"Princess."

Emma hates it when she says it. Refering to her by her title. A title that is merely that... A word that does not recognise her individuality, nor the countless moments of intimate familiarity they had shared.

Emma knew it was not by choice.

The only ones permitted to address a royal by their name were other royals, especially when they can be heard.

"They are here." Her knight repeated. The handmaiden quickly started shuffling through her cupboard, trying to find a suitable dress.

"It is alright, Fran. I can take care of it myself."

Fran was about to protest, but she cleared her throat, and she lowered her head in resignation, making for the exit.

"Please make haste, princess. I will be outside if you need me."

She closed the doors behind her, leaving them all alone.

"Princess."

Emma glared at the knight. If it were anyone else, they would have flinched and mumbled out a flood of apologies, even if they weren't at fault, but not her... Never her.

She was fearless. Unafraid of anything, including losing her job to a bratty royal.

It was one of the many reasons she had caught her eye.

She was unapologetic, cunning, strong and so many other things... Each of which Emma admired and cherished.

Unfortunately, one of those things included being a stick in the mud.

"You know I don't like you calling me that. No one can hear you."

Her knight sighed. It was cute.

She wore an armour smelted from dragon steel, and encrusted with innumerable tiny shards of citrine and topaz. A coat of tiger fur cascaded down her back, but it wasn't from any mundane tiger - it was from the first monster her knight had slain while protecting her... A fear-cat.

"Emma." She said.

"Better."

"Your mother is waiting for you in the courtroom, along with your suitors for the day."

"Tell them I am sick."

"There are only so many times you can be sick in a week."

"Tell them I am bleeding."

"The druid has told your mother you won't suffer from Eve's curse for another week."

"It's not a curse, and next time I see Dana, I will give her a piece of my mind."

"You know she can't lie to the queen, how much she adores you." She said calmly. Emma gritted her teeth. How could she be so calm? Doesn't she understand what was at stake?

"Emma, come on now."

"Gia, I don't want to."

"I know, but we all have to do things we don't want to."

"You don't mean that."

"Emma, if we are in here any longer, your handmaiden might get suspicious."

"I don't want to get married!"

"You don't have to." Gia rolled her eyes.

"You promise?"

"Emma, the princes asking for your hand are not worth your time, even the Queen knows that." The knight said, offering her hand.

"Fine." Emma said, placing her hand on the cold metal gauntlet, as Gia pulled her up. She could not resist the opportunity to wrap her arms around the knight.

"Emma!" Gia hissed, but did not pull away.

Emma smiled, feeling Gia's breath on her forehead. The metal of her armour was not as pleasant, but not entirely unwelcome, though she wished she could feel Gia's soft skin against hers... feel the beating of her heart... The touch of her lips on hers...

It was so hard to get time alone, with these annoying suitors dropping by every other day.

A sudden idea sprung into Emma's mind.

"Want to help me get dressed?" She asked innocently, batting her eyelashes, and pouting her lips.

"You are out of your mind!" Gia exclaimed indignantly, blushing deeply, but again she did not say no.

Emma smirked, standing on her toes to press her lips against hers. As always, she took some time to respond.

Soft pecks turned into hungry smooches, as Emma undid the clasps of her armour.

They fell on the bed, grinning with anticipation and thrill, the doors slammed open.

"What in the blazes is going on here?"

No, no, no.

Emma looked at Gia, the mortified look on her face matching that of Gia's, as they slowly turned to look at the queen in her regal green gown glaring at them.

"Explain yourselves, NOW!" Queen Dulcea demanded. "This is no time for one of your games, Emma, and I expected better from you, Gia. We will be having words about your future in this castle."

"Is everything alright?" There was another voice, as two new people burst into the room.

The queen's eyes widened as she turned around to see the impatient suitors who had followed her voice in their pathetic attempts to demonstrate their chivalry.

Prince Troy of Draganta and Prince Orion of Andresia.

If the situation wasn't so precarious, Emma would have taken immense pleasure in the gobsmacked expressions on their faces, especially Troy's. The way his face always lacked any expression and his voice was devoid of emotion, she doubted if he was an enchanted statue instead of a real human.

And Orion... There was something quite in his expression she could not place. Sure, there was shock, but also relief? Maybe even empathy?

Whatever it was, she did not have time for it.

All that mattered now was Gia.

She gripped her arm tightly, refusing to let go even as the other woman tried to pull away.

She was done living a lie.

Whatever happened now, they were going to face it together.

Vikung-fu got me shipping these two and wanted me to write a short fic for them. So, enjoy!

Wrote this spontaneously.

Threw in some easter eggs because that's how I roll.

Fran is Fran from Jungle Fury. And she knows about them, and supports them.

Troy and Orion being there shouldn't be a surprise.

Dulcea and Dana being part of this universe felt right and so did the reference to the fear-cats.

Stand-alone for now. Might write more if inspiration strikes.