It was over an hour later that Red finally seemed to come out of the shocked trance Emma's words had sent her into. Time in which the young blond had tried to tell her godmother as much as she could to reassure her that they would be safe, that Regina meant them no harm, that Regina herself was actually pleased that the wolf was coming with Emma; going as far as showing the older woman the letter that the Queen had sent, exclaiming her happiness at finally getting to meet the wolf in person as she had always wanted.
While Emma had been babbling on about the woman, Red had been thinking about how she was going to play the next few weeks. She felt the inexplicable need to protect her pup from this supposed threat until she knew for sure that there was no danger. But even then she didn't think she would be able to be calm around the former Evil Queen, no matter that no one had even heard from her for the past eighteen years. Other than knowing she was alive, the most anyone in the White Kingdom had heard was tales from their subjects of how happy and prosperous people were in the Dark Kingdom.
Glancing out the window, she saw that they were beginning to approach the Forbidden Fortress gates. A rush of panic shot through her at the thought that soon she would be in the presence of the woman who had tried to kill her best friend for years, but then forced herself to calm down at the look upon Emma's face as she tried to reassure that they would be safe. "Emma!" she finally said loudly over the girls chatter "will you please calm down. I understand why you didn't want to tell me about everything and I will reserve judgment on the Evil Queen until later" Emma frowned at her godmother at the use of the 'E' word in relation to the older brunette, but let her continue "but if she does anything to harm either you or myself while we are here, I will not be held responsible for my actions. I will not be leaving you alone with her at all, so don't get any ideas about that Ok" she finished sternly.
Emma tried not to sigh in exasperation at this, but nodded her head in agreement, knowing that she would have to come up with some creative ways to keep Red busy enough that she could see Regina alone. Smiling at her godmother happily she turned at stuck her head out of the window like she used to do when she was a child and watched at they got closer and closer to the castle in the mountains and all of her favourite people.
Red shook her head, smiling as she watched her goddaughter revert to a five year old, practically bouncing in her seat as she used to do when they would visit Maleficent and Lily. Leaning back in the seat of the carriage she bit her lip to keep from laughing as she watched the young princess begin shouting and waving at the people waiting her them at the doors of the castle.
Maleficent did not do nerves. She was a Dragon and a Queen for Medusa's sake. So why she was feeling the odd sensation running through her as she watched Emma's carriage pull up outside the door was baffling to her. Maybe it had something to do with the woman that Emma had been told to bring with her. Or the woman that was currently standing to her right also watching as the doors opened to reveal the blond Princess they were both waiting for.
Emma launched herself from the steps, not even waiting for the footman to help her down, and into Maleficent's waiting arms, squeezing tightly as she murmured how much she had missed her aunt. Releasing the young girl, she held her at arm's length looking her up and down as if inspecting her for something. "You look well my dear. I am sorry for what happened last time you were here, but I am glad that you seem to be ok despite that. I'm just so glad that Regina was there to assist you" at this both Emma and Mal looked over at the woman in question who had been listening to the conversation the two were having. Seeing them looking at her, she nodded her head at the pair, before looking back at the carriage and tensing at the sight of Emma's godmother stepping from within.
Mal, seeing Regina tense up, turned to look at the wolf "Red, I am so happy to see you as well. I've missed our talks like you would not believe. We simply must catch up at some point while you are here" Red smiled at the dragon woman, nodding her head and agreeing that it would be good to talk, all the while not removing her eyes from the other brunette that was standing with them. Mal sighed as she exchanged a look with Emma at the wolfs behaviour towards the former Evil Queen "Red" she said loudly, causing the younger woman to startle out of her staring competition with the other woman "I'm sure you know Regina" at this Red nodded, taking a deep breath and trying to remember what Emma had been talking to her about on the way over. "Yes. I do" Red replied before turning her eyes back to the woman in question. "Hello Regina" she said as neutrally as she could.
Regina smiled at the woman, knowing that this must be hard for her "Good afternoon Red. I'm so glad that you could make it. I've been so looking forward to meeting you, I'm sure Emma told you" the dark Queen tried to keep her voice as calm as possible, but Red could hear the slight tremor in her voice which showed the woman's nerves at meeting the wolf.
With a small scoff, Red replied "Yeah, she said something about that. Not sure I understand why you would want to meet me though?" Regina looked shocked at this "But surely you know" the Queen started, beginning to feel embarrassed when the wolf merely shook her head in the negative. Ducking her head, Regina spoke again "No matter what went on all those years ago, only two people ever had the nerve to stand up to me and my guards. One was Snow as everyone knows, but the other was you. I have wanted to meet you for so long, before it was probably to kill you for your insolence" Regina smirked at the almost insulted look on Red's face "but now..." she paused as if to gather her thoughts "Now; I wanted to meet you as a friend. A friend with a common interest". Here both women looked at the young Princess who was watching them both with a happy smile on her face.
