AN: This is the chapter some of you have been waiting for. The one with their first meeting. The painting mentioned and the artist are both very real… Just so you all know. Feel free to google search if you want to see the painting I'm referring to!

AN2: A thousand apologies for not updating in a while! I will do my best to update again sometime tomorrow!

Regina was in her all too luxurious bathroom. She filled the tub with rose petals and scents and with a snap of her fingers, steaming hot water. She snapped her fingers once more to turn the main lights off and lit all of her strategically placed candles.

She started disrobing when she heard a wolf whistle come from behind her. She jumped and froze in place before she saw her blonde lover's hair come into view and lips attach to her neck.

She slapped the blonde's arm, "I hate it when you do that."

"Hate it when I do what?" Emma pulled the brunette closer by the hips.

"Hate it when you scare me!" The queen turned into the princess's hold, and wrapped her arms tight around the princess's neck.

Emma pulled and stared into her brown orbs, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you…" She leaned in and kissed the queen's temple then cheek and finally her lips.

Regina pushed from the blonde and walked to the bathtub, dropping her robe as she went. "Care to join me?" She turned her head to the side, giving the younger royal an over the shoulder gaze to gauge the princess's reaction.

"Yeah." Emma yanked at her boots a few times before they finally released her feet and moved quickly to her shirt and pants as she made her way to the tub. She plopped into the tub, causing many a small splash, after the queen's regal entrance, then sighed and relaxed against the brunette's front.

After the second sigh, Regina knew that not everything was right, "What's wrong?"

Emma shook her head, "I just… I have a bad feeling. I don't know what for though. I don't know if it's for us, or for Alexander and Patrick, or for us, or for us…"

"You have a bad feeling for us?"

"I don't know."

"Darling, you said 'us' three times in your list of four…"

"I think that something bad is going to happen…" She looked up to her queen and smiled, "But I don't think we can worry about it tonight. I think something good is going to happen tonight." Her smile turned to a grin as she leaned up and kissed the brunette.

~0~0~0~0~0~

The next morning Emma woke up in her own room in her own bed without her own queen.

"Damn it, Regina. I hate it when you poof me back to the places I have to be." She mumbled as she ran around, slipping pants on, diving into a shirt and yanking her boots into place.

Two knocks came from her door, "Emma?" Her mother's voice drifted into the room as the door cracked open, "Darling, are you up?"

"Yeah, mom." She flung her body back onto the bed and looked at the ceiling.

Snow came into the room fully and crossed her arms, mindful of the parchment in her right hand, as she looked at her only baby, "Well, I suggest you hurry. Regina has decided to eliminate two competitors today."

The blonde sat up, confusion on her face. She'd mentioned nothing the night before, "What? How?"

The White Queen walked to the bed and sat down, "We've just received word. She's looking for a Renaissance man… or… woman." She gestured to her daughter. "She wants her spouse to be cultured and knowledgeable."

Emma bit her lip as she felt the cloud she was riding on when she woke up burst and she hit the ground with a hard splat, "I know stuff. I know lots of stuff."

"I know you do, my darling. I know."

Emma kept nodding along with her mother, "I know stuff." She said once more before heaving herself up. She rubbed her neck as she walked over to the vanity with a sigh and looked in the mirror.

Snow watched her baby girl as she worked on her hair. "Emma darling…?"

"What?" Emma didn't look at her mother as she pushed a couple pins in her hair, pulling the sides out of her face.

"Why is this so important to you?" The older White royal stood from the bed and walked to stand behind her daughter.

"I've told you—"

"What your father and I would accept as reason to be here… Why are you here? Why is this so important?"

Emma looked down, "I want to prove myself."

"You have, my dear." Snow gathered blonde hair in her hands and pulled it off Emma's shoulders so the golden curls flowed down her back. She twisted one curl in her fingers and stared, "Do you hate our kingdom so much that you're trying to get out of your future obligation by using obligation?"

