TW: attempted rape/unwanted affection at the end of the chapter.

By the end of the day, Regina had managed not to worry about Emma so much. When the sun started to set, it was an entirely different story. Thankfully, Adele had decided they'd spent enough time on the hill and insisted supper needed to be made soon. Once that declaration was made they headed back to the cottage and Regina didn't have to hurry them away from the beautiful sunset that she should have enjoyed with Emma.

The sky was still mostly a golden yellow fading into a pinkish orange when she returned to Erica's home and while Regina wanted to offer assistance in the kitchen, she barely made it through the threshold before her chest burned from the necklace. She immediately gasped and clutched the necklace before she dashed into Erica's room with a quick apology given to the other women and shut the door behind herself. She quickly looked around the room for a way to get in touch with Emma, but saw only a small mirror propped against the wall on an old, overused vanity. The intense heat of her necklace meant Emma needed her right away so Regina didn't have time to make improvements. It would have to do. As long as she was able to see Emma.

Regina waved a hand in front of the mirror and Emma swirled into view. She immediately darted her eyes over every inch of visible skin to check for any harm done.

"Are you alright," Regina asked in place of a proper greeting.

"Regina! Oh, I have needed to see you all day. I thought I'd die of boredom and disgust before I saw your face again," Emma answered with relief.

Regina didn't see any cuts, scrapes, or bruises and deemed Emma physically fine as far as she could tell. She relaxed a little and regulated her breathing, which she hadn't realized had been so erratic with her worry for the blonde.

"No one has harmed you," Regina asked just to be perfectly clear.

"No, no one has harmed me. The only assault I've suffered through today were long, disgusting looks from Prince Aaron when no one else was looking during our shared meals."

"Why all the urgency then, my love," Regina asked with a frown.

"It's sunset and I missed you," Emma replied with a soft, younger sounding voice. "Did I worry you?"

"Very much."

"I'm sorry. I really didn't mean to do that. I didn't realize how strongly you would feel me. I suppose I was a little aggressive." Emma chuckled and the sound instantly defused any panic or tension between them.

"Oh, it's only been a day, but my how I've missed your laugh. But…aren't you worried about the guards hearing you?"

Emma smiled and shook her head.

"They're on break. The Duke, my parents' friend no less, mentioned how extensive the security around my room was and suggested the guards have some time to catch their breath and eat. They have been working harder during their shifts today because of the added company and how frequently I've been moving place to place to accommodate everyone."

"So you have time alone?"

"For now. My parents agreed to just less than an hour for the guards to rest before supper. Which means the next couple of days I'll be able to watch the sunset with you and not have to whisper."

Emma beamed for the first time since they'd been separated. Regina smiled back. A moment passed before Emma seemed to look around at Regina's surroundings through the mirror and frowned.

"Where are you," the blonde asked. "You aren't at home."

Regina's smile widened at the word home and she shook her head. "I couldn't stand being there without any longer. It killed me to be alone and I needed something to occupy my time until we spoke again before I went out of my mind."

"Less than a week and this is already much too painful an experience," Emma conceded.

Regina nodded.

"If…you're not in the palace, where are you?"

"Regina, dear, are you okay," Erica asked through the closed bedroom door.

Emma furrowed her brow.

"Yes, I'm fine," she answered, and then an idea hit her. "I know you like to be alone with me at this time, but what about some additional friendly company?"

Regina picked up the portable mirror and went to the door. She opened it to reveal Adele at the stove as Erica made her way back toward the kitchen from outside her own room.

Erica and Adele turned to Regina, confused and curious, and then looked down to the mirror in her hands.

Regina smiled at the two of them before she looked at Emma again and smiled just a little bit brighter.

"I think Erica and Adele would love to see you," Regina before she flipped the mirror around for the other two women to see.

Emma gasped and rested her hands on top of each other over her chest.

"Emma! Have you been eating well since we last saw you," Erica asked. "Don't let your current situation keep you from staying healthy."

Emma chuckled and Regina rolled her eyes but continued to smile.

"Yes, I'm still eating, still healthy," the princess answered.

Regina watched Erica and Adele relax as they smiled at the blonde in the mirror, happy just to look at her even though they also had the ability to talk. Her own smile widened at the sight.

"You both look gorgeous. I wish I was there with all of you," Emma told them and Regina didn't even have to look at the younger woman to know she displayed a glowing smile.

"We'd rather have you here as well," Erica said and stepped up to the mirror. "Especially after you and Regina disappeared during the festival."

Erica raised an eyebrow she directed first at Emma and then Regina. Regina took the opportunity to smirk before she turned the mirror to see Emma as well. She looked into the mirror in just enough time to catch Emma's blush.

Regina sat down at the kitchen table and propped up the mirror so all three women could talk to Emma at once. As she adjusted the mirror's position, she glanced up and saw Adele adopt a blush similar to Emma's. She smiled at the girl.

"It was a tremendously memorable night," Regina purred both to Adele as well as for Emma's sake, although her eyes settled solely on Adele when she spoke. She stared through the mirror at Emma, however, after she'd made her point and winked at the blonde. She turned her smirk into a loving smile and felt a rush of warmth inside her chest when Emma easily and fondly smiled back.

