Emma looked at her reflection in the full length mirror as several tailors and maids catered to her, poking her with pin needles and tried to make alterations to the outfit she would be wearing to the ball that they would be leaving for in the day after tomorrow. Her eyes searched to the door and waited for a beautiful brunette to come.
"Alright, I think we have the correct measurements and alterations done to please the queen. We will finish tonight and have you try it on before the queen to see if it is up to her standards as her honored guest." The tailor fixed his circular specs and wrote down a couple notes on his messy notebook and shoved it under his arm. "You may undress and leave the clothing on the chair." He bowed and ushered everyone out of the room to leave the blonde to her own solitude.
Emma took a step off of the stool she was told to perch upon and carefully peeled the fabrics from her body and laid them neatly down on the stool before redressing in her usual outfit of the day.
"Emma." A voice came from behind her that caused her to jump and hold her chest.
"Jesus, Regina you scared me." She breathed out while taking some deep breaths to calm her quaking heart.
A sultry smirk came to full red lips that held mischief and as she reached her fingers up to tenderly stroke the cheek of her saviour; lips quirked upwards and she leaned in and captured the slightly chapped thin pink lips of Emma's.
No sooner did their lips meet did Regina pull back and her nose tenderly brushed against Emma's. "I just simply missed you and it's becoming harder and harder to hide what I feel for you as I've never had something this enchanting before Emma." She looked up in the eyes of the beautiful woman who had completely demolished the walls she strongly fortified around her.
Emma looked in the woman's eyes with an aching heart, oh how raw this woman was to her; emotions and tears, fears and desire. Regina clutched onto Emma's shoulders as one hand slowly traveled up to the woman's nape and lightly ran her fingertips across the soft blonde curls. "Indeed, I'm surprised how soft you really are on the inside from how you describe yourself I would never think you the villain Regina not in this life nor any other." Emma confessed and brushed her nose against the brunettes; closing her eyes and taking a deep breath as she placed a chaste peck upon the brunettes. "I want you to know that regardless of what the future holds, that what I feel and how we feel are real Regina and I will fight for you and to be with you and that is a promise." Emma's emerald eyes opened and looked into the concerned brown eyes that looked to hold many unasked questions.
"It sounds like you know something will happen." Regina whispered and pressed her body flush against Emma's, feeling the strong muscles that were much more toned than some women in Regina's army and the brunette found it quite impressive.
"Mmn can I not be slightly in the moment and confess something that I feel and want you to know." Emma grinned slightly and wrapped both her arms around Regina's petite waist, feeling the velvet fabric bunch under her bare arms; thankful she was wearing a thin short sleeved tunic shirt.
"Well if you put it that way dear, I suppose it's not a bad thing to hear."
"Now, about us meeting like this I'm sure you have your reasons and I will respect that. If you don't mind though Regina could we have dinner in the room tonight. It is perhaps one of the last nights we can be intimately close without raising alarms for people on the outside thinking we are fully lovers." Emma asked with her best pout and she earned a soft laugh that was melodious to her ears.
"That sounds delightful, though I do have to say the day is young and I was wondering if we could perhaps go on a ride today." She asked with her teeth bearing brightly in a hopeful smile. "I had asked for the chef to pack a light lunch for us." Her hopeful eyes gazed to Emma's with such longing want that it made the woman's heart take a leap.
With a curt nod and a soft kiss placed to the soft olive flesh against the queens cheek; Emma brought one hand up to brush a stray strand from her eyes. "May I accompany you to your chambers while you change, I feel the desire to be closer to you my queen." Emma's green eyes danced over Regina's outfit that was just a simple red dress that snugly fit her body and looked nearly suffocating to breathe in but made the blonde gasp for air at just the delicious sight.
With a flick of her wrist, Regina's outfit was changed into one of her riding outfits with a sly wink. "Sorry no show right now Emma." She clicked her tongue playfully and watched the blonde pout like a child, finding it rather amusing.
Emma offered her arm and smiled towards her queen before escorting her towards the stables. The quiet air between them was so comfortable it could nearly lull the two to a glorious slumber, one that the two were equally content in and that fact itself nearly made Regina jump inside her skin as she had never once felt such solace in all her years alive. She leaned her head against Emma's shoulder as she held onto the limb with such care it was nearly like a lifeline, she couldn't imagine how she had so quickly fallen for this blonde, why she had, or in what way she was going to affect her now and her future. This Emma Swan, this beautiful creature who saw to her day in and day out, who defied her just about on her first day and had such a daring look in those green eyes that were both infuriating and endearing, she was the epitome of such beautiful chaos and it was causing Regina to drown within her depths and accept her fate of falling within the blonde.
