Oh my god! Please please please don't hate me guys! Know that I love you all so much (no really, I do!) and I know I'm only a day late and all but I feel like I've betrayed you all and I'm soooo sorry!

So anyway, crying over *wipes eyes dramatically* here is chapter 4 for all you lovely people. It's a shorter chapter I'm afraid but quality not quantity right?! The next few chapters will be longer I promise.

Here's the Emma/Regina time I promised you all, with a bit of Snowing thrown in there too. And the disclaimer still stands. *finishes longest note in the history of notes and let's lovely readers read on!*

Chapter 4

"Regiinnnaaaaa!"

"Emma, stop whining."

"But it's soooo boring!" Emma huffed and threw herself backwards to land ungracefully on the blanket, her legs still crossed, her arms outstretched and her long blonde hair falling messily around her head. Regina turned to face her and smiled fondly at the princess. It was beginning to get dark but the torch light outside of her cell cast a beautiful glow across the young girls features. Ever since the incident with Snow, Emma had started to visit a lot more frequently; managing to sneak off almost everyday and even convincing Regina to let her come during the early hours of the night, after her maid had put her to bed. Regina had complained at first, but discovered she wanted to be in the princess' presence as much as possible.

The brunette quickly turned her attention back to the book that Emma had recently started bringing along. Emma had soon learnt that Regina loved to read but only had a small selection of books, all of which she'd read and re-read over and over again. At the rate the brunette managed to get through books, it meant that Emma was bringing a new book every week or so.

"It may be boring, but neither your tutors or your parents would be very impressed if you didn't do your work..." Regina frowned at the mention of Emma's parents and the young girl quickly picked up on the sad note in her friends voice. Emma sat up and crawled over to the bars, she pressed her face in between two of the bars and reached a hand out to Regina.

After what had happened with Snow, both Emma and Regina were on edge for quite a while. When Regina told Emma what had happened, the young girl had been furious and nearly rushed to confront her mother then and there. Instead she'd quietly walked back to her room, thrown herself onto her bed and frowned at the ceiling. She'd lain there, for a good hour, her thoughts racing and getting angrier and angrier by the second, until she'd finally exploded. Emma had felt a rush of complete anger and disgust roll through her entire body before shooting out of her fingertips and heading straight for the vase of flowers standing proudly- well, now not so proudly- on the mantle piece. The vase had exploded and Emma had shrieked. When Susie had walked in a little later on, Emma explained that she'd knocked it accidentally. The blonde princess hadn't told anyone for fear of being locked away or being shunned by her parents.

When Regina noticed movement she looked over to Emma and had to hold in a giggle at the sight of her face squished in between two metal poles. The brunette memorised her page number before closing the book and making her way over to Emma. Emma smiled softly at Regina and she returned the gesture before taking Emma's hand.

"Don't think you can distract me from making you do your homework." Regina mumbled as she stared down at their interlocking hands. Emma's soft smile turned into a full blown grin that was still aimed at her best friend.

"I promise to do my homework if you promise to stop thinking about what my mother did to you." Regina's head snapped up, making her cropped hair bob slightly, and she stared into forest green pools that looked like they were boring into her soul. Regina mustered the biggest smile she could and Emma instantly felt blessed with the sight.

"Deal." Regina shook Emma's hand slightly and the blonde giggled. "Now get on with your homework, else your tutors will hunt me down." Regina winked and Emma giggled again, both at the absurdity of the statement and also at her friends suddenly playful mood.

Snow White was pacing in her chambers while her husband watched with a furrowed brow. Is she mumbling to herself? Yes, she's mumbling to herself. Prince Charming sighed and walked over to his wife, he placed his hands on her shoulders and restrained her from completing another lap or simply walking straight over him.

"My love, please tell me what's wrong."

Snow refused to make eye contact as she kept her head lowered and mumbled a quick, "I'm such a horrible person." James frowned at his bowing wife before hooking a finger under her chin and lifting her face to meet his gaze.

"Who told you that? You are no such thing."

"No one told me...I just know that I am." The pixie haired woman fidgeted uncomfortably under her husbands strong gaze. He frowned again.

"This has something to do with Regina doesn't it?" Snow lifted her eyes to meet his and he could see the panic running through them. "I knew it!" He boomed. "What has she done now? I'll have her head Snow, I swear!" Snow scrambled to catch up with her husband who had moved around her to collect his sword and was now making his way towards their chamber doors.

"No! James, I swear this has nothing to do with her!" She rushed in front of him and wedged herself between him and the door. "It's just me...being silly. Please. Can we...can we just go to bed?" She pleaded with her eyes. He never could resist that look. He sighed heavily.