Regina didn't catch the way Erica looked between the two of them with a knowing smile and a content expression, but Erica was happy for the two of them. She was also sad they couldn't be any closer than through a magically altered looking glass, but happy that they'd found each other and shared the realm-shattering love she witnessed every time they saw each other. It was the kind of bedtime story she wished she had been creative enough, or preferably more experienced with, to tell Adele as the girl grew up.

Erica lightly shook her head and rejoined the conversation as Regina stared and beamed with admiration and devotion at Emma while the younger woman talked directly to Adele. Erica wasn't entirely sure what the girls were talking about, but she didn't much care when it was clear to her that Regina—that her friend and near-daughter—was more interested in Emma's face and voice more than the content of discussion.

"I'll finish supper," Erica announced and only then did the three other pairs of eyes in the room acknowledge her once again, but only for a moment.

Regina's eyes lingered on Erica as the woman moved to the kitchen, but Erica held her gaze as the woman looked over her shoulder when she went back to the stove. She could tell the other woman had seen more than Regina usually shared with her words, even when opening up to someone as close to her as Erica. She pursed her lips and expressed her dislike for the scrutiny Erica had placed on her with a single look before Erica chuckled under her breath and finally turned to face the stove.

Emma and Adele had already reconvened their conversation while Regina's silent exchange with Erica had occurred so when she looked through the mirror again she fell into the cadence of the blonde's voice before she finally picked up on the topic of conversation. Within a few moments, Regina realized the two of them were talking about going to the market together the next time Emma had the chance to visit, which both younger women expressed they hoped would be soon. Regina smiled at both of them and nodded her agreement before she sat back in her seat and just listened to all the things Emma and Adele planned to do as soon as Emma was free from her new prison.

Adele knelt on the floor behind the arm of the couch in the cramped common room with her fingers in Regina's hair. The brunette lay out on the couch with her long hair free and over the side of it while her head rested against the arm of the furniture. Adele twisted her fingers and Regina's hair as she practiced braiding on the other woman who insisted it was the best way to learn how to do it herself. Regina had instructed her to braid it over and over again like she'd been shown and the older woman had encouraged her not to stop until she felt completely comfortable with the final result as well as the movement of her hands when they worked.

The floorboards creaked nearby behind her and Adele turned her head to find Erica smiling at the two of them. She flashed Erica a smile in response.

"I'm almost done," she told Erica. "This will be the last one for today. I think I'm much better at this now."

Erica's smile grew with her words.

"That's good," Erica said. "One more go around with the braid and you should get ready for bed."

Adele frowned and said, "But I'll still have nearly a finger's length of hair left to braid if I stop after only one more twist."

Erica peeked over the side of the couch and chuckled at whatever she saw before she looked at Adele again. "Dear, in case you haven't noticed your subject has been asleep for some time now. I don't think she'll mind if you stop a little short."

Adele furrowed her brow and kept her fingers in place in Regina's hair as she lifted herself up enough to look over the arm of the couch. Just as Erica had said, Regina's eyes were closed and her chest rose and fell at a slow, even pace. The Queen looked relaxed, less stiff and worried, as she lay completely defenseless on the old, ratty furniture.

"Oh," Adele said as she slumped back down and then twisted the three strands of Regina's hair she held between her fingers one last time. She checked over the braid and noted the wisps that hadn't completely tucked into the braid. Something she still needed to work on. Satisfied with knowing how to proceed the next time she practiced braiding, she released Regina's hair and combed through it with her fingers so it was no longer braided.

When the braid was gone and all that remained were wavy brunette locks, Adele stood up and smiled down at Regina before she quietly said goodnight and headed toward her bedroom. As she walked away, Erica slowly approached the couch. She continued to smile with each small step she took forward and didn't stop smiling until she tried to wake Regina.

"Up now, dear," she softly said with a gentle shove of the other woman's shoulder.

Regina faintly groaned and scrunched up her nose and brow with annoyance. She tried to make herself comfortable on the couch again, but Erica didn't give her that chance.

"Regina, it's time to get up."

"Five more minutes," Regina grumbled.

Erica laughed and said, "It's late. Maybe you should stay the night."

"Yes," Regina quickly answered and rolled onto her side so her back was to Erica, her face almost pressed right up against the cushion.

"Oh, come now. The couch is no place for a queen to rest."

"Not a queen," she tiredly answered as her voice trailed off into a breathless whisper.

Erica could tell, knew from all the times Regina had spent in her company over the years, that the other woman was falling back to sleep.

"You may not be a queen anymore, but I care about you too much to let you sleep on this ol' thing. Take my bed."

It took a moment, but that seemed to wake Regina up enough to turn over and open her eyes.

"Where will you sleep?"

"Either with you or Adele. I don't mind. Neither of you take up much space and neither of you kick, snore, or drool."

Regina grunted and closed her eyes for a couple of seconds before she took a deep breath and made a dramatic effort to sit up. Erica held out both of her hands, which Regina took almost immediately, and helped the brunette stand.

"You'll need a change of clothes. I still have a few things that might fit you," Erica said as she helped guide a wobbly and half-asleep Regina into the bedroom.

Regina only hummed in response.

Erica smiled to herself and walked Regina over to her closet. She helped the woman select a simple nightgown to wear for the moment and then waited with her back turned as Regina sluggishly changed into it. When the brunette was done, she stumbled into Erica and placed a hand on Erica's shoulder. She squeezed as she fought to keep herself upright long enough to reach the bed and Erica removed the hand from her shoulder to hold it as she led Regina to the Queen sized mattress.

