Emma stared in dismay at the pile of ruffles and fluff on her bed. She knew as a princess that she should love the pretty frilly constructions that her mother had had made for her.
But in all honesty, she would much rather be wearing armor and riding at her father's side as he inspected the troops.
The royal ball was tomorrow, her royal ball in fact.
Queen Snow was hopping her only child would meet a nice young nobleman and fall in love.
Too bad Emma had other things in mind.
The princess took one last look at the pastel rainbow of dresses and ran for the castle armory.
After taking an old set of practice armor and donning it she made her way to the stables and saddled her favorite mount.
Lexaar, her stallion, who had been a birthday present from the king of a neighboring kingdom, seemed to sense something was up and stayed particularly quiet while Emma saddled him and rode out through the open castle gates.
Leaving the castle was easier than Emma had expected.
Of course since the kingdom wasn't at war, and Emma had kept the visor of her stolen helmet down, no one would have reason to know that under the old armor was one runaway princess.
Snorting quietly to herself Emma acknowledged that the real trouble would come when she came home and had to explain to her mother why she had missed her own ball.
Once she was away from the castle she urged Lexaar into a full gallop, heading for the edge of the kingdom as fast as she could.
She didn't want to be found and brought back in time for the ball if, or she should say, when her mother sent out an escort to bring her home.
It wasn't just the frilly dresses that had sent her running. It was also the thought of being expected to find a man to marry.
Emma did want to marry one day, but she wouldn't be looking for a nobleman to be her life-long partner and love . . .
Emma's romantic tastes simply ran to more "delicate" partners, and had for as long as she could remember.
But she definitely wasn't ready to try and tell her mother the queen.
While her mother was a fair queen, in every sense of the word, Emma still worried about what she might say or do when she found out that her daughter preferred women as her lovers.
After all, everyone knew that kingdoms rose and fell on things like succession and heirs.
Emma sighed as she rode hard for the edge of the Enchanted Kingdom.
While liking women wasn't exactly outlawed, it wasn't something you saw much of either.
Emma had even witnessed a couple of times where a display of that sort had earned the poor woman a beating by a male relative.
If she ever became queen that was the first thing she would change.
No one should ever be persecuted for who they loved.
Lexaar was fast and his long legged gait devoured the miles with ease so that they reached the edge of the kingdom quickly.
The runaway princess relaxed almost immediately once they crossed out of her kingdom.
Slowing her horse to a gentle walk she let him meander where he wanted as he cooled down.
The forest was quiet, the only sounds that of animals and running water a ways off.
Her mind was anything but quiet.
She was only twenty-three, why should she have to worry about getting married at all?
Much less to a man she would never be able to truly love?
She, and every other person in the kingdom knew the story of her parents meeting and falling in love.
She had heard it was even told to children in other kingdoms as a bedtime tale.
The story of how true love could conquer all evil, including dark magic.
It was all Emma had ever wanted. To find someone to love, and who would love her, like that.
When she was younger she had tried to like boys, because that was what she was raised to see as the natural way of things. She had experimented and given it her best, but the feelings just weren't there. At least not when she was with a boy.
It had been very confusing to her that she had found herself looking at girls while they talked of kissing a boy for the first time and all she could think of was how soft their lips would be against hers.
In time Emma had learned to be discrete and to see the girls who would enjoy her company.
It was a good thing the castle was so huge, it provided plenty of places for trysts where no one would accidentally stumble upon her and her partner.
She had also been very careful to avoid any woman who worked in the castle, for fear that one might grow jealous when she moved on and let her secret slip.
Oh, Emma had never been cruel in leaving her lovers, but she knew that just because she was ready to move on didn't mean that they were.
In her kindness and compassion Emma was very much her parent's daughter.
But she was also so much more.
After a while her wandering horse brought them to the edge of the stream she had heard earlier. Emma dismounted and removed her helmet, drinking from the stream first to be sure it was fresh before allowing Lexaar to have his fill.