"No!" Emma rolled her eyes and pulled from her mother.

"Then why did you really insist on coming here and not letting us enter a different competitor?" Snow stared the younger woman down.

Emma looked around and finally settled on her slightly scuffed boots, "The Shadow Queen…"

"The Queen? The Queen has something over you? Is forcing you into the competition?" Snow took a step toward her daughter in earnest.

"No, nothing like that." Emma shook her head. She smiled the first real smile her mother had seen since the blonde had turned the legal age to marry three years before, "She's…" The smile fell before it brightened; her eyes brightened as well, "She's beautiful."

"You're beautiful…"

"She's breathtakingly stunning."

Snow's spine straightened and her jaw slacked slightly as her eyes widened with realization. "You're in love with her…" When her daughter said nothing she continued, "How do you even know her?"

Emma opened her mouth to speak, but her father came in.

"Ladies, ladies. Are you quite finished with all of this? I'm ready for breakfast before the big, boring events of the day."

"What are the big boring events of the day?" Emma pulled from the serious mood she'd been in to match the lightness of her father's.

"Art appreciation. Isn't that what the note said?" Charming looked to his wife.

Snow coughed, clearing her lumped throat as she looked at her daughter, "Yes." She nodded.

"Terrific." Emma was sarcastic as she grabbed her belt with her sword and knife, wrapped it around her body and made her way to the exit of their chambers.

~0~0~0~0~0~

The tables in the dining hall were different it seemed for every meal. This time, there was a large table for all of the royals without their representatives to sit at. There was a table for the two disqualified and their kings and queen, and a table for the remaining contestants. And, of course, as always, there was a table with Regina and her advisors.

Emma was quiet throughout breakfast. She felt Regina look her way a few times, but never looked up to her. She didn't understand how she was supposed to get through an art appreciation round. Regina knew she never paid attention to all of that.

Emma stood from her seat, wiped her mouth and excused herself from Alexander, Dunstan, Artie, Gustave and Chip. "Gentlemen." She gave them a half smile and a barely there, sarcastic curtsy before walking out of the dining hall.

She ran her fingers through her long golden locks and sighed. The competition had barely started and she already felt defeated. Over art no less. She looked up as she turned down the closest hallway that she wasn't positive she'd been down before.

This hallway she walked into was filled, like the rest of the hallways in the castle, with works of art from all the lands. But, as she walked up to a particular piece that had caught her eye, she knew she had been there before. This piece was there the first time she toured the castle. It was very colorful with heavy strokes. It was of a man and a woman—if you squinted, it could be two women, though that could just be how she wanted to see it. They were sitting on a park bench kissing.

Emma only knew what a park bench was because she'd traveled to foreign lands, not unlike the Shadow Lands, and had been fortunate enough to run and play in parks. She'd always wished that the White Kingdom would make a park somewhere. But if they had, then she never would have met Regina.

~0~0~0~0~0~

A sixteen-year-old White Princess was supposed to be headed north to meet up with her father on a hunt, but something had pulled inside her to go south, to get away from the royal guards and see how other lands operated. She'd heard of the Shadow Lands, heard tales of a wicked queen; she'd also heard that the Shadow Lands are the best lands around, that they are the richest and fullest and that the queen was as lovely as her apples.

Emma loved apples. Her mother never cared for them though, so it was a rarity they were ever in the castle. As soon as she crossed the border from her lands she saw apple trees lining the road. It was like a grand welcoming to the Shadow Lands. The rumors and scary stories she'd heard had to have been false. She steered Ice to one of the trees and plucked a juicy, lusciously red apple from one of the trees. She wiped it against her shirt before taking a bite. Dear gods, it was everything an apple should be.

As she approached a main road she saw signs and arrows pointing her to either 'the villages' or 'the park and castle'. She had been on Ice's back for a while and decided to give him a break—and the core of her apple.

