A/N: Thank you all for your amazing reviews that I receive daily on this story. Yes, there will be some drama, after all, what's a story without a little drama? ;) Also, for my reviewers who panicked and thought that Emma would cheat, please give her some credit and rest easy, this is not that type of story lol Happy reading! I anxiously await your reviews, especially on the last part of this chapter. On greater news, I know have a Tumblr account that you are all are welcomed to follow. You can find me as: emmasyellowbugauthor


After riding, which to Regina's dismay, it turned out that Lily was a natural, almost as good as- if not more than- Regina. And it didn't help that Ruby kept glancing her way with an I told you so look every few minutes during their riding session. It also didn't help matters that her one and only son was just delighted with the younger brunette- or rather natural blonde.

Afterwards, it was time to do a little sightseeing next, which Regina wondered how it would go. Would Lily try to impress Emma by the amount of money her family possessed? There was a slight chance Emma had more, but it was always nice to have something to show off. Regina… she didn't have much to show off in that department, unfortunately.

"So, Emma Swan, finally engaged, huh?" Lily asked, smiling over at the blonde, who waited by the steps in front of the Swan manor, "Who'd a thought the day would come. And to a woman." Her brow raised.

Emma chuckled, "You're not going to be like my mother, are you?"

Lily smirked, "God, no." She chuckled, "Give me a little credit, your highness. After all… Regina certainly is… unique. If you want me to be honest, she's not at all what I pictured for you, but she certainly seems to be special for you."

"She is very special." Emma's lips spread out into a smile, "Truly unique, as you well said, and she's-"

"Slightly older." Lily muttered.

The princess' grin grew, "Seven is just a number. I've never cared about age differences."

"Or whether one holds a title to offer you." Lily chuckled, her hand landing on the blonde's bicep as Emma glared her way, "But, I'm happy for you. Truly. I never said this to you, and I probably should have when we were growing up, but I always had a feeling about you."

"What do you mean?" Asked Emma, her eyes finding Lily's.

Lily shrugged, "About your… inclinations. It was pretty obvious, but I never wanted to assume what possibly wasn't true."

"Does it bother you?" Emma asked.

"Not at all." Lily chuckled, "What's there to bother me about it?"

There was a moment of silence between both friends, until Lily spoke again.

"Truth be told… I dated a girl back in the day."

"You?" The princess brows hit her hairline.

"Yes." Lily grinned, "Why are you so surprised?"

"I just never suspected that you…"

"People can surprise you, your majesty." Her grin grew, her eyes moving towards Henry, who came running down the stairs, "My goodness, look how handsome you look!"

Emma smiled at Henry's blushing cheeks, standing beside Regina, placing a gentle kiss on her hand and providing her with a warm and loving smile.

"My word, just look at you two…" Said Lily, her eyes glued to the happy couple, "I hope you know, Regina, what a lucky woman you are."

She grinned, a little sarcastic, her arms wrapping around the blonde's form as she spoke, "Oh, believe me…" Her eyes found Emma's, "I know." She pressed her lips to Emma's in a hard given kiss, that even the blonde was surprised with.

Lily cleared her throat, turning away, "Well… shall we go?"

"Come on, Hen!" Ruby stepped down the stairs, brushing lightly against Lily's shoulder as she reached out for Henry, "Let's hop into the car."

"But, Lily promised me I could ride in her car with her." Henry looked up at his mother and Ruby, who glanced over at Lily.

It was then, she flashed them a pearly white smile, "That's if it's alright with you, of course, Regina."

"Maybe some other time-"

"Please, mom!" Henry begged her, looking up at her pleadingly, "I've been good during our trip, haven't I?"

Regina glared at her son, while Emma spoke up next, "I think it's okay, Gina. You can trust her." She smiled.

Trust her? Not with my life, Regina thought to herself, but at least she was thankful she didn't ask Emma to tag along in the car with her. And let's face it. Her mother did own a very classy car, it looked something like out of the 1940's. Money could definitely buy anything your heart desired.

