"It is an absolute human certainty that no one can know his own beauty or perceive a sense of his own worth until it has been reflected back to him in the mirror of another loving, caring human being."

― John Joseph Powell

"Open!" Regina opened her eyes and gasped at the sight of the frozen lake.

"How are we gonna swim in a frozen lake?" Regina asked.

"Magic." Ingrid smirked, removing her coat and displaying a white lace bikini. She handed Regina a white necklace. "It'll let you breathe underwater. Come on!" She went and jumped into the water. The lake rippled as though it wasn't even frozen. Regina shrugged off her own coat, revealing a simple black bikini, put on the necklace and dove after the blonde. The sight before her took her breath away. The lake was filled with sea creatures of every shape, size and type. They were made completely of ice and snow. Ingrid waved to her and grabbed onto the back of an ice dolphin and let it pull her through the water. Regina smiled as a school of sparkling silver fish surrounded her in a shimmering cyclone. That is, until a massive whale disrupted them. Everything wrinkle of its skin was so perfectly made that it could've been real. Ingrid appeared beneath, swimming with a group of sea turtles. She reached up with a smile and tried to tickle the brunette. Regina laughed and pushed her away. Ingrid swam around her and pointed downwards. Regina followed her down to the lakebed.

The bed of the frozen lake was covered in a great reef that sparkled in the light descending from above. It was teeming with the sealife that Ingrid had created with magic. They didn't scurry and allowed Regina and Ingrid to touch them. They chased each other through the water for what must have been an hour before deciding they both need a break.

"That was amazing!" Regina said as Ingrid helped her back onto dry land. "How did you make all of that?!"

"Just a few tricks I learned." Ingrid smiled. "I'm glad you liked it. Next time we go in, we should make mermaid tails."

"Why didn't we think of that first? That's brilliant."

Ingrid laughed. "You are so much fun, Regina. I can't imagine how bored you must have been as queen."

"Well, as queen, I had...bloodier things that I liked to occupy my time." Regina said softly.

"I had a foster home. Not every child is an angel by the way." Ingrid frowned. "Some of them, I believe, are indeed demons in human form." Regina laughed. "Why didn't you get a job teaching or something, you're great with kids."

"What mother would let the Evil Queen anywhere near their child?" Regina rolled her eyes and sat down. Ingrid placed a blanket over her shoulders and sat next to her.

"Like I said, you're amazing with kids, despite what everyone else may believe. Maybe you could open up a rec center or something. The Lost Boys aren't afraid of you and they haven't fit in either. Storybrooke appears to be full of assholes."

"Oh it is, that's why all of them were cursed. As for the rec center thing, that is a pretty good idea." Regina smiled. "We should do it."

"We?"

"Well, it was your idea and you have a much better temper than me when it comes to anyone, so yes, we."

Ingrid smiled. "We it is then."

xxxxxx

"You know something I miss?" Ingrid asked.

"What?" Regina asked, leaning against her friend.

"I miss the dancing. The balls." Ingrid said dreamily, staring out over the ice covered lake.

"You were the first in line to be princess, you never went?"

"I could've, but I was afraid of losing control of my powers. I used to watch my sisters dance with their suitors. They would smile and laugh. It was all so beautiful, I wished I could be apart of it."

Regina frowned at the sadness in the voice of her friend and stood up. "Close your eyes."

"What?"

"Close your eyes." Ingrid looked a little skeptical but eventually shrugged and closed her eyes. "No peeking."

"I know." She sighed.

Regina smirked and raised her hands, applying her magic to the cold landscape around them. The lake disappeared and great white columns of stone rose out of the earth, forming a large square. Banners, streamers, tables lined with food, spiraling staircases, all of the works, came into existence until a grand ballroom was present before her. She waved her hand over herself and made herself disappear while at the same time, transporting Ingrid to the top of the stair case.

Ingrid opened her eyes at the sound of music playing and her jaw dropped. Gone was the lake and the forest. In its place, stood the ballroom of Arendelle. Her swimsuit was gone as well, replaced by a flowing white dress fit for a queen.

"Ingrid, what are you waiting for?" The sound of that voice almost made her cry immediately, but she managed to choke back the tears. When she felt a hand touch her arm, she couldn't stop herself from bursting into tears. Helga pulled her away from the stairs and tilted her head up. "What's the matter, Ingrid?"

"Helga." Was all she managed to gasp before crushing her sister against her chest. Helga felt so warm, so real. Her sister was obviously confused, but hugged her back just as hard.

"Are you nervous?"

"No, I just…" Ingrid smiled and leaned back, wiping her eyes.

"Let me." Helga said, gently dabbing away at Ingrid's face so she wouldn't ruin her makeup.

"I love you so much, Helga."

