Adult-FanFiction.org : Television / Streaming

Capture and Release	By : TaylorKing Category: M through R > Once Upon A Time Views: 9636 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I own nothing Once Upon a Time related, or its characters, and make no money from it

Chapter List
- 4
- 5
- 6
“She is absolutely maddening.” Charming slumped back in his chair. He was seated across from Prince Henry, an untouched mug of ale on the table before him.
            Things with Regina were not going well. Charming was fairly certain there were two of her. Just when he thought he made progress, Regina snapped back to her usual temperament. He had no idea what to do with her anymore simply because nothing worked. If he withheld something, she was equally as nasty as if he gave into her.
            Prince Henry was watching him. Charming held out his hands in surrender.
            “I’m open to any suggestions, my prince. What works with Regina? What can I do that will make her respond to me?”
            Prince Henry appeared to think about this for a few moments. Running his finger along the edge of his own mug, he finally looked over at Charming.
            “Have you tried rewarding her?”
            “You’re saying that as soon as she finishes telling me how her greatest regret is not killing Snow White, I should buy her jewelry?” Prince Henry gave him a disappointed look.
            “That’s not what I’m saying. I’m simply saying that she may respond to more….positive….enforcement. David, she’s already lost so much.” Charming hated the look in the man’s eyes. Prince Henry was a man who obviously loved his daughter greatly.
            “I know how this has to hurt.” Charming told him gently. Prince Henry nodded.
            “I hope that if you have a daughter some day, you’ll understand. We want to do everything for our children, give them everything. I know I’m at least partially responsible for what happened to Regina. And for putting her in the position she’s in now.”
            Charming sighed, looking down at the tabletop. He wished he could get through to Regina, wished he could make her understand, and make her love him. Then he could let her do whatever she wanted, give her whatever he wanted.
            “I understand.” He sighed, resting his forehead in his hand. “I’ll see what I can do. Hopefully, next week, I’ll have a better report for you.”
            “I can only hope.” Prince Henry had stopped asking if he could visit. Charming was beginning to believe he should offer. “But there is one more thing.”
            “What’s that?” Charming looked at him.
            The prince reached into his pocket and withdrew a chain with some sort of a pendant on the end of it. He handed it to Charming.
            “Give this to her. She used to be fond of it.” The pendant was a tree. It was lovely. Charming turned it in his fingers.
            “It wasn’t with her other things?”
            “No, I found it in with some jewelry she had in another box. I’m guessing it was an accident. The other jewelry was a gift from Leopold. I don’t know if she’ll want that.”
            Charming wasn’t sure he wanted to give that to her.
            “Keep the rest of it. I don’t want to open that door.”

