"Regina?" Henry finally says and steps closer, as Regina quickly snaps her head towards him and says "Daddy?" whilst also, quickly releasing Emma's hands and standing up. Her cheeks going red.
"Is everything okay?" Regina adds, stepping towards him and giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"Yes. I'm perfectly fine. How about you sweetheart? Are you having a good namesday?" he smiles at her.
"The best. Emma took me to the stables" she smiles widely at him.
"Oh" he replies in surprise and looks to Emma and says "Did she tell you of her love for horses Emma?"
"She did" Emma replies proudly and stands up.
"Graham showed me some basics" Regina tthen ells him.
"Graham? Who's Graham?" he asks.
"The head stableman"
"I see"
"It was wonderful" Regina beams.
"I am glad your having a good day sweetheart. You deserve it" he tells her softly.
"Yeah, she does" Emma then adds and looks to Regina happily and a little doe eyed. While Henry stares at her and thinks, the princess is looking at my daughter, in more than a friendly way. This is a interesting development...maybe not a wise one though...
"Regina has told me you are joining us for dinner?" he then says, breaking Emma out of her gawking.
"Yeah. The cook will be cooking Regina's favourite"
"This is very nice of you, to arrange all this Emma" he tells her, whilst paying particular attention to how shes behaving towards Regina.
"Its no problem, really. I just want Regina to have a great day...She's become my bestest friend" she looks to Regina for assurence and Regina nods whilst feeling her heart swells in happiness.
"And what are your plans now?" Henry asks curciously.
"We have none" Regina replies.
"Well, would you care to join me for lunch?" he asks.
"I would love too" Regina replies and looks to Emma "Will you join us Emma?"
"um, actually I got some things to do with my parents but I'll see you at dinner"
"Okay" Regina replies a little sadly and they all head back inside and part ways.
At six.
Regina and Henry enter the kitchens to find Ms Lucas faffing around and a clothed table, with posh cultery and china upon it.
"This looks nice" Henry says softly, as he goes to sit down. Whilst Regina runs her hand over the fabric of the cloth and smiles.
It's seconds later, that the door opens and Emma enters. Wearing the dress Regina had made her for the ball and her hair tied up neatly.
"Good, I'm not late" she says, before taking in Regina's dress that she had given her to wear and she's frozen on the spot. Mouth slightly parted. Openly gawking over the way the dress hugs Regina's body in all the right places.
"No your not late Emma" Henry tells her softly and Regina looks around at Emma and she pauses. Realizing the princess is wearing the dress she had made for her.
Henry looks between the pair curciously and wonders, if maybe it's not just one sided after all.
"Oh, um, wow. You look..." Emma then stutters and Regina goes a little red in the cheeks and says "So do you princess" and she looks to her father "That is the dress I made Emma for the ball daddy"
Emma smiles at this and steps forward to take a seat, while never taking her eyes off Regina. Who also motions to sit down.
"How wonderful. I did say to Regina I wished I could of seen the dress she made" he smiles.
"It's the best dress I've ever worn thats for sure. Usually I hate wearing them but this...I would wear this to all special occassions if I could"
Regina's heart swells at the comment and Henry nods and wonders if the princess may like his daughter more than a friend but he puts it to the back of his mind and says "I am glad you think so and how was your afternoon?"
"Fine..um, I spent some time with mom doing royal stuff" she shifts in her seat, finding it a little uncomfortable.
Henry chuckles.
"Royal stuff? who would ever know that your a princess" he jokes.
"Yeah. I know, I'm not exactly what my parents would want me to be. I apparantly should be well spoken and well mannered" she sighs.
"Your not rude" Regina then says and Emma gasps "Are you saying I'm not well spoken?" she fakes being offended and both Henry and Regina chuckle.
"Okay ladies and gentleman. Here is my lasagna special for the birthday girl" Ms Lucas says, as she puts the plates of food in front of Emma, Regina and Henry.
"Smells good Ms Lucas" Emma says happily.
"Thank you Princess. I must say, that it is refreshing to see the princess slumming it down here with the staff" she smirks and Emma actually laughs.
"You know, you wouldn't get away with saying that if my parents were here Ms Lucas" Emma then says and smirks.
"I know, young one. However, I think I know you well enough to know, that you are not like your parents, don't take my comments that seriously"
"True" Emma nods.
