AN: Hey, everyone. Here's the next chapter. I think there's only going to be two more, maybe three. I hope you enjoy it. Have an awesome day!

Day 89:

Regina's POV

"You're late." I stated casually, adding a slight tint of disapproval for flare.

"I can't be late to a dream date." Emma called from behind me, making her way through the thick jungle toward me.

I lazily swung my legs back and forth over the edge of the cliff I was perched on, "One would think...yet, you managed it. And, when did these meetings become dates?" I asked in a light tone, but my insides were squirming with excitement at the implication.

"Since the second time it happened. And, you can't hide how much you lik- Ooff!" Her sentence cut off with a thud and a rush of air.

Quickly looking over my shoulder, I saw Emma lying face down on the ground grumbling to herself. I couldn't hear all her words, but caught enough to know she was cursing Neverland, the dirt, me, and the bug on the ground. Not sensing any real pain coming from her, I pressed my lips together and kept my expression and tone as calm as possible. "Are you alright?"

Emma pushed up with straight arms, bringing her feet under herself, and brushing off her clothes. "Stop laughing." Emma requested, continuing to grumble as she straightened her shirt and made her way over to me.

"I'm not laughing." I denied half heartedly, my internal amusement still rippling within me, fighting to burst free.

"Out loud. You're not laughing out loud. Did you forget I can feel you laughing?" Emma half snapped, half muttered, dropping down beside me, still mumbling, "You'd think I wouldn't be as clumsy in my dreams as I am in real life."

At that disgruntled remark, I finally let out an uncharacteristic giggle, "You'd think...Perhaps we should let go of any preconceptions of perfection in our dream world." As she settled next to me, the moon bounced off her hair, framing her face in glowing light. She turned with twinkling eyes, and flashed a soft grin. The special grin she saves for those moments when she's appreciating me. When she's really seeing me. My heart fluttered and my stomach clenched, causing me to add in a whisper, "Though, it's not completely devoid of perfection." Ensuring she saw me take in her face, I loosened any hold on my emotions. A soft gasp and coloring cheeks let me know she understood a second before a flood of similar feelings of affection, desire, gratitude, passion, and hope overwhelmed my senses.

"Ok, smooth talker, simmer down." Emma chuckled quietly.

Smirking, I raised an eyebrow, "Why? Am I making you nervous?"

Emma mimicked my swinging legs, letting her gaze drift over the jungle below us. "No, you'd feel if you were. However, if you keep saying things like that, you're going to piss me off, and that's not how I want to spend tonight."

I frowned, a lump forming in my throat. And, of course, that was the one time I couldn't read her feelings. "Why would that make you angry? I was just trying to-I thought- I mean, it seemed like we were...on the same page..." I floundered, not entirely sure how to put words on what I was thinking and feeling. It had been two weeks since the night in her bedroom, and we had 'seen' each other almost every night since then. We certainly appeared to both be entertaining thoughts and desires to be something...significant. But, as I sat there, listening to her reject my blatant admiration, I began to doubt her intentions.

Emma's gaze suddenly snapped to my face, an alarmed expression marring her features, "Whoa, wait." I realized she must have felt my instant inner turmoil. She shifted closer to me. "We are on the same page. But, there's a problem." Emma reached over and grabbed my hand, "I can't feel this." She gestured to our linked hands. "And, when you say things like you just said, all I can think about is how much I want to kiss you, to touch you." Understanding began to filter into my whirring mind. "And, every time I want to kiss you or touch you, it reminds me that I can't. Not being able to do that pisses me off, not you saying sweet things to me." Our eyes locked in a heated stand off, emotions being pushed and pulled between us. "Does that make sense?"

I nodded, taking a deep breath, "Completely." Emma relaxed, keeping our hands intertwined. "For the record, I'm very much looking forward to the day I can say something sweet to you and fully feel you kiss me after."

Emma grinned, "Look who's talking about the future, and having hope...My mother would be so proud."

Rolling my eyes, I shoved her shoulder, "Shut up, Miss Swan."

Laughing, Emma looked out into the dark sky, "Why are we sitting on the edge of a cliff?"

"Because I like to live on the wild side." I answered drily.

"Oh."

