It didn't take us long to get to the stable. It would have been quicker if we weren't in ball gowns. The clothes I kept at the stables were simple and far from elegant. I gave Regina the nicer of the boots, shirt, and pants. We changed in different stalls but soon realized neither of us could reach the zipper or ties on the back of our dresses. "Emma, could you untie me?"

"If you can do the same." Regina chuckled as I walked in. My heart was pounding. As I untied her dress I could hear the breath Regina let out. I kept my eyes averted but caught a glimpse of her white bustier. I turned quickly so Regina could do the same to my dress. All I could think of was the contrast between Regina's skin and the undergarment. As she untied my dress her fingers brushed against my heated skin. Her gaze went from her hands to the back of my skull. Was she grinning? "Thank you." I hurried back to my stall to change.

"It feels so much better being out of that uncomfortable dress." Regina met me by the tack room. The shirt I gave her was slightly well fitted in the chest area and I had to keep my eyes from lingering there.

"It does feel better. Are you ready?" I hoisted a saddle on my shoulder and placed it on my favorite horse. "Hold on and I'll…or not." Regina had already saddled the other horse and tightened the girth around its stomach. "Well okay then." Regina turned to look at me before she placed a foot in the first strap.

"What?" I smiled and shook my head. "Ready?" I hoisted myself up and got situated.

"Yeah, would you like to do the course or just race?" Regina shot me a mischievous grin and took off. "Okay have it your way then!" I took off behind her. Every once in a while she would glace back at me.

"Come on Emma! Try and catch me!" I did eventually catch up with her but when our horses were tired we just loped beside each other. "So what's it like being the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming?" I shrugged.

"It has its ups and downs. On one hand, you want for nothing but on the other, you're constantly under speculation. If you do one thing outside of the norm someone knows it. I can't be myself."

"I just want to be free." I looked towards Regina. She was just gazing off in the distance. "I can't though. My mother wants me to be queen one day. And she wants me to learn magic. I don't care about being queen or using magic. I just want to be happy."

"I can understand that." We talked for what seemed like hours before I heard my name being called. "It's Jacob." We rode back to the stables and saw him standing there.

"Are you out of your mind Emma?! You left the ball completely and have been gone for hours. When I said you could leave I meant for a little bit maybe an hour tops. Not four."

"Has it really been that long?" He gave me a nod. "I didn't, we didn't, realize it had been that long." Jacob shrugged and tried not to smile.

"I saved your butt this time. But you can only get your womanly curse once a month." His face scrunched thinking about that. Both Regina and I laughed.

"Thank you Jacob." Regina and I led the horses back into the stable and I helped her get back in her dress. "I could just give you a ride home on my horse Regina." She walked out of the stall and still looked just as beautiful. Her hair was a little windblown but that just added to her beauty.

"I wish I could take you up on the offer but mother will be worried." Sadly I couldn't give her a ride there because I'm supposed to be in bed.

"True. And I'm supposed to be in bed with menstrual sickness." Jacob gagged and walked away to give us space. We fell into a somber silence. I wanted to see her again but I wasn't sure if it was possible. I looked down or anywhere but in Regina's direction. She took a step towards me.

"I had fun tonight. You're not a bad dancer once you get the motions correct. It's all muscle memory really." Regina gently swept a piece of hair behind my ear. I didn't dare move or even breath. All I could think was please let her kiss me. Please let her kiss me. When she cupped my cheek and glanced down to my lips I knew she wanted to. I met her gaze again and gave her a nervous smile. Regina leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on my lips. All the tension left my body and all I could think about was how soft her lips were.

My hands rested on her hips and she pulled me against her. "Regina…" She kissed me once more and rested her forehead against mine; both of us having to catch our breath. "I want to see you again." Regina gave me a sad smile.

"I want to see you as well but I'm not sure if we could unless there's a ball or party of some sort." I thought a moment.

