Regina entered the gardens, with a smile upon her face and the fluttering within her stomach.
She was another year older, yet she felt younger. It was all because of the blonde princess she mused.
She approached Emma quickly but the blonde princess was looking in the opposite direction, thinking about what she was going to say to Regina, when she saw her.
However, she jumped upon hearing a husky voice say "Good morning princess"
She snapped her head towards the brunnette and for a moment, she looked like a deer in headlights.
"Hey" she squeaked.
Regina smiles widely.
"Thank you for the beautiful dress. May I ask where you got it? as I know, it can't of been done here, as I am the seamstress" she smirks.
"That's a secret" Emma grins smugly.
Regina scoffs and they gaze at one another for a long moment. Before Emma says "Would you like to see our stables?"
"Of course. Can we do that?" Regina asks.
"Duh. I am the Princess. I can go where I please...unless its out of the castle" she frowns and turns to walk off and Regina follows next to her.
"I can tell you, life outside these walls is not all rainbows and unicorns Princess" Regina tells her softly.
"I have seen very little of this kingdom. I even think, my parents have barely left this place" she sighs.
There was a pause.
"Maybe, it will help if I tell you where I have been, so you have an idea of what is out there" Regina says softly.
Emma looks sideways and smiles.
"Really?"
"Thats if you would like to hear it?" Regina asks unsurely.
"yeah...I mean, Id like to know, you know" Emma replies and chuckles and Regina thinks the princesses stuttering is cute and then thinks cute! where did that come from!
Once at the stables. Emma shows Regina her horse sugalumps. Which is a grey, average sized horse, with speeks on its back and sides.
"I don't ride" Emma says nervously and then adds "I just pet and brush her"
"And was you the one that named her?" Regina smirked, as she petted the horse's head.
"Yeah. Mom wasnt impressed but dad laughed. He said if thats what I want to call her, then so be it" she grinned goofily.
"Yes I can imagine. Not a suitable royal name for a horse, I guess but I think it suits this one" she then looks down a little sadly "I love horses.." she then says "I would of loved, to learn to ride one"
Emma tilts her head at this and then looks around, before saying "Would you like a lesson now?"
Regina looks at her confused.
"I mean. The head stableman is over there and he could show you. Apparantly, he used to be the best hunter upon a horse"
Regina doesn't know what to say.
"Think of it as a birthday gift" Emma then adds and hurries off, over, to where the man is standing and a long moment later she returns with the man. Who is atheletic and dark haired.
"Graham. This is Regina, the royal seamstress" Emma beams.
"Hello. Emma tells me its your birthday and that you have an interest in horses"
"Yes. That is right" she smiles.
"She also tells me, that you would like to learn how to ride?" he tilts his head.
"Yes" she looks to Emma anxiously.
"Well. I am sure we could spend half an hour, showing you as it is your birthday" he smirks.
"If its going to be an inconvenience I.." Regina says but Emma interupts "Of course its not Regina"
Regina swallows and nods.
"Okay"
Graham then steps away and returns minutes later, with a chesnut horse.
"This is Ro. He has a good temperent, very placid and is good for beginners"
Regina swallows and looks at the horse with slightly wide eyes.
"Don't worry. Were not going to do anything dangerous. You can just sit upon him if you wish" Graham laughs and leads the horse out of the stables and Emma and Reigna follow.
Forty minutes later.
Regina gets off Ro, with Grahams help and she can't stop smiling.
"Your quite a natural Regina" Graham tells her. "It seems the ol boy, has taken a shine to you" he petted Ro.
"It was wonderful" Regina says back, whilst smiling at Ro and Emma also smiles, because Regina is so happy.
"Thank you" she then adds and Graham nods and then leads Ro back into the stables. Leaving Regina and Emma alone.
Emma bites her lip.
"Thank you Emma. It's not even afternoon and this has been the best birthday of my life" she beams.
"Really!..I mean im glad" Emma says, as a slightly blush starts to appear upon her cheeks.
"No really. I really appriecate this Emma" Regina says and looks to the blonde adoringly.
"Its no problem. I just want you to have a good day"
"I think, I would of had a good day with just a conversation with you" Regina then says honestly and blushes at her words.
Emma looks momentarily surprised, but quickly says "Yeah, Im pretty great to be around huh" and then chuckles nervously and Regina rolls her eyes playfully and they walk off, back towards the gardens...
Once sat upon the bench. Emma licks her lips and wipes her hands on her pants. While Regina looks around at the plants and just taking in the beauty of the gardens, until she looks sideways and see's that Emma is biting her lip.
She smirks and thinks, why is she nervous!.
"Emma..." she then says and the blonde looks to her, with slightly wide eyes.
"Yeah?"
"Are you okay?" Regina asks.
"Yeah...um, just thinking about stuff" she looks forward.
"What kind of stuff?" Regina asks curciously.
Yeah right, like I'm going to say, that I think your so beautiful and I want to hold your hand. She thinks and internally sighs.
"I...I was just thinking about dinner tonight" she lies.
"Oh. It's okay, if you don't want to eat with me and my father" Regina tells her and Emma snaps her head back to Regina.
"What! of course I do" she says seriously and insinctivily takes Regina's hand in her own and squeezes it lightly. "Not even my parents, could stop me from that" she adds. Which makes Regina smile back at her and then she looks down, at their joined hands. It feels warm and conforting and she then looks back up and says "Thank you for everything"
However, both don't notice that Henry is looking at them from a few foot away. As he had entered the garden to find Regina, but instead has found her holding hands with the princess and both are looking at one another so adoringly. That he pauses and blinks to make sure his seeing right...
A/N Next chapter spoiler - There's going to be a kiss -