Here I am with a new story, and of course, like most of my stories, with Regina and Snow as protagonists.

This one is different though. It's going to have young Snow, young Queen Regina, but also our adult Snow/Mary Margaret, and our former Evil Queen/Mayor Regina. You'll see how this is in the next chapter, though the summary says it itself.

Now, I hope you like this story! And please, feel free to leave me a review, about anything you want to say about this.

Regina sighed, her eyes reading the paragraph that she knew so well. This was one of the few books that she had brought from her home, and she loved to read it, though she could know it by heart. It was peaceful reading a book in the garden, away from everyone.

Snow White was in one of her classes, the King was in one of his important meetings, and she loved being all alone. Not really, but she would rather be alone than be with the father and his daughter. The King was a good man, friendly, but she still couldn't tolerate his daughter, and although he was a good man, he was the only thing that prevented her from being free.

It had been a few weeks since they were married. Yet, Regina felt like it had been months or years.

Tired of reading, Regina closed her book and stood up, heading towards the palace. As soon as she set foot in the palace, a guard almost ran to her.

"Your Majesty, the King wants to see you urgently."

Regina frowned. "Isn't he in one of his meetings?"

The man nodded. "But he wants you there, ma'am."

Regina gave him her book with orders to leave it in her part of the library and went to the King's desk. It was strange that he wanted there; he never wanted her before in his meetings. But she could tell that the man was strange; he wasn't in a good mood this morning, at least not with Snow, and that was very strange.

Once Regina came to the King's desk, she stopped at the door when she heard voices from inside. It was the King, and Snow White. She was not surprised by that, but because the tone of their voices. He seemed to be yelling at her.

"But Father! I can always go to the garden to play with the servants' children in the middle of my classes! Why I can't today?" The girl reproached. Regina rolled her eyes; she could be really annoying.

"Because I say so." The King replied, and Regina frowned to hear him so cold and angry. "So now you're going to obey and do what I say."

"But I want to have friends! I always bring them food and –"

"Snow White!" The King cried aloud, causing Regina to startle a little bit. "I want you in your chambers, studying as you should be right now! I will not support any whim of you."

"They're not whims!"

"I have to be in an important meeting now. Go to your room."

"But Father..."

"I gave you an order!"

It really surprised Regina his voice. He'd never used that tone of voice with anyone; much less with his beautiful, beloved daughter. Everyone could see how much the King loved his princess, so this was very unusual. But Regina couldn't blame him; the girl could be very annoying sometimes.

Regina stepped back to see the door opening. There was her stepdaughter, Snow White, with her eyes full of tears.

"Hi." She murmured, and Regina faked a small smile.

"Hi, Snow. Everything's okay?"

"Yes." It was all the young princess said before running off.

Regina took a deep breath. If the King was in a bad mood and was able to shout to his daughter, she could also be treated badly. But with her head held high, and a fake smile, she walked into the room. She was even more surprised when the King received her with a big smile and kind words. He wanted her in his meetings with him.

She was in meetings all the day with the King at her side. And for the first time, she felt as a real Queen, with power. It was a good day, at least until the night came. Regina knew she would have to fulfill her duties as a wife. She always hoped the dinner would be forever, even though she hated sharing a table with Snow White.

"Snow, you do not play with your food." Regina looked up at the King's voice. He looked angry at his daughter. "That's not something that a princess has to do."

Snow sighed. "I'm sorry, Father."

Regina swallowed at the awkward moment and took some of her wine glass. The King moved his gaze to her, and she froze, thinking she was going to be scolded, too. "So, tell me my dear Regina, how was your day?"

Regina frowned, totally lost in the situation. This wasn't normal. Usually, he was doing to Snow the same question, as she had to keep quiet listening to the girl's story. "I – it was good, very good. The meetings were really interesting and –"

The King looked for a second to his daughter, but it was enough for him to hit his fist on the table, making them both jump. "Snow White, why are you sitting like that? You must sit properly! I'm not tolerating these attitudes."

Snow frowned and sat up straight. "Father, I'm sorry I just – I haven't noticed."

"You should have." He said, his eyes moving to her, and Regina frowned confused to see him calm again just by looking at her. "So, what were you saying, dear?"

"The – meetings were very interesting," Regina repeated a little confused. "And I think that King Arthur will accept your proposal to him."

"I'm not hungry anymore." Snow said, getting up and leaving her napkin on the table. "I shall go to bed now."

Snow turned to leave, but the King took her little waist and made her sit in her chair again. "You haven't eaten it all. Eat."

"But – I'm full. I don't want to keep eating; my stomach has hurt lately…"

The King shook his head, with an angry look to the ten-year-old. "I don't care. I want you to eat all your food."

Regina had known about Snow's stomach pain, and to see the girl's face fell, beginning to eat her food again, she couldn't help but intervene. "Your Majesty, I think she could go to bed now. It's not necessary –"

"No, Regina." He said calmly voice, returning to his meal. "She has to learn to behave."