"Fine." Regina blinked, putting on her best smile before her son, "Go ahead, but wear your seat belt, please, Henry." She warned him, eyeing the small boy as he ran to the car, where Lily's driver held the door open for him to hop on in.

"Graham, can follow us."

"Where?" Emma asked her.

Lily smiled, "It's a surprise." She winked, mounting the car next.

"Is she for real?" Ruby murmured to her best friend, walking close beside her as they both mounted the SUV that Graham would be driving for the day.


While they all drove to their destination, wherever Lily was guiding them to, Maleficent and Mary Margaret found themselves in the visiting room, sitting by a nice roasted fire, their heads turning to Gold, who arrived with a tray of freshly made tea.

"Thank you, Gold." The queen gave him a curt nod, watching him as he handed each of them their teas with caution and delicacy.

"My pleasure, your majesty." He bowed his head her way, leaving the room shortly after.

"Emma looked stunning today." Mal said, taking a quick sip of her cup of tea, a smile to her, "Of course, as any engaged woman should."

The queen rolled her eyes at her last remark.

Mal chuckled, catching a glimpse of the queen's displeased look, "I take it you don't like the girl very much. Regina, was it?" She placed her cup down on top of the plate that was next to her, "She seems… quite the interesting character. Not at all what I pictured for your daughter."

"I couldn't agree more." Replied Mary Margaret, "But, Emma is in way over her head about this girl. She hasn't been thinking clearly ever since her arrival. She's hardly home, as you can well see. It's been a nightmare, really."

"Hm." Mal hummed, a tiny smirk tugging at the corner of her lip, "Well, do try to understand her, dearest, she's young. And clearly in love." She chuckled.

"In love," Mary Margaret scoffed, "That woman has her under some kind of spell, clearly using her son to tie her more to them, not to mention that friend of hers." She shook her head, "The girl has absolutely no shame." She leaned in, whispering her next words carefully, so no one would hear, "She has Killian taking her out on dates, while she tries just about everything to capture Graham's interest."

"No!" Mal whispered back, her eyes wide.

The queen gave her a single nod, "It's truly shameful. And just to think, Emma wants them to attend this year's ball." She rubbed her temple, "The press is going to eat us alive."

Mal smirked, "The king definitely seems to be under her charms as well, doesn't he?"

"David?" Her brow raised, she released a scoff at Mal's nod after swallowing her sip of tea, which almost went down the wrong pipe, "Why on earth would you say such a ridiculous thing?"

"Ridiculous or not, my dear…" Mal picked up her cup of tea, bringing it close to her lips, "The king seemed quite taken with her." She shrugged, carelessly placing her hand out, her eyes scanning through her manicured hand.

Mary Margaret released a small, nervous laugh, "I hate to disagree with you, Mal, but David loves me. He would never betray what we've builded for years. Especially not with someone like Ruby."

"Oh, come now, your majesty…" Mal chuckled, placing her cup of tea back down, "He wouldn't be the first royal to be unfaithful." She paused, her eyes piercing the queen's, "You have to consider, my dear queen… David may be the king… but, he is also a man, and we all know how men can be when they see a good pair of legs stroll by them. Don't we?"

The queen tensed, shifting uncomfortably in her seat at the thought of David actually taking an interest in Ruby. Maleficent's words vibrating in her mind like a pair of drums, that pounded at the very depths of her brain.

"You know…" Mal broke the queen away from her thoughts, "I'm certain that if I dig deep enough, I could find something on this Ruby. Maybe even Regina. Maybe this is what Emma needs to open her eyes and set her eyes on someone like… why, like my daughter."

"Lily?" Mary Margaret's brow furrowed.

Mal chuckled, "My dear, don't tell me you never noticed how Lilith practically devours Emma with her eyes."

"Well… I suppose, but-"

"But, what?" Mal asked, her smirk growing, "Dearie, times have changed. Why, nowadays, women marrying other women is the most natural thing in the world."