As Emma relaxed, thinking of finding a place to spend the night, she heard the sound of hoofs a short ways upstream. Lexaar flicked and ear towards the sounds but otherwise didn't react. Ever her faithful companion Emma thought to herself as she scanned the stream banks for the horse she had heard and its rider.
Moments later a woman appeared riding a butterscotch colored gelding.
Her long dark hair was piled carefully atop her head and she held herself with the bearing of a noblewoman of rank and privilege, but her worn clothing and lack of attendants told another tale.
The reason for her presence at the stream became apparent as she dismounted and began to fill large water-skins and hang them from the back of her saddle.
No, this was no noblewoman, at least not anymore Emma thought as she watched the other woman.
As she watched a sudden movement in the trees caught her attention, before she could could move three bandits dropped out of the trees beside the stream and surrounded the dark haired woman.
Without thinking Emma put her helmet back on and jumped onto Lexaar's back, charging the bandits.
This might not be her kingdom but she wouldn't stand by and let an innocent woman be robbed and possibly hurt, her parents had definitely raised her better than that.
***Regina's P O V***
Having lived in exile for the last twenty-four years Regina knew when there were bandits, or worse, roaming her little patch of the woods. She simply hadn't seen a reason to do anything about it until they decided to trouble her.
Rising from beside the stream as the bandits surrounded her Regina was about to call up a fireball to singe their nether parts and send them running when out of nowhere a lone knight atop a steel gray stallion charged them.
Regina lowered her hand and watched, wondering who could be fool enough to want to rescue her.
There weren't many who lived beyond the edge of the enchanted forest and most of them knew enough of her to leave her alone.
So perhaps this knight was lost, at the least he was a long ways from home.
The knight sent the first of her attackers sprawling face first into the mud with a boot to the lower back, where he hit his head on a rock and was knocked unconscious then turned to the other two drawing his sword.
The biggest of the remaining bandits rushed the knight in anger. The knight only swatted him with the flat of the blade and then jugged him on the head with the hilt as he stumbled, the bandit staggered and fell into the stream.
The last man circled slowly one way and then the other assessing the knight carefully before attacking in a flurry of moves in a bid to confuse and disorient the knight.
The first bandit, having recovered, took time to get back on his feet, and moved to flank the lone knight. The knight dismounted and faced both opponents without a trace of fear in his stance.
With the knight off his horse Regina could see that he was a smallish man, barely taller than she was and slender of build. For a moment she worried that he might be outmatched. Then she remembered that she didn't care what happened to this foolish, lost knight.
Regina didn't care about anyone anymore.
Within moments both the bandits were bleeding from several cuts and the knight still stood unharmed. Realizing that it was they who were outmatched the men turn and flee, stopping only long enough to fish their companion out of the stream.
Regina watches with a small smile as the men disappear into the forest, limping.
***Emma's P O V***
After watching the trio vanish into the forest Emma turns to the woman.
Up close she sees that while she is a little older than Emma herself the woman she has just saved is beautiful.
Deep brown eyes, a nearly heart shaped face, and lush full lips. Her beauty unmarred by the small scar on her upper lip. Emma takes a moment to catch her breath before speaking, glad her helmet hides the look of want on her face as she stares at the older woman.
"Are you okay m'lady?" she asks.
The woman visibly starts at the sound of a female voice where she obviously wasn't expecting it.
"Yes, I . . . thank you, I'm fine" she replies after a moment.
Lifting her visor Emma starts forward, "here, let me help with those" she says gesturing to the empty water-skins.
"That's not necessary, I can manage on my own" the dark haired woman replies, her tone slightly cooler than before.
"Well,I'm sure you can, but it doesn't mean you have to" Emma said as she took up an empty skin and moved to the stream's edge.
She knew that pride was often very hard to swallow so she wouldn't let that get in the way of being nice to the lady. Emma didn't look up as the woman knelt beside her to fill another water-skin.
"again, thank you, knight?" the woman said, softer this time.
"Emma, just call me Emma"
"Emma" the woman repeated "I'm . . Gina" she replied hesitating a moment.