The rest of the dinner was all around her. Regina spoke about her day, her books, the meetings. Snow had to eat all her food, and then they all went to bed. The King had to sit down a few minutes to complete papers that needed to be finished, so that Regina had time all to herself.

So after combing her hair, Regina went to go to the bathroom. But as soon as her hand touched the doorknob, strange noises were heard from inside it. She frowned, and opened the door a little bit.

Snow was sitting in the middle of the room, a large bucket in front of her. "Snow, what –" Regina closed her mouth and made a little face to see her stepdaughter spewing into the bucket. "Oh, I see."

The young princess took a small towel and wiped around her mouth. "I told Father I didn't want to eat more."

Regina almost felt bad for the girl. Almost. "Oh, I'm sorry dear. Should I call Johanna for you?"

Snow looked at her with sad eyes. "Yes, please. Call Johanna."

Regina smiled. "Good night, dear."

The young Queen closed the door behind her and started walking to the princess's maid. Snow White was crazy if she thought she was going to stay with her.

Regina hurried to walk inside the palace. She'd lost track of time in her classes with Rumpelstiltskin, and now she was late in one of her meetings with the King and other Kings and Queens. She ran to a corner of the hallway and looked around; making sure no one was in sight.

She smiled and moved her hands around her body. In a second, she was in her simple, white dress. She smiled as she turned around; she collided with the King, and his daughter.

"Regina, dear. There you are." He said. Regina nodded with a small smile, and looked down to the princess. Snow seemed to have tears in her cheeks. "We need to talk. Follow me."

Leopold walked past by her, taking hard Snow's arm along with him. Regina frowned, but eventually, followed his steps. They went into his office, and so then the King gave away his daughter's arm.

"Father, I'm sorry, it's not going to happen again." Snow murmured, her hands wiping the tears on her cheeks.

Regina waited until the King closed the door and turned around, looking at her. But not angry. "You and Snow had a walk today."

The young Queen sighed and nodded. "I waited for Snow, but after half an hour she didn't show up, I decided to go on my own."

"Yes, that's what she told me. She was late and when she went to the stables you weren't there." Regina opened her mouth to try to defend. She knew he probably would blame her. "It's okay, dear. I would have done the same. It's this girl's fault."

It was true. She and Snow had to take a walk today, and Regina waited for her at the stables. But after half an hour, she got tired of waiting and went to see Rumpelstiltskin, eager to learn more about magic. But why the King was laying all the blame on Snow? Yes, it was her fault, but Regina never thought he would see it that way.

He was blind for his daughter. Or so she thought. It was true that in recent weeks the King was behaving strangely around the princess; he was bothered for every thing that Snow was doing; he was always scolding her or yelling at her.

"This is your fault, Snow White." Leopold said, walking over to Snow. "Where were you?"

Snow looked up to his eyes, and Regina could see the fear in her green eyes. "I – I lost track of time."

"Are you lying to me?" He raised his voice, getting closer to the girl. "You better not, young lady."

"I – I'm sorry Father! I really wanted to see them!"

Regina knew what she meant. Her father had forbidden her to see and play with the servants' children. "Did you disobey me?" Regina frowned slightly when she saw his eyes filled with hatred and his face becomes red from anger. "And you lied to me."

"I'm sorry, but you're strange. I – I just want to have friends. I want –"

But Snow was unable to finish her words. A strong, large hand crossed across her right cheek. Regina gasped to see this. She never thought that the King would be able to put a finger on his daughter. That was unimaginable. The ten-year-old immediately took her hand to her cheek, her green eyes filling up with tears like never before.

"You deserved it. You can't lie to me. You can't disobey. Is that clear?"

Snow was so shocked that didn't even respond. She just stared at him, as tears began to fall from her eyes. Regina cleared her throat and took a step to them. "It's clear, Your Majesty."

"Good." He replied, nodding and giving himself back. "I have to be in a meeting right now. And you're coming with me."

Regina had no time to even look twice to her stepdaughter that he took her arm and dragged her out of the room. But she would never forget Snow's face full of sadness and shock. And strangely, Regina felt bad for the girl.

She could still remember her own face the first time her mother slapped her.

After that time, Regina had to witness a few more times of the King slapping Snow. She wasn't happy with it; it reminded her of every time her mother did the same with her . And the reasons could be the same: they were stupid reasons. She didn't want to admit it, but Snow really didn't deserve those slaps.

The first time was because she disobeyed and lied to him. Then it was because Snow didn't sit straight in a important dinner with another King. Of course, he didn't do it in front of them; he just waited until all the guests were gone. Then it was because she insisted on wanting to have friends, playing with the servants' children. Another was because she fell asleep and didn't appear at breakfast. Then there were a few more that Snow didn't really have the fault; it was her fault but the King didn't hear her or didn't see it, so he just blamed the child.

At this point, Snow no longer cried.

One night, when everyone was already in bed, Regina got up and went out of her room, looking for a glass of water. She went to the kitchen and filled a glass with water, but when she was about to leave, small sobs were heard from a corner. She frowned, setting the glass on the table.

"Who's there?"