"Well, Ice… I've never been to 'the park'. I wonder what it is. A pub? That's what our local signage marks…" She watched the horse neigh and stamp his foot as if shrugging, "Either way, it must be more scenic than villages, right?"

She took the horse by his reigns and walked with him about a mile before getting to what she assumed to be 'the park.'

"Ice.. this is lovely. Look! Those things fly!" She pointed to children flying kites, "People have hounds of their own! They're not running free!"

"Excuse me, miss?" Emma turned and saw a short man with a silver mustache, dressed in a deep, dark purple, "Might I hold onto your horse while you enjoy the park? You've been traveling."

"How could you tell?"

"You've never seen a park…" He smiled before turning, "I run the stable for travelers just over there. Will you come sign him in for me? He can rest while you explore."

Emma got no bad inkling from this man, so she looked to Ice to see what he wanted. He pointed his snout to the stable, "Alright. Thank you so much, sir."

"You're welcome!"

Emma smiled at his sincerity, "Is everyone as nice as you? Where I come from villagers and peasants work to get money, they don't necessarily like what they do and tend to put on a happy front, but you seem happy and content.—Maybe we should get a park…" She looked around once more.

He chuckled, "And where are you from, milady?"

"Enchanted North, sir." She smiled as she signed where he indicated.

"Oh yes… I hear you busybodies don't take time to enjoy what you have. There's so much hustle and bustle up there—Is it true that you have people living in buildings like hotels but all with their own tiny kitchens?"

Emma nodded, "Yes, we call them 'apartments'."

"Apartments… Huh… I don't think they'll catch on."

Emma grinned, "Well, we'll just have to see. I hope parks catch on." She pushed from the entrance of the stables, "Thank you, sir."

The man only smiled, "You're welcome, milady."

Throughout the afternoon, Emma walked through the entire park. She saw many puppet shows and different booths people set up. She enjoyed a frozen treat called 'ice cream' as she explored. She eventually came to a halt at one of the benches that lined the pathways and sat down.

"A park bench." She smiled as she sat back, letting her legs rest and watched hustle and bustle of the children and passersby.

"You must be the foreigner." A woman's voice interrupted her thoughts.

Emma squinted into the setting sun to find the most beautiful woman she thought she'd ever seen in her life. She shook her head to collect her thoughts, "I'm already famous?"

"Vinny was going on and on about how 'apartments' are real and he met a Northerner that told him so." The brunette woman sat next to her, "And you are the only soul looking around this place in awe, which makes me think you've never seen a park before…"

Emma shook her head, "I have not."

"I'm Regina." The brunette smiled as she sat down.

"Emma."

"Emma, how long are you hear for?"

"I'm not sure… I'm actually supposed to meet my father for a hunting trip, but I decided to go south instead of north."

"Why would you do that?"

Emma smiled, "So I could meet you." She grinned as the other woman blushed, "So I could try new things, like eat ice cream and sit on a park bench. But mainly, I think it was fate telling me to meet you."

"And why would fate have you meet me?"

Emma's grin only brightened, "True love and all of that."

Regina's face didn't hide her shock or amusement, "Oh, so you're in love with me? Because I walked over and sat on a bench with you?"

Emma shrugged, "Do I need another reason?"

Regina's face sobered and she pursed her lips, "You're a child. You have no idea what love is."

"I do." Emma nodded, "My parents have shown me. They've also told me that it'll hit me like a thousand lightning bolts, and Regina? I've just been struck."

Regina rolled her eyes and sat back, "Hardly."

"Completely."

Regina stared at the blonde a bit more, "Really? You'd drop your entire life as you know it, move here and be with me forever?"

Emma scratched at her collar, "If I was able to get out of responsibilities, yes."

"And what does a young, flirtatious, tomboy have to be responsible for?"

Emma glanced to the side, "The kingdom when my parents step down, for one…"

Regina stared at the girl, "…You are Emma Louise Swan White, Princess of the Northern Kingdom?"

