I wanted to publish this chapter before going back to work and luckily I succeeded.

I don't own OUaT, Star Wars or it's characters. All mistakes are mine.

Enjoy!

CHAPTER 4

Twenty minutes later

"Are we understanding it correctly? You were attacked by unknown mercenary group on your way here?" - asks the Queen, right after exchanging looks with her husband. Regina knows them for short time, but it's amazing how easily they can communicate with just a look.

"Yes, Your Majesty." - Kai'tuku confirms Queen's words.

Exchange of looks again and this time speaks the King - "Do you think that Empire could have hired them to stop your mission before it even started?"

"It's most probable, but also unusual. Generally Empire deals with problems using their own power and influences." - Kai'tuku scratches his beard - "Of course this situation is not normal and we should expect everything."

The Queen stands in front of the table and leans on it - "What are you going to do now?"

"We will proceed as planned, meaning I will guard both of you and Regina" - he pointed her with a wave of his hand and when they all looked at her she responded with a nod - "will guard Princess Emma. And, just as it was established earlier, we will be at your sides continuously"

"What?" - so far calm discussion is interrupted by very surprised and also livid Princess, what Regina noticed right away, even if she does a wonderful job at hiding it and Regina assumes it had to come with being the heir. Now the Princess is addressing her parents, hands on her hips - "You never said that the Jedi would be with us the whole time!"

The King clenches his jaw and too places hands on his hips, but says nothing, just calmly looks at Princess. The Queen sighs and moves left hand up in, what is supposed to be, calming gesture. - "Emma..."

"Don't 'Emma' me mom." - Regina and Killian exchange looks, they both feel uncomfortable with being spectators to royal's family argument.

"Their presence changes nothing, but we need them to protect us." - the Queen tries her best, but it's not working so far. David is a permanent supportive presence standing right behind Mary Margaret.

"But I have someone who protects me, Graham. You gave him this job, remember?" - the Princess points at him and seems almost desperate to not being protected by Jedi and if Regina is right, she has reason to be.

"Of course we do remember that Emma, but having Jedi with us is what we need and this is going to happen, you like it or not. They both will protect you and you will behave. End of discussion." - unluckily for Princess her father is adamant.

Regina observes her clenching jaw then saying - "Fine" - turning around and leaving the room at quick pace. Graham Humbert wants to follow her but is stopped by the Queen, who looks expectantly at Regina.

"It'll be better if I follow her." - says Regina, walking out the room and, in the last moment, noticing a rim of Princess' coat disappearing around the corner. She follows Emma to upper levels of building, she is also sure that Princess knows what Regina is doing, but she doesn't stop or slow down, just walks to, what Regina believes is, her chambers.

The first room is a living room. There is a comfortably looking couch and armchairs. Near the walls are standing high bookshelves, some filled with traditional paper books, some with datacrones. On one wall, the one in front of Regina, are big windows, that allow sunlight to enter the room, which is maintained in White's colors. There are two doors and one of them is ajar, clear sign that Emma walked through it. Regina does the same and finds herself in Princess' bedroom. There is a comfortable looking bed, it takes big part of available space, big wardrobe, door that most probably is leading to bathroom. Regina is not wasting more time and walks to open balcony door, noticing that it's, just like all windows, protected by barrier. She walks thorough it and finds Princess, who grips railing with her right hand, left hangs stiff at her side, eyes moving frantically while she bites her lip. Those are clear signs that she's thinking about today's revelations, about what to do.

Regina makes her presence known to the Princess by grunting. She turns to her fast, wide-fast and startled. It seems the movement was too fast as she winces, what Regina notices immediately. - "Your Royal Highness."

"Jedi..." - Emma White quickly collects herself - "Did my parents send you to check up on me?" - she asks with noticeable resignation or defeat, turning head to the right, looking at city underneath them.

Regina walks to the railing and grips it with both hands, looking at the city too, buildings are lower than the palace, most of them is made of steel and similar materials. Setting sun is beautifully reflecting in them. The city is so big that she can't see where it ends, even from here - "They did." - she glances at Princess to see her reaction. She tightened her grip on the railing and clenched jaw - "They just want it to work. And while I understand it might be an inconvenience for you, with your additional duties or rather activities, to have me around... we are here to stay and keep you safe."

