A Chance To Mend

Chapter 10: Why So Painful

Regina froze unsure of what to say.

It had been a few days since her talk with Tink about what had happened. She was on a walk through the castle when she found herself in this situation, she had just ran into the prince.

David starred upon the former Evil Queen. He didn't know how she got the title, or why. But he never felt right calling her that. It had been some time since he caught a glance of her. His heart pang with guilt for how he had last scene her. He didn't know what he did, but the look on her face she had before she ran from him stuck with him, and that's what he saw now.

"Regina." Was all he managed to say, though he wanted to say much more.

"David." Regina said with a nod of her head and tried to make a move past him.

"Wait." David said stepping in front of her. Only causing her to run into him again. "Sorry,"

Regina sighed. They were closer than what she would of liked. "What is it." Her words came out forced, but not rude. She was just exhausted.

"I'm sorry." David said.

"Yes you said that already." She had meant to be sarcastic but the words didn't come out that way. She was looking up at him, she never knew how much taller he was than her then now as he looked down at her.

"No, I'm sorry for whatever I did wrong a couple days ago. I didn't mean to scare you or make you sad. And when you ran away from me I- well I-" David sighed trying to find the right words. "I just didn't feel right, and I'm sorry, I don't ever want to make you feel like that way."

"Oh David, it's not your fault," well it kind of is Regina thought to herself, but she wouldn't tell him about the soulmate thing, at least not today. "I've just been going threw a lot, much like everyone else. I really have no place to talk-" Regina cut off her own mumblings and it stayed quite for a while.

"I just wish I could forget." Regina said looking down at David's lips, only for a second before bringing her eyes to his chest where she knew the tattoo to be.

Regina's glance didn't go unnoticed by David. He didn't know why but his eyes found her lips for a moment as well. But before he could say anything it was already to late.

The Queen had caught his glance and turned from him walking back down the hall way she had come in before.

Why was he letting her walk away. He knew now she wanted to do what he wanted to do when she glanced at his lips. She did, didn't she? Did he want to? Watching her walk away now he couldn't help but feel like it was possible. If it could make her happy, make him happy, why shouldn't he. He had to be honest with himself, he hadn't been happy with Snow. He couldn't explain it, but ever since they had arrived at the enchanted forest it just didn't feel right anymore. It felt like trying to force two puzzle pieces together that don't quite fit.

The moment David took a step towards her, Regina could hear it. Even with the great distance between them. "Don't." Her barely audible voice said gently then turning the corner.

David heard her and stopped in his tracks. He sighed dropping his head and turned as well walking away.

Regina hid behind the wall and listened to him walking away. Once she could hear him no more she pulled her face to look at the wall across from her. Her expression was blank. She dropped her head back against the wall and squeezed her eyes shut. Why was this so painful?

She pushed herself off the wall and walked down the hallway. She walked carelessly and wasn't paying attention to her steps.

"Oh, Regina." Snow said taking a step back after nearly running into her.

These Charmings are everywhere Regina thought.

"Actually I've been meaning to find you, Auroras's ball for her baby will be in a weeks time. Your invited, if you'd go." Snow said.

"How can you be throwing a ball while there is a witch out there waiting to attack us at any moment." Regina asked almost irritated with Snow's ignorance.

"Regina, I learned a long time ago that if your constantly worrying, you'll run out of time for the important stuff, the little things. You can't spend your entire life living in fear, or you'll miss out on so much." Snow spoke every word with meaning, and it actually got to Regina.

That's what she was doing. She was living in fear, not letting herself find love, not letting herself be happy. She needed to get out of her own way. But she still didn't want to go to a ball. Regina let a her gaze fall to the ground and she walked past Snow.

"Henry would want you to go." Snow said.

"What?" Regina said turning around about to snap at Snow for bringing up her son, she could already feel the heat in her hand that wanted to form a fire ball, yet at the same time she had tears in her eyes at hearing her son's name. She needed to hear his name. It was making her feel crazy, like he never existed. No one would talk to her about him for fear of her probably getting angry and incinerating them. Even though it saddened her she missed hearing his name.

"He would want you to enjoy life, to be happy." Snow said smiling at Regina.

At first she was going to make a snappy remark, but then she thought about it. He would want her to be happy, that's all Henry ever wanted for Regina.

After contemplating it in her head she decided. She was going to go to this ball, even if it was a minor thing, it would be for Henry.

"Maybe I will go." Regina said letting a small smile grace her face.

"I hope to see you there." Snow said and walked away.

Regina turned back around going back in the direction of her bed chambers. I must be out of my mind she thought. She sighed as she entered into her bed chambers. The only safe place to be alone.

She walked to the edge of her bed and sat down. Reaching for the bedside table she picked something up. She had came across it yesterday and had set down there before going to sleep. She inspected the trinket, rapping the golden chain around her fingers and letting the locket dangle in the palm of her hand as she held it. She hadn't seen this locket since before she cast the dark curse. She imagined she would of never seen it again. But here it was rapped around her hand. She opened the locket looking at the photo she had cut into little heart as a young girl. Her father.

After she ripped out his heart to use for the dark curse she didn't feel right wearing it. She felt to guilty. He wanted nothing but happiness for her. And in a way, she found it, with her son. He brought her to him, Her little prince.

She smiled weakly at the tiny golden neckless. "Thank you, daddy." She said as tears ran down her face she brought the locket close to her enclosed in her hands. She held the golden heart to her cold heart. "Thank you." She said again closing her eyes as she brought the neckless to her lips, kissing her knuckles where the chain lay rapped around it.

She held the locket in her hands, looking at it and she waved her hand over it. When she looked at it again her sons picture was in the other picture slot that had been left empty. She smiled again wiping away her tears before she sat it down on her bedside table.

~

~

~