Day 93:

Emma's POV

"Yeah, so I walk up and ask them what the hell is going on. Everyone starts talking at once, yelling, cursing, and gesturing all crazy like. And, I have to start yelling over them to get them to shut up, but naturally, they don't. So..." I pause to tuck my leg under myself as I drop down next to Regina on her plush leather couch. Taking a sip of my dream wine, which was divine, I completed the thought, "So, I slapped Leroy."

Regina nearly snorted her own glass of cider, "You slapped him?!"

I laughed, "Not hard! In my defense, he was the drunkest and biggest, so he was the best choice."

"One might argue that not slapping anyone would be the best choice for the sheriff in charge of keeping the peace." Regina pointed out, but wore a pleased smirk that undermined her snark.

"One might. However, that one is not here right now, is she?" I asked, arching an eyebrow.

When she shook her head, silence acquiescing to my point and indicating for me to continue, I smirked, "Anyway, so after I slapped him- gently and appropriately-" Regina chuckled. "-everyone quieted down. So, I ask them again what happened. Turns out Leroy was dancing to 'Bend Ova' by Lil Jon. Well, his drunk moves disgusted Tink, who then demanded he stop. That pissed Leroy off, so he started cursing and waving his arms around, while continuing to perform twice as obscene dance moves. So, Tink kicked him in the shin."

"Oh, geez." Regina muttered, eyes locked on me in fascinated horror.

I nodded, "Yeah, so of course, he just got louder and more...'drunk Leroy'. So, then two of the dwarves jumped in to help calm him down, but Ariel got involved to help Tink, and Eric got in the middle to protect Ariel. Basically, they all just yelled and poked each other- yes, poked each other- so rowdily that the owner had to call me."

"And, you helped by slapping Leroy." Regina supplied with an amused grin.

"Yes, that is what I contribute to our small town police force." I smiled warmly at her. My arm was draped across the back of the couch, hand resting near her head. My fingers curled out to fidget with her dark, smooth hair. It had gotten longer in the months she'd spent in Neverland, and I found I loved watching my fingers run through it, even if I couldn't feel it. "So, that is why I didn't make it to see you last night. I ended up locking up Leroy, Doc, and Ariel for the night."

Regina frowned in confusion, "What did Ariel do?"

"She was really drunk."

She laughed, "Why didn't you just send her home with Eric?"

I shrugged, twirling a strand of her raven hair around my finger, "She wouldn't go with him. She kept saying he had the eyes of devil fish. No one knew what that meant, but she was fine with going to jail for the night. Apparently, I had the glowing skin of Ursula's gracious tentacles, so she was honored to stay in my quarters for the evening."

"Oh, wow." Regina chuckled, then laid a hand on my knee. I watched as she slowly stroked her thumb over the jean clad joint. "Well, I can't exactly fault her on that."

I grinned, scooting closer, "You think I have octopus skin or you want to spend the night in my quarters?"

"I think I feel honored for any time I get to spend with you." Her rich, dark caramel eyes overflowed with sincerity, and tumbling pulses of affection crashed into my chest.

My eyelids shuttered with temptation to close under the pressure, but I resisted, needing to maintain visual of the other woman. "Oh my gods, Regina." I groaned, setting my glass down and turning so I could lean back against her front. Cliche as it might be, her words dissolved my insides into an amorphous, fuzzy mass that made me tingle and vibrate with desire. As she grinned and settled back against the arm of the couch, her legs spread slightly, allowing me to fit snugly into her body. She didn't put down her glass, but her other hand ran smooth paths up and down my arm. "You're going to kill me if you keep going like that. Are you going soft on me?"

I could feel her stiffen behind me, and her emotions shift, "Yeah, I suppose being isolated in Neverland will do that."

Feeling like an ass, I swiveled enough to look up into her darkened face, "Hey, I'm sorry. I actually meant it as a complement. I love hearing you talk like that. Don't get me wrong, I love when you insult me, too." Regina scoffed, but I felt her mood lighten, "But, the way you talk to me now? I know you can feel what it does to me, but I'll tell you anyway. It makes me want to hold on to you and never let go." The last part was whispered into her neck, under her jaw, as I wasn't quite ready to look her in her face with that confession. "And, I'm really, really sorry that you are stuck out there by yourself."