                                                When he finally returned home, the staff looked almost as exhausted as he felt. He gave the reigns of his horse to the stable boy, and then turned to the Captain of the Guards.
            “Well? What now?”
            “She’s in the room off of her bedroom. I locked her there.”
            “Do I want to know what she did?”
            “You can most likely guess. Snow White.”
            “Of course.” Charming sighed. “I’ll talk to her.”
            Upstairs, Regina was pacing a cell in the back corner of the playroom. It was about four feet long, and roughly two and a half feed wide.   He’d been hoping it would be more fun for games, he hadn’t intended it for this purpose. He shook his head as he crossed the room to her.
            “Why do you do this to yourself?”
            “Better yet, why do you let your staff do this to me?” She hissed, momentarily ceasing her pacing.
            “My staff just follows my orders.” He ignored the fact she hadn’t answered his question. “You’re the one whose tongue is regularly getting you into trouble.”    “Oh just shut up and let me out of here.” Regina folded her arms over her chest angrily. Charming shook his head in annoyance, but he’d made a plan to try a different approach, and he was sticking to it. Besides, leaving her in there wasn’t going to make her any happier.
            He took the keys from a nearby hook and opened the door, which was the majority of the front side. Regina stepped out, shaking out her dark hair.
            “I think it’s unfair your staff gets to handle me.”
            “Like I said, they follow my orders.”
            “Well, I don’t like it.”
            “Understandable. Come on.” Charming took her hand, pulling her towards the bedroom door. But maybe she was right, maybe he should tell the staff they were no longer allowed to make these decisions. It wasn’t exactly enhancing the queen atmosphere.
            Back in the bedroom, Regina stormed away from him. Charming trailed after her as she settled at the window to stare out at the gray afternoon.
            “I wish you’d give me a little bit of slack.” Charming sighed, leaning on the wall beside the window. “You don’t have it that bad here.”
            Regina had apparently been preparing herself for a fight, he saw it instantly in the look she gave him when she spun to face him.
            “Oh don’t I? Really? I spend my days-and nights-locked in this room, with nothing to do, while you run off to visit my father and run my kingdom. In addition to the fact that you have never once been honest with me about what is exactly is going on here.”
            Charming frowned. He couldn’t quite argue with her. She had a valid argument that did not consist of ‘I hate you and Snow White.’
            “Are you bored? Is that the problem?”
            “Hell Charming, what do you think?” She snarled, turning her back on him.
            “All right, I can fix that.” He took a few steps closer to her, laid his hand on the back of her arm. Regina yanked it away, taking a few steps further from him before she turned back to him.
            “Do you really think that’s the biggest of my concerns? I want the truth, Charming. Whatever it is. There’s so much you’re keeping from me. And it isn’t….” She looked away. “It isn’t fair.”
            Charming took a deep breath, let it out slowly. He didn’t want to give her this information yet. He hadn’t planned on letting it come out this quickly. But he remembered his conversation with Prince Henry.
            So far, his plan wasn’t working. Except for the sex, the sexual part was working just fine. But while he’d used the sex to get close to her, he didn’t want it to be the only thing between them. He wanted her, wanted her love. And he wasn’t getting it this way. If honesty was what it took, it was time to start trying.
            “Do you want to see your father?” He asked gently. “Would that help?”
            She hadn’t seen that coming. Regina froze on spot like someone had stunned her. Her eyes instantly filled with tears.
            “Really?” She whispered. Now that he was getting comfortable that she wouldn’t back away from him, he took another step closer.
            “Really.” He took her hand in his. “I just came from there. I know he wants to see you. I’ll send him a note immediately. Is that…better?”
            Regina looked down at the floor, but Charming saw her nod.
            “Ok, good.” He squeezed her hand. “By the way, he sent something to you.” Regina looked at him suspiciously.
“What?”
            Charming had wrapped the necklace in a handkerchief. He pulled it from his pocket and offered it to her.
            “He said you were fond of it…once.” Regina looked curious as she unwrapped the handkerchief. When she got to the necklace, she smiled.
            “This was mine…so long ago.”
            “Well, it’s back in its rightful place then.” Charming smiled. “Regina, I’m not trying to make you miserable.”
            “I wish you understood.” She took her eyes off the necklace to look at him. “Please,” she pulled her hand from his, “just go.”
            He suspected now wasn’t the time to argue with her. So he nodded.
            “I need to go send for your father.” He took a step back. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he comes tomorrow.”
            Regina nodded and turned away. Charming turned away, and then back to her.
            “When I come back, I want to show you something, ok?”
            “Fine.” Regina murmured into the window.

                                                He sent a rider with a letter to Prince Henry’s castle. It was late in the day, but he suspected the prince would send a reply and come the next day.
            He wasn’t expecting much from Regina this evening. He wasn’t even sure he would get her to eat with him. But he’d promised to show her something, so he returned.
            Regina was sitting on the window seat, staring at the necklace in her hand.
            “Would you rather be wearing it?” He asked as he approached. She hadn’t stirred when he entered. Regina looked up at him. She seemed to consider his request before reaching up and unhooking the diamond necklace she was wearing.
            “Let me.” Charming crossed to her side. Carefully, he took the necklace from her hand. The clasp was tiny, but he managed to fit it into the loop to clasp it around her neck. Regina ran her fingers over it, admiring it.
            “Much better.” He smiled. “I sent a letter to your father, but it’ll be awhile before I hear anything back.”
            Regina nodded calmly.
            “Thank you…for both.” Charming held out his hand to her.
            “Let me show you something. One thing, and I’ll leave you alone if you want.” Regina sighed, but took his hand anyway. He led her out of the room, into the hallway. Pausing, he turned to face her.
            “Your father has told me things you like. You like riding, and gardens, and books.” He raised an eyebrow. “Any of these sound true?”
            Regina nodded, glancing around.
            “Why?”
            “I can’t do anything about the gardens, or the riding yet. Maybe the gardens soon, but you can’t go riding yet-at least not by yourself. It isn’t safe.”
            Regina let out an annoyed breath. Charming sighed.
            “Regina, I’m sorry. You just don’t know how much danger you could be in leaving this castle.”
            “Wonderful.” Regina grumbled. “What did you want to show me?”
            “I’ll work on the gardens for you, but until then….” He pulled her to a doorway across the hall and opened the door. “It’s an old library, but it’s something.”
            The room was dark, but it could be seen that the walls were lined with books, some even piled on the table. Regina stepped inside, nodding.
            “It’s fair.”
            “Good.” Charming smiled at her. “One other thing,” he reached into his pocket and withdrew a key. “This was the Captain of the Guards. It’s yours now. You can come and go as you want, without leaving the castle.”
            Regina opened her mouth, seemed to consider, closed it and took the key.
            “Thank you.” Charming turned, heading for the doorway.
            “I’ll send you dinner.” Regina nodded, watching him.
            “All right.”
            He should have felt better as he left, but it felt like a step in the wrong direction. He didn’t want her further from him, he wanted her with him.

