Emma had just stumbled back to her chamber when the purple smoke appeared. She stumbled and Regina caught her lowering her to the floor and cradling Emma in her arms.

"Re-gina" Emma looked dazed as a half smile lit her face and she lifted her hand to Regina's cheek, only it wasn't. Regina's cheek was more to the right, no the left, no… Regina took Emma's wavering hand and held it to her.

Emma sighed contentedly and ran her thumb over her queens' smooth skin. Her eyes fluttered closed but she was shaken out of sleep.

"Emma! Emma, don't go to sleep." Regina commanded.

"Why? Is there something else you want me for?" Emma raised a suggestive eyebrow but it caused her head to feel like it was being split in half, like someone was applying all their weight on her head using their elbow. She grimaced.

"I'm sure you're familiar with the concept of concussion Knight Swan." Regina answered wryly.

"Worth a try." Emma grumbled. "What happened?"

"The White Kingdoms champion was very dishonourable and as such has forfeited any rights he may have claimed. You were named champion."

"Henry?" Emma suddenly demanded eyes wide with panic.

"Perfectly fine, though I would venture a guess to say that he would like to see you well."

"Good, I would like to see him too." Emma smiled and relaxed into Regina's arms once again.

"Mirror?" Regina looked away from Emma and to the looking glass on the nightstand; the face of the Genie appeared.

"Yes your majesty?"

"Fetch Henry to our chambers." The face disappeared and Regina magicked Emma into a chair, as she was unable to physically lift her.

Henry came bounding in. "Emma!" He exclaimed in delight causing Emma to wince. "Sorry." He whispered.

Emma waved him over; he sat in her lap and felt his birth mothers hands wrap around him.

"Congratulations." Emma continued to whisper. "You were really brave. I'm glad you're ok."

"Me too kid." Emma ruffled his hair.

"Mom's glad too. Aren't you Mom?"

"Yes dear." The Evil Queen's eyes swum with warmth, happiness and love. Emma waved her over and pulled her into their three-way hug with their son. Regina's heart felt like it was about to burst, she had never felt like someone cared about her as much as Emma and here, with them, was the son that they shared.

"So do you know what you want Emma?" Henry asked, his voice rising slightly before quickly dropping guiltily.

Emma chuckled. "I have an idea kid."

"What?" Henry practically squealed, but Emma held back the wince and her smile remained.

"It's a surprise." The excitement on Henry's face only built.

"I'm gonna leave you to get better." Henry said solemnly, getting off Emma's lap he quickly hugged his Mom before leaving the room.

Regina sighed "I hope he wasn't too…" Regina let out a startled cry as Emma pulled her down into her lap. She cuddled her body into Emma's as Emma messily stroked her hair, still feeling the effects of her concussion.

"When will the royals need to reconvene?" Emma asked.

"Whatever you are well dear."

"I am well enough."

"You could barely walk from the throne room to our chambers." Regina pointed out gently.

"Perhaps a few more hours." Emma conceded. Content enough to hold Regina; she still wasn't sure she was ready to face her parents. She didn't think she…

"You're worried."

"No, I'm just a little nervous." Emma replied.

"I'll do everything in my power to protect you."

"I've never doubted that, but who will protect you?" Regina pulled Emma closer to her, no one had thought that before, let alone asked. Emma could see her weaknesses but she was still here, with her arms around her, caring for her.

"I do not need protecting dear." She whispered almost sadly, she had never had anyone to truly protect her, so she had had to learn how to protect herself.

"I'll protect you." Emma whispered a heart-felt promise back, the power behind it made Regina shudder.

"As is your job Knight Swan." Regina teased before placing a sweet kiss to Emma's lips.

They just held each other, just as Regina thought Emma had fallen asleep she heard a small voice by her ear, barely audible "Don't let anything bad happen."

Regina just kissed her head in reply, not confidant that it was a promise she could keep.

"Regina, can you get off?" Emma asked at her normal volume. Regina quickly hid the look of hurt, but it was too late, Emma had already seen it. "No! It's just that my legs gone dead!"

