Regina was in her room wearing a pale blue gown.
"Is that for the ball?" Snow asked, walking into the room.
"Yeah" Regina said. "What do you think?"
"Regina, you're not invited" Snow said.
"Snow" Regina said, confused. "I thought everyone was invited."
"You don't get it" Snow said. "Do you know what being back here feels like? Having my daughter be the princess she was always meant to be, but never got the chance to be because of your curse."
"I thought you forgave me for that" Regina said.
"I did" Snow said. "Until we got back here. It hurts, Regina. So I'm sorry, but you are not invited to the ball."
"If that's what you want, then fine" Regina said, heartbroken. "I'll stay here."
Snow walked out of the room and a single tear fell from Regina's eyes.
A few minutes later, Zelena walked into Regina's room in an emerald green gown to see Regina in a robe.
"You look amazing" Regina said.
"And you look underdressed" Zelena said. "Shouldn't you be dressed for the ball?"
"I'm not going" Regina said.
"Why?" Zelena asked. "Are you okay?"
"I wasn't invited" Regina said.
"Everyone was" Zelena said.
"Snow hates me" Regina said. "Being back here has brought back all those memories."
"I'm sorry" Zelena said. "Listen, I'm not going either. If my sister isn't invited, then I don't want to be there."
"No, you should go" Regina said. "Have fun."
"I'm not one for balls" Zelena said.
"But, you look amazing" Regina said. "Go. You'll have fun."
"Not without you, I won't" Zelena said. "We can just hang out here."
"Zelena, don't take offence, but I just kind of want to be alone" Regina said.
"I understand" Zelena said. "I'll be in my room if you change your mind."
"Thanks" Regina said.
"Oh and one more thing, Emma wanted me to give this to you" Zelena said, handing Regina a folded piece of paper.
Zelena hugged Regina and then walked out of the room.
Regina knocked on Emma's closed bedroom door and Emma opened the door in a pale purple gown.
"Come in here" Emma whispered.
Emma pulled Regina into the room and closed the door.
"What's going on?" Regina asked. "All your note said was that I needed to come here right away."
"I can't take it anymore" Emma said. "I'm not cut out for this life. I am not a princess. I just want to get out of the Enchanted Forest and back to Storybrooke."
"I know what you mean" Regina muttered.
"What?" Emma asked.
"It's nothing" Regina said.
"It's not nothing" Emma said. "And why aren't you dressed for the ball?"
"Your mom hates me for ripping this life away from you" Regina said.
"You must have misunderstood" Emma said.
"No. I know what she said" Regina said. "And she made it clear that I am not invited to the ball."
"This is unbelievable" Emma said. "Well, as princess, I am inviting you to the ball."
"Your mom does have a higher rank than you do" Regina said.
"But, if you're my date, then she can't say anything" Emma said. "Go get ready."
Regina smiled and then walked out of the room.
About ten minutes later, everyone was at the ball dancing when Regina walked into the ballroom. Snow immediately noticed and walked over to her.
"I told you that you weren't invited tonight" Snow said. "So why are you here?"
"She's my date" Emma said, walking over to them.
David and Hook looked at each other as the tension clearly escalated between the ladies. Snow dragged Emma and Regina out of the ballroom. Hook wanted to go intervene, but David held him back.
"They need to work this out themselves" David said.
Emma looked at Snow.
"Regina worked so hard to change" Emma said. "How could you treat her like this?"
"She took this away from all of us" Snow said. "I didn't get to raise my daughter."
"I know. My life was no walk in the park" Emma said. "But, I have forgiven Regina for everything. You did too, remember?"
"That was before we came back here" Snow said. "Before I saw what life could have been like if Regina wasn't so vengeful."
Tears filled Regina's eyes and she started to head down the hall, but Emma ran after her as Snow walked back into the ballroom.
"Regina, please come back in" Emma said.
"I'm not wanted" Regina said.
"I want you in there" Emma said. "Come on. You can't disappoint the princess."
Emma dragged a reluctant Regina back into the ballroom.
A few hours later, Hook and Emma finished their dance and Hook looked at Emma.
"My feet are killing me" Hook said. "And I'm exhausted."
"You want to leave" Emma said.
"Would you be mad?" Hook asked.
"No" Emma said. "Go. I'll see you later"
"I love you" Hook said.
"I love you too" Emma said.
Emma and Hook kissed and Hook walked out of the ballroom as Emma walked over to Regina who was watching everyone dancing.
"Hey" Emma said.
"I want to thank you for inviting me tonight" Regina said.
"I know how much you've changed" Emma said, touching Regina's hand. "It was the right thing to do. My mom will see that in time."
Regina looked at Emma's hand on hers.
"I've got to go" Regina said.
Regina ran out of the ballroom and Emma ran after her.
Emma grabbed Regina's arm to stop her from leaving.
"What's wrong?" Emma asked.
"It's nothing" Regina said. "I'm just really tired."
"Come on, Regina" Emma said. "There's something going on with you. What is it?"
"It's nothing" Regina said.
"Regina, we're friends" Emma said. "You can talk to me about anything. You know that, right?"
"I can't" Regina said, tears in her eyes.
"Regina" Emma said, concerned.
Emma held Regina's hands in hers. Regina slowly pulled her hands out of Emma's.
"I really can't do this" Regina said.
"Regina, what's going on?" Emma asked. "I am not letting you leave until you tell me what is going on with you."
Regina turned her back to Emma as she composed herself.
"Emma, I need to tell you something, but I don't know how you're going to react" Regina said, turning around to face Emma. "I have had feelings for you for years now. I love you, Emma."
Emma was speechless.
"I shouldn't have said anything" Regina said. "Just forget it."
Regina tried walking away, but Emma grabbed her arm.
"I love you too" Emma said. "I told myself that it could never happen because you couldn't possibly feel this way about me."
Regina placed her hands on Emma's cheeks and pulled her into a kiss. David walked out of the ballroom and saw the kiss. Regina pulled out of the kiss.
"You want to take this somewhere more private?" Regina asked.
Emma nodded and the two of them walked down the hall to Regina's room.