I was so overwhelmed by the response to the last chapter! I'm so flattered and thrilled you like the story. As a thank you, I'm updating faster than I perhaps would have. As requested by 'raspberry63' I have included why I like to think Regina can cross the town line without consequence.
I hope you all enjoy!
Regina burst into the diner, her eyes frantically searching the booths for Snow.
"Regina, what the-?" Snow started, but as soon as the other woman recognised her she thrust the small slip of paper into her hand.
"The date Snow. Look at the date." Regina said breathlessly, aware that all eyes in the diner were focused on her.
Snow obliged, "Sixteenth of December two thousand and fourteen." She frowned and looked up at Regina, confused as to why she was so het up. Regina looked at her meaningfully, tamping down the urge to comment on the woman's idiocy. Realisation hit and Snow looked at the paper again, screeching, "Two thousand and fourteen?!"
"Let me see that." Granny snatched the paper from Snow and scanned it before sinking into the seat Snow had recently vacated. "Regina, are you sure it's not a mistake?"
"Obviously." Regina bit. Then she remembered herself and continued more calmly, "I asked a lady in the gas station."
"Why were you even at a gas station?" Ariel asked somewhat timidly from her seat by the window.
"I was…" Regina trailed off, not answering.
"She was on her way to Boston." Snow smiled sadly at her, understandingly.
"Why did you come back?" Charming asked, taking the receipt and expecting it for himself.
"Because… it's been a year." Regina struggled to find the right words. "Even if I could find them, I still wouldn't know what I'd find."
Snow put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"We'll find them, I promise." She said and Regina didn't know whether to be thankful for the reassurance or disgusted by the phrase.
"We need to find a way to get them back." Ruby, who had been standing silently behind the counter piped up. "Emma and Henry belong here. Deep down even they've got to know it." She shrugged.
"Ruby's right." Snow said, "We need to find a way to get them back."
"We need to find them first." Regina countered. "I think we need to pay Gold a visit."
Snow, Charming, Granny and Ruby followed her out of the door, leaving Ariel in charge of customers.
They burst into the shop, the bell jangling noisily, alerting Gold to their entrance. He and Belle stepped into the room from behind the curtain separator.
"Now I know I'm good, but even I cannot ne expected to find a reason for the recent turn of events in such a short time." He almost joked.
"That's the thing." Snow stepped forwards, "The turn of events isn't exactly recent."
"What do you mean?" He asked.
Charming handed him the receipt. Gold's eyes scanned over it until her reached the date.
"That is what she means." Regina said, moving to stand next to Snow. "We need a way to find Emma and Henry. We could probably find a way to get them here, we just don't know where they are. Do you still has your globe?" She asked, glancing around the shop.
"I'm afraid our dear captain is still in possession of that little artefact." Rumple replied.
Regina was out of the door before anyone else could move.
"Hook!" Regina called out, stepping aboard the Jolly Roger. "I know you're here. Save us all some time and get up here before I come looking for you."
The leather-clad figure of Hook stepped up from his quarters as the others joined Regina on deck.
"Where's the globe?" Regina asked, the second she saw him.
"Sorry love?" He asked, wiping his eye and squinting at the bright light.
"We need a way to find Emma and Henry." Snow jumped in.
"In case you hadn't noticed, we're still in Storybrooke, therefore we can get Emma and Henry back and with true love's kiss, they should both remember everything." Regina explained.
Hook nodded, trying to clear his head and process all this information. "It's just down there." He pointed to another flight of stairs and followed after the group who were already making their way to the globe.
"What's the plan then?" He asked as he entered the map room.
"We don't actually have one." Ruby shrugged. "But I'm guessing that now we have a way to find Emma and Henry, you'll be taking us to get them."
"Indeed," Regina nodded, standing next to the globe, "We'll think of a way to get them back once we've established where they are."
"And why, pray tell, do you think I'm going to take you all to them?" Hook asked, crossing his arms.
"Because if you don't, I'll make sure that your precious little life isn't even worth-"
"Regina." Granny placed a hand on Regina's arm, pulling her away from Hook and stopping the threatening rant before it could escalate.
"Right…" Hook nodded slowly. "Okay then love. Do the honours." He directed his words to Regina and gestured towards the globe.
Regina straightened and turned towards it, she was just to reach out when Granny's voice stopped her.
"Before you set off, I think I'll get off this vessel. I've never been overly fond of the sea and as sweet as Ariel is, I doubt she'd be able to handle a hung-over Leroy at eight am." She smiled at them all, kissed Ruby on the cheek and exited the room.