Emma could've kicked herself for giving her real name, what if this woman recognized who she was?
Her worries about her own name kept her from noticing or wondering at the other woman's hesitation in giving her name.
As they fill the remaining water-skins the princess sneaks glances at Gina from under lowered lashes.
Gina really is beautiful, but Emma knows that most likely she wouldn't welcome her advances.
"Let me escort you home" Emma all but blurts as they secure the last of the water-skins onto the saddle of Gina's horse.
Gina looks up, again surprised at the offer "if you wish" she answers cautiously.
Together the two mount their horses and head in the direction of Gina's home, the opposite direction of Emma's.
As they ride through the lengthening shadows of the forest the two strike up a conversation.
Each woman, for her own reasons, making an effort to keep well away from anything but light topics. Nevertheless they find the light talking enjoyable and fall into an easy rhythm with each other.
Midway through their ride a snake slithers into the path in front of them causing Gina's horse to spook and veer off the path. Before she can rein him in they are in the trees with low branches tangling in her long hair, caught, Gina struggles to hold her horse and free her hair.
Seeing that Gina is okay Emma turns to deal with the serpent, but before she can act Lexaar gives a snort and brings his huge front hooves down on the reptile's head, crushing it. "Good boy" she murmurs before nudging him over so she can help her new friend free her hair.
Taking a length of hair in her hand Emma almost moans, Gina's hair fells like silk caressing her palm. She knows she needs to untangle the woman's hair and put some distance between them but oh god touching her feels good.
As she works their legs brush against each other and Emma has to take a deep breath to steady herself, and to keep from touching said leg.
***Regina's P O V***
Regina freezes, holding absolutely still as Emma works to untangle the low branches from her long hair. She can hardly breathe as she feels an unexpected warmth in a part of her she had nearly forgotten existed.
"Just hold on, I've almost got it" Emma murmurs almost in her ear.
She only just manages to suppress the shiver that Emma's voice in her ear causes her. Oh god, its been so long since anyone touched me Regina thought.
Her own cold caresses certainly didn't count. Now it was almost torture being so close to a beautiful woman and knowing, just knowing, that she wouldn't see Regina in that way.
It was enough that Emma wasn't recoiling and spitting on her, the way anyone who knew her for who she really was would have done, it Had to be enough. She resolved to take comfort in Emma's kindness and forget about anything more with the woman.
***Emma's P O V***
As the last strands of Gina's hair slip free of the tree branches Emma backs away so fast it nearly makes her dizzy. If she didn't move away from the woman she was going to kiss her, and not a friendly peck on the cheek either.
"Well" the dark haired woman said "I seem to be developing a habit of thanking you"
Returning to the path both women are quiet, neither sure what they might say without betraying what they have just felt.
Some while later the path opens into a small clearing with a modest sized stone cottage in it.
To either side of the door are small beds of well tended roses and off to the side is a vegetable garden and a few fruit trees protected by a woven fence.
After helping Gina unburden her horse of the water-skins they emptied them into a large pottery barrel with a plugged spout near the bottom.
When Emma turned to leave Gina laid a hand on her arm, Emma stilled immediately.
"Stay, please . . . I mean, the least I can do is feed you after the service you have done me today" Gina said softly.
Emma smiled uncertainly "Thank you, a hot meal would be very nice"
God, all she wanted to do was kiss Gina, but she just couldn't, and she couldn't force herself to leave either, not when Gina had asked her to stay for supper.
It was apparent that Gina lived alone, though why was a mystery. Surely a woman that beautiful should be married, but Emma couldn't ask her that question, not without opening herself up to questions as well.
And she really couldn't let Gina find out that she was the princess.
As they had ridden to the cottage Emma had realized just what part of the realm they were in.
In her headlong flight from the castle she hadn't given a thought to which direction she was going in or where she would end up.
This region was mostly home to exiles and outcasts. Many of whom had been sent there by her parents.
When Gina set to work cooking Emma had offered to help, only to be told she should relax as a guest should. And it seemed Gina certainly knew her way around a kitchen.