"There you go," she said as she eased Regina onto the bed and then pulled the sheets up to the other woman's chest. "We'll talk more in the morn."

Erica walked over to the other side of the bed and settled in. A few minutes later, Regina rolled onto her side and faced her. She turned her head and noticed that Regina hadn't just moved, but she'd also opened her eyes. She still looked very tired, but considering the amount of time she spent talking to Emma earlier in the day Erica understood. So she rolled onto her side and fully faced Regina as well, ready to talk before morning if Regina chose to spoke up. She did.

"It's me," Regina said with a low voice, raspy from sleep. "I might not have made the decision to keep Emma away from me, but if I was anyone else she wouldn't have to suffer like she is."

"We've already discussed this."

Regina sighed. "I know, but…you have to admit this is in some way my fault. I just wish…"

"What? What could you possibly wish? Emma loves you because you are who you are. You love Emma for the same reason so tell me, what would change if you could? Because I don't see any reason for you to think anything between the two of you should be different than what it is, aside from your situation that is."

Regina rolled onto her back and stared up at the ceiling for a moment. She licked her lips and didn't make a move to look at Erica again.

"If I just wasn't myself, if I was someone else I could just—"

Regina stopped herself mid-sentence and Erica watched realization flicker in brown eyes that almost weren't even visible in the dark room.

"That's it," Regina breathed out and sat up in bed. She turned and looked down at Erica as the Irish woman remained on her side. "If I was someone else."

Erica frowned and slowly sat up to be eye level with Regina.

"Why would you want that? After I just said—" Regina didn't let her finish what she had to say.

"A disguise. I have been wondering how I could possibly be as powerful as I am and still not be able to infiltrate the Charmings' palace without getting myself killed. If I wasn't myself, the two idiots wouldn't know any better. I'd appear harmless and I could see Emma freely, away from the mirror."

Erica's lips curled into a bright smile before she said, "Now you're thinking. Although it's only a temporary solution."

"It's all I need. For now, it's a way in and it's enough."

Erica nodded. "Okay. I support you. I'm with you on this, but promise me you'll come back here before you go back to your palace."

"I will."

"And check in with a mirror every once in a while so I know you two are okay."

Regina breathed out a small laugh and nodded before she wrapped her arms around Erica and hugged the woman.

"Tomorrow," Regina said as she continued to hug Erica. "I'm going to see her tomorrow."

Erica closed her eyes and relaxed as relief flooded her. She rubbed Regina's back and gave the woman a squeeze before they separated and slid back down on the bed. Regina didn't have a complete plan, but she had somewhere to begin. Erica was hopeful Regina would find a way around the Charmings' rules without meeting her demise and she would do whatever she could to be there when that day finally came.

Regina awoke the next morning to any empty bed as the sun just barely peeked out over the horizon. She looked around the room and saw that it was as empty as the bed she rested in. She smelled food in the air though and quickly deduced she was only alone because Erica was in the kitchen. She got up and followed her nose to the source of the delicious scent and found Erica at the stove in the same sleep attire she had worn overnight. Her hair was messy and lazily swept off her shoulders in a ponytail as she cooked breakfast and her tired eyes told Regina she either hadn't slept much or she hadn't been awake much longer than her.

"Good morning," she greeted the redhead and smiled when Erica met her gaze.

Erica smiled back before she flipped the food around in the pan and used the motion to gesture to what she was making as she spoke. "You'll need your energy. Transformation spells take a bit of magic to keep up, don't they?"

"Yes," Regina answered and remembered the first time she'd talked about the cost of magic with Erica. Adele had been a tiny little thing and Erica had only heard stories of the Queen's magic. That day, she'd seen it firsthand and wasn't sure it was safe for Adele to be around so Regina talked through it with her to calm any doubts and fears. It had done just that and even after all that time, Erica still seemed to remember magic wasn't easy despite how effortless Regina made it look.

Erica picked up a mug on the counter by the stove and set it down on the table before she went back to the stove. "Fresh tea. Not piping hot anymore, but still warm."

Regina noted steam, though only a small amount, was still present as it wafted into the air from the mug. She smiled and sat down.

"Thank you," she said over the rim of the mug before she took a careful sip. It was a spectacular apple cinnamon blend and her eyes slipped closed with the pleasurable comfort it provided.

"I suppose you'll be leaving for the castle as soon as possible," Erica asked and looked over her shoulder to see Regina when she answered.

"That is the plan," she replied and set the tea back down, but kept her hands wrapped around the warm mug. "That isn't why you're up this early, is it?"

Erica chuckled and confessed, "Of course it is. I have to see you off and make sure you're feed before you decide to carelessly chase after your love without putting your health and well-being first. She can't love you if you aren't well. Or alive."

Regina laughed and Erica joined in, the words said and meant as a joke regardless of the truth that still resided in them. Regina never put herself first when it came to her and Emma. The blonde's needs always came before her own and Regina would starve herself, refuse sleep, and rush into the lion's den if it meant Emma would be safe or happy or both. But it was also Emma's needs to have Regina live so poofing into the palace and stealing Emma away—even if both of them wanted it—would surely be the end of her existence. That would hurt Emma more than the distance they'd kept over the last few days so she hadn't rushed into the lion's den, hadn't pushed her luck, and it still served Emma's needs more than her own. She would gladly die for the other woman, but she would resist the urge to go on a suicide mission if it wasn't absolutely necessary to protect the princess.

