A/N: It's been a while since I've updated this one, I know. Been working on other fanfics that also need my attention, and in part I took a small break from writing, plus was busy at work for a while. But, here is the next chapter, which I have to say I enjoyed very much and definitely looking forward to writing the rest, if all my readers seem to still enjoy it. :) SwanQueen will be endgame, of course. Happy reading! Excuse my delays.


"Emma." David smiled, heading down the steps of the main entrance, arms stretched out until they wrapped around the blonde's form as they met in a tight embrace.

The blonde squeezed tightly around her father's form, her nose at level with his shoulder.

His smile grew as they came apart, his hand cupping her cheek, "It's so wonderful to see you."

"It's wonderful to see you, father." Her eyes moved along to her mother, who had joined beside David, giving her a warm smile as she leaned in to kiss her cheek. "I've missed you all so much."

"We trust you had a good trip?" Asked Mary Margaret.

Emma smiled, "We did, yes." She turned towards Regina, Henry and Ruby, "I brought along guests- my family from New York." She pointed towards Ruby, "Ruby, she's a good friend."

Ruby cleared her throat, straightening her clothes, which she thanked God were formal, "Hello. Thank you for allowing us to come."

Emma smiled, looking down at Henry, "This is Henry. Regina's son." She continued, as Henry simply waved with a bright smile to him. Her eyes sparkling as they landed on Regina next, "And this is my Regina."

My Regina. That was the second time Emma had introduced her that way, which made her heart flutter all the quicker inside her chest.

"Well, I wish you would have announced that you would be bringing… guests." The queen's brow raised at the other guests who stood behind the spectacle between mother and daughter.

David cleared his throat, leaning into his wife, "Sweetheart, now is not the time."

Drawing in a breath, Mary Margaret smiled, her eyes on her daughter as she spoke in general to the guests, then directing towards the servants of the castle who still stood to await orders. "Welcome. We do have plenty of guest rooms, so please be sure to take their luggage to the ones you see fit."

Emma's head turned towards the servant that had been holding onto Regina's luggage, "Do take those bags into my bedroom, please."

"Do take them into one of the guest bedrooms." Mary Margaret exchanged a glare with her daughter, who wasn't about to back down as she spoke to her next, "Emma, you know the rules. They are expected to be followed accordingly. These are different times but-"

"Then you shouldn't be under the impression that Regina and I aren't together. Romantically." The blonde clarified, her eyes dead on her mother.

Regina moved forward, just behind Emma, a hand placed on her bicep, "Emma, dear, it's fine. We don't need-"

Emma turned to Regina and smiled, letting her know that everything would go her way, before directing at her mother once again, "You said so yourself, mother. There are rules to follow, and in our family it has always been your rule that once I began dating, a year would have to pass before I brought her," She spat out the word, just in case it wasn't more clearer of what she wants, "before your presence and father's. And in so doing, we have a right to share the same bed, if I so wish."

While the king smiled proudly, while the queen stared down at her daughter, including Regina, clearly not impressed by her arrival. But, rules were rules and Emma was right.

So, she simply spoke on her behalf to the servants, her eyes still focused on her daughter's, communicating to her with a single stare that her wishes would be honored, but that she was in no way happy about it.

"You will take the luggage to my daughter's room. Settle the rest of her guests in other rooms nearby." the queen paused.

"This is my father, King David the Third," Emma's smile grew, "This is Regina Mills."

Regina gave her best smile before the man as he neared her, shaking his hand with firmness, "It's a real pleasure. It's so nice to meet you, finally." She chuckled as David, without warning, pulled her into an embrace that made her feel all the acceptance in the world.

"Charmed." David smiled, slightly nodding his head.

"And this is my mother, Queen Mary Margaret." Emma glared her mother's way, as if warning her to be on her best behavior, at least for now.

"Your Majesty." Regina respectfully bowed, "It's a real honor. Thank you for allowing us to stay in your home for the summer."

The corners of the queen's lips tilted upward in a small smirk, her eyes dead on Regina, "Yes, well… welcome. I am just glad someone has made my daughter come to her senses enough to return home to assume her responsibilities." She held up a hand, preventing Emma from bursting out, "Even if it's just for the summer."

"We'll have plenty of time to talk about that later." David smiled, brushing his wife off, "Are you hungry? Dinner was just about to be served."

"Oh, no." Emma looked over at her girlfriend for confirmation, who shook her head no, "We just want to turn in. We've had a long trip and had enough to eat on the plane."

