It was nearly two hours before Regina came back. When she was riding she didn't pay any attention to the time. She could have been gone just half an hour or all day for all she knew, but the magic was slowly draining her and she forced herself to release the horse and walk back. Regina quickly changed back into her normal clothes as she approached the stables, instantly feeling more comfortable and back in control.

Emma was sitting outside the stable, chin propped up on the back of her hand, fast asleep. Deciding not to wake her, Regina removed her jacket and began to clean out the stables. The smell was muted because of the curse, but she was used to it and didn't really mind. She swept out the stalls, put in fresh straw for the bedding and topped up their water. Next she checked there was plenty of food in the storeroom and added some hay to the feeder. By the time she had finished she figured the Sheriff had napped for long enough and went to wake her.

"You've been gone ages." Emma told her.

"Actually you've been sleeping while I have been working." Regina pointed out the floor, which was now clear of straw.

"You're supposed to be having fun." Emma reminded her.

"It would be irresponsible to leave the stables in a mess, even if we didn't ride any of the real horses. Animals need us to take care of them."

"It's like I'm seeing a whole new Regina today. The way you rode the horse, the way you've cleaned up the place… you don't seem to mind that you've ruined your expensive clothes."

Emma reached out to pull a stray piece of straw from Regina's hair. As she looked down, Regina realised she was right. She had forgotten how messy cleaning out the stables could be. Her mother had refused to let her do it after she ruined one of her nicer dresses. To be fair she knew she should have changed clothes first, but she had been so angry about something when she returned home that she just started tidying up the stables to take her mind off it. Before she could go into the house and change clothes her mother had found her. Cora had threatened to turn the stables to dust if she ever found her doing servants work in the stables again. She was allowed to feed the horses and brush them, if she wore old clothes or an apron to protect her clothes, because that was part of caring for the animals. Cleaning the stables out though, that was not something a princess, or future queen, could be allowed to do.

"I'll have to dry clean it. I'm too tired to use any more magic."

"I'm surprised you aren't going to throw it away and magic yourself something new later on."

"They're just clothes Miss Swan."

Emma raised an eyebrow. "Wow, you seem more relaxed."

"I told you, horse riding is fun."

"So how does pizza for dinner sound?"

"Like glorified cheese on toast."

"Come on, think of horses and stay in the fun-Regina zone."

"I expect that you'll want me to cook the pizza for you?"

"I could microwave some frozen ones."

Regina rolled her eyes. "I'll find a recipe and make a healthier version."

"Thanks. I'll head over to the store and pick out a dvd or something to watch."

"Why?"

"I got on the towering beast from hell for at least an hour to try your fun thing. Now it's your turn to try mine."

"You lasted three seconds before screaming like an infant that it was too scary for you. Can't the pizza be enough for tonight?"

"I think we're running out of conversation over the food and there's a chance it'll stop being fun. If we're watching a movie we don't have to worry about our talking turning into an argument."

"If I don't like the film after the first twenty minutes I get to leave?"

Emma laughed. "It's your house. After all, you've got the bigger tv."