Archive of Our Own ^beta

It’s strange how things change in a very short period of time, Emma thought while waiting for Regina at Granny’s diner, playing restlessly with a coaster while her heart beat rapidly in anticipation. Here she sat, in the booth furthest from the door to at least try and get a little privacy, while waiting for The Good Queen to arrive. Despite herself, Emma snorted. The name made her cringe. Madam Mayor, she reminded herself with a smirk - that was still who she’d always be to her. If there was anything they’d learned over the past years is that there was no such thing as Good and Evil. She’d seen so many gray areas, but as it was her mother, the hero of the heroes, who had crowned Regina, they could’ve expected a name like that.

Regina had been gone quite some time before that. A year and three months, to be exact. The time that had passed between her goodbye to Henry and Regina in the alternate Enchanted Forest and now. And even though it was a short period of time, it had felt much, much longer than that. Emma had missed her friend, her son, her family, more than she could have imagined.  Seeing how much Henry had aged in a short timeframe because time moved differently in the other realm, had baffled her, something that only added to her homesickness and loneliness.

Of course, she hadn’t been alone - the baby in her belly had been growing, and Killian was there, but he hadn’t been able to deal with her yearning for her family in a faraway place. He just couldn't understand. Jealousy wasn’t strange to him, she knew that already, and in the beginning, she had tried to soothe his moods, had tried to ease his mind despite her own feelings, but it was to no avail, especially after Regina and Henry had returned and her own spirits had soared. He didn’t want to share her, he’d bluntly told her, and she’d basically retorted with tough luck . Nobody would keep her away from her family. 

He’d even tried to first prevent, then delay her getting to Regina’s coronation - Emma’s excuse had been that the baby was fussy because she was unwilling to admit to a full throne room that it wasn’t her child but her husband who had thrown a tantrum. 

Emma sighed, playing with the coaster, fingers caressing its edges while her eyes drifted to the door when someone came in. She held her breath and released it in disappointment when it wasn’t her . She turned her gaze down, watched the pads of her fingers move over the cardboard circle, and fell back into her thoughts.

After Henry’s and Regina’s return, it had only taken a few weeks for Killian to force her to choose between him and Regina. It had been a shock - maybe she should’ve seen it coming, but he surprised her with his ultimatum after a relatively okayish morning together. She gritted her teeth at the memory. Her answer was firm and clear: she chose neither. She chose herself, effectively ending her marriage. She’d never seen Killian that mad and sent him to his ship to cool off, not wanting him around Hope like this. The next morning, the Jolly Roger had left the docks to sail the high seas. 

Emma wrinkled her nose. She remembered the anger, the frustration of him just leaving his daughter behind. Hope deserved a father, but apparently, Killian was miffed enough to leave everything behind including his own daughter. She still got pissed whenever she thought about it but, as Regina had pointed out when she’d sought out the brunette to vent, she was angrier at the situation than she was sad about it.

Regina had been right, and it still bothered Emma that she hadn’t realized it. “Sometimes, you see things clearer when you aren’t involved,” Regina had said gently. She was right. Yes, she was angry with him, but she wasn’t heartbroken. She had cried, but not because she grieved, not because her heart had shattered to pieces - she had cried in frustration for Hope, and felt like such a failure because she hadn’t been able to keep her marriage together. 

“You’re not a failure, dear,” Regina had told her when she had admitted to it and the brunette had placed a soft hand on Emma's upper arm. “You’re one of the strongest women I know. Besides, keeping a marriage together that doesn’t work would have been the weaker decision. I’m glad you chose for yourself when you did.” The touch had been gentle, welcome, and so soft causing something warm to bloom in her chest. She had studied Regina’s face - Regina, who had aged in the realm away from her, meaning she now had these fine lines around her eyes which deepened when she smiled.

Emma loved those lines. Sometimes, they gave her a queasy feeling in her stomach.

Unfortunately, she hadn’t seen them as often as she’d like. Thrilled to have her family back, she still found herself alone with Hope a lot. And sometimes, with young Henry from the Wish Realm, who often found solace at the house that no longer really felt like hers. A wry smile played around her lips. Before Regina joined Henry in the new Enchanted Forest, she had been the one alone while Emma had gone off to play family with Killian. Now Regina was the Good Queen, and busy. Whenever they wanted to meet up, something always got in the way - Good Queen matters, as Regina sometimes liked to call them with a gentle roll of her eye.  And Henry now had a family of his own - a family she still had difficulties connecting with because she had missed so much. A twitch in her chest reminded her of how much she had missed in only a year - more than ten years for them. And she couldn’t count the times anymore when she had thought she should’ve been there with them, leaving her pining for all these missed years she could never get back.

She stared in the distance, not seeing anything, just contemplating, while her fingers kept on playing with the coaster. It wasn’t like she didn’t have anything to do either, because she was still Sheriff of Storybrooke. In fact, her job had intensified because even though the realms were brought together, it didn’t mean that all problems had magically vanished as well. Ïf anything, it made it easier for petty criminals to vanish between realms, some of them popping up in Storybrooke to give Emma a run for her money.

Thump thump thump. Her fingers unconsciously drummed the rhythm of her heartbeat. A few days ago, when she had been sitting on the couch with a sleeping Hope, she had wallowed in her loneliness, had felt sorry for herself, and without thinking, she’d picked up the phone. Before she realized what she was doing, she was talking to Regina. Let’s do lunch at Granny’s, she’d blurted out.

Regina’s answer had been swift and affirmative, and here she was. Waiting for her best friend. Her family. The warmth in her chest spread through the rest of her body, as she stared at the door and willed Regina to enter. 

~*~

Regina Mills was in love with Emma Swan. 

The sentence pounded in her head at the rhythm of her heartbeat, over and over again while nervous butterflies wreaked havoc in her belly. She had known about her feelings for a very long time, but the feelings had been simmering underneath a layer of denial for years. The realization had struck when Emma announced her engagement to the pirate and, for a moment, her shock had been visible on her face (her sister had, of course, picked up on that, and had teased her relentlessly for it). 

And when she finally opened her eyes to said fact, she didn’t even have anyone, not even fate, to blame for her current situation. Villains don’t get a happy ending, she had lamented not long before, but this time, she had failed to see a clear path to happiness herself.

Those darn feelings. Most of the time, she had them perfectly under control - except when it came to everything Emma. She was even more shocked when Emma had told her that she was pregnant (she had thought that there was some hesitation on Emma’s behalf when she gave her the news but maybe that was just in her own, angst-clouded mind at the time). With Henry gone and Emma married and pregnant, Regina had felt distraught, lonely, cranky, restless, and admittedly, more than a little heartbroken. Fortunately, Emma had been rather oblivious to it all because her knowing would have made things a thousand times worse.

Henry’s cry for help couldn’t have come at a better time, and she had gladly accepted his offer to stay with him. There was nothing to go back for and yet, the moment Emma had gone through the portal, back to Storybrooke, it was like she had taken a part of Regina with her. 

And though she might have thought that being separated for over ten years would have quelled her feelings, she'd been severely mistaken - she knew the moment when Emma had burst through the doors of the throne room during the coronation that they had never disappeared. Regina hadn’t even realized how much she’d missed Emma until then. Her heart had first plummeted because of Emma’s absence and then soared when she’d entered the room like a whirlwind - the same way she had entered Regina’s life all those years ago. . Despite everything that happened - Drizella, Lucy’s birth, living with Sabine, Seattle, the curse - it was like no time had passed at all between them. And even if she had become used to the hole in her chest over the past decade, she instantly noticed it had filled up instantly when Emma had hugged her for the first time in years.

And during that night and after, when Emma’s marriage fell apart and Hook disappeared, when Emma sought her out, she had selfishly basked in the energy that Emma radiated - both the positive and the negative. It was very Evil-Queen of her, maybe, very selfish, indeed, but she was glad that the miscreant of a sailor had vanished from Emma’s and Hope’s lives. 

She was also very late, late, late. Cursing under her breath, Regina quickly gathered her things. Contrary to popular belief, she hated being late. Sure, she had used it before as a way to impress, but she didn’t need to impress Emma.

Or maybe she did, a voice in her mind whispered as she caught a reflection of herself in the mirror. She’d made an effort, and gods, it was ridiculous. She rolled her eyes at her reflection, and then whirled around, gritting her teeth. Grey pencil skirt suit, the one she knew Emma appreciated. Flawless makeup. Or, almost flawless, because she was missing one special touch.

Where the hell was her lipstick? “Damn it,” she cursed, as her eyes scanned around her office to find it. Anticipation fluttered in her stomach - not so much because of the lipstick, but more because of the friend she was going to meet and who was probably already waiting at the diner. 

Emma had called her. Asked if they could do lunch, and Regina, busy as ever, had immediately cleared her schedule as anticipation roared in her stomach. It wasn’t even an official date, she scoffed, feeling a little exasperated with herself.  But if she was honest, it felt a little like one - at least to her. She knew she shouldn’t get her hopes up - she didn’t do hope - but deep down, somewhere inside, there was always a smoldering ember that tried to convince her otherwise.