That left the princess with nothing to do but keep up the light chatter, and think.
Among the known exiles there were few who could be considered truly dangerous.
Suddenly a name leaped out at her from that short list of very dangerous people.
She stopped short in her thoughts. It couldn't be. It really couldn't be the same person. The woman in front of her, who was cooking for her, who she was fast developing feelings for, could not be the villain of her parents stories.
Wouldn't Regina, the evil queen, be much older now?
The woman in front of her barely looked older than her.
Emma shook her head, this was not the villain she had heard so much about growing up.
All her life she had heard stories of the evil queen. She was supposed to be beautiful, cunning, and absolutely lethal. Yet the woman she had just spent a good portion of the afternoon with had never once offered her so much as an insult, let alone hurt her.
Emma didn't want to believe it. But . . . Regina, Gina; the coincidence was just too big to ignore completely.
Regina had been exiled from the kingdom before Emma was ever born. Would she even know that Snow White had a daughter?
And surely no one, not even Regina, could have known that Emma would end up on the edges of the exiles forest. Even Emma herself hadn't had a destination in mind when she left the castle.
She had just needed to escape from the castle and the torture that the royal ball had promised to be for her.
The same thoughts chased through the princess' head as Gina cooked, but one thought kept pushing all the rest out. She wanted to kiss her.
Possibilities and the past be damned!
Emma didn't care who anyone else might see this woman as, to her she was Gina, the woman she wanted with a building desperation like none she had ever felt.
The blonde just couldn't take her eyes off the other woman.
***Regina's P O V***
Regina could feel the blonde's green eyes fixed on her as she cooked and it made her feel warm.
Could it be she was wrong and Emma might actually be attracted to her?
If she tried to kiss her, would Emma allow it? More, would Emma enjoy it?
Regina tamped down her emotions hard. It was bad enough she felt like a youngster with her first crush. She would not allow herself to blush and give away her feelings, not until she had a better idea of how they would be received.
When it came time to place the food on the table Regina couldn't resist brushing against Emma a couple of times then turning away and sneaking a glance to see her reaction. The slight shiver the blonde tried, and failed, to hide was well worth it.
Her lips curled in a satisfied smile.
While dinner was a simple meat and potatoes roasted with fresh garden herbs the undercurrents of the conversation and body language each woman was putting off, were anything but simple.
"How is it that a woman like you comes to be riding through the Exile's Forrest in full armor?" Gina asked.
"I was on my way to visit family on the northern edge of the kingdom. And felt it would be safer if I traveled as a knight, rather than a woman alone." Emma answered smoothly.
It was only half a lie.
That was as deep as either woman dared to speak for the duration of the meal.
It was a shame neither woman could see the not so subtle hints that even a casual observer would have seen easily.
But both women were far too busy second guessing themselves to see that the other was trying to find out just how interested she might be.
The result was that by the end of dinner they were both on the verge of jumping the other.
***Emma's P O V***
When dinner was finally finished Emma was frustrated as hell and ready to pop.
She just needed to do it and get it over with.
If Gina rejected her that would be that, it was the waiting that was killing her.
As they set the last of the dishes beside the wash tub Gina brushed against her again. This time however Emma didn't give her the chance to turn and move away.
Instead, this time the blonde crowded the other woman back against the counter and kissed her.
As Emma kissed Gina all she could think of was how amazing her lips tasted and how soft they were against her own.
The kiss started off soft and questioning and then deepened till she was pouring all her passion and desire into Gina through their joined lips.
The amazing thing was, Gina was giving as good as she got.
When Emma traced her tongue across the brunette's lips she opened them, sucking eagerly at the blonde's tongue.
Emma moaned a little. Gina swallowed the moan and thrust her tongue into Emma's mouth exploring and conquering happily.
Finally they pulled apart, both breathing heavily.
The princess knew in that moment that she was in over her head.
She wanted more, a lot more.
The problem was she was lying, a lie of omission, but still a lie.