"Please Red" Emma started, almost begged "Will you please just try and get along with Regina. You both mean so much to me, I would be miserable if you didn't get at least try" putting the full force behind it, Emma gazed at her godmother with the best puppy dog eyes she could, knowing that if anything was going to get the wolf to give in, it was that.
Red knew she was going to give in the second Emma looked at her like that, sighing deeply she accepted and even tried to smile at the witch behind her goddaughter. Emma shrieked happily, crashing into Red for a huge hug as she squealed thank you over and over in the woman's ears.
Mal smiled at this, before motioning for them to follow her into the castle, snapping her fingers at the footmen to get them moving with the trunks that sat on the back of the carriage. Leading them all out onto the balcony, she insisted on tea while they talked, Lily joining them around an hour later after her lessons had finished. Taking in the happy young blond that was sat next to Regina; she hoped that the next few weeks would work out well for everyone.
Days had passed and Regina has still not been able to spend any time alone with Emma. Everytime she even got near to the girl, her godmother would seemingly pop up out of nowhere, practically glaring at her for trying to be near Emma. The 'stay away from my pup' look in the wolfs eyes told Regina all she needed to know when it came to the other woman.
The lessons that she had planned on giving Emma were almost a waste of time, as Red insisted on being in the room at all times, but would whine pathetically whenever magic was used as it made her wolf feel 'itchy' as she put it the first time it happened. Unfortunately for Red, Maleficent had taken down the spell that prevented magic being used within the walls, so she was constantly in a weird mood due to the amount of magic floating around the castle.
It was on the seventh day of their visit that Regina had finally had enough with the wolf, despite her initial want to get to know the woman; now all she wanted to do was strangle her if she didn't leave them alone. Walking to Mal's study, she walked in without knocking, knowing the other woman wouldn't mind as it was her, before collapsing on the large chase in front of the fire, scowling at the amused look on her friends face. "I'm going to kill that damned wolf is she keeps this up!" she exclaimed, pouting in a most unqueenly way when Mal burst out laughing "Well, I'm glad to see you're enjoying yourself with all of this" she sulked.
Wiping the tears that had fallen during her laughing fit, Mal walked over to join her friend "What has Red done?" she asked with as straight a face a possible, knowing full well what the other brunette was doing to annoy the dark Queen. Regina rolled her eyes at the tone Mal was using, knowing that the woman was trying to keep from laughing at her again "She will not leave Emma alone! We came here with the intention that I teach Emma some more advanced magic and so we could spend some time together, alone" sighing Regina looked at her oldest friend "None of which is possible with that damn wolf around, whining every time one of us does magic or I get too close to the girl. I swear I saw her eyes turn yellow the other day when I put my hand on Emma's arm showing her the correct arm gesture for a spell, I think she growled at me as well until I backed off." Sighing again and covering her eyes with one hand, Regina slumped down in the chair (which she would forcefully deny if anyone ever mentioned it, Queens do not slump)
Mal chuckled at her friend again, knowing that the wolf was being over protective of the blond girl before speaking what she had been thinking of offering for a few days "How about I entertain Red for a bit, hmm? That should give you some time to either teach Emma whatever it is you want, or..." she paused here, thinking over what she was about to say, knowing that if Red every found out, she would be pissed.
Regina uncovered her eyes turning to look at her oldest friend "Or what?" she questioned.
Moving to sit next to Regina, the Dragon Queen spoke quickly "Perhaps you could take Emma away for a bit. Not for long, but just enough to give you some time together to explore whatever it is you to are feeling" at Regina's widened eyes and shocked expression Maleficent held up her hand to prevent any kind of denial "Please. Do not try and say there is nothing between the two of you. I am not blind, I can see the fondness you hold for the girl, and she you, written all over your faces." Mal smirked at the shock that still seemed to hover over the former Evil Queens face at having been caught.
"And what will you do to keep Red 'occupied' long enough for her not to notice that Emma is not here? Hmm did you think of that one Mal? And where would you have me take her? There is nowhere in this palace that the damned wolf will not find her when she realises the girl is gone." Regina sighed in frustration at the thought of it all, falling back on the seat again and throwing her arm over her eyes once more.
