Emma kicked at the rock in front of her and flung her hands in the air, they'd been walking miles at this point. "Are we going to walk to the Enchanted Forest?"

Neal pinched the bridge of his nose. "We'll take a boat in Weselton."

"Oh, then we're walking to Weselton."

"No, Your Grace, we're taking a bus."

"A bus…that's nice."

"Ruby!" August called out.

Emma stopped walking and crossed her arms. "Who's Ruby?"

August threw his hands in the air and then clutched his heart. "Who's Ruby?" He took Emma's hands in his. "She's a tender little morsel, with the fire of a wolf."

"August, ix-nay on the uby-ray."

"She has the will of a stallion and the fight of a lion."

"Is this a person or a wild animal?"

"She's the King's closest friend, the godmother to the princess."

"But I thought we were going to see the king himself. Why are we going to see her? Neal?"

Neal leaned against the bridge, crossing his ankles and arms. "Well, nobody gets near the King without convincing Ruby first."

Emma's mouth opened. What? She had to convince someone she was the princess? She didn't even know if she was the princess. How was she supposed to convince someone so close the family that she was? "Oh, no," Emma decided, "not me. Nobody ever told me I had to prove I was the Princess."

"Look, I-"

"Show up? Yes. Look nice? Fine. But lie?

Neal pushed himself off the board. "You don't know it's a lie. What if it's true?" Neal watched Emma pace, short strands of hair blowing around that she had to keep flicking off her face. "Look, so there's one more stop on the road to finding out who you are. I just thought this was something you had to see through to the end, no matter what."

Emma stopped and stared at Neal. His eyes watching her. "But look at me, Neal. I'm not exactly Princess material here."

Neal looked her up and down, shrugged. "Uh…"

Emma's eyes widened and she snarled. "Oh!" She stalked away from him and looked over the bridge, staring into the rippling water.

August watched them, both frustrated and in love. He walked to Emma and looked over the railing with her. "Tell me, what do you see?"

Emma sighed. "I see a skinny little nobody, with no past, and no future."

August bumped his shoulder against her. "I see an engaging and fiery young woman, who, on a number of occasions, has shown a regal command equal to any royal in the world, and I've known my share of royalty."

Neal strolled over, sick of waiting. "So, are you ready to become the Princess Emilia?" Emma walked off and August groaned. "What?"

August went to Emma and took one of her hands in his. "There's nothing left for you back there. Everything is in the Enchanted Forest."

Emma walked around. Running her hands through her short hair. Could she really do this, convince someone who's known this family for decades that she was the princess? The men certainly thought she looked the part, but she knew absolutely nothing about being a princess, or about the princess. What were her other options though? These guys were at least trying to offer her a future, and she'd always been a quick learner, so perhaps she could do this. "Okay gentleman, start your teaching."

August stepped close, "Well, you were born in a palace by the sea and started learning to ride horseback when you were only three."

"Wait, I rode horses?"

Neal nodded. "You were wild."

"But you'd behave," August said. "Your father just had to give you a look. Now, we've lots more to teach you, so let's start with your posture, shoulders back and stand up tall."

"But don't walk, try to float."

Emma stepped tentatively, one foot and then the next. "I feel ridiculous." Emma stopped, dropping her hands to her sides. "Now?"

Neal tucked one arm against his stomach and bowed. "Now you try it."

Emma copied him, "What happens now?"

August watched Neal take Emma's hand in his. "Your hand receives a kiss."

Emma looked from Neal to her hand, where a tingle had started to surface. What was that? She didn't have any more time to give thought to it because the bus they'd been making their way too was there. They took their seats on the bus and Emma was going to touch her hand when August poked her shoulder.

"Elbows in and sit up straight. Dinner is a time for impressions."

"And never slurp the stroganoff," Neal added.

"I've never cared for stroganoff."

August caught Neal's eye, "She said that like a Charming."

Emma looked between them. "Then what? Dessert and then good night?"

August shook his head. "Next, we memorize the names of the royalty."

They went through the list, Emma's head was spinning. How could there be this many people? And what kind of names were Aurora, Cinderella, and Ariel? Those were almost tame to some of the others she had to remember.

"Lastly," August said, "There are the friends to the royal family. Gapetto, of course."

"Oh, I recall his cricket."

August followed Neal and Emma off the bus towards the boat. He tugged on Neal's sleeve. "I don't believe we told her that."

Neal watched Emma skip up the stairs, immediately feeling like he was watching blonde curls bounce around her face all over again. No, it can't be. He needed to stop letting himself get sucked in to her. It was just a job after all. Soon enough they'd be going their own way and, even if she wasn't the princess, he at least helped her get where she wanted to be. However, he hoped for the sake of the shawl in his suitcase and for the King, that this was who they were looking for. He watched her dance with the dog and rolled his shoulders, his feelings be damned.

Emma turned on her heel and nearly smacked into Neal. She pulled back and saw fabric in his hands. "What is that?"

Neal thrust it in her direction. "I bought you a dress."

Emma picked up the end of it and laughed. She leaned in and continued laughing at the space. "You bought me a…tent."

Neal looked through the neck of the dress. "What are you looking for?"

"The circus, I think it's still in here."

Neal shoved the rest of the dress in her hands. "Come on. Just put it on." He turned and stalked off, throwing his hands in the air.

August dropped his piece on the board and sat back with his arms crossed, the smug grin growing on his face. "Checkmate."

Emma spotted them and cleared her throat. Once she had their attention she twirled.

August jumped up and circled her. "Wonderful! Marvelous! Oh. And now you are dressed for a ball. And you will learn to dance for one as well. Neal."

Neal stumbled over his words as he stumbled over his feet. "I'm…I'm not very good at it."

August pushed them together. "And… 1-2-3, 1-2-3. No, no, Emma, you don't lead. Let him." He shook his head and backed up, watching the two of them stare at each other in fear.

Neal couldn't stop staring. The dress he'd thought would "do" for Emma, ended up being perfect. The soft blue clung to her shape, the brown belt around her waist enhancing her figure. The dress billowed out as they spun in circles. "That, uh, dress is really beautiful."

"Do you think so?"

"Yes. I mean, it was nice on the hanger, but it looks even better on you. You should wear it." Oh, good going idiot.

"I am wearing it."

Okay, time for a nice recovery. "Right, of course. Of course you are. I'm…I'm just trying to give you a, um…" Neal's words trailed off. What was his problem?

"Compliment?"

"Of course, yes." Stop saying of course, she heard you the first two times you said it. Just keep pretending you know what you're doing.

Emma stared into Neal's eyes. "I'm feeling a little dizzy."

Neal's heart started jumping. "Kind of lightheaded?"

"Yeah."

"Me, too. Probably from the spinning. Maybe we should stop."

Emma couldn't even find the breath to laugh. "We have stopped."

Neal sunk closer. "Emma, I…"

Emma lifted her chin. "Yes?"

Pongo barked, snapping the rope that was pulling them together. Neal stepped back. "You're doing fine."

Emma watched him walk away and lifted a hand to her chest. What was that?