"I go into town once a week and come here three times. If you could sneak away for a day…we can do something." Regina smiled.

"I have riding lessons three times a week so I could sneak away. Daniel, our stable boy, knows about me and could keep a secret. I don't go into town much though."

"Meet me here, in three days. I'll be up here all day reading or riding." Regina said she would and kissed me again. She had to go and we both knew it. I had to get to my room before my parents and she needed to get back to the ballroom. We walked hand in hand until we got within sight of the castle. I kissed Regina once more before we parted ways.

I got into my room, changed, and in bed minutes before my mother came to check on me. "May I come in Emma?"

"Yes." I covered up and curled into a ball as my mother came in. "How are you?" She came and sat on my bed.

"It's bad this month. But you know how the first few days are." She tucked some hair behind my ear and all I could think of was when Regina did the same.

"How did you like the ball? Until you got sick." She glanced over to the dress I had draped over the chair. "I hope the dress didn't get ruined."

"It didn't. But I had fun. I had a very nice time." I met a girl and we snuck off and rode horses and kissed and… It was hard keeping the smile from my face as I thought about the past few hours.

"That's good. There were a few nice gentlemen who were interested in you." I gave my mother a fake smile. "Well get some rest." We said our goodnights and she left. As I drifted off to sleep, all I could think about was Regina.

Xxx

Three days passed like years. I told my parents I was going to read in my spot. Luckily, the only person who knew my spot was Jacob and he would never tell them where at the stables I was. Before I left, I picked half a dozen apples and was going to bring them with me. "Going to see your girl again?" Jacob came up behind me with my bag.

"Yes. I can't wait to see her again." Jacob knew I liked this woman but I could see he was worried. "Jacob I know you're worried I'll get my heart broken. But I truly believe that Regina is different."

"It's not her I'm worried about. It's her mother. I'm not sure how she would react if she found out her daughter was seeing another woman."

"I see what you mean but there's no other way to figure this out than to just let it happen." Jacob hugged me before I left. It didn't take long to get to the stables. When I arrived, Regina wasn't there yet. I laid down my blanket and opened my book.

"Emma." I grumbled. "Emma, wake up." I groaned as I opened my eyes. I was being shaken.

"Huh?" When I saw Regina's smile, I instantly woke. "Hey, how long have you been here?" She chuckled and sat beside me.

"I just got here. You must be exhausted from your sickness." I laughed and sat up.

"Oh yes so exhausted." Regina wore a light blue jacket, with a white blouse underneath, a pair of tan pants and a pair of black riding boots. "You look nice." Her hair was pulled back in a single braid.

"Thank you Emma." Regina cupped my cheek and kissed my lips gently. "I missed you." I smiled into the kiss.

"I missed you too. You're all I've been able to think about." Regina smiled and kissed me again. She laid beside me and closed her eyes.

"It's a beautiful day out; perfect for a picnic." I laid down and enjoyed her nearness. "I saw you brought apples."

"Yes I figured we would want something to eat eventually. How have you been?" Regina rolled to her side and rested her arm across my stomach. I moved my arm so she could rest her head.

"I've been well. Mother is getting on my nerves but nothing new. Father knows there's something different about me. I think he knows I met someone."

"How does he feel about that?" I was worried and I know Regina could tell. She stroked my side with her thumb; trying to set me at ease.

"He just wants me to be happy. He knows I don't like men but still loves me." I kissed Regina on top of her head.

"I hope you can be happy with me." I really did. I was drawn to this woman for some unknown reason. Regina leaned up and captured my lips with hers. Regina surprised me when she moved on top of me to deepen the kiss.

"Me too." I couldn't think. The smell of her perfume filled my senses and the softness of her lips clouded my judgment. I loved her weight on me. One hand rested on the small of her back while the other founds its way unbraiding her long brunette hair. Nothing more than kissing happened; which is fine with me. Anything to do with this woman is fine with me.