Weeks passed by, and then a month, then another month. Despite Emma wanting to run away that instant, Regina had urged her to be patient so they could do this right and be smart about it. Slowly they gathered supplies they believed they would need for their journey and they would take them out and hide them at their meeting spot. Regina had a little more freedom to move than Emma did so her trips out there occurred more often.

Each time she did she feared when she arrived that there would be soldiers waiting for her.

She knew Emma would never betray her like that. Still what they planning came with great risk. A princess didn't run away – it was unheard of.

The moment they discovered Emma was missing the king would send soldiers throughout the land looking for her, which meant she and Emma needed a substantial head start. The plan was to leave at night. Both of them would sneak out after most of the people were asleep. Once they reached their meeting place they would grab their gear and go. There would be no time for hesitation.

Regina was taking two of her family's horses. Most families, including her own and those of the royal court, used special markers on their horses' hooves that indicated ownership in case the horse went missing. Regina had picked her horse and another for Emma and had been working to chisel away at those marks as time allowed. Luckily she spent so much time around the stables because she loved riding that she knew what she was doing for the most part.

When Emma arrived, they would simply let her horse run free. It would most likely run back to the castle, but at least they couldn't be tracked from the use of her horse. Regina was concerned that anyone tracking that horse to the spot would see the tracks of the other horses and follow them. But she didn't know what to do about that. All she could hope for was that their head start was enough.

She had gone out to the pond two days ago and left a couple of knives out there. She double-checked the other things they had hidden to make sure they hadn't been tampered with. She noticed the addition of another blanket roll – an Emma contribution. Pinned on it was a note.

"I miss you."

Even those few words were enough to make Regina smile. She never imagined she would ever feel as strongly about another person as she did Emma. It was immediate, the moment they had met.

Flashback

Regina was bored. She hated when her mother dragged her to the castle. Firstly, she had to endure her mother's constant criticism of Queen Snow on the way there. And once there she had to endure the fake niceties Cora proclaimed about the queen.

The whole purpose of going to court Cora had explained to her on multiple occasions was in order to be seen around other nobility. Cora said that if Regina ever expected to marry well it would have to be through a match made most likely through the court setting.

Regina found the whole thing petty and tedious.

Yes, she went because she had to. She spoke with other ladies of the court, pretending to care about this person or that person or whatever was the talk of the day. She knew many of the others around her age, but she wouldn't go as far as saying she was actual friends with them.

On this particular day, she was so bored that wandered off into the garden area. She admiring one of the flowered trees when she was startled by a figure who was trying to climb up the vine-covered wall nearby. The person fell and Regina went over to help them.

"Are you ok?" Regina asked as she looked down at pair of piercing blue eyes staring back up at her.

"Yes, thanks," Emma said accepting Regina's hand and pulling herself up. They were still holding each other's hand when Emma was fully up.

"You're the princess Emma," Regina said letting go of her hand and backing up a step. "Your majesty." She bowed out of respect. She of course recognized the princess. While they had never spoken Regina had seen her at court.

"Please don't do that," Emma said. Regina looked up at her before straightening. "You just saw me fall like an idiot, I think we can skip the your majesty stuff."

Emma smiled at her and Regina felt a stirring in her stomach that she had never felt before.

"I didn't mean to intrude upon um whatever you were doing," Regina said feeling like a self-conscious idiot. "I will take my leave."

"Wait," Emma said grabbing her arm. "You can't leave yet. I don't even know your name."

"It's Regina."

"Regina," Emma repeated with a smile that was making Regina's inside feel like they were tumbling down a hill. "That's a beautiful name."

"Thanks," Regina said feeling the blush on her cheeks. She was sure Emma could see it so she averted her eyes.

"Do you want to sit down and talk?" Emma asked.

Regina could only nod. Emma led her over a nearby bench and they sat down next to each other.

"I was trying to escape," Emma said as she glanced over to where she had fallen. "I didn't feel like sitting through yet another session in there. Sometimes I wish I had never been born as a royal. I am sorry if that shocks you."

