Regina returned to her bedchamber to find the Princess on the balcony, watching the envoy gallop away through the beautiful landscape. Regina simply watched the blonde for a while, she looked relaxed, at ease, and it was a pleasurable sight. Unbidden an image of Emma in one of her tight fitting leather outfits rose to the forefront of the queens minds.

"You are safe Princess." Emma nodded in response still taking in the view. Regina went forward to join her against the guardrail.

"Why do you use my title?" Emma suddenly asked after a time of silence.

"Because it is your title, who you are."

"But it's not, not any more. I renounced my title, that part of my life, when I pledged myself into your service."

"It's not your choice; your parents won't let you. You're the only heir to the White Kingdom, they can't lose you."

"They already have, after all that's why that envoy came."

"They won't give up; this can only ever be temporary Emma. I can hide you, but not forever. In light of that I'll be giving you special duties."

"Your majesty?" Emma turned to face the queen. Regina moved to sit on the edge of her bed, Emma joined her.

"For the foreseeable future you will be my personal guard."

"What of Knight-Lord Graham."

"He has his own lands to attend to, which he has been neglecting of late. Besides that wasn't what I had intended, Graham and his retinue guard stand outside my door, as you have been doing today, well sometimes Graham is allowed in but I grow bored of him. No, this is different, I want to ensure nothing like the issue I had earlier happens again. You seem to be competent at handling the situation." Emma realised that the queen just wanted a friend, someone to comfort her and Emma was more than happy to help.

"So can I ask you what all this is about?"

"It is none of your concern."

"Regina, I can help you better if I actually know what's going on." Emma rested a hand on her Regina's leg.

"Memories…" Emma waited for the queen to continue, Regina took a breath and the door to the chambers opened. Emma quickly removed her hand and stood up, hand on sword hilt as she turned to find Graham standing a little sheepishly in the doorway.

"Yes Knight-lord?"

"Er-hem. I was just going to inform you that I'm taking my leave now your majesty."

"Thank you for informing me Graham, you are dismissed." Regina waved her hand and Graham hurriedly left.

"So where were we?" Emma said, resuming her seat next to the queen on the bed.

"I seem to recall your hand upon my thigh."

"If that's what you remember." Emma said placing her hand a little more suggestively on the queens' thigh and raising an eyebrow seductively. "However…" Her fingers started stroking "I seem to remember you being about to tell me about what's going on." Regina scowled as Emma removed her hand.

"Evil isn't born, it's made." Regina growled.

"I'm not going to press you for more at the moment, but I will find out. Just keep in mind that you're not evil, some of your acts of punishment may have been a little on the cruel side and some things you've done have been exceedingly dark, but you yourself aren't evil. Your harsh, calculated and controlling when you need to be but your also fair to your subjects, your country is prosperous, you took me into your service, only knowing me as a lowly peasant with no belongings except for the clothes on my back, near enough, and even when you found out my real identity you sheltered me and accommodated my wishes when it would be much easier for you to hand me back to my parents."

"You aren't an object to be passed from hand to hand Emma."

"And neither are you completely evil." There was another pause of silence as each considered what the other woman had said. "So what are my duties exactly?" Emma ventured.

"I will call you when I need you, for now we will start with you guarding me during my personal time, like you are doing now." That confirmed it for Emma, Regina just wanted a friend.

"Will you be alright tonight or do you require me to stay." Regina smirked and raised an eyebrow at the unmeant connotation of the blondes' words. "I can sleep on the floor." Now it was Emma's turn to smirk.

"Perhaps that is an idea, but the floor is unnecessary." Emma quirked an eyebrow.

"If you want me in your bed your majesty…" Emma teased.

"As appealing as that sounds I believe for now conjuring another bed in my chambers may be the best course of action."