One more day, leads to another day, then a week, and before Emily knows it, she has been at the castle for three weeks.
She has settled into a routine, that mainly fits around the queen's meetings and duties. But that, didn't stop her from spending hours with the queen everyday. and enjoying every minute of it.
Her friendship with the Queen is blossoming. So much so, that she now calls the Queen by her first name, Regina.
She is also, beginning to make friendships with some of the castle staff.
However, she is still being escorted by a guard, when the Queen is not in her presence, but she just assumed that it was for her own safety.
"Daddy has requested your presence today" The Queen tells her over breakfast, and she nearly chokes on her food.
"He..he does?" she splutters, as the queen had been rather guarded about him, and she hadn't expected to meet him.
The Queens smiles at her. Finding the blonde, rather adorable when she looks surprised.
"Yes. He wants to meet the person, who is taking up must of my time these days" she then smirks.
"Does that bother him?" Emily frowns and Regina shakes her head.
"Not at all. In fact, his rather pleased that I have someone to talk too and spend time with"
"Oh" Emily smiles slightly.
"He just wants to say hello, but if you would rather not.." she trails off, and looks down.
Emily then reaches out, and puts her hand on top on the Queens. Which makes the Queen look to their hands, and she looks momentarily surprised by the action.
"I'd love to meet him. I guess, I am just a little nervous about it" she replies and the Queen looks up, meeting the blondes gaze.
"Why?" she then asks.
"Well, his important to you and if he doesn't like me. Well, I'm in trouble right?" she chuckles, and the Queen chuckles back, and turns their hands over, lacing them together and squeezes.
"His going to love you dear, I have no doubt" she tells Emily softly, and Emily melts at the action and the Queens words.
A while later, the Queen leads Emily through the castle, and to a room with a big brown wooden door.
Emily whings her hands together, whilst hoping Regina's father will like her. She then watches, as the Queen stops and turns to Emily.
"Its going to be fine" she tells her and the blonde just nods, as she watches Regina step away and open the door.
"Daddy" The Queen greets in a fond voice moments later, and she steps forward, going to kiss her father's cheek.
"Hello sweetheart. How are you today? you look happy" he replies, whilst looking up at her.
"I am well, and look who I have brought to see you" she gestures to the door way. Where Emily stands awkwardly, and she raises her hand and waves it slightly,
"Hi" she says softly, whilst looking rather shy as she says it.
"Hello Emily Swan. It is good, to finally put a face to your name. As my daughter, has been speaking fondly of you on her visits to me"
"Has she?" Emily then asks in awe, and looks to the Queen, who looks to her father and says "Daddy" in a groaning voice.
He chuckles at this.
"Come sit down, tell me about your day? what do you have planned?" he asks eagerly, and Emily steps forward, sitting down upon the chair next to the bed and looking to Regina, who is now puffing her father's pillow.
"I think, We are going to visit the kitchen, where Regina is going to bake her apple turnovers" Emily replies, and smiles up at the Queen, who is smiling back.
"Now that is a treat. She does the best pastries in all the kingdom" Henry says proudly, and Regina smiles widely at her fathers praise.
"I am looking forward to it" Emily beams and then adds "And how are you feeling today?"
"I am on the mend, and feeling much better for seeing my daughter and meeting you"
"You're such a charmer" Emily chuckles, feeling a little more at ease.
"I am glad you think so" he smiles back, and then looks to his daughter, who is watching them with interest.
"I can see, what you see in her sweetheart" he tells her softly, and she looks down, cheeks reddening.
This makes Emily tilt her head, and she wonders what that means.
However, she is brought out of her musing, when Henry begins to ask her about her family.
She then tries to be as truthful as she can, but ultimately, she feels guilty for having to lie about her real identity.
"Can I get you anything?" Regina then asks her father, having noticed Emily begin to fidget in her chair. A sign, Regina had noticed, that pointed to the blondes unease with a subject.
"No. I am being well looked after" he replies happily, before adding "You should both go enjoy the rest of your day"
Regina then leans down, and kisses his cheek. "I shall return later"
Henry nods, whilst saying "Can I have a word with Emily alone?"
Regina looks suddenly confused by this, and then concerned.
"Is something wrong?" she asks.
"No, everything's fine, I promise. I just want to talk to her" he pats her hand, in reassurance.
"Okay" she then says unsurely, before stepping back and away.
She then Walks towards the door, and walks through it. Closing the door behind her.
Emily watches her go, before turning back to Henry with a concerned look.
"There's no need to look so worried" he chuckles "I just wanted to know, what are your intentions are?" he then asks softly.
"My intentions?" Emily frowns.
"Do you plan on staying here for a while, or are you going to leave and never return?"
"Well, if Regina doesn't mind me staying. I will stay, for as long as she wants me too" she answers softly.
"That's good to know and I love my daughter dearly, but she has a habit of getting hurt by people" he then explains, and Emily swallows thickly.
