A/N1: contains a small flashback :)
Chapter 5
The Forest.
Having left the Mills Estate early in the morning at the request of Cora to go to the dress makers, Regina shortcuts through the forest to meet the dirt road on the other side. Feeling nervous in case of seeing Emma, the brunette speeds up to pass the clearing. Thinking of how she had met the Princess there, Regina also thought of how it was not her first time in that part of the forest as her father used to take her there when she was young with the intention of getting the poor girl away from her uncaring mother for a short time.
'Running excitedly beside her father, holding his hand, Seven year old Regina laughed and giggled at the fact her father was running too. "Where are we going daddy?!"
"A secret place child that no one must know about..just me and my Princess" Henry explains with a smile and wink as they reach the clearing of the forest, trees creating a circle around them with a mixture of wild flowers.
"Ooo look daddy flowers!" Pointing frantically at the bunch growing by the root of a large tree, Regina follows her father as he leads her over before picking one for her and bowing in the process.
"My dear Regina..your beauty outshines all the flowers within the forest"
Biting her lip going shy, the small brunette shakes her head while holding her flower between both hands then looks down. "It not true daddy..mother said Zelena is"
Henry shakes his head with a sigh at the fact their mother would say such a thing and play favourite. Kneeling in front of Regina, he takes hold of her hand again. "Then your mother is simply blind because you not only have such beauty and grace, but you are also kind with a big loving heart. You are going to do great things when you get older and you will be loved by all"
Regina smiles then throws her arms around her daddy, hugging him. "I would be lost without you daddy..never leave me"
Hugging back, Henry cradles the back of her head. "Never child"'
Raising her hand to wipe her eyes, Regina quickly looks around to the same tree she had picked flowers from. Frowning, she walks over and lifts a flower that has clearly been placed there as it was tacked to a tree. Looking shocked, the brunette glances over in the direction of the castle, recognising the flower from the royal gardens. Emma must have been here. Smiling slowly, Regina takes the flower into her basket and continues on to the village.
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The King and Queen's Castle.
Knocking on the Princess' chamber door, Snow looks towards her husband before the pair enter. Upon seeing them, Emma sighs knowing that they are probably going to go into a speech on how she needs to start acting like a Queen.
"Emma, may we talk to you?"
Looking at her mother, the blonde shrugs and sits on the edge of her bed. "If you must"
Moving towards the bed, the Queen sits beside her daughter while the King stands at a distance. "Your father and I have had a talk and we do not think you are ready for taking over just yet. I know that you do not feel ready so, we are going to delay it for a while but the ball is still going ahead for you to maybe find someone?"
Emma nods. "Maybe..I will try and..thank you"
Taking hold of the blonde's hands, Snow smiles. "We just want what is best for you Emma"
"I know..."
Kissing her head, the Queen rises again and walks over to her husband. Giving her a look, David steps towards his daughter as Snow leaves. "Emma, I was thinking as you are not going to be Queen for a while..you would like a trip, for your birthday. How about the day after the ball, on the day,we ride out to another Kingdom?"
The Princess looks at him hopeful. "Really?"
The King nods with a smile causing Emma to jump up and hug him with a mini squeal. "Thanks dad!"
Chuckling at her action, David hugs back then leaves her chambers.
"Ruby?!"
Walking into the room from the bathroom, the maid looks towards the blonde. "Yes Emma?"
"I need a distraction..."
Raising an eyebrow, the brunette places her hands on her hips. "Why do you need a distraction? What did you do?"
"I may have left Regina gift at our meeting place and I am praying that she saw it and took it..its bugging me, so I need to take my mind off of it until tomorrow when I leave another one"
Chuckling, Ruby nods and heads towards the door to look for something that the Princess can do. "Your parents are going to kill you..."
Emma rolls her eyes. "Thank you for the vote of confidence.."
"Sorry.."
Suddenly coming up with an idea, the Princess smiles. "Ruby is Granny busy?"
"That I do not know, I haven't been down since breakfast" the maid answers with a curious look at to what the blonde has up her sleeve.
"Okay, I will go see her" letting out a grin, Emma pats the confused brunette's shoulder and disappears out to go to the kitchen, leaving Ruby to watch her leave with a frown.
Busying herself around the kitchen, Granny looks towards the stairs hearing footsteps then smiles seeing the Princess. "Hello dear..I heard that your picnic went well..that part anyway" ending her comment with a sad look.
Emma sighs knowing exactly who told her. "Ruby?"
The older woman nods then clasps her hands on the wooden table. "What can I do for you?"
"I need to make a cake..small..and I will need icing too" the blonde explains smiling again and reaching for the spare apron.
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The King and Queen's Castle.
Pacing back and forth on her balcony, Emma pauses momentarily to stare out towards the forest wondering whether Regina may have been. She was taking a chance but she also knew that with the ball days away, the people would have gone mad at making and buying their ball gowns. Knowing Regina was practically a slave, the Princess assumed that her mother would send her out for the sake of her siblings, even though she did not like thinking about it.
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The Forest.
The shortcut had come pretty easy to the brunette now as she had increased on her time, meaning that she could spend some time to herself outside before needing to be back in the clutches of Cora. Passing through the forest again, Regina smiles straight away seeing another flower attached to the tree. Treading over, she runs a hand down her cloak then kneels seeing a note stuck to the base of the tree reading. 'Look inside'
Frowning, she briefly looks around then pulls out a small rock that had hidden a hole. Removing a box, Regina opens it with a small laugh upon seeing a small cupcake with the simple word 'sorry' wrote in icing. "Oh Emma..I had forgiven you long ago.." Standing up again, she places the box and flower into her basket then continues on to collect the formal attire for her siblings to attend the ball.
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The Mills Estate.
Returning home shortly after retrieving the dress and suit for the ball, Regina runs upstairs and places the garments in each siblings room then heads to the attic to hide the box and second flower from her mother. Casually walking back downstairs, she is met by Zelena and Neal with crossed arms and raised eyebrows. The brunette looks at them completely oblivious to the problem.
Neal sighs and grabs the garment from the wardrobe door. "Does this look like mine?!"
Regina watches her brother hold up Zelena's ball gown and quickly covers her mouth to hold in a laugh, sniggering instead. "Oh..sorry.."
The redhead steps forward between the pair and looks at Regina as she passes Neal his suit, prompting him to hand over Zelena's gown. "What are you wearing to the ball? Oh..that's right, you're not invited"
Glaring, the brunette backs up and turns to go back to her room.
"That's it! Go back to your cell you vile creature!"
Regina shakes her head at her brother's comment and mounts the stairs back to her room, deciding against venturing the rest of the house in case their mother also has something to say. Dropping to her bed, the brunette begins on her sewing pile while occasionally sneaking a bit of cake which she knew she had to thank Emma somehow.
Maybe tomorrow..after all tomorrow would be the same day that they had first met and so Regina was going to take a chance at arriving the same time.
A/N2: next up is the day of the ball and a certain fairy godmother makes an appearance!