"You're right. Plus, it wouldn't do if my spell doesn't last the entire time I'm at the palace and even worse if the spell wears off and I look horrifyingly unappealing from avoiding meals," Regina continued to joke.

"Damn right," Erica agreed with a large smile and moved the food from the pan to some plates. She only took a moment at the stove once the food was ready before she served Regina and herself and sat across the table from the brunette.

Regina pushed the food around on her plate for a short while before she finally took a few bites. They ate in silence at first and the longer the silence went on for the more withdrawn Regina appeared.

"What's wrong, dear," Erica asked. "I thought you were excited? No other reason to be up almost before even the sun if you're not excited."

"I want this to work," Regina admitted. "I need this to work."

"Why wouldn't it? You're a skilled and powerful sorceress and I have every bit of confidence in you."

"That isn't the part that worries me. I can get past the guards and I can fool Snow and her prince, but Emma is guarded constantly. What if I can never drop the act and she never knows it's really me?"

Erica grinned and shook her head.

"Oh, dear, trust me. She'll know it's you." The other woman practically sang the last of her words and she seemed so sure. "Now, do you have a look in mind?"

"No, not yet."

"Well, you'll just have to think of something."

Regina hummed and ate more of her food like she actually had an appetite, which she did except she was never interested in food when she was worried. With her fears momentarily pushed aside, she tried to enjoy the calm morning before she threw herself into the fire in an attempt to spend the time she so desperately wanted with her love.

"Do me a favor, love," Erica started to say when they were both close to finishing their meal. Regina looked up and gave Erica her full attention as she waited for the woman to continue. "When you adapt a new appearance, promise me you won't stray too far from yourself. It would be a shame to see Emma and have you look something like Adele."

Erica winked and Regina wasn't entirely sure what she meant, but she had an idea. She asked to be sure. "And what's wrong with how Adele looks?"

"She doesn't have that Latina fire you so clearly do," Erica elaborated and then it all made sense.

Regina smirked and said, "That was never going to be a problem."

Erica chuckled and Regina had the last bite of her food before she collected the plates and graciously cleaned them for her hostess.

"Thank you for letting me stay last night," Regina said as she kept her hands busy with the dishes.

"What else would I have done? Sent you back to your palace in the middle of the night so you could stay there, alone, after you spent hours in front of the mirror talking to the one person you miss most? Never."

Regina smiled and ducked her head almost bashfully. It wasn't something she'd done in front of Erica since she was a child and suddenly it seemed like Emma's more youthful ways were rubbing off on her. She couldn't find it in herself to care when it meant she had a piece of Emma gratefully stuck within, a piece of Emma she exuded in the way she held herself around the few people she trusted.

After breakfast, Regina woke up Adele and said her goodbyes before she toyed with her temporary new identity. She made herself only a few years younger than her magic normally made her appear and left her skin the same olive color, but she shortened her hair and made it a little darker. She made the scar above her upper lip disappear and reduced the size of her plump lips ever so slightly. She tried to find a more fitting style for the Lady she would pretend to be, something Emma might also appreciate, and after several minutes of debating and second opinions from Erica and Adele she chose simplistic dresses that were still gorgeous and a few riding outfits from her own closet, which she slightly altered to help keep up appearances.

"Regina," Erica breathed out with so much pride, "she will fall in love with you all over again when she sees you like this."

"Definitely," Adele agreed and nodded her head with a wide smile.

"Be careful," Erica said and tried to pull Regina into a hug that Regina immediately stepped away from. "What? You're not going to hug me anymore after last night?"

"I don't hug," Regina insisted as her temporary new self.

"Regina Mills," Erica scolded with a smile, "don't tell me you don't hug when you initiated the one last night. It was the first time you hugged me since your father's passing and I will not let it be the last time you hug me for another few years. Now get over here and hug me."

Regina rolled her eyes but failed to hide the way she lit up at the thought that she still had someone looking out for her. Even at her old age, she was still loved and cared for by someone she'd been close to almost all of her life. She moved in and wrapped her arms tightly around Erica and soon after, Adele clung to both of them in a group hug. The three of them laughed together and held back tears as they said their final goodbyes before Regina went out and risked everything to be with Emma just a little longer.

"Good luck, girl," Erica said as she watched Regina leave. She pulled Adele into her side and held her there while she let Regina go off and hopefully achieve the only thing she ever wanted in her life until her last breath.

Emma walked along the outer edge of the garden with the Duke. She hadn't been much for conversation and continued to ask him questions they both knew he probably should have been asking her. Despite that, he answered her inquiries and kept a comfortable space between them so she didn't feel pressured or crowded or in any way uncomfortable. She appreciated it even though she'd still rather be anywhere else. It wasn't his fault. The Duke wasn't poor company, he was actually the opposite. It just wasn't his company she wanted. Same problem, different day.

"Why not tell me about yourself, Princess? What do you like to do in your spare time," he asked and slowed his pace.

Emma slowed down with him even though walking faster made her feel like she was that much closer to the end of their time for the day.