"Additional activities?" - Princess, who now looks at her and took a step back, starts panicking, although it doesn't show much on the outside - "I have no idea what you are talking about."

Regina smiles knowingly, letting go of the railing and turning fully to the Princess - "Of course you don't. That's why you were and possibly are, so angry about this whole situation." - she pauses and crosses hands on chest - "That's also why you were hurt in left arm."

"I-" - Emma visibly swallows.

Raising her hand she interrupts the Princess - "Please don't lie to me, I saw you and Graham earlier today on Maram." - she's sure she's right, she has to be.

Princess sighs and rubs her eyes - "Yes, you're right. How did you know that?"

Regina smiles - "Honestly it was a guess based on how you held your arm."

"Really? That's all? Just the way I held my arm?" - the Princess can't believe in what she's hearing. She put her right hand on her hip.

"Yes, that's all." - Regina shrugs, puts left hand on the railing and looks to the left, at the city again, becoming serious - "I want to make one thing clear Your Royal Highness, whatever affiliation you have with this group..." - she looks back at the Princess, who raised her chin and looks at Regina expectantly - "You need to put it on hold. No contacting them and what's more important, no taking part in their operations."

Princess opens her mouth to say something but is cut by someone calling her name. A minute later Graham Humbert appears in the door, amused Killian close behind him.

"Emma, there you are! Is everything alright?" - Regina raises her eyebrow at the question - 'Why wouldn't she be alright? I am no danger to her.' - she thinks, but Princess just smiles and relaxes before responding.

"Yes Graham, we were just discussing details of our cooperation" - she points at Regina and it seems that this is a moment when he realizes that he's not alone with the Princess.

"Oh! Right! Hello, I'm Graham Humbert, bodyguard."

"Regina Mills, Jedi" - she imitates his introduction and they shake hands as a greeting.

"It's nice too meet you" - he says, half nervous, half excited because of meeting the Jedi.

"Likewise." - Regina says, letting go of his hand and looking at Killian who raises his eyebrows and shows her a thumb up, after which he too joins them on balcony and puts his hand around Graham's shoulders, saying

"It seems that your introduction went smoother than ours." - clearly it amuses him

Regina cast a glance at, now, frowing Princess - "Oh really?"

"Yes, he's very commited to his work, I'm sure his help and loyalty are going to be invaluable." - he grins and hooks his thumbs on the loops of his pants.

She smiles, both Princess and Graham are blushing and sheepish, he rubs back of his head. Regina tilts her head down and closes eyes exhaling air while saying first word - "Good, but what both of you are doing here?"

She isn't sure if that's possible, but Killian grins even wider - "Well... the Queen, shortly after you left, decided that all of most important things, that apply to all of us were discussed. He-" - Killian points at Graham with his thumb - "was supposed to show me available ships so I could pick one."

Graham interrupts him - "And I'm going to do just that!"

"Aye mate, of course you are." - Killian pats Graham's shoulder, then turns to Regina again - "But first he had to check up on our dear Princess here, its good to see you again Your Royal Highness," - he directs that to Emma - "as if being around Jedi wasn't safe enough."

"Thank you Graham, you can go back to your task." - the Princess says to him in a friendly manner, smiling encouragingly.

He nods - "Okay, let's go Killian. You gonna pick your ship finally." - with that they both leave the balcony and soon after the chambers.

Regina once again turns to Princess, wanting to continue their talk - "Your Royal Highness, do you have any objections to what I said earlier?"

Princess smiles and shakes her head - "No I don't, your... proposition makes sense. Jedi following a member of Resistance would cause more harm than good." - she pauses, as if she's pondering about something, she even rubs her chin, then continues - "I have one condition though."

"And what is that?" - asks Regina while crossing hands on her chest

"Call me Emma, if we are going to work together it will be more comfortable."

Regina smiles - "Very well, Emma" - she empathizes her name - "I look forward to working with you." - Emma snorts at that phrase. Regina knows it's commonly used on Tipua and all surrounding planets and moons, when business partners agree with rules of their cooperation, especially if they have to withstand each other for longer than one day. She did it to see Emma's reaction, she's not sure what she expected, but snorting wasn't even on bottom of her list. Turning back to the city she continues - "You should talk to your parents."

