New Beginnings

Chapter 10 Some Enchanted Evening

Emma was dressed in cream-colored tight-fitting trousers with brown high heeled boots, a cream colored button shirt with a lace collar, and a royal purple long-tailed jacket that looked like a dress. The coat had golden leafy decoration on the cuff of the sleeves and the hem all around the coat. Emma's hair was tied back in a curled ponytail. She pulled out the ring one more time. She smiled as she traced the swans.

"This is it. You will be on her finger soon."

After putting the ring back into the black velvet drawstring pouch, she placed the pouch in her pocket and walked out her room after blowing out the candles.

* * * * *NEW BEGINNINGS* * * * *

Regina smoothed out her royal purple velvet dress with a deep V in the back with a diamond overlaying the deep V stopping just above the small of her back. Her long dark brown locks were fixed in a straight ponytail with a teased top to give some height. She put on her black high heels and fixed her red lipstick when she heard a voice call out.

"May I enter your chamber, my lady?"

The brunette smiled, turned around, and replied to the blonde who was leaning against the bricked wall that separated the balcony and the room, "Yes, princess, you may enter my chamber."

Emma smiled, walked up to the brunette, took her right hand, and gave it a gentle kiss.

She spun Regina around, "You look beautiful in that dress."

"Thank you," Regina replied, "you look amazing as always. I love this color on you."

Emma smiled, "Thank you. Are you ready for our romantic evening for two?"

Regina leaned forward and gave Emma a gentle kiss to her eagerly waiting lips.

Regina breathlessly answered, "Yes."

Emma held out her hand, and Regina took it. They walked to the door, and Emma opened it. Regina walked out first followed by Emma closing the door behind her.

* * * * *NEW BEGINNINGS* * * * *

Snow, David, and Henry had just sat down for supper then Emma and Regina walked in. David and Henry whistled at them, and Snow said, "Wow, you two look very nice! Have fun and don't worry about Henry. He's in good hands."

"I don't have to worry, mom," Emma replied.

"Enjoy your evening alone," David smiled, and Regina replied, "We plan on it."

Emma glanced at her pocket watch, "Speaking of which, we are running a little behind schedule. So, we will see you all when we return."

Henry kissed both of his mothers, and the two women left the dining hall and out of the castle. Timmy held the carriage door open. Emma helped Regina inside.

Emma whispered to Timmy, "Do you remember the exact location I specified to you earlier today?"

"Yes, your grace, I remember the exact location."

Emma smiled, "Good."

She climbed into the carriage, and Regina was waiting for her. She sat down, took Regina's hand in hers, and the carriage began to move. Regina and Emma watched as they walked further away from the castle. Regina turned to see Emma deep in thought.

"Are you alright?"

Emma was brought out of her trance to reply, "Yeah, I'm fine."

"What are you thinking about?"

"I'm thinking of the two of us. We have something special, and our relationship will only continue to grow every time we're together."

Regina smiled and asked, "Where are you taking me?"

"I can't tell you until we get there."

"Emma, you're killing me! I need to know!"

Emma smiled kissed Regina's hand, "All in good time, my dear."

Emma took a peak out the carriage door and turned to face Regina, "We made it. Now, I want you to close your eyes. I will guide you to where we will be spending our evening. Do not open your eyes until I tell you."

Regina closed her eyes and Emma waved a hand in front of her closed eyelids. Nothing. She instructed the brunette out of the carriage. She led Regina through the forest successfully getting her to dodge every hole and low tree branch.

"Emma, can I open my eyes yet?"

"Stand right here."

With a flick of her wrist, a blanket unrolled itself, and Emma stood in front of the brunette, "Alright, open them."

She opened her eyes to see Emma standing in front of her, "Regina, what was the place you were telling me would be the perfect place for us to have a quiet evening?"

"A meadow with glowing fireflies."

Emma moved out of Regina's way revealing a meadow with glowing fireflies with a blanket lying out with a basket, two wine glasses, and a bottle of wine waiting for them. Tears filled her eyes, but she kept them at bay.