"I'm sure there isn't much you don't already know about me."

"Of course there is. How can I know anything about you if we've never formally talked?"

"My parents. You've known me for years. I've seen you around the castle since I was a maturing young girl. I have no doubt they've talked about me for at least some of that time. It isn't like you are solely an advisor here. You've stayed for dinner, you've joked with my father, you've helped my mother find a few of the workers we have here. You know this family well and I am a part of this family."

"You make a good point, but I haven't spoken with the King and Queen about you in a while. I've heard a few of their concerns, but I haven't actually heard about you. Besides, information is always better from the source. Don't you agree?"

He smiled at her and she supposed it was meant to be kind and teasing, but that was the moment that made her itch to flee from him. He didn't frighten her and she didn't wonder about his intentions. He wasn't being anything but sweet and sincere. She just didn't want him to get any closer to her, mentally, physically, or emotionally. She just wanted to be back in front of a mirror—any mirror—and talk with Regina the whole day through. She almost did the previous day, but was torn away from her mirror to spend time with the Commander before dinner.

Just as the Duke opened his mouth to speak and lifted a hand seemingly to brush hair of her face, there was a rustling followed by an "oof" from inside the garden. It took less than a minute for two nearby guards to yank an intruder onto their feet. She and the Duke forgot their conversation completely to see the guards drag a woman with dark hair and a dirty and torn dress, which Emma didn't think looked as ruffled until after her trip in the garden, toward the palace.

"Your Highness," one of the guards regarded her before the two of them tried to walk past her and the Duke.

The woman locked eyes with her for a brief moment, her expression unreadable, before she ducked her head and struggled against the grip of the guards.

"Wait," Emma spun around and grabbed one of the guards by the arm. "Where are you taking her?"

"To the King and Queen."

"What is her crime?"

"Trespassing. She was making her way through the garden and we haven't received word about any new arrivals. No one else aside from everyone that's already here should be within the castle boundaries."

"It isn't like I'm an assassin," the woman retorted and immediately the guards jostled and gripped her harder.

"Unhand her," Emma demanded.

"Your Highness," the Duke cut in. "The guards just said she was lurking in the garden and she tried to joke about killing the King and Queen. She should be detained at the very least."

Emma stared at the woman long enough for her to finally look up and properly acknowledge the princess. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw dark eyes that warmed her soul. She couldn't explain it, but she felt a connection to this woman. The woman didn't have to say a word. They spoke with just a look. And then guilt settled over her because she shouldn't have been able to connect and trust a perfect stranger. Only Regina. Still, her guilt didn't change the way she felt. She wouldn't hold it against the other woman and allow her to be punished for something so trivial.

"Did either of you ask her what she was doing in the garden or did you just assume what she was up to," Emma asked and lifted her chin with the authority she had over the guards.

The two of them looked at each other for a moment with furrowed brows and then turned back to Emma.

"What else could she have been up to?"

The woman sighed and rolled her eyes. Emma saw it and felt a strong sense of familiarity.

"Why don't we ask her," Emma replied and then stepped closer to the other woman.

The woman looked up at her from her slightly hunched position in the guards' hold and Emma swore she saw a hint of an amused, maybe even proud, smirk. She tilted her head to the side and squinted at the woman as she tried to figure her out even though she still didn't see the woman as a true threat.

"What were you doing in the garden," Emma finally asked the one thing, and most important thing, the guards failed to ask.

"Trying to pick flowers for you, your Highness," the woman answered and then Emma was sure the woman was grinning.

Emma laughed. "Were you really?"

"Well, I didn't make it far. I stumbled after barely making it over the fence and then your guards swarmed me."

"Guards," Emma started to say and looked from the woman to the men that stood on either side of her. "Unhand her. She has done nothing wrong."

"But, your Highness," one of them tried to argue, but she refused to hear anything more from them.

"Let her go. If she causes any problems I will take responsibility. Thank you."

Reluctantly, the guards released her and nodded out of respect before they took their leave.

The woman looked from Emma to the Duke and back again.

"You are very kind, your Highness," the woman said with a curtsy.

"My kindness might not entirely be about you, I'm afraid. I…know what it's like to be unfairly held against your will."

Emma didn't think much about her words before she said them. She only considered how much she should or wanted to share with a stranger. It was only when the woman looked to Emma's right that the princess remembered the Duke was still there.

She cringed, tense from the neck down, when she looked over at the Duke who didn't seem in agreement with her decision about the woman and didn't like the sound of her latest words about imprisonment. She hoped, though she knew it was probably futile, that the Duke wouldn't talk about the encounter with her parents.

Emma turned her attention back to the woman. Part of her wished that in doing so the Duke would suddenly no longer be an issue. He would just disappear or something.

"My apologies. I don't believe I learned your name," Emma said.

The woman hesitated like she needed a moment to think about it.

"Lily. Lady Lily, your Highness," the woman answered after a moment.

"Lily," Emma asked and briefly looked over at the garden before she stared into near obsidian eyes. "And you were trying to pick flowers."

Emma turned the question into statement. She started to believe less of what Lily was saying, but oddly enough she still felt a sense of trust and connection regardless.

Lily smiled at her and nodded. "Yes. In fact, those were also the flowers I wanted to pick for you. I figured it would be a memorable way to meet."

"Indeed," Emma smiled back, slightly amused.

