Emma was determined to find out more information on the events taking place around her.

A few hours had passed since she'd been awake, and she'd already gotten dressed, and readied herself for the day.

Making her way to the castle's dining hall, she saw Mulan walking at the far end of the hall.

"Hey, Mulan! Listen, I have to speak with you about what we talked about the other night.."

"Sshh! Lower your voice! Are you ?!" Mulan said in a hushed voice, her brows pinched together.

After quickly looking around, confirming they were alone, Mulan pulled Emma into an empty doorway of the closest room so they could speak.

"Perhaps I did not make myself clear last time we spoke," she said to Emma in a quiet yet firm voice, "although I have trusted you with my true identity, no one else here knows who I am. Just you... and Ruby."

"Right. Red knows as well?" Emma replied, "but wouldn't she just tell Regina?"

"Ruby believes I have also committed myself to The Queen, as she believes she has. When I came to this castle under cover, I led everyone to believe I had left my old life behind. That is why I chose to use a different name, and that is why I am known here as Ping, not Mulan. I also could not risk any word of this escaping the castle. I cannot be responsible for This Evil Queen adding anymore hearts to her collection..."

"I see." Emma quipped.

Mulan took a good look at Emma just then before she spoke.

"Swan. Please tell me you believe what I'm trying to tell you..."

Emma bit her bottom lip looking away from The athletic woman clad in soldiers garb.

"...I don't know.. Part of me does but,"

Emma trembled.

"She's got you, doesn't she?" Mulan said, shaking her head, "The Queen's got you right where she wants you Emma."

"What are you talking about! I didn't even tell you anything!"

Mulan smirked, letting out a tiny laugh, "You don't have to. It's what you're not saying that's telling the story here, don't you see?"

Emma pinched her brow together. Then, turning to leave, she said under her breath, "I don't know what the hell youre getting at.."

Mulan quickly shot a toned arm up, gripping the stone door jam preventing Emma from walking away.

"So What is it then? Regina show you some kindness? hmm? Did she.. seduce you, perhaps?"

Mulan asked, slowly moving her hand to Emma's hip and giving it a squeeze, "Does The Queen know how to please you Emma? Make you forget everything with just her touch...?"

Emma turned back, staring Mulan in her eyes, "Stop it, Mulan. You don't know what the you're talking about!"

"No?" Mulan replied, "because I think I do!"

Emma broke away from Mulan, seemingly upset, and quickly began walking down the hall away from her. She felt her tears welling up in her eyes, and could still hear Mulan calling after her.

"Don't let her control you Emma!! Remember...! Clear your head! Find the truth!"

***

The Queen was in her chambers still recovering from her bath. She had quite a lot on her mind today. It had been a while since she'd been with Red.. but, she'd gone short spans without her before and had other lovers between.

However..

This was the first time a vision like this ever happened to Regina. Hell - it was the first time it ever BOTHERED her!

So, there she lay; on her giant bed positioned by the two largest windows in the room. The mid-afternoon sun poured light onto her, heating her skin as she lay there, eyes closed. There was a soft gentle breeze blowing through the room, causing the sheer white curtains to billow, every now and again, up with the curling breeze. Regina held a faint smile when she felt the tickle of the tips of the curtains just reaching the bed as they blew, then quickly falling gently back to the floor again.

Red's words played over and over in her head like a broken record;

"..Do you love her? Do you love Ms Swan..?"

The Queen exhaled deeply.

"Do I love her..?" She said quietly to herself, "Could anyone love me back..?"

The Queen wiped away a single tear that welled up in the corner of her eye and took in her breath as she propped herself up on the bed with her pillows, trying her best to shake the thoughts from head.

Suddenly, The Queen's quiet, calm afternoon of contemplation was knocked off course by the sound of a loud scuffle outside her chamber doors mixed with some seemingly light arguing... and then the doors burst open!

Quickly, in walked Emma, followed by The Queen's most trusted guard, the two of them were visibly arguing as The Queen looked on from her bed.

"My Queen, I apologize.." Claudius replied, addressing The Queen with a bowed head, "I tried to stop her, she just pushed past me.. I.."

Regina smiled, "That will be all, Claudius."

The guard turned, and left the room immediately, closing the doors behind him, Emma watching as he left.

Then, Emma took a deep breath, and turned to address Regina herself, for the first time since entering the room. When she did, she was left completely speechless.

"Yes, Ms Swan?" Regina said to her, waiting to find out why her entrance was so rushed.

"Regina.. I.."

Earlier, The Queen, having been so relaxed after her bath, had slipped on some lingerie undergarments; white in color, lace in texture. Because it was such a beautiful day and she became so lost in thought, Regina had spent a good portion of her afternoon laying that way on her bed in the sunlight, just enjoying the warmth of it on her mostly bare skin.