Lily had treated everyone to a wine tasting vineyard. It was the most famous and popular of all London. Henry was treated to juice, not wine.

Regina elbowed Ruby as she was on her third glass of wine, "Pace yourself, red." She whispered, "I need you sober."

"I'm fine." Blue eyes drank in the sight of the winery, "This place, huh? Do you really own this?" She asked Lily, who smiled in response.

"Several, actually. This is merely one of them." Lily turned to an employee, who brought them along a tray of different sets of cheeses, grabbing a slice delicately with her fingers, "Oh, Emma, you must try this. It is to die for."

Regina's insides twisted at the sight of Lily feeding Emma the slice of cheese as if she were a four year old. Not at all giving the blonde time to protest against her action. All she could do was chew it down in silence.

"Good, is it not?" She asked the blonde, who simply nodded.

"Mm…" Emma kept up her nod, "It's amazing!" Her voice muffled.

Lily smiled, walking over to the two brunette's and Henry, offering some off the platter, "It's one of my favorites. Would you care for some?"

Emma quickly turned to Graham, who stood by her now, with a handkerchief in hand, held out towards the princess lips. It wasn't until Emma spat out the awfully tasting cheese that Graham rolled it up into a ball and tucked it inside his suit jacket. An action that Ruby and Regina quickly caught onto.

"Actually, uh…" Ruby placed back the slice of cheese, "I'll pass, I just remembered, I'm not much of a cheese person." She smiled, gulping down the rest of her wine.

"Thank you." Regina plastered on a smile, tossing the piece of cheese away once Lily's back was turned to her again as she faced Emma, who had a smile to match.

"Mm, I will take more of this wine, thought." Said Ruby, earning a glare from her friend.

"Of course! Help yourselves to as many as you'd like." Lily smiled brightly, walking ahead of them, guiding them to another part of the winery, "You know, I was thinking, after we head back to your home, Emma, maybe we could all go for a little dancing before dinner."

Ruby grinned, looking over at Regina, who only glared harder her way, considering murder.

"Don't you dare, Ruby." Regina warned her, handing her her drink, "Here, on second thought, drink."

The brunette didn't hate losing five bucks as much as the fact that Ruby seemed to always know everything.

There was one thing however that put a grin on Regina's face as they pressed on through the vineyard, "At least she won't impress Emma with her cooking." She muttered, linking arms with Ruby.


"Graham cracker, you will be joining us, won't you?" A somewhat intoxicated Ruby leaned over towards the space between him and her, a hand looping over the man's shoulder as he drove them to their next destination, "There's no reason as to why he should wait in the car, right, Em?"

Emma smiled, "Ruby's right, Graham. Why don't you join us?" She agreed, her hand caressing Regina's as their fingers locked.

Graham's eyes found Emma's through the rear view mirror, "I don't think that would be appropriate, your majesty."

"Why ever not, Graham?" Regina mocked Emma's voice of authority, having become a little loopy herself from a few glasses. This made the blonde release a small laugh, "You know, as future queen, I order you to join us."

"Yeah, come join us, Grahammy-bear." She ran her fingers through his hair, which to her surprise was incredibly soft and very touchable, a gesture that easily affected Graham as his body tensed up.

"I don't really dance, Ms. Ruby." He commented, keeping his eyes on the road ahead of him.

This made Emma laugh. "Graham, don't lie. You've danced your fair share of waltz with me."

"Has he now?" Asked Regina, her brow raised.

Graham took Ruby's hand, who continued to brush through his hair, placing it back on her lap as he found it very hard to concentrate on the road with her mere action.

"You know, it's a good thing he's like a brother to you, Swan." Regina muttered under her breath at her girlfriend, "Otherwise, I'd have to worry about him wanting to steal you away from me, too."

"Steal me away?" Emma's eyes locked with the brunette's.

