Half an hour later, Emma returns to the room with a smug grin, upon her face.
"So…I spoke with my father and he said, that Henry can help in the gardens if he wishes. We have two gardeners but they can always use a hand out there" she tells them and Henry and Regina just gape at her, in surprise.
"Is that where you ran off too..to talk to your father about Henry?" Regina asked.
"Yeah. Shouldn't I have done so?" She looked worried.
"No, of course not. Its just you have just met him"
Emma bites her lip momentarily.
"Yeah, but I know you and if this, makes you both happy then that's all that matters" she looked away shyly and Henry looked between the two and found it curcious. How both Emma and Regina were acting with eachother. If he didn't no any better, he'd say their was something going on between the pair, but he quickly put that thought aside, as it could not possibly be.
"Are you sure princess?" Henry then asked and Emma looks to him.
"Yeah but you don't have too, if you don't want too. It's just an idea"
"I would love too" he then said.
"Great. I'll show you both the gardens now, if you are not busy" she asks.
"I'm not busy Princess" Henry tells her quickly and makes his way to the door and Emma looks to Regina, hoping the brunnette would also come.
"It would be nice" Regina then said and patted down her white dress, before walking towards the door and the blonde princess, quickly folllowed and lead them to the gardens.
"I've never seen such things" Henry mutters to his daughter, as he holds onto his daughter's arm.
"Nor I" she replies and looks around at all the plants and flowers.
Emma meanwhile, bites her lip. He hopes Regina and Henry like what they are seeing and she leads them around to the bench.
"This is my favourite spot" she tells them softly and then adds "You can see most of the garden from here and the birch tree" she looked over to it.
"I could spend most of my day out here Princess. Thank you" Henry then tells her, looking over at the tree, before sitting down upon the bench.
"And you can" Emma replies quickly and Regina tilts her head at Emma, adoringly.
"Why are you being so kind to us. You barely know us" she asks, curciously.
Emma shakes her head.
"Well, I know it hasn't been long but I feel that, I know you well enough"
Regina's heart swells at this and they then continue to look around the garden, in a comfortable silence.
As the weeks begin to pass. Regina finds herself busy making garments, whilst Henry, wonders the garden by day and stays in the library by evening.
"How are your two favourite staff members doing?" David asks Emma, as they sit at the royal table, eating dinner, one evening.
Emma smiles and looks down at her soup, shyly.
"They are great" she replies, trying to sound casual.
"I actually spoke to Henry this morning" David then says and Emma looks towards him, wide eyed.
"You can tell his a proud man, which is a rare quality in people these days and I am glad your making friends" he tells her sincerly.
Emma looks back down and smiles to herself.
Snow then says "i agree. Regina is a nice young woman and she is rather intelligent, considering her upbringing"
David nodded in agreement at his wifes statement and Emma felt happy, that her parents seemed to like Regina and Henry and that they we're allowing her to spend time with them.
Two more weeks then passed. With Emma finding any excuse to spend time with Regina. Even when the brunette was busy sewing in the seamroom, she'd happily watch and speak about random things.
Regina, often wondered why the blonde wanted her company. She wasn't exactly the most friendly or fascinating person in the world.
Emma however, thought Regina was wonderful. She wanted to spend all her time with the brunette. Even when she had to leave, she thought of the woman and what she was up too.
"It's your birthday?" Emma said disbelievingly, as she walked the garden with Regina.
"Yes. This Friday" Regina confirmed.
"We must celebrate"
Regina scoffed but then said "Do not go to any trouble for me, Emma"
"Its no trouble. I will get the cook, to cook anything you wish and cake" she beamed.
Regina chuckled at the princesses excitement.
"Maybe mother, will also let me eat with you. Since it's a special occasion"
Regina's eyes widened.
"I shall talk to her tonight" Emma added.
"Okay" Regina replied softly, as she didn't know what to say.
The next morning.
Emma hurried to Regina's chamber.
"Good morning Emma' Regina said happily, as she opened the door.
Emma smiled "Hey Regina" she replied, then noticed Regina was still in her gown and she gawked, as she saw bare legs.
"I..did I wake you?" She stuttered.
"No"
"Oh. Well, I just came to say my parents will let me spend your birthday with you"
Regina smiled widely.
"That is wonderful"
"Yeah and the cook will be putting on your favourite food"
Regina gaped momentarily
'How did you get them to agree on that?" She said dumbfoundedly.
"They want me to be happy and um, i said id take more interest in political matters of our kingdom'
"You'd do that for me?"
Emma shrugged and looked down shyly.
"I don't know what to say…thank you" Regina then said.
Emma looked back to her.
"Your welcome um, Ill let you get dressed" Emma then said and hurried off, with a goofy grin on her face and a fluttering in her stomach. While Regina just watched her go, while thinking, this may be my best birthday yet.
On the Friday morning, there was a knock on Regina's chamber and Regina looked at the door and wondered if it was the princess. She hoped it was.
However, it was a guard, holding a dress.
"I am here to deliever this dress to you, to wear today from princess Emma" he handed it over and Regina gaped.
"She also wishes you to read this" he handed over a piece if parchment and then left. Leaving Regina open mouthed and looking at both items in surprise before quickly setting the dress down and reading the parchment.
Happy namesday Regina, I hope you do not mind, that I picked you out a dress for you to keep as a birthday present from me. Maybe you can wear it at dinner.
Meet me in the garden when your ready.
Emma.
Regina then looked back at the dress and beamed in happiness.