Goodness, she’d love to explore if something more would be possible between them, but time - time always got in the way. Like right now, she sighed irritably, when - ah! There it was! She yanked the lipstick out of the bag and applied it quickly and routinely, before she waved her hand, and teleported herself to the diner. Her breath was quick as if she’d been running all the way to the familiar establishment. And when she lifted her hand and placed it on the handle, she noticed the slight tremble of her fingers. 

It wasn’t a date, she firmly told herself again. Don’t get your hopes up. They both had been insanely busy - Regina didn’t want to admit that she might’ve been busier than she needed to be, to not think about feelings and what-ifs. And Emma had been busy too, with her work and her baby and her life as a single mother. 

Two hours. They had two hours before duties would call them away again, and she wanted to make the most of it.

Squaring her shoulders and inhaling a deep breath, Regina tried to let loose some of the tension in her body, but the flutters in her stomach remained. “Come on Regina, you’ve got this,” she chanted to herself. Embrace Roni’s attitude. Channel the confidence of the Evil Queen. 

And then, she lifted her chin and pushed open the door.

~*~

Regina was late. Ten minutes so far, but it made Emma uncomfortable. The blonde shuffled on the couch and almost started to doubt her own planning skills. Regina was usually very punctual - it was Emma who was always a little late and it was Regina who would then scold her for it. Not today, though. Emma had even been ten minutes early, which means she’d been waiting for twenty minutes now - and without really knowing why she was nervous. The cardboard coaster between her restless fingers had crumbled to tiny pieces in the meantime, and she bit her lip in worry. Did something happen? Did she have the time wrong? Or the date? Had she sent a me--

Regina burst through the door like a whirlwind, stopped in her tracks as the doorbell above her jingled merrily, and scanned the room with a slightly bewildered gaze. Relief washed over Emma when their eyes found each other, and something warm settled in her belly - she felt as happy as that stupid doorbell sounded. She realized she’d missed this warmth - it had always accompanied Regina when she entered anywhere - ever since Neverland. Funny how she only now noticed it was there - it had been so natural that Emma had taken it for granted until it had disappeared when Regina had stayed behind in the alternate Enchanted forest. She remembered that last shared look right before she and Hook had stepped through the portal. It was engraved in her mind, the little nod that she had given Emma as if she had wanted to say, it’s okay. You can go. 

And she had gone. Left Henry and Regina behind. Her heart squeezed painfully.

“Sorry I’m late,” Regina breathed while she came up to Emma’s booth, and Emma chuckled. 

“No worries,” she waved Regina’s apology away easily, “You’re here. That’s what matters.”

Regina’s brown eyes shone as she sat opposite Emma in the booth, but frowned when her phone rang. “I’m sorry, I-”

Emma waved with her hand, indicating it was fine to take the call, and Regina answered it. She dealt with some business between the Land of Untold Stories and Arendelle, which gave Emma’s stomach a little time to settle again. After a few minutes, Regina ended the call with a sigh, before she turned down the phone. Emma smiled at her. “What do you want-”

The phone rang again, and Emma quirked her eyebrow while Regina answered with an apologetic roll of her eyes. When Granny came over, Emma ordered the usual (and hoped that Regina’s usual hadn’t changed from all those years ago. It earned her a brilliant smile and an apologetic wave to her phone.

“Next time we meet up we should do so in a realm without cellphones,” Regina grimaced, and she turned it off before another call would come in. 

“Hm.” Emma placed her elbows on the table and leaned her hands on her chin. “That sounds like a great idea. Where would you take me?” She observed Regina’s changing face as she thought about the possibilities, and enjoyed the way she scrunched her nose and moved her eyes as she was contemplating an answer.

“I think… I would like to show you the land where Henry grew up so fast, and where Lucy was born. It’s the only one we haven’t been to together. It’s beautiful.” Regina’s eyes shone with memories as she laid down her chin on her hands, elbows firmly placed on the table. Emma’s stomach somersaulted at the softness of her friend’s features as Regina remembered the time she spent there. The brunette’s lips curled up. “I could show you where we first met Jacinda and Sabine, and where Lucy was born.” Her eyes crinkled a little, and Emma couldn’t help but return the smile when her heart made a fluttered.

“Sightseeing. I like that,” Emma grinned. “It’d be like a vacation. It’s been ages since I had one.” Pre-Storybrooke, probably.

Regina hummed in agreement, apparently taken with the idea, and her brown eyes found Emma’s. There were so many feelings in those dark pools that Emma had to remind herself to breathe. “I’d love to show you where I’ve been all those years,” Regina quietly said. She surprised them both with the shyness in her voice. Emma’s heart picked up its pace a little as she locked her green eyes with soulful browns. Was she serious? It had been a hypothetical idea so far, but the genuine undertone made it somehow more real. Her fingers tingled, aching to slide over to touch Regina’s. 

“I’m in if you are,” she softly smiled, “It would be nice to have some peaceful time away together, instead of battling the next big bad evil or, you know, chasing the next Lost Boy through Main Street.” She turned her palm, pushed her hand forward in an open, inviting gesture, and saw the flash of surprise on Regina’s face. Regina’s face changed to thoughtful, and she seemed to study Emma’s hand for a few seconds. Emma’s gaze flicked from Regina’s face to her hand, which, after some initial hesitation, lowered from her chin towards the table’s surface, before slowly sliding into Emma’s direction, until -

“We should all go!”

Both women snapped out of it, snatched their hands back, and jerked their heads around. Neither of them had noticed Mary Margaret leaning against the counter, waiting for her order.

“Mom? What are you doing here?” Emma straightened her back, alarmed. “Don’t you, I don’t know, have a realm to run?” Mary Margaret, grabbing her to-go cup of coffee,  headed in their direction. The blonde felt the tension bouncing off of Regina in droves, as her mother dropped down next to Regina.  

“I love being back in the Enchanted Forest but honey, they really don’t know how to brew a fine coffee. Until I’ve either convinced Granny to come back to the Enchanted Forest or try to get her to branch out there, I’ll come here every once in a while to get a dose of caffeine. The real deal.” She brought the cup to her nose and inhaled the scrumptious aroma,  a heavenly expression breaking across her face. Emma and Regina exchanged a brief glance of worry.

“Uh, right,” Emma said reluctantly, “And-”

“I overheard your plans, I’m sorry, but it’d be an excellent way to spend time together again,” Mary Margaret beamed. “It’s been over a week since we saw you and Hope, Emma, and Regina, I haven’t seen you in weeks. ” There was an underlying tone of accusation that made both women cringe. “I haven’t been to Sabine’s realm yet and I’m sure David would really love to go to the place that both Henry’s have told us so much about. And I’m sure Henry and Jacinda and Lucy would love to come and show us around. Oh. Oh! Maybe we can even go camping!” 

Delighted with her own idea, she looked around the table. “A family trip!” she beamed.

“Uh, mom-”

“Snow-”

“I have to go,” Mary Margaret said next, jumping up and leaning over to her daughter for a quick hug. “I’ll be in touch - oh, I’m so excited about this!” She waved, an excited look on her face, and forgetting her coffee, she almost skipped out of the diner.

Emma, who had followed her mother’s movements out, slowly turned her head around, to meet stormy dark eyes and a furrowed brow across the table.

“If you think that I’d go on a family camping trip with your parents, you’re severely mistaken. It’s not going to happen.”

~*~

It happened. Because no matter how hard Regina tried to get out of it, when Snow had something in her head, it was going to happen - especially when it had something to do with family. And Regina, as Mary Margaret had pointed out, was family. “You’re my grandson’s mother, Regina,” she had told her on the phone, voice filled with exasperation, “And I know you’re the Good Queen - hell, I crowned you, for god’s sake, so I can also be the one to force you to take time off.” And she had concluded her rant with, “I’ve missed you. And it’d be nice to get some time together. All of us.” 

“It’s like me being the evil stepmother all over again,” she lamented during the next phone call to Emma to ventilate her agitation, “only this time, she actually makes me feel bad about myself.” And Emma had snorted so loud that Hope had woken up in her arms. 

“She loves you, Regina,” Emma said with a gentle smile in her voice, and something else entirely that Regina hadn’t wanted to think about - hadn’t dared to, because hope fluttered in her stomach for something that might not even be in her cards, and when did she ever get what she wanted? Good Queen or not, her past sometimes still worked against her. Hope was useless, and she shouldn’t let herself be seduced by it. 

Regina blinked when Emma continued, after humming a lullaby to her baby. “And you love her, too, you know. You might’ve forgotten after ten years of being away, and she might be a little in your face because you’re not used to it anymore, but I know you do.”

She hated that Emma was right. Over the years they had grown closer and Regina considered Mary Margaret to be a good friend. However, when it came to family , Mary Margaret had this enthusiasm switch that got stuck when in the on position. The woman just couldn’t stop - and Regina hated that she found herself unable to say no. Or well, she had tried, but Mary Margaret seemed to have a permanent and very effective ignore mode for all “no”’s that erupted from Regina’s throat.

She grumbled something into the phone, which extracted a soft huff from Emma. “Is it weird?” the blonde muttered between making silly sounds to the baby - Regina assumed those sounds were for Hope, anyway.

“What is?” she asked.

“To be back here? 10 years is so long.” Regina didn’t know if she heard right, but if she didn’t know any better, she’d describe the tone of voice as yearning. 

