A/N: I just finished writing and I'm really looking forward to sharing the rest with you!
"My, don't you look wonderful," the queen said as she entered Regina's room. Regina was seated in front of the mirror while one of Snow's maids pinned her hair.
"Don't I?" Regina smiled at her reflection, gesturing to call the maid's attention to a dropped strand of hair. "Thank you again for the gown."
Regina didn't often have the chance to feel beautiful, or at least she hadn't before she met Emma. Cora only pointed out everything that was wrong with her. And while Emma complimented her frequently, Regina knew that she'd never looked like this before, like she was a princess herself. The bodice of the dress, just this side of too tight, gave her curves like she'd never had before. The silver necklace her parents had given her for her sixteenth birthday, the nicest thing she owned, sat low on her throat, and the matching earrings glittered. Her hair was simple, nothing over-the-top like Cora always tried to pull off, just a neat chignon.
"I should probably go check on Emma," Snow said with a sigh. "Make sure she at least brushes her hair. I'll see you at the ball."
Regina nodded politely, and once the queen was gone and the maid was finished she stood up and looked at herself from all angles, making sure everything was flawless. She headed down to the ballroom, or at least tried to, thankful when the king intercepted her before she got impossibly lost.
"Miss Regina," he said warmly, taking her arm. "You look absolutely stunning. I'm sure every man in that room will be lining up to dance with you."
Regina beamed up at him, following as he led her in the opposite direction and down to the ballroom. "Thank you for having me here."
Charming flashed the smile that had given him his name. "No need to thank me. I'm just glad to see Emma happy." He paused just outside the room, where they could hear the strains of music. "I suppose I should go check on them. Have a lovely evening, Regina."
She gave him a slight curtsey as he walked away and then entered the ballroom. It was enormous, at least twice the size of the ballroom at the castle near home, filled with hundreds of people. Regina hadn't made it far before a man asked her to dance, and she let him whirl her around the floor while looking all around her, paying more attention to the fashions and the decorations than her partner.
When the song ended, the room fell silent for the entrance of the royal family. Regina watched, almost holding her breath, as Emma followed her parents to the dais. The princess's dress was in a deep green that brought out her eyes even as far away as Regina was. The shape was simple but flattering, and although Emma had her hair down it had been brushed until it shone like gold. Regina picked her way through the crowd so that, when the music began again, she was close enough for Emma to see.
Emma left her parents and hurried to Regina, smiling brightly. "You're stunning," the blonde said, taking Regina's hands in hers. "You always are, but tonight you stand out across the room."
Regina blushed, giving Emma's hands a squeeze before she dropped them. "And you. Look at you."
Emma looked pleased despite herself. "Meet me on the balcony in an hour," she said, suddenly looking up at a young man who was striding towards them. "Tiernan!"
Regina stood back and watched Emma embrace her cousin. He looked at her over the princess's shoulder, giving her a handsome smile, his blue eyes tracing her up and down.
"Tiernan, this is Regina." Emma led him over to the brunette.
Regina gave him a small curtsey, and Tiernan extended his hand. "May I steal you away for a dance, Regina?"
She put his hand in his, and Emma laughed when he raised it to his lips. "Don't get in over your head, Tiernan," she teased. "She's not really your type."
Without thinking, Regina glared at Emma. "Don't be rude," she said coldly, following Tiernan out to the dance floor.
Regina could finally see why girls liked balls so much. She felt comfortable this time, not like she was pretending to be somebody else. She never had to wait for a partner, men seeking her out like they never had before.
She had been dancing for almost an hour when Tiernan found her again. "Regina," he said, smiling brightly at her. "Is there any chance you've saved this dance for me?"
She had only just left her previous partner, so Regina was able to take his hand. "This is your ball. Don't you have to dance with every eligible maiden in the land or something?"
"It's my ball," he said, setting a hand firmly on her hip as they got into position. "The whole point of it is for me to find what I'm looking for."
The music started, and Regina tilted her face up towards his. "I take it you've found what you're looking for, then?"
Tiernan twirled her perfectly, clearly the best partner she'd had all evening. "You are, without a doubt, the most beautiful girl here. Not at all what I expected when my uncle told me about Emma's pretty friend."
Regina blushed slightly. "What did you expect?"
"One of her usual conquests. A demure, naïve little thing who waits off to the side all evening looking for her, believing that she's found true love until my cousin gets bored with her."
Regina forgot to breathe for a second, suddenly dizzy from turning. She could just make out Emma's silhouette on the balcony, waiting for her. "Why are you so sure I'm different?"
The music came to a stop, but Tiernan didn't let go of her, leaning in so close that Regina could have sworn he'd kiss her. "You're a woman who knows what she wants," he whispered. "One who isn't going to let a pretty princess distract her when something better comes along." When the music began, they resumed dancing, neither making an attempt to leave.
They passed the balcony again, and this time Emma had come back towards the room, light hitting her. Regina glanced at her and saw the blonde staring at her with an unreadable expression.
"If you were one of her usual girls, you would be there with her right now," Tiernan continued. "But you know she has nothing to give you."
Regina looked back up at him, a smile slowly spreading on her lips. "And what can you give me?"
He suddenly pulled her closer, his grip tightening on her waist. "Everything," he whispered in her ear.
The door to Emma's room was closed when Regina returned hours later. She hadn't seen the blonde since her second dance with Tiernan, not that she'd really sought her out.
As she undressed, she couldn't help thinking about Tiernan's words. Was that all she was, a conquest? Just one in a long line of stupid girls?
"No," she said to her reflection as she took off her jewelry and let down her hair. "I'm so much more than that."
