And back once more with this story! This had been planned to be posted earlier, but with all the writing I had been doing, I was kinda running on fumes.
So our wonderful ladies are finally out in the open about one another...for the most part.
More fluff and happiness awaits! As well as hijinks and whatnot.
Enjoy!
Emma and Regina had been amiably walking around the village for most of the day, holding hands and asking questions, finding out little facts and tidbits about the other.
Suddenly, both their blood ran cold, but for different reasons.
"So Thea! You didn't tell me you were seeing someone?" Red had crept up behind them, and she made herself known to both women by slipping a hand on one of their opposite shoulders, trying to squeeze herself in the middle.
Emma gulped and flashed a nervous smile. "Hey Red! I uhm, was waiting for the right moment to tell you...surprise!" she finished lamely.
Regina meanwhile was stiff as a rod and trying to keep her wits about her. This was Snow's friend, at least at the time, she had been. Of course she knew that the wolf and her grandmother had taken up lodging in her kingdom, probably to spy on her. She also wasn't surprised that Emma and Red could be friends. After all, the Inn that the Lucases owned welcomed all sorts of peculiar customers. A thief wouldn't be anything new.
"I see. I'm definitely surprised." Red whiffed the air, and she thought she caught a vestige of a familiar scent, but it was gone the next second and she shrugged it off.
Regina hoped that the quick glamour she cast to hide her scent from Red would work. She didn't think the wolf would be too happy to see her friend together the Evil Queen.
Emma flashed the royal an apologetic smile, and then lightly smacked Red. "Yeah yeah, now can you let us be? We wanted to walk around for a bit before I have to go prepare for tonight's show."
"Alright, I'm going," Red said with a smirk, holding her hands up in surrender and starting to head back to the Inn, but not before saying, "You'll have a lot of explaining and answering to do later!"
Once Red had left, Emma said, "I'm sorry about her, she means well, but she can be a little bit...much."
Regina waved it off, speaking for the first time since Red had showed up. "It's fine, you're lucky to have a friend who cares so much for you."
Emma hummed, before asking, "You don't have friends?"
"A few, but I don't get to speak to them often," Regina responded with a shrug.
They walked in silence for a bit before Emma sighed, and started walking them back to the grounds where the circus had set up. "Come on, I wasn't kidding about needing to go get ready."
Regina let out a chuckle, and followed the thief.
"Are you going to be watching tonight's show?" Emma asked as they approached their destination.
"Wouldn't miss it." Regina leaned in to give Emma a kiss on the cheek.
And she didn't miss it. The performance was spectacular. She watched, captivated, as the troupe performed incredible feats, it made Regina wonder if some of the members of the troupe had magic. Especially Emma. The woman moved with a fluidity that made Regina gape. When she breathed fire, she had to remind herself that it was just a trick, but it was still impressive.
When the show ended, Regina wished she could have stayed, but she knew her guard would begin to get antsy if she wasn't in her room by the appointed security time check. It was tedious, but necessary. For her own safety, and to respect their schedule. She was swept outside with the crowd of spectators before she could try and wish Emma goodnight. Perhaps she could visit tomorrow sometime, despite her busy schedule.
Once Emma was finished cleaning up after the show, she decided she'd surprise Regina. Even though they had spent most of the day together, she figured that she should visit the monarch now, as herself.
After everyone had left, heading to the Lupine Night Inn for a good drink to celebrate a wonderful first performance, Emma attached her quiver to her back, grabbed her bow, and made her way to the palace.
Regina had been lounging, reading a book in her settee, when she looked up and saw Emma, sans her usual green getup, standing by the doorway. "It seems you can't stay away," she said by way of greeting, a grin spilling onto her face.
"Can you blame me?" Emma asked, flashing a mischievous smirk of her own. "I just keep getting drawn to the place."
"Ah, are all the glittering jewels and gold calling to you?"
"Actually," Emma crossed the threshold, and made her way to the sofa, before adding, "there is someone much more precious and lovelier than all that which draws my attention."
As their lips met in a passionate kiss, Regina couldn't help but smile at the compliment and flirtatious manner. Without breaking off their kiss, she sat up a bit and pulled Emma down to join her in the sofa so she wouldn't be leaning down so uncomfortably. Once they broke for air, they rested their foreheads against the other.
"Hey," Emma greeted breathlessly.
"Hello." They separated and made themselves more comfortable in the settee.
Emma bit her lip and then asked, "So what did you think of the show?"
Regina studied the woman in front of her. Could it be that Emma was nervous for her verdict? "It was brilliant. You and your group are very talented. Are you certain that none of you have magic?"