Green eyes gazed down curiously at the brunette who looked so far from where they were standing, eyes that gazed to the distance as if they were holding a story all their own and she couldn't help but smile at the serene look upon Regina's face. Lightness, peace, a sense of belonging fell among the two lost women and found a way to balance each others most chaotic aspect.
Drawing nearer, the smell of hay and the sound of whinnying could be heard that made Regina's heart pound with excitement, she always found herself lost in her riding and the joy she felt, the freedom, though fleeting, was so amazing.
"So, do you think you can keep up with me today?" Regina playfully jested.
"As long as I live, I will find you Regina." A grin broke out between the two women as the stable keeper had saddled both horses and gave the women their helmets.
Emma slid onto her Palomino Mare while Regina slid onto her own brown mare that had a white stripe down its muzzle. "But no, really keep up and follow me." She breathed out and flicked the reigns, causing Rocinante to whinny and take off in a run; leaving a trail of dirt in its wake. Emma took a moment to watch the fleeting image of the queen in all her freedom and whistled to herself.
"I hope to see more of this Regina." She breathed out. "Hya let's catch them Queenie" She called to her horse as it took off in a chase after it's partner.
Emma trailed behind Regina, her eyes set on the figure that was maybe a mile ahead of her and she couldn't help but grin at the way Regina maneuvered the horse with every turn and jump; showing off her skills and the apparent passion she had for horseback riding.
As she grew closer to her, Emma noticed that the brunette was slowing down and as they came to the top of a hill, Emma's eyes grew in size at the beautiful dandelion and flower field just below them that painted the earth with such vibrancy it was a sight she swore she saw painted many of times.
Her horse trotted up to the still duo and Emma looked at the smile on Regina's face, following her eyes to a neatly set picnic lunch that's fragrance drifted to her hungry senses. "You did this for me?" Emma asked in shock.
Nodding rather shyly, Regina slowly dismounted her horse and walked to Emma's mare, petting the horses strong neck and whispering thank you's to her, she then went to Emma's side and lifted her hand. "Shall we, at least before it get's cold and though it will taste just as good, a meal is best fresh and hot."
Emma took her queen's hand and slid down with ease, her long legs finding the earth rather quickly as she then scooped the woman up within her arms and bound her close to her, giving her a tight embrace while burying her face within the side of the woman's neck.
"You never cease to amaze me Regina." She breathed in her sweet scent of apples and cinnamon with a tinge of sweat. She carefully unfastened the queens riding helmet and set it down before doing the same and took her hand.
They walked together as Emma peppered her lovers knuckles in tender kisses that were so soft it could nearly make the latter cry, to be touched and kissed with such unselfish care was almost too much. She bowed to her as they reached the blanket and got down to both knees as she carefully undid the laces of Regina's riding boots, slipping each shoe off as Regina lifted her foot and was about to undo her own before Regina gently pushed Emma down on her butt and straddled her, her hands on each of the woman's strong shoulders as she softly kissed her lips.
Eyes shut softly as Regina's lips brushed and pressed lovingly against Emma's, feeling soft jolts of electricity course through her body while the air around them somehow seemed so much clearer. Her fingers tangled within golden curls as she poured her love and adoration she felt, her heart erupting with such warmth that it was overwhelming to her. She felt as Emma's own lips returned the loving care, capturing her lower lip between her teeth as she suckled the soft flesh lightly as strong calloused hands gripped her hips and pulled her closer. The women were so lost into eachother that they didn't notice the white and purple smoke that erupted around them in a hypnotizing way, coating the air in a way never before seen and the two felt as if they were the only to people in this world.
As she felt her lungs burn with the need for oxygen, Regina pulled back and rested her forehead against Emma's, her heart racing as if she was a young girl in love for the very first time, it was thrilling and she felt her body tremble in desire.
"Emma." Her voice shakily let out as she tried to steady out her breathing.
"Regina." Her lips poured out like honey to the brunette's ears, how could her name sound so exotic coming from Emma, it was foreign sounding and she loved the way the blonde called out her name.
"I think- I know this feeling but it is so much more now than before." She admitted in both fear and courage.
