A/N I haven't written in a while so I am kind of rusty. Let me know what you think either way, any reviews are appreciated :) Also I do not own any of these characters or once upon a time. Although I wish I did, especially our evil queen ;)
"Ms. Swan," Regina Mills' voice dripped with venom and irritation as she looked over at her assigned bunk mate, "Must you insist on hogging all the space in here?"
"What? I'm just trying to get comfortable, it's not like you were my first choice to bunk with either," Emma rolled her eyes at the former queen and shoved some more blankets over to Regina, " Here these are yours, I don't think the boat comes with central heat."
Sighing the former mayor grabbed the bundle of blankets and threw it on her side of the cabin. Earlier the choice had been between rooming with Captain Hook or with Rumplestilksin, both options that had left her cringing. Choosing the lesser evil, she now found herself sharing a small cabin with one Emma Swan, something that her roommate didn't seem to find as unsettling as she did.
Although thinking back on it now, the thought of Emma rooming with Hook or Rumple also left a similar uncomfortable feeling in her stomach that she quickly shook off to be sea sickness or a symptom of the impossible situation that they found themselves in. She hadn't noticed the deep sigh that left her lips until she felt eyes on her and quickly looked up to meet sparkling green ones covered in concern.
"Can I help you with something Ms. Swan?" She spat at her bunk mate as she turned around to adjust her bedding and compose her nerves that were threatening her reverie. They should be at the bean portal any minute now, the promise of finding Henry weighing heavily on her.
"We are going to find him" Emma said softly, as if reading her mind. She studied the former mayor across the room, knowing the woman was feeling just as lost in the situation as she did, knowing that the stoic mask on her face was just that, a mask. When Emma had initially realized she had been stuck with Regina as a bunk mate her stomach turned at the thought of sharing a space with her, but then soon welcomed the opportunity to truly get to know the woman that raised her son. Regina was strong, powerful, and could hold her own, in which Emma had tremendous respect for, but too many times could Emma catch a fleeting glance of something more going on behind the mayoral mask. A fleeting glimpse into the true woman underneath it all and she felt the compelling want to know more about the said woman.
"We have to" Regina lamented as she straightened up her bed. Taking a deep breath she turned around to assess their cabin. It was small but cozy, the roof hung long but not uncomfortably so, and the waves could be heard crashing against the side of the boat. Emma Swan was opposite her, busying herself as she looked lost in thought. Does she really think we can find Henry? She smoothed out the invisible wrinkles on her skirt as she took this moment of silence to reflect. Why did she stay in the mines with me? How did her magic feel so good? Once again she found herself shaking the thoughts from her head as she heard hurried footsteps above them.
"We must be getting close to the portal, let's get up there before Hook capsizes this thing" with a smirk and a wave from her hand, Regina disappeared out of the room leaving a certain savior to smile at herself and catch up to the clicking of heels against wood.
As Regina emerged into the sunlight on deck, she had to shield her eyes from the blinding light, swaying, she could feel a hand on her back steadying her before stepping forward into the scene at hand. Captain hook was barking orders as rumple and charming scrambled forth securing ropes, turning wheels, and securing what they could as they hurdled towards the swirling purple portal ahead. Snow was at Hook's side no doubt being a full back seat driver. Stepping to her side she saw Emma emerge next to her, removing her hand from the small of her back having found steady ground. Regina couldn't help but frown at the loss of contact, Wait what? And walked over to the side of the boat to get a better view.
The portal was fast upon them and much more ominous than Emma had imagined, suddenly her knees were weak and her nerves were full motion in her stomach. She knew that everyone on the ship was anxious to get to Henry, but she also knew they were just as anxious to go home to fairy tale land, and Emma could not share in that excitement. Her time in fairy tale land was chaotic and all the more foreign to her. The idea of magic and tell-tale creatures still gave her an uneasy feeling, and she couldn't help but feel even more apprehensive about it than last time. Not only did she have no control over the safety of her son, but she had less control of what everyone was capable of once emerged in their realm of magic. She looked over at the mayor and found herself wandering over next to her to join in the view.
The wind was picking up and the roar in her ears was somewhat deafening. What happens when we go into the portal? She wondered. She itched for the feel of magic again, itched for the power she will once again possess. Looking over next to her,her thoughts were interrupted by the pure fear seen in beautiful green eyes. Beautiful? Where did that come from? Without thinking she reached out to touch Emma's arm, bringing those eyes to meet hers while she nodded to assure the blonde that everything will be okay. She wouldn't dare admit it but the rush that flooded her veins had nothing to do with the magic that was charging the air from the portal.
"Here we go everybody! Hold on!" Hook yelled over the roar, the portal now taking control of the ship as the wheel spun violently out of his hands. The ship rocked and dipped mercilessly in the hold of the portal, and deep brown eyes met green ones as the ship was swallowed in the purple swell.