She should leave, now, before anything else happened. It wouldn't be right to bed Gina when the woman didn't know who she was. Especially when it had been Emma's parents who had exiled the beautiful brunette.
Gina was smiling, but that smile fell instantly when she saw that Emma's gaze was on the door.
"I should go, its not . . . I made a mistake. It wouldn't be right" Emma stammered.
She started towards the door but didn't get far before Gina's hand on her arm stopped her.
"Stay . . . I would like it if you would stay here tonight, with me" the last was said very softly.
Looking into Gina's eyes Emma could not say no to the invitation, but there was something she had to know.
"This, it can only be for a little while, do you . . still want me to stay tonight?" green eyes searched brown for the truth.
Gina nodded wordlessly, the sad reality already in her mind. She wanted Emma, on any terms she could have her.
Together the women cleaned the dishes from dinner.
While they didn't speak neither could resist brushing against the other at odd moments or sneaking glances at one another.
Finally the dishes were clean and the kitchen tidy.
Brown eyes met green and held.
Gina took Emma's hand gently and lead her to the bedroom. Once inside the brunette left her to close the door and went to the corner of the room to fill the washbasin.
Emma took a deep breath, closed the door, and began to remove the under padding for her armor. The armor itself had been taken off earlier when she realized that she would be staying for dinner.
When the blonde moved to the washbasin Gina turned and kissed her, gently, unexpectedly, before moving aside to let her clean up.
Then for just a moment they stood, inches apart, just looking at each other.
Then the moment broke as Gina stepped forward and kissed Emma, pressing their bodies together without touching Emma with her hands.
The blonde felt as if her whole body lit up as the brunette's curves rubbed gently against hers.
Finally Emma's brain began to work and her hands moved to Gina's back, caressing and tracing up and down. One of Gina's hands tangled in her hair pulling just slightly till she groaned.
The princess was anything but delicate and fragile, in bed she liked to play a little rough, if her lover could handle it that is.
And judging from the way the brunette's nails were biting into her hip through her trousers, Gina could more than handle a little rough sex.
Emma's pulse began to race and she could feel herself growing wet.
She guided them towards the bed as she began to undo the laces of Gina's corset.
The brunette's hand found the blonde's ass and squeezed, urging her on.
The blonde tangled a hand in Gina's hair and pulled till the brunette tipped her head back and then she kissed the long line of throat that was exposed, following the kiss with a nip that made Gina give a small gasp of pleasure.
That little gasp told Emma what she needed to know about Gina's preferences and she smiled, they were both going to get exactly what they needed tonight.
Emma didn't have to be rough in bed, but sometimes having that little bit of pain mixed in was what tipped her over the edge from pleasure into pure bliss.
When Gina's corset came off the brunette reached for the laces of her under gown but Emma stopped her, placing her hands back at her sides.
With a smile and a soft kiss the blonde reached for the knotted laces and tugged till they came loose.
Then Gina's gown slid to the floor barring her to Emma's hungry green eyes.
The blonde licked her lips as she gazed on the most beautiful woman she had ever seen, hardly believing that she was going to be allowed to make love to this incredible beauty.
As she stood naked in front of her the brunette's lips quirked upwards and she reached for Emma's shirt hem.
Under her shirt Emma's breasts were bound simply, with a long strip of linen wrapped tightly around her chest, as a corset wouldn't have fit well under her armor.
She suddenly felt self-conscious, what if her style wasn't feminine enough for Gina?
But Gina didn't seem to notice her doubts, nor did she hesitate in undoing the fastenings of the blonde's trousers.
Gina's hands traced lightly over her skin, teasing little caresses that made Emma shiver in anticipation.
While the brunette's hands slowly unwound the linen binding her eyes stayed steady on the blonde's.
Reassurance in Gina's every movement helped to calm the blonde's nerves so that when she finally stood as naked as Gina she wasn't shaking.
As one they moved to sit on the edge of the bed; their lips finding each others and exploring slowly.