Mal smirked once more at the way the Queen was acting, shaking her head at it all. "You leave Red to me. Trust me, we have an interesting history that I am sure will come in handy to keep the wolf occupied for a few days if necessary" Regina merely grunted in response to this, half disgusted at the hint Mal was providing, but continued listening closely. "As for where you could go? Do you not have your own palace that you could show the girl? I'm sure she would love to see it, if what you have told me is true about her readings of your 'other' self".
A slow smile was beginning to take over Regina's face as she thought the plan through. She would love to show Emma the Dark Palace, one of the few places she was safe now, she only had a few staff left to tend to matters throughout the palace, and only one personal maid who knew of her situation and had been sworn to secrecy, in the beginning on pain of death.
Eyes brightening with the idea, Regina smiled at her friend, nodding in agreement with what she was being offered. "Well if you are sure you can keep the wolf 'entertained'" at this she grimaced once more "then I will take my leave of you this afternoon with Emma, if she is willing to join me of course" Mal watched as a small flicker of doubt flashed across the woman's eyes as she spoke before she hid it once more.
"Go and find Emma, pack some things and get out of here. Leave the wolf to me. I will see you in a few days, and I expect you to be a lot closer when you return, no more of these puppy dog eyes. That's Red's job" Mal laughed.
Quickly thanking her, Regina rushed out of the room in search of the blond Princess who had occupied her thoughts for weeks. Finding her in the garden playing with a ball of shimmering purple magic, Regina smiled at the care free expression on the girls face. Checking to make sure Red was not around; Regina hurried to the blond's side, dropping to the grass beside her, catching the magic in her own hand as Emma tossed it into the air once more.
"You really should be more careful with this, dear, wouldn't want to hurt yourself now would you" she chuckled at the look of surprise on Emma's face. Throwing the magic into the air herself, Regina added her own powers, creating a mini fireworks show as the ball dissipated in front of them.
"Regina" Emma practically screamed before throwing herself into the older woman's arms, propelling them both the grass behind them with the force. "Oh! I've missed you" the young girl squealed at the Queen as she wrapped her arms tightly around the woman's neck. Regina chuckled at this "How can you have missed me? I haven't gone anywhere" she asked while squeezing the girl in her arms just as tightly, knowing what the blond meant by missing her. They may have seen each other every day for the past week, but with the damned wolf around, they had no time together.
Emma opened her mouth to reply before Regina cut her off "Never mind, I know what you mean. That is what I have come to speak with you about." Taking a deep breath to calm her racing heart, Regina spoke again in a rush "How would you like to accompany me to my palace for a few days. No Red, no Mal, just the two of us." Emma's eyes opened comically wide as the Queen spoke, pulling them both up into a sitting position so they could talk properly.
"Are you serious?" Emma asked in wonder. At the brunettes nod, she threw herself into the woman's lap, once more wrapping her arms around the Queen as she repeated the only word Regina needed to hear 'yes'.
Holding the young girl in her arms, Regina felt happy, gently moving her hand over the girl's back, before turning her head slightly to capture the perfect pink lips that hovered near to her own. Neither knew who moaned first, but suddenly Emma was sitting astride Regina's legs, fingers were tangled in brunette tresses and Regina's hands were kneading the girl's hips through the fabric of the purple dress she wore, pulling her closer as they kissed. The pleasant feeling shot through Regina's body straight to her cock, which was beginning to rise as it enjoyed the feeling of the girl grinding on top of her.
Knowing that they needed to stop before it became too much, Regina, reluctantly, pulled away from the princess, holding the girls face in one hand, gently trailing her fingers over porcelain features and silk soft skin. Placing one more kiss upon now, ruby red lips, she sighed "We must stop my dear. If we don't, I will not be held responsible for my actions, and you deserve better than that" leaning their heads together, Regina felt Emma nod in agreement, pleased to hear the girls elevated breathing still in response to their kiss.
Taking the girls face in her hands, Regina brought them so they were eye to eye "Go gather some things; we will leave as soon as you are ready". Emma nodded, still not trusting her voice to work correctly, before jumping to her feet and running off toward the palace to do as she was asked. Regina remained sat in the grass trying to control her bodies reaction to the kiss they had just shared. If this was the reaction she got just from a kiss, she was in big trouble. Looking down at the rather large tent that had risen under her leather pants, she quickly thought of as many disgusting things as she could, willing the erection to go away. Knowing it was useless considering all she could think of was the young blond that had turned her world upside down, Regina flicked her wrist changing into a skirt once again to hide the evidence of her arousal; she would have to deal with it later. For now, she had a wolf to avoid, if she had any hope of spending any time with Emma at all.