"Well, then," Mary Margaret smiled, quite sarcastically, "Do join us for breakfast tomorrow morning, hm?" Her eyes on Emma, who nodded.

David, his head following her daughter as she headed into the house, her arm wrapped around the brunette.

It wasn't enough to say that David liked Regina. Mary Margaret however… was another story entirely.


Once they entered, the house was just as beautiful from the inside as it was from the outside. White marbled floors, portraits of elegant kings and queens that were before them, all lined up on red maroon colored walls. The stairs were carpeted with fine red carpets. Expensive vases were displayed in a row just underneath each portrait of their family. Porcelain with gold vases.

"Holy shit!" Ruby exclaimed, covering her mouth, while David and his Queen stared at her with raised brows, Regina with wide-eyed, I'll kill you eyes. While Emma's shoulders shook with a suppressed laughter that wanted to burst out of her. "I'm sorry." She quickly looked down at Henry, "Hen, don't ever say shit." She motioned quickly to one of the vases as to change the subject, "Is that real gold?"

"Very much so." David smiled friendly, while Mary Margaret beamed with proudness at her endless collection.

"Wow. Those must have cost a pretty penny, huh?"

"Well, 'a pretty penny' would not be the correct term as to how much each vase cost me." Mary Margaret moved along to one by the stairs, "This one for instance," she continued, even as Emma mentally rolled her eyes at a story she's heard all her life about her mother's precious vase, "Is my favorite. It holds a very dear place in my heart. It was a gift."

Henry looked up at Ruby, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips, "I bet you five bucks I could fit inside." Ruby smirked at the bet. One of their many crazy bets they would have together.

"I beg your pardon?" Mary Margaret stared at the boy as if he had grown two heads.

Before Ruby could get a word out, Regina pulled her son closer to her body, clearing her throat, "Henry, behave yourself, please."

Sidney's lips wanted to curve into a tiny smirk, but kept his composure as soon as he heard the queen's voice speak up, "Well, then… we are in for a treat, aren't we?" She smiled quite sarcastically. "Sidney, why don't you show everyone up to their bedrooms?"

"Certainly." He gave a curt nod, "This way." He smiled towards them, leading the way up the stairs.

"Good night, all!" Ruby waved them off, quickly kneeling on one knee, only to be glared at by the other brunette.

"Thank you again for allowing us to stay. It's a real honor." Regina smiled sweetly at David, who held her hands with delicacy, knowing now where Emma clearly picked up her manners from.

"I'll be looking forward to getting to know you soon. I just know you'll love it here." He replied, his smile growing, placing a delicate kiss on the brunette's cheek.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Regina moved on to the Queen, "You have a lovely home. I can't wait to see the rest of it."

Mary Margaret smiled, a rather sarcastic smile, "Do enjoy your bedroom."

"Come. I'll show you where we'll be sleeping." Emma placed her hand on the small of her girlfriend's back, glaring back at her mother all her way up the stairs.

"She's lovely." David smiled, watching his daughter and her companion climb up the stairs, turning the corner and disappearing on the second floor.

Mary Margaret's brow remained raised, her gaze on her husband, "I don't like this, David. Not one bit."

"What?" Asked the King, "For the love of God, our daughter is home. She just got here-"

"She is much older than Emma is, she's changed." She continued even through her husband's long heard sigh, "Did you see the look she gave me?"

David scoffed, his hands on his hips, "Well, you weren't exactly welcoming to our guests, dear."

Mary Margaret scoffed, "I'm allowing Emma to share her own bedroom with her. How much more welcoming do you want me to be? Would you like me to lay out rose petals for her to walk on?"

The king shook his head, "Do keep in mind that we haven't seen our daughter in a year. A whole year. She's finally home and has brought her friends to spend the summer with her. So what? By the end of the summer, they'll be going back to New York and Emma will take over. This may just be… a summer love thing. We can't know that." He paused, staring her down, "So I ask you, please, don't make her run away from here again."

Mary Margaret's jaw clenched as she watched her husband go on his way without so much as another word.


"Mom!" Henry rushed over to his mother from the room next door to Emma's bedroom, "I get my own bed!" He beamed.

Regina smiled down at her son, as did Emma, "Well, of course you do, kid." Emma beamed, ruffling his hair, "I made sure you did. And your mom and I will be right next door if you need anything. Ruby will be just across from you too."

Heads turned as Ruby's head peeked out from the door of her bedroom, "Let me ask you. Is it too late to move here? I am willing to pay you rent." She beamed, "Have you seen the bathtubs? Regina, you are going to die!"

"I'm gonna go look at mine!" Henry ran, only to be pulled back by his mother.

