AUTHOR'S NOTE: ok, here we are, the chapter you've all been waiting for; our leadin' ladies meet. IT'S NOT A LOT BUT IT GETS BETTER I SWEAR. I say this because I know I need kick start some sweeeet sexual tension and the next few chapters have just that.
Also, I will being trying to update a chapter each day at roughly 9pm England time, which is like in between 3pm and 6pm for America/Canada or like 6am for all my beautiful and wonderful fellow Australians. This chapter was written in like an hour so um, yeah.
PS I do read all the reviews, trust me. you are all so so wonderful and I want to give you all a virtual high 5 and a cup of hot chocolate.
Emma xo (yes, my name is also Emma, it's makes me cry)

Regina's arrival was news that set hope alight in the hearts of the citizens; everybody was talking about it which only set Emma's nerves on end. It just didn't help that Mary wouldn't shut up about it too.

"Now we have to make sure the grass in the courtyard is freshly watered and trimmed. And that the guards armour is shiny and good grief Emma, will you please make sure Blue has you looking at least slightly feminine when Regina arrives,"

Emma rolled her eyes as Mary listed off the endless things that needed to be done in the eight hours before Regina's assumed arrival. They wandered down the main corridor towards the boathouse, passing a multitude of servants scrubbing the marble floors and weeding the pot plants that lined this particular passageway.

"Emma, are you even listening to me?" Mary snapped,

"Wait, what?" Emma pulled her eyes away from the unfamiliar servants and glanced at her reproachful mother, "Yeah, something about a courtyard and Blue making me look pretty, got it,"

Mary glared at her daughter, "Am I the only one caring about this?"

"No of course not Mother, it's just that…" Emma sighed and clenched her fingers, "I'm nervous, that's all,"

Mary softened and placed a hand on Emma's cheek, "Darling, don't be",

"But what if she doesn't like me, Mother?"
"Ah, but what if she does?" Mary winked as ran her hand through one of the nearby apple tree's thick foliage, plucking a red apple off the branch, "just be you, and everything will fall into place,"

Emma still wasn't convinced as she reached out and took an apple as well, "but the Senators…?"

Mary waved her hand in dismissal, "I will deal with them. You deserve this, you deserve this happiness". Emma's cheeks hurt from smiling. She couldn't believe it. She was going to get a happy ending.

"Wait, what if Regina is an old hag? What if she's as terrible and disgusting as rumours say?"
"Rumours said she ripped hearts out. Think about it this way; maybe it's theoretical, maybe she steals hearts with her looks?" Mary quipped as she took another bite from her apple.

Emma scrunched her nose as they descended down the stairs, "Since when did you back up any positive news about Regina? Last time I checked, you hated the woman and wanted nothing to do with her,"

Mary shrugged and took another bite, "people change Emma,"

"…And you'll be making an entrance through here,"

"Will I?"

Mary spun on her heel and sighed, "Emma, do you ever listen? I swear it's just me running this country,"
The Queen smirked, "you are, remember? I am – wait, what did you call me? – oh yes, the face of this state,"

Mary massaged the bridge of her nose, "okay, let's go through this again, so" She swept the floor with her silver toga, "I will greet Regina on her arrival when she pulls into here…" Mary pointed to the artificial river that ran in from the ocean; it split the subterranean boathouse in half.

The room was lavishly designed even though it was one of the most unused in the entire palace. Like everywhere else, the floors were white stone but Emma, for the most part, enjoyed the light blue mosaics that depicted different scenarios based around the God, Poseidon. These dotted the ground along with heavy handcrafted marble pillars to stop the roof from collapsing in. Emma watched the reflection of the water cast dancing shadows across the milky stalactites that hung from the roof.

"And then you, Emma,"

The Queen quickly focused her attention on the small ebony haired woman who stood by the stairs with her hands on her hips, "Sorry Mother, continue,"

"Like I said, you will come down here, approximately five minutes late, rush in smelling lovely and looking beautiful, apologise for your tardiness and lack of brother, and then…magic," Mary clapped her hands together and pressed them to her rosy lips.

"Why am I being late though?"

"Because love, you need to make a grand entrance,"

"Okay,"
"As long as you don't fall down the stairs, you should be right,"
"Okay,"
"And Emma, please try to be graceful. For the love of God, please try,"

"Okay,"

Emma was certain that every single butterfly in a twenty kilometre radius was making itself known inside her stomach. She took a deep breath and downed almost half her jug of wine.

"Majesty, I'm going to need you to stand up," Blue whispered. Emma jumped under her handmaid's touch,

"Sorry! Of course, I just…uh, sorry," Emma wasn't sure if her legs could handle her weight so she reached out to Blue, who immediately helped her up, "sorry, I'm just nervous,"

Blue kept her hand on the Queen's elbow as she turned them towards the mirror. Emma almost stumbled at her own reflection,

"Wait, that's…is that me?"