The thief nodded. "No one. We only have one guy in our village who has magic, and he's a bit of a coot. But you really liked it?"
"I did...did you think I wouldn't?" Regina asked, tilting her head a bit.
"I'm not sure...I mean, you're a Queen, you must've seen so much, and our act isn't exactly anything original or innovative..."
Regina leaned forward and gave Emma a kiss. "Nonsense. More often than not the attempts at innovation usually end in disaster. Something like your act was much more entertaining."
Emma grinned, and asked, "So does that mean you'll come tomorrow?"
The Queen let out a mournful sigh. "Alas this week is quite busy for me, I'll be in meetings in and out unfortunately. But," - she saw the beginnings of disenchantment in Emma's eyes and hastened to add - "I would like very much to see you tomorrow night though, if you aren't too busy to come over? I wouldn't want to take away from your troupe."
Emma's smile was radiant. "Not at all. I would love to."
Throughout the next day, the only thing that kept Regina going was Emma's eventual visit. Boring meetings were always taxing on her patience, and to think that she had a colourful troupe of enthusiastic circus members, as well as her lover, out in the city, made her yearn for a chance to go out. But the meetings were very important, so she couldn't very well miss any of them. They went on well into the day, and by the time night-time fell and the last meeting finished, she was very tired.
She opened the door to her bedroom, and smirked at seeing that Emma had just arrived, about to take a step inside.
"Stop," Regina commanded, holding out hand, palm facing forward.
Emma quite literally froze, one leg raised a bit and arms tensed. She panicked, thinking she'd done something wrong. "Is everything okay?"
"Yes dear, I just wish to do something." Regina's outstretched hand glowed purple for a moment, as did the enchantment by the garden doors. "There. Now you may enter and leave as you please without setting off my barrier alarm. Go on, you can enter," she added, seeing Emma still maintain her precarious posing outside the threshold. "It won't bite."
Emma tentatively passed her leg through the doorway, and let out a sigh once she saw that nothing happened.
Regina meanwhile let out a huff of playful frustration and rolled her eyes at her lover's antics. "Honestly, could you be any more melodramatic?"
"Yeah, I could. I could've pretended to keel over when I passed," Emma riposted.
"I'm courting a joker," Regina sighed, walking further into the room.
Emma exclaimed, "Hey! I'm right here!"
"I know you are," the Queen smirked, cupping Emma's face to kiss her.
They kissed for a few moments, Emma wrapping her arms around the brunette to shift them closer, little moans escaping every now and then.
After they separated, Emma hummed as she remembered something and made haste to take out the object of interest from one of her pouches. "Do you want to explain this?"
Regina looked at the proffered piece of paper without taking it, seeing that it had her royal insignia in the wax seal. "The invitation?"
Emma nodded. "Yeah...you want us to come perform for you?"
"Me and my court, but yes, I do. Do you not want to?" Regina asked, tearing her eyes away from the paper to look at the blonde.
"No, yes, I mean no we don't mind, I just..." Emma let out a deep breath as she gathered her thoughts. "Why though? You've seen us perform..."
"In a way, but the Queen hasn't. Besides, a Queen's approval of a circus makes it all that more successful. Then you won't be ridiculed by the likes of Lady Smith anymore, for instance." It was well-known that to perform for the reigning royals in any kingdom was both a daunting prospect and one of the highest honours. If everything went well, the performers would receive the highest accolades. Should they fail...the shame would be too great, if the royals didn't decide to kill the performers, which Emma has heard happen with some particularly unpleasant and displeased monarchs.
When Emma didn't say anything, Regina gently caressed the thief's arms. "Hey," she gently said, getting Emma to look at her. "I'm sorry if this isn't something you wanted. It's just...when you told me that people often treated you like this, like how Lady Smith treated you, I wanted to be able to help. With this, even neighbouring kingdoms would have to respect you."
Hearing that made Emma flash a watery smile. "You'd do that for me...for us?"
"Of course," Regina responded, going to kiss Emma again.
"So, are you going to explain what it was that I saw a few days ago?" Red asked, arms crossed in front of her.
Emma looked up from where she was fine-tuning her bow at the Inn's barn. Regina had been busy today and the troupe was done with practising for today's show, so she was passing time here, away from the madness. "You're going to have to be more specific Red, you must've seen a lot of things a few days ago."
Red rolled her eyes and stalked over to the blonde, hands migrating to her hips. "Your lover."
"Oh...Re- ah, Renata?" Emma stumbled as she thought quickly. She wasn't sure how well-known the Queen's name was, but she figured that Red must know it.
