NOTE: This takes place not in Storybrooke, but in the Enchanted Forest as you can quickly see.

Regina waited as the stable boy got her horse ready for her. She was waiting impatiently as she was already late. She had gotten waylaid that morning by her mother who had wanted her to attend court at the castle that morning, but Regina had claimed she had a headache.

She knew she would be in trouble when her mother found out she was leaving for a ride. She didn't care though, she had some place to be.

Finally, she was up on her horse and tearing across the field trying to make up for her lost time.

When she arrived at her destination she quickly tied her horse up to the tree next to the one that was already there. A smile graced her face as she went a little way into the woods to a small pond.

"I was beginning to think you weren't going to show," Emma said.

"Sorry," Regina said embracing the blonde and kissing her. Once they pulled apart, Regina looked lovingly at the other woman as they held hands and took their seats on the log next to the pond. "My mother wanted me to attend court this morning with her."

"Yeah my mom wasn't pleased that I wasn't going to be making an appearance today either. What excuse did you give?"

"Headache, and you?"

"Complete boredom."

Regina laughed at the answer. "I suppose when you are the crown princess of the realm you can get away with that kind of thing."

"Not for long unfortunately," Emma said letting go of Regina's hand and sitting forward so her elbows were on her knees. Regina immediately sensed something was wrong.

"What is it?"

"I love you," Emma said turning toward after a moment. "You know that right?"

"Of course I do. I love you too or else I wouldn't be sneaking off to see you every chance that I get. What does that have to do with whatever it is that seems to have killed the mood suddenly."

Emma stood and paced for a moment. "Maybe you and I should just run away together."

This time Regina stood. "I would love to do that but you and I both know our parents would search all the lands looking for us and when we got caught, I would be the one in the dungeons of your parents' castle."

It wasn't as if they hadn't fantasized about the idea of being together forever, but they both know it wouldn't happen. Emma was princess, next in line to inherit the crown. While Regina was nobility, there was no way that anyone would consider her an appropriate match for her.

Especially given how their mothers felt about each other.

Regina and Emma were victims of some petty war between their mothers which had been raging since their mothers were teenagers. Neither Regina nor Emma knew exactly what it was that made the two women hate each other.

When Snow White had first caught Emma and Regina talking on one of those occasions Cora had managed to drag Regina to court, Snow had pulled her daughter aside to make it clear that Regina was not an acceptable friend. Emma had asked why but she never got a real answer.

For Cora's part, she didn't hide her disdain for Queen Snow in front of Regina, even if to the rest of the world she pretended to be a loyal supporter. Of course Cora and Snow knew better. Cora had plenty to say about that "spoiled brat" of a princess that she considered Emma to be as well. It's not like Regina could defend Emma to her mother either as both had been forbidden to interact.

That hadn't stopped the two young women though. From the moment they met it seemed they were captivated by each other. For two years now they had been sneaking around, stealing moments – sometimes it was only a few minutes, but on the good days they got to spend hours with each other. Regina had been hoping today would be one of those days. She had been prepared for her mother's wrath when she returned home late. To her it didn't matter as long as she got to be with Emma.

"My parents feel it's time I get married," Emma said. "I didn't really tell my mom that I didn't want to go to court today because of boredom. I merely snuck out of the castle before anyone could stop me. There were supposed to be suitors at court today. I couldn't do it. I couldn't sit through that knowing there was no one I wanted to be with but you."

Emma came over and hugged her. Regina felt like Emma was holding on extra tight and she wondered how many more times they would get to see each other like this. Regina tended to be the more pragmatic of the two so it's not as if she didn't know this day would come.

"Maybe we should stop," Regina said softly.

Emma looked at her. "I don't know if I can. I love you too much."

"I love you too, but we can't stop what is going to happen. Your parents are the king and queen. They are going to make sure their only daughter gets married to someone who they trust to help you carry on the affairs of state when they are gone."

Emma pulled out of her arms completely this time. "And you are ok with this? You don't want to do something, anything to be with me."

"I am not ok with this," Regina assured her. "I hate this. I hate that the one person I love is the one person I am not allowed to be with."

They had backed off from each other and both women stood there in silence.

"I should probably get back," Emma said finally and she began to leave the small clearing. Regina waited a moment before following her out.

They reached their horses and Regina could see Emma was going to mount hers without so much as a hug or kiss goodbye. She felt like her heart was going to break inside her chest.

"I will run away with you."

She said it so quietly when Emma turned to face her, she had to ask what Regina had said.

"I said I will run away with you. I just want us to be together and we know that can't happen here so let's do it."

Emma rushed into her arms, kissing her. "We're going to be together."

Regina smiled even if she didn't share Emma's enthusiasm. After all, when they got caught which Regina was sure they would be, it would be Regina who was executed. The most Emma could expect was a stern talking to from her parents. What Regina was doing would amount to kidnapping in the eyes of the king and queen. It didn't matter if Emma consented to going with her. It wasn't really Emma's position to give such a consent. That power still belonged with the crown.