                                                As Charming had suspected, Prince Henry arrived the next afternoon. Charming had suspected that would occur when he hadn’t received a note.
            “Glad you came,” he smiled as he met him in the castle entryway. “Regina will be thrilled.”
            “How…how is she?” Prince Henry didn’t seem to want to ask.
            “She’s….ok.” Regina had been all right this morning. Charming had found her asleep with a book on the bed beside her. She’d eaten alone rather than joining him, even though the staff had made the offer. It took everything in his power not to throw himself at her.
            “Ok?”
            “She seems….” Charming shrugged. “I don’t know what she seems. You try talking to her. Wait here, I’ll go get her.”
            Regina was reading in her room, sprawled on the sofa. She glanced up when he came in.
            “You need to come with me.” He held out his hand to her. “I’ve got a surprise for you.”
            “Oh?” Regina raised an eyebrow. “Dare I ask what it is now?” Charming smiled.
            “I think it’ll be the best yet.” Taking her hand, he pulled her to follow him. She trailed down the stairs behind him.
            Prince Henry’s eyes widened when he first saw her.
            “Regina.” He smiled, staring up at her. Regina froze on the stairs behind Charming. He heard her choking gasp before she slipped passed him and ran into her father’s arms. Prince Henry wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly against him. Charming heard her soft whimpers against Prince Henry’s shoulder. He nodded to Prince Henry before slipping off. It was best to leave them alone for now.

                                                They’d moved into the parlor, and the maid had brought tea, but Regina wasn’t overly interested in hers. Her cup and saucer sat in her lap. Prince Henry placed his on the table before reaching for her hand.
            “Regina, darling, I hate seeing you so unhappy.” Regina shook her head. Her eyes were still brimming with tears.
            “Convince Charming to let me go with you tonight.” She whispered, looking up at her father. “Please.”
            “Darling,” Henry squeezed her hand, moving closer to her. “Is it really so terrible with him?”
            Regina stared down at her blue velvet skirt, shaking her head as tears escaped her eyes.
            “He tries…but…” She swallowed hard before looked up at her father. “Once again, I’m another prisoner of a another king.”
            “Oh darling, this time could different…yes?” Prince Henry wrapped his other arm around her. “The King isn’t so terrible to you, is he?”
            Regina shrugged.
            “He’s keeping something from me. I don’t know what it is, and I don’t know why….but I don’t want to be here with him…and I can’t….” She raised her head, staring across the room as she tried to focus herself. “I can’t give him what he wants.”
            Prince Henry sighed, hugging her tightly against him.
            “Regina, I don’t like seeing you so unhappy.”
            “Then help me.” Regina whispered. “Help me like you didn’t before.” Prince Henry rubbed her back, pressing a kiss against her temple.
            “Regina, I’m trying to. More than you realize.”
            “Then let me-.”
            “I can’t.” He told her, stroking her back. “Regina, please trust me on this. Please. Charming wants to help you. Please, open up to him. Let him help you.”
            Her response was a choked sob against his shoulder.

                                                Prince Henry stayed through dinner. Before he left, Charming pulled him aside.
            “Well?” He asked. “Any luck?”
            “She’s unhappy.” Prince Henry sighed. “It breaks my heart to see her like this. She wants to come with me.”
            “I know.” Charming sighed. “But in the long run, I don’t think it will help anything.”
            “If I didn’t agree with you, I’d take her. But it’s not safe, and not letting her see what all you’ve done for her isn’t going to help. You can protect her more than I can.”
            “Agreed.” Charming glanced towards the doorway as Regina came towards them. “We’ll get through to her.”
            “David,” Prince Henry looked at him seriously, “be honest with her. She needs to know. Everything.”
            “I’ll tell her.” Charming nodded. “But I think it would come better from someone else.”
            He smiled as Regina joined them. Regina glanced at him, and then turned to her father. Prince Henry embraced her to him, kissing her forehead.
            “I’ll see you soon, all right?” Regina frowned as she stepped back.
            “You promise?” Prince Henry looked at Charming. Charming gave him a slight nod, laying his hand on Regina’s back.
            “He can come as often as he likes.”
            “Once a week,” Prince Henry promised her, “I’ll be back next week.” Regina nodded, reaching out to embrace him again. He hugged her tightly.
            Regina stepped back as Prince Henry climbed into his carriage. Charming hated the tearstains on her cheeks and the swelling around her eyes. He knew there was nothing he could do to make her feel better, but he was going to try something.
            “There’s something you need to understand.” He turned to face her as the carriage pulled away. “It’s time you knew everything, but I feel it’s best you hear it from someone other than me. And I’ll take you to see him tomorrow.”
            “Who?” Regina looked at him, raising one eyebrow. He was glad he could at least focus her on something else.
            “Rumplestiltskin.”
- 4
- 5
- 6
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Capture and Release