"Renata? Never heard of her before...how did you guys meet?" Red asked. Something about her niece's lover nagged at the back of her head, so she was intent on discovering who she really was.
"She works at the palace..." Emma mumbled. After the words were out of her mouth, she figured that perhaps that wasn't the best profession to give her.
"The palace?! Are you mad Emma? Do you realize what could happen?" Red was practically panicking. This was not good at all.
Emma put down the bow and put her arms up trying to ease the other woman. "Hey, relax, nothing bad will happen."
"Emma, haven't your parents told you enough about the Evil Queen? If she finds a thief courting her staff she'll..." Red paused, eyes widening, remembering the whiff she'd caught the other day. "Oh no, no no, don't tell me she is who I'm guessing she is."
Feigning innocence, she asked, "What do you mean?"
"You know very well. Now I understand. The constant visits here, the performance for the Queen. You're courting her, aren't you?" Red asked.
"I uhm...really Red? You don't think that I could-"
"Emma Swan you are not about to continue lying to me...right?" She flashed a dangerous glint in her eye to make her point.
Emma deflated as she realized it was pointless. "Fine fine. But please don't tell my parents...she doesn't know who my parents are, she genuinely likes me. And I like her too, as strange as it seems."
Red hummed. "Are you sure that keeping that a secret's such a good idea? What happens when she finds out?"
"I don't want to lose her. She hates them, if she finds out I'm their child, she'll have my head."
"Your funeral," Red said, before sitting down on a vacant chair. "So tell me how you two met."
Regina looked up from the documents she was poring over and correcting for tomorrow's meeting, and saw Emma standing by the doorway.
"You don't need to wait outside every time, you have my permission to enter," Regina said by way of greeting, putting the papers down.
"I know," Emma said with a small shrug as she entered the room. "But I like seeing your smile every time you look up and see me."
The Queen smiled a bit wider at hearing that. "Aren't you a flatterer."
"My specialty, your Majesty," Emma responded with a small bow.
Regina made an impressed face. "You deigned me with my correct title."
Emma smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, I make a habit of not giving anyone the honour of being my queen, or king..."
"And you're honouring me with it?" Regina asked.
She nodded. "Unless I can't-"
The thief was interrupted by Regina pulling Emma down for a kiss. "Of course you can," she said after they broke apart.
"Well then, my Queen, how would you like to practise with some swords? You look like you need it."
"You know me too well," Regina said, smiling.
Today was the day. In a few hours, they'd be going into the palace to set up in the grand performance hall for their presentation that night. Regina had showed her the room late yesterday night after everyone had gone to sleep and the guards were scarce. They were giggling like young girls and flitting around secretly as if Regina wasn't the Queen of the castle.
But now Emma was nervous. She wanted to impress Regina so much, she was worried that something bad would happen.
Which was why, when Thomas asked if she'd seen Neal and Greg, she paled. Of course, those two idiots would go missing on the most crucial performance. "No idea. Were they with us when we entered the palace?"
"Didn't see them, but it doesn't mean much. We'll just have to change up our act a bit to accommodate their disappearance," Thomas responded, helping her tie the rope.
"I suppose. Ask around to see if anyone else saw them." Even though they'd never truly decided or voted on it, Emma was in charge. Although Neal would readily argue that it was because of her parentage, she had proven herself as an effective leader, and no one contested her position.
A few minutes later, Cinderella, Thomas' wife, also known as Ella for short, came up to her in the pretense of helping her, and mumbled, "The Queen is here! Look to the balcony!"
Emma subtly looked up and saw that Regina was indeed looking out from the upstairs balcony. Meeting her gaze, the royal winked at her and then left with a flourish of the curtains. The thief blushed and gulped, getting back to her task.
3 hours later, the hall was filled with a majority of the kingdom's higher echelon, who had taken their seats and were quietly socializing. Emma peeked through the curtains and spotted the infamous Lady Smith sitting with her husband, and her child, Peter.
She got back into her position in the middle of the line of the troupe behind the curtains. The curtains raised and they stepped forward. Everyone stood up as well, and looked up to the balcony. Regina entered the small area, and sat down. No one moved for a minute, until she said, "Begin." It was an emotionless command, but everyone understood and moved.
The guests turned back to the stage and sat down, while the seven troupe members got ready. They were missing two of their own but they wouldn't let that deter them. Their first 3 acts had gone off flawlessly so far, and now it was Emma's turn.
