As her axe bit into wood she had taken from the wood the groundsman had indicated would be good for chopping, Emma was unaware of watchful eyes. Eyes that lingered over her bare, muscular arms. Eyes that darkened with desire, pupils widening as they took in her strong movements. Mind wondering what those strong arms were also capable of.

Regina had been out for a ride on her faithful mount, Rocinante, when she happened upon Emma at work. She couldn't help but pause to linger and admire her as she lifted the axe, and swooped down in a graceless arc, biting into wood, chopping log after log.

It stirred something long forgotten within her. It was almost frightening to her.

Rocinante gave a restless snort, shaking her from her thoughts.

Emma's attention snapped away from chopping wood, disturbed by the sound made by the animal, her hand slipped and to Regina's horror so did the axe. Emma fumbled to catch it, and in the process caught it very awkwardly, gripping the blade.

Regina could see already that she was bleeding, the blade had sliced her palm.

Emma looked very surprised at the axe. She frowned at it and dropped it to the ground.

Regina hurried to drop from Rocinante.

"Miss Swan!" She called as she pulled the kerchief she carried with her from her riding coat. Regina rushed to Emma.

Emma sat on the stump she had been using as a chopping block. Regina took her hand and wrapped it in the cloth.

"We must get you to the house!" Emma looked up at Regina's worried face expressionless. She shook her head. She frowned at Regina. Regina returned the frown at her reaction.

Emma reached down for her water bottle and simply took a drag.

Emma sighed. "I haven't been startled in so long."

She wiggled the sliced hand.

"Just give it a moment." Regina gave her a concerned frown but she waited like Emma told her to.

Emma pulled the kerchief off and poured water over her hand, cleaning dried blood off of her palm.

"I told you the axe was magic, didn't I?" Regina only stared at Emma's palm as Emma held it out to her.

There was no cut. Where it had been bleeding, it wasn't any longer. In it's place was a fresh, pink scar.

Emma smiled. She wiggled her hand.

"Magic."

Regina almost gaped at her.

"How?"

Emma shrugged.

"To prove it to me my master cut his own toe off. Whoever is the master of the axe, it can never harm. It heals them from the smallest of nicks to a downright chopped foot. I've seen it." Emma told her matter-of-factly.

Regina shook her head in awe.

"Miss Swan, you never cease to amaze me." She remarked.

Emma smirked.

"That's probably something you need."

They smiled at each other for several lingering moments. The air buzzed between them. Something left unsaid, unspoken between them. Something neither of them wanted to broach, fear that the other would reject it, or that they themselves were not ready.

They ached, they longed to cross that bridge that lay between them. If only one could be brave enough.

Regina reached out and took Emma's hand, examining the newly made scar. She ran her thumb along it. Reassuring both to Emma, and herself after what she had seen.

"Well, if you are truly alright, Miss Swan, then perhaps, I should take my leave." Regina sighed inwardly. She would have almost liked to save Emma.

Regina's touch lingered. Emma didn't want her to let go.

"Almost. I am wondering why it is your horse distracted me." Emma teased.

Regina felt herself blush.

"We… Rocinante is quite the distractible horse and we were riding by. He sees a stranger and gets curious and when they are obviously busy he tries to get their attention." Regina made up. It sounded stupid even to her own ears.

Emma gave her a silly smile.

"Oh Rocinante, huh?" She widened her grin.

"Well let me meet the horse!" Emma was teasing, she knew Regina was lying, something inside of herself told her when people lied but she could use this as a chance to spend more time with the woman.

Regina stood, pulling her up by the hand. (They were still touching!) She led Emma over to the big animal. He was a beauty of a horse. A chestnut, Emma admired.

Emma reached out to touch him.

"I woul-," Regina began to protest.

Emma ran tender fingers between the horse's ears. He snorted and eyed her, then butted her hand.

Emma smiled.

"Not at all like my Beetle." She remarked to Regina. "He doesn't like anyone."

Regina, watching the exchange had been surprised herself.

"Rocinante can be quite tricky himself. He normally doesn't let strangers touch him." Regina told her.

Emma turned to her with a raised eyebrow.

"Guess I'm lucky then." She smiled.

"Would you like to go for a ride sometime?" Regina suddenly felt emboldened by the both horse and woman. "I know Zelena showed you around the estate, the house, but I'm not sure if you've seen the larger estate, the grounds, and the lands we encompass?"

"I would like that." Emma agreed. "Beetle is probably getting restless."

Regina bit her lip, thinking.

"I will have to see when I am free, and I will send a note, with a day and time, if that's fine?" Regina asked her.

Emma nodded.

"Well then Miss Swan-," Regina stepped back, preparing to turn away and leave.

"Emma." Emma interrupted.

Regina swallowed. Emma was holding her gaze rather steadily. It made her harshly aware of the color of her eyes. The clash of green and blue hues in them.

"Em-ma." Regina's mouth formed the name, and Emma found she quite liked the sound of it in Regina's vocal timbres.

"Expect a ride in a few days." Regina turned away and with the practiced grace of lady who Emma noticed rode like a lord, she mounted Rocinante. Emma watched her ride away, admiring her silhouette atop her mount.

"She is either going to be the death of me or my own version of heaven on earth." Emma muttered to herself.

She would gladly take her either way.