Chapter 7

For the next couple of days, Regina had not heard from her mother despite living in the same castle. For the Queen, it suited her just fine after finding the courage to stand up to the woman. Without Cora's constant watchful eye, the brunette indulged in the privacy and began to make plans to visit her princess. Although it may appear soon, Regina desperately wanted to inform Emma about her mother now knowing and it was something she would much rather do in person.

After arranging a carriage and telling her staff and guards of her break to visit the White Kingdom, the Queen eagerly entered her transportation and sat back, allowing herself to daydream of the blonde that she loved dearly.

The journey was not that long but very agonizing for the impatient brunette who unfortunately let her fears take over her thoughts about her reunion with Emma. What if she had changed her mind? What if now that she is back in her own kingdom, she has found and fallen for someone who has not had the same dreaded experiences as the Queen?

Shaking the thoughts away, the brunette takes a deep breath, stepping down from the carriage before being met by Snow who was informed of a new arrival.

The fellow Queen welcomed the younger one with open arms. "Regina! What a surprise! I have just sent word to Emma that you are here"

Feeling guilty, Regina pulls away from Snow to look at her. "I am sorry Snow that I did not send a message of my visit, it was sooner than even I expected but I needed to see Emma. I have news"

Snow offers a heartfelt smile. "You do not need to apologise Regina, this place is as much your home too, after all you practically grew up here! If you ever need to stay-"

"Regina?!"

The dark haired Queen is cut off at the arrival of her daughter who up until reaching the castle steps, did not believe when told that Regina was at the entrance. As a grin takes over her face, the princess comes running down and straight into the brunette, enveloping the woman in a hug. Regina lets slip a laugh at the blonde's reaction and instinctively wraps her arms around her, squeezing tightly.

Resting her head against her Queen's shoulder, Emma gives a relaxing sigh before smiling. "I missed...the way you make my heart beat fast whenever you're near"

The Queen sniggers at the game they had invented when they were young, then kisses the princess' head.

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'Both girls walked glumly as they left the garden behind them and headed for the front of the castle as Regina was preparing to leave with her mother. The princess pouted at her friend and took her hand. "I hate this part..."

Gripping the blonde's hand, the brunette nods sadly. "Me too.." Suddenly smiling, Regina shakes her friend's hand excitedly. "I know! We can play a game, every time we see each other after not seeing each other, we can tell the other person something that they missed about them!"

Emma momentarily looks confused then grins. "Then we can think of each other! I'll start!"

The brunette giggles shaking her head. "No Emma! You tell me when I come back what it is you have missed!" Giggling again, especially as the princess goes red, Regina gives her a big bear hug before skipping off to find her mother.

One month later and the best friends were going to spend the day together again. After already finding one another, the princess and her friend go and sit against the apple tree. Like ritual, the blonde grabs two apples and passes one to Regina to enjoy.

Clearing her throat dramatically, Emma looks over. "I missed...not having you here to share apples with!"

The brunette laughs, nearly dropping her apple then smiles over at the blonde. "I missed...how you can always cheer me up when I'm down"

Smiling cheekily, Emma looks to her apple before taking a huge bite.

This game then continued on every time they saw one another. The answers were always honest and definitely sweet. The best answers being that, Emma missed Regina not being there to hold her hand when they sat by
their
tree and Regina missing Emma's pretty smile that apparently could light up an entire kingdom and brighten anyone's day.

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Pulling back to look into the blonde's mesmerizing eyes, Regina cups Emma's cheeks with both hands. "I missed not being able to do this" leaning forward, the brunette kisses her softly. While kissing her Queen back, the princess allows a small happy giggle to escape her lips.

Clearing her throat, the dark haired Queen clasps her hands together feeling rather awkward. "Excuse..me?.."

Emma realizes that her mother is still standing there and pulls away going shy, holding Regina by her waist and resting her head against her. "..sorry mom..."

Chuckling at her daughter's face, Snow shakes her head dismissing their actions. "You may get back to...greeting...each other in a moment, I just wanted to know how long Regina is staying for, if a room is needed to be set up? Also I would like it if we could all have a talk later..to discuss..this"

Emma looks panicked, tightening her grip around the brunette's waist. "But..I thought you were okay with this? You told me yourself to follow my heart and tell her!"

The young Queen hears the frightened tone in the blonde's voice and kisses her head while rubbing her back gently.

