SUMMARY:
In the South Pacific island of Makatea, career-driven magazine editor Regina Mills is on a week-long vacation getaway with her boyfriend, Robin Locksley. A work assignment in neighboring Tahiti requires Regina to hire a cargo plane piloted by the carefree island-dweller Emma Swan. When a powerful storm forces Emma to make an emergency landing on a nearby deserted island, the dissimilar pair learn to set aside their differences in order to find rescue.
(Loosely based on the movie Six Days, Seven Nights)
A/N: Thank you to swansaloft for the wonderful story cover!
The tiny red plane looked like it had seen better days. The letters on the side were fading, and there was a coffee can slung over one of the metal hooks where a blonde woman was tightening something with a wrench.
"So, uh, is this the airplane we'll be taking to the island?" Regina Mills asked, eyeing the death trap with fear in her eyes.
The wrench-yielding blonde stood up straight and took in the woman standing in front of her. She gave her a crooked smile and wiped her oil stained hand on her coveralls. "That depends. Are you Mills or Locksley? Heading to Makatea?"
Regina felt her heart sink. "Mills. And yes."
"Then yes it is. The usual charter had a conflict, so you two are lucky I was available. It's a nightmare trying to find someone on short notice."
"Something wrong?" Robin asked, appearing at Regina's side.
"I think we should try find another charter," she whispered, loudly. "This plane is a crash waiting to happen. I'm too young and too important to die."
The blonde smirked, overhearing the conversation. "You can try, but you won't find one. There's a boat that can take you there. If you don't mind the three day excursion." She held out her hand to Regina, who shook it haughtily. "Emma Swan."
"Are you the mechanic or the pilot?" Regina asked, feeling nausea overtake her.
Emma rubbed the back of her neck, focusing solely on Regina. "Both, technically. This is my plane. Very safe, don't worry."
Robin put a hand on Regina's arm. "See? It's very safe. Regina, I really don't want to waste any more time than we have to. We'll be fine."
Nodding curtly, Regina gestured to her bags. "Miss Swan, I assume there is no conveyor belt to cart my luggage to the aircraft. Are you the baggage department as well?"
Emma laughed, well versed with city-bitches who found coach to be an abomination, let alone a small charter. She ignored the other woman and went back to her maintenance work. "We'll be ready to go in twenty minutes."
OoO
The seating room was cramped, at best, and Regina and Robin smashed in together, elbow to elbow. Regina fought the panic welling in her chest, reminding herself that tourists took charter planes all the time. The fatality rate probably very low. She hoped.
"Relax, Regina. We're going to have a wonderful vacation," Robin smiled, trying to put his arm around her. Regina quickly brushed him off, in no mood to be touched.
At that moment, Regina felt the plane tug downward as another passenger hoisted himself up. He climbed over Robin and Regina gracelessly, and sat down in the cockpit next to Emma. Emma was still checking gauges and adjusting her radio, so she barely acknowledged him.
"Afternoon, folks. Killian Jones," he introduced himself with a half-assed salute.
"I thought this was a private charter, Miss Swan?" Regina barked, clearing her throat.
"It is. Killian is the flight service director," Emma said, a sarcastic smile playing on her lips.
Regina couldn't help the exasperated sigh as she straightened the hem of her sundress. This 'vacation' Robin had planned as a grand escape from the mundane was turning out to be a disaster, and they hadn't even gotten off the ground yet.
As the engine whirred to life, Regina held onto her arm rests with white knuckles. The rest of the travelers oohed and ahhed at the beauty of the landscape, and while Regina did appreciate the aesthetic, she was too busy praying.
The flight was bumpy, but thankfully uneventful. When Emma spoke the words "Welcome to Makatea", Regina wanted to throw her arms around the attractive blonde and kiss her square on the lips.
"Thank you," she managed, receiving assistance down from the high step by Killian, who gave her a complete once-over before letting go of her hand.
"You should visit the island boutique when you get settled. They have an enormous selection of string bikinis. You're wearing entirely too many garments for an island," he smarmed, flashing a brilliant smile and raising his eyebrows.
Regina scoffed, completely taken aback. She didn't have time to spit out a retort, as Robin disembarked and swept her up into a stiff hug. "Look around, Regina! It's so beautiful."
Emma stood by awkwardly, reaching out to shake Regina's hand again. "I hope you enjoyed the flight," she smiled, knowing Regina was a beat away from a heart attack the entire time. "If you need anything during your stay, we'll be around. Don't hesitate to come find us."
Robin extended his hand quickly, pumping Emma's up and down swiftly. "Thank you, Miss Swan. We'll be fine. I think we're both excited to get started on the romantic vacation of a lifetime." Robin put his hand on Regina's back to guide her toward the waiting Jeep, but Regina turned back to take a last look at Emma. She desperately wished Robin wasn't so showy in front of people.
"Thank you," she said again, catching the blonde's eye.