"No, I may not be a princess but I understand that being nobility comes with certain responsibilities that are often hard to get through. That is why I was out here as well. I needed a break."

"Yes, a break. That is what I needed. I mean all the endless talk in there, it gets so old, but my parents are always telling me it's my duty."

"Sounds like my mother. She is always lecturing me about being a proper young lady, marrying well, and not disgracing the family name."

"That also sounds familiar. What is your family name?"

"Mills. My father is Duke of the Ander province."

"Ander. Known for its racing horses and wheat production."

Regina gave her a strange look.

"Sorry, as princess, it's my duty to know all about the different provinces. My father does say your horses are the best."

"We like to think so."

"Your mother must be Cora Mills."

"She is."

There was a moment of uncomfortable silence between them as both women seemed to realize that their mothers didn't get along.

"You know one of us should probably get back in there," Regina said. "It would only be prudent. Since I can hardly escape, why don't you let it be me."

She stood up. "It was nice talking to you, your majesty."

"It's Emma," Emma said also rising. "To you, it can always be Emma."

"Emma," Regina smiled and she began to leave.

"I should thank you," Emma called out.

"What for?"

"Well, now I know something else about the Ander Province."

"And what is that?"

"That the Lady Regina is as kind as she is pretty."

Regina thought her heart couldn't beat any faster as Emma gave her one last smile before disappearing.

After that the next time Cora wanted to take her to court, Regina was eager to go. She had dressed nicely and had her hair up. Once there she was chatting with some of the other women when Emma made an appearance. Normally when the princess was in attendance she stayed up on her throne and only entertained those people who seemed to be pre-approved to speak with her.

While she sat on the throne this time she also sought out Regina's eyes almost immediately. A smile lit up her face and Regina again felt herself blush. Why did this woman have such an effect on her, she wondered. She had kept thinking about Emma every day since their first encounter.

After Emma made enough of an appearance, she stood, made eye contact with Regina, and Regina saw her nod her head to the side in the direction of the garden. Regina excused herself from the person she was talking to and headed out that way. A few moments later Emma was pulling her into the back of the garden where they would have more privacy.

"You need to start coming to court more often," Emma said.

"Do I?"

"Yes. Two sessions now that you have missed."

"You've been keeping track?"

"Of course. You are the only reason I came to court those days and today."

Regina couldn't help but beam at her. "Then I guess I need to be better at attending."

They talked for the short amount of time they had before splitting up again and that is how it went. Regina would go to court and she and Emma would sneak off into the garden. That was until the day Queen Snow caught them. Specifically, one of the attendants saw them and let the queen know.

Snow had marched out to the garden and practically pulled Emma away from Regina forcing her to rejoin her public presence in the court.

It was months before Regina saw Emma again. The queen had pulled Cora aside to let her know that she didn't feel Regina was an appropriate friend for the princess to have. Of course, this angered Cora and she took it out on Regina.

The next time Regina came to court Emma wasn't there. The time after that Emma was there but she never looked in Regina's direction and Regina knew that their brief whatever it was, was over. But then a serving maid slipped Regina a piece of paper. It was a note with directions from Emma of a place to meet in three days.

Waiting even the three days was like torture for her, but at the arranged time Regina rode her horse to the small pond that Emma had directed her to and Emma was waiting there for her.

"I'm sorry," Emma said.

"It's not your fault," Regina replied. "You are the princess and your mother is the queen so she has every right to tell you who you should be spending time with."

"No, she shouldn't. This is my life. It's not fair."

Regina shrugged. "But it's the world we live in."

"That doesn't make it right."

"I agree."

Again they fell silent.

"At least we got to spend some time together," Regina said finally. "Even if it was brief."

"It's not over," Emma said quickly. "That is why I told you to meet me here. This is my little hideaway spot. This is usually where I come when I want to be alone, but I thought this could be our spot. You know we could meet here and spend time together."

"I don't know, your mother and my mother have forbidden us from having this kind of contact."

"But I don't want to not be able to see you, and talk to you, and …"

Emma came closer and she pulled Regina in to her body. When their lips touched Regina knew it was over for her. She knew she had found the one person in this world that she would love forever.