"That's a good idea. Why don't you get clothes to sleep in and get in the bath too?" She nodded, "I'll be right there to say good night. And brush your teeth too."

Henry ran right into the blonde's form, his arms circling around her waist with familiarity, "Good night, Emma."

Emma smiled, returning his hug in a snake-like hug, her lips placing a kiss at the top of his head, "Good night, kid. I'll see you tomorrow morning."

He beamed again, happily as he looked up at her, "Will you show me how to ride a horse?"

"Henry." Regina threw a glare his way.

"Absolutely. That's why we're here. I'll teach you hunting as well, like my father taught me-" Her eyes looked over to her girlfriend who's eyes were glaring her way now, "Actually, kid, I'll get back to you on that hunting thing."

"Okay. Night aunt, Ruby!" he ran into what would be his own room for the summer. Not that he didn't have his own back home in New York, but never one this big.

"Night Hen. Sweet dreams." Ruby smiled his way, her eyes on Emma who spoke to Regina.

"Why don't you go and put him to bed? I'll see you in the bedroom, when you're ready." Emma nodded.

"Alright." Regina placed a kiss on those familiar thin lips before going into her son's bedroom.

Ruby cleared her throat, a smirk appearing before the blonde, "Boy, I bet Danny-boy back home is probably contemplating his endless reasons as to why he divorced Regina, over his tenth shot glass by now."

Emma chuckled, actually quite enjoying that sad and pathetic display. Fist bumping Ruby in total silence. "Thanks for coming along Ruby. I know Regina feels more at ease with you around to have her back."

"Pssh, are you kidding me? No way would I miss the chance of getting to stay in this castle." She smirked, "Everyone back home is going to be so jealous once I tell them. Besides with that cinnamon Graham cracker you have as a bodyguard- honey, I would nail my tongue to this very carpet. He's coming with us tomorrow, isn't he?" She asked, as Emma scrunched her nose a bit.

"Of course, he's our driver. I'll personally see to it that he joins us."

"Great. Now go, get some rest. I'd say you need it more than anyone one of us." She smiled, a genuine smile, which a lot of people don't get that smile from Ruby Lucas. They'd have to earn her respect first. "Have a good night, Your Majesty." She bowed her head.

Emma smiled, "Night, Rubes." She waved, heading to her bedroom as the door to the brunette's room closed behind her. She stopped right on her tracks at the sight of Sidney, who gave her a smile.

"Is everything to your satisfactory, Your Majesty?" He asked her, his hands placed behind his back.

"Is my bedroom ready, as I asked before my arrival?" She asked him.

He nodded, "Certainly. I saw to it myself that everything be brought in just as you requested."

"Petals and all?" She asked, a smile spreading across her lips.

"Petals and all." He assured her, feeling happy to have her back home to her roots and happier than ever.

Her smile grew wider, "Perfect. Thank you, Sidney. I can always count on you."

"Sleep well, Your Majesty." He nodded, taking his leave, stepping down the stairs.


"There you go." Regina tucked in the edges of Henry's covers right underneath him, tightly until he felt like a human burrito. Her lips placed a gentle kiss to his forehead, brushing away any red marking her lipstick left behind, "Snug as a bug in a rug. Good night, sweetheart."

"Good night, mom." Henry's head turned to follow his mother as she stood up right, ready to head into what would be her bedroom for the entire summer. "Mom?"

"Hm?" She looked down at her son.

"I'm happy we're here. With Emma." He smiled, which caused his mother to have a seat beside his bed.

"You know something? Me too. I'm very happy because you're happy that we're here." Her hand lightly brushed away at his hair, "You know that I wouldn't of gone out with her in first place, not if you weren't okay with-"

"Mom." Henry rolled his eyes, "I really like Emma. And she makes you really happy. You never smiled like that with dad around. Or looked at him the way you look at her. She's good for you, and dad was stupid to leave you. And Emma is a princess, practically like those knights in my book, you can't get much cooler than that."

Regina's brow raised, "You have to stop taking after Ruby."

He smirked, receiving another kiss from his mother as she wished him a good night again, "Hey, mom." He called out again, continuing as she remained seated by his side, "Are you going to marry Emma?"

Her breath caught in her throat at the question. She was pretty sure she went pale before his very eyes. It was also a given that he had caught her off guard, judging from her not being able to produce the correct words to know what the correct correspondence was. I mean sure, she would love the idea of marrying Emma someday, not that she wouldn't.

"We'll see." She smiled.

"I would, if I were you." He beamed.

