LATER THAT NIGHT

The girls were led through the palace to Regina's bed chamber by their parents, which was customary.

"Goodnight, my queens," Emma's father said softly, with a bow.

His wife said nothing but bowed as well, stress causing her brows to furrow. She knew all too well what was to follow for her daughter, and could not bring herself to speak, guilt overriding any desire to comfort the girl.

"It was a beautiful ceremony," Regina's mother commented, after bowing herself. "You will both be great leaders."

With that, the adults disappeared down the dark hallway, leaving the girls alone in Regina's bedchamber. The brunette sat down on the bed and looked up at her new wife, her hands resting on her thighs, which were still covered by her traditional wedding dress, the long, exaggerated train dragging on the floor. The former princess stood awkwardly near the closed door and gazed back at the beautiful girl before her.

"What now?" Emma asked shyly, biting her lip.

The brunette, face stoney and serious, replied, "I think you know what we're supposed to do."

Swallowing hard, Emma began to step forward, then stopped suddenly, glancing around. She reached behind her and struggled to undo the zipper of the dress. Though she wasn't prepared, Emma did know exactly what was expected of her and what she had to do.

"Wait," Regina said gently, rising from her sitting position and stepping behind the girl. "Let me help."

Startled but too shocked to move, Emma froze, allowing her to pull the zipper down just enough for her to step out of the dress.

"It's okay," Regina whispered. "I'm scared too."

Emma said nothing, but turned around to face the girl whose voice was so soft and reassuring. How was it that so few words could calm her? She was still unable to speak, but she stepped behind the brunette and lifted her shaking hands to clumsily lower the zipper of the other queen's dress. Then, they both paused, looking down.

Sensing that her new wife was just as terrified to expose herself as she was, Regina turned and pulled back the covers of the bed and slipped under them, both leaving on their undergarments. She moved over to the far side, the one close to the window, to leave Emma room to climb in beside her, and motioned for her to do so. Emma obeyed, then pulled the covers up over her chest. When she put her hand down on the bed, it brushed Regina's, and she could feel that it was shaking as well.

At first, Emma moved to pull away, but the other girl gently brushed it with her skin again, silently inviting her to maintain the touch. This, the blonde did, though she was reluctant. When Regina leaned in and brushed a lock of hair out of Emma's eyes, the girl shivered.

"I won't hurt you," the first queen vowed.

Emma was only able to nod her head slowly. Words remained stuck in her throat as Regina's hands slid slowly over her sides.

"Wait," Emma finally whimpered, carefully holding the girl's hands away.

"It's okay," Regina whispered back. "We don't have to."

"Yes, we do," Emma countered, tears forming in her eyes.

Regina could see these in the candlelight and reached up to wipe them away.

"I won't tell if you won't."

"I can't lie."

"I can."

Regina flashed a gentle smile and leaned back against the pillows, giving Emma room to finally breathe.

After a bout of silence, Emma finally turned to face her queen.

"Do you want to?" she asked softly.

"Well... I'm... curious... Aren't you?"

"No, not really."

"You're scared..."

"Yes."

"I wouldn't hurt you," the brunette said, touching Emma's hand. "You're my queen now."

Yours, Emma was thinking, unnerved by the though of belonging to someone.

Seeing the girl's wordless reaction to this, Regina added, "I just meant, Your Majesty, that I am now one of your loyal subjects as well."

This comforted Emma and helped her grow calm, her muscles relaxing just slightly.

"It is perfectly alright if you want to sleep in your own bedchamber," Regina assured her. "I promise, I won't tell."

Emma said, "Thank you," quietly and slowly climbed out of the bed, gathering her enormous dress in her arms, then stood near the doorway. "It's... It's a bit cold in the castle," she said, hesitating.

This brought a small smile to the other queen's lips as she replied, "You may sleep beside me, if you would like. We don't have to touch. It will be warmer for us both."

The blonde put her dress down and climbed back into the bed, looking at her lap as she sat upright. Only when Regina slid down beneath the covers did Emma do the same.

"Thank you," the new queen whispered again, staring up at the ceiling for a long while before she finally allowed herself to fall asleep beside her bride.

To Regina's surprise, the next night, Emma elected to sleep in her own room, making sure that their parents didn't catch her doing so, since they were expected to lie together at night. The following nights were the same. Their days were mostly filled with official business that encouraged them to speak to their political council rather than to each other. Their meals together were nearly silent, neither of them deciding to start up a conversation. However, they were exceptionally civil to each other, saying brief 'goodnight's' but never touching. Though, originally, Regina had been relatively brave in initiating their new alliance, she grew shy as Emma remained solemn and silent.

It was only a few weeks later when the official regal business of the kingdom slowed nearly to a stop and offered the girls the time and freedom to engage in other activities. It was then that Regina regained the courage to speak.

"Queen Emma," she started formally, "may I ask you a question?"

Caught off guard by Regina's sudden request, Emma blinked a few times and stared at the girl before replying, "You may."

"Would you like to accompany me on an outing?"

"Into town?"

"Into the forest."

"What?"

"On horseback."

Emma's lips parted before she confessed, "I'm afraid I don't know how to ride horses."

"That's alright," Regina assured her, before flashing a bright, encouraged smile. "I'll teach you."

Outside, Regina helped her queen onto her horse, holding the reins to make sure the horse stayed steady, sensing that Emma was very nervous.

"Now, you should try to stay calm, Queen Emma," the brunette advised. "They can sense your emotions, and if you are afraid, the horse will be too."

"I... I... I think I'd like to get down now..." Emma stammered, staring anxiously at the ground as she held on tightly.

"Alright," Regina said with a soft sigh that the other girl couldn't hear. "Here, I'll help you down."

She held her arms out, lifting Emma swiftly off the horse and into her arms. Holding the girl gently by her hips, she was momentarily frozen as she stared up at Emma, startled by her sudden realization of the fullness of the girl's lips.

"Um..." Emma mumbled quietly, her hands on Regina's shoulders to brace herself.

"I'm very sorry, my queen!" the brunette cried, snapping out of her trance and setting the girl down quickly, unintentionally placing Emma exceptionally close to herself. "I... I was..."

"It's... It's alright. You're... You're quite strong."

"Oh, gosh, I... I truly am very sorry. I should bring you back to the palace. I didn't mean to... to..."

"Wait," Emma interjected softly. "Perhaps, if I rode with you..."

Startled, Regina's eyes lit up, but she was too nervous to smile. Instead, she mounted a pure black horse, a Friesian, beside the much smaller one that Emma had attempted to ride. Reaching out for Emma's hand, Regina waited for the girl's touch. When it came, she used her strength to pull the girl swiftly onto the back of the horse. Immediately, Emma's nervous grip found the other girl's sides, and she held on tightly as Regina directed the horse to move slowly forward, taking baby steps so as not to startle her anxious queen.

"Just hold on to me," the brunette instructed her. "We'll take it slowly."

This prompted a nod that the other queen couldn't see. Emma wrapped her arms around Regina's waist and sucked in a deep breath. The contact earned a smile from the other queen that Emma couldn't see. With one hand, Regina stroked Emma's hands, and with the other, she led the horse toward an infrequently traveled trail in the forest.