"I don't want to hurt her" she then replies honestly. Because she really doesn't. That's the last thing she wants to do, but she knows if Regina ever found out her secret, then she would have failed.
"I'm glad, because I can tell, that she has become quite fond of you already"
"Really?" Emily beams and adds "I mean, we haven't gone into great detail about anything personal, but I am fond of her too. She's been very kind and I know, its only been three weeks, but I feel like its a lot longer than that. Maybe, it is because we spend a lot of time together every day. " she rambles on.
"She has a heart as big as the sun, my Regina" Henry then adds, with a smile. Before saying "But life hasn't been that kind to her, and I worry that one more knock will totally shatter her"
Emily doesn't know what to say to that.
"You better go, she'll be waiting for you" Henry then says, and Emily stands.
"It was nice to meet you sir, shall I see you again soon?" she then asks and Henry nods.
"I'm sure you will and please call me Henry"
Emily nods and then starts to leave and once outside, she see's Regina pacing up and down.
"Are you okay?" she asks in concern, and the Queen stops and looks to her.
"Yes. What did daddy say?" she asks quickly.
"Oh, It was nothing really. Just checking, that I wasn't going to run away" she chuckles at her joke, but then see's Regina's concerned face, and puts a hand upon the queen's arm.
"Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere" she reassures the queen, who relaxes slightly.
"Right. Okay, shall we go to the kitchen?" she then asks simply, whilst feeling a little foolish and Emily nods.
"Lead the way, your majesty. I am very hungry, and I can't wait to try your forbidden fruit" She chuckles, but the queen's eyes flash, with something Emily doesn't recognise.
"Your always hungry dear" The queen then replies, whilst licking up lips and glancing to the blondes lips "I am surprised, that your not as big as a house with the amount of food you eat" she then adds.
"Would you still like me, if I was as big as a house? or even a castle?" Emily then asks, whilst having a dopey look upon her face.
"Maybe" The Queen replies, with a smirk, whilst looking Emily over. Before, turning and walking away. Leaving Emily to watch her go, with a smile upon her face.
A few hours later, Emily is tucking into her second helping of Regina's apple turnovers.
"So good" she mutters, as she puts another piece into her mouth, and moans.
Regina, who is standing at one of the counters in the kitchen, beams in delight. Before a memory, pops into her head and she frowns.
The memory, was of a time, where she had made her turnovers for Mallorie's birthday. However, the woman had just given her an odd look, before telling her that they tasted of stale bread.
"Hey, are you okay?" Emily asks in concern, upon seeing Regina's expression suddenly change.
Regina shakes her head, trying to get rid of the unwelcome thought.
"Yes, I am fine dear. I am glad you like the pastry" she replies flatly, but doesn't meet Emily's gaze.
She doesn't sound glad, Emily thinks to herself, and she stands up and walks over to Regina, who has her palms flat upon the counter, as she looks down at it.
Emily puts a hand upon the woman's arm.
"You don't seem fine. You can tell me? maybe I can help" Emily asks softly, and Regina sighs.
"I just remembered something, that I would rather forget. That's all."
"Oh"
"You've probably been told, about a woman called Mallory" Regina explains, and turns her head to look at Emily, who is standing rather close.
"Um, yeah" Emma grimaces.
"Well, I made her some turnovers for her birthday once, and she didn't like them. Apparently they tasted like stale bread"
Emily squeezes her arm.
"From what I've heard, and I hope you don't take offense, but she sounds like a real piece of work"
Regina smirks at that.
"Yes, I realized a little to late of her intentions"
"Yeah, but you must know Regina. That she was lying, because I would swear an oath, that your turnovers are the best. There my new favourite pastry" Emily then tells her seriously, and Regina smiles widely, she now looks really pleased.
"You would really take an oath?" she asks, whilst her eyes roam all over Emily's face, looking for any sign of a lie.
"I would" Emily stands tall, and puts her fist to her chest, and thumps it twice against it. Which makes Regina laugh.
"Your an idiot, Emily Swan" she replies, with fondness in her voice.
"I'm your idiot" Emily then replies back, without thinking, and Regina's eyes widen slightly.
"I..I mean..." Emily then stutters, and looks down, whilst kicking herself for being foolish.
She doesn't see, that Regina is touched. She's never meet anyone like Emily before, and the more time they spend together, the more she finds herself falling into the pit of feelings and longing for the woman.
"Here" Regina then says softly, whilst raising the blondes chin and making Emily look at her. "There's no need to feel foolish my dear, and you certainly are not an idiot, I was only teasing. Now go sit back down and finish your food, whilst I put these last ones on a plate for daddy"
"Okay" Emma smiles, and walks back to the table. She chances a glance back over to Regina, who is looking at her with a smile and soft eyes.
The sight, makes her swoon, and she bites her lip, whilst looking back down at her plate. As she thinks, That Mallory has a lot to answer for!
Thanks to reading everyone :)