She got to the middle of the stage, and gulped. Unseen by anyone, Regina flashed her a comforting smile. Things were going well, she could do this. She danced, breathed fire, pirouetted and shot an arrow in the middle of a twirl, hitting the target perfectly. Impressed gasps and applause greeted her once she was finished. Even Regina clapped along, despite not having reacted in the previous acts.
Once she left the stage, it was intermission time.
"That was great Emma!" Elizabeth hugged her after flashing a wide grin at her friend. Once they broke their hug, Emma took a moist towel from Thomas, and she let out a relaxing breath.
"We're doing good. We're nearly done."
"I think she was impressed with your act Emma!" Ella gushed, having been peeking through the curtain. "What are we going to do for the final act?"
Usually Neal and Greg would do some magic tricks with the audience, but with the duo missing, they had to do something.
"We could try the dancing trick?" Thomas suggested.
"Isn't it a bit dangerous?" Mulan piped up. "I mean, we've never really tested it, and we usually have the final act to interact with the guests."
"We don't have much more to do," Emma said, an idea forming. It was risky, but she would try it. "I've got an idea. Mulan, you're up soon, I'll be back in a bit."
She left her troupe confused as Emma determinedly made her way to where the doorway for the balcony was. Two guards stood there, blocking her way.
"Go back to your performance," one guard said, hand twitching over the hilt of his sword.
"Please, I need to speak to her Majesty, I won't be long."
The second guard let out a mirthless scoff. "A likely story. We know your kind, circus freak, and we won't be so stupid and easily swayed by your tales. Now get back to your stage before we arrest you."
Emma ground her teeth together. More forcefully, she said, "If you want to accompany me inside, to assure yourselves that your Queen will stay unharmed, so be it. I carry no weapon, and I'm merely requesting to speak to her."
From inside the room, Regina heard some angry voices outside the door. She let out a sigh. When would people learn? Getting ready to dole out her scathing demands, she opened the door and was surprised to see Emma there, looking none-too-happy with the guards outside. "What is going on here?"
"We're sorry your Majesty, we're just telling this..." the second guard wildly tried to think of what to call the woman in front of him, for he could hardly say his previous slur in front of the Queen.
But Emma was having none of it. "I believe you referred to me as a circus freak?"
Regina's eyes flashed dangerously to the guard, before turning back to Emma and saying, "Please, come in."
There was an anteroom between the balcony and the doorway, offering them privacy from both the guards, and the crowd below. As soon as the door closed, Regina's lips were on Emma's. She kissed quickly and chastely, knowing that the intermission would be over in a bit, and Emma probably had to be back. "You were wonderful during your performance."
Emma blushed a brilliant shade of red and looked away. "Thank you. I actually wanted to ask you a favour..."
10 minutes and plenty of kisses later, Emma was bounding back to the backstage area where the rest of the troupe was waiting. Mulan's part had just started, and from Emma's grin, it was clear that she'd been successful in whatever she had planned.
At last, the final act was about to get started, and Emma glanced up. Mulan was ready, and the blonde adjusted the coat jacket. As the curtains raised, Regina saw that Emma cleaned up very well. Decked out in dark riding boots that reached her knees, her white pants made a stark contrast. The red coat jacket was neatly pressed, and showed that underneath, she wore a crisp white shirt, a black ascot tying everything together. Her hair was fanned out, golden tresses shining under the fire lights.
"For our next, and final act," Emma started, voice projecting perfectly, "we'd like to try something new. And for it, I'd like to ask for the participation of the Queen to join me on stage."
Murmurs broke out both with the audience and from the rest of the troupe. Surely she was mad, or had a death wish.
Once Regina had made her way to the stage, possessing the regal air only a queen could, she stood facing Emma. Regina hadn't received too many details, but she had readily agreed to help her lover.
Emma bowed deeply, and held out her hand, "Would you join me for a dance?"
Regina had to fight to keep her impassive queenly mask in place. She could see that Emma was filled with nerves, and wanted nothing more than to reassure her that everything would be fine. She gave a polite nod, and took the offered hand. Getting into position, she subtly and gently rubbed Emma's shoulder with her thumb as a small gesture to relax her. She felt that the blonde did indeed relax the slightest bit at the gesture.
Suddenly, 4 of the troupe members appeared with instruments. They made their way to the very back of the stage, and began to play a slow melody. With that they begun to waltz.
She was very curious as to what made this such an endeavour that would make Emma so nervous.
Before she could theorize anymore, she saw what seemed like glitter falling on them, and then, she felt a familiar sensation. As they moved, she saw that they appeared to be lightly glowing. Next, they floated up a few inches from the ground, and away they went.