“In a way,” Regina confessed, still trying to figure out what Emma really meant. “I mean… life was different there, after the first rebellious period. It was… I don’t know, easier, despite all the struggles. I wasn’t the Evil Queen, and from the start, people appreciated me. First because of what I could do, and then, as a person. A friend. It’s easy to... ease into such a role. Coming back here… ” Regina’s voice died, and she heard the soft sound of Emma holding her breath.

“It is strange because so much time has passed for me, and so little for you. It’s like… going back in the past. And my past has caught up with me, despite my current position - I guess that’s why I pour so much time into it. To show everyone, even the ones I hurt in the past and who are reluctant, who I can be if given the chance. To show them the person who I was, this last decade.”

“I wish I could’ve known you there,” Emma murmured in the phone wistfully, and Regina sighed, running a hand through her dark hair as her heart clenched and her stomach dropped slightly.

“So do I. But at least you’ll get to see me there soon, thanks to your meddlesome mother. ” She rolled her eyes and sighed, but it was more for show than anything else - her voice was void of resentment.

Emma chuckled in her ear, and the sound warmed Regina’s heart a little. “That’s right.”

“Besides, being back here has its advantages,” Regina added.

“Oh? And what are those?” Emma asked, amused. Regina pictured her lopsided smile, her raised eyebrow, and couldn’t prevent the corners of her mouth from turning up.

“Oh, I don’t know. It’s funny how you don’t appreciate indoor plumbing after a little while when you are used to it.”

Emma grinned. “I can imagine.”

“And you’re here. That, I also call an advantage.”

There was a silence that lingered a little longer than Regina liked, and her heart started to pound in her throat nervously. She hadn’t wanted to say it, but the words had slipped out, and she couldn’t take them back anymore. Her fingers tightened around her phone and she opened her mouth to apologize.

“I’m really glad you’re here, too,” Emma then said before Regina could, and the relief washing away the anxiety was nearly palpable. 

~*~

“Are you sure? I could use someone on my side.” Regina’s voice bordered on desperation as her eyes wandered over the gathered travel party, while she stood a little on the side.

Zelena cackled. “Sorry sis, I’m not going to torture myself by attending a camping trip... with your sodding in-laws,” she said amused, placing her hands on her hip. 

Regina’s head snapped up. “They’re not my in-laws,” she stated sharply, but Zelena was not impressed and waved away her words and barked out another laugh.

“Not yet, dear but give it time.”

Gods, was she that transparent? Regina quickly threw a glance in Emma’s direction, but the blonde, who carried Hope in a baby sling, was distracted by both Henry’s.

“Besides, I’ve already arranged for Robyn and Alice to meet you there. Consider that my addition to your happiness. They’re excellent babysitters, I guarantee it.” She winked as Regina rolled her eyes impatiently. “Meanwhile, I’ll man the fort when you’re away.” Zelena looked very taken with herself, and Regina couldn’t do anything but cross her fingers and hope for the best.

“If you ruin my office, I’ll end you,” Regina declared, but there was no vitriol behind it and Zelena only sighed.

Her eyes darted over the travel party - Mary Margaret, who tugged at her travel clothes - the woman had insisted that everyone dressed to blend in, so back to the medieval clothing - talked to David, and next to both Henry’s and Emma, were Lucy and Jacinda, who seemed thrilled to visit her homeland again. Emma, who had always disliked the Enchanted Forest attire and had faced her mother’s wrath by slipping in jeans, a white tank top, and her trademark leather jacket. 

Regina hadn’t noticed that her eyes had slid back to Emma’s face until Emma looked up, and their eyes met. Emma’s mouth curled into a lopsided smile and Regina felt the corners of her lips quirk up. She’d never admit that she missed this outfit on her, but it was a hundred times better than the horrendous flowery clothes she’d worn the past few years.

“See?” Zelena murmured in her ear. “Give it time.”

Regina scoffed, broke the gaze, and smoothed out her clothes. There wasn’t much to smooth, but at least it gave her something to do as she tried to get the fluttering butterflies in her stomach under control. And she liked this outfit. It was classy yet comfortable and very suitable for a camping trip and being outdoors. She had worn it in the earlier years in the New Enchanted Forest when they’d joined the resistance against Lady Tremaine, and it had remained one of her favorites ever since. The sleeveless, black-and-gray leather tunic was decorated with metal studs, and the belt made sure it wasn’t too loose around her waist. A cape was draped over one of her shoulders. The soft black leather pants underneath were the comfiest she’d ever worn but they looked classy - she was still a queen, and a bit more refined, after all. Supple leather boots completed the outfit. Pulling on this outfit was like coming home. Much, much better than those overgrown dresses with corsets in which she could hardly breathe.

Hands flew up to her hair. A braid rounded the left part of her head, and disappeared into a bun that looked complicated, but was really not. She felt good about it. And Mary Margaret would never, ever hear about it, but despite her constant grumbling, she was actually looking forward to the trip. Her eyes once more slid towards Emma, who had tilted her head and stood with one hand protectively resting on Hope’s back, one hand on her side. Breath caught in Regina’s throat when Emma’s eyes moved towards her, and quickly gave her a once-over. 

Regina’s heart fluttered. Was she openly checking Regina out? A hand flew up to her stomach and Regina pressed hard, to calm down her nerves. The movement drew Emma’s attention from her midriff to her face and when their eyes met again, Emma’s cheeks flushed and she quickly looked away.

Regina released the breath she hadn’t realized she held. Zelena snorted.

“All right, let’s go!” Mary Margaret’s voice cut through the moment, and Regina heaved a deep breath. The petite woman had thrown herself up as a tour guide in a world she had hardly set a foot in, and the irritation Regina was feeling soon found its way toward her stomach.

And yet, with all the unsettling emotions inside her chest and head, she was happy she didn’t have to take the lead for once (she’d never admit it, though), and when the portal opened, she glided through it without any hesitation.

~*~

Emma had difficulties keeping her eyes off Regina. Watching Regina in this habitat was a real treat, she thought. And it wasn’t just because the black leather outfit fit her like a glove and was a sight for sore eyes. She seemed more at ease here, in this wilderness, as if a weight had lifted from her shoulders. She loved seeing her friend this relaxed - well, as relaxed as she could be because there were also the exasperated eye rolls at Mary Margaret’s strict schedules on what to see, where to go, and how to set up camp. 

Regina was less closed-off, emotions ran almost freely over her face here and Emma was mesmerized. She found herself lagging behind, hoping that Regina would fall back a little, as well (which she often did) so they could spend some time alone - as much as her mother allowed it.

Every time they stayed behind a little, Regina would talk about where they were, tell her some anecdotes about the place, and Emma marveled in her memories until her mother would show up, telling them to hurry. Robyn and Alice had grinned openly after the third time and had shot them a glance of sympathy, and after the sixth time, Regina snapped.

“I thought this was supposed to be a vacation, not a military camp,” Regina barked, “What are we, on a time limitation? Are we going to self-destruct? Do you need to be somewhere, Snow?”

Mary Margaret looked a little taken aback. “No,” she replied, her brown, doe-like eyes shining indignantly, “but we have a schedule, and there’s so much to see and do and I’d like to do it all before we’re all being called back to our responsibilities.” She looked like a kicked puppy, and Emma saw the flash of guilt on Regina’s face before Mary Margaret turned and went back to the front of the group.

Regina sighed and lifted her hand as if she wanted to run a hand through her hair. Lowered her hand when she noticed she couldn’t, with her hair in a braid and bun - which Emma loved, by the way. Badass, she mused. Her fingers itched to touch the dark hair. Instead, she lifted her hand and gently touched Regina’s upper arm. “She’ll get over it,” she said encouragingly, extracting a scoff from Regina, and Emma quickly pulled her hand back. Emma’s fingers tingled after that skin contact, a feeling that spread to her arm, causing her to fold her hands together over the baby carrier. She looked up when they entered the clearing, trying to distract herself from the funny feeling by taking in her surroundings.  Emma shook her jacket off, before tying it around her waist as her eyes traveled over the rocky ruins of the tower and the half-conserved roof a little further away.  The air was damp, and she felt warm.

A soft gasp from Regina made her halt. “What’s up?” she asked, a little worried.

“This is Rapunzel’s tower. The tower where Alice was held captive for years,” Regina explained. “A troll saved her by tearing the tower down.” 

“Trolls, huh,” Emma replied. She was truly impressed.

“Did you know that Rapunzel was actually Lady Tremaine?” Regina asked next.

Emma made a disbelieving sound. “Impossible.”

Regina’s mouth turned up. “It’s true.”

“No way,” Emma cried out.

“Yes.” Regina looked rather pleased with herself and Emma made a painful sound. 

“Thanks. You’ve ruined the Disney version forever for me now.” The image of Rapunzel mixed with the evil stepmother of Cinderella and ugh, all was wrong now. She would never be able to look at the movies the same way. Pouting and with a furrowed brow, she looked at the ruins, resembling the memories of what once were the memories of two Disney movies in her mind. 

But Regina hadn’t finished yet. “This is also the place where I saved Drizella and taught her magic.” Regina looked up to the rocky remains. “She reminded me of myself when I was young,” she added, voice softer now, a wistful tone emerging. “I wanted to… I wanted her not to end up like me, and I tried so hard, but in the end, I couldn’t prevent it.”

Emma heard the story of Drizella and her sister, Anastasia, but let Regina quietly tell the story until the point the sisters returned to their homeland and sighed. “I love happy endings,” she smiled, and Regina returned it automatically, but it didn’t reach her eyes. It awakened a sense of protectiveness inside Emma that had always been there when Regina seemed a little off. She tilted her head, narrowed her eyes a little. “Are you happy? I mean, really?” she then asked softly. 

Abruptly, Regina halted. She looked a little flustered as if she didn’t really know what to say, as if she was a little embarrassed by the answer. And all Emma wanted was to say that it was going to be alright. “I promised you a happy ending,” she said softer now, with a serious undertone. “And I always keep my promises. If you’re not happy, then I’ve got some serious work to do.”

It didn’t seem to put Regina at ease - it didn’t get a response at all, which sparked a sense of insecurity inside Emma. She shifted the balance of her weight, not really knowing what to say until Regina swallowed and opened her mouth.

“Emma, I-”

"Come on, you two,” Mary Margaret’s voice chirped, “We’re almost at the camping site and we can’t use your dilly-dallying.” 

The moment was gone and Emma wanted to cry in frustration. This trip was half a day old and she’d already thought about strangling her mother two times -- she could only imagine what it was like for Regina. Her timing, as always, was the worst . 

Regina scoffed impatiently, still looking a little unsettled. “I am still not entirely sure how this went from talking about a hypothetical vacation to a trip in which I am being terrorized by Mary Margaret’s schedule,” she sourly huffed, and Emma couldn’t help but snort. 

“Neither do I.” Without thinking, she hooked her arm through Regina’s to pull her along.

As their bare arms touched, they both stiffened, feeling the warmth where their skin touched. They then turned their heads simultaneously to face each other. For a few seconds, the sounds around them dulled as they shared a… moment. Emma’s eyes crinkled a little, she tilted her head a little resigned, in a half-shrug. Regina’s gaze softened and her lips curled up a little, causing butterflies to flutter in Emma’s stomach. She didn’t know if she had to let Regina go or stay right where she was, because she didn’t know what Regina was thinking and so she stood there, waiting. 

Regina’s gaze flicked down for a brief second, which caused Emma’s lips to tingle and she anxiously searched Regina’s features for clues. She felt confused, was desperately looking for answers as to what this meant, and with wide eyes, remained perfectly still, waiting for Regina to say or do something. Her insides were in turmoil.

“Emma… I-”

“There you are!”

Regina snatched her arm back and took a step aside to create distance between them, while her gaze bordered on murderous towards Mary Margaret. God, her mother really did show up at the most unfortunate of times. “Hope must be so anxious to get out of that sling.” Mary Margaret made some cooing sounds against the baby, who was just waking up, but Emma didn’t pay attention - she looked at the building tension on Regina's face. It had been there when the travel party had gathered for the first time - Emma had noticed how it had radiated off of her - but it had vanished once Regina had lost herself in her memories. Now, it was back with a bang.

She didn’t want to draw any attention to it. Silently, she looked at Regina, willed the brunette to look at her, but Regina didn’t. Instead, Regina pressed her lips firmly together in a thin line and without saying a word, she marched onward into the camp’s direction.  Emma sighed resigned. “Hope is fine, mom. She was very much asleep until a few seconds ago. Stop fussing.” 

And with those words, she entered the campsite and placed her bedroll in the only spot next to the fire - between Regina and Alice.

~*~

When the night fell, Hope started to become a little restless. It caused Emma to wake every half hour. The fussy child whined, chewed on her fingers and on the toy that Emma had packed for her. Emma had quietly gotten up a few times, had walked with Hope, tried to soothe her, and had returned when the child had fallen to sleep again - only to wake up a few minutes later. “You’ve chosen a bad moment to grow your teeth,” she whispered the third time, making another round, placing her lips on the soft head. 

The baby hiccuped a little and raised her head to find her mother’s face as Emma quietly hummed a lullaby, while she listened to the nightly sounds of the forest around her. Here and there, crickets were still awake. An owl hooted in the distance, while a gentle breeze rustled the leaves. From the camp, only deep breaths sounded and someone was snoring - Henry senior, Emma thought with a smirk on her face. The kid could destroy an entire fictional rain forest in one night, she chuckled softly.

Hope’s face crumbled again at her mother’s temporary distraction. “No, no, sweetie, all is well. You’ll get through this,” Emma murmured hastily, hoisting her up a little, but it was too late. Hope’s shriek filled the quiet area. Emma was starting to feel a little desperate. Her own eyes were drooping as well. She was tired and knowing that they’d have a day of walking ahead of them didn’t really help her anxiety and building frustration. Hope wasn’t to blame, but her fatigue caused her thoughts to spiral. God, maybe she wasn’t cut out to be a single mother at all. How did she ever think that she was able to do this? She blinked heavily, willing the wetness that welled up in her eyes away. She was just tired, so tired.

“Here.” 

Emma nearly jumped at the husked voice nearby and swung around a little brusquely, which shut up Hope immediately. Regina stood behind her, hair a little tousled, and holding a blue, almost see-through ring in her hand. “This is what Henry used when he was teething. It cools when she bites on it - maybe it will help.”

She waited for a second, then stepped forward, a silent question in her eyes until Emma nodded, gratitude and warmth blooming inside her chest. Regina smiled, sleep still visible on her face. “Do you want me to take her for a bit so you can sleep?” she offered quietly.

Could she be any more perfect? Emma’s nostrils flared to keep her grateful tears from leaving her eyes, meanwhile thrown a little off guard by that sudden thought. And yet - “I can’t ask that of you,” she murmured, feelings of failure still naked on her emotional surface. Regina offered the teething toy to Hope, who immediately started chewing it. The brunette sighed and rolled her eyes.

“You’re not. I’m offering.” 

“But-” Emma shook her head, cutting herself off. She was already wavering. “Are you sure?” 

Regina lifted her gaze from the baby and Emma’s heart somersaulted when their eyes met. “Of course,” Regina simply replied, caressing Hope’s soft hair, and with a sigh, Emma handed over the whimpering child. Regina whispered something and then sat down, touching the teething ring which glowed up faintly for a few seconds.

“I bet Henry’s didn’t do that,” Emma murmured, and Regina chuckled. 

“It didn’t, but it’ll help with the pain. Go get some sleep.” 

She hesitated, watching the brunette rocking her baby. Suddenly, she really didn’t want to leave. She wanted to stay here, with them - all night long, if she had to. “Can I sleep here?” 

“Of course,” Regina said again without hesitation, and Emma got up, went to grab her bedroll, and returned swiftly, placing it near Regina. She sat down and looked up one more time. “Are you really-” 

“Miss Swan,” Regina warned sharply, and Emma raised her hands in surrender. 

“Fine, fine. Just wanting to make sure. Good night.” 

“Good night, dear,” Regina murmured, before turning her attention to the baby in her lap. Emma looked at the pair. Saw how Hope looked at Regina’s face intently, observing the woman holding her. Both Emma and Hope listened when Regina softly started talking about the stars above them, pointing them out to the baby in her lap. Like her mother, Hope seemed mesmerized by Regina’s soothing voice, and it didn’t take long for Emma to drift away, a tiny smile around her lips.

~*~ 

There were three things that Regina noticed when she opened her eyes. One: she was almost lying nose to nose with one Emma Swan, who still was fast asleep, and despite the rocky forest floor, Regina found herself unable to move. Her eyes glided over Emma’s relaxed, yet still tired features. Being a single mother had its advantages, like, you could make your own decisions about raising your child, but it was also very, very tough, Regina knew from experience. The toughness reflected on Emma’s features, and Regina’s heart went out to her. Two: Hope had snuggled against her mother during the night and had completely passed out after her rocky night. Regina’s eyes flicked to the baby lying between them, mouth a little open, arms stretched out in front of her as if she was reaching for Regina. Regina had draped her cape over them during the night and had been too tired to move after Hope had settled, so she had just dropped down next to them but she could’ve sworn she’d started out further away than she was right now. And yet, the moment was peaceful. Bittersweet. She could do more mornings like these, she thought, immediately trying to suppress that flicker of hope inside her chest. Hope was for heroes, and still, after all these years, especially after coming back to Storybrooke, she had trouble believing she could ever be one. 

And three: the others were waking up, and there was an excited buzz going around that could only come from one person, flaring up Regina’s morning mood. Mary Margaret’s chirping voice caused Emma’s brow to crease, right before she slowly opened her eyes. As she tried to focus, Regina remained entirely still, just staring into those green pools, wondering what would happen next. 

Emma smiled lazily, which caused Regina to release a breath that she hadn’t even realized she’d held. “Good morning,” she whispered, and Emma’s smile widened. 

She murmured something that Regina couldn’t understand, but it was quite similar to “It surely is” and she wasn’t going to ask for clarification - she was going to take it as a compliment. Even if it caused the flicker of hope to combust and she was unable to quell it, for now.

“Get up, you two,” a jittery voice startled them, and both women scrambled to get up. Mary Margaret looked from one to the other, and back to the still sleeping baby. “There’s a lot of ground to cover today!” 