Upon Emma's entrance, her mind whirling with a mix of emotions from her night with The Queen, then her conversation with Mulan, Emma found herself running to the first place she thought she might get some answers - not at all expecting to find Regina in such a state...

"...you.. your beauty is absolutely breath taking." Emma said to her.

"Is it?" Regina replied, with a small smile on her face. She enjoyed the compliment.

Regina toyed with her a moment, just for a reaction.

Removing the left strap of her bra, letting it fall slowly, while locking eyes with Emma she said, "Oh Swan, you know.. I am glad you're here.. I wasn't sure if I wanted to wear this today.. perhaps you could help me choose something more... ?" That beautifully wicked smile Regina wore so well, crept back across her lips ever so slowly.

Emma took her time walking closer to Regina's bed as she spoke, "Careful, Regina, you keep dangling your carrot like that, and I might have to bite.."

"Mmmm.." Regina purred, laying back into her pillows. "You've been on my mind all day Ms Swan. Although, I wasn't actually planning on seeing you today."

"Oh, I see.."

Emma suddenly felt a little flushed at The Queen's comment, "I don't really know how to take that..."

"Give me a moment," The Queen said, reaching for something to put on over her undergarments. Regina realizing now, perhaps it was time for a little chat.

Regina slid off of her bed, walking through the curtains, as the sheer material grazed over her soft, supple skin.

Emma kept her eyes trained to The Queen's body as she moved over to the walk in closet now; stepping in for only a moment or two. When Regina emerged, she had on some bottoms and a solid black bra. In her hand was another bit of material - no doubt a top of some kind, Emma figured.

But to be fair, it didn't really matter what The Queen threw over her body, she was magnificently gorgeous from head to toe!

Emma, still in awe of Regina's beauty, leaned back on the side of the bed, half sitting. Her bottom jaw slightly agape, staring without knowing.

"Ms Swan.." Regina smiled, approaching Emma now, "Where's your manners..?"

With a smirk on her face, Regina bent down to reach for Emma chin, gently closing her jaw for her, "..now, that's better. See?"

Emma furrowed her brow, "Smartass."

"Why, thank you!" The Queen quipped.

Emma quickly stood up, holding The Queen's face in her hands and kissed her.

Emma kissed The Queen like it was the last day she was ever going to kiss her again.

Regina felt Emma's yearning, her hunger for her. Part of her wanted to push it away, lock it up. But most of her wanted it too...!

Regina willingly accepted Emma's kiss, taking her tongue in her mouth, letting Emma explore.

Emma grabbed Regina by the hips, picked her up off the ground, while Regina wrapped her thighs around Emma's waist, she smiled. Regina felt.. happy?

Was this what true happiness felt like?

Regina smiled so big she let out a small laugh. It must've been contagious because Emma smiled too and said,

"..Alright, what's the joke? What's so funny?"

"That's just it.. nothing." Regina said, "I'm just...happy."

Emma smiled. She turned, bringing Regina closer to the bed, and tossed The Queen face up onto it, climbing on top of her;

"Glad to hear it, you deserve to be happy. Everyone does."

Regina pulled Emma closer to her, she wanted to breathe her in, consume every fiber of her being.

Emma pressed her body close to hers.

Regina began twisting and twirling her fingers through Emma's long, flowing locks of blonde hair. Looking Emma in her eyes she said softly to her,

"I need to tell you something, Emma"

"Sure, What is it?" Emma replied, looking back at Regina, a more serious tone in her voice, "are you alright?"

"..yes, I'm fine.." The Queen reassured her, planting a gentle kiss on Emma's forehead before continuing, "I just.. I just wanted to say..."

The Queen stared off a moment, losing her nerve,

"Regina, what is it??"

Looking back at Emma she quickly smiled and said, "I was just thinking that we should get started on your training soon. To learn Light Magic."

"That's what you wanted to say?" Emma replied.

"Well, yes, of course. Why?" The Queen asked, "Do no longer wish to learn?"

Emma exhaled deeply before answering, "Of course I do."

Regina smiled, "Excellent. Let's begin tonight. We shall meet in the library again, an hour after dinner."

Emma agreed, and made for the doors to leave, Regina sitting on her bed.

Just as Emma placed her hand in the door, she paused a moment.

"Ms Swan, is there something else..?"

"Yeah, there is," Emma replied, turning to face The Queen, "Is that really all you wanted to say to me? To tell me about training for Light Magic? Or was there something more?"

The Queen had a sullen look upon her now. The once happy feeling she felt a few minutes ago had been pushed away somehow. Regina turned to Emma from the bed and said,

"That will be all, Ms Swan."

The Queen then looked away not bothering to watch Emma leave the room. All that could be heard was the sound of the chamber doors clicking shut.