OoO
The bright blue ocean water lapped at the shore like something out of a magazine advertisement. Regina sat on her lounge chair, sunglasses on, basking in the warmth of the sun. Robin took the seat next to her and handed her a Mai Tai.
"I'm so glad we did this. Things have been so hectic lately, and I feel like you and I have been on different wavelengths. This is exactly what we needed," he said, pressing her fingers to his lips. She flinched at the sharpness of his stubble.
"It is beautiful," Regina said, gazing out at the myriad boats and parasailers and jet skiers out on the water. She was broken from her reverie when her cell phone rang from the bag on the sand beside her. She saw Robin frown, but held up a quick finger.
"Regina Mills." She listened intently as her boss rambled, her voice elevating. Regina's face grew darker, and she closed her eyes. "You're putting me in an awkward position, Jane. He's been planning this for months. Yes. I know. There's no one else that can oversee the photo shoot?" she paused. "I'm not close! Tahiti is a flight away, it's not like I can walk there!" Regina moved the hair out of her face and inhaled deeply. "Yes, I know how important they are. It's fine, Jane. I'll make it happen."
Regina tapped the end button on her phone, but hesitated before turning back to Robin.
"Don't kill me."
He removed his sunglasses and raised an eyebrow. "Why would I kill you?"
"I'll be gone fifteen hours, max."
Robin sat up straight, his eyes wide. "Gone where, Regina?"
"Tahiti. The magazine needs me to attend a photoshoot. The client will only be available for one day, and if we miss this opportunity, it will mean the July cover is dead. There is no one else that can get there as quickly."
"Dammit, Regina! Why does it have to be you? An intern can get some spoiled asshole a cup of coffee and massage his ego." He regretted the words before he could even finish saying them.
"Excuse me?" Regina spat. "Is that what you think I do? Make coffee and act as a fluffer?"
"No, no, of course not. I'm just upset. This is our week together, Regina. I wanted to actually spend it with you." Robin reached out and took her hand, but Regina quickly pulled it away.
"I'll be gone less than one day. Go snorkeling and get a massage; by the time you're finished, I'll be back."
Robin nodded his head sadly. "Do what you have to do."
Regina sighed and walked toward the bar. She saw Robin sitting dejectedly on his lounge chair, and while she did feel bad, she couldn't help but roll her eyes.
The bartender approached her, smiling broadly.
"Can you tell me how I get in touch with Emma Swan?" Regina asked, scrolling through her phone absentmindedly.
"You could say hello," the bartender said, slightly annoyed with the standoffish brunette. "She's right over there," he said pointing to the other side of the bar.
Regina snapped her head up and saw Emma Swan talking animatedly with a local woman. Her hair was down in curls around her shoulders, and she had on a light green sundress that made her eyes sparkle. Regina hadn't noticed how attractive she was the first time around; this time she couldn't not notice it.
"Miss Swan?" Regina interrupted, standing close. "I need a favor."
Emma flashed her teeth in a wide grin. "A favor from me? Wow, you must be desperate. How is your vacation so far, Miss Mills? Has the boyfriend proposed yet?" she asked, tossing a maraschino cherry into her mouth.
"Not that it's any of your-" Regina stopped, remembering she needed something from the other woman. "No, he has not. We are not here for that. Anyway, I was wondering if I could ask you for transportation. To Tahiti."
Emma rocked her head back and forth in thought. "Well, I guess we could do that. When do you two want to leave?"
"Not we. Me. I have a work emergency that I have to attend to. And I need to leave right away, if possible."
"An emergency? Are you a doctor?" Emma asked, that carefree smile plastered to her face. Regina wasn't sure if she was enamored by it or wanted to slice it off with an Exact-o knife.
"I'm an editor."
"What kind of emergency does an editor have?"
Regina's patience was thinning by the second. "I have to oversee a photo shoot. If I don't go and it doesn't happen, we will be up shit's creek, so to speak. So yes, it is an editing emergency."
"What kind of magazine is it?"
"Miss Swan! Why does it matter? It's a fashion magazine, and I need to get to Tahiti. If you cannot take me, please tell me, so I can find other arrangements."
"You won't find other arrangements. Not on such short notice," Emma shrugged, flinging another cherry into her mouth.
"Can you take me then?"
Emma stretched, glancing at her watch. "Yes. I will take you. Seven hundred?"
"Seven hundred? Isn't that a little steep for a quick flight to a neighboring island?"
"Yes, it is. But I had plans tonight. If you'd like to try to find someone else, or reschedule for later in the week, I'm sure-"
Regina shook her head in defeat. "No, Miss Swan. Seven hundred will be fine."
"Excellent. I'll meet you at the airstrip in an hour." Emma smiled brightly again, patting Regina on the shoulder as she walked back to her cabin to get ready.
Regina watched her go, equal parts annoyed and intrigued.