Disclaimer: I do not own OUAT in any way, shape or form.


~Two years later~

The scent of horse and sweat and hay was swept away by the harsh wind as Emma balanced atop her galloping horse, two years having done wonders for her riding skills. Fear of the great beasts had long since faded into a caring caution and riding had become an escape that she never expected.

Of course, she mused as her eyes slid to the side to watch her riding companion, the fact that Regina so clearly loved the horses might have had a hand in Emma's improvement. The brunette, from the first day she had discovered the blonde's secret, was a constant in Emma's life. A beautiful, strong, affectionate constant. Emma's smile stretched automatically as she thought of Regina's all-encompassing hugs and the way her face would light up as they saddled the horses together, getting ready to pretend they were free.

Two years, and Emma hadn't been found out by anyone, even after the death of her father, not two weeks after Regina had become her friend. Even now, after all the time that had passed, Emma could not think of her father without a icy sorrow piercing her, one that Regina had managed to keep from destroying her completely. If not for the other girl, Emma might not have made it through, and she would never forget it.

Returning her focus solely to Regina, Emma signaled her steed to begin slowing up as they approached the very edges of the brunette's family's lands. Emma had packed a picnic in her saddle bags to surprise the girl. It was a special day, after all. Exactly two years ago this day, Emma had first met the girl, and on that day her entire life had gained at least a hundred new bright and shining colours.

"Free as the wind!" Regina shouted, her thighs pressed against the mares sides so she could lift herself up just a tiny bit. Taking in a deep breath of the air that rushed past them, the girl threw one arm in the air, then looked to the side where she could see her best friend smiling at her. She loved Emma's smile. She'd loved it for about two years now, ever since they met. At the start, she'd noticed that Emma didn't smile much, only after they'd seen each other for a few times Regina had thought she could see a slight shift, more laughter, and she'd also noticed that Emma's smile would get brighter every time Regina would mention how important she was to her. It was fascinating and fun, seeing the reaction on Emma's face, and knowing she could make someone feel better.

Her mother, surprisingly, hadn't found out about Emma. Even though there had been dicey situations in which they were almost caught, Regina had always found a way to distract her mother - even if it meant Emma and her couldn't see each other for a few days. Regina had gotten a lot happier throughout the last two years, and maybe Cora had thought that it had simply meant her daughter was becoming a grownup. Whenever her mother would ask, "Regina, what's gotten into you?" with a smirk on her face, Regina would simply reply, "I'm happy, mother. That's all you ever want me to be, right?"

Closing her eyes for a second, Regina took in the smell of the grass around them, and looked back at Emma. They were slowing down, the closer they'd get to the edge of the family grounds, the more dangerous it would be. The magical barrier that surrounded the entirety of the ground served as a sufficient alarm system for those both sneaking and sneaking out. After being less careful a few times before, they'd learned to always be on guard. Even after two years, Regina couldn't wait to see Emma again each day, and spending the rest of the day with her. Every time they met, the world suddenly felt different, and Regina was instantly happy. She was going to enjoy it as long as she could.

Coming to a stop near a cluster of trees and dismounting with far more ease than even a year ago, Emma made quick work of fastening her steed to a particular tree that hung beside and across a slow flowing river. This spot was their spot, one that the blonde discovered as a young child and had shared with Regina.

There was nothing she liked better than being around her 'princess'. In the beginning she had hesitated when the little girl had wanted to help with heavy lifting and other such tasks, unable to reconcile the toned muscles that she had since learned hid under the surface of the soft skin with the tiny frame and bright angelic smile. Regina was a gift from the heavens themselves, as far as Emma was concerned, and a real lady.

Thinking of just how proper Regina could be only reminded the rugged teenager of their many 'lady' lessons. Emma, though able to handle social situations with relative ease that only increased over the years spent in Regina's uplifting presence, did not seem very apt at grasping the finer art of etiquette. She walked in too masculine of a manner, a habit formed when she was attempting to hide her identity altogether, and in a dress she felt like a stranger. That might have been merely because Regina's dresses were a bit too short for her and didn't fit quite right around the hips and waist, but the fact remained that Emma only felt like less of a lady over time. In fact, she had begun to entertain thoughts of hiding her gender and attempting to become a knight.

Her horse whinnied in response to the close proximity of Regina's, returning Emma to reality. Her beautiful reality. As she tugged the picnic basket down from her horse's back, Emma breathed in the fresh outdoor air and imagined she could catch a hint of a scent that was all Regina.

"I brought us a picnic lunch!", she shouted happily, proud of what she had packed. Sandwiches, some fruit and a wine that she had saved to purchase, electing to do something special on this the second anniversary of their meeting.

Emma was everything and more that Regina had imagined a friend to be. They shared a big secret, they saw each other almost every day, she could talk to Emma about anything, and they would comfort each other if one of them had a bad day. There were lots and lots of days where they would laugh, tell each other jokes, or get into little play fights, until they were wrestling on the ground. But even on the days where they would cry together, in the end, they would return home with a smile. It had been a completely new, and exciting experience, and at this point, Regina couldn't have imagined her life without having Emma by her side.

She loved everything about her friend, the way she talked, how she was curious about the life in the castle, and how she sometimes tried so hard to imitate "ladylike" behaviour. They would always end up a giggling mess.

