Sorry for the wait! I am hoping to update this at least once a week, but that may be a problem. I just moved and we don't get wifi until September 25, so I'll be using my data a lot. That will upset my dad so I have to be careful.
I will try and update as frequently as possible in the next few weeks, but if there's not a new chapter up next week, I promise I will get it as soon as possible.
School also has a lot to do with when I update.
Anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter.
You step over a fallen tree as you near Town Square, stopping once you reach the growing crowd.
The news of the village is, the King and Queen are coming to make a big announcement. You never went to these sorts of things, because they were never important to you.
But she was going to be there, and you weren't about to pass up the opportunity to see her.
It had been 2 weeks since you had first you met her, and you missed her every second of every passing day. You thought about her 24/7, and even dreamt about her.
And you never dreamed.
This woman had started a whole world of firsts for you, and you liked it. You had never liked change, but this time it was different.
You saw Regina on the large stage, sitting in the gorgeous gold throne with maroon fleece padding. The village wasn't on the rich side of things, but the community always went to extreme lengths to make the King and Queen feel welcome.
They're suck-ups. Every single one of them.
Regina is wringing her hands nervously and playing with the ring on her finger, spinning it as she scans the crowd with her hesitant eyes.
The King is sitting beside her in his own throne, and he stands up, beckoning her to the front of the stage with him as one of the royal servants clears his throat.
"May I have your attention." Everyone's chatter stopped and they all turned to look at the buff man on stage. "Bow before your King and Queen."
All the people of the village bowed - even you - and you aren't exactly one for traditions.
"The King and Queen have an announcement to make." King Leopold turns around and beckons a little brunette girl to stand in front of him, and you frown. That must be his daughter, the one Regina was talking about.
"The Queen and I have something we would like to tell you all," Leopold began. "So if you would all turn your attention to the Queen." As you make your way to the front of the crowd, you push past people who mutter curses and whisper how unmannerly you're being in front of the royal family, but you don't care.
"I-" Regina catches your eye as you slowly near the front, and you stop as you look up at her.
"Honey?" Leopold whispers, nudging her shoulder.
Tears well up in her eyes as she never breaks your gaze, and you suddenly become worried.
Are they...divorcing?
"I am pregnant."
The words hit you like a ton of bricks and you feel light-headed.
You break her gaze and turn around, running out of the cheering crowd.
You run until you can't hear any more "congratulations" or whoops, and then you keep running, jumping over the fallen tree before making your way into the woods without ever looking back.
You reach your cabin in the woods, and once safely inside, you slam the door behind you, running and grabbing a vase of flowers off of the table and throwing it on the ground. You scream when it shatters against the wooden floor, and suddenly can't see behind the blur of your tears as you tear apart your cabin.
You hop down from your horse, Charming, and tie the reins to the nearest tree. You bend down and form your hands into a bowl as you reach into the water and sip from your hands. You bring some to Charming and he eagerly drinks it, nudging your face once he's done.
You chuckle, petting his head as you say, "Hey, bud. Wish I had an apple for you."
You smile as he neighs, and kiss his nose.
"Sorry I scared you earlier," you say, even though he can't understand you. Although sometimes, you think he can. You do live in the Enchanted Forest, after all.
"I was just...angry." You sigh, pursing your lips. "This girl I like, I recently found out she's the Queen. Her husband is a...bad man, and now she's pregnant with his baby. It's not fair to her. Or me, for that matter, because I know that she-"
You stop when your ears pick up the ruffling of leaves, and you quietly untie Charming as you hop on his back, trotting off in the direction of the noise.
You hear it again, this time louder, and grab your sword out of its sheath on your side as you spur Charming on, getting closer and closer to the sound.
You narrow your eyes as you spur him further and further, and suddenly, you hear a scream and a loud thud as someone falls to the ground.
You hop down and flip the woman over, straddling her hips as you bring your sword up to her neck.
"Who are y-" You stop when you realize you're suddenly staring into the scared orbs of one Regina Mills.
"I'm not here to cause harm," she pleads, "Please, don't hurt me." You slowly get off of her and re-sheath your sword, reaching out a hand to her.
She gladly accepts it and stands up, brushing off her dirty dress.
"Who are you?" She asks. You furrow your eyebrows. Does she really not remember you?
And then you realize that you have the hood of your cloak over your face, and the only thing visible to the Queen is your mouth.
"My apologizes, Queen," you say, bowing before standing up straight.
"You know who I am." She sounds dejected, disappointed.