Lily flashed her a sort of knowing smile and it threw Emma off for a moment until she realized she'd sounded more like Regina in the last few minutes than she sounded like herself, or a Charming. Lily's expression was forgotten then and instead she smiled to herself, pleased to know that Regina had left her mark on her.

The Duke cleared his throat and again Emma was reminded that she wasn't alone.

"If you'll excuse me," she politely said to Lily. "I should be going. Thank you for attempting to gift me with lilies. I hope to see you around soon."

Lily's smile widened. "I'll do my best."

Emma nodded as she and the Duke started to head back to the palace. She worried that she felt too strongly about someone who wasn't Regina. She felt like she was breaking a promise to the older woman and that by feeling the way she did about Lily meant that she had lied to Regina. She had told Regina, and her parents, that while she preferred women she also only had eyes for Regina. After meeting Lily, the devastating truth was that maybe she could grow to like someone else. That thought deeply pained her.

She had barely made it more than five steps from the garden when her chest felt hot—burning hot, but in a good way. She touched her dress over her chest where, beneath the smooth fabric, her necklace resided. She smiled as she felt Regina with her and slowly started to relax, not knowing that Regina was much closer than she thought.

Later that day the prince leered at her while her parents smiled and told her she was expected to keep his company for the next few hours, get to know him as she'd so far begun to know about the other suitors. She clenched her jaw and fists and refrained from growling at both her parents and the slimy bastard behind them as he stared cockily at her, like she would be his the moment they stepped out of the main palace doors.

Snow and Charming turned to him and kindly smiled before they nodded at him, the nod a sign of approval as they silently excused him to take Emma out for a walk or whatever kind of "date" they'd prefer. It was sickening the way Prince Aaron appeared to be a perfect gentleman in front the King and Queen when it was so far from the truth. Emma just knew he would try or say something during their time that day and it made her stomach swirl with nausea that she had to swallow when it reached her throat.

Prince Aaron threaded their arms and led her out of the palace and she looked over her shoulder with obvious disdain for Snow and Charming as she glared at them. Unfortunately, there was also a flash of fear that flickered in green eyes when Aaron tightened his grip on her arm and tugged her just that little bit closer to his side. That fear was missed by her parents as they encouraged her to go on and to mind her manners with looks and a couple of gestures, mostly given by Snow.

Emma steeled her expression then and realized she was on her own. She couldn't wait for her parents to step in and she couldn't hold out hope that her knight in shining armor, that Regina, would be able to swoop in and come to her defense. She was on her own and it was entirely her parents' fault. And she would rather spend her time hating them then fearing Prince Aaron so she focused her attention on all the things she wished she could do to punish the King and Queen for sending her off with such an awful human being time and time again. It was as she and the prince rounded the castle and approached the grand fountain and sitting area at the back of the palace grounds that she turned her thoughts into fantasies about using her magic to punish her parents. That's when she realized that while she didn't know much about her magic, and still didn't have much control over it, she had a way to defend herself. She didn't have to wait for anyone to save her. She had the opportunity to try and save herself.

She wasn't sure she'd ever been more thankful for Regina in that moment because while Regina might not have been there to step in, Regina had been the one to teach her and give her most of the tools she needed to be anything but a damsel in distress. Regina didn't even need to be there for her to do so much more for her than her own parents. It was unbelievable. Emma might have been a grown woman, but sometimes she still needed her parents. She didn't need them to watch her like a hawk and lock her up. She just needed them to listen to her, to protect her from Aaron and not Regina. Prince Aaron was the real threat and Emma was furious that they still couldn't see that.

She almost heavily sighed out loud as her thoughts consumed most of her senses, but she felt herself being guided onto the stone bench in front of the fountain. She immediately came out of her thoughts and back into reality. She was with Prince Aaron and she would have to be for the next half hour at the very least before she could claim she wasn't feeling too well and leave him to his own devices. She needed to be extremely aware and alert until she could leave him so she tensed where she sat as he took the spot beside her on the bench. She controlled her breathing as it threatened to become erratic from the anger she felt rising within and she reminded herself to keep composure, at least for as long as possible.

"Did you have an absolutely boring time with the Duke? He seems a little stuffy," Prince Aaron joked with that slimy smirk of his.

Emma grimaced, but masked her emotions a second later. "Actually, he's not as stuffy as someone simple minded might think."

Aaron's smirk fell. He didn't look angry, but he didn't look as smug as he had before. He almost looked neutral, as if he didn't know how to take that statement.

"Well," Aaron tried again, "I'm sure an older man like that doesn't have the stamina to keep up with someone of your young age and vitality."

"I'm not even sure a man your age could do such a thing," Emma replied. If the prince was going to speak with double meanings she wasn't going to stop him, but she was going to beat him at his own game. Belittle him. It would at least make him feel less confident and that was really all she could do since she hadn't been able to stop his antics any other time.

"I'll take that as a challenge," he grinned.

"Don't," she insisted. She might have been wrong about the lack of confidence thing.

Aaron grunted as he stretched and extended his arms and then let one drape over her shoulders. She stiffened under his touch and squirmed on the bench in an attempt to slide away from him. His arm only pulled her in to him more when she tried to get away.

