There was a new entry in her diary. Regina took the little book out to her secretary to ask about it. She didn't remember any conversations cancelling the previous meeting, which had now been crossed through just above it.

"Oh yes, Emma rang."

"It's just a time and place. Did she say why?"

"Sorry." Amy shrugged and passed it back. "She phoned in and said she'd made the appointment for both of you. Luckily I was able to move a few things around and…"

"Without discussing it with me, first?"

"I assumed you knew about it."

"No. I've been slaving over budget reports for the meeting, which I thought was tonight…"

"Everyone seemed relieved to have another week to…"

"A week?" Regina's tone suddenly reminded her secretary whom she was dealing with. "If this isn't agreed by…"

"I'm sorry…"

"Important works are going to be delayed…" Regina slammed the diary shut and took a deep breath. "In the future, I would appreciate it if you would talk to me before cancelling important appointments."

Amy hoped she wasn't about to get a fireball aimed at her head. "Perhaps you could colour-code them?"

"What?"

"You could mark things to indicate which are important in red, so I know not to change them. The ones in blue I discuss with you first and anything in green is okay to change if I think the new thing is more important. I mean, as your secretary, people are going to come to me before arranging to see you so…"

Regina smiled. "That sounds like a wonderful idea."

Amy's shoulders sagged in relief. She was going to live.

"Please try to get hold of Emma for me, I would like to see exactly what she has planned for this evening. She knew about the meeting, so I assume that whatever it is will be important."

Regina stood outside Henry's school, frowning at Emma. Amy hadn't been able to contact the Sheriff, but from the location Regina assumed it was something to do with their son and decided it was important enough to attend.

"Dance lessons?" She repeated for the second time as though she hadn't heard her properly.

"Yes." Emma smiled. "The school gym is big enough to practice in and Simon, one of the teachers, gives dance lessons on the side so it's perfect."

"I know how to dance."

"It's for the wedding. We're having music from this world too, remember?"

Regina tried to hide her annoyance and let Emma lead her inside. When she realised they would not be learning alone, she was even less amused. She recognised the teacher as one of the palace courtiers. In this world she had allowed him to teach, though she couldn't remember which subject – his only intelligence had lain in an ability not to take sides when she sought Snow White.

He was waiting for them. Snow and Charming were there as well. Emma smiled and slipped the backpack hung causally over her shoulder. She unzipped it and held it out towards Regina.

"Don't worry, I picked you up some comfy clothes from home. I didn't think you'd want to dance in your mayor outfits, in case they get wrinkled."

Regina recognised the grey material as her workout t-shirt. She only wore those clothes at home, where no-one could see her. There was no way she would wear them here.

She re-zipped the backpack and thrust it back towards Emma. "I'll be fine."

"But your heels…"

"I've danced in less comfortable footwear."

Before Emma could ask, Simon was gliding towards them and welcoming them. "Have you considered which dances you would like to learn first? Perhaps that First Dance to your Special Song?"

"I already know how to dance." Regina muttered.

"Ah yes, I remember." Simon smiled at her. "But perhaps there are one or two songs particular to this world, where the more formal style of dance is not suitable, hmm?"

"Exactly." Emma beamed at him. "I have been thinking about the playlist. People like to dance at weddings, so we want lots of upbeat songs and those old-world waltzes seemed a bit outdated…. Except for the first dance, like you said, that will be to Our Song and it's slow enough that I'd like to try the proper dancing…"

"Excellent. I'll show you the selection I brought with me today and then if there's anything else I can bring it next time. What sort of dances are you used to?"

As Simon led Emma to where he had set up his music player, Regina trailed a few steps behind. Snow took a few hesitating steps towards her, as if afraid of her reaction, then looked for her husband. Charming, as always, had followed by her side.

"I've been talking to some of the court musicians from our world. They've offered to play some of the old songs for the wedding, and they'll record them so Emma can practice the steps." Snow explained.

Regina ground her teeth together and nodded to be polite. She didn't want to talk to Snow. If only Emma had spoken to her about this, she could have suggested that they have private lesson just the two of them. It wasn't that she worried about dancing in front of the two idiots, she just wanted there to be some part of the wedding where they weren't involved.

Half an hour later and Regina was prompting Emma to twirl during one of the dances. Emma kept looking down at her feet, little huffs of air passing between her lips as she concentrated. Although she hadn't stepped on Regina's toes yet, she was conscious that it was a possibility. At one point Emma suggested that she could just sway and let Regina twirl and do all the fancy moves. Thankfully Simon intervened and suggested that it was David's turn to dance with Emma. Regina retreated to the far end of the room to watch as Simon partnered Snow.

"I wish I could dance like that." Emma admitted looking over her fathers shoulder.

"I'd offer to help you practice but I'm a bad dancer." David whispered to Emma as he watched the other couple trying to copy their moves. "Perhaps your mother…"

"I just want the wedding to be perfect. Do you think it was a mistake bringing Regina today? She already knows all of this, but I wanted a chance to dance with her and we've both been so busy we haven't spent much time together lately. I just wanted to show her that I'm trying to learn so if I mess up on the day she won't be upset."

David's steps faltered as her words sunk in but Emma didn't notice. "Have you spoken to her about this?"

"Well, no… and maybe I shouldn't have left this as a surprise…"

"Probably not."

"It's just that I was speaking to Simon when I dropped Henry off at school and all the arrangements were last minute."

"I know, your mother explained. Even if she doesn't want to take the classes, I'll come and be your partner. It's really not fair on her, having to dance with me when she's so good. Maybe talk to Regina and find something else you can do together for the wedding. I know she's busy with work but it will be here sooner than you realise."

"Thanks." Emma blinked and stopped moving - the song had come to the end.

Snow and Simon were over by the speakers, already looking over the next tracks. Emma looked around and noticed Regina was checking her cell for messages. She hoped there wasn't going to be a faked emergency to excuse her leaving early.