"No! Emma that is not..I am okay with this, more than okay..I just want to know.."

"My intentions?"

Looking up to her Queen, the blonde raises an eyebrow at the woman's answer. Regina gives her a smile before looking at Snow seriously. "I intend to love Emma for the rest of my life and if in the near future that involves marriage and a family, I would love all of it. It is all I have dreamed of and up until recently I thought that my dream was well and truly dead, or at least that is what mother told me"

Seeing her mother approach Regina with an understanding smile, Emma lets go of the brunette and moves to the side so Snow can move closer and take hold of both the younger Queen's hands. "Thank you, that is all I need to know. I do not want you to ever be worried of what I may or may not think because I know you would never hurt her. I can see by the way you look at her how much you care and love her. I am glad that she is now happy but I am also glad you are too. Whatever Cora has said to you, is not true and you deserve the best Regina, you really do and I may be biased but I think you've found it"

As tears begin to fill up her eyes, Regina quickly hugs the fellow Queen, gaining a squeeze in return.

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Once inside the castle, the young lovers made their way towards the chairs by the fireplace. Sitting down on the two seater, Emma glances towards the brunette in awe. "you're amazing you know that..all you said.."

Smiling, the brunette took hold of the blonde's hand, prompting Emma to link their fingers. "Was true dear, I love you, I have loved you for a long time and I will continue to love you until we are no more"

Hearing a hurried set of footsteps, the princess looks over, frowning in concern on seeing her mother practically run in the room looking lost and sad. "Mom?"

"Emma?.." Snow bites her lip to prevent it from trembling and holds a hand out to her daughter. The blonde looks over to Regina scared of what is going on but rises from her chair then walks up to her mother taking hold of her hand tightly as the younger Queen looks on, worried for both.

Giving a sniffle, the dark haired Queen pulls the princess closer. "Emma..your father..he..he's missing"

Feeling the colour instantly drain from her face, Emma looks at her mother in shock and steps back, releasing Snow's hand. "What...what do you mean he's missing?"

Hurrying over, Regina grabs hold of the blonde by her shoulder's to steady her from her shock. Snow gulps back a lump to give her daughter some explanation. "He..never arrived..for the..tax meeting.. he took a short cut through the forest two days ago and hasn't been..heard from since"

Covering her mouth, the princess holds back a sob, turning into the brunette for a hug. Wrapping her arms firmly round the blonde, the younger Queen glances over at Snow reaching out for her hand in comfort.

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Once Emma had calmed down, she gave her mother a tight hug before Snow left to find out more information and send out a message to the kingdom of any witnesses to Charming's whereabouts.

Retiring to her chambers, the princess sat on the end of her bed looking out of her balcony in confusion. Entering the room after retrieving a drink for the blonde, Regina sat beside her and rubbed the small of her back as Emma tried to find her words. "I..I don't know what to do..what can I do?"

The young Queen looks sad towards Emma and sighs. "Honestly..I do not know, I'm sorry I am of no help"

Grabbing the brunette's hand, the princess shakes her head, looking at her. "Regina do not ever say that, you always help me. Just being here..please do not leave tonight, I know you were not going to stay but I can't..handle being alone. Mother is keeping busy looking into everything and I.." Sighing, the blonde shrugs.

Reaching to stroke the side of her face, Regina gives a small, soft smile. "I am not going anywhere"

Sniffling, the blonde looks down. "You must think I'm being selfish...my father is just missing while yours is.."

Encouraging the princess to lay down for rest, the Queen lays beside her, holding her as close as possible so their foreheads touch. "Not at all..besides sometimes it's the not knowing that is worse, but he will come home soon.."

Moving so she can bury her head into the woman's neck, Emma takes a deep breath not wanting to ask in fear of the answer. "What if he doesn't?"

Stroking the blonde curls soothingly, Regina places a kiss to her forehead. "If he doesn't...then we will deal with it then. Together"

Nodding, the blonde closes her eyes feeling drained and wraps an arm around the Queen's waist to go to sleep.

For the next hour, the brunette watches over her protectively before glancing to the door hearing it open slowly, revealing a tired looking Snow who has come to check on her daughter. Nodding to let her know she is okay, Regina waits until the dark haired woman has left then rests her head on top of Emma's going to sleep herself.

A/N: there is drama and I haven't even got to the main bit yet!

P.S. Is anyone still reading? Had hardly any responses so I just wondered if I should quit before it all goes downhill?