How could I have ever wished for my mother's company on a trip?

Regina wonders this (for the sixth time) since their departure.

Regina and her parents have been invited to celebrate the Princess's birthday with the royal family at the castle. As if Regina wasn't anxious enough about seeing the other girl for the first time in almost three months, her mother has not stopped lecturing her.

Cora seems to think that this courtship is being dragged out too long. Her father likes to remind her that it has not even been six months yet, which is a common amount of time to wait until the topic of marriage is proposed for royalty. This doesn't convince her mother though. She seems to think more "progress" should have occurred by now.

Regina isn't sure what kind of progress can really occur trough letters but it's easier not to question her.

"Are you listening to me, Regina?" Her mother demands as they are standing in the guest chamber. Technically Regina's chamber is next to her parents but that hasn't stopped her mother from barging into her room and dismissing Llewellyn.

"Yes."

"I hope so because it is very important that you make a good impression in front of the King and Queen at dinner tonight!" She warns while unnecessarily fiddling with Regina's dress.

"I understand I need to be on my best behavior but they have already met me." Regina argues. She's finally had enough.

"Yes, and while first impressions are important, it is imperative that you impress them on this trip."

"Why?"

"Because Regina, most likely the next time you visit, you will be asking them for their daughter's hand in marriage."

"What?!"

"Don't act so surprised dear. By then you will probably be courting about five or six months already. That is, unless they invite you sooner. That probably wouldn't be proper though..." Cora trails off while working through the possibilities in her head.

"But..I.."

"Don't stutter dear." Cora absentmindedly scolds before shaking away her thoughts. "As I said, it is imperative that you make a good impression this weekend. The first time you met them, you were just one of dozens of potential suitors. Now, they will be viewing you as not just the probable partner for their child, but a future leader to their kingdom."

Regina thinks she might throw up.


"Duke Henry and Duchess Cora of house Mills, accompanied by their daughter Lady Regina." The man announces when they walk into the formal dinning room.

Regina's eyes immediately scan the room; not realizing she is looking for the princess until her eyes fall upon the other girl. They make eye contact and Emma gives smile before looking down.

There are about a dozen other people sitting around the grand table. And still, five empty chairs.

The Mills are escorted to their seats. (With Regina next to the Princess and her parents on her other side) The two other empty seats on the end aren't empty long as Princess Elinowy and Sir Taran are announced soon after.

Once the table is full, the King and Queen stand.

"Please keep your seats everyone." The King allows. "We would just like to say a quick toast before we begin."

"First off, we would like to thank you all for coming to celebrate with us this evening." The Queen begins. "We hope to talk to you all individually but for now know we are pleased you could all make it."

"Now we'd like it make a toast to our beautiful daughter." The King says.

All eyes seem to land on Emma; including Regina's. The chairs are close enough together that Regina only needs to minutely turn her head to the side to see her. The Princess is also slightly taller than Regina so at eye level Regina is looking at the top of the other girl's shoulder. Emma's gown is fairly simple and midnight blue. It sits low on her arms so a part of her shoulder is exposed.

Regina is mesmerized by the skin. It looks so soft. And the lines and dip of her neck to arm are so elegant.

She has never "checked someone out" before. Sure, she had appreciated someone at a glance, but had never felt the need to really stop and look. After all, she could see the Princess was very beautiful the first time they met. But this was different. This made her stomach flip.

When I finally feel a deep attraction to someone it's because of their shoulder! I'm a freak.

But because Regina was so focused on her shoulder she noticed how stiff the blonde was. She was clearly uncomfortable being the center of attention.

"We hope this next year of your life is filled with adventure, comfort, and love." The King finishes. "To Princess Emma" And raises his glass.

"To Princess Emma." Everyone repeats the toast before drinking.

Everything settles into a quiet hum once the King and Queen sit and the food is brought out. Everyone seems to be speaking to the people next to and/or across from them.

"Happy Birthday." Regina says before someone else can take the Princess's attention away.

"Thank you." Emma says and looks her straight in the face.

It's the closest they've ever physically been and almost gets so distracted by blue eyes that it takes her a moment to respond.

"I brought you a gift this time." She teases; recalling their previous conversation.

"Well I should hope so as it's my birthday." Emma says with a small smirk and Regina finally sees some of the tension leave her shoulders as she relaxes.

"Oh no. My family has brought you what I'm sure is a very appropriate but useless birthday gift. I have brought you a gift just because I saw it and thought of you." She practically whispers so her mother (who is in conversation with a man across from her) won't hear.

"No pressure, but my expectations are high now." Emma says before making a show of biting into the piece of chicken on her fork.

It's playful and Regina shakes it off and begins to eat herself.

"So we are the same age now." Emma says after a moment.

"For about two months yes." Regina agrees.

"January?" Emma asks.

Regina nods in affirmation. "The seventh." She adds.

Emma looks thoughtful before she says. "Garnet."

"Gar-what?"

