The rest of the day's journey was frustrating for everyone. Regina came up with the idea of taking a lost boy's heart to control so they could communicate with Henry. Emma had felt like part of her darkened when she allowed Regina to take the boy's heart; it had been why she had clung to Snow the way she did.
It had been some time since they spoke to their son, the day was beginning to darken and Emma was tiring, but she couldn't stop searching. Snow sought comfort by trailing back with Charming. Hook was in the middle of the group. Emma and Regina walked side by side in the front. The more the light of day disappeared, the more they brushed hands while walking, the action appeared to have become a source of comfort for Emma.
Regina felt darker and more evil than she had in the time since Emma touched her face and made her stop magic momentarily. She hadn't thought of the effect the blonde's goodness would have on her in the long run. Seven seconds. Seven seconds would all it would take for her to know. She needed to see her heart, next to Emma's for seven seconds and she could know why they reacted to each other the way they did. Emma would never go for it though, and even if she did, Snow and Charming wouldn't.
Emma had questions, on and off, Regina's feelings for their son. She knew Regina loved him, but how selflessly was the question. But when she saw Regina tell Henry "we love you" she could almost feel her heart burst. She would never question it again. Regina was putting up with Snow and Charming being disgustingly romantic so that she could work with Emma to get their son back.
Emma linked her pinky with Regina's, mentally shouting that she wanted a chance to talk to her alone. She wasn't sure if it would work, and it didn't appear to be. She thought her magic might not be strong enough, but Regina could read some intention in Emma's reaction. Regina squeezed Emma's pinky with her own and tried to keep her emotions light and happy. They felt each other's mood, Regina's blackening more quickly than Emma's own. The blonde felt the need to stop it, but didn't know how to get alone.
They walked farther on, Regina letting go of Emma and taking a few steps ahead of the group. When the brush got thicker Emma tried to push through the clearer parts, Regina went the harder route, through the thickness.
"Regina, where are you going?" Emma asked.
"We need to go this way."
"No, this way is clearer, we need more sight in the dark."
"Emma, I'm telling you, I feel right about this."
"Emma is the leader, Regina," Snow defended.
"I'm sorry, Savior," Regina mocked. She never took her eyes away from Emma's. "This is the right way."
"No, Regina." Emma stood her ground, taking a stance of dominance with her body.
"Fine, I'll see you all later." Regina looked away from Emma and continued walking away. Emma rolled her eyes and sighed.
"You guys stay here so I can find you, I'll be right back." Emma rushed into the overgrowth where Regina had disappeared moments previously.
She didn't get too far before she felt a hand wrap around her bicep and pull her behind a tree. Emma gasped in reaction, turning her face to see who gripped her.
"You needed to talk?" Regina whispered.
"Yeah, I wasn't sure you had caught that." Emma's brow furrowed and she hugged Regina.
Regina pushed her away before asking, "What did you need to say?"
"You're getting dark again."
"I did very dark magic, taking out an unwilling heart."
"I need you brighter, and more hopeful. I can't keep my mood up if yours is dark."
Regina moved her face closer to Emma's, and raised an eyebrow, smirking. "And how do you intend to change my mood, Savior?"
Emma looked hesitant, and then she placed her hands on either side of the queen's face. She inhaled sharply and pushed her lips against the brunette's. She kissed Regina gently at first, not getting reciprocation. The blonde pushed harder, forcing the fuller lips open with her tongue. The response to this was what she had been searching for. The women kissed fiercely, Emma's hands moving into the dark hair and pulling. Regina's hands pulled Emma's hips closer to her, and perfect teeth bit at warm lips, then moving her mouth along Emma's jaw and neck. Neither could have prevented the guttural sounds escaping their throats. Regina moved her right hand into blonde hair and pulled, jerking Emma's head back and exposing her neck. Regina inhaled the scent coming from the skin stretched across the savior's throat, then kissed it, her lips feeling the vibrations of moans.
The women heard the sound of a snapping twig and ripped apart. Emma snapped out of her relaxed state and Regina covered her mouth with three fingertips. They looked around and didn't see anyone, then looked each other over, assuring they were presentable. When they felt they were, the two headed back to the group. Regina, the expert at hiding herself, straightened her face and looked serious. Emma tried to look annoyed, which was proving easier than she thought, because she was annoyed at how she let someone who was once her enemy control her emotions.
Snow looked triumphant when she saw the seriousness on Regina's face and when they headed the way Emma had chosen. Regina laughed internally, thinking if Snow and Charming could only know what their daughter had been up to with her in the cover of the forest. Hook seemed suspicious though, clearly wanting Emma for himself, and Regina felt a pang of annoyance at him more than she had before.
"I obviously need to keep an eye on you, Regina, you walk with me," Emma said pointedly to the brunette.
"I object," Hook interrupted. "I require a work with the savior, if I might."
"What do you want, Hook?"
Just to capture a moment," he replied. Emma jerked her head in a motion to tell him to walk with her. When they began walking together, he spoke, "Regina listens to you well."
"I'm persuasive." Emma's tone gave nothing away.
"Oh my dear lady, I know that. The queen, however, takes persuasion from nobody."
"We have the same end goal. We want Henry back in our arms. Back with us. Separately, we each want him back," Emma stumbled over her words. She forced herself to stop talking before she gave anything else away to Hook.
"That's what I thought."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't you, Emma?"
"Hook, can you get to your point?"
"Certainly, my lady." With the closing of his words, he grasped Emma with his hand and pulled her to him for a kiss. His mouth covered hers in a heady way that Regina's didn't. His mouth was stronger, overly eager. He was a good kisser, but not what she wanted. Emma pushed him off when she thought she had allowed it long enough to get through that she wasn't interested. Charming and Snow were behind her and Regina behind Hook when the two broke apart.
"Nothing? Really?" Hook asked, surprised. "Well, that's anticlimactic, and a first. Plenty of those on this island, firsts I mean."
"You, keep your hands off my daughter," Charming said.
"She just lost Neal," Snow said.
Emma brushed off Snow's comment. "I don't need defending," Emma said sternly. She looked at Hook, "you, kiss me again and you'll lose your other hand. You two," she started, turning to Snow and Charming, "I'm an adult, not a child, I will take care of myself. Regina, up front with me, now."
"Yes, Savior," Regina retorted, then lowered her voice, "How'd that do for your mood?"
Emma waited until they were far enough ahead of the group for a whisper not to be heard. When Snow and Charming had resumed their conversation with each other, Emma leaned her mouth toward Regina and whispered, "you've ruined scruffy faces for me."
Regina couldn't the smile playing at her full lips. "I'd apologize for that, but I'm not really sorry."
"I would be offended if you were." Emma blushed, her cheeks warming, and hoped that Regina couldn't tell.