"I would be happy to show you. A woman your age that hasn't been married… People start to talk," he started to say. "Someone should really show you a good time at least once before you become an old maid. Unless…you aren't pure. Is that why no one will marry you?"

Emma rolled her eyes and tried to yank his arm off of her shoulders. "In case you haven't noticed, there are plenty of suitors in the palace and all seem very willing to try for my hand. My purity isn't what's in question. I'm very picky."

"Picky, prudish, whatever helps you sleep at night," Aaron chuckled as he leaned in.

Emma wriggled around several times to no avail and soon she felt his breath on her face. It came out hot and in quick puffs as though what he was doing, or about to do, was a bit of a work out for him. His arm dropped a little lower around her so that his hand grazed her collarbone on its descent toward one of her breasts. She was far beyond uncomfortable. She was repulsed and pissed and she just needed to find it in herself to access her magic. Until then, she could only use her words.

"Stop," she demanded, not as loud as she could have been but still firm and direct.

"Stop what," he said just as his hand started to grope her breast. He gave it a squeeze and she shoved him in the chest.

"Get your hands off me," she yelled and continued to push, shove, and hit him wherever she could.

"I just want to show you a good time. I want to show you what you're missing. You know I'm going to win this foolish competition anyway so our union now shouldn't be frowned upon later."

She turned her head away just as he tried to give her a rough and wet kiss so instead it landed on her cheek. It was sloppy and disgusting and the persistent prick made sure he had her where he wanted her because the next thing he did was use his free hand to grip her chin.

Aaron forced her to face him and then crashed their lips together. She started to kick at him as she continued to punch his shoulders and chest with raging fists. Thankfully, she started to feel her magic opening itself up to her. All she had to do was channel it into something that would get him off of her, maybe something that would get him far away as well.

The instant his mouth left hers she shrieked and shouted, "Help!" Her magic wasn't doing anything for her just yet and she couldn't find a way to channel it. She was too focused on trying to make it stop that she wasn't able to command her magic to assist her and suddenly, she felt utterly defenseless.

"That's exactly what I'm trying to do, Princess," Aaron breathed against her lips before he quickly moved in and claimed them with another dreadful kiss.

He tried to slam his tongue past her pursed lips. She opened her mouth, but only so she could bite down fast and hard on his tongue. It worked and he yelped in pain before he jumped back a little on the bench. He unfortunately still kept a firm hold on her and she continued to struggle in his grasp.

She took a deep breath and pulled her hands away from his chest for a moment, her palms facing out toward him as she forced her magic to travel through her arms and toward her open hands.

"Bitch," he yelled and tried to push her onto her back on the bench as he continued his assault.

As he advanced on her she felt her magic pulse and wondered if on contact it would blast him back, because that was all she really wanted in that moment. She wanted him away. She wanted him off. She wanted him gone. She was terrified and upset and she was on the verge of tears as the last shred of hope started to dwindle inside her.

And then there was a whoosh of air and Prince Aaron's hands were no longer on her. Her eyes had only been closed for a moment as she tried her best to fight off her tears and when she opened them, she was alone on the bench. She looked over to see Aaron on the ground, a good distance from the bench, and then she stared down at her hands. Her magic still felt coiled up inside her. She hadn't felt the release. Whenever she'd used magic with Regina, when she'd had her lessons, she always felt a release. It wasn't possible. It hadn't been her magic. It had to be—

"Are you alright," she heard a familiar voice ask with concern.

Emma turned and saw that woman, Lily, rush toward her with panicked eyes.

"You- What- How are you…here," Emma asked.

"Did he hurt you," Lily asked in response and reached out to touch her.

Emma flinched and shot onto her feet. She stumbled back a few steps to put some distance between her and the other woman.

"You have magi- Was that you," Emma asked as she looked from Lily to Aaron as he lie completely still on the ground, but groaned just loud enough for both women to know he was still conscious. "Did you do that?"

Lily gulped and nodded, her eyes as wide as Emma's, and she almost looked a little sad, hurt, after Emma had moved away from her.

Emma looked her over from head to toe and saw that she was in the same dress from earlier that day despite the patches of dirt and grass stains from her stumble in the garden. She also noticed a chain around her neck. Whatever was attached to it wasn't visible beneath her modest dress. Emma hadn't noticed a necklace before, but before she had only been staring at those alluring eyes. Emma looked into those eyes again, dark and wide and clearly concerned far more than any stranger should have been. Again, she was hit with familiarity and then she was hit with a wave of warmth when Lily touched a hand to her dirty dress.

"You don't have to worry, my love," Lily said and Emma almost ran for the hills to hear the woman say "my love", but she remained rooted to the spot as she noticed a slight shift in voice. "I'm here now."

Wisps of purple magic swirled around Lily's body and the woman transformed into Regina.

Emma gasped and touched her necklace through her own dress. Regina smiled and lifted the chain around her neck to reveal the necklace Lily—Regina—wore. It was Daniel's ring.

"Regina," Emma breathed out with overwhelming relief. "It was you."

Regina nodded and took a few steps toward her. Emma didn't move away that time.

"Are you hurt? Did he…? What did he do, Emma," the brunette asked as she closed the distance between them and caressed her cheek.

Emma shook her head and started with, "How much did you see?"

"Enough, but not enough to know what happened before I got here."

"He just…kissed me. And his hands were on my chest. He…he almost pinned me down, but…then you were here."