"You swear she hasn't upset you?" Snow nodded vigorously and smiled sweetly at her husband. She really knew how to act when she needed to. James bobbed his head. "Alright. Let's go to bed." He replaced his sword and took his wife's hand before climbing into bed.

She had mellowed over the years, to say the least. The Evil Queen blasé slowly being worn down. It was still there, of course, it was always there. Just pushed further to the back of her mind than before. She'd always assert her Evil Queen persona when in the presence of anyone other than Emma, but lately it was getting harder and harder to make the switch. And she knew exactly why.

"What are the names of the King and Queen of the Wetlands?" Regina lifted her head from the book she was reading and stared at the wall in thought for a second.

"If I remember correctly, that would be King George and Queen Adelaide. But do put into consideration the fact that I've been here for quite some time dear." Regina smiled as Emma nodded and began to scribble on her parchment. As Emma wrote, Regina was forced into thoughts of her past and all of the obnoxious royals she'd met over time. She voiced her musings to the blonde who was quietly writing up her notes. "Awful people. So loud and pompous. Adelaide seemed to have some kind of fetish for telling everyone about her extensive collection of carved dwarves. Quite bizarre." The brunette shook her head as she returned her attention to the book still sitting on her lap. After a moment, Regina's words registered with Emma. She lifted her head from the pile of history books and stared quizzically at her friend.

"Wait, you met them?" Emma asked, slightly baffled. Regina froze and the book in her lap drooped slightly. Her features quickly recovered and she threw a small smile Emma's way.

"I met them once...briefly."

"So," Emma sat up to fully look at the other woman, her homework forgotten and her attention now completely on Regina. "were you...a royal? I mean before you were here." Regina tried to keep the internal panic from showing on her face.

"Of course not dear." Regina tried to play it off, it worked. Emma's face fell slightly and Regina couldn't help but feel a pang of something within her chest. Emma shook her head and smiled brightly at her friend.

"But still, you met a royal. That's pretty cool." Emma nodded and Regina just chuckled softly.

"Yes but you're a royal, Emma, and I've met you haven't I? I can assure you, you top the list dear." Regina chuckled again when Emma blushed and ducked her head. "Now, get on with your homework." Emma smiled again before doing what she was told. Regina watched her settle with a smile spread across her plump lips before returning to her previous activity too.

Half an hour later saw Emma growing restless. She had read the same sentence at least five times but still, it wouldn't sink in. She was also sighing a lot, tapping her pen and changing positions. No matter how hard she tried she couldn't get the burning questions in her head to quieten down. After the dozenth sigh, Regina rolled her eyes and turned to face the pouting blonde.

"Emma, whatever it is, please just say. You're beginning to create a breeze with your sighing." Emma grinned at her friend before pushing all of her things to the side and moving to sit directly in front of the bars.

"You mentioned earlier you'd been here a while, how long is a while?" Regina furrowed her brow at the bizarre question, and just like usual, decided to extend the truth.

"Longer than I can remember dear." She did of course remember. She'd counted the days for the first year and a half. Emma frowned at the brunettes response but decided not to push further.

"Have you met any other royals?" Regina thought for a minute. She wanted to tell Emma the truth, that yes she'd met almost all of the royals the land had to offer, but that would simply provide further questioning.

"No, I'm afraid not. But you are all the royal I need Emma." Regina smiled softly and Emma blushed again. "Now, it's getting quite late so you should probably head off to bed." Emma huffed but started collecting her things together.

"When will I see you next?"

"Emma, you know you can come and visit me whenever you wish." Regina smiled and walked over to the bars. She stuck her hands through the gaps and Emma quickly latched on to them.

"You know, one day, I expect you to come and visit me." Emma tried to keep the grin off her face and Regina just lifted an eyebrow.

"Is that so?" Emma nodded. "Well one day, Emma, I promise you I will come and visit you. And there won't be these infernal things anywhere within sight!" Regina motioned to the bars that restricted much contact besides hand holding. Emma smiled at her sadly and Regina just wanted to pull the girl into her and hug her until all of her problems disappeared.

"I hope so." They stood there for a moment, just holding each other's hands and enjoying the others presence. Eventually Emma looked up and said, "Tomorrow it is then." Emma grinned and Regina laughed before giving the princess' hands a firm squeeze.

"Until tomorrow." Regina nodded and watched with a smirk as blonde hair bounced happily down a dimly lit corridor.

Did you like? I hope you did, leave a review and let me know. I take all of your comments on board and support and ideas are always welcome in my inbox. I really do appreciate all your reviews, favourites and follows. They make me smile in the morning.

On another note, what did everyone think of episode 5 of the new season?! Viva la SwanQueen baby!