Chapter eleven

Regina paced nervously outside of the Charming's apartment.

She turned to knock, before shaking her head and continuing her pace. As much as she didn't want to have to do this, she was very aware that she was the cause of Emma missing out on the romantic quirks of the Enchanted Forest, so she could be a good suitor, even if it would take some restraint on her part.

Taking a calming breath, she finally stopped and lightly tapped on the door, secretly wishing that they hadn't heard it over Neal's wails and that she could resolve to do this another day.

To her disappointment, however, the door opened immediately, "I was wondering when you were going to knock," David chuckled as he made his way over to the couch.

Regina followed him inside as she quietly closed the door, "where's Neal?"

"Snow just put him down for his nap, she should be out any second," David replied as Regina sat on one of the stools at the kitchen island.

As if to prove him right, her former-stepdaughter walked out into the living room, and offered the mayor a broad smile, "we weren't expecting you," she said kindly.

Regina nodded, trying to come up with some lie as to why she was here, she was honestly having second thoughts about this whole chivalrous thing.

But as she looked over at a picture of Emma, she hardened her resolve and said, "I need to talk to you."

Snow nodded, and sat next to her husband, each of them staring at her intently.

Though Regina had imagined their faces of shock many times as she thought about she and Emma becoming more than friends with benefits, she had never actually thought that they would find out. To be honest she had never thought that their relationship would become anything more than physical, but then the saviour had wormed her way forcefully through her walls and right into her heart, now being with her officially and very publically was all that she could think about.

"Regina?" said woman's eyes shot up to see the blonde coming down the stairs, "what are you doing here?"

"Don't you have work?" she said accusatorily.

Emma tilted her head trying not to laugh, she held up her badge, "it fell off my belt this morning, just found it in my room."

Regina rolled her eyes, and prayed that the saviour would just go off to work, but instead her mother chose that moment to be an idiot, "what did you want to talk to us about?"

Emma's raised her eyebrows, and Regina decided to just bite the bullet, "I want permission to court your daughter."

Emma's face dropped and her ears visibly turned pink, "court, seriously?" she choked out.

Snow looked between them in amusement, while her husband just smirked. At this point they seemed to be unaware that they were even there anyway.

"It's tradition," Regina defended.

"We're not in the Enchanted Forest," Emma countered.

"You're still a princess, Emma, despite all evidence to the contrary."

Emma scoffed and rolled her eyes, only to be distracted by her mother's raised hand.

"What?" Regina asked.

"You asked a question," Snow reminded her, and the mayor's features instantly went from annoyed to anxious, "yes," she said simply.

Emma's head snapped towards her mother, causing both of her parents to laugh, "Seriously? I thought you would say no."

"Why would we say no?" Charming asked with a furrowed brow."Though I must admit Regina being chivalrous is a little strange," he chuckled.

Regina gave him a dirty look and he just chuckled.

"You do know that we've known about the two of you for a while," Snow said after a moment, "I'm a little insulted that it took you this long to ask."

"I'm beginning to regret this," Regina sighed, before she suddenly sat up in her seat, "how did you know?"

"Ruby mentioned something about hormones," Snow waved her hand, "the point is that you have permission."

Regina nodded realising what Snow meant, and walked over to Emma, with a deep sigh she said, "will you be my girlfriend?"

Emma blinked a few times, she nodded and her father jumped up off the couch to push his daughter to the door before she tried to kiss her.

"We don't want to see that," he explained at Emma's confused expression, "besides, chivalry dictates that you have to wait for the first date."

"Too late," Emma laughed, and her father just shook his head and closed the door.

Zelena smirked at the dagger.

Leaning back in one of the chairs in her beloved farm house, she revelled in the memory of Regina's doubt written plainly across her face for all to see.

She had finally managed to fully break the woman with the most resilient heart, and now she could begin the next part of her plan.

Laying the dark metal on the table, she imagined how completely destroyed her sister would be once her son and girlfriend were no longer able to trust her. However, she had to admit that Emma was a lot more persistent than she thought possible. The blonde clearly had complete faith in the brunette no matter what and it was beginning to irritate the Wicked Witch.

With a heavy sigh she resolved to finally step up her game.

Regina stared blankly at the doors of the Convent, and brought her fist up to loudly knock.

A moment later the grand doors opened to reveal Blue, "Regina, are you alright?"

Regina shook her head, and lied, "I wanted to talk to you about the origins of the Dark One."

Blue nodded vigorously, she had honestly been astonished by the way that people claimed Regina had dealt with the darkness. In every account she had ever read of the darkness it seemed to have never failed to warp a person, but she had been convinced that Regina may have endured enough to do what many before her had failed to do.

"Of course, please come in," the fairy smiled kindly, something that she never would have done before, but since this woman had saved her from the horrors of the hat she had felt able to trust her.

A few moments later, Regina stood in one of the many side rooms, very private.

"So what did you want to ask?"

Regina considered this for a moment, until she simply just smirked causing the fairy to furrow her brow.

"You know more than most about the darkness, correct?"

Blue nodded, subconsciously taking steps back as the mayor stalked towards her.

"Yes," she said nervously, "it makes it all the more incredible that you are able to resist it."

Regina tilted her head, "each Dark One seems to have worked towards their own ends, how would one know whether they were able to resist it?"

Blue gulped and thought for a moment, "each Dark One is different, they are either consumed by the darkness, in which case it will control them endeavouring to make its vessel more powerful. Or the person embraces it and they are able to use the darkness to achieve their own dark goals. Of course it doesn't have to be one or the other," she continued, hoping the information would make the queen stop looking at her in that evil way that she had once associated with her, "those that are strong enough to fight it off for as long as possible may end up being completely controlled."

"So how do you suppose that I am able to fight it?"

Blue swallowed hard, "by all rights it should be impossible, but you are a notoriously resilient person, the dagger should be the only thing that can control you," she chuckled nervously.

Regina felt her legs being forced to move towards the woman. In one step, she stood directly in front of the fairy who had run out of space to walk backwards, "you are right Blue," sinking her hand into the other woman's chest, she ripped her heart away, "it is quite difficult to resist."

A/N Hope you guys enjoyed XD

Reviews would be much appreciated