Seeing that it worked, Emma grew more confident in her steps, and as they continued to dance in mid air, she had to smile. "This is impressive," Regina quietly whispered.
"I wasn't sure if it'd work, but it did!" Emma excitedly whispered back.
The music played and they danced around the stage. Emma didn't want to go out towards the audience, for she didn't think Regina would appreciate all the Lords looking up her dress gown.
Soon enough, the musical cue letting Emma know that she should wrap this up sounded off, and Emma began to lead them back to the floor.
During the final moments, their personal space was nearly entirely eliminated, they were only a breath away as the song ended and their feet made contact with the floor.
However, before they could move away, the doors to the hall banged open, and even the backstage ones did as well. Guards poured in. Emma and Regina parted, and the former saw their missing troupe members being brought inside through the main doors, both being held by two guards each. Regina looked furious at the interruption and demanded, "What is the meaning of this?!" before the guards had fully made their way inside.
"We found these two thieves trying to rob the treasury. They said that they were part of the Enchanting Circus performing here."
Regina turned to Emma, and saw the woman's shocked expression. She could also tell that Emma was angry at the two men. "Well?" she prompted, hating that she had to sound so harsh.
Emma reacted to the question after a beat and a flinch, meeting the Queen's eyes. Regina saw fear in them. Fear that she would be blamed for this. Emma had told her that two troupe members had gone missing, hence why she had to think up of an alternative act.
"These are part of our troupe," Emma confirmed monotonously, looking away.
The royal debated what to do. Finally she said, "Due to the very impressive performance, I will let this slide, provided that everything that these two were about to steal is returned." - Regina fought a smirk as she saw Emma look at her with wide eyes, before continuing - "Furthermore, your troupe is to leave tomorrow, as scheduled, and those two," Regina pointed to Greg and Neal, "are never to return to this kingdom. They are not welcomed, and should I find them here again, I will not hesitate to arrest them. Am I clear?"
Emma nodded vigorously. "Thank you, your Majesty."
Regina then asked, "You are the leader of this troupe?"
"Yes, I am." Emma was confused. Regina was well-aware of this fact, so why ask it?
"I should like to speak with you privately for a bit. Once your troupe is packed up, a guard shall escort you to my chambers."
An hour later - after packing up and having everyone tell Emma that they should run now before the Evil Queen realized that she had been too merciful, which they had chalked up to being the effects of the fairy dust, and decided to kill her - she had sent them back to town, promising Greg and Neal that she'd have some very harsh words with the defective duo.
Now, a guard was leading her to Regina's rooms, and Emma was nervous. The guard knocked on the door, and from inside, Regina said, "Let her in."
The armoured woman stood aside to let Emma in, and after a gulp, she turned the knob and entered.
Closing the door behind her, Emma saw that Regina was sitting at a table filled with food. She had never been to this part of the royal's suite, having only passed it yesterday when Regina went to show her the hall.
"Have you eaten dinner yet?" Regina asked, voice emotionless as she didn't betray what they could be here to talk about.
Not taking any chances, and making sure to remain respectful, Emma kneeled, and without looking up, she said, "I ask you for forgiveness your Majesty, I swear to you that I had no idea about this; I promised and assured you that no one in my troupe was here to rob, merely to help people, but two of them were stupid enough to think that they could steal from you, and-"
"Enough."
Emma quickly shut her mouth, heart beating wildly as she heard the chair scrape back, and fabric swish as Regina came to stand in front of her. "Stand up."
She didn't have to be told twice, and quickly straightened, briefly meeting Regina's eyes.
"Look at me." Once Emma did, Regina continued with, "Why did you ask me to dance with you? You certainly had a wide choice of dance partners..."
Without breaking her gaze, she responded, "Because I wanted to dance with you, and besides, I'm courting you, not anyone else in the audience. At least, I hope I'm still courting you-"
She was once more interrupted, but this time it was with Regina kissing her.
And that was that!
I thought of leaving it after the guards appeared with Greg and Neal but I thought it'd be too harsh of a cliffhanger.
Also, I know that [as I understand it] royal titles are: Highness for princes/princesses and Majesty for kings and queens, but I figured that it'd be something almost rude to not refer to a royal by their proper title. And knowing that a thief like Emma usually doesn't like royals, it'd be exactly the kind of thing she'd purposely do to upset a stuffy royal.
Having completed with my update schedule for December [in January but shhhh, semantics], I am going to be taking a well-deserved break, and then be back in a bit with more updates and new fics!
Hope everyone has a great New Year!
Let me know your thoughts on this chapter!