When she was gone, Regina turned back and pricked her finger swiftly on the needle. She held her hand over the canvas as a drop of blood fell onto it and swirled around. Everyone gathered round as a map of Boston came into view.
"Right then, shall we?" As he started climbing the stairs, Snow's voice stopped him.
"Wait, I hadn't thought, don't we need a bean?"
Regina rolled her eyes and brushed past Hook on her way out.
"That's only when you're moving between worlds love." He said sympathetically before following Regina up onto the deck.
He emerged to see Regina casting an invisibility charm on the vessel –the same one her mother once had.
"Let's go then." She said, turning towards him. Her face was set.
Once they arrived in Boston harbour, they docked the invisible boat on a secluded area of the coast.
"What now?" Hook asked as everyone gathered on deck.
"You go and find them." Regina said simply. She produced a small photograph from her wallet and handed it to him. "I've charmed this, it was Henry's," her voice choked up, "it will lead you to them. Once you find them," She continued, handing him the picture, "I want you to somehow plant this in their apartment." She pulled a quarter out of her wallet. "It's duplicated and acts as a listening device, if it's close to them, we may be able to hear something useful and in the end, find a way to bring them home."
Snow looked at her. "That's such a good idea!" She exclaimed and Regina blinked at the compliment; she was unused to them.
"Alright." Hook took the quarter from Regina and put it in his breast pocket. "Do I go now?" he asked.
Regina's glare was enough of an answer for him and he made his way off the boat and down the pier. The others watched him until he was out of site.
Snow and Charming went below deck, intent on catching up on some sleep. They hadn't had much sailing through the night.
Regina sat on an upturned barrel and ran a hand through her hair. Ruby came and perched on one next to her.
They sat in silence for a while, admiring the sun as it peaked its first ray over the ocean.
"Why him?" Ruby asked, effectively breaking the tranquillity of the moment. "Why not you or Snow, or even me?"
Regina sighed before replying, "Not you Snow or Charming because you cannot step foot off this ship until we are back in Storybrooke. As far as I'm aware, the town line is active, however, due to the enchantment I cast on this God forsaken vessel, you can travel anywhere on it while keeping your memories. Besides, the three of you would be far too emotional if you saw Emma." She held up a hand as Ruby started to protest, "I know you may think you're terribly tough, but Emma is still your Goddaughter and one of your best friends. You would be a wreck." Ruby chuckled and Regina smiled slightly, "And not me because," she took a deep shuddering breath, "once I got there, I would never be able to leave."
"How come you're able to though?" Ruby elaborated at Regina's confused look, "Cross the town line I mean."
"I made sure I was able to when I cast the curse. The curse was tailored to my desires and while I wanted my happy ending, I also never wanted to be trapped anywhere again." Regina explained, looking down at her hands.
"Again?" Ruby asked, noticing Regina's slip-up immediately.
"Anywhere. Trapped anywhere." Regina quickly rectified, hoping the brunette she-wolf would accept her cover-up.
Ruby nodded. She knew that there were some things about one's past that you would rather were not revealed.
Emma looked up from her breakfast when she heard a loud knock on her apartment door. She looked at Henry, frowning.
"Who's that?" He asked her.
"I don't know, we're not expecting anyone." She replied. The knocking came again and she stood up. "Wait here." She instructed as she made her way to the door.
She opened it to find an oddly dressed man grinning at her.
"Swan, god to see you again!" He said, his English accent making itself known.
"I don't know who you are." Emma frowned, blocking the entrance to her apartment as he stepped towards her.
"I might have a way to make you remember." He replied.
Here goes nothing. Hook thought as he leant forwards and kissed Emma, throwing the quarter behind her. It rolled under a cabinet and out of sight.
Emma pushed him off her and kneed him in the nuts, making him stagger backwards.
"Worth a shot." Hook almost laughed as he hit the wall. "Listen Swan, your family's in danger."
"No." She replied, wiping her hand on the back of her mouth. "My family is here."
With that, she slammed the door in his face and made her way back to their living room.
"Who was that?" Henry asked, looking up at her as she walked in.
"I have no idea." She replied as she sat opposite him and began to eat her breakfast.
A crackling noise sounded from within her jacket pocket and Regina pulled out the duplicated quarter in time hear.
"No, my family is here."
Her eyes filled with tears when she heard Emma's voice. She knew that their son was close by. She knew he was safe, and for now, that was enough.