She thought about what Ruby had said. Shutting her eyes and making the wish, she really put some soul into it, and the horse almost instantly changed course. She jostled along, although riding in pants was a relief, she still missed her bug. She would have torn up the enchanted forest highway in that thing. Although, there were many places her car wouldn't have been able to go, and deep into the forest was one of them. It would have raised too much suspicion for her to carry a weapon, so she hoped that no occasion would arise where she needed one. (She felt a bit unsecure, as she had always carried her trusty mace keychain in Storybrooke, 'always on alert for a perp', had been her motto.)

In no time at all, (or it might have been a really long time- damn time in general in this God forsaken place!) the forest cleared and she came upon Regina's humble abode. That wish-shit actually worked, who would have thought? A thin curl of smoke billowed from the chimney, signaling someone was home. The cottage was modest, but what it lacked in flair was offset by beautiful blooming flowers of all varieties in the yard and marking the entrance to the door. She dismounted her horse, and cautiously walked down the path. She knocked a few times to no answer. She always got nervous visiting people unannounced, (especially former Evil Queens who no longer had custody of their adoptive sons.)

Just as she was about to give up, she heard a loud splash from behind the house. Her curiosity besting her she walked around to the back. Being in Fairy Tale Land was almost too much, as she stepped around her senses were assaulted. The grass was greener than Ireland and the water was bluer than the Caribbean Sea. It truly was like being in a cartoon. She stopped dead, for there in the water was Regina. A thick braid of black hair wrapped into a bun sat neatly upon her head, but other than that she looked the same- no, even better- than Emma remembered. Tan and fit- oh, and Emma noticed, unable to control her naughty smirk: Madam Mayor was nekkid.

She announced her arrival by clearing her throat, and Regina's eyes snapped up taking in her appearance.

"Princess Swan? Or should I say Prince? Are you taking on a new masculine identity in your clothing choice?" Regina's voice was cool and calm, slightly deeper than Emma recalled, and Emma really wasn't sure if Regina was insulting her or complimenting her.

"Um…no, I just hate the usual fashion around here," Emma's voice cracked with nerves.

"We don't prescribe to biased gender notions here, you can be whoever you want. Well not really since you're a princess," Regina stated eyeing her leather with a predatory scowl.

"I didn't know the Enchanted Forest was so progressive—and No- I don't want to change my gender identity just because I'm wearing pants and I'm supposedly a princess now. What the fuck? Regina. You really want to have a conversation like this, now?" Emma was flustered, in all the times she imagined her meeting Regina in this land it had never gone like this. Anger would have been a welcome start, like maybe Regina could throw something at her and blame her for ruining her life? No?

"Fine, dear. Why have you come?" Regina stood up in the water, letting it trail off her body, completely immodest, facing Emma-topless. Emma lost her words. Everyone seemed unaffected and unfettered by nudity and bodily functions in Fairy Tale land- disturbingly so for Emma's liking. She was no prude, and she liked to do her share of belching, but living here was like being transported to a hippy colony in the 70s.

Another thing, people didn't seem to use towels here; Emma could not figure that one out either. When she first came to live at the palace, she was on a guided tour of the kingdom: clutching her horse, hanging on for dear life, with her trainer leading them along, when they came to a stream; he just walked through it. Didn't even take off his shoes! He emerged on the other side like it was nothing, soaking wet. (Of course the only bridges she'd seen here were either enchanted to protect magical artifacts or infested with trolls, so there was that valid excuse.)

"I just came to say 'Hello'," Emma stuttered, sounding lame to even to her ears.

"Is that so?" Regina remained nonplussed.

"And maybe to discuss Henry…" Emma said catching Regina perk up at the mention of their son.

"What about Henry?" Regina spit venom in her question.

And there it was- the reaction Emma had been hoping for- if only to prove that Regina hadn't changed that much.

"It's been months. You haven't visited or sent word, I just thought I'd come to you. Maybe I could arrange a visit?" Emma tapped her foot and cast her eyes down.

"Why don't you join me for a swim in my pond and we can—reacquaint ourselves?" Regina asked politely, but the tone was reminiscent of a command.

Emma hesitated. Great, now she had to get naked too. Fucking lack of towels. She cautiously stripped off her top and unbuttoned her pants.

"Hurry along, Princess. I'm not going to drown you if that's why you're concerned," Regina splashed at her- Splashed! The hell?

"Don't be so impatient, I'm coming," Emma scolded even as she watched Regina tip her head back and blatantly watch her get into the water. It was a bit deeper than she anticipated and she flailed for a moment, going farther under than intended. When she came up sputtering, Regina was standing close, like really close.

"If you drown on your own accord, I will not be held responsible," she said dryly, "Just one more thing for your foolish mother to blame me for, I suppose."

"She's forgiven you, and you've forgiven her, right?" Emma prodded. The water felt nice, she hadn't been swimming for ages, especially not skinny dipping. Storybrooke Regina would never go for something like this. Perhaps she had changed much more than Emma thought at first glance.