"Aye." Emma nodded before chuckling, "You know my middle names."

"You didn't send me notice to tell me you were coming. I would have had quarters set up for you…"

"I told you, it was a last minute decision—Wait, what?" Emma whipped her head to the other woman.

"Begging your pardon, but is it not customary to tell the royal of the land you're traveling to that you are traveling there? And is it not customary for the royal to put you up?"

"You're the queen?" Emma stared at the brunette with wide, puppy eyes.

"Aye." Regina decided to try to mimic the blonde princess.

Emma pushed off the bench and knelt before the queen, "Your Majesty."

"Oh please. No formalities. Not after we've gotten to know each other so well." Through her sarcasm, Regina tried to get the blonde back on the bench.

Emma smiled and stayed kneeling. She looked around as the sun's setting caused people around them to thin out. She pulled on the chain on her neck until it broke, took the white gold band that formed a ringed snowdrop flower with a diamond in the middle from it and looked up to the brunette, "Will you marry me?"

"Are you serious? You cannot be serious." Regina stared at the other woman.

"It's a 'yes' or 'no' question, Regina." Emma was obviously waiting on one of those two answers.

"NO! Gods, no! What is the matter with you?!" Regina slapped Emma's hand with the ring away.

Emma grinned, "Nothing. I just thought I'd ask that first so that this doesn't seem so crazy and foolish…"

Regina knit her brows, "What doesn't seem—Mm!"

Emma pushed up and kissed Regina right there on the park bench for all to see. No one was around to see it, thank gods, but they could have if they were.

Regina pushed the blonde off, her purple magic sparked from her fingertips in warning and Emma only gave her a foolishly wide grin.

"I see our first kiss was magical." The blonde said as she let her own form of blue and white sparks bounce from her fingers.

Regina leaned forward in awe, "You have magic?"

"Yes."

"It's blue." Regina noted as she reached out for the blonde's hand and watched with envy and awe as the blue sparks went from finger to finger.

"It's all natural." Emma smirked as if she'd turned their conversation dirty. "You wanna go back to your bedchamber and I can really show you what I can do?"

Regina stood, shoving the blonde on her ass and looked down at her, ever superior, "You're a pig." She started to walk away.

"Yet, I'm completely, undeniably adorable and you do want to take me up on my offer." Emma scrambled to her feet and chased after the brunette, "I promise I'll be a gentlewoman. I'll strictly let you enjoy my magic versus your own purple, darker kind… We don't even have to go to your bedchamber… Please?"

Regina stared at the bench they'd shared and back to the blonde, "I'm not that kind of woman. I don't let people into my bedchamber anytime they damn well please. I'm not a prostitute."

"I never said you were…"

"You sure didn't mind treating me like one…" Regina sized the blonde up, "Why should I let you into my bedchamber? How do I know you'll come back?"

"Because I love you." Emma said with a bright, innocent smile.

"You're ridiculous."

"You're lovely."

Regina shook her head as she debated on what to do with the blonde princess of the north.

~0~0~

"Tell me princess, how did you get that kind of magic?" Regina asked as she scooted into the naked blonde's open lap on the floor in front of the fire. She wrapped her arms around the blonde's neck, fingers delving into her golden hair and her lips pecking against the princess's.

"What kind of magic?" Emma let her hands run up Regina's bare legs to her hips then up and down her soft, warm sides.

They were far from modest at this point in the night as hands lingered over exposed skin and the fire kept them warm.

Regina let her fingers run down Emma's sinewy arms, "The alleged Pure kind. I know that's what it is. I've read about it, but I've never seen it." She looked up to the blonde, "Do you realize how rare a breed you are?"

"I'm not an animal. I'm Emma. I'm a Pure One, yes. But, no one knows. Not even my parents." The White Princess leaned down and kissed the Shadow Queen's collarbone, "It's not something I'm in favor of advertising. People will just want to study me or use me or try to come after me for the simple reason that I have a different magic than everyone else in this realm."