Regina took a deep breath and tried to calm her emotions. The brunette nodded again and then pulled her into a hug. Regina kissed her forehead before she wrapped her arms around her frame and then held her close, perfectly and comfortably close.

"I tried to use my magic," Emma said into Regina's hair before she burrowed her face into the crook of the woman's neck. "I couldn't get it to work fast enough though."

"That might actually have been a good thing."

"What?" Emma pulled away from Regina just enough to stare into chocolate brown eyes, finally back to their normal color after her magical transformation.

"The less people know about your magic or just how much control, or lack thereof, you have of it, the better. Now, where are your guards? Don't your parents have them around you all the time?"

"Apparently not," Emma grumbled and looked down at the ground with a frown.

Regina brushed the pad of her thumb over Emma's cheekbone and gently coaxed Emma to look at her again. She smiled at the blonde when she was successful.

"Well, that's only unfortunate until I get to do this," Regina said and slowly leaned in.

Regina took Emma's breath away with a tender kiss. She curled her fingers around the fabric of Regina's dress just below her shoulder blades and pressed her body flush against the brunette's. Emma melted in Regina's arms as the kiss lingered, not quite chaste but definitely more than a quick and friendly peck. Emma felt the love and care Regina felt for her flow between them at every point of contact. Their lips, their hands, their chests, their hearts. She felt it spread throughout her. She felt it everywhere.

Prince Aaron groaned again and Emma and Regina turned their attention to him as they stayed wrapped around each other for another moment.

"What do we do about him," Emma asked.

Aaron slowly started to pick himself up off the ground and rubbed at his neck and shoulders as he straightened out. A moment later he was finally able to look over at the two of them. His eyes widened, comically so, when he saw Regina.

"The-the- You're the Evil Queen," he sputtered.

Surprisingly, Emma was the one to smirk at his discovery. Regina just glared at him.

"That's right," Regina replied in her low, threatening Evil Queen voice. "And Princess Emma is under my protection. So unless you have a death wish, I suggest you stay away from her. Tell anyone that I was here and I'll have you strung up in my dungeon for days, bleeding, crying, and screaming out for someone to release you. Do I make myself clear?"

Aaron wiped away all traces of fear on his face and nodded his understanding.

"Good," Regina said. "Now run along and find something to do until supper."

Aaron huffed, displeased with the turn of events, but followed orders and left Emma and Regina alone by the fountain.

"Thank you," Emma said.

"Always, my love. There is no need to thank me for taking care of you."

"Yes. There is," Emma insisted before she initiated the next kiss between them.

Regina smiled halfway through the kiss and soothingly ran her hands up and down Emma's back and sides.

"You were different before," Emma said when the kiss ended. "Lily?"

Regina's smile brightened. "It was the only way I thought I could get past your parents and their guards."

"You almost didn't," Emma pointed out.

"That was an accident."

"You accidentally tripped? I thought you were a queen."

"I am."

"Aren't queens a little more refined than that," Emma laughed.

"Your clumsiness has spread, dear. It is entirely your fault I'm not as 'refined' as I used to be."

"Well, never mind that," Emma changed the subject. "How long can you allow yourself to be Lily?"

"As long as I need, granted my magic and energy don't fail me."

"Okay," Emma beamed, and it started to worry Regina.

"Why do you look so happy about that? You don't like me more when I look like that, do you?"

"No," Emma quickly assured her. "Of course not. I love you as you and no one else."

"Then why are you smiling?"

"Because I know how you can stay."

Regina raised a curious brow.

"You're going to enter the competition," Emma explained.

"I- What?"

"My parents said they didn't have a problem with me liking other women. They said if I met anyone other than the suitors here and fell in love with them they would gladly support it as long as it wasn't you. Well, being Lily means you aren't really you. I mean, not to everyone else."

"But Emma, the suitors, the competition… They have to fight for you."

"And?"

"I- I can't fight without magic," Regina confessed with a frown.

The light in Emma's eyes almost instantly disappeared. "You can learn. I've trained with the guards before and so can you. You'd be the only woman in the competition and you're posing as a Lady. No one would expect you to know how to fight so I think I could convince my parents to allow you time to practice. Unless…you don't want to compete?"

"Oh, Emma. I will fight for you every chance I get. I'm just…afraid."

Emma's smile returned and she ran her fingers through Regina's hair, which was pleasantly free from any clips, pins, or ties.

"You will never lose me. No matter what happens, I will choose you. Will you try? Try to do this for me?"

Regina rested her forehead against Emma's and nodded. "Of course I will. Anything for you, my love."

"Okay," Emma quietly said. "Poof to my chamber. I'll meet you there to watch the sunset before dinner. You are not leaving my side tonight."

Regina shook her head and smiled. "As you wish, your Highness."

Emma gave her another kiss. "I'll see you soon."

"Don't make me wait too long," Regina replied.

"Never," Emma said, and it was a promise.

Note: What did you think? Today is a great day for Swan Queen. First, SQ week starts tomorrow. Then, the SDCC cast pic of OUAT had Lana and Jen next to each other and then they sat together during the panel, the OUAT Virtual Series posted a new chapter and then I was able to finish and update this. :)

Also, in case anyone's interested, Sea Devil Week theme voting is happening right now. Check out the seadevil-week blog on Tumblr for more info.