Raising an eyebrow, Regina looked over to Emma. "Picnic? Sounds good to me!" It wasn't the first time they'd eaten together - though, at the very start it had been difficult for Regina to explain to her mother why she would be gone at breakfast, lunch or dinner. Most of the time she'd tell her that she wanted to train and ride some more, and at some point Cora had gotten used to it, but only after making sure Regina took some food with her or ate before she went out.

Throughout the last two years, Regina was more and more convinced that the older she got, the easier it was for her to understand Cora, adjust to her moods, and get out of her what she wanted. But she'd also felt like Cora was more relaxed - maybe because Regina had tried extra hard to please her, so she could spend more time with her best friend outside.

Regina got her mare to stop, and jumped off her excitedly. "What have you got this time, Emma? Show me!"

Emma laid out a large blanket before she set to unloading what she had prepared. A small pile of sandwiches, several plums and a healthy sized bunch of grapes and a bottle of wine that Emma had saved a month to buy. Even as she withdrew the bottle, the heat in her face was increasing by leaps and bounds, the thought that Regina probably would look at the thing and believe it to be cheap beginning to nag at her.

She had been so proud at first, having made everything herself without the help of some of the kinder kitchen staff. However, now as she looked over the little packed lunch, there was an overwhelming sense of inadequacy that just wouldn't leave her alone.

"I mean.. you know.. it's not much.. but I made it myself and.." She shrugged with one shoulder and gave the other girl an uncertain smile. No matter what she did, if she could draw a smile from her princess, then everything would feel like the finest feast in all the lands.

Regina's smile grew wider the more items Emma laid out on the little blanket that she'd brought with her. Of course, Emma had planned it all out, organised and prepared everything herself, only to impress Regina. She was used to it, at this point; but she never got tired of it. Quite the opposite, every time Emma would come up with something and surprise Regina, the girl would feel warm, content, and.. safe. No one had ever taken care of Regina the way her best friend did.

"It's perfect!" Regina blurted out, cheeks flushed, excited about the fact Emma had taken time to prepare a picnic for them. "I love it! Really!" her eyes went over to the bottle of wine that the best friend had put down carefully, and her eyes went wide. "Wine? Where did you even get that?"

Carefully plucking a few grapes from a wine, Regina smiled at Emma, then opened her arms and pulled her into a hug. "Thank you." she whispered in her ear, and let go. "Now say aaaaah!" Grinning, she held one of the grapes up, waiting for Emma to comply.

Fully convinced that there was nothing in this world better than an embrace coming from the magnificent creature who had come to be the most important person in her life, Emma made to slip her arms around the smaller girl's waist. Before she could return the hug however, there was food being pushed into her face, and who was she to deny her princess? Playing at being some sort of monster, the blonde made growly animal noises before closing her mouth over Regina's fingers and sucking the grape out of her grasp.

Tiny tingles like fairy footsteps rushed swiftly down the length of her body, resulting in a light blush that she turned quickly to try and hide. Uncorking the wine slowly, both so she would not risk spilling any of the expensive drink and to allow time to compose herself, Emma answered, "I got it in town." Duh, Emma, don't patronize the girl, she chastised herself. "I mean, I saved up and got it. It's a special day!" The last sentence was spoken with more eager excitement than the blonde had intended, and instantly she was glancing at Regina for a sign that she too had remembered the anniversary of their meeting.

Giggling at Emma's reaction, the silly noises and the playful expression on her face while she was chewing the fruit, Regina shook her head. Emma always knew how to make Regina laugh, even on days where she didn't feel like laughing, or smiling at all. She was so different from all the people Regina had met, and she was glad about it. It was exciting, seeing Emma move, hearing her talk, and interact with her. It was odd at first, but she'd gotten used to it. She craved her presence every day, and it was especially hard when she couldn't leave the castle.

Watching Emma opening the bottle, Regina's giggles came to a halt. She'd gotten it for them. Feeling herself blush, Regina looked away for just a second, until Emma mentioned that today was a special day. Raising one eyebrow, Regina thought for a second. Special day? Did she forgot about something? Emma's birthday? No, that couldn't be.

"Special day, Emma? What is it?" Her eyes were glued to the bottle, already feeling bad for how long the other girl must've saved up for it. "Thank you so much for this. Thank you for always making me smile."

A vague surge of disappointment rushed through Emma's veins and it took a gargantuan amount of effort to keep from allowing the expression to bleed through on her face. As the wine pooled in the two glasses she had smuggled from the kitchens, Emma spoke gently, quietly, almost embarrassed

"It was.. it was two years ago today that we met for the first time." Emma's voice grew small as she spoke, uncertain now of how ridiculous she might seem for celebrating something so..insignificant. There were always those days in which Emma would come suddenly to terms with the enormous difference in social class between Regina and herself. But somehow, even in her fancy riding frocks and perfectly pulled back hair, as if a servant had done it, Regina could reassure her with ease.

Emma shucked her coat and laid it beside the blanket, her boots following the jacket's lead and leaving her in breeches that she had finally grown into just a bit more and a loose cream colored tunic shirt. Lifting her glass of wine and handing one over to Regina, Emma made a toast.

"To us, best friends forever!"


Hello all! Being that I am a poor student, I've only just barely been able to afford to fly from Berlin to Florida for my sister's wedding, and I've gotten the cheapest ticket possible to get back to Berlin, but I do have four little sisters whom I would like to take to a movie or something. If you'd like to help me out a little, you can check out my Tumblr, which is the same UN as here.