Regina leaned over and set her glass on the coffee table, then sunk back down. "Can I confess something?"

I nodded, "Of course."

"I'm a little glad this happened to me."

My gaze snapped up to her face, sensing some tangled and confusing emotions coming from her, "What?"

I watched as her throat jerked with a harsh gulp, and recognizable nervousness splashed over me, "I mean, I don't enjoy being there, and I miss my son immensely, but...I can't help but wonder if we would have ever gotten here if I hadn't gotten trapped in Neverland." She motioned to our intimate position on the couch, and punctuated it by laying her hand on my stomach, lightly caressing me through my thin tank top.

Growing warm, I mumbled, "It's weird that that doesn't tickle, normally I'm crazy ticklish."

Regina chuckled thickly, "I'll keep that in mind."

"I'd like to think we'd have found our way here, even if you had escaped Neverland with us. Though, I admit, it might have taken a really long time. You're very stubborn." I smirked, waiting for her predictable reaction.

"I'm the stubborn one?"

"I think a solid argument could be made that you're the one with the iron will to hold onto things." I pointed out cheekily.

"Well, that may be. However, you might appreciate that trait depending on what I choose to hold onto." She almost purred the words as her fingers slipped onto the span of skin between my shirt and pants.

I squirmed against her, I may not have been able to physically feel her, but the visual was inflicting its own damage. "Fair enough...I really wish I could feel you right now."

"Me, too."

"I've been looking through the vault where you told me to, but I can't find anything...well, that's not entirely true...I find things, I just honestly have no idea what I'm looking at. I need you-" I laughed hollowly. "In a lot of ways. But, I need your help. I can't fix this, I'm not...enough." That pit in my stomach started to grow. That pit that formed from being an abandoned, neglected foster kid. It flared and itched every time I felt not equal to a task, less than adequate, not important, or overlooked. A moment like not being able to discover a magical solution to our predicament.

"Emma, you are enough. I promise you that. This is just a particularly rare and difficult problem. Did you talk to Rumple? Or Blue?"

"Not Blue. I don't know why exactly, but I don't trust her. If necessary, I'll consider it, but I want to try everything else first." I knew it sounded a little pathetic and childish, but my gut told me no, and I trusted that.

"Good. I feel the same way. Does that mean you talked to Rumple?"

"Wow, it feels a little tragic that we trust Rumple over...well, anyone. But, yeah, I did. He said he'd look into it, but nothing yet." Pressing further into the brunette behind me, I deeply longed to feel the heat of her body. "Honestly, I don't know how hard he's looking. With you gone, he's the most powerful person in town, and he has his son back and Belle...I think he's enjoying himself too much right now to bother helping me or risk upsetting that somehow by bringing you back."

"We'll figure this out, Emma." Regina breathed into my ear, the low timber sending chills down my spine.

Deciding to skip answering her, I let my eyes close as I soaked up the moment. I reveled in the knowledge that, at least in our dreams, Regina held me close, protecting me, cherishing me. Before long, I felt myself start to drift off, which in that situation meant it was nearing morning, and I was waking up in real life. Before fully succumbing to the pull, I mumbled, "Please be there when I wake up."

The last thing I heard from her that night was a whispered, "Someday."

Day 102:

Regina's POV

"Oh, we're meeting on the beach today. I like it." Emma commented happily as she sat down next to me in the sand.

I smiled at the sight of my favorite blonde, and the mirth in her expression only intensified my appreciation of her, "I thought a change of scenery might be nice."

Emma cocked head, "So, did you fall asleep here, or did you somehow direct where we came when we fell asleep?"

I furrowed my brows, trying to straighten it out in my head to put it in words, "I guess, I just thought about coming here as I was falling asleep. Perhaps we can dictate where our meetings happen if we try."

Emma nodded, "Cool." She grinned and grabbed my hand, as had become habit, "So, Henry got an A on his Chemistry test, guess those potion brewing genes kicked in." She smirked when I rolled my eyes at her, but continued without pause, "He scored three times at his Lacrosse match this week. Our scrawny little boy is becoming strangely athletic, which definitely didn't come from me. Do you play any sports?" She stopped her Henry update to look inquisitively at me.