"I love you too." Helga said, as though this wasn't the strangest thing in the world. "Now stop crying, this is a party. You're supposed to be celebrating and dancing with all of these handsome princes throwing themselves at your feet."

"You know I don't I care about such things." Ingrid said.

"That may be, but one day you will find your true love whether you're looking for them or not. Now come on, please don't cry anymore. If you start crying, then I'll start crying, then Gerda's gonna come and she'll start crying and everyone's going to think we're crazy." Helga grinned.

"Okay." Ingrid smiled as Helga took her hand and lead her back to the edge of the balcony, looking out over the mingling royals. "All of this is for you, you know."

"I wish it wasn't-" Ingrid faltered for a moment upon spotting Regina near the dessert table. She was absolutely beautiful. She didn't use her Evil Queen persona, and instead, was wearing a simple sleek pale blue dress with a high slit on one side. She was barely wearing any makeup but still looked stunning, and her hair was much longer, just as it was in the Enchanted Forest. She looked so much softer, more at peace.

"It would seem you spoke too soon. Do you know her?" Helga asked.

"Yes, she's an...old friend."

"Hmm, I doubt that by the way you're looking at her. Perhaps...you should go talk to her." Helga urged.

"Right." Ingrid nodded, but didn't move.

"Scaredy cat." Helga said. "Go talk to her, since she's an old friend."

"Um, I know, but…"

"Go talk to her or I swear I will lean over this balcony and embarrass the hell out of you." Helga said seriously.

"You swore that you wouldn't do that again." Ingrid hissed.

"I love you, Ingrid, with all of my heart, but I will do this and not feel bad about it at all." When Ingrid didn't reply, she leaned over the balcony and screamed at the top of her lungs. "HELLO!" Ingrid immediately yanked her out of sight. "You didn't let me finish."

"How very unprincess-like."

Helga shrugged. "Before everything else, I am a sister, and what kind of sister would I be if I didn't try to help my older sister be happy?"

Ingrid smiled. "I missed you so much." She hugged her sister again before going to talk to Regina. The brunette smiled at her as she approached.

"Do you like it?" Regina asked, looking uncertain. "Have I overstepped?"

"No! No, this is...the greatest thing anyone's ever done for me. How did you do all of this?"

"That doesn't matter. What does matter is that you dance. It's what you wanted."

"How did you know about Helga, she's exactly the same." Ingrid asked.

"Dance, Ingrid. I'm not sure how long I can keep up the spell. So go." Regina smiled and nudged her onto the floor. A handsome prince immediately stepped forward and offered his hand. Ingrid graciously took it and she was swept onto the floor. The prince's name was Alexander and he turned out to be a perfect gentleman and an excellent dancer. As she danced, the Snow Queen was almost overcome with happiness. She was even able to dance with both of her sisters. She'd missed both of them so much, it almost hurt to know that they would be gone again soon.

Regina watched her friend and smiled at how happy Ingrid looked. It made her own heart ache for such a thing. She imagined herself dancing with Daniel, with her father, maybe even her mother. She never had a loving family like Ingrid did.

She stepped forward as the band began playing the waltz and slipped her hand into Ingrid's, stealing her away from some random Duke or whatever. "Mind if I cut in?"

"Not at all." Ingrid smiled.

They danced for what felt like hours, lost in each other's touch and smiles. For the first time in a long time, neither had to watch their backs, worrying about the glares and trash talking of the townspeople. They could just be. However, Regina felt a sudden chill in the air that made her pause and look around. It was snowing heavily in the the ballroom. "Ingrid, are you alr-" Her words were cut off as Ingrid shocked her with a kiss. The ballroom disappeared and they were once again back at the frozen lake, but neither one felt cold. Ingrid pulled away, looking afraid and was clearly about to run, but Regina stopped that idea in its tracks by grabbing the blonde and kissing her again. Ingrid smiled against her lips and pulled her close.

"You can dance, kiss, have magic. What can you not do, Miss Mills?" Ingrid asked.

"Live without you." Regina said. "Life would be so boring."

"You're amazing, Regina. I wish the world could see you the way I do."

"I wish the world could see you the way I do." Regina replied. "The world doesn't matter. Only you do."

Ingrid blushed and pulled away. "Please stop before I melt my own ice."

"My dear, once I get what I desire, the ice won't be the only thing melting."

"Then maybe I shouldn't make it so easy for you." Ingrid teased.

Regina sighed playfully. "Alright, let's see how long you can resist the urge to kiss-" Ingrid shut her up with another kiss.

"Come on, let's use those mermaid tails." The blonde grinned and leaped back into the water.

Regina touched her lip and smirked. "This is the game we're gonna play Snow Queen? Okay then. Game on."

Read and review please! Sorry for any confusion or mistakes.