No answer. Regina walked over to where the sound seemed to come, and she stopped when she saw a little girl sitting in a corner, her arms around her legs.

"Snow?"

The princess looked up in alarm. She got up in a second. "Oh please, Regina! Don't tell Father that I was here at this hour!"

Regina opened her mouth but closed it immediately to see a small cut on Snow's lower lip. She took her chin and looked at it more clearly, frowning. "What happened?"

"I – I fell."

She remembered then. Snow wasn't at the dinner that night. She asked for her, but the King said she was in penance because she had run off to play with the children again. It had surprised Regina that he had taken it so lightly, but now she could see it.

The young Queen looked into the princess' eyes and felt a stitch in her heart. She had to say the same words so many times when she was a little girl like her. She didn't have to do it at first because it was just that; slaps. But then she had to start saying that she fell, or that she didn't know where the bruises were coming. Just like Snow was doing now.

"Why can't you just obey?" Regina sighed, taking a small lock of hair out of Snow's face.

"I'm going to play with the children because sometimes they have nothing to eat and I give them food."

Sometimes Regina could want to be away from this girl, she could be annoying at times, but Snow's light was off with each passing day, as Regina's darkness began to grow. But in moments like this, in which Regina had to see her face after a slap, she felt her hear breaking.

At first she just felt bad for the princess. Then, she felt sorry for her. Then she just wanted to do something to help her, and now she just wanted to kill her father.

Sometimes Snow could be a brat, but she was always a good daughter. She didn't deserve this.

"I'm sorry." Regina murmured, wrapping her arms around her. Snow clung to her and Regina could feel tears on her own chest.

"No matter what I do, he's always going to punish me." She murmured, her little arms clinging to her hip. "He loved me before; I don't know what I did wrong."

"Daddy, why Mother doesn't love me anymore? What did I do?"

"Oh, Regina, dear... it's not that she doesn't love you. She just wants the best for you, and sometimes she can be a little cruel, but she really loves you."

"She doesn't seem to."

Regina stroked Snow's hair but said nothing. The King didn't seem to love his daughter. Not anymore. She herself didn't know what Snow did wrong to change his feelings so much. She was his child, after all. How could he not love his own child?

She had no answer. She never had it about her own mother, either.

But she always had someone. A maid, her father, though they never served her. No one ever protected her from her mother, not even her own father. Cora always scared him, and he was too cowardly to defend his own child.

"You know what?" Regina said, moving Snow away from her and drying the girl's tears from her cheeks. "Do you like hot chocolate, don't you?"

Snow nodded but frowned confused. "Yes, why?"

"Did you ever try cinnamon on it? It's good."

"No, I never have."

Regina smiled at her. A real smile in so long. "I can make you some if you want."

Snow's eyes lit up. "I'd love to!"

Regina prepared her hot chocolate with cinnamon, and Snow loved it immediately. Both of them remained in the kitchen for a while before Regina decided it was time to go back to sleep. She led the child to her room, and even tucked her in bed.

Snow smiled at her as she settled the sheets around her. "Thank you, Regina."

Regina smiled back. She hadn't seen the girl smile like that in weeks. She herself didn't remember smiling so much with this girl in so long. "You're welcome."

"You're lucky." Snow murmured, tucking her head on the pillow. Regina frowned and sat on the edge of the bed.

"Why?"

"My father treats you so well. I wish I could know what I did wrong and change it."

Regina felt tears in her own eyes and bit her lip, trying to hold them back. She asked to herself the same questions so many nights when she cried herself to sleep. "I'm sure you did nothing wrong. He must be going through a difficult situation."

"But why just with me?"

"I don't know dear." Regina said sincerely, shaking her head. For some reason, her mouth opened and the words were out before she could think twice. "But you have me. I'm not like him."

Regina felt shocked and confused by her own words as Snow smiled sweetly and took her hand tightly. "I know."

Rarely, Regina sat on the edge of the bed until Snow fell asleep. She just stood there, with Snow's hand wrapped around her, watching as the girl fell asleep. She knew what Snow was feeling.

If you're not good enough for your parents, then you can't be good enough for anyone.

Her mother always punished her; her father never did anything to stop her because he was too scared of her. She was never good enough for mother; she wasn't good enough for her father so he could face her mother to protect her. She wasn't good enough for anyone.

She wished she would have had someone there to protect her. Now she had to see her stepdaughter going through the same situation, and she was just like her own father. She just watched; did nothing.

No.

She couldn't be a coward. She couldn't see how someone mistreated a girl who didn't deserve it. She wouldn't be like her father.

Regina looked back at Snow and took her hand to her face, taking some hair off her face. "I'll protect you."

She hated this girl. Someday maybe she was going to kill her, but she wouldn't do it the same way her mother treated her all those years. With psychological and physical abuse. No. If some day she was going to kill her, she would just do it.

But now, now she was going to protect her from anyone who would try to hurt her. Even if that person had to be the King himself.

I know the King treating like this to Snow it's something unusual, but this has got a explanation, which is going to be answer in the next chapters I think. If you have any questions just leave it and I'll try to answer it.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter!