A/N This idea came to me randomly, It's certainly AU and is about a deep friendship from childhood, that becomes more in later years. Please excuse spelling/grammar mistakes.
I do not own once upon a time or the characters.
- BRIEF BACK STORY -
this story takes place in the enchanted forest, in peaceful times.
Princess Emma was born at the royal castle, where she lives with her parents, Princess Snow and Prince David and her grandfather, King Leopold, who is now getting on in years.
Emma's parents have raised her, to have a normal childhood and have kept her out of royal matters, until she's older.
Where as Regina, was given up for adoption at birth, (I'm going with the instead of Zelena given up, Regina was) But she was adopted, by a skilled woman, who had lost her husband and found her happiness again, by bringing up Regina, as her own.
For the first nine years of Regina's life, she had traveled with her mother from place to place, where her mother gained valuable skills, that would land her a positiion at the Royal Castle.
The story starts with Regina (now 12 years old) living at the royal castle, with her mother, who was hired three years ago, as a house keeper to the family and ever since arriving at the castle, Regina and Emma (now 10 years old) have been inseparable.
"Gina, Gina, Look" Emma said, holding a daisy in one hand and a lily in the other
"Have you been picking flowers again?" Regina asked, standing in front of Emma, with her arms crossed, on a beautiful summers day
"Yeah" she looked to the ground, shyly
"You know your mother, doesn't like her flowers, being pulled"
Emma huffed
"Your no fun, Gina"
"Fine, but what are you going to do with them?"
"I picked this one for you" she held the lily outwards, for Gina to take
Gina smiled, taking it in her hand
"And this one, i am going to pull all the white bits off, to see if my prince will love me"
Giina chuckled
"That's a silly game Em-ma, because any prince would love you" she smirked
Emma smiled softly at her and then skipped off along the path, happily, while Gina watched her go and looked back at the Lily, in her hand and then followed after the blonde
"Found you Gina" Emma said, pulling the curtain of the hall back, to show Gina
"You always find me" she laughed
"I am the best at this game, will you read to me"
"Don't you want to play hide and seek no more?" Gina asked curiously, she knew Emma loved this game
"No, I want to hear the story of Snow White, again" she grinned widely
"Pleassseee Gina"
"Okay"
And on their way to the library, they passed Emma's mother
"Where are you two going?" she asked
"To the library" Gina said, with a smile, looking down at Emma, who was smiling, goofily at her
"Okay, dinner will be ready soon, I will come found you" she looked to Emma, then continued to the kitchens
Once in the library, Emma sat on the floor, tugging at her grey dress, while Gina picked the book off the shelf and went to sit next to Emma, she opened the book and began to read
"Girls" Emma's mother called as she came into the room, ten minutes after, Gina had started to read
"Mom" Emma said, standing up
"Its time for dinner"
"But Gina hasn't finished the story"
"We can finish it after" Gina said, as she closed the book
"Are you reading her Snow White again?"
"Yes, This is the third time in two weeks" she chuckled
"You don't have to keep doing, what she wants you to do, Regina"
"I don't mind, i enjoy reading"
She nodded with a slight smile
"Okay, let's go"
The following two years, flew by quickly, With Emma, shadowing Gina, at some point of every day and she continued to give Lilles to Gina, in the summer months and threw snowballs at her, in the winter, snowy months.
Regina read to her, Emma had even starting reading to Regina, they still played games, and Gina even told Emma things, of what she had learned.
Even When Emma got sick, Gina sat next to her, not caring, if she taught it too. They were best friends.
"Happy birthday Gina" Emma said, as she hugged the brunette, in the castle garden.
"Thanks" Regina smirked, feeling slightly awkward, as Emma released her and stared at her, as if waiting for something.
"What?" Regina snapped
"Nothing" Emma grinned
"Your up to something" Gina, narrowed her eyes suspiciously
The blonde shook her head
"Somethings going on, your dressed in your best dress"
"Am I?" Emma looked down at herself
"This is your favorite?" Emma asked
"Um, Well yeah"
"Oh"
The stood silently for a moment
"So, what you up to?" Emma asked
"Nothing, why?" Gina looked on suspiciously, once more
"Well, since it's your birthday..."
"yeah" Gina interrupted
"Come with me, I got a surprise" she smiled
"I knew it" Gina said happily
Emma took her hand and pulled her towards the horse stable
"What are we doing here?" Gina asked
"FATHER" Emma shouted and he appeared from the stable door
"Emma, Regina" he said, as both girls stopped in front of him
"Father, tell Gina what her birthday surprise is"
"Well, because a certain young lady is 14 today, she deserves something special"
Gina was confused, but excited and a little nervous
"Wait here" he said and disappeared into the stable
"Em-ma, what is it?" she asked
"Not telling" Emma said, excitedly
A minute later, David appeared with a saddled horse
"I don't understand" Gina said, watching the black horse
"Someone told me, you would love to learn to ride" he smirked, looking to his daughter, who ducked her head, shyly
Gina's mouth parted and she didn't know what to say
"How would you like, to get on the horse Regina? and I'll walk you round, I have assured your mother, I will have control of the horse "
Regina stepped forward, tentatively, David helping her up on to the horse, she held the raines, smiling
"Emma, stay back" David told her
"I don't believe it" Gina said, rubbing the horse's mane
"Happy Birthday Regina" David said and then lead the horse away, while Emma stood and watched happily
Half an Hour later, David helped Regina off the horse
"That was amazing" she said
"Well, if your mother agrees, I shall let you ride him again soon" David said happily
"I shall ask her"
"Okay, well I am going to take him back into the stables, I shall see you later"
"Okay" Emma said and she and Gina walked back to the gardens
"How long did you know about that?" Gina asked, beaming
"Last week" she replied
"I can't believe your father allowed me to ride his horse and mother allowed it" she shook her head
"I know" Emma muttered
"What shall we do now?" Gina asked
"It's your birthday Gina you pick" Emma replied
"I know, Lets go pester your mother, for food" she smirked playfully
Emma laughed and they ran inside, hand in hand
That evening, Regina sat next to Emma, at the main table and after dinner
"We got cake" Emma said
"Yes, Regina gets a specially made cake" Her mother said, happily placing the cake in front of Gina, with Gina's mother standing next to her. She looked up to her mother.
"Blow the candle out, dear, make a wish" she smiled lovingly, at her daughter
Gina stared back at the one candle, then glanced to Emma briefly, the blonde was looking at the cake, hungrily
Gina closed her eyes, took a deep breath and in her head she said
"I wish me and Emma, will be, best friends forever" and then, she blew outwards and smiled
"What you wish for" Emma asked
"I can't tell you" she said, now staring at her mother, who was now cutting the cake
With a full stomach, Regina said night to her mother and went into her small bedroom, and after undressing, she walked over to her single bed, bringing back the covers and got in, she then looked to her small side table and noticed something laying upon it, she tilted her head, picking it up
It was a hand full of lilies, with tied daisy chains round the steams to keep them together. She shook her head, with a smile and thought
What is it with that girl and flowers, she chuckled, looking at the Lilies in the dark, moon lite room
"She's going to make some prince happy, one day" she muttered to herself, before sighing and placing the flowers back on the plain side table
She then pulled her sheets up, to her neck and fell into a deep deep sleep
Thanks for reading and I apologize for any spelling/grammar mistakes.