"Mhm." Regina nodded, "Don't think I don't see how your little friend, Lily has been eyeing you all day." Her brow raised, "She clearly wants you, she reeks of it."

"Reeks of it?" Emma chuckled at the brunette's choice of expression, her lips placed a gentle kiss right on her knuckles, "Have you been talking to Ruby?"

"Hey," Ruby glanced over her shoulder from the front passenger seat, "I turned out to be right on your friend inviting us to dance. She has the hots for you, and she doesn't care if Regina is engaged to you. Trust me. When have I ever been wrong?"

"Well, you can rest easy, Rubes, no one is stealing me away from Regina." Emma clarified, her eyes locking back on the deep brown ones, "Ever."

That sparkle in her green eyes that Emma would get every single damn time she would say something that would just sweep her off her two feet, never failed to make her weak at the knees, turn her stomach upside down, cause her heart to do a freaking cartwheel.

Emma loved her, and she knew this. There was no need for the princess to confirm it, yet she always did. Regina was more than sure, that Emma wouldn't bring her all the way here, across the globe and stand against her own mother- the queen- for her.

Ruby chuckled from the front seat, "Tell that to your eyes, your highness."

"Ruby." Regina hissed at her direction, while Graham gave her a quick glance, but remained silent.

"What?" Ruby twisted her body, looking back at her best friend and to Emma, "The girl is a dynamite with a capital D, Regina. Emma knows that, why I bet you even my Graham cracker here knows that. Don't you, Grahammy bear?"

Graham cleared his throat, keeping up with his driving in silence, his eyes glancing over at the princess through the rear view mirror.

"Just admit that you find her attractive, Em." Ruby pressed on.

Emma rolled her eyes, "Alright, I'll admit- Lily is quite attractive."

"See?" Her brow raised.

"Who's side are you on anyway, Rubes?" Regina asked her, quite irritated with this conversation.

"Always yours, Gina."


The car ride to the outdoor gathering remained tense. Not that they had fought, but Emma had most definitely never seen Regina become this jealous over someone. She was never the jealous type, not enough to show it off anyway. But, the princess could definitely see that whether she meant to or not, Lily was stirring trouble.

Graham pulled open the passenger door and the back right door for everyone to dismount the vehicle. His eyes quickly gave the place a once over to make sure everything was secure before Emma sat foot anywhere within the gathering of people.

"Would you mind telling me where we are?" She asked Lily, who dismounted her car along with Henry.

"It's an outdoor gathering." Lily noticed the uncomfortable look on their faces, especially Emma's. She smiled, "Don't worry, Em. It's as secure as they come. I know the owner and she has a spot for us that will be very discreet. You have my word. I know your mother would murder me if any pictures made it to the press."

They could all hear the music blasting from the party gathering going on up on the roof of the building. Clearly a hotel.

"Excuse me, but," Regina spoke next, giving that her son was involved, "I have to ask. Just what type of party is this? Keep in mind that my son will also be attending." She glared her way in warning.

Lily provided Regina with a warm smile of her own, "I wouldn't have brought you all here, including Henry if it wasn't a pleasant environment for him." She raised her hand before Regina, "Look, I will be held responsible if this night doesn't go the way I planned it." She smiled at Emma, her hand landing gently on the blonde's bicep, "Besides, I wouldn't allow anything to jeopardize you, Em. You know that."

Regina cleared her throat this time, while Ruby grabbed Henry by the hand and made her way in, bumping into Lily once again.

"Darling," Regina snaked an arm around the blonde's form, smiling sweetly at her, while out of the corner of her eye she could feel Lily's gaze on them, "Why don't you go on in with Ruby and Henry? Wait for us in the lobby, hm? Lily and I need to have a quick word."

Emma's brow raised, truly impressed by Regina's take on control of the situation, but also a little worried given the happy sparkle in the brunette's eye indicated she was a little under the influence from all the wine they had tested back at the vineyard.

