The next morning was awkward at breakfast.

Regina did not met Emma's gaze once and even Emma's parents noticed the tension in the room.

"Is everything okay Regina?" Snow asked curiously.

"Yes. Thank you. There was just an issue with one of my staff this morning. It's nothing to worry about"

Emma frowned and stared longingly over at the Queen for much of the breakfast. She did not feel like eating and unknown to her, Regina's husband had been watching her intently.

"You must eat" her father said.

"I am not hungry" she replied, dropping her gaze to her bowl and waited for everyone else to finish.

After breakfast, They headed off for a morning stroll in the gardens but Regina excused herself.

"Is something bothering you?" David asked, as Emma stared up at the apple tree.

"I found it hard to sleep last night that is all" she replied and crossed her arms.

"Something on your mind?"

Yes. Regina is on my mind. she thought.

"No, I guess, I was just wondering what today would bring"

He smiled.

"There is going to be a formal dinner followed by dancing"

Emma nodded and thought I knew that, I was referring to what the day would bring, with Regina.


For the rest of that day, Emma didn't see Regina. Instead she stayed with her parents. Until it was time to get ready for the evenings events.

Emma sighed, as she looked at herself through the dressing table mirror. Her baby blue dress hugged at her skin and her hair was tied up in a bun, with some pearl pins stuck in. She looked beautiful, but her eyes were sad.

Suddenly the joining door opened and Regina's maid stepped through.

"Oh" The maid said.

Emma just stared at the woman.

"I'm so sorry Princess. I thought you may of left by now"

"That is okay, may I ask why you have come in here for?" Emma asked, while tilting her head at the maid.

The maid looked glanced down and held her hand up. Revealing a note.

"The Queen asked me to leave this, on your dressing table, so you may read it upon your return later"

Emma stared at the parchment in the maids hands.

"I shall read it now" Emma held out her hand.

The maid hesitated for a moment, but handed it over.

"Thank you"

The maid bowed her head.

"You may leave" she told the maid before immediately opening the note, once the maid had left. Her mind and heart going a mile a minute at what Regina had to say.

Dear Emma.

I wish to apologize for my actions today. I have been distant with you and I never intend to do that. I just find it difficult to express my emotions sometimes, possibily because of my unfortunate upbringing and well, you know the rest.

I value our friendship and hope you will still want to continue our friendship.

Emma raised an eyebrow, at Regina repeating the word friendship.

Regina X

Emma sighed and she tucked the letter into the dresser draw and walked down to dinner. Where she was immediately greeted by political gentlemen.

"Princess Emma, what an honor" one said.

"We have heard nothing but good things about you" another said.

"Thank you...I will have to thank the person, who speaks well of me" she smiled.

"I am sure the Queen would like that" one said teasingly.

Emma's eye's widened.

"The Queen?" she asked.

"Yes, she told us that you will make a wonderful Queen, one day"

Emma blushed slightly.

"I hope I can live up to her expectation"

They nodded.

She then made her way to her parents. Who were dressed smartly and were talking with Archie.

"There you are" Snow said.

"Archie, this is our daughter Emma" David said.

He smiled at her. "Nice to met you Princess Emma. I have heard such good things about you"

"Hi" she replied, tilting her head. She wondered if Regina had spoken to him about her too.

"Archie is Regina's personal adviser" David said.

Emma nodded.

"Excuse me everyone" A man suddenly shouted and everyone looked over to him near the entrance.

"I announce the arrival of Queen Regina" and with that Regina walked in composed and elegant. Wearing a purple dress with jewels and black lace around the chest, which displayed her cleavage rather well and her hair was tied up revealing her toned cheekbones and dazzling smile.

Emma nearly passed out. The sheer beauty of the woman, was making her mind go blank and her mouth to gape and her body was set on fire.

"Good evening everyone, please be seated" The Queen said, gliding towards her seat and the main table.

Everyone then walked to the other two long oak tables, that was laid out with fine china and cutlery.

Regina sat proudly at the main table, while her husband sat to her left and Snow was to her right and next to her was David and then Emma.


Regina then stood up and looked in front of her at the other two long tables.

"I are delighted to welcome you all here this evening. However, even more pleasing, is your visit this week, Queen Snow, King David and Princess Emma" she glanced to Snow. It show's that we are walking together towards a brighter, more settled future.

We will remember our past, but we shall no longer allow our past to ensnare our future. This is the greatest gift we can give to succeeding generations.

She took a breath.

We should live together as neighbors and friends. Respectful of each others nationhood, sovereignty and traditions. Cooperating to our mutual benefit. At ease in each others company.