Scoffing, I shook my head good-naturedly, "No, certainly not. Well, horseback riding may count, but no conventional sports for me."

"Neal says its all him. But, I never knew him to be good at organized anything. He was an exceptional delinquent, and a decent boyfriend-"

"Until he abandoned you in jail." I felt the odd compulsion to interject.

"Yeah, until then." Emma granted with a vague wave of her free hand, "But, he's been good with Henry, and has been really trying to help when he can. He actually cooked us dinner this weekend. I had no idea he could cook, he even cleaned our kitchen after. Then, he helped Henry with his English project." I felt infuriatingly strong flickers of pride and contentment come from her as she spoke.

Trying very hard to contain the boiling jealousy suddenly present in my gut, I attempted a neutral tone, "Do you guys have dinner a lot?"

Emma shrugged slowly, seeming to be picking up on some of my emotions, but either not getting them all or not understanding them, she answered cautiously, "Yeah, sometimes when he drops him off, or we meet up at Granny's..."

A crushing wave of nausea thrashed over me at the thought. The image of Neal in my house in my kitchen having dinner with my son and my...Emma sent my emotions into a tailspin. I sprung to my feet and began to pace. Scorching hot stabs of pain, confusion, panic, and desperation ran through my heart and gut. I couldn't control them if my life depended on it.

Emma was on her feet in an instant, attempting to keep up with my frantic movements, "Whoa. Hang on. Talk to me. I can feel what's going on, but it's all jumbled and fast and I can't figure out what exactly is happening." When I didn't answer right away, she anxiously rambled on, "The best I can come up with is jealousy, but that seems so inadequate to describe everything I'm feeling from you right now...please talk to me."

I could feel her hurt and worry at my clear state of upset, but I also couldn't seem to form words to express myself to her. Honestly, I couldn't even decide if I was angry with her or not. Everything felt uncomfortable, like my skin was too tight and my lungs too small. "Emma, I...I don't..." I tried, but my mouth and mind failed to cooperate. Flashes of Neal and Emma assaulted my mind's eye, causing sizzling flares of jealousy to surge through me. Then, they morphed to images of Neal and Henry laughing and working on a school project spurred different bouts of jealousy and longing.

Emma sighed and plopped down on a boulder, "Ok. I really want to talk to you about what's upsetting you, but obviously you're not ready. So, I'll just sit here until you are."

Emma seemed to have learned early on that pushing me never worked, so she patiently waited until I found the words I wanted to say to her. I felt her concern, her care, her urging, but she never uttered a word.

Able to push her presence aside for the time being, I aimed my focus inward and started to strategically pull apart the situation. The feelings had definitely started when Neal was mentioned. The idea of him and Emma spending time together made me feel...jealous...nervous...sad. The idea of him and Henry spending time together made me feel resentful...jealous, protective. The labels came faster as I attacked them pragmatically. The idea of him, Henry, and Emma spending time together made me feel jealous, desperate, sad, and blind angry. My pacing began to slow. My conclusion seemed to be that I was jealous of the family Emma and Henry were creating without me. However, I also feared losing my son to him, and losing my chance with Emma. And, then a deeper, scarier truth emerged gradual and threatening from the depths.

"I am jealous. I'm jealous of the time he spends with you, I'm jealous of the time he spends with our son, I'm jealous of the time he spends with, what I consider, my family. I want to be the one there with you and Henry. I feel as if I earned it. Yet, he comes in from nowhere and gets it all. It's not fair." I started with the simple feelings, the ones that I understood and had a clear explanation.

Emma nodded, but remained quiet, knowing I had more to share. So, I simply kept laying it out for her and myself, never looking directly at her. "I'm afraid that you're going to remember how much you loved him, and fall for him again. He's there. He's there for you, helping, being around. I'm not." I held up my hand as Emma started to intertupt with that admission, "Wait, let me finish...I'm afraid that Henry will get his dad and forget that he needs his other mom. Forget everything I was to him. He doesn't know I'm still alive, it would be so easy to replace me with his father."

