Regina listened to the waves lapping at the shore. Rumple had left her to prepare for the big showdown with Pan; Regina gave him his space, well aware of the secrecy of magical property everyone liked to keep - a copyright they might call it in Storybrooke. The thought made her smile. But she wasn't in a festive mood, despite the fact that certain victory was close at hand, she was thinking about how things were going to be…

This mission would only be considered a success if she could bring everyone home. Henry would not let her get away with less. In truth, she didn't care much about most people on the island, except for Henry, of course, and Rumple because he was an ally worth having… and maybe… Emma wasn't an altogether hopeless ca…

"Regina?" The dark-haired woman turned and looked up at the blonde she had just - maybe - thought of.

"Emma? Where is everybody else?" Regina looked behind Emma but she seemd to be alone.

"They're with Rumple. He said you two came up with a plan?"

"We did, we have a weapon… what have you guys been up to?"

Emma shrugged her shoulders.

"I'm not sure what the others are doing anymore. My parents are fighting, and Hook and Neal - Neal's alive, we found him -.. they're being ridiculous over me. Like anything mattered besides saving Henry…"

"They're fighting over you?" Regina asked, a shimmer of amusement in her dark eyes.

"Yeah, and they're behaving like little boys fighting over a robot-toy, or something… I already have a kid, I don't need two more," Emma said angrily.

"I've been there. Men want to possess a woman, protect her… at least, that's how it was supposed to be in our world… and that's where Hook and Neal come from, or close enough… in Storybrooke… nobody dared making such stupid claims over me…"

"Because you were the mayor… and had them all cursed." Emma grinned rakishly and Regina rolled her eyes.

"Because they knew I could take care of myself," she countered.

"I never would have doubted." Somehow they looked at each other, somehow they stared into each other's eyes. And somehow Regina felt ridiculously drawn to the blonde.

"Because you can take care of yourself, too," she breathed and felt herself blushing because her usually controlled voice would not obey her. But she felt weak in the presence of the savior, she felt breathless, her heart beating too fast. And it was weakening and exhilarating at the same time. Regina leaned forward, eager to see what a savior would taste like, anticipating the feel… when Emma was pulled backwards by some invisible force, flipping through the air and then hanging there, seemingly by her neck, making choking noises.

Regina sprang up and looked around. She saw Rumple standing not too far away, his hand lifted… and it dawned on Regina… that Pan had used the same trick on her as he had on Rumple. With Emma… with Emma? With Emma!