Regina narrowed her eyes in frustration and opened her mouth for a retort but before she could, she felt a hand on her upper arm. Surprised, she turned her head back to Emma, who lightly shook her head. 

So instead of putting Mary Margaret in her place, Regina swallowed her words back, only muttering something under her breath about slave drivers which in turn, made Emma grin softly. She turned her head and their eyes met and they found themselves having this tiny, private moment. Until they were forced into action.

Under Mary Margaret’s tight reign of the travel party, everyone had packed up camp quickly and they were on the road within half an hour. Today was rough, and not just because of the rocky area with a lot of uphill paths. Regina felt the loss of sleep in her limbs and knew Emma must feel the same, times two. 

Fortunately, Hope really took a liking to Alice, who happily offered to carry the baby for a while. Emma was hesitant at first, not knowing Alice all that well, but Alice pulled a few faces and Hope cooed with joy, and it settled the matter. “Go on then,” Alice shooed them away while Robyn fell in place next to her, swinging an arm around her girlfriend, “Go have fun, you two.” 

Surprised, Regina looked at the young woman who always seemed to see more than she should, and Alice tilted her head knowingly. As Robyn touched Alice’s arm and shared the knowing glance, Regina felt a blush creep from her neck to her cheeks. Was she really this transparent? She’d like to think not, but apparently, she had to work on her game face.  ** Oh Regina, give it up.  You’ve got it bad, you are as transparent as the air we all breathe!!! LOL.  

Alice tilted her head as she set in motion. “Sometimes, it’s all about the right place and time,” she mused before she passed both women with her girlfriend, who only smiled and said, “We’ll take good care of her!”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Emma asked Regina, but she shrugged. 

“Alice is… Alice,” Regina said apologetically. “She hasn’t had it easy, but she’s a good kid.” 

Emma looked after the two disappearing youngsters, before she started to walk after them, a little jittery to leave her child with someone she hardly knew. “I need to… I trust you, but-”

“It’s your child. I understand,” Regina answered, falling in step with Emma. They walked in silence for a while, words erupting in Regina’s mind to say, but none of them made sense. Emma seemed sunk in thought as well, and everything Regina came up with felt meaningless.

The path became a little narrower. They could still walk next to each other, but their shoulders brushed. Their arms touched. Regina inhaled sharply as her arm started to tingle and her heart rate sped up. The others were a little further ahead - they could still hear their voices, but they were around the corner, out of sight. For the first time in a very long time, they were alone.

She swallowed thickly, as she kept up with Emma’s pace, not knowing what to make of the moment.

“Thank you.” 

Regina’s head snapped up in surprise. “What for?”

“Last night. And just now, with Alice. It’s nice to… to be able to feel like Emma again, instead of only a… a single, working mom. Or at least, I don’t know, part of a team.” Emma laughed nervously. “So much has happened and I didn’t realize it up until now but I missed just being by myself. Well, with you, but still, that’s kinda the same, right?”

A little insecure, Regina looked up. The uneasiness made her cheeks flush a little. “I… you’re welcome, I suppose.” She hated feeling insecure, feeling vulnerable, even with Emma. Or maybe, right now, especially with Emma because there were so many things to say, but it would only mean that she would expose herself even further and, if she was completely honest with herself, she was too afraid to do so. She cleared her throat and treaded to safe territory. “I know what it’s like, being a single, working mom and what it’s like to not have anyone to count on. You should know that that isn’t you. There are so many people wanting to help you if you let them.” 

“Yeah, I know. But I guess… I want to prove that I can do this. I don’t…”  She fell silent. “I’ve felt like a failure enough already,” she said next, shooting Regina a wry smile that ached at Regina’s chest. “Every time I ask for help, my mind tells me I failed again and I-”

“You are not a failure, Emma Swan.” The words came out harsher than Regina meant. She grabbed Emma’s arm and the blonde yelped in surprise. The way Emma tore herself down hurt Regina’s stomach. Reaching her other upper arm, Regina held a firm grip. “You’re one of the strongest women I’ve ever known. But even you are going to burn up if you don’t accept help. Everyone is always leaning on you as a Savior - now it’s time for you to allow yourself to lean on someone else.” Her voice was emotional, heartfelt. “Let your family help. Let Alice help. Let me-” 

Her hands fell down and she swallowed away her last words, but Emma was quick to return. “I know. Rationally, I know. Emotionally, however, I need to be there, too. And you- you’re already helping, Regina.”

“I didn’t mind helping you out last night. It’s-”

“It’s not just that.” 

Regina inhaled sharply as Emma’s eyes narrowed a little. “You’re always there, even if it’s usually by phone. I… I don’t know. Whenever I need to vent, to talk, to… to cry, you’ve always answered your phone even at times I could hear that you were super busy with all the noises in the background. And I love that. It’s almost like…” Her gaze flicked from Regina’s eyes to her mouth, and back up, and Regina’s lips started to tingle as anticipation suddenly kickstarted in her stomach. She stood there, eyes widening as Emma took a tentative step closer. Regina saw her own insecurity mirrored in Emma’s green eyes. Her blood rushed through her ears as Emma’s hands found Regina’s. “I don’t know,” Emma started, “Maybe I’m hallucinating because of lack of sleep, but… You’re my friend, Regina. But I...” 

Regina stared at her with wide eyes Emma turned her gaze away, unable to finish the sentence that Regina really, really wanted her to finish. “But what?” She let go of one of Emma’s hands and lifted her hand to cup Emma’s cheek, gently guiding her face back until their eyes met once again. Emma’s eyes shone with vulnerability, mirroring her own, and she felt treacherous hope bloom in her chest. The air was pregnant with anticipation, expectations - it almost felt static.

“But I was-”

“Emma! Regina!”

Regina instinctively pulled her hand away and felt how her lip curled up into a snarl. David came walking towards them. Seriously? Frustration settled in her stomach. Charmings would always be Charmings, she thought, outrage pouring out of her, as she folded her arms over her chest, and laminated that they would always, always have the worst timing ever. It was in their fucking genes.

“We thought you’d gotten lost.”

“I lived here for ten years,” Regina snapped, unable to keep her irritation inside. 

David looked confused for a second - he’d never been the clever one, she thought irritably - and then he smiled sheepishly. “I guess you did. But, you know, probably lots has changed since you’ve been here, too, right?” He turned on his heels. “Come along. We’ve stumbled upon a river.” 

Regina followed a little reluctantly and suddenly felt cold. She knew Emma was watching her but was feeling really self-conscious right now. What had Emma wanted to say? Was the static air for real? Had Emma wanted to address some changes in their friendship? Or maybe Regina was reading too much into it, wanting something to change so badly that she might be seeing things. 

All in all, Regina was confused, and when she became confused, she also became jittery and snappish, and gods know, needed to be left alone. 

“Regina-”

“Please,” Regina muttered, feeling her cheeks flush with embarrassment while she kept her gaze fixed at David’s retreating form. “Later.” She wrapped her arms around herself, and pushed through, while she kept her gaze firmly at the ground. She wanted to be left alone, but at the same time, she felt abandoned when Emma honored her request.

~*~

Emma had taken Hope back from Alice and had thanked her for her help, and adult Henry, Jacinda, and Lucy had joined her while Regina had chosen young Henry’s company. It felt a little like a loss, even though she loved having her son around. But after their… moment, Emma felt unsettled and it was like they were on a threshold they couldn’t step over. 

She inhaled shakily and snuck a hand between the baby and her stomach, to try and quell the queasy feeling in her stomach. Had she really almost asked Regina if there might be a possibility of becoming more than friends? She had, oh, God, she had, and Regina wasn’t stupid. 

And after David’s interruption, she had bolted. What did that mean? Her brow furrowed.

Well, if nothing else, it meant a dent in her ego and an unsettled feeling in her belly, she snorted inwardly.

“I remember you being this little,” Jacinda said, pulling Emma from her thoughts, tickling Hope’s chin. She smiled at Emma, after which her eyes flicked lovingly towards her daughter. Both Hope and Lucy giggled. 

“I don’t remember,” Lucy said. “But I like being bigger. Isn’t it super weird that technically , Hope is my aunt?” She carefully pressed Hope’s nose and made a beeping sound. Emma hummed in agreement, but Lucy wasn’t really waiting for an answer. “Though dad, I think it’d be awesome if someone would carry me.” She looked up and Emma grinned at the pleading, puppy-eyed look of the young girl - a glance she remembered well from when Henry was young. Henry sighed, caved visibly, and with a loud cheer, Lucy climbed his back.

“You’re such a softie,” Emma gently scolded him, and he rolled his eyes the same way Regina always did.

“I take after my parents,” he answered, good-natured, and Emma shrugged lightly.

“Touché.”

While Henry galloped off with a shrieking Lucy, Jacinda joined Emma. “You raised him well,” Jacinda said with a smile, following the duo with her dark eyes.

Emma smiled uncomfortably. She still hadn’t really bonded with the woman yet, and it was still a strange idea that Henry had this whole life of his own while to her, he hadn’t been gone for a very long time at all. So now they were basically her age - history repeated itself once more, she thought with a sigh. Lucy, however, was adorable and reminded her so much of Henry when he was young.

