AN: So I am really unhappy with this chapter, but I feel like I owe you guys something after such a long break. So it might be shit, but it's here. I tried to add in some little clues as to what our girls might talk about in their month together, nothing too obvious though. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW. I love you guys!

Chapter Four: Blush and Cover

"How was your ride?" Emma asked the brunette as soon as she heard Daisy's hooves stomping the ground as she was lead back into the stable. She was sure that she would have recognized Daisy's footfalls in a room full of one hundred horses, because while she was most certainly Emma's favorite and in her opinion the most beautiful, the dapple grey quarter horse was just about the least graceful horse the blonde had ever seen.

"Nearly perfect, though I'm not sure that I've ever ridden a horse that's quite as loud as her." Regina answered as she came into view of the blonde.

Emma laughed and pushed her hair out of her face. "Yeah she's not really one for grace, is she?" Emma joked as she moved to take the lead from Regina's hand, which only resulted in her tripping over her own feet and stumbling towards the other girl. Regina reached her free hand out to steady her, and rubbed her thumb across the blonde's forearm as she did so. She laughed as she handed the lead over to the blushing girl.

"Well it seems she isn't the only one Miss Swan." She teased and bit her lip to stop herself from laughing.

"Emma. Please, call me Emma." She rushed out. "And I'm not always this clumsy," she assured as she took a few steps backward away from Regina.

"Careful dear, you don't want to trip again. It's very complicated stuff, walking and talking at the same time." The dark haired girl teased.

"Oh ha-ha. Joke about my misfortune of embarrassing myself in front of the most beautiful girl to ever walk into my stable." Emma flirted, causing the other girl to blush.

"So you're as gracfule with your words as you are clumsy with your feet." Pink lips curled up in amusement at their playful banter.

"I mean, I try," Emma laughed, "it doesn't always work out, but sometimes I get lucky."

Regina raised an eyebrow in amusement, "oh yeah? How often do you 'get lucky'?" She just about giggled.

Emma's face turned hot again. "That's not what I meant." she grumbled out.

"I think I've found my main source of entertainment while I'm here." She grinned, and Emma turned from unbuckling Daisy's saddle.

"Really, and what might that be?"

"Making you blush." She answered calmly.

Emma tried to fight off the heat that was rising on her cheeks, she really did, but the way brown eyes were glinting towards her made it impossible.

"And how long are you staying" She asked, refusing to turn back to see the satisfaction on Regina's face because of her pink cheeks.

"Only two months," She sighed as she brushed off a step stool and sat down.

Emma's heart jumped at the thought of an entire month with the beautiful stranger. "Only two months? Most people don't even book a full week. Apparently Cape Cod or Martha's Vineyard is more appealing." She rolled her eyes, she thought that her little New England vacation spot was much cozier and more peaceful than any of the more upscale places that the richer population chose to go to. Although, she was just an orphaned stable worker, what did she know?

"Yes, well Mother usually prefers our home in Cape Cod over just about any other vacation spot, but not this year." Regina admitted with an eyeroll of her own.

"Well, I think it's safe to say that someone is a little bitter about that decision." The blonde teased able to sense the tension behind the statement, without even turning from where she was running a brush down Daisy's side to smooth out the ruffles that the saddle had left. "So why the change this year?" She asked and turned to look at the other girl.

Regina tensed. "We have some business matters to attend to, and my mother thought that it would be best to do it here." She figured that was the best way to speak of the arrangement that would be solidified over the next few weeks.

No one would believe her anyway, not if she told them that she was being forced into a marriage that she didn't want, strictly for her mother's gain. And even if they did believe her, they wouldn't understand. She didn't understand, so why would anyone else?

"Oh cool! What kind of business?" Emma asked, taking a seat on the ground and facing Regina.

"Personal business." She snapped, not knowing whether to be annoyed or afraid at the blonde's intrusion.

"Okay, okay. It's none of my business, I get it." The girl's hands were held up in surrender and Regina instantly felt bad. She had see the same look that was spread across Emma's face, on so many people that had dealt with her mother, her father included. It was a look of annoyance, confusion, and the slightest bit of fear.

"I'm sorry," she sighed.

"No, I get it I really do. You've known me for like five minutes, I should have known better. It was rude." She apologized, and stood up and brushed the dirt off of her jeans.

"Emma, really, it's okay. We were obviously making conversation. It wasn't rude. It's just a very sensitive subject for me. Please sit back down. I'm sorry." Regina apologized.

"It's okay. I'm sorry." She returned to her seat on the dirt and smiled up at the brunette.

"Apologize one more time and I'll pull your tongue out."

Porcelain cheeks turn red again and it's obvious she's holding in a laugh. "For the sake of trying to build a friendship with you over the next couple months, I'm going to keep my thoughts to myself." She shot a confident wink at the other girl, regardless of the embarrassment still tinting her cheeks.

Regina just stared blankly for a moment, trying to get an accurate read on the girl. "You confuse me Emma Swan." She finally admitted.

The blonde's face turned serious, "Well you have an entire summer to figure me out."

"Well I look forward to it,"she smiled and then stood to leave. "But right now, I need to get back before my mother realizes how long I've actually been out here." She noticed the quick show of disappointment that crossed Emma's face and smiled. "Hopefully I'll see you again soon."

"Hopefully," Emma agreed.

Both of them smiled to themselves when they are left alone, looking forward to whatever possibilities the next month held for them.

"Regina! It's nice of you to finally make an appearance. Now go wash the smell of horse off and join us in the sunroom for tea, the Locksley's are waiting." Cora's voice broke through Regina's good mood, and just like that any possibility for the month ahead were moved to the back of her mind.