It results in Emma's sigh and resigned - "I know." - but doesn't make a move, Regina looks at her in meaningful way - "I should do it now, right?" - and nods, answering the question. - "Fine." - with that Emma leaves the balcony, Regina close behind her.

They walk through halls in silence till one thought enters Regina's mind - "Who else knows about your..." - she tries to find appropriate word, one that won't make topic of their talk oblivious, but in the same time Emma will know what she means - "let's say, hobby?"

Emma widens her eyes at that - "Hobby? Really?" - she shakes her head before continuing - "Me, Graham and now you." - after short consideration, she quickly adds - "I know we should have talked about this earlier, but I will be thankful if it stays that way."

Regina was watching Emma as she spoke, her face full of determination and seriousness, but also, if that's possible, calmness. Now when it's her turn to speak, she looks ahead - "Things between you and your parents, the secrets you have or don't... as long as they won't endanger any of you, are none of my business." - she glances at Emma again and notices that she awaits a clear answer - "I won't tell them anything as long as you want."

Emma smiles brightly, the biggest smile today, hearing that - "Good, thank you." - and if Regina could think things like that, and she totally can't, she would think that this is one of most beautiful smiles she ever seen, but she doesn't think that. No. Never.

They are not far from the room in which the Queen, King and Kai'tuku should be, but there is one mor thing that can't leave Regina's mind - "How long is Graham your bodyguard?"

"I'm not sure, officially five years, but I think he protected me way before that."

"What do you mean?"

Emma stops walking and turns to Regina - "My parents found him during some diplomatic mission ten years ago, on Huara, I've heard there was some war between Sith Lords and because of them it's impossible to live on this planet. He was thirteen at the time, mom and dad took him in and raised, since then he is like brother to me."

"I see." - Regina can imagine the hollow expression on her face she learnt to wear when she hears name of that planet. She swallows hard, trying to push back the images of buring buildings, cities, the whole planet and people on it.

In opposition to her, Emma talks about it with something close to excitement, but mixed with sadness - "Supposedly the fires that started back then are still-" - she is cut by Regina

"Burning? Yes they are." - Regina rubs her eyes - "Let's go." - she says and starts walking again, but after few steps she notices that Emma isn't following her. She turns and they stand like that for few moments, looking at each other, Regina with question in her eyes and Emma studying her, untill she decides she've got what she was searching for and starts walking too, bypassing Regina, who lets out a silent sigh.

They soon enter a room, it's interior is old-fashioned, kept in warm bronzes and dark reds, there is a couch, few armchairs, around the room various plants are placed. Clearly it's room designed for relaxation of the Royal Couple, which sits on couch. They both are reading something and Queen drinks tea.

Regina looks to the right and notices Kai'tuku, who sits on a chair near the wall with closed eyes and hands crossed over his chest. It looks like he is asleep, but Regina knows it's not true. As Regina comes closer to him, she hears Emma approaching her parents and talking to them.

She stands at his side - "Kai'tuku?" - hearing her voice, he opens one eye and glances at her, then opens the second.

"Regina, I see you came to understanding with Princess Emma." - she nods, confirming his observation - "Good, I knew you would." - he suddenly stands up - "Now, you are here, I will go check if Killian had already choosen a ship. I've already spoken of that with Queen and King. You will wait here till I come back." - she nods again and he leaves the room.

In the meantime Emma was speaking to her parents and, in fact, still is. Regina sits down on the floor next to chair and starts meditating, but she doesn't fall into trance fully. She is able to hear Royal Family talking and is aware of what is happening around her. Meditation will allow her to reach appropriate level of connection to Force, that will help her with one thing, later.

Fourty minutes later

Regina opens her eyes and stands up as soon as she notices Kai'tuku entering the room. Royal Family glances at him then, but continues to talk among themselves.

He walks to her, smiling and speaks - "He can't decide." - and hearing that she smiles too, thinking - 'Of course he can't' - Kai'tuku leans closer and says in hushed tone - "But I managed to move forward the second part of our task."

"Really?" - she's eager to learn as much as she can.

"Yes, but I will tell you more later, when they" - he points at tge family with his head - "will be asleep." - clearly he can see disappointment in her face - "Don't worry, it's going to be sooner than later, c'mon we should join them." - he adds and after patting her shoulder, walks toward one of armchairs.

Regina sighs and joins them too. It seems she will have to wait to get some answers.