I have no doubt that by maintaining longstanding commitments to openness, fairness and enterprise, this friendship will not only be sustained but will flourish and thrive.

Ladies and Gentlemen I ask you to rise and drink a toast to Queen Snow.

Everyone then rose.

"QUEEN SNOW" everyone cheered and Snow smiled widely and bowed her head in acknowledgement.

Emma meanwhile sat wide eyed, she had watched Regina give her speech and was so proud and amazed by her.

Regina then sat back down, the servers appeared with the first course.

Snow glanced sideways at Regina. "Your words were very touching Regina. We consider you a very good friend indeed"

"Thank you" Regina smiled widely.

They then ate the courses in relative silence, with some small talk.


It wasn't until everyone retreated into the main hall, that Regina become a little tense.

She wandered around talking with her people, before setting eyes on Emma noting how breath-taking she was and how she wished she was able to kiss her again.

However she was talking with Neal. He was flirting terribly with her and Regina did not like it. She found herself glaring at him from across the room.

Who does he think he is. She spat in her head. He doesn't deserve her. She deserves the best. She then suddenly thought back to the kiss and groaned internally. It had been the most magical moment of her life so far and it hurt to think she will never feel it again.

"Oh someone upset you Regina" a man's voice said.

Regina snapped out of her glare and glanced to Archie.

"It's just you were glaring at someone over there" he said.

"I just don't like the attention someone is receiving" she replied, patting down her dress.

He shook his head.

"Regina...It is obvious to me, that you have some kind of issue with the princess that you are trying to deal with"

She glared at him.

"I have known you for years and the way she looks at you, is not in my imagination"

Regina held her breath.

"The way she looks at me?" she muttered, confused.

"This evening at dinner, when you read your speech she looked at you as if you were...everything" he smiled.

Regina scoffed.

"Then not so long ago, I saw her staring over at you, with that look, I know that look" he chuckled.

Regina shook her head.

"You got it wrong" she muttered.

"I do not know what is going on between you two, but It can not end well" he warned.

"She knows about my husband" Regina replied and Archie gaped.

"You told her?"

"She knew already. She knows what my husband is like"

"I didn't realize you were that close"

"She has become my best friend. She will not say anything"

He stared over at Emma once more, who was nodding at something Neal said.

"She is a very pretty woman" He said, with a small smile.

"Yes. She is" Regina sighed.

"She will marry"

"I suppose so" The Queen looked down sadly.

"I hope you know what your doing" Archie then said.

"I currently choose to do nothing" Regina replied seriously.

"That is wise"

Regina chuckled nervously and she could see the sad look upon Archie's face, He knew Regina well and knew what kind of a man her husband was.


Suddenly Snow appeared next to them.

"This is truly a wonderful evening" she said as she glanced around at everyone.

"It is" Archie replied.

"I see Emma is talking with Neal. I had hoped they would talk this evening"

Regina clenched her jaw, before speaking. "Why is that?"

"Me and David had hoped that they may marry. Neal has visited us twice this year and spent time with Emma"

Regina gaped in horror. She never told me. She thought to herself.

"What happened?" Regina asked.

"Oh nothing. They talked. He is very keen but Emma seems to be holding back for some reason. She says she likes him. Maybe she needs some time"

Regina felt an ache within her. She felt sad and suddenly, she wished she could just leave and hide from everyone.

Regina then saw Neal lead Emma to the dance floor and they began to dance.

"I like this song" Emma told Neal, as they glided along the floor.

"Yeah. It is okay" he replied and she looked out across the floor and caught a glimpse of Regina looking at her and she smiled sadly at her for a moment.


It wasn't until everyone left, that Regina wandered the main hall aimlessly, her husband had gone back to his chamber and now she was left with her own thoughts.

She wondered if Emma may of read her note yet and It wasn't until she returned to her room, that she heard a knock on the joining door.

"Come in" Regina said.

"Hey" Emma said walking in.

"Hello" she smiled softly.

"I um, got your note" Emma said.

"Of course" Regina replied, taking off her jewelery and placing it upon her dresser.

"Our friendship is cool" Emma smirked, as she watched the Queen.

"I am glad to hear that, did you enjoy this evening?" Regina asked.

"Yes, very much" The Princess pulled at her dress, to try and calm her anxiety. It was stupid, she thought. Regina is my friend and I am never usually anxious.

"I saw that you and Neal were getting on well" Regina said a little to bitterly but Emma didn't pick up on her tone.

"Yeah, we are friends" she continued to watch Regina, move items around her dresser.

Regina pouted, then glanced to Emma.