"I do too." Those three words set Regina's soul on fire and she felt like the fire that had been going out within her is now ablaze once more.
"Will you stay in my chambers with me tonight, one last night?"
"Regina, I will do anything for you and I would be more than happy to." Emma whispered as her green eyes stared lovingly into her own brown eyes.
The two women stayed within the other's embrace for several more minutes, reveling in the afterglow of the confession of sort the love that was unspoken but didn't need to be.
As Regina slowly peeled herself from Emma, she felt her heart ache for the latter and was affirmed her longing as Emma stole a quick kiss from the woman's lips with a childlike smile that made the brunette swoon.
"Couldn't help it." Emma winked before sniggering a bit before she took her own boots off and crawled onto the blanket with Regina; who in turn was taking the food from the basket and she was pleasantly surprised to see pasta with a sort of artisan garlic bread, cut up fruit, wine, and a cherry pie for dessert. Regina took out some candles and set them up around them, not lighting them as she claimed they were for a little later.
"I promise the dinner you want will still happen, it's just until sunset and a little after. " Regina calmed the latters questions as she smiled and poured them each a glass of wine.
Emma took a slow sip, watching Regina plate them out a bowl of the white sauced pasta that had seafood in it as well as a slice of the garlic bread and god did Emma love this woman, she realized that perhaps she had longed for her since their first fateful meeting, but the feelings were definitely affirmed on this visit to the old kingdom.
"You know, I wanted to tell you something." Regina started, her tongue clicking against her teeth anxiously as she found some new found interest in her wine glass.
Emma hummed and urged the brunette to continue as she took a small bite of her food, stopping herself from moaning at the decadent flavor.
Taking a deep breath, Regina felt her nerves take over and her grip on her glass tightened. "I want…I- Emma I have a hard time with this since I'm so god damned scared but- I ….I don't think you'd ever intentionally hurt me nor do I think you'll leave me per se, but….everything I've ever loved tends to be taken from me and I-I am scared. I don't even believe that my love for Daniel could hold a candle to how I feel with you and it is truly the most terrifying thing I have ever felt." Regina confessed. "I'm an evil queen, I'm a daughter of the queen of hearts, I'm a widow and a step mother…I don't deserve this love or this kindness you've shown me and especially when I was so utterly awful to you your first month or so here. " Regina's eyes filled with tears as she set her glass down before she could drop it from her shaking hands. "You have to understand that I don't know what to do with love Emma, I don't understand what to feel while being loved and it scares me, you, you who is so foreign and new showed me all these things in the fleeting months and showed me things that my mentor attempted to show me, but I could not reciprocate. I I'm afraid to fall and not be caught and if that were to happen, I'm not sure I'll ever be strong enough to get back up again." And there it was, the rawness, the tears that finally were freed from the dam and Regina was trembling in her newfound emotional nakedness that Emma had stripped her down to.
Emma gazed upon the woman and let out a soft breath as she set her food and drink down before she scooped the queen into her arms and pulled her carefully into her lap. Emma's lips assuredly pressed into Regina's forehead as she let them linger a moment. This woman had endured so much and was so broken that she felt her heart pull at the knowledge of what was to come.
"Regina...you are a strong, powerful, and loving woman. You feel deeper than any person I have met and the cards you were dealt were against you from the day you were born. No one knows this pain or this struggle that you are going through and if they are going to judge you, then watch them fall. I promise, like I said earlier to you, I swear….that no matter what if we were to ever separate here I will fight to be with you once more. I will and will forever believe that perhaps this all played out this way because I was meant to find you in this time and in this place so that I can love you better in perhaps another time and place or even just this time and place…I know I'm not making sense, but this is real and I want you to know how you feel means the world to me." Emma confessed with her own unshed tears gleaming within her green eyes.
Regina nodded and reached up to wipe her tears, but Emma beat her to it and gently used her thumb to carefully wipe each tear from the woman's eyes before placing the most tender kiss Regina believes she ever felt and in that moment she knew, she knew this is what love was supposed to feel like. This rawness, this fear and courage, this complete dedication and adoration. She knew that this is what was missing from her life, this hole that was set within her heart and it made her finally feel full.
"Now let's finish eating, because that cherry pie sounds absolutely delightful. " Emma whispered against the woman's ear and Regina silently nodded.