She turned Emma to face her and said, "Emma, this is beautiful!"

Emma held out her hand. Regina took it, and they made their way to the blanket. They sat down, and the blonde took the bottle of wine.

"Not too tart and not too sweet," Emma began then Regina smiled, "Exactly how I take my red wine."

After she got the bottle opened, Emma poured Regina a glass then poured herself one. After handing the glass to Regina, Emma raised her own.

"I would like to make a toast. Here's to us and new beginnings."

Regina smiled, raised her glass, and replied, "To us and new beginnings."

They clicked their glasses together and took a sip of the wine. They feed each other some cheese, sweet bread with honey, and some honey glazed ham.

"Mmm…the sweet bread was delicious."

"Thank goodness I told Cookie to make some. It is my recipe she followed."

Regina turned to Emma, "You know how to bake?"

Emma took a sip of wine, "I sure do. I will have to teach you how to make it."

She placed her wine glass down and pulled out Regina's music box.

"Emma," Regina pondered, "why is my music box here?"

Emma wound it up, opened the lid, stood up, and held out her hand, "May I have this dance?"

Regina took Emma's hand, "Of course."

The waltz tune began to play from the music box, and Emma led them into the one two three rhythms.

"You know the last time we danced together was when you were teaching me this dance for the ball."

"I know and thanks to my mother I never got the chance to dance at least one slow song with you.

"Regina mentally kicked herself. "I'm so sorry."

"You don't have to worry about anything because we are doing it right now. Besides, it was worth the wait."

Regina smiled as Emma twirled her and taken her back into the hold. The music stopped, and Emma bowed while Regina curtsied. Emma looked out to see some of the fireflies moving around.

Emma got closer to Regina, "Turn around and look at the fireflies."

Regina turned around, "Look at that! It looks like they are dancing."

Emma continued, "They are. The male fireflies are doing their mating dance. They impress the females to get one to choose him as her mate. When she chooses her mate, she joins in with his dance."

One by one, a female firefly would pair up with a male. Regina smiled, "Emma, look! Isn't it amazing?"

She didn't answer. Regina turned around to see Emma down on one knee holding a beautiful white gold ring fashioned in the shape of two swans craning their necks making a heart with a heart-shaped ruby just under the beaks. Regina placed her hand over her mouth and was trying to hold her tears at bay.

"Regina, since we arrived here in the Enchanted Forest, our relationship changed for the better. Our magic bonded bringing us closer to each other. We can sense how each other feels, sense when one of us is in need, sense when we need each other magically, and our magic will act on its own to save the other from harm. When you were under that sleeping curse, I felt alone and empty. That was the worst feeling that I ever felt and I don't want to go through that ever again. I love you, Regina. I will love you as long as I live. Will you marry me?"

The Queen knelt to where the blonde could see her. Tears were now streaming down her face, and she cupped the blonde's cheeks in her hands, "Yes. Yes, my dear sweet Savior, I will marry you."

Emma planted a long deep passionate kiss on Regina's lips. Emma was the one who broke the kiss and placed the ring on Regina's left ring finger.

"Emma, it's so beautiful."

"Jonathan outdid himself with the help of my drawing."

Regina could believe that it was her darling Emma that drew up the ring and Master Jonathan who used his craft to make Emma's vision a reality.

Emma admired the ring on her fiancée's finger. "It's so beautiful on you."

Regina smiled then Emma asked a stupid question, "Do you want to go back to tell our family about the good news?"

Regina nodded, "Yes!"

* * * * *NEW BEGINNINGS* * * * *

Henry watched from the window as the carriage pulled up and his mothers stepped out.

"They're back!"

David asked, "Could you tell if your mom was wearing the ring?"

"They were too far away. I couldn't tell…"

"Couldn't tell what, kid?"

Henry ran up to his mothers, and they embraced.

Emma began, "Well, we have some wonderful news."

"Emma asked me to marry her, and I said yes."

Snow squealed, and everyone hugged excitedly about the upcoming wedding preparations.