"Then why give me a show and tell?" Regina played with a curl that ran down Emma's chest.

"Because of all things I've already told you tonight."

"Because you love me and want to marry me?" Regina asked deadpan.

"Yes." Emma's answer was simple.

Regina bit her lip as she leaned in, "You are a rare one indeed." She pressed her lips to the blonde's and pulled her to lay on top of her in the mess of blankets and sheets and pillows they'd brought with them from her bed.

"You should just say 'yes' now and get it over with." Emma smirked as she waved her fingers in a flourish producing the snowdrop ring she'd tried to give the woman earlier.

Regina stared at it; it was beautiful. It had to have taken a long time to make. There was such graceful skill and precision behind the elegant diamond snowdrop. "It's beautiful."

"It was my grandmother's." Emma smiled, "My mother gave it to me when I was young. She told me she wanted me to have it for when I marry and the only reason she didn't use it was because of my other grandmother's ring… It guided my father to her when she was put into a sleeping curse."

Regina looked away and closed her eyes.

"What?"

"Nothing." The brunette shook her head, "It's a beautiful ring."

"It's yours." Emma smiled when Regina couldn't do anything but watch on in awe as she slid it on her finger. "You probably won't ever put it back on after you take it off in the morning and send me on my way. But it's yours."

~0~0~0~0~0~

"Princess…?" The Queen's voice shook Emma from her memory of their first encounter.

The princess turned, her blonde curls falling from her shoulder, to see the hall's other occupant. "Hi."

Regina looked around to make sure no one else was around, "Is everything alright, darling?"

Emma gave the woman a half shrug before she turned back to the colorful painting. She pointed to it then quickly put her hand down. She leaned forward to look at the plate at the bottom of the frame, "'Passion Evening'. Leonid Afremov." She crossed her arms and tilted her head. "I like this one."

Regina couldn't help the smile that was gracing her face, "Emma Louise Swan White…" She took a few steps forward, but knew the blonde didn't want to be touched, "Are you actually expressing interest in art?"

Emma shook her head, "No… Parks. Park Benches." She mumbled the last words.

Regina looked at the painting again and smiled even wider than before, "Ah, yes. Parks and benches. You love those." When all she got was a nod, she continued, "You first kissed me that night…" Another nod, "And you proposed the first time…" And after this third nod, Regina decided to risk touching her lover. She reached out and gently laid her hand on her shoulder, and to her surprise, the blonde didn't shrug away. "And we first…" Emma took the hand that was touching her and kissed it, nodding once more with a sweet, sad smile, "What's going on with you?"

"I'm going to lose." Emma swallowed hard and looked at the Queen, "I don't know art like I should. You know that… I'm going to lose."

Regina enveloped her in a hug, "You're not going to lose."

"How do you know?" The blonde buried her face into Regina's neck and wrapped her arms around her middle tight.

"I know because you are far more inclined to art than you think. Art isn't just paintings and portraits…" Regina took her face, "Darling, it's theatre and music and dance. You know those. And you of all people know it's representative of our souls… And I never specified the kind of art we'll be appreciating."

Emma pushed forward and claimed the queen's lips with her own. Regina's arms wrapped around Emma's neck, her fingers tangling in her hair.

A gasp was heard from down the hall, immediately pulling the women apart.

"Well, my, my, my…"

Emma, who had turned away from the person, whipped back around when she realized the voice she heard was unfamiliar. She saw the horned crown poking through blonde, curly, frizzy hair. When the woman began advancing, Emma stepped in front of Regina and drew her sword.

The woman chuckled, "Now, now, Precious." She flashed forward, pushed the sword down and took Emma's chin in her hand. "I'm an old friend."

AN: Dun-dun-duuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhnnnnnnnnnn. Read and Review!