Finding You

Chapter One

Finding You had a total of 16 votes and Partners in crime had 8. Thanks you guys for voting. I also changed the cover. This one looks more appealing. Here's the first chapter. I hope you love it.

Running. It's all she could think to do. She jumped over logs, dodged branches and swatted at bugs. The little girl has always loved the woods but now she's lost and terrified. The small girl takes a break and rests against a large tree.

"Stop! You are trespassing into the Queen's land!" A black knight yelled at her.

Tears stream down her eyes because she is completely scared for her life. She starts running and hears the guard running after her. She comes across a garden and runs towards it. The little girl collapses in exhaustion and the guard catches up to her.

"You are trespassing!" The guard yells as he raises a hand to slap the child.

"Unhand her!" A woman's voice yells.

"Why should I listen to you?" The guard yells not looking up at the person.

"I'm your Queen and I will absolutely have your head for this." The Queen says with a glare directed at the guard.

"I'm sorry your majesty." The guard says as he bows his head.

"Just leave us." The Queen says as she looks at the small child.

"But-"

"I said leave us at once!" The Queen yells making the child flinch.

The guard quickly bows before running out of the garden. The Queen bends down to look at the small girl, her dress pooling around her. She stares at the tears that run down her small chocolate  brown eyes and her ratted blonde hair. She flashes the child a genuine smile.

"What's your name sweetie?" The Queen asks and the girl looks up at her shyly.

"My name is Riley." She says quietly as she stares at her small hands.

"I'm Regina. Can you tell me why you were crying?" Regina asks as she holds the small girl's hands.

"I can't find my Papa!" Riley says and starts crying.

Not knowing how to comfort a young child Regina just stares at her. After a few more quiet sobs the Evil Queen's heart breaks. Regina brings the small child into her arms and softly holds her. Riley clutches to Regina's black dress and sobs into the soft fabric.

"Hey, Riley. It's okay, everything will be okay. I'll help you find your Papa." Regina says and the little girl looks up at her.

"You will?" Riley asks with hope glistening in her damp eyes.

"Yes, I promise. Do you want to stay in the castle with me until I find him?" Regina asks with a small smile.

"The castle? You live in the castle?" Riley says pointing to the castle that was a mile away.

"Of course I do. Where else is the Queen suppose to live?" Regina says with a laugh and Riley sniffles.

"You're the Queen?" She asks curiously.

"Yes, and if you want you can be the Princess." Regina says and Riley jumps in her arms.

"I want to be the Princess! I want to be the Princess!" Riley squeals and Regina just laughs.

"You can be the Princess. Now, Princess Riley let's get you into a bath." Regina says and Riley giggles.

Regina stands up and grabs Riley's small hand. She leads the young girl to the castle as they get to know each other. Regina's soft spot for children was showing. All the guards and servants stared as their Queen entered the castle smiling with a child holding her hand. They would have questioned their majesty but they all value their lives.

"Can you draw a bath in my chambers?" Regina politely asks a maid.

"Of course your majesty. Is it for the little one?" The maid asks with a smile.

"I'm not little! I'm three feet!" Little Riley beams with a smile on her face.

"Yes, it's for her. Can you do it as soon as possible?" Regina says with a smile on her face and the maid can't help but smile back.

"Of course your majesty!" The maid says before she bows.

"Thank you!" Regina calls out to the maid as she walks down one of the halls.

"What do we do now?" Riley asks she looks up at Regina.

"We can do anything your little heart desires." Regina says and Riley giggles.

"I want to read my favorite story." Riley says with a smile. "It's called The Happy Star and Papa reads it to me everyday." Riley says sadly.

"I think I have that book." Regina says as she waves her hand and makes the green book appear in her hand.

"You have magic!" Riley gasps as she takes the book.

"Yes, I learned magic so I could do cool things like that." Regina says easily covering her dark past from the child.

"Your majesty? The bath is ready and I laid out some clothes that might fit her." The maid says with a smile.

"Come on, Princess!" Regina says as she scoops the little girl into her arms.

The little girl giggles as Regina carries her to her chambers. Regina gave the small girl a bubble bath and she laughed through the whole thing. Her new friend has brought happiness to her life and she couldn't be more grateful. This little ball of energy was already lighting the Queen's dark and broken heart.

"This is pretty!" Riley says once she is dressed in the silk nightgown.

"You're pretty!" Regina says as she starts to comb through Riley's tangled hair.

"I know." She says with a smirk and Regina laughs at the small girl.

Once Regina is also ready for bed she climbs into her huge bed, that she spends most nights alone in. Riley requested to sleep next to the Queen and snuggled close to her chest. Regina decided to entertain the small child by asking her simple questions.

"What's your favorite color?" Regina asks and Riley yawns.

"Green." The little girl whispers.

"What does your Papa look like?" Regina asks and hears nothing but silence. "Riley?"

Regina looks down to see the small girl peacefully sleeping in her side. She smiles before she closes her eyes as well. Nothing mattered to the Queen that moment, only the safety of the child next her. The thought of the terrified father searching for his daughter didn't even cross her mind.