"All water under the bridge," Regina punctuated her comment by flicking water at Emma.

"Hey, no fair!" Emma's competitive streak kicked in and she splashed back, aiming for Regina's face, and that's when she heard a genuine melodic laugh come from Regina. The sound was delightfully unexpected.

"Just so you know," Regina leaned in and whispered (Purportedly for dramatic effect because there was no one else around), "I have visited Henry…and you."

"Oh, I think I would remember that," Emma scoffed, swimming a bit further out, following after this new improved playful Regina.

"At least Henry fed me a handful of seed, you, on the other hand- attacked me," Regina bit her lip in mock hurt.

"Um…what are you talking about?" Emma was possibly now convinced that Regina was psycho.

"I may have used a little bit of transformative magic to fly up to your window," Regina smiled broadly sweeping her arms through the water.

"You still have your magic? But I thought-wait, were you that big black bird that wouldn't get off of my balcony? Oh my God!"

"I take offense! I make a beautiful raven, and you nearly knocked out my tooth with that sneak broom attack. I don't exactly have dental insurance here. It was rude," Regina continued, enjoying the look of utter disbelief on Emma's face.

"You didn't even have teeth at the time- you had a beak! This is crazy," Emma furrowed her brow unable to wrap her head around this.

"Despite all that, I thought you looked rather well. I was just checking up, much like I assume you're doing today?"

Emma swam back toward shore, and looked out noticing Regina's abundant garden and admiring her new apple tree. It was huge and hanging heavy with large, blood red apples dangling enticingly from its branches.

"I have lost some weight since coming here- Snow is all on this 'traditional Fairy Tale dish' diet kick- trying to garner my appreciation for my ethnic culture, I guess. I hate it. Who would have thought beets were such a primary food here? It's like 80 percent of what you people eat," Emma grumbled, knowing Regina loved the finer things in life, and hoped she might understand her pain.

Before realizing how hopeful and potentially desperate her tone sounded, Regina blurted, "I could cook something for you."

"French fries? A cheeseburger….ooh! Spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread?" Emma was all about it, her mouth watering at the thought. She knew Regina was a good cook from the few times she'd had dinner at her house with Henry. Her hope quickly sank, "Can you even make that sort of food here, you know, with the sorts of ingredients available?"

Regina laughed again, "We don't have processed food- Sorry to say, the Hostess truck won't be rolling through to bring you unlimited ding-dongs and crème pies. However, I do have some delicious recipes for baked goods." (Regina had traded the Blind Witch her poisoned apple weapon for her enchanted child- mesmerizing cupcake recipe, although she wasn't about to mention that tidbit to Emma. Too many questions she'd have to answer.)

Emma noticed that the sun was drooping in the sky, and it wouldn't be long before dark. Not only was Emma worried about riding at night, she also knew her parents would worry if she wasn't home. If her parents worried than they would tighten their leash on her and thwart her plans to come to Regina again.

"Will you really cook for me? I mean, can I come back to see you soon?" Emma asked sheepishly, her optimism betraying her. She knew first-hand how cruel Regina could be, and she was probably setting herself up for a fall, but she couldn't help it. She couldn't help but feel a prisoner on reprieve in Regina's company.

Regina wouldn't admit it, but she was desperately lonely since she had been exiled and relieved of her responsibilities. She wondered if Emma suspected that she hadn't truly forgiven Snow. (Some things were just too big to forgive-ever! What kind of Evil Queen would she be if she gave up on her vendetta after one measly failed curse, anyway?) She'd already revealed that she still retained at least some aspects of her magic, which in itself was dangerous to confess.

"You could come back tomorrow, for breakfast? We could talk some more," Regina's voice became light and chipper, like they were making plans for a standing Thursday coffee date.

"Yes, I'd like that. I'll be here in the morning. Thank you," Emma said, trying desperately to reconcile the evil deeds done by Regina and the unexplainable euphoric feeling she was experiencing, like she had restored something in herself that she hadn't known was missing.

Forgetting her nudity, (She guessed some things about being here were rubbing off on her) she pulled Regina toward her and wrapped her arms around her. She didn't forget they were naked for long, when Emma's breasts brushed nicely against Regina's. A pleasant jolt hummed through her body, and though Regina had momentarily hesitated, now she didn't seem to want to let go. At this proximity Emma noticed she smelled really good- (and not just for someone who bathed in a pond.)

It was when Regina began to softly stroke her hair that the real alarm bells sounded in Emma's head: Fuck, fuck, fuck, oh, not good- no, no….oh! toooo good, hmm sooo good. Emma heard herself purr softly under Regina's pleasing touch. She wanted to stay right in that position and never let go, but she wrenched herself away and splashed ungraciously out of the water. No fucking towels! Emma became further ensconced in fairy tale land life when she pulled on her clothes and shoes, not even bothering with the fact that she was sopping wet. She bid Regina a curt farewell, with the promise she'd be back in the morning. Then she promptly hightailed back to the castle, her heart racing way faster than her horse.