The afternoon continued after with light conversation of past stories along with brisk touches and fleeting glances. The two carried on until the sun was setting on the horizon and painting the sky in hues of orange, red , and pink with such a glorious sighting that painted the sky it was hard for them to not continue to stare at each other as the lighting painted the other in such beautiful hues it was like they themselves were apart of the sky's painting.
"Emma thank you." Regina smiled softly as she waved her hand and the candles lit up around them, adding to the already perfect ambiance. She crawled up into the blondes lap and let her backside press into Emma's front, leaning back into the latters firm embrace.
"For what?" Her chin rested on the crown of brown hair; the strands lightly tickling the tip of her chin.
"For just being you, being here with me..it means a lot." She whispered as she leaned further into the warmth enveloping around her.
A silence passed them as their eyes went to the endless horizon.
"Regina.…can I asked what happened with Maleficent." Emma cleared her throat and felt the woman's body stiffen slightly at the question.
Regina ran her thumbs lightly against the woman's forearms, her eyes looking down at the blondes hands in her lap and sighed softly. "She…after that night she left to her castle and said she wouldn't return… Mal, feels betrayed in which she kind of is understandable. So, if we see her it will be for just moments and she will probably be toting around her child. Her dragon spawn will take a couple years to fully come to term and hatch, it's quite a long process, but I'm happy for her. " Regina's eyes twinkled with genuine happiness that her mentor would be a mother, something she herself had so desperately wanted.
With a silent nod, Emma gave the queen a gentle squeeze and pressed a kiss to the woman's head in affirmation that she understood. "Well, I'm sorry if you lost a good friend on my behalf." Emma whispered in earnest.
"I have not lost her, she and I are just apart until her wound has healed. Maleficent is strong in way's I am not and it is time for her to focus on herself instead of me." She slowly looked up at the strong jawline of the blondes, finding her features to be so familiar it made her stomach churn, yet she dismissed those feelings and reveled in the romantic atmosphere they had built.
After tender kisses were exchanged and whispered promises, Regina had slowly stood and flicked her wrist as the blanket along with the dishes and basket were gone. "We should getting going, nightfall is here and though there is nothing in this part of my land, I do remember that we were to have some food in my bedchambers tonight and you were to stay with me tonight." Regina brushed her riding pants off and felt Emma wrap an arm around her waist before being swept up into the blondes arms and carried towards the horse.
"Emma I could have your head for this." She squealed in a girlish giggle while slinging her arms around the blondes neck.
"Oh but I'm sure my head would be useful attached thank you." Emma grinned and did a little spin; causing the woman to let out a yelp of surprise that was soon followed by unrestrained laughter and Emma felt her heart swell in happiness at the carefreeness that the woman was displaying.
"Quite the charmer aren't you?" Regina laughed breathily as strands of her hair fell messily against her olive toned flesh.
Emma squared her jaw as she tried to pose slightly with a sort of pride. "You can say charming is my last name." She pursed her lips before breaking out into a loud hearty laugh that caused her body to shake, therefore Regina's body trembled in the woman's arms.
"Wow- I have no words for your cockiness." Regina covered her mouth and laughed before smacking the woman's chest with her other hand.
Emma flashed her most charming grin before setting her lover down beside her horse and tucked brown tufts of hair behind Regina's ear. "I'll meet you at the stables then?" Emma grabbed the helmet that stood on the post that Regina magick-ed and fastened the helmet on Regina securely before giving it a soft knock with a loving gaze.
"I'll meet you there." Regina whispered with a promise as she mounted her horse and she did the same, petting the mare's mane before the two trotted off into the distance as the evening wind brushed against their faces and no sound but the beating of hooves against the earth echoed between them.
Emma would steal subtle glances at Regina and thought how she was supposed to let her down and go, she thought of this magical moment that was happening between them and knew that if she were to submit to her carnal desire that she felt she needed to do; it was a line that would forever be smeared between them. Her eyes glanced from Regina and to the stables that was a blur in the distance, the torches were the only indication that they were near.
She felt her stomach flutter with uncertainty and sighed at the fact that tonight was the last night she was to be with Regina, so she knew that it was going to have to be a night that the two were forever going to remember.
AN: Thank you for the reviews, follows, and favorites that I have received thus far ^^ I really do appreciate and I know this left on a sort of a cliff hanger but, I will say that in the chapters to follow there will be plenty of swanqueen smut and way more interactions. I hope you all enjoyed the chapter and I'm hoping to get the next chapter up within a day or so ^^ -R.M