Chapter 5

It was the day of her twenty first birthday and Regina was unsure on how to feel. She always dreamed about being this age before, so that she could be free. This was not the case, instead the birthday brunette had already lived a part of a life that she hadn't expected. She was a widow, a Queen and unfortunately, with all but her mother for company.

Cora had agreed on a celebration for the day, not wanting the kingdom to see her as unkind and a ball was yet again arranged, only this time with gifts.

After greeting a fair amount of people and thanking them for their gifts, the Queen took one more look around the room to see if maybe, just maybe her friend would show. Another current disappointment. Sighing, the brunette accepted a glass of champagne from a tray and began to wonder through the crowd towards the door. As she passed, everyone would acknowledge her with a smile which made her feel worse.

There was only one face she wanted to see.

Thinking back to that dreaded morning, Regina wondered if it would ever be the same again or even if she would ever have her friend again. They had not been in contact since and sending the blonde an invitation to the ball was a mere gamble. What if she hadn't received it? Or what if she had and just did not want to know?

The Queen felt dizzy just thinking of all the different scenarios. Placing her now empty glass on the table, the brunette smoothed down her long, red, v necked ball gown which left little to the imagination and walked out into the corridor needing air. Feeling rather trapped, Regina made it to the garden before taking the crocodile clip that was restricting her, out of her hair, descending her dark locks and allowing the soft breeze to cool her down.

Slowly walking towards the infamous apple tree that Emma had gave her, the Queen perched herself on the bench situated underneath and stared ahead in a daze trying her best not to cry. She had done a lot of that lately. More so since the blonde had fled her castle and she hated it, hated feeling that way. She thought once before when the king had died, that she was alone in the castle but now, she was alone
completely without her best friend to turn to. A friend that she loved...a friend that she had fallen in love with.

Taking a much needed breath along with a small talking to consisting of 'come on Regina get a grip', the brunette pushed herself off the bench and turns towards the door. As she turns, the Queen ends up taking a step back with a slight gasp at the sight of someone in front of her. "Emma?..I didn't think you would..."

The blonde looks towards the Queen feeling awkward and fiddles with the tie on her cloak. "I..I know..but..it is your birthday.."

The Queen looks lost for words staring at the princess feeling embarrassed. "Emma what happened..I..."

Emma continues to look back to hear her answer, hopeful.

"I..I'm sorry..I should never of put you in that..position.."

The princess gulps and nods slowly, disappointed. "Oh.."

Regina frowns at the reply, something she was not expecting and questions it. "Oh?"

The blonde looks away from her gaze. "We should get inside...can't have a birthday celebration without the Queen"

The brunette bites her lip, sighing quietly then follows the princess back inside tying her hair back up along the way, knowing her mother, she would have something to say otherwise.

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Entering back inside the hall, Regina cannot help but watch her friend as the woman re-addresses her mother and discards of her cloak revealing a very familiar styled dress, causing the Queen to frown then smile, realizing where she had seen it before. The same day she had given the princess her gift of a swan necklace. The dress she had deemed pretty and the best by far on the blonde.

Catching Regina's gaze and smile, Emma lets slip a small smile herself from a distance before being shown around to different members of royalty attending the ball.

Throughout the evening, there was one person who had witnessed the behaviour between Queen and Princess and that was Emma's mother Snow. Stepping up to her daughters side beside the buffet table, the Queen glanced at her. "Emma? Have you spoken to her yet?"

The blonde sighs agitated. "I tried...but.."

The dark haired woman looked to her daughter curiously. "But?"

Emma looks to her mother with a small pout. "She apologised for what happened...which means she regrets it"

Snow rolls her eyes, feeling like she has to bang their heads together. "Or she is just saying what she thinks you want to hear? Emma honey..you need to just tell her, at least then you will know. I hate seeing you so conflicted"

The blonde looks over in the distance yet again at the beautiful Queen and takes a breath. "Okay then"

Snow raises an eyebrow confused. "Okay then what?"

Emma looks towards her mother while straightening her dress. "I will go tell her..now" although trying to sound confident, the princess feels her heart speed up as she quickly leaves her mother at the table to do what she had set out to do, leaving Snow completely speechless.

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Approaching the Queen who is in mid conversation with a duke, Emma stands to the side secretly wishing the man would just be quiet and walk away. Glancing over the duke's shoulder, Regina spots the princess looking rather distressed and excuses herself from the conversation. Stepping away, the brunette looks concerned. "Emma? Are you..what's wrong?"

The blonde looks directly at her trying not to let her voice sound so shaky. "We need to talk"

The Queen can only nod and gestures for them to head back to the door where they originally came in.

Watching her daughter head towards the exit with the blonde princess, Cora huffs and walks over quickly, stepping in front of them. "And where exactly is the Queen disappearing to when she should be at her ball?"

Regina sighs frustrated with her mother constantly keeping tabs on her. "Mother I am allowed to go where and with whom I please"

The older woman goes to protest the notion but is prevented by Emma stepping up to her. "I requested permission to speak with the Queen, so if you don't mind leaving us royals to it"

The brunette's eyes widen at the blonde's outburst towards her mother then hides a smile, turning away from Cora. The older woman looks shocked but does not have time to answer as the princess takes hold of Regina's arm and leads her out the ballroom.

A/N: come on Emma! :)