A/N: Mistakes are all mine. I hope you like it! :)

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The dark-haired woman walked into her apartment and closed the door shut. As soon as she had changed into her nightgown, she lay down on her bed and wished for a dream that could tear her away from reality.

...

Chapter 14

"I dare you to love me." A husky voice spoke up.

The brunette stood in the midst of her bedroom in her former kingdom as she looked at the blonde-haired Savior. Emma wore a green flax linen tunic, who perfectly accented the color of her eyes. Regina took the other woman's hands in her own as she repeated her words.

"I dare you to love me."

The blonde's eyes were watery once she locked eyes with Regina. The dark-haired princess wished those tears away more than anything because she didn't know how to interpret them. In her sight, tears always stood for pain and suffering. Regina had never experienced anything else. She had never known how to love easily but she had fallen in love with the blonde nonetheless and she would move heaven and earth to be with her.

Her mother only pretended to love her and wanted her to be a decent princess who would one day marry a wealthy king. Love was weakness and the only thing that mattered to Cora was strength and power. Her nineteen-year old daughter still wasn't married and had gotten close to a blonde princess within a few months. The Queen of the dark kingdom didn't know anything about their relationship but they surely couldn't hide it forever.

"Say something." The brunette whispered, fearing the worst.

"Can't you see, Regina?" Emma replied with a small and yet lovingly voice.

"Em, I dare you. Please just love me." Regina spoke up again, this time she was pleading and she strengthened her hold around the other woman's hands as if the blonde was her anchor.

"Can't you honestly see how much I love you? I do love you so much. It hurts me to think that you don't know; that you haven't known from the start. Why haven't you said anything?" The blonde princess said with her eyes constantly locked on chocolate-brown orbs.

The dark-haired woman averted Emma's gaze though, once she gave her response. Her voice slightly trembled.

"I was afraid. I am still afraid."

Emma's right hand slipped out of the brunette's hold and gently touched Regina's chin. She lifted the brunette's head with her fingers so she could eye her lover again. As soon as emerald orbs took in dark brown ones, Emma posed another question, hoping to sooth the other woman.

"Regina, what are you most afraid of?"

"You." That was the simple and quiet reply that left the dark-haired woman's lips.

Emma was stunned beyond words, trying to make sense of what she had just heard. She didn't understand it and she felt as if her heart broke at the words coming from crimson lips. The blonde only ever wanted to make the princess feel safe and free and amazing. Emma never intended to hurt her or to make her feel afraid, especially not afraid of her.

"I don't understand." The blonde mumbled, tears filling her eyes again.

However, this time those tears weren't one of joy, but really one of suffering and pain – those tears, which were all too well known to the brunette.

"I'm afraid of how strongly I feel for you. I'm afraid of what you could do to me. You could destroy me within a mere second. I'm most afraid to lose you though, and to live without you since that would hurt the most. I can't imagine being without you." Regina admitted with her heart on her tongue and a little hitch in her voice that showed her sadness at that moment.

A few tears slipped from the blonde's eyes as she looked into glassy dark ones. Emma let the words sink in for a moment, feeling as if she had to take the pain away from the woman she loved more than anything. She had to make Regina feel wanted, to make her see that love was a good thing. When the blonde spoke up, she put as much truth and warmth in her words as she possibly could.

"Regina, I would never leave you. I swear I would fight a million wars if it got me you. I would do anything for you. I love you. I truly do. It's a scary feeling, I know but we can turn it into something good, something that will last. Love isn't to be feared I promise."

And after saying that, Emma got down on one knee, eyeing the love of her life with such intensity that the brunette had to cry. For the first time in her life, Regina seemed to understand the concept of those tears of joy.

"I have fallen in love with you from the first time I saw you. The ball, you remember?" The blonde quietly said with a tremble in her voice.

Regina chuckled lightly and smiled at Emma before she replied.

"Yes, love, of course I do."

The blonde princess nodded and got lost in the brunette's eyes. As soon as she seemed to have her feelings under control again, she spoke up.

"You're the only one I could ever desire and I cannot imagine being without you either. So, Regina, princess of the dark kingdom, would you do me the honor of marrying me?"

Once chocolate brown eyes opened and adjusted to the light in the bedroom, Regina groaned loudly. Of course, she wanted to say 'yes' to the beautiful blonde but her stupid alarm had just pulled her out of that surreal dream.

The dark-haired woman definitely had to see the Savior again. Thanks to her previously set up plan, she knew how to get even closer to Emma. Regina made her way to the bathroom in order to get ready for the day.

The brunette would have to call the flower lady later and hoped that the latter wouldn't be completely worthless.

Thanks for reading :)