“It’s more because of Regina than because of me,” she said, her eyes flicking to Regina’s back. She seemed to be in a serious conversation with young Henry. “She raised him for the first ten years. I sometimes think I had it easy with the second part.”

“Have you met him?” Jacinda laughed. “I mean, I haven’t met a more stubborn man in my life. I guess he takes after both of his mothers.” She smiled slightly at Emma, but Emma’s face pulled into a frown, not really knowing how to interpret Jacinda’s tone of voice.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked sharply, mouth slightly downturned.

Jacinda’s smile disappeared instantly. “Oh. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to insult you,” she hastily replied, “It’s just that I’ve known Regina for a while now, and I’ve heard so many stories about you that it feels like I know you as well. The number of times you both saved the day, shows that you both need to possess a certain amount of stubbornness. Especially when you’re always finding third ways and all.”

A warm feeling settled in Emma’s chest as her eyes drifted again to Regina’s form, a little in front of them. “I… I guess we did, yeah.” It felt like a lifetime ago, she thought, when she and Regina beat fate. When they combined forces. Refused to give up on one another. She sighed. “A long time ago, especially for her,” she wistfully said. “It feels like another lifetime.” A hand protectively rested on her daughter’s back, gently and soothingly rubbing Hope’s spine.

“It’s a beautiful tale. A Savior and an Evil Queen, beating the odds.” Jacinda hesitated slightly, and it made Emma look up, a question in her eyes that took Emma by surprise. “I told Henry once that the tale would’ve been even better if the two of you had ended up together.”

The blunt comment shocked Emma, and she didn’t know what to say. She didn’t have to, because Jacinda swiftly continued. “Henry told me about your husband. I’m sorry he turned out to be such an ass.”

“Me too,” Emma quietly said, eyes fixed on Regina’s back. Her stomach felt a little queasy as she mulled over Jacinda’s words. She felt insecure. Regina had been her friend for so long and yes, especially after Regina had left, and especially after Hook disappeared, Emma had felt things - she just never really acknowledged what those feelings actually were. What they meant. Or maybe they were there for far longer than she dared to fathom, and had instead actively tried to avoid thinking about them.

She inhaled deeply, lowered her head as she pressed a kiss on Hope’s soft head. Avoiding and running had been a huge part of her life, and it seemed almost unnatural to stop and meet her thoughts head-on. Exhaling, she found that her breath was shaking. Sunk in thought, she moved along, Jacinda falling back in step with her husband and child.

~*~

“You love her?” Young Henry had casually strolled up to Regina and had fallen in step with her. They had walked in silence for a while, Henry sensing that Regina was mulling over something, Regina trying to make sense of her turbulent feelings which she desperately wanted to get under control. 

And when Henry broke the silence, the way he did, Regina nearly choked. “What?”

“My mom. You love her?” He looked straight at her, and she felt uneasy under his steady gaze.

The lie was burning on her lips. Henry narrowed his eyes, dared her to deny it, and Regina found herself swallowing back her denial. She’d won his trust by being completely honest, and she wasn’t going to stop being exactly that, no matter what the price was. “Yes,” she softly said. A shiver ran down her back. It was the first time that she admitted to it.

“I thought so.” He seemed rather pleased with himself. “I saw you together at the ruins. Grandma is an awesome tracker, but I’m better at being quiet,” he added smugly, and it made her smile. “So, what are you going to do about it?”

Regina scoffed at his brazen attitude. The boy was so much like Henry, and yet, so different at the same time. “That’s none of your business, young man,” she huffed at him, but he snorted in return, returning her glare indignantly.

“Even if for her, the Wish Realm wasn’t real, and even though I don’t want to kill you anymore, I’m still very protective of her. She’s different here than from how I knew her, but she’s still my mom and she deserves the best.”

Regina laughed humorlessly. “I’m not sure that I am the best,” she said with a troubled sigh, but he surprised her by shaking his head and grabbing her wrist. His calm, serious gaze made her falter in her step, and Henry held her upright. 

“From what I’ve seen, from both you and her, I think you could be her best,” he said sincerely.

She bit the inside of her cheek at the honesty of his words, not really knowing how to respond to them. She didn’t want to tell him that there was a big chance he was wrong. “You’re a good kid,” she thus said, tentatively sliding an arm around his shoulder and when he leaned a little into her embrace, her heart warmed. And then, Henry grinned smugly.

“I know.”

Regina’s heart became a little less heavy, and it felt like she could breathe a little easier again.

~*~ 

“Hello, mates.”

Emma blinked at the sudden intruder in their camp. “Hook?! What the hell are you doing here?” Bewildered and instantly protective, she crossed her arms over Hope’s sling. They had just set up camp. Her parents were gone looking for firewood, while Alice and Robyn had gone fishing and gathering food. She didn’t know where Henry and his family were right now.

Young Henry and Regina were here, though, and Emma automatically took a step back, away from the man she hadn’t seen in weeks.

His eyes raked over her figure and lingered at the baby, and then smirked. Scratched his stubble with his hook. “I live here, milady. Prefer this over the stony neighborhood of Hypherion Heights.” The glint in his eyes made her feel uncomfortable. “Though I must say, you’d be one of the few who could convince me to return.” He wiggled his eyebrows.

Confusion clouded Emma’s features, but then, in a split second, she realized who he really was, at the same moment Regina stepped up to meet him with a gentle roll of her eyes. “Hello, Rogers.”

“Roni,” he said, and immediately, his posture changed and Emma’s eyes widened instantly. She mentally slapped herself for not seeing the difference. “Nice to see you in good health,” the man told Regina, who offered him a smile.

“And you,” Regina said. Emma witnessed more change as he spread his arms and hugged Regina, who remained a little stiff in the embrace. This man was far from the Hook she’d been married to, she thought relieved, as she saw the weird image of Killian hugging Regina tightly - her brain couldn’t really process that image. This was Alice’s father, she reminded herself. Alice, who just entered the campsite and yelped, threw herself into her father’s arms, and then grinned widely at Emma with a knowing glint in her eyes. 

It was strange to see Killian here, even if it wasn’t the man she’d shared her life with. Regina called him Rogers, and she found it comforting that he had a different name. She remembered how he had once looked, in the Wish Realm. Old, beer belly, drunk. Remembered how she had healed him in this realm before Henry and Regina had embarked on their adventure. She observed him hugging his daughter over and over again - she’d heard the story of him being cursed and unable to be close to her. In everything it was clear that he was entirely different from his Enchanted Forest counterpart.

After a little while, it was still confusing because he looked so much like her ex-husband, and yet, she could also see the differences. It was like looking at a twin brother - and, she had to admit, a nicer one.

“So,” Rogers said to her, dropping down on a log next to her and looking down on the baby, “I heard my evil twin brother left you and the little squid?” 

“That he did,” Emma confirmed, gently stroking Hope’s back, who was soundly asleep in the sling. It made Rogers scoff. 

“He’s a wanker,” he said, shaking his head. Emma appreciated the sentiment. “I gave up my damn ship and spent every waking hour with my daughter when her mother abandoned her - until the wench cursed me. I can’t believe he just got up and left such a treasure.”

Emma agreed. Somehow, this conversation felt soothing. “Our marriage was over, but he should’ve stuck around for his daughter. She deserves to know him.” 

“Aye, she does,” Rogers agreed. His gaze wandered to his own daughter, and his lips curled into a smile. Emma felt a strange connection to him that confused her. Was it because he looked so much like Hope’s father? Or that they were both single parents? She didn’t know, but she could definitely see a friendship in the future. How peculiar.

“So you’re like the better version of Hook, then?” David stalked up behind them with the last batch of firewood, passed them, and knelt down, and it made Rogers chuckle. Emma’s shoulders stiffened. Her father and Killian had been friends, and she knew he also had a hard time accepting that he’d just packed up and left without saying goodbye to anyone.

“Aye, when it comes to our children, I’d like to think that I am,” Rogers answered, good-natured, as they turned back to the fire that Regina had easily fired up a little while ago. The night was falling and a chill came in the air. 

“How about as a husband?” David joked after he unloaded his baggage, winking at Emma, who rolled her eyes in return in exasperation. Really? 

“Ehh,” Rogers said, confused and instantly on guard. “What, now?” 

“He means,” Regina sharply cut in, startling them all, “That you could easily step into the void that that useless idiot of a pirate left behind, taking his place as Hope’s father.” Venom dripped from her words, which automatically led David to take a step back, and widened Rogers’ and Emma’s eyes. It had been a while since Emma had heard her talk like this. And there was another undertone. One of pain , and it took Emma’s breath away by force.

“Regina-”

“We’re not the same person,” Rogers told David, confused by Regina’s tone but, and Emma appreciated him jumping to Regina’s rescue. 

“Of course, of course you’re not,” David backed down. “I was just joking.”

“The way you practically forced your daughter into the pirate’s arms the first time?” Regina snapped. “Was that a joke, as well?” Her eyes were dark, nearly black, and Emma felt confused, agitated now, too.

Adrenaline spiked and she straightened her back and narrowed her eyes. She knew that Regina and Killian would never become friends, but at the same time, she had never really understood why Regina had always raised her shackles whenever Killian was around.

It made Emma feel insecure - not because of Rogers’ sake, but because it always gave her the feeling that she had done something incredibly wrong - bad, even, to date him, and even marry him in the end. Okay, it had been a bad decision, she saw that now, but every time she had looked at Regina, it was like she had made a wrong choice in life - something that could never be fixed anymore.

“He didn’t-” she started to defend her father, herself, maybe, but it only escalated the tension that Regina had carried all this trip - the tension that Emma had seen before. But she couldn’t just let this go, and was sick and tired of people thinking they could decide for her. “It was my decision. I chose to marry Killian, nobody asked me to.” There was an indignant undertone in her voice, and rightfully so. She found it ridiculous that Regina would ever think that she’d let anyone force her into marriage. She made her own stupid decision, and she’d live up to it.

Regina surprised her by barking out a humorless laugh - wait, was that a tremble underneath? Her shoulders stiffened, alarmed with the tone of voice - no, alarmed with the turn of the conversation. “Really , Miss Swan? How about all the indoctrination about true love, soulmates, presenting the ever-perfect picture for you to live up to, practically driving you to him -- and that’s even without the ease with which he was forgiven for nearly getting Storybrooke off the map. They practically drove you into his arms. Let alone the fact that he tortured-” 

She snapped her mouth shut, her face, moments before coiling with anger, frustration, now turning entirely blank as the words raged through inside Emma’s mind. Wait, what? The accusation still moved all responsibility to her parents and Emma didn’t think that was fair, but it was the cut-off words that resonated with her the most, because of the intrinsic hurt in them. “Tortured who?” Wide-eyed, she stood frozen to her spot, while Regina huffed impatiently.

“Regina?” Emma urged as Regina kept her silence, but the woman opposite her just shook her head jerkily.

“Forget it. Forget everything,” she stiffly said, taking a step back. Angry, she flicked her wrist, enveloping in a purple cloud without a trace before Emma could even try and stop her.

“What the hell?” Emma whirled around, to her father, upset and agitated. “Tortured who?” 

Mary Margaret, who’d come to see what the ruckus was all about, silently exchanged glances with her husband. Emma hated when they did that. It was like they effectively shut her out of the conversation. “Tell me,”  she demanded, upset.

And reluctantly, they did tell her bits and pieces of the story of Regina chained to the steel table and tortured with electric shocks repeatedly - a story she knew well, only now they added Killian to the story. Killian, who had handed her over to Greg, and who had been there when she was chained to the table. Who had left after, left her behind to whatever Greg and Tamara were going to do to her.

And while they were speaking, Emma felt frustration built - apparently, Regina had told her parents, but neither her parents nor Regina had ever said anything about it to Emma. 

“We went on his ship right after that,” Emma murmured, shaking her head in disbelief, rubbing her face with her hands. “Why didn’t I know?”

Another exchange of glances. “Well,” David said, scratching the back of his neck in discomfort, “I guess we thought you knew? After Greg’s insanity, we had a town to save, and then Henry was kidnapped and we needed Hook’s ship and… I guess he just joined the right side?”

Emma snorted, remembering Killian’s questionable behavior at best during that trip. “So basically what she said is that he was forgiven and welcomed with open arms, and she was never allowed forgiveness because of your personal history with her.”

“That’s not true,” Mary Margaret protested indignantly. “I crowned her the Good Queen, didn’t I?” Emma’s glare was hard, and her mother blinked and looked away, uneasy. “I thought, because you became friends, that she would’ve told you. Especially when you started dating Hook. That’s what friends do.”

Emma sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “God, the way she must’ve felt being on one of her torturer’s ship…” Her heart ached for Regina as she quietly collected her baby. She turned and walked away from the campsite and shut out her mother’s voice, who was trying to call her back. “Leave me alone. I have to think about this.”

Would it have affected her stance towards Killian, she wondered as she enlarged the distance between herself and the camp. The river came into view, and she paced up and down, too restless to sit down. With current feelings being as they were, it definitely would have. It only added up to the dislike she currently felt for her ex and Regina was her very best friend. Back then, however? She’d like to think she would have been wiser, but actually, she wasn’t so sure. Despite the accusations Regina had swung her way, despite her ignorance about Killian’s part in Regina’s torture, she really didn’t know if she would have taken a different path. Regina and she only became somewhat friends after Neverland, not before. In hindsight, Killian had been relentless in his pursuit of her, and she had let him because… well, because it was being expected of her and he was available and it was simple . It was painful to admit that maybe Emma had been, in fact, influenced by her parents’ visions of love and happiness and finding someone - it just hadn’t been the right someone. 

And yes, happy endings and true love had been relentless subjects of her parents - how much of an influence had they had on her? Had she wanted to make her parents happy so badly that she had willingly chosen their path for her, taking the easy way out with Killian? Maybe, a tiny voice whispered. She remembered the goodbyes at the town line after Pan’s curse was cast. The dread she had felt, leaving everyone behind - her parents, her friends. Regina. Regina’s tears, her parting gift of blissful memories. She shivered and frowned at the continuation of her memories. The shock of remembering everything in New York and going back. Regina with Robin. Hook pursuing her.

Maybe she had taken the easy road, despite these warm feelings in her lower belly for the woman who had tried so hard to forget. Who she had believed in, no matter what, even when Regina hadn’t believed in herself. Who she had kept trying to be close to, even after she brought Marian back and Regina deliberately pushed her away in anger - slightly embarrassed, Emma remembered the heartfelt plea for friendship in Regina’s vault. How Regina admitted to not wanting to murder her,  and that even that had made her feel relieved to her very core. 

Suddenly, her world seemed upside down and Emma groaned, burying her face in her hands while Hope, waking up, started to protest.

“Let me take her,” a young voice softly said, and Emma jerked her head around. Alice stood next to her, leaning against a tree and Hope cooed happily. “You need to find her.”

Emma didn't even need to ask who. “She can be anywhere,” she said, running a hand through her hair in frustration.

“Bug will help. Bug always knows when he’s needed.”

Bug? Who the hell was bug? Emma’s forehead creased, as Alice stepped aside and pulled one of the branches away. She blinked in disbelief as her car, her trusted yellow Beetle, appeared from under the branches. Her eyes flicked from the vehicle to Alice, who shrugged lightly.

“How-”

“I think I kinda… summoned it?” Alice said sheepishly. “It came to me once when I needed it the most. It becomes easier when people are in need, and I believe you are. I think you are? Just… get in, I guess? I’ll babysit.” She stretched out her hands to Hope and the baby cooed happily.

Suddenly, Emma sprung into action and gave Hope to Alice. “And, uh, take as much time as you’d like. We’ve got her, you know?” 

Emma nodded as she routinely opened the car door. She took her place behind the wheel, absentmindedly thinking that it looked so much like her own car, only that it smelled differently. She fired up the engine, momentarily soothed by the trusted sound, and then stepped on the gas. She didn’t really know where to go but, for once, maybe she would let fate - and her car that had magically appeared in this New Enchanted Forest - decide.

~*~

Regina was distraught. She teleported back to a clearing they passed halfway through the day because in the heat of the moment, it had been the only place she could think of - the clearing where she had shared the moment with Emma, where Emma had wanted to tell her--. She paced up and down, replaying the events in her head and beating herself up over the reaction. Tell her something, she thought, gritting her teeth. 

The moment was long lost now, and probably would never return. Not after her little temper tantrum just now. Guilt clawed at her chest. Rogers wasn’t even comparable to Hook, but Regina had felt vulnerable after her moment with Emma before. And she could only manage to indulge so many Charming-remarks about Emma or Rogers - or actually, none of them because even if he was a much better person, he still looked exactly like his moronic counterpart. Touchy, very touchy subject.

Eleven years of being apart from that Charming pool, and just three days into a fucking camping trip had whirled her right back into being testy Regina Mills, almost-reformed and former Evil Queen. Eleven years of fucking personal growth and it all went right down the drain . What the hell was she doing to herself?

They were her friends, and yet, they made her insecure like she hadn’t felt in years . Emma made her insecure because Regina felt things around her that she hadn’t felt for anyone ever before. Regina, master of repression, had lost it because of one inappropriate joke that turned out to be the drop that overflowed the proverbial bucket.

With a little more distance between the subject of her anger and herself, she realized that the things she’d blurted out just now were mainly coming from hoping that, if Emma had known, she would have chosen a different path. There had been so many moments in the past and even during this trip in which Regina had found their connection almost palpable, but Emma had been oblivious to Regina’s signals and feelings each and every time. Or maybe, a voice whispered, she doesn't really feel anything for you and it was all just a figment of your imagination.

Regina sighed in despair, ran a hand through her hair, getting it stuck in the braid for the umpteenth time. Whatever. She waved impatiently with her hair, effectively smoothing it out. It didn’t make her feel better. If anything, it made her feel worse, because in the last few days she’d run her hand through her hair in frustration more often than in years.  

Maybe she was just unable to brace herself against them the way she used to, after living without them for so long. For ten years, life had been easier. She hadn’t been closed off to the world - hadn’t needed to be. And she hadn’t been prepared for being propelled back into being someone’s former, reformed nemesis, living on the side of Good only because Snow White allowed her to. It had been overwhelming and she just couldn’t close herself off, shut everyone out like she used to be able to.