"Your birthstone is garnet."

"Oh." Regina says thrown off. "Yes it is."

"You'd look good." Emma states and at Regina's confused look she continues. "In garnet...well not in...like a necklace with red...you look good in red." She finally mutters before looking down at her food.

Regina blushes.

What the hell was that?

"What about red?" An older woman sitting directly across from Emma asked; saving the two girls from further awkward silence.

"Not you Red, the color." Emma says and looks with fondness at the woman with long brown hair.

"Ahh." She says, even though she clearly knew they hadn't been talking about her. "My name is Red, by the way." She greets to Regina.

"Like your cloak?" Regina asks before realizing her manners and adding "I'm Regina."

Red laughs. "Yes, like my cloak. And it's nice to meet you."

"You as well. Speaking of your cloak, aren't you warm?" She asks curiously. With all the people and candles, Regina herself is getting warm. (Although her flushed cheeks aren't helping the matter.)

"A little bit." She admits. "But I've been asked to wear it so I don't make the guests feel nervous." She explains.

Regina tilts her head in confusion.

"She's a werewolf. The cloak has magic to prevent her from changing." Emma explains.

"Really?" Regina asks excitedly. She probably should be worried but the woman can't be dangerous if she's sitting at the royal table!

Red seems amused by her reaction. "Yes, I am" She responds with a chuckle. "I don't actually need the cloak anymore as I have learned to control the changes. But it makes other people feel better so.." She shrugs as if it isn't a big deal to her whether she wears it or not.

"Fascinating." Regina mutters before politely asking more questions.


About an hour into the dinner (How long is this going to last anyway!) Regina hears her mother cough. She turns to face her and gets a stern look in return.

"Right." She mumbles.

"Excuse me Emma." She calls the girl's attention away gently, unconsciously putting a hand on her arm. "I'd like to introduce you to my parents." She says and sits back so the other girl can see them. "This is my mother, Cora, and my father Henry."

"It's nice to meet you, Duchess." Emma says with a tight smile. "And it's lovely to see you again, Henry."

"Splendid to finally meet you princess." Cora greets. " Regina has such wonderful things to say about you."

Emma simply smiles.

"You look lovely tonight. That dress is...very elegant."

Regina has to stifle her laugh. If Regina was a princess her mother would never allow her to dress in such a simple outfit. Clearly her mother is having trouble wrapping her head around why anyone of money would.

"I'll have to tell the seamstress you enjoyed it." Emma comments lightly. Emma's disdain only makes Regina want to laugh harder.

"Well I will let you finish your dinner. There will be plenty more opportunities to speak as I'm sure we will be seeing much more of each other in the future." Cora allows realizing the the princess won't be easily persuaded or manipulated. At least at the moment.

"Of course."

"And Happy Birthday." Henry adds, finally getting a word in.

"Thank you." Emma sincerely replies.


In between the main course and dessert, a performer was presented as entertainment. The man had a lute and some sort of device with multiple bells.

When he arrived in the room he began by softly playing the lute from behind Emma. The blonde twisted her body to face the man, and in doing so, brushed her hand against Regina's which was hanging between the seats.

The princess didn't seem to notice as she continued to watch the performer. Regina, on the other hand, couldn't stop thinking about rush that went through her at such a small amount of contact.

Throughout the performance, Emma kept her hand danging between the two chairs. Repeatedly, Regina would glance down at it. She feels a strong urge to reach out and grab it with her own.

She had never understood holding hands before. Sure, she knew that people did it, but she didn't understand why people made it out to be a special thing. She doesn't think she'd ever held someone's hand before; except her parents when she was very small. But that was so they could control her, not out of any sort of comfort.

She gets it now though. She understands the intimacy of it. Which is strange because she had never thought of a hand as an intimate part of someone's body before.

First shoulders, now hands...seriously what is with me today?

The other guests are laughing now so she thinks the man may be telling stories, or jokes.

She hasn't honestly been paying any attention to him.

She doesn't want you to invade her personal space, Regina. The girl convinces herself. Especially in such a public setting.

Just because you get along well doesn't even mean she's attracted to you in that way!

Is holding her hand even appropriate at this stage?

My mother might see.

I wouldn't even care about her if I knew Emma was okay with it!

Dam that girl for keeping her emotions so close to the vest!

Regina groans quietly in frustration.


"You aren't leaving tomorrow, are you?" Emma asks Regina before they depart from the dinning room a few hours later.

The two girls hadn't spoken much since the performer. During dessert, all sense of decorum seemed to vanish and the guests were practically yelling across the table to talk to one another. (Regina suspected this had to do with the amount of alcohol they had consumed by then.) Cora's pursed lips let Regina know that she didn't approve of the King and Queen's allowance of such behavior.

"No, we are staying until Friday." Regina informs her.

"Good." The blonde happily says.

"Good." Regina agrees.

"I will see you tomorrow then."

"Goodnight Emma."