Once the dance concluded. Regina and Emma headed over a table to sit down.
"That was wonderful Emma, thank you" Regina breathed, staring at Emma's pleased face and they then hear a deep stern voice say "Regina"
Regina grimaced.
"Mother!"
"What are you doing?" Cora asked seriously.
"I am speaking to Emma. This is her celebration after all"
Cora looked to Emma and looked her over, before saying "As long as your not bothering her dear"
Emma raised an eyebrow and thought really! before glaring at the woman and saying "She is not bothering me at all your majesty. We are in fact, becoming friends" she smiles smugly.
Cora quirks an eyebrow at this, suddenly remembering 15 year old Emma's bravery, when they had told her of their attachment the first time round. Cora had admired that and she now smiled wickedly at Emma.
"I shall leave you too it then" she then said casually, pretending indifference and walking off, convincing herself that her daughter and Emma couldn't fall for one another again, in one night when it had taken longer before.
Emma shook her head in disbelief, as she watched Cora go.
"Is she always a hard ass?" Emma asked Regina.
"Im afraid so"
"Man! That must be rough" Emma then said looking to Regina.
"I cope"
They then share a look and then look outwards at the guests, who are chattering and drinking fine wine.
Once the night concludes, all the guests leave apart from Cora and Regina, who stay in separate guest chambers for the night.
Emma however can't sleep. She's tossing and turning. Thinking of Regina. How the princesses eyes are so brown and how her smile is so beautiful. How she makes her feel alive.
"God Emma, get ahold of yourself" she tells herself seriously and then lays on her side, looking at the wall.
This is when she thinks back upon her dreams and how, Regina has been having them too.
A minute later, she sits up and throws the blankets back.
"I've got to see her" she says to herself and gets up and puts a robe on, before sneaking out and down to where she knows Regina is.
Regina however, is sat upon her bed. Looking aimlessly around the room. She wonders if Emma is awake and jumps at the knock upon her chamber door.
She then gets up and goes to open it, revealing Emma looking at her slightly shyly.
"Hey" the blonde whispers and quickly looks left and right before adding "Did I wake you?"
"No"
"May I come inside for a moment?" She then says and rakes her eyes over Regina, who is just in a white silk gown. Her mouth goes dry.
"Sure" Regina moves and watches Emma walk inside and stand awkwardly near the bed.
Regina smiles and closes the door.
"What do I owe this pleasure?" Regina then says and smirks, as she faces the blonde
"Um, I couldn't sleep and was thinking about our dreams" Emma answers honestly and Regina raises an eyebrow.
"Oh"
"I just um, wondered if you thought any more about it?" Emma asks.
"A little yes" she replies and sits herself down upon the bed. Emma moves to sit next to her.
"And?" Emma asks curiously.
"I can't explain it"
"I can;t neither but Its got to mean something though, right?" Emma asks hopeful.
"Possibly. As it is strange that both of us are having the same dreams" she fiddles with her hands in her lap whilst looking at them "I had thought of asking mother about it tonight, but I don't think she would take well to it and most likely drag me back home" she frowns.
"I told my father months ago" Emma then says, surprising the brunette.
"What did he say?"
"He said it would pass but it hasn't"
Regina sighs and then they fall into a brief silence, before Regina says "You looked very pretty tonight" without thought and her eyes widen and she quickly looks back to her lap, in embrassment, not seeing Emma begin to blush.
"Not as pretty as you though. The men we're practically drooling tonight" Emma chuckles.
Regina shakes her head.
"They did no such thing" she then says and blushes.
"Yeah they were. I believe nobleman Robin was partically keen" Emma teased, making Regina scoff.
"Im not interested in any of them" she then said in seriousness and Emma smirked.
"Of course not…your too good for any of them" Emma then states. Making Regina gape momentarily.
"You barely know me" Regina then says, causing Emma to shake her head in disagreement.
"I think know you well enough and because of our dreams, it seems, that I've known you for a long time"
Regina gives a slight smile.
"And when I'm with you Regina, I am happy and not alone" Emma then confesses and this makes Regina really look at Emma in unmasked adoration and before either know it, they are both leaning in and their lips meet in a slow tender kiss. That illuminates the room and makes their minds fill with memories, that had been taken from them.
They pull apart moments later and stare at one another, in disbelief and awe.
"Emmah.. " Regina finally says, shakily.
"Oh my God! Was that…" Emma replies shakily, knowing the story of true loves kiss, from her parents as a child.
Regina nods and gulps. As both continue to stare at one another, with fresh raw emotions pulsing through them once more.
Emma then moves her hand to cup Regina's cheek.
"is this okay?"she asks lowly.
"Yes" Regina smiles and they put their foreheads together and close their eyes. Trying to process everything at once.
"Now I know why I was so drawn to you" Emma says, after a long moment.
"You we're?" Regina says breathlessly. Leaning back to look into Emma's eyes.
"Yeah"
"I was scared about what I was feeling towards you" Regina then says.
"Now we know" Emma beams but then she frowns and says "Why didn't we remember?"
Regina's features darken and she thinks mother! bitterly.
"Mother! It has to be her!" she then says seriously.
"But that means my parents must know too, unless they've been memory wiped too"
"We need answers thats for sure"
Emma nods.
"Weve been apart for years Regina! When we should of been together, thats pretty unforgiveable in my book"
"Yes it is" Regina says sadly and takes the blondes hands in her own and they both sigh and then chuckle before connecting their lips, once more.
It is many minutes later, that they stop kissing and smile widely at one another.
"Stay with me tonight" Regina purrs.
Emma shivers in pleasure.
"I will. I'm not leaving you again. Thats for sure"
Regina beams.
"We got a lot to talk about" the brunnette then says, whilst smiling at the blonde princess.
"Yeah. What are we going to do?" Emma asks a little anxiously.
"I don't know. I just….I just want to lay in your arms and try to go to sleep before we face the outside world"
Emma smiles goofily at this and feels all warm inside and she nods...before getting into the covers with the brunnette and putting her arms around Regina, as if they had always been this way and both knew, that this was home.
A/N One more chapter to go :) and thanks to all those who have followed/faved and reviewed.