Gina's hands twined around her waist as they kissed and Emma's slid behind the other woman's back, gently urging her closer.
Emma's hands stroked over the brunette's back as they kissed and Gina responded by gripping her waist tighter, her nails digging in slightly.
She moaned a little at the small pain of nails in flesh.
Had she been capable of talking just then she might have begged Gina to mark her up with nails and teeth.
Just then Gina bit down on her lower lip, Emma's eyes shot open and she caught sight of the impatience in the brunette's eyes.
Apparently she wasn't the only one who was eager for this.
Taking the hint Emma pushed the brunette down onto the bed on her back and watched the spark of amusement flare in her chocolate brown eyes.
Gina wanted her to take the lead, and she wanted her to be at least a bit rough.
Staring down at Gina she suddenly felt bold, in control, like she was meant to seize this moment and do exactly what she wanted with it.
Do exactly what she wanted with Gina . . .
Taking the brunette's hands in her own she slowly raised them and pinned them to the mattress beside her head.
Emma let her weight press Gina into the bed and kissed her, roughly, then teasingly, trailing kisses down her chin and collarbone towards the other woman's breasts.
The muscles of Gina's stomach rippled as Emma's fingers skimmed downward.
Gina was watching her the whole time with a strange mix of tension, expectation, and hope on her face.
Emma wanted to ask what that look was for, but she dared not ask because she knew that quite likely the question, or its answer, would destroy this moment forever.
So; instead of asking she paused her downward journey and rose above the brunette on her elbows to give her a slow passionate kiss.
When she was satisfied that Gina's reservations had been calmed she turned back to her slow exploration of the other woman's body.
She payed close attention to the reaction to each small nip and kiss that she laid on Gina's skin.
The brunette writhed and whimpered, eager for every tiny bit of contact that Emma gave her.
How lonely Gina must have been, and for how long, Emma thought, that she responded so strongly to her every caress.
It made Emma think again that she should never have touched her. But it was too late now, she wouldn't, indeed couldn't, stop herself now, not until she had given Gina all the pleasure she could give.
That was all it could be, she reminded herself, mutual pleasure for a night or two.
A small part of her mind whispered that a night of pleasure would NEVER be enough, But Emma silenced that voice quickly.
As she hovered over the brunette's stomach, her breath warming the skin there, she gazed up into chocolate brown eyes, and felt herself fall.
Quickly, fearful that Gina might see what was in her eyes, she spread the other woman's legs and dove in, licking at the folds of her clit even as she eased a single finger inside her entrance.
***Regina's POV***
Regina's head fell back on the bed and she moaned at the first touch inside her.
The look in Emma's eyes, just before the woman had lowered herself to lick hungrily at her sex, had been one she had never expected to see in anyone's eyes.
The former queen would've given anything to have that look be real, but she knew better.
No one would ever love her, not truly, she was fooling herself to think even for a moment that the look was real.
She would have to content herself with what attentions Emma would give her.
Oh God, the blonde was going to kill her if she kept up her current pace. Regina smiled, but what a way to go!
Just then Emma's finger stopped teasing and thrust inside of her fast, she gasped and her body bucked, her inner muscles already tensing even though they were only getting started.
Then Emma started to stroke her inner walls and Regina lost all control jerking and thrashing on the bed while the blonde set a deliberate pace designed to prolong the exquisite torture.
All the while the former queen could feel the pressure building inside her, Emma had blown her calm composure out of the water the moment she had removed her helmet beside the stream.
Merely having the blonde's attention for a night or two would never be enough . . .
Regina couldn't have known that Emma was having almost the exact same thought.
It was a good thing that all of Emma's attention was focused on pleasing Regina, for as her cries grew louder and her movements more uncontrolled, wisps of purple smoke eased through the shadows of the bedroom.
She just couldn't help it, there was something in Emma that broke effortlessly through all of Regina's hard-won self-restraint.
Regina felt her world explode around her as she came biting back Emma's name that was on the tip of her tongue.
Never before had she even been tempted to cry out a lover's name, and she wouldn't start now with a woman who had already as much as told her she wouldn't stay.
