Prompt from a friend: Daniel dies at the hands of Cora, Regina pushes Cora through the mirror and she still marries the King. Regina never casts the dark curse, instead she kills Leopald and becomes Queen of the Dark Kingdom while Snow and Charming live in the White Kingdom. Snow still views Regina as her stepmother, so when Regina puts herself in a sleeping curse to stop the pain of losing Daniel, Snow sets out to find someone to kiss her awake. 18 years later, that happens but not from who Snow expects..

Disclaimer: I don't own Once Upon A Time, I just like using the characters

Chapter 6

Snow White knew there was something off about her daughter and her former stepmother, but she had no idea what that could be. The three women were now sitting in the parlor, Emma on one side of the couch Regina on the other. Snow sitting directly across from them in one of the chairs.

"Regina," Snow began, "your father was wondering if perhaps you would like to take a ride with him and Rocinante."

The brunette's eyes shot up at the mention of her father and her horse. "I'd like that."

"Good. Your maids are waiting outside to take you to see your father."

Regina thanked Snow and made her way out of the room, turning before she got to the door to smile shyly at Emma. Emma smiled bashfully back to her.

Once the footsteps could no longer be heard down the hall Snow turned to her daughter. "Did you two have a nice talk?"

The blush creeping up Emma's neck almost gave her away. Almost. "We'll need to talk later, our conversation wasn't quite finished yet mom. How's her father taking the news of her being back err awake?"

Snow sighed and shook her head. "He's worried. He's worried that she hasn't healed from what happened to her."

"Mom," Emma's brow furrowed. "What did happen to her? Why was Regina in that sleeping curse in the first place?"

"That's Regina's story to tell Emma. I already betrayed her trust once. I won't do so again."

"But-"

"No Emma." Snow White's voice was harsher than she meant it. But her daughter needed to understand. "This is Regina's story. Come," the elder woman said rising from her seat. "let us see what we can do to celebrate your birthday and Regina's awakening."

'Awakening indeed..' Emma thought to herself as she followed her mother out of the room.

As Regina and Henry rode through the forest on their horses, Regina was reminded of a simpler time. Perhaps not simpler, but a different one.

"My dear.."

She turned to look at her father atop his horse. He looked so tired. How hard it must have been for him, to rise in the morning to find his daughter asleep for all eternity with no hope in waking.

"I'm really alright Daddy, I promise."

"That's not why I asked you to take this ride with me."

"Spit it out then Daddy. What's on your mind?"

Henry looked at his daughter. She seemed to have grown younger during her time in the curse. "Are you going back to your Kingdom? I've managed it since you were unable but now that you're awake, well. I assume you'll want to go back."

Regina stopped to consider her father's words. "I would like to go back, yes. But.."

The hesitance Henry saw on his daughters face was enough to make him wonder what transpired between the princess and his daughter. "So you and Emma.."

Regina caught the openendedness of the sentence and hid her face slightly. "A lady never kisses and tells Daddy."

Chuckling the man nodded at his daughter. "Let us head back to the castle. I'm sure you want to get ready for the ball tonight to celebrate her birthday."

As Regina readied Rocinante into a canter, Henry swore he saw a blush fall upon his daughter's face.

Normally never one to fuss over clothing, Emma Swan had thrown every dress she owned across her room hoping to find one she liked. But more importantly, one Regina would love.

The eighteen year old hated dresses on principle, but thanks to her mother's prompting was picking one out for her ball tonight. Snow had promised Emma, promised she wouldn't have to choose someone to marry. She could be with Regina. That thought had her insides turning to lava.

A soft knock sounded on the door and Emma threw on a shawl to open it, assuming it was just her mother or a maid. When she opened the door to find Regina in a deep purple dress that showed just enough cleavage, her mouth suddenly went dry.

Regina raised her eyebrow at the lack of dress Emma was wearing. "May I come in?"

Emma nodded, more than a little surprised as to why Regina was here.

Regina entered the blondes room and looked around. She laughed at the irony, it looked much like hers did when she was in this castle all those years ago.

"How was your ride with your father?" Emma asked, her voice an octave higher than she intended.

Regina turned and smirked at the sound. "It went well, thank you for asking. He and I.. talked. That's why I'm here. Emma, what transpired between us earlier-"

Emma could see the fear in Regina's eyes and crossed the small space to stand directly in front of her. "Please don't say another word until I have said my peace."

Regina hesitated only slightly before nodding.

"I know we haven't known each other that long, and that we barely know each other. Except you were some Evil Queen and all that. But Regina, from that first kiss I felt.. I felt alive with you. There's never been someone in my life who could do that to me and honestly? I don't want to not have that every morning when I wake up and every night before I go to bed. I guess what I'm trying, and apparently failing at miserably to say is that I love you.. and I want tospendtherestofmylifewithyou."

Regina smiled at how fast the princess talked when nervous. "Say that once more Emma, I didn't hear you."

"I want to spend the rest of my life with you.

..

"Will you marry me?"

Regina didn't know what to say, so tears began to fall from her eyes as she nodded. "Yes." she managed to squeak out.

Emma rushed to her wardrobe, digging around inside. She produced a small velvet ring box she had her godmother Ruby buy her when she was fifteen. She walked slowly and with purpose towards Regina, and as she got down on one knee Regina's breath faltered.

"I promise to love you, as the Evil Queen or just Regina, until the day I die. Never before have I found someone so on my level- and yes, we just met and we barely know one another well enough for me to say that. But there's a connection I feel for you that I know I will never feel towards anyone again. So Regina Mills, will you marry me?" Emma opened the ring box to show the woman standing before her a small diamond surrounded in vines.

Regina stuck out her hand as she whispered a barely audible, "Yes." and dropped to her knees in front of Emma.

Neither woman realized it was happening until it happened. Regina leaned in first, and ever so gently Emma cupped her face and brought their lips together. A vortex of white light surrounded the two women and magic cackled around them.

When the kiss broke Emma looked to Regina. "Nearly every time we kiss that happens. What exactly is that?"

Regina wasn't sure if she could say the words without her heart breaking. For so long she had thought it was Daniel, had thought he was the answer to everything. But he wasn't. "Our True Love's Kiss magic letting us know it recognizes us and our love." she whispered.