Disclaimer: I know nothing... No wait, that's another fandom... Anyway, I own nothing, Cora knows this would be hella canon if I did. English is not my native language so all mistakes are mine. It's not a great story but it came to my mind and I wanted to post it here. Enjoy :)
Until they do
Evil Queens and White Knights aren't made to love. It's something you can deduce by their names. Knights are expected, above all, to fight bravely and to display military professionalism and courtesy, therefore, they have no time for love. And Evil Queens... Well, they are evil right? They can't love.
It doesn't matter how many times they lose the thread of converstion, how many times the coffee went cold, how many times they stopped listening to the son they share. All of that, just for look at each other.
None of that matters.
Not even the smiles they know that are just for them, the post-its hidden in the folders, the family dinners, the movie nights, the teasing, the "Miss Swan", the "Madam Mayor", the "death trap car", the "old-fashioned Benz", the magic lessons, the "catch up on movies" lessons. Nope. Not even all of that.
But maybe what matters is how they behave when there are more people around, how they insist on trying to be a family, how they know what to say or how they understand each 0ther without saying a word. And maybe it's because of that. Because words are overrated. Because who needs words when you can have actions?
Because this White Knight slayed a dragon, saved your son, broke a curse and saw what no one else could see, the person beneath the mask of an Evil Queen.
Maybe what matters is that this Knight explained to the Evil Queen that she could be herself when they are alone, no need to pretend, just being. Maybe the fact that this Queen did the same, is what matters. She explained to the Knight that she didn't have to be the Savior when they are alone.
And perhaps this is why, in an unmade bed after showing what words can not, they can be free of everything. And what really matters is that they share between those four walls when no one can judge them.
"Emma...I think I love you"
"Good, 'cause I know I love you"
No, Evil Queens and White Knights don't fall in love until they do.