The next morning, both Regina and Emma awoke with a smile upon their faces and they looked to one another with widdening smiles.

"Good Morning Emmah" Regina says huskily and it takes Emma's insides flutter.

"Morning, did you sleep well miss?" she then asks breatherly.

"Yes, and you?"

"Like a baby" she replies happily and chuckles. Which makes Regina smile adoringly at her, before looking to the ceiling wondering what today would bring.

"I think we should go have breakfast" she then says and leans up. Which makes Emma lean up and streche her arms and ask "Is your mother is out till this afternoon?"

"Yes" Regina answers firmly and gets up going to the ensuite with a smile while Emma watches her go.


Twenty minutes later, Regina and Emma sit at the dinning table waiting for their breakfast.

"I like our breakfasts together" Emma then says casually, as she leans on the table and looks to Regina, who is sat opposite.

"Me too" Regina replies softly and smiles at her for a long moment, until Mrs Lucas walks in holding two plates.

"Good Morning Miss Mills" she then says, as she places the plates down and Regina says "Good morning mrs Lucas, how are you today?

Mrs Lucas looks momentarily surprised by Regina's inquiry, as she has only ever got a good morning from Regina in the past.

"I am well" she replies and looks to Emma, wondering if she is the reason why Regina seems more at ease and confident.

"Mrs Lucas makes a lovely apple pie Emma, you must try some when she makes it" Regina then says and Mrs Lucas raises her eyebrows in surprise.

"I will make it soon" she then tells Regina with a smile and Regina nods. Prompting Mrs Lucas to leave and 'Leaving Regina and Emma to eat their breakfast.


After breakfast, Emma files Regina's nails and then finds a pack of cards under some items within a drawer.

"We should play a game" Emma says eagerly, while holding the cards up.

"I don't know of any" Regina replies feeling a little embrassed.

"Well...I know a game which tells your past, present and future shall we play that?"

Regina hestiantly and curiously says "Okay"

They then sit down at the table and Emma gives the cards to Regina. Whilst saying "Shuffle these"

So, Regina does and then hands them back after a minute of silent shuffling.

Emma then lays the top four cards, face down upon the table. Then another three underneith.

"Okay.." she says eagerly. "This is your past" she then says and turns the first card over revealing the king of hearts.

"A kind gentleman, with a good heart" Emma tells Regina then turns the second card. The three of spades. "A parting, strife.." Emma then says, whilst looking to Regina who looks thinks immediatly of her father.

Emma then goes to the third. Queen of hearts.

"An older woman" She then turns the forth..Three of spades. "very stern...I have no idea who that could be" Emma then adds and smiles knowingly at Regina, who nods and smiles back knowingly as they both think Cora.

Emma then turns the fifth and her smile falters. Its the king of spades.

"Who's that?" Regina asks.

"Its..Its a gentleman"

Regina immediatly thinks of the gentleman, that she has been speaking with. While Emma turns the sixth card. Six of spades.

"A journey of the heart" she says a little weakly and Regina wants to scoff.

"Don't go on Emmah" Regina then says, looking a little worrid about where this is going but Emma says "I must go on miss, otherwise your luck will desert you" and she turns the final card, which should of been the love card but it was the queen of diamonds.

She pauses, staring at the card. While Regina gets up and begins picking up the cards and says "Tell me about something else, of life outside these walls. Do they dance at balls?"

Emma nods and gets up, looking left and right.

"Let me show you" she then says and Regina's eyes widen.

"How? we have no music"

"That doesnt matter" Emma grins and takes Reginas hands and starts moving them in a circle. Whilst laughing. However, moments later Regina steps upon her feet and she stops and hops on one foot.

"I'm sorry..I didn't mean too. I mean I have never done this before" Regina says apologetically. While Emma puts her foot down and tilts her head at Regina and thinks, shes so innocent.

"Don't worry about it Miss. Come on lets try again" she then says and reaches out for Regina's hands and they begin again.

This time they both laugh and Regina has never felt more at ease in her life. She can freely admit she is happy in this moment. Every moment with Emma and she forgets all about gentleman and her readings within the libary.


Five more days then pass and after another visit from gentleman. Regina decides to tell Emma about the plan. As she as agreed to go through with it, in two days time and doesnt want to leave Emma behind.

Emma is now brushing Regina's hair, when Regina looks though the mirror and says "If I ran away from here, would you come with me?"

Emma pauses and stares at Regina through the mirror.

"Would you?" Regina asks again.

Emma blinks.

"I..are you really thinking about running away miss?"

Regina sighs.

"I have been given an opportunity too"

"What opportunity?" Emma asks quickly and Regina grips her hands together in her lap.

"Promise you won't tell no one?" she says seriously.

"I promise" Emma says honestly and Regina takes a deep breath before saying "You know the gentleman that has been visiting?" she says, as she grips her hands in her lap tighter.

"Yeah..though, I wouldnt call him a gentleman as such" Emma replies, in a tone of disgust.

Regina smirks.

"Well his going to help me get away from here"

"How?" she tilts her head curiously.

"In two nights time, I shall pack a bag and sneak out when everyone is sleeping and he will be waiting with a carridge. He is going to take me to a home. Where a respectable couple lives and I can stay there, unti I am able to find something better"

"But you barely know this man Miss. I wouldnt trust him...and whats in it for him exactly?" Emma says in surprise.

Regina frowns.

"He wants some jewellery or something expensive to resell" she frowns and looks down to her lap. Thinking Emma won't come with her.

Theres then a pause, as Emma looks to the brush in her hand and begins to brush Regina's hair again.

"May I ask why you want to leave here miss? I know your mother is not the maternal kind, but you have a nice home and things cannot be that bad to run away" she asks.

Regina clenches her jaw and thinks if only you knew.

"Things are not exactly as you believe Emmah" She says sadly. "I want to be free. I have never had that here"

Emma stops brushing once more and looks at Regina for a long moment through the mirror.

She knew the moment Regina had asked her, the answer be always be yes but she was curious to know why Regina wanted this.

Emma swallows thickly.

"Then, if this is what you really want I shall go with you. Your need someone who knows about life outside this house" Emma then says with a small smile and a smile suddenly appears on Regina's face.

"You will?" Regina mutters wanting to make sure she heard right.

"I will. It is my job after all to tend to your needs remember?" she tries to joke and Regina shakes her head and says "Once we leave here, you will not be my maid anymore Emmah. You will be free too"

This makes Emma stare wide eyed at Regina, who now gets up and turns around to face her.

"Were both be Free" Regina whispers and smiles widely at the blonde, who stops breathing at the pure beauty of Regina in this moment and the way her smile lights up the darkened room.

Emma then, suddenly feels the strongest need to kiss Regina and with that, comes the realization, that she feels something more than she should for the brunette.

How had she not noticed it before, she thinks to herself. Before looking away, in fear of Regina seeing these new found feelings...


A/N Thank you for the follows/Faves/Reviews and to the guest reviewer - yes it is something positive.

Next chapter, Regina and Emma leave the Mills residence and Regina gets the surprise of her life.