When she had caught her breath and the blonde lay beside her Regina rolled onto her side and looked down at the woman with a wicked gleam in her eye.
"Now it is my turn to show you I can give as good as I get".
Emma gulped and Regina gave a low smokey chuckle as she slid down the woman's body placing strategic kisses as she went.
When her face was just above the nest of golden-blonde curls at the apex of Emma's thighs she gazed up the length of the other woman's body and chocolate brown eyes met emerald green.
Regina gave a mischievous smile and Emma let out an "Oh shit", apparently knowing that she was indeed in for it now.
Later, Regina curled onto her side facing away from Emma to hide the tears that spilled silently from her eyes.
She had long ago made peace with the facts of her life as an exile and what she could and couldn't have now.
But then Emma had charged into her life atop that ridiculous stallion, really; what lady rode a stallion?, and changed everything.
Now Regina wanted, and her exile had not affected her powers at all.
She had the means to make Emma stay with her, but she knew that Emma would hate her if she forced the woman to stay.
Of course, Emma would hate her anyway once she learned who Regina truly was.
When she had gone into exile rather than fighting with all she had to the end Regina had trained herself not to rely on her magic, to do things the ordinary way instead of the easy way.
She had done those things because she had finally recognized that magic had been the force that had twisted and corrupted her own mother till her lust for power had out-weighed all else in her life, even the love of her daughter.
In the twenty-odd years of her exile she had rarely used her magic, though it was always there, waiting just below the surface.
As Regina lay there crying silently and thinking her dark thoughts Emma scooted closer and nestled against her back putting an arm around her waist.
Eventually the warmth of the blonde against her calmed her thoughts of using magic to make the woman stay and Regina slept, clutching Emma's arm to her chest.
***Emma's POV***
The next day Emma awoke to the smell of fresh baked bread, and an empty bed.
While she would have preferred to start out the day in the same way she had ended the previous one she could appreciate the fact that Gina had taken the extra effort to make breakfast for them both.
By unspoken agreement both of them seemed content to pass the day as if Emma would not be leaving soon.
As if by not speaking or acting on it they could make that little fact vanish entirely.
In the morning they worked in the garden, tending and weeding and trimming the plants that Gina grew to feed herself so she would not have to step foot into a market.
While there was a type of market in the Exiles Forest, most women would not have dared to go there as it was easily the most dangerous place in the area.
Though Emma didn't know it Gina avoided the market for another reason.
Even the thieves and outlaws that called the Exiles Forest home feared and loathed the evil queen, and she had had enough of that sort of treatment to last her a lifetime.
In the afternoon they walked through the nearby woods checking traps Gina had set for the small game animals that were abundant in the area.
Some of the traps were sprung and empty but they were lucky enough to find three rather lean looking rabbits that Gina pronounced would make a fine stew for supper.
The day passed in a blur of soft touches and kisses, and shared glances, moments stolen when Emma should have been home preparing for her ball.
That night they made love, Emma couldn't call it just sex, every movement, every caress, was deliberate, purposeful, full of the words that neither of them would say aloud.
In a way making love like that was its own language, one that only two hearts would ever understand.
It was a pity that the people involved hadn't yet learned to understand the language that their hearts already knew.
They feel asleep cuddled in each others arms.
As dawn crept through the little cottage Emma stirred in bed, only to feel Gina tighten her grip making it impossible for the blonde to leave the bed.
Once she was fully awake Emma realized that while she hadn't gotten her morning lovin' the day before she certainly had a chance to today.
With a smile she began to run her hands up and down Gina's side, tracing little patterns here and there.
The brunette only mumbled sleepily and rolled onto her back, which, of course, only left Emma with more to play with.
Emma bent to kiss a pert nipple and tease it from sleep while her hand smoothed gently down Gina's thigh.
However, the blonde was surprised and distracted when the thigh she was stroking fell easily to the side leaving the other woman completely open to her.
With a wicked grin she crawled down to the foot of the bed and eyed her prize.
