Chapter 5
A New Dawn
Regina and Emma stood hand in hand on the balcony enjoying the early morning view of the gardens, even from here Emma could tell that her tree was laden with fruit,
"hmm" she pondered "I guess it's really your tree huh"
"What?" Regina asked brow creased quizzically
"The apple tree" Emma clarified "I claimed it as my own when I was a child, but I guess it's really yours"
"It's both of ours Emma" Regina replied "Everything I am and all that I own is both of ours"
Emma smiled and returned the sentiments then a loud gurgling sound broke though the moment
"You need to eat princess" Regina laughed
"What about you?" Emma asked
"Would you permit me to accompany you to breakfast?" Regina requested
"Sure, though I don't know what my mother will do when she sees you" Emma giggled
"Well, she has to see me sometime" Regina shrugged and began to lead Emma out of the bubble that was their wing "we might as well get it over with"
The breakfast servers were the first to eyeball Regina none of them had worked at the castle when Regina had moved in but still, they gossiped about the princess's guest, the gossip grew from there crashing over the castle like a tidal wave,
"I heard the craziest rumour on my way over here, Regina back in the castle I tell you" Snow laughed as she entered the dining room a short while later,
"Back? I never left dear" Regina retorted stopping Snow in her tracks, the queen suddenly looked very pale as her eyes wide with surprise as they found Regina sitting at the table eating bacon and eggs,
"How?" she whispered approaching Regina "my god you haven't aged a day" Snow gaped reaching out but stopping just shy of touching Regina's face,
"A timeless slumber will do that to you" Regina laughed
"Why don't you sit town mother, and we'll tell you everything" Emma said.
Snow looked, if possible, even more shocked once they had finished their tale,
"You were really that miserable?" she asked tears brimming her eyes as her heart broke for Regina
"Not anymore" Regina smiled looking towards Emma.
"I'm so sorry Regina, I've been so naïve" Snow admitted "and I can never make any of it up to you" she sighed sadly,
"You don't have anything to make up for" Regina assured "you were a child, but" she continued "there is one thing you could do for me"
"Name It" Snow said with fierce determination
"Grant your daughter and I your blessing to be together" she said smiling broadly at Emma "don't mistake me we'll be together regardless but I know that it would make Emma happy to have yours and her father's blessing"
"Well, you have mine if that's what Emma wants" David interrupted making them jump,
"Daddy" Emma beamed jumping up to embrace her father "how long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough" he replied giving her a squeeze
"Is it?" Snow asked frowning gently "what you want I mean" she clarified when Emma looked at her confused,
"How can you even ask that question?" Emma asked "you know the power of true love better than anyone" she said flicking her eyes to David then back to Snow "of course it's what I want"
Snow beamed in response to her daughters' words
"In that case" she said "how could I not give my blessing"
"thankyou" Regina smiled giving a curt nod then returned to tuck into her bacon.
Days became weeks and weeks turned into months, Emma moved into Regina's wing with her and could often be found tucked up in the corner of their library lost in a book, while Regina worked on honing her magical abilities, the apple tree bloomed and Regina found a spell that would enable Emma to continue to enjoy her favourite spot without running the risks of falling apples landing on her head, when an apple was ready to fall it simply floated to the ground and gently found its way into the large wicker basket sitting at its base.
Soon Emma's nineteenth year bloomed in front of them, the usual preparations were being made to throw a ball in honour of her birthday and Emma stood in the centre of her old bed chambers while her lady in waiting pulled the back of her red gown together excited anticipation growing with each pull on the strings.
Emma was in her old chambers because she and Regina had decided to get ready separately and surprise each other at the ball, Emma had no idea what Regina would be wearing, and she couldn't wait to find out.
Emma's own dress was simple but none the less stunning, with its wide neckline showing off Emma's fine bone structure, long sleeves ending in points over the tops of her hands, the skirt fell to her feet slightly puffed out by the underskirt that she was wearing, apart from that it was sheer and unfussy.
"Red always looks so good on you" a husky voice whispered appreciatively in her ear in the ballroom later that evening,
"Regina" Emma breathed turning round to face her, her jaw almost dropping to the floor as she clapped eyes on her for the first time,
Regina's dress was a beautiful pale pink, that complemented Emma's red perfectly, intricate silver details had been painstakingly woven throughout the bodice and off shoulder straps, they continued down the sides of the split at the front of its skirt from the bottom of the bodice to floor the gap filled in by the plain silky inner layer of skirt which fared out just a little bit more than Emma's own did, it was accompanied by matching gloves that finished above her elbows and a stunning diamond necklace that rested on her chest,
"You look amazing" Emma whispered as Regina pulled her into a waltz,
"As do you my dear" Regina replied "I have a surprise for you later birthday girl" she said,
"You do?" Emma asked ears pricking up,
"I do, but it's for later" Regina teased leaving Emma to wonder.
The evening was a resounding success, Emma had been pulled into dances with many other guests but had always managed to return quickly to Regina, she had blushed almost as red as her dress as she had be sung to when the cake had been brought out and Regina had squeezed her hand reassuringly, Emma always a sucker for sweet things especially cake had eaten through three enormous slices in quick succession then sat and groaned about how she was going to explode while Regina had laughed as she daintily worked her way through her own slice using a little silver fork.
Now they stood on their balcony, ballroom finery exchanged for more comfortable though equally as stunning evening dresses, at least in Regina's case Emma thought as she had watched her approach on the balcony in her deep red, sheer, floor length, velvety dress that hugged her curves in all the right places making Emma quiver in anticipation of what other activities the night might still have to bring.
Emma's gifts which had weighed down a table in the back of the ballroom and been brought up to their quatres and were now stacked in their cosy lounge waiting for Emma to open at her own leisure, all accept one, one which Regina had waiting on her dresser.
"Have you had a good birthday, Emma?" Regina asked turning to face her,
"The best yet" Emma replied with a dreamy far-off look in her eyes,
"You know I never thought that I'd ever find happiness or love again after Daniel" Regina murmured reaching up to tuck some hair behind Emma's ear before gently lifting her chin until their eyes met "then you came along and I've never been happier" she gently brushed her thumb over Emma's lips then leaned in to plant a gentle kiss on them before she continued,
"I love you so much Emma and I can't ever imagine my life without you in it, I don't want to imagine it" she said tears brimming her eyes,
"Oh Regina" Emma said pulling her into her arms "you never have to, I'm here, I'm with you, yours forever"
"I know" Regina whispered stepping back a little but keeping hold of Emma's hands,
"Emma" Regina lowered herself to one knee releasing one of Emma's hands and Emma gasped as a small cloud of purple smoke swirled in Regina's palm clearing to reveal an open velvet box with beautiful diamond and ruby ring nestled inside
"Will you marry me?"
"Yes" Emma cried "Yes"
"Forever" Regina whispered as she slid the ring into place on Emma's finger.
fin