"You are still wearing your dress?"

"Yeah, so are you" Emma smiled and Regina found herself starring into green eyes.

"Are you okay? did you not enjoy the evening?" Emma asked.

"I am fine. Yes I did" Regina swallowed thickly and looked away.

Emma tilted her head. "You seem a little tense, you need to relax"

Regina shook her head and Emma raised her hands in defeat. "I am going to go back to my room"

Regina blinked a few times. "Wait.." she stepped towards Emma, who stopped.

"I'm sorry, I'm not being very friendly, am I?"

"It;s okay, I know you don't mean to be unfriendly you said so in your note" she smiled and looked over to Regina's bed then side table. If she had kept her gaze on Regina however, she would of seen her look adoringly at her.

"The book" Emma suddenly said.

Regina looked sideways.

"Yes" she replied, walking over and picking it up.

"Have you read it all?" Emma asked.

"Yes, would you still like to hear about it?"

"Sure"

Regina sat on her bed and Emma walked over and sat an arms length away.

"As you know, there is a villain, who cursed an entire town from his unhappiness and life of abuse. However a savior arrives in the town who happened to be she broke the curse and to cut a long story short. She helped the entire town and was the only one to actually see the good in the villain and lived happily ever after.

Emma chuckled. "Sounds like a fairytale"

"You have said that before" Regina smirked.

"Yep" Emma grinned and they continued to talk of the evening and settled back into a more relaxed manor. Even though, the kiss they had shared was still fresh in their minds.


It wasn't until twenty minutes after Emma had retreated back to her room. When Emma heard a commotion coming from Regina's room. She sat up in the bed confused and looking to the joining door. She suddenly heard Regina say "Your drunk"

And she immediately got up and walked to the door and listened.

"You think your so smart don't you" The man snarled.

"Your drunk" Regina snapped again.

"You drove me to it" The man snapped back.

"You did that all by yourself"

"You and your ways and don't think, I don't know about that Princess making eyes at you" he spat.

Emma's eyes widened in surprise. Had see really been that obvious, she wondered.

Unknown to Emma, the mention of her name had sparked something within the Queen and she angered, whilst finding strength within her herself to push the man out of her room. But the man threw his arms out, hitting Regina in the face and she went backwards and the man laughed as he went to kick Regina.

That was when Emma came flying through the door and saw Regina on the floor, being kicked. She gasped and grabbed the nearest object, a Vase and hit the man over the head with it and he fell to the floor.

Emma then knelled down beside Regina. "Are you okay? oh crap. are you okay?" she cried out, latching on to the brunettes arm and pulling her up.

"Emma.." Regina muttered and the blondes heart swelled, as she used her free hand to brush away the loose hair and look at the Queens face.

"Your okay, I got you" Emma whispered, before glancing to her left and seeing the man trying to stand up, whilst clutching his head.

"You bitch" he said. "Should have known it was you" he snarled. "I should teach you a lesson" he added, as he stepped forward and the blondes eyes widened in terror.

She glanced down to see a long, sharp shard of glass from the vase, on the floor and she grabbed it.

"Stay back" she said, pointing it at him.

He paused momentarily and looked to his hand that had blood on it, from a gash on his head.

"You wouldn't dare Princess, your just as weak as her" he pointed to Regina.

Emma stood protectively, as Regina winced in pain.

He stepped forward once more, going to grab the shard from Emma's hand, but Emma pushed forward and before she knew it, she had put the shard through the man's stomach and pulled downwards.

He gasped as he stepped back, looking down at his stomach. He then fell and began to do a sicking motion, as his blood began to pool around him.

The princess then felt a pull on her arm and she fell to the ground, as Regina flung her arms around her "Emma..." She said painfully."Look at me.." She said.

The blonde turned her head and looked so shocked, that Regina cupped her face. "Emma, it will be okay, I am here with you"

Emma blinked a few times, before coming back to reality. "Regina..are you hurt?" she said, wanting to look her over.

Regina smiled sadly.

"I will be okay, but more importantly are you okay?"

Emma shook her head. "I couldn't let him hurt you" she muttered, holding the brunette close.

"You are my savior" Regina said and then looked over to the man, who was her husband.

He was slumped, as blood spilled out of his abdomen at a constant rate and she knew, within a minute or two, that he would be dead.

She wasn't sad about that, instead she feared for what might happen, if it got out that the princess had killed him. She then looked back to Emma who was looking at her worriedly and holding on to her arms.

She then knew, what she had to do. She had to protect Emma, as Emma had protected her, no matter the cost.


Thanks for reading :)