"Doesn't everyone?" You ask curiously.
"I was hoping you wouldn't," she frowns. "Were you at Town Square today?"
"Everyone in the village was," you point out.
"So you know." You nod.
"Why are you out here?" You ask.
"I wanted to get away from the castle for a little while. It's...hectic there." She looks around, taking in your surroundings before looking at you again. "I came out here to be safe."
You smirk as you lean closer to her, and she stares at your lips as you say "Oh, but the woods aren't safe, M'lady."
She furrows her eyebrows, studying your smirk before looking at where she guesses your eyes are.
"Then why are you out here?" She asks.
"Because I live out here." Her eyes widen.
"Out here? But don't you have a family in the village?"
Your jaw clenches and you say through gritted teeth, "No." You pause. "I have no one."
Regina's face suddenly softens, and you don't know if it's because the pain is evident in your tone, or if she's frightened by you.
"Take me to your home."
"What?" You suddenly snap out of your own self-pity to glare at her, although she can't see you.
"If it's not safe here, protect me."
"No," you say, "you're not my responsibility." You hoist yourself up onto Charming, and she looks up at you with fear in her eyes.
"Go back home, Madame." And then you ride off, leaving her in the dust.
"You can't leave me here!" She yells after you, and the terror in her voice is evident. You pull back on the reins and Charming rears up on his hind legs, neighing. You sense her fear although you can't see her, and you sit there for a while, letting the fear build. And then you huff, turning Charming around and charging towards her.
Her eyes widen as you near her and you grab onto the collar of her dress, pulling her up into the back of Charming's saddle and she wraps her arms around your waist as you ride off towards your cabin.
"Why do you live here?" Regina asks as she sits down on the couch, sipping a glass of whiskey you handed her. You're glad that you cleaned up the mess from earlier before leaving to go for a ride.
"What?" You ask as you sit in a chair across from her.
"Why do you live in the woods, secluded from everyone else?"
You shrug. "Like I said, I have no one. So there's really no reason for me to live in town," you lie. It's become easier than you expected.
"You don't have any family...friends?"
"Nope," you reply, nonchalantly, taking a large gulp of your whiskey. "So why are you here?"
"I couldn't stay cooped up in the castle for 9 months," Regina explains, sipping her whiskey. "Leopold wanted me to stay inside because of the pregnancy, and I think I'd go insane. But, I can't really do anything about it...so, I just came to get some fresh air before I'm locked away for most of a year."
You frown. "Why can't you do anything about it?"
She sniffles. "Never mind."
"No, tell me," you insist.
"No, I- I can't," she frowns, looking down at her hands, which she is wringing nervously. She's spinning the ring on her finger, and you realize this must be a nervous habit.
"I already made the mistake of telling a complete stranger about everything the other night. I can't make that mistake again."
"A stranger?" You ask, gulping.
"Yes. I don't even know her name, but she's so..." She trails off, and you lean over and rest your elbows on your knees, setting your class on the coffee table.
"Go on, tell me. I can keep a secret." You smile tightly, seeing as it's the only thing she can see (you still have your hood on), and she sighs heavily.
"She kissed me," Regina admits. "She kissed me, several times, and I..."
"Did you like it?" You ask.
She nods. "So much it scared me. I've never felt that way about anyone, not even..." She trailed off, and sniffled again. "I want to see her again, but I don't know anything about her. I don't even know her name.
"I was so extremely turned on by her, and she was gentle and rough at the same time. She was perfect. I just wish I could see her again, and kiss her again, and..." She bites her bottom lip, stopping herself.
"You want to be with her." It's not a question.
She nods. "Yeah." Tears well up in her eyes. "Yeah, I do. Very much so. I don't know a single thing about her, other than she's perfect, and sweet, and sincere, and an amazing kisser, and surreal, and-" She's cut off when you're suddenly surging forwards, capturing her lips with yours.
She gasps sharply as you bring your hands up to cup her face and brush your thumbs across her cheek bones. You pull away and sit on the coffee table in front of her, trying to catch your breath.
"And she's right in front of me," Regina whispers, hurt and recognition flooding her face.
"You're the girl from the other night."
You nod slowly, and Regina hesitantly leans forwards, pulling the hood off of your head. You let it fall on your shoulders and stare into her eyes.
You see the fierceness and intensity in them, matching the arousal and anger in your own.
"Who are you?" She asks, and suddenly it feels like déjà vu.
But this time...this time, you give her a different answer.
"Emma." You pause, exhaling deeply. "Emma Swan."
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