Ms Lucas then looks to Regina and says "You must be pretty special young one. To have the princess eating in here. I'm surprised her parents even allowed it"
Regina doesn't know what to say and looks to Emma, who says "You know it wasn't easy. I had to promise stuff"
"Of course you did young one. I wouldn't expect them to just agree to it willingly" she smirks and walks away.
"I wish it was that easy" Emma then says without thinking.
"Its okay" Henry says simpathically and they settle into a silence, as they begin to eat.
"You know, this is the best dinner I've eaten here so far" Regina says softly, after a few minutes.
"Yes. It is mine too" Henry says, as he prods his folk into the lasagna.
"I've never had this before" Emma then says, causing Regina to look at her in disbelief.
"What?" Regina says.
"We only eat the finest meals, like pigeon and swan. Sometimes pie" Emma tells her.
Henry and Regina share glances.
"I can honestly say, we have not eaten pigeon or swan" Regina then tells her and gives a small smile.
"Well, there okay... I mean, its nothing special really" Emma shrugs.
"I don't think I'd like to eat that" Henry adds.
"Why?" Emma asks.
"I don't know. Just the thought of eating a swan is a little off putting to me"
"Do you eat meat?" Emma asks curciously.
"Chicken yes" he says.
"Oh"
Regina smirks and they continue to eat in mostly silence and once they finish Henry heads to the libary and Regina and Emma walk the castle.
"You know, that dress looks really good on you" Emma says quietly and quickly looks Regina up and down from next to her.
Regina smiles.
"Thank you" she says back and keeps her gaze ahead. "Where are we going?"
"Um, I dunno...but I have an idea.."
Regina raises an eyebrow and looks to her.
"Am I going to like this idea?"
Emma chuckles.
"Maybe" she bites her lip and leads them towards the royal chambers.
"Am I aloud to be down here princess" Regina says anxiously. As she knows the Royal chambers are out of bounds for staff.
Emma sighs.
"It's okay Regina. Your with me"
They then stop infront of a door and Emma looks to Regina with a bashful smile.
"Um. I want to show you my chamber. We can sit and talk in here if you want"
Regina is surprised but nods.
Emma then opens the door and waits for Regina to walk in.
Regina steps forward slowly and takes in the plain walls, the big oak wardrobe, the white dresser with mirror, the large window, a upholstered chair with pants upon it and a sword, leaning against it. Then the queens size bed.
"There's not much to see, really" Emma mumbles as she closes the door.
Regina walks over to the bed and sits on the edge, whilst looking at the side table which has a bracelet upon it.
"I imagined your chamber to be a little more messy to be honest" Regina smirked.
"Ah. It would be, but I have a maid who tidies up" she goes to pick up her sword.
Regina looks around.
"I wanted to show you this. I am practicing with father" she stepped closer to Regina and showed her the steel sword that had Emma's name engraved upon it.
"Maybe you should of been a boy" Regina teased.
"You sound like my father" Emma smirks.
"I think, I would get along with him" Regina then says without thinking.
"I think you would too" Emma mutters and then goes to put the sword back in its place.
"Are you any good with a sword? Maybe I can see you practice"
Emma turns and goes to sit next to Regina.
"I'm not bad. Father says I can be good with more practice and I'd like that. I shall ask father"
Regina smiles and looks to her hands in her lap. Emma follows her gaze and wants to reach out and hold them in her own.
"Today has been wonderful Emma. Thank you" Regina says softly and then looks to Emma. Who swallows and tentively reaches for Regina hands.
"I'm glad you have enjoyed today" she squeezes Reginas hands. Regina looks down at their joined hands. Her heart rate uncreases. She starts to panic at this unknown feeling that she's feeling.
"It's starting to get late. I better get back to say goodnight to my father then get some sleep" she says shakily but doesn't move.
Emma frowns briefly and pulls her hands back. Which make's Regina regret her words and she impulsivly leans in and kisses Emma on the cheek.
Emma gasps.
"What was that for?" Emma then asks, in pleasant surprise.
"For everything today and for you...just being you" Regina tells in honestly and stands up, to hide her appearing blush.
Emma just blinks and breaks out into a goofily grin. She's surprisingly over the moon by the gesture.
"I'll walk you back to the libary" she then says and gets up and motions for the door, with a bounce in her step and Regina shakes her head, in amusement at the blondes enthusiasm...
A/N Sorry for any spelling/grammar mistakes and a spoiler for next chapter is that things don't always go to plan...