Gina was still sleeping soundly, a slight frown on her brow as if her dreams weren't entirely pleasant.
Emma eased herself between Gina's legs and started with a gentle kiss on her nether lips.
From there she eased the brunette's legs gently wider and spread the lips so that she could lap at the sensitive little bundle of nerves at the top.
Gina made a half strangled sound of pleasure.
After a quick look up revealed that the brunette was actually still asleep she lowered herself back to what she was doing before.
Which, at the moment, was teasing Gina awake in the most enjoyable way possible.
Emma quickly lost herself in making love to Gina.
She couldn't have said at just what point Gina woke, only noticing for herself when the woman grabbed her hair and pressed her face harder against her clit.
That was when Emma started thrusting her fingers into the dripping flesh just the level of her mouth.
The princess could feel Gina's muscles tightening with the coming orgasm and could feel her juices running down her chin, she knew the other woman was close to cumming, and just when she thought things couldn't get any better than this, Gina screamed her name and came Hard.
All of Emma's thoughts flew out the window and her heart stopped in her chest for a moment as she heard the woman call out her name, because there was no mistaking what it meant.
In spite of her warning, and their circumstances, Gina had feelings for her.
***Regina's POV***
Neither of them had spoken since their morning lovemaking.
They had done exactly what they were supposed to, cleaning themselves up, getting dressed, preparing food, but both of them were lost in their own thoughts this morning.
Regina didn't have to ask to know that Emma was leaving today.
And she was totally lost for what to do about it.
Never before had she called out a lover's name in the heat of passion, then again, she had never been sad to see one of her lovers go before either.
Always before she had had her fun and then they had both moved on to other partners.
She had never even stopped to consider what happened to her lovers after they parted ways.
But with Emma it was different, in every way.
With a small shock she realized that she actually cared for the blonde.
Regina had convinced herself long ago that she wasn't capable of love, but she knew now that she did have feelings for Emma, strong feelings.
The former queen found herself holding her breath and hoping that Emma also felt something for her.
After breakfast they cleaned the dishes and then they simply sat in the garden together, not really talking except in small snippets about the weather or the forest in general, there didn't seem to be any point in talking about what they both knew had to happen.
Finally breaking through the barrier Regina asked "Emma, what part of the kingdom do you live in?".
Emma grimaced before answering "I live in the city center, near the castle".
Now it was Regina's turn to grimace, even if she had been willing to risk sneaking into the kingdom to visit Emma, she really couldn't go so close to the palace, not and keep from using her magic for revenge against Snow and Phillip.
No, visiting Emma was out of the question.
Pain and disappointment stabbed through Regina at the thought that she might never see the blonde knight again.
Finally the time came for Emma to go.
The blonde saddled her horse, gathered her things, and donned her armor while Regina made up a packet of food for her to take with her, including a couple of apples from her tree.
These apples, unlike the one she had once given Snow White, were safe, and delicious.
The one she had used to poison Snow had come from a special tree that had grown in her castle garden, no doubt that tree had been burned once Snow and Phillip took over the castle.
At last Regina stood in the door of her cottage and kissed Emma soundly, determined not to shame herself by crying in front of the woman, even though it felt like her heart was shattering into a million pieces.
Emma herself barely spoke, seemingly going on the theory that the less was said the better.
And then she turned and mounted her stallion without a backward glance.
Regina simply stood, frozen to the spot, watching because she couldn't bring herself to use magic to force Emma to stay.
The odd thing was, Emma wasn't moving, she was just sitting in the saddle looking down the forest path.
Then, with a vile curse, Emma swung down from her mount and strode back to where Regina stood.
Pinning Regina against the door the blonde slid a hand into her hair cupping the back of her head and kissed her like she was trying to pour her soul through their joined lips into Regina's body.
Then Emma laid her forehead against Regina's and seemed to sag in weariness.
"I can't stay Gina, but I will come back to you. I promise".
The brunette gave a watery smile "Do I have your word on that my knight?" she asked.