"Go on, it's okay." Regina smiled yet again, brushing her hand against the blonde's back, "We'll be right there. I promise."

The princess nodded her way, respecting her wishes, "Very well. We'll see you inside." She walked past them, leaning towards Graham, who stood close by, "Stand by the door."

"Of course, your majesty." He nodded, waiting right by the door.

Lily smiled over at Regina, very politely in fact, "So, we're alone. May I ask what is so important that it couldn't wait until after?"

Regina smirked sarcastically, brushing her hair back very elegantly, purposely showing off her engagement ring, which Lily's eyes didn't fail to glance at. "Do you prefer to be called Lilith or Lily?" She asked her, chuckling, "I've heard it both ways, so I want to make sure what you are most comfortable with."

"Lily is fine." She nodded, "All my friends call me Lily, and all of Emma's friends are my friends."

Regina released a humming sound from the back of her throat, "Hm, except I'm not just any of Emma's friends- I'm her girlfriend. Or, rather," She flashed her engagement ring at her direction again, holding out her hand, "Her fiancee, and soon will be her wife."

"Regina." Lily chuckled, her head tilting, her gaze challenging, "If this is about Emma and I, I assure you we've been friends since we were kids-"

"Which leads you to have some type of feelings for her." Regina admits, interrupting her. Her eyes burning right through the younger brunette, "Am I right?"

Lily remained silent for a moment before calmly replying, "Well… it is hard to ignore the fact that Emma is a very attractive woman. But, you have to believe me when I tell you that I have no interest in coming between you and her. It is very clear to me that she only has eyes for you, she wouldn't have asked for your hand in marriage if that wasn't so." She paused, not blinking through her next choice of words, "Unless your lack of trust in her is rather questioning."

Regina's brow raised. She didn't understand what was happening right now, where she was gathering the courage to throw off very diplomatic warnings her way, where her right choice of words came from. Maybe it was the amount of alcohol in her system, she really couldn't figure it out right now, all she knew was- she liked it.

She took a few steps before Lily before speaking, her eyes glaring, not a crack of smile in sight from her lips, which frankly threw Lily off guard.

"My trust in Emma is none of your concern, however as long as we're being so honest, I owe you the same and should inform you that who I don't trust, is you." She paused, this time her voice was just a tiny bit menacing, "But, I am grateful that you are aware of Emma's feelings for me. You'd do well to remember them next time you decide to start making eyes at the woman who will soon be my wife." She smiled, "Now, if what you say is true, and you really do want to be friends… someday… then, I suggest you start keeping your hands to yourself and off Emma." She chuckled, "Honestly, Lily, I hate admitting this about myself, but… I don't share well with others with what is rightfully mine. And Emma is mine."

Lily swallowed the lump in her throat that formed from God knows where.

"Am I in any way unclear, dear?" She asked her, throwing a polite smirk her way, the most polite she could manage for the night.

"Of course not." Lily blinked, smiling rather sarcastically, "You have nothing to worry about."

"Good. I'll try to trust that you'll keep your word." Regina walked past Lily, her eyes focusing on Graham, who didn't hold back on a smirk from tugging at his lips.

"Very well said, ma'am." He muttered under his breath with a sense of proudness.

"Thank you, Graham. I absolutely despise confrontations, but it had to be said." Her head turned towards Lily who was walking past them in silence.

"If I may speak freely?" He asked the brunette, who nodded at him, "I've known Emma all of my life, practically since we were kids and I can tell you that I've never seen her this in love with anyone, like she is with you." He paused, his eyes locking on her own, "What I'm trying to say is, Emma would never do anything to jeopardize that."

Regina smiled, truly smiled at the man, her hand resting on his bicep, "Thank you, Graham. You, I trust, and I trust Emma. I know perfectly well she would never be unfaithful in any way."

He smiled her way, motioning for her to step through the glass doors first as he followed behind her in silence, before meeting up with everyone else in the lobby and heading up towards the party for the night.