cheeks, brushing her nose against the sweet petals. He put a kiss to her hand and stood, taking a step towards Regina.

She was dressed in a deep red dress with intricate detailing on the front. It cinched at the waist wonderfully, hugging her frame. Her hair was twisted neatly atop her head with a bold lip color to match her dress.

Regina's knuckles turned white as she tightened her grip on the arms of the chair. She clamped her jaw shut when David approached her. It was hard for her to blink and breathe and move at all when he pulled out a red rose before her.

She took it hesitantly and a gasp escaped her lips when he bent down to kiss her hand. "For you, Your Majesty."

"Thank you," she breathed. It was all she could manage to say. And Regina was thankful for that because if she was able to say more she would never be able to stop.

She twirled the rose in her fingers as she watched David retreat to his horse, grabbing his lance on the way. "Let the games begin," she heard Claude announce somewhere off in the distance.

The men mounted their horses and a roar of cheers and shouts illuminated the air. They each held their lances at their sides, pointed at one another. With a drop of a flag, they took off, hooves pounding at the ground. Everyone was at the edge of their seats as they got closer and closer.

David's heart pounded against his ribcage when Sir Lorac increasingly came into view. He gripped his lance tightly as he moved towards him.

There was a collective 'aw' in the crowd as the men each missed each other by inches. Claude directed them to turn around and head for the starting line and wait for the signal.

Regina let out a breath as that was the first round out of three. David just needed to knock Sir Lorac off his horse once and he would win.

The signal was off and they were off towards each other again. As Sir Lorac approached, David aimed for his side but he was not quick enough. David gripped the reigns tightly when he felt a sharp pain in his side just below his ribs.

Some people in the crowd stood to see what happened and if he had fallen off his horse, but he managed to stay on. Regina let out a breath she had been holding at the same time Snow did. Regina felt her step-daughter's eyes burn into her but Regina only kept her eyes on David and the game, her hands still clutching the armrests as the rose David gave her laid in her lap.

Snow directed her gaze when Claude announced the last round. The flag was down again once the men made their way to their respective sides of the arena.

The men tore after each other again, their horses faster as they galloped towards one another. The pain in David's side ached but he ignored the pain and set forth to knock the knight off his horse. He moved his lance inward and tilted it up at just the right angle to clash right into Sir Lorac's shoulder when their horses nearly came in contact.

The crowed roared as David's lance collided with Sir Lorac's shoulder. David rode by and led his horse to a walk when he heard Sir Lorac fall to the ground, gripping his shoulder in pain.

A flush of relief spread over Regina when David won. Everyone stood and cheered and clapped as some of her maids went over to treat Sir Lorac and David's wound.

As they were being patched up, Leo pulled out a long case and met David half way who was limping a bit as he was walked back by one of the guards to their side of the stadium.

Leo clicked open the case to reveal his father's sword, embellished in rubies and gold at the hilt. "For you, Prince," Leo addressed happily. "It was my father's."

David was in awe, "I am honored, Leo," he said as he took the encased sword.

"You deserve it," Regina said, walking down the few stairs to where they stood. Snow nodded alongside her, "fit for a prince," she stated with a giggle.

"Ah," Leo said, tapping a hand to David's shoulder, "a true knight."

"Snow," Leo gestured, taking his daughter's waist. "Regina, my love, are you coming?"

Regina flinched at his address of her but she shook her head anyway. "I think I'll stay here, make sure David is alright here with his wound."

Snow turned out of her father's arms abruptly and ran up to David and placed a smacking kiss to his cheek. She backed away before meeting her father again.

David bowed his head, almost embarrassed Regina had to see that. But Regina didn't want to think about that, her main concern was David. Her main concern was them.

"Thank you for the rose."

David smiled. "It was my pleasure."

"I had one of my maids take it up to my room to be put in water. We don't want it to wither away," Regina said, wringing her fingers together, "how did you know it was my favorite kind?"

"You told me once your favorite color was red, so I assumed," he said, crossing his arms over his chest.

Regina raised her brows, "impressive."

She looked over his shoulder and saw Sir Lorac come their way. He placed a hand on David's shoulder. "You put on quite a fight out there!"

David chuckled, "as did you."

Sir Lorac looked over at his bandaged shoulder, "nasty wound, but it'll heal." He nodded towards both of them, "but I suppose I'll leave you two alone. Your Majesty, David."

When they were alone, Regina brushed her fingers lightly over David's bandaged waist. He hissed at the contact. "Sorry. Might have to treat that later, dear."

"You know how to change bandages?"

Regina rolled her eyes, "why must you think so less of me? I can make it so you won't have a waist."

"Such a ruthless queen."

Regina laughed and led him into a walk, "come to . . . come to my room tonight. It'll be safer," she finished quickly.

David gave her a questioning look. "It's just that there will be guests staying at the palace tonight what with today's events. It would be safer if we weren't out in the open."

"Are you sure you don't just want a prince in your bed?" David joked.

Regina gasped and placed pressure on his wound, making him jump back and clutch his side in a hiss. "Like I said, I can make it so you won't have a waist."