She covered her face with trembling hands. A quivering mess, that’s what they reduced her to. And she’d let them, a voice inside her lisped. Her problem had always been that she felt too much, that she let herself be overwhelmed with emotions of all sorts. Now, she felt raw. Vulnerable. Tears stung behind her eyes. A single one defied her will to stay there, dared to leave her eye, rolling down her cheek as she leaned her head against the nearest tree. 

Fool, she scolded herself.

But before she could spiral even further down the drain, she heard something unexpected.

Her head jerked up at the sound. It was foreign in this seemingly endless forest, something completely out of place. A car? She frowned, rubbing away the wetness from her cheek as the sound of an engine approached. Lights flashed behind the bushes as she raised her hand in defense, ready to throw whatever at the culprit once they showed themselves.

And then, the more than familiar car broke through the bushes, and Regina, startled, stumbled back. It was impossible enough that a car appeared in the Enchanted Forest, let alone this one. What was Emma’s yellow death trap on wheels doing here? 

The car stopped abruptly. The door swung open and Regina’s treacherous heart leaped into her throat. Her lips soundlessly formed a name when Emma stood up, hand on the doorframe, and Regina, inhaling a deep, shaky breath, experienced a strange feeling of deja vu.

“Regina!” Emma called out to her.

She stood frozen as Emma approached her, expression unreadable, which made her heart pound wildly with anticipation. She stopped at a short distance, outside of Regina’s reach.

“They told me what happened. I didn’t know he had a part in that - they thought I knew.”

Regina recovered instantly and scoffed. “I know you didn’t.”

“Why didn’t you ever tell me?” It almost sounded like an accusation, and Regina scoffed in retort.

“Would you have believed me over your parents at that moment? We weren’t really friends back then. Besides, there was a trigger destroying the town and two villains kidnapping our child, and I just-”

“But later? I’d have believed you.” The belief in her own words was almost tangible.

Regina stubbornly glared at her, and a bitter laugh got stuck in her throat. “When, Emma? When we returned from Neverland and Pan cast a curse? When he brought you back, and the town nearly turned on me? When -”

“I always believed in you, even when you didn't,” Emma cut her off, vehemently and exasperated, stepping closer. “Maybe it’s too long for you to remember, but I told you, with you, I always know when you’re lying.”

Regina narrowed her eyes, realizing that yes, Emma had told her. And Regina had believed those words. She didn’t really know why she hadn’t said anything to Emma. Maybe it wasn’t important. Maybe it was because she’d had the feeling that she didn’t deserve forgiveness. Maybe it was because she had never felt worthy. Maybe simply because their lives seemed to propel forward every time without really having time to discuss anything. But things were different now. They were different now. Or maybe they weren’t, maybe they hadn't changed at all - maybe they were stuck in the same cycle over and over again, and it stung like hell.

“I didn’t ask for any of this,” Regina said bitterly. “All I wanted was some quiet time, to talk, to figure things out, to-” She threw her hands in the air in a helpless gesture. “Nothing ever changes,” she barked in frustration. The sting behind her eyes was back, and she abruptly stepped back to create space.

“Hey! Hey, Regina, calm down.”

“Don’t tell me to calm down,” Regina snapped back, and Emma’s hands rose in defense which made her feel like an asshole instantly. Great. Add it to the fucking pile of Regina’s faults. Blood rushed through her ears, effectively quelling out the sounds around her. All sounds but one - the voice of the woman she’d been pining for, and who crossed her arms in front of her chest and tilted her head.

“You’re going to,” Emma calmly said, “because we’re going to finish a conversation we started this afternoon, but I’m only going to do that when you’re not yelling at me.”

Regina’s eyes grew wide and fell silent instantly, hands falling limply to her side. Anxiety settled in her stomach. But Emma offered her a lopsided smile and stretched out her hand. “Dance with me.”

Regina scoffed. “There’s no music.”

Emma rolled her eyes. “Really? Do you have to make everything so difficult?” She gently took her hand, placed the other on Regina’s hip, as she started to hum. She took a step forward, efficiently taking the lead, and it surprised Regina so much that she followed.

“Didn’t know you knew how to dance,” Regina said, voice soft, while she recovered from the initial shock and took over the lead. Emma chuckled and broke off the song to talk. 

“Wish realm, remember?” she murmured, “some parts of that life are actually pretty useful to remember,” before she continued the song. And when it was done, she continued with the song she had sung in Regina’s office, the song that broke the Black Fairy’s spell. After that, she resorted to lullabies she sang to Hope, and it made Regina chuckle. She swayed, reveled in the feeling of Emma’s body pressed against hers. The tension slowly left her body as she eased into Emma’s touch, allowing herself to feel everything. Even if it was just this moment.

“You’re my best friend, Regina,” Emma softly said after the last song died out, and she stood still, not pulling her hands away. Regina shivered when Emma’s breath tickled her cheek, but also because of the slightest tremor in Emma’s voice. “But lately, I don’t know. I guess… I was hoping…” She fell silent. Sighed softly.

“Hoping what?” Regina breathed, slightly tightening the grip on Emma’s hand. 

Emma chuckled nervously, and it reflected her own inner turmoil. “Hoping that you know… it, um, could be something… more?” She created a little distance by lifting her head, and Regina saw uncertainty shining in her eyes.

Regina inhaled sharply as emotions surged from the pit of her belly up to her chest and she swallowed as they reached her throat, momentarily disabling her to speak. She tried to tell herself not to hope, that it wasn’t in her cards, and maybe Regina even doubted if she had heard right, but Emma was here and was waiting for an answer. “You do?” she whispered weakly.

“Yes,” Emma quietly retorted, bringing her face closer to Regina’s until their breaths mingled and when Emma’s gaze flicked to Regina’s mouth, Regina’s lips tingled with anticipation. “How about you?”

“Yes,” Regina breathed, a millisecond before Emma pressed her lips to hers. Overwhelmed, Regina grabbed Emma’s hips to steady herself. Her heart soared, her head pounded, hot blood coursed through her veins but nothing was as overwhelming as the sense of relief at being happy and coming home . Emma’s lips moved gently over hers, but Regina pressed forward, craving more contact, hands moving up, slipping around Emma’s neck. She buried her fingers in her hair as a half-sob escaped her throat, while drawing Emma closer. This, this was what she had dreamed of, and gods, the reality was infinitely better. Far too soon, Emma withdrew, and Regina missed her instantly, protesting weakly as Emma grinned a little sheepishly. She was beautiful with green eyes sparkling and cheeks flushed. 

“I didn’t think you’d want me,” Emma softly said, “not after everything that just-”

“I’ve wanted you for a very long time, Miss Swan,” Regina confessed, and Emma’s face showed wonder. 

“You did?”

“Yes.”

“Oh.” Clearly not knowing what to do with that confession, Emma lowered her head, rested it against Regina’s, and Regina marveled in the quiet surroundings, listening to the sounds of the forest and the gentle sound of Emma’s breath. And then, her soft laugh. Regina pulled back with a silent question. Emma’s eyes shimmered.

“We got what we wanted after all,” she smiled.

“What’s that?”

“Peaceful time away.”

Regina laughed in surprise and lifted her head, while she watched the darkening surroundings before looking up to the sky, which filled with more stars the darker it became. Emma’s arms slipped around her waist as she followed her gaze up, and held her close. “Peaceful time away, under the stars,” Regina murmured, arms slipping up to Emma’s neck and pulling her close. She inhaled deeply, smelling the unique scent of everything Emma.

“Peace under the stars sounds good. Let’s stay for a little longer,” Emma offered. “Alice is babysitting.” Regina nodded with an appreciative sigh. 

“So, how does this hypothetical time away from everything continue?” Emma then murmured against Regina’s cheek, her breath causing a shiver to run over Regina’s back. She still had difficulties grasping what happened just now - it was as if her mind was still catching up and couldn't entirely believe that they were here.

“Maybe… maybe it’s time to let go of the hypothetical and embrace the reality,” Regina whispered, still a hint of insecurity and disbelief in her voice, which made it sound like a question, but Emma hummed in agreement.  

“Regina? Are you happy?” The question was still lined with a hint of worry, and Regina inhaled deeply, breath a little shaky, and she exhaled slowly as she saw herself reflected in Emma’s green, shimmering eyes. She breathed in again, and exhaled slowly, her breathing eradicating all the remaining doubts and tension.

“Yes,” she simply said, pushing a lock of hair behind Emma’s ear. She hadn’t been aware of the tension in Emma’s shoulders, not until Emma also visibly relaxed. 

“Good,” she smiled.

They just looked at each other for a few seconds, until Emma grinned.

“What?” Regina asked, frowning slightly.

“Told you I’d give you your happy ending.” She had the audacity to look smug as she tightened her grip. “I never make promises lightly.”  

Regina scoffed, smiling, a challenging smirk forming around her lips. “You’re not quite there yet, dear,” she said, raising an eyebrow. “But the night is still young.”

“Why, Madam Mayor, what are you suggesting?” Emma playfully retorted, drawing her closer, and confidently now, Regina nuzzled her cheek.

“I’ll show you,” she whispered and felt a shiver run down Emma’s spine. “And I also keep my promises.”

Crickets chirped around them, a hastily lit fire cast shadows over the trees and kept them warm when the night started to cool. Yes, the night was still young and for once, entirely theirs.