Emma studied me closely, green eyes seeming to absorb every inch of my face, every body movement, process every muddled emotion I sent her way. "I have responses to all that, but there's something else, isn't there?" Her voice was heavy, as if she not only knew I had something else to say, but knew she wouldn't like it.

Finally bringing my eyes to her, I stared into them, steeling myself. "Emma...I think...I think you need to stop coming here."

To my surprise, Emma simply shook her head and rolled her eyes, remaining calm, "No."

Frowning, I took a few more steps toward her, "Emma, I'm serious. I'm stuck here, in Neverland, with no way to leave, no way to give you what you need." As the conviction in my voice and radiating emotions strengthened, Emma's eyes grew and tremors of panic started sparking from her.

"Wait, you're being serious? No, Regina. No. I'm not going to stop coming to see you because you're scared and lashing out." Emma insisted, almost harshly. She jumped to her feet, and closed the rest of the distance between us.

"That's not why I'm saying this. Emma, you're..." I searched her face, brows furrowing as I grasped for the right word. "You're the most fascinating, bull headed, complex, big hearted, infuriating, selfless, selfish, breathtaking person I've ever met. You deserve so much more than brief meetings in a dreamworld. After everything you've been through, you deserve to have everything. The whole family experience. Marriage, kids if you want more, vacations, lazy Sundays, big Thanksgivings." Tears pricked at my eyes as I heard and felt Emma pull in shuddering breaths, and her wavering feelings of longing and pain. I took her hands, imploring her to hear me, "I can't...I can't give you those things, Emma. I'm here, and I may never escape. We can't pretend we can go on like this."

Emma frowned, anger and denial consuming her features, eyes shimmering, "I'm not interested in you being the martyr in this, Regina. I can't tell you how happy hearing you say those things makes me, and I do want all of that. But, I'm going to be stupidly honest right now. I only want those things with you." My breath completely lodged in my chest, unable to move under the weight of her words. "If we end up not being able to have that, if all we ever get is this, I'm in."

Unable to fully grasp what she was saying, I said the first thing that came to mind, "We can't even touch, that means we can never-" My cheeks reddened as I considered the end of that sentence.

Emma chuckled wetly, "Yeah, well, I guess we'll have to get creative on that front."

I pinched the bridge of my nose and shook my head, "No...Emma, that's not...Please listen to what I'm saying. You could have it all with Neal, or Hook, or whoever. You could have everything..." My stomach dropped, the pain of giving her up to someone else nearly suffocating me.

Suddenly, anger swelled from Emma, overtaking my body with its intensity. "No, Regina, listen to what I'm saying. I don't want anyone else, not now, not when I know what being with you feels like. And, yes, maybe we can't have everything, maybe we'll only ever have short meetings during our dreams, but if it means we get to be together in any capacity, that's all I want. Besides, we are going to figure out a way to get you out of there, and when we do, then everything will be a possibility for us." Emma had been gesturing wildly, her eyes giant, and breathing heavy.

I lunged forward and cupped her cheeks with trembling hands. I couldn't handle feeling her heart break in front of me and do nothing. I also felt flattered that the idea of leaving me affected her so furiously. "Ok, ok, ok. Take a breath. I hear you, ok? I hear you." Making sure to lower my voice to a soothing hum, I stroked her cheeks and stared into her eyes.

"You'll let me come back?" Emma asked, her voice so vulnerable and small, like a child.

"Yes."

Emma pulled back a fraction, squinting as she searched my face, "Because you want me to, right? Not just because I essentially threw a tantrum?"

I rolled my eyes, "Do you have to make everything so difficult? Yes, Emma, I want to see you more than anything. I only wanted you to stay away because I-" I cut off, unwilling to say the words that would forever tether us to each other, still hoping in a deep part of me that Emma would find true happiness elsewhere should we not be able to save me from Neverland. "I want more for you."

Emma shrugged, "And, I want more for you. So, we're just going to have to keep looking for a way to get you home, so we can have more together."

Sighing with exhaustion and crushing emotions, I practically fell into Emma's welcoming embrace. I laid my head on her shoulder, face nestled in her neck. Her arms wrapped around my shoulders and rested on my back as mine clutched around her waist. "Ok. We keep looking."

AN: What did you think?