Blue beamed at the reflection of Emma that the Queen did not recognise. Emma's golden curls were combed to perfection and draped over her pale shoulders; a golden diadem sat neatly on top, a single blue jewel hanging onto her forehead. She wore a white toga with thick golden trimmings that tightened in around her flat stomach and extenuated her breasts. A thin layer of light blue gossamer silk was pinned to the tops of her shoulders with solid gold clam shells, and floated over the tops of her arms and trailed down her back.

"Blue you work miracles," Emma leaned forward and ran her manicured fingernails lightly over her face; she had soft rosy cheeks and dark pink lips.

"Not always Emma, but I am quite proud at how you turned out this afternoon," Blue twirled one of Emma's ringlets and grinned again, "you are a fine Queen, young Emma. Regina will be lucky. Now come on, before your mother kills both of us for being later than we should be,"

Blue dragged Emma away from her reflection and back down the hallway to the boathouse. Her knees felt like they were going to give way,
"Blue," Emma paused, holding the handmaiden's wrist tightly, "what if…"
"What if, what Majesty?"

Emma stared at the ground, trying to compartmentalise the emotions and logic inside her brain,

"What if this doesn't happen the way we want it too?"

"What do you want from this?"
"I want…" Emma searched Blue's eyes, "I want happiness from this,"
Blue leaned forward and pecked Emma's cheek with a kiss, "than, Emma, that is what you'll get,"

Before Emma could object, Blue yanked on Emma's hand and hauled her down the steps. She had to get a grip on herself; she needed to get it together before she graced the presence of Pharaoh Regina. No. Before Regina was graced the presence of Queen Emma, daughter of Mary the Fairest. Emma rolled her shoulders as Blue shined the golden clams on her shoulders.

"This is by far the most glorious boathouse I have ever been in, Majesty," a thick exotic accent drawled through the thick door. Emma's felt a shot of pure adrenaline spike down her spine and pool in the apex of her thighs. This woman's voice was the epitome of vocal sex.

"You should wait until you see my son, Antony, and his sister-"
"Sister?" Regina probed, "Antony has…a sister?"

Emma heard Mary clear her throat; her cue to enter. Emma took another deep breath and pushed open the door to the boathouse,

"Yes, that would be me. Good evening Regina, Pharaoh of Egypt," Emma almost choked on the sentence as the most beautiful woman she'd ever laid eyes on, stood by her mother's side.

Regina's long black hair was almost entirely obscured by an intricately designed golden headdress topped with a striking cobra completely embedded with rubies, topaz and sapphires. She wore a thin cotton blouse that cut off around her shoulders and collected up again around her elbows where it was fastened with golden catches. This was tucked into a beautiful floor sweeping emerald green skirt that split up the side, revealing a single olive brown, toned leg with golden bangles and simple brown leather sandals. The design of the skirt reminded Emma much of the peacock's feathers she knew that floated around the palace gardens.

Mary was positively beaming as Emma took in this woman's delightful outfit,
"Ah yes, like I was saying Pharaoh, this is my daughter, Queen Emma,"

Emma noticed that Regina was blatantly obvious with the way her brown eyes raked over her body, stopping and staring into Emma's green eyes.

"I'm very sorry for my tardiness your Majesty," Emma bowed her head to Regina, exposing a nice amount of cleavage, "but I was running late doing errands for my brother who is away at the moment. I'm sure you can understand being Queen yourself,"
Regina smiled, "of course, Queen,"

Emma waved her hand, "please, call me Emma; I hate pretentious titles,"

"Of course, dear; Emma it is," Regina held her hand out to Emma, who suddenly scooped it up and placed a chaste kiss on Regina's knuckles, "my, my, what a friendly bunch you Athenians are. And please, call me Regina. I have no need for…pretentious… titles also,"

Mary blushed behind Regina, embarrassed by her daughter's unexpected move of chivalry.

"For the record dear, if any other royal kissed me like that, I would have had them killed on the spot," Regina smiled softly at Emma while Mary gulped audibly,
"I'm sure that would be a fun explanation to tell my brother Antony at dinner tonight. You killed his sister because she had the bravery – "
"Or the stupidity," Regina clarified, much to Mary's distaste,

"Or the stupidity, to kiss a beautiful Queen on the knuckles," Emma tilted her head, "I'm sure he'd understand when he lays his eyes on you tonight"
Regina's eyebrows shot into her hairline as she stared at the other Queen. Emma cleared her throat,

"I'm very sorry but I must leave you as I have many important things I have to deal with before the day is over," Emma bowed her head to Regina and kissed Mary on the cheek. She turned on her heel and headed back up the stairs,

"Emma!" it was Regina.

"Yes Regina?" Emma took a step back down at glanced at the other Queen,

"Will you be at the dinner tonight?"
Emma's heart leapt into her throat. She was definitely going to be there but not as herself. She smiled sadly, "No, I'm sorry I won't be. You will be having dinner with my twin brother Antony, but I'm sure I will see you during the day tomorrow, perhaps,"

Regina looked crestfallen but bowed her head ever so slightly, "of course. I look forward to it,"
"Dinner or tomorrow?"
"Both,"