Regina slid of and watched Emma stretch as she allowed warmth to creep back into her expression. Emma stood and gingerly placed her left foot forward, unsure where the floor was as she couldn't feel it.

Regina watched in amusement as Emma hobbled around, stamping her feet and wincing until the feeling came back to her limbs.

"I feel better." Emma announced, although she still felt a tiny bit nauseous.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." Emma put her brightest smile and offered her arm to her queen, who took it with a smile, besides being a gallant and courteous action it was also a way for Regina to make sure she wouldn't collapse on her.

XXX

Emma stood in the middle of the throne room as the royals filed in and took their appointed seats. Regina held Snow and James back with a firm glare, warning them that breaking protocol would be unwise.

Once the doors shut Emma marched forward and bent low over her queens offered hand, lightly kissing her knuckles before going to the right of Regina's throne and turning in a heel-snapping turn to face the assembled royals. She bowed low to the room in general before inclining her head in recognition of her parents.

"May I pronounce the Ogre Tournament champion, Knight Emma Swan, champion of the Dark Kingdom." Regina waved her hand at Emma before joining in the majority's polite applause.

"Her name is Charming, not Swan!" James protested loudly.

"Her name is whatever she wishes it to be King James." Regina held back her growl, but sparks still danced across her fingers until a strong reassuring hand on her shoulder.

The royals all noticed the tension in the room lessen at this action.

King Philip stood. "What is to be your prize, Knight Swan?" He earned an approving look from Regina.

Emma stepped forward, an object clasped tightly in her shaking hand. She braced herself, refusing to look at her parents, and knelt on one knee before her queen. She revealed a box, which when opened, revealed a highly polished silver band, set with a twinkling ruby, the exact shade of Regina's lips. It wasn't highly crafted and was relatively simple, especially given royal standards.

"Regina, will you marry me?" Emma asked all in one quick breath.

"Is this to be your prize?" Regina asked wearily, sadness weighing on her heart as she considered her previous farce of a marriage.

"No. My prize is that no one prevents this, no matter your answer." Regina smiled, tears in the corner of her eyes. Emma was giving up her chance to have anything, so that she could give Regina a fair choice. Emma had no guarantee that she would benefit from the request, yet she had made it anyway and given Regina the thing she craved the most, freedom. Well perhaps not the most anymore. She opened her mouth to respond.

"This is madness!" James shouted, in an instant Emma had her sword drawn at him, ring still clasped in the other hand.

"Do you not support true love father?" The endearment sounded more like a curse.

"She is not your true love! You need an heir!" James countered.

"Then tell us about the boy you left to die!" Emma yelled. James's face paled.

"He went to a good home honey." Snow said as calmly as she could.

"Despite you having him abandoned in a ditch!" Regina hissed standing beside Emma, fury radiating off her.

"What is the meaning of this King James?" King Philip asked. James seemed lost for words.

"I made a mistake whilst convincing myself that I was someone I am not. I bore a bastard son. I was promised he would have a good home, told I could not be his mother. He was found in the Dark Kingdom by a kind and generous woman. He was found cold, hungry and crying in a ditch. The stranger took him in and raised him up as her own."

A look of understanding came to the royals as they pieced together the story with Regina's fury and her newly revealed son. "I believe your views to be irrelevant James." Emma stated as calmly as she could before turning and kneeling once more.

"I still await your answer. Will you marry me?"

"You said true love…" Regina tailed off.

"I had a talk with the librarian. Apparently as the product of true love I have magic in my veins, but I cannot use it. However it calls out to my own true love. That is why I can stabilize your magic." Emma smiled softly, her world had shrunk to a bubble of her and Regina and it was perfect.

Regina held out her left hand as tears fell; "yes" she managed between sobs of happiness as Emma slid the ring onto her ring finger before standing, gathering Regina in her arms and kissing her soundly.

A/N: Feel free to ask any questions you have, I'm drawing to the end of this and I want to wrap up as many lose ends as possible, also I didn't want Emma to have magic in this fic so I hope that explanation satisfied you as I know people have been asking. Thank you X