Regina chuckled, "Why's that? Because she's a princess?"

Henry shook his head, "No. Because she really loves you. And when she met me, she didn't run out screaming like any of the other losers you dated before her."

"Good night, Henry." Regina scolded him, placing the last kiss of the night before making her way out of the room, closing the door in place. She shook her head, smiling to herself at how great she had raised her son. Part of it she owed it to Daniel, she could admit that but the majority of it was all her doing. That was one of Regina's major accomplishments, raising her son to be the best in the world. Her brows furrowed at the sight of rose petals laid out in front of the door to Emma's bedroom. Her knock was as light as a feather before she opened the door, helping herself inside.

Her eyes grew wide, shining with almost formed tears that began to sting away. The bedroom was absolutely beautiful, slightly bigger than the rest of the others, and they were big as well. The carpet a sand color, along with white walls, the shelves against one wall filled with many books, which Regina was sure Emma had already read them all. And the bed. The bed was a queen sized bed, with a giant wooden headboard with the same swan she had seen out front as part of the lawn. No doubt, it was their family crest. The sheets were actual cotton silk, white as snow, a roof placed at the ends of the poles to the headboard. A thin transparent curtain falling around the entire bedding. Regina's cheeks turned slightly pink just thinking of them, together in this bed. And with how romantic Emma tended to be, she could get very passionate under the sheets too, which was something Regina never grew tired of experiencing.

But that wasn't what had surprised her. Well, slightly. What had her gawking in awe- going back to her girlfriend being the most romantic ever on the face of this planet speech- the floor, all the way towards the bed and even on top of the sheets were surrounded by rose petals. Followed by a few dozen roses, about four vases, Regina mentally counted somewhere in between her shocked state, set up around the room. Along with a bucket of a fine bottle of champagne chilling and sweating away, ready to be opened and patiently tasted.

Maybe planet was an understatement. Emma Swan was the most romantic woman on the face, somewhere far from here, any other planet or galaxy there was out there.

"Emma?" She finally called out, her voice sounding a bit gentle as if it were too afraid to come out of her throat. That's when her eyes caught sight of the blonde, coming out of the bathroom, still in her jeans and grey shirt she wore underneath her jacket.

There was a smile on Emma's lips as she spoke, "Is this too much?" She asked.

Regina couldn't help but smile, a smile so big it hurt her cheeks, "It's way too much." Her arms cradled around her girlfriend's neck, resting against her shoulders. Her lips finding their rightful home on her thin pink lips. "When did you have the time to do this?"

The princess shrugged, a tiny smirk still on her lips, "I had a little help. I did promise you'd be treated like a queen on your arrival."

"You did." She chuckled, her eyes looking around the room, "I can't believe you did this. For me."

"Who else would I do it for…" Emma spun the brunette around, out of her embrace and pulled her right back into it, her feet swaying slowly back and forth as she led her in a dance, "If not for you? My Queen."

Regina's brow raised, releasing a chuckle, "Be careful where you use that title, princess. I doubt that you're mother- the real queen of this house- will very much like to hear that." She said, slowly swaying along with Emma.

The blonde's smirk only grew, picking her up her feet without warning, her body cradled into her arms, which were surprisingly strong. It took Regina completely off guard, it made her release a light squeal. A squeal that went dead once Emma's eyes connected with her own and the sound of her whispered words only turned her into a puddle of good, right there in her girlfriend's arms.

"I will climb the big Ben and shout it for all of London to hear."

The brunette chuckled, "It's not all of London I'm worried about, darling. Did you hear your mother's tone she used downstairs, 'Do enjoy your bedroom.'" her eyes rolled as she mocked Mary Margaret's voice.

Emma simply pressed her lips to Regina's, not allowing her to talk anymore, because right now… Emma didn't exactly wanted to do any talking. Well, maybe a little, but it was more of an exchange of sweet and loving words that would be shared between them and only them. As for Regina, she was putty all over again. Kissing Emma could do that to her without fail. Every. Single. Time.

Regina felt herself being moved as she remained in her beloved girlfriend's arms, she could then feel a hot steam hitting every inch of her as they were soon surrounded by it. She could hear the sound of a door closing just behind them, echoing along with the sound of water running. Emma had taken them into the bath and she knew there was no stopping her from wanting to share a nice, long, much needed bath with her. Who was she to turn her down anyway?

And as if her body wasn't feeling enough heat radiating off of it already, Emma's next words, as their lips finally parted, were even more reason to want to stay.

"Let's not waste anymore time talking about my mother tonight. Because no one in this house exists at this moment, apart from you and I."