Sorry, for the late update. I went off the deep end Saturday night with my first read of a Harry Potter fanfiction, I couldn't put it down except to sleep and I probably ignored everyone yesterday and had like lunch and nothing else. Very intense and probably extreme. It was also angst filled so my sadism and masochism is at new level now.

Warning: Violence, Sex, Torture, mentions of rape and prostitution, language, heavy alcohol use, self harm (still a pirate story)

Warnings for this chapter: Violence, torture, language, and de-handing...?

Beta: Withgirl

Enjoy.

They just stared at each other. Well Emma stared at Regina.

The woman had taken a seat at her desk feeling a headache crawling to the back of her head again. She grimaced at the food in front of her but sighed and took a bite of it. She needed to think and decided maybe Emma had had enough interaction for the day but from the stare she felt burning into the side of her face, maybe she might have been wrong. She looked over to Emma and then looked at the bread that was in her hand. Regina stopped chewing immediately and held it out to her. Even someone as traumatized as she was wouldn't pass up fresh bread. Emma looked tempted but didn't move from her spot on the edge of the bed. Regina pushed out of her chair and calmly walked over to the blonde.

Regina held it out to her, so close she wouldn't even have to work hard to reach for it. Emma put her hand out and the brunette was prepared to hand it over but the cold hand latch onto her wrist and her hand was pulled forward. She watched in surprise as Emma took a small bite from it, holding on to her wrist tightly, silently asking she not take it away. The older woman felt a twist in her gut, and that was more than she'd ever really felt for anyone, at the sight. Emma took another bite and Regina grabbed her hand and pushed the bread into her scarred palm.

"Just take it," Regina said quickly and moved over to sit back down at her desk. She kept her eyes on the papers she'd taken from the other ship and snuck a glance over to the woman.

Emma stared down at the food and then looked back up to Regina.

"Eat it," Regina said, running her finger around the rim of her rum. She watched tensely as Emma started to eat it herself but she kept eye contact with her as like she was waiting for something. Regina found she was always waiting for something and she wasn't sure what it was. She cleared her throat and Emma looked up at her nervously and Regina tilted her glass to her, "You drink?"

Regina smirked when the blonde shrugged. She pushed it over to the edge of the desk and leaned back in her chair to prop her legs up on the dark wood. She glanced at Emma and the younger woman was standing up trying to keep balance on her legs and walked over to her with her eyes on the goblet. She didn't seem to notice the brown eyes watching her from over the edge of the documents in her hands.

"Go on," Regina encouraged. "I've had too much."

Their eyes met and Regina watched her gaze narrow in suspicion. Emma pulled her hand away and stepped away from the desk.

"I'm not trying to poison you. I wouldn't benefit from it," Regina said defensively and her eyes widened as she remembered Emma didn't speak. The blonde looked at her in shock and stepped back until the back of her legs hit the bed. "You don't have to be scared of me. I'm not going to hurt you."

She didn't look too convinced by Regina's words and her eyes became even more suspicious. The older woman figured this would be how things were between Emma and anyone now. She was in a much safer place but Regina knew the mind could be bruised. It wouldn't let a person believe so easily in hope. Not that Regina so easily believed in it herself.

"Look I'll go," Regina said pushing away from her desk and standing up not noticing the fear coming back to the green eyes. "I have some things to tend to on deck. You can do whatever you like. My clothes are over there. You can sleep. You can…I don't know, anything."

As Regina made it to the door, she heard a whimper and turned to see the tears trekking down Emma's face. The blonde looked at her pleadingly and Regina froze. Emma came over to her and weakly reached out to her. Regina was quick to take her hand and pulled her close as if it was natural and she had been doing this with the blonde for a long time.

Emma clung to her tightly and Regina put a comforting hand to her head, "It's okay." She felt the blonde shake her head into her shoulder and she sighed. "I'll find who did this to you. You won't have to be scared ever again."

Regina didn't question her actions even though it was something she'd never done with anyone. It was very possible she wasn't aware of what she was doing and it was surely going to come as a surprise later on. It was going to hit her like mountain when she realized what she'd done...what she was doing.

The older woman pulled her even closer and rested her head against Emma's and whispered, "Everything is alright. I promise."

She pulled away and tried to give the blonde her best assuring look. Emma let herself be seated back on the bed as Regina took the tumbler and drunk from it to show it was safe before she handed it to Emma. It seemed her suspicion had calmed down and she took it and drunk from it greedily. Regina couldn't really tell if she liked liquor or not the way she drained the drink. She more than likely hadn't tasted any of it.

"Interesting…"

Emma wiped at the tears on her cheeks and held the glass in her lap, watching Regina pull clothes down from a shelf. She exchanged the glass for the clothes and Emma took the hint that it meant she was supposed to change. She quickly pulled the pants over her bare legs and looked up to Regina in gratitude.

"You're welcome," Regina responded quietly. "You should get some sleep…that is, if you want to stay here. On the ship?"

Emma nodded sheepishly and glanced back to the bed.

"You can sleep there. I don't sleep much so it'll be yours," Regina said glancing away as the woman pulled the tattered dress away from her body and hurried into the warm shirt Regina provided. From the way she looked she was relieved to be in a more comfortable set of clothes. The older woman watched as she crawled under the blankets and looked expectantly at her. "I really must go to the helm for something. Do you want guards at the door?"

Emma gave a small smile and tried to hide away some of her fear of being left by the woman that had saved her from her prison. The feeling of safety revolved around the mysterious woman and Emma was reluctant to let her go so easily but she'd let her leave because she promised in her own way that she'd be back. In answer to the question asked she bowed her head and pulled the blankets further up her body.

"I'll be back soon," Regina announced as she opened the door. "Try to rest."

She gave a few words to the men always loyally guarding her rooms and ordered them to not let anyone inside except herself and no one else was an exception. They obeyed having been relieved of their duty of being present during a sendoff.

She continued on until she was fully on deck. The sea was calm and the Hangman was at ease for just a moment even if it wasn't for the best of reasons. And the sky was an unusual dark blue and the moon casted a white glow over all of them.

Regina nodded to her crew as they all stood on deck looking out toward the east. She walked up to the helm and Killian took that as indication to start the small ritual.

"Drop the boat," he called.

A splash sounded underneath them and all eyes fell to it as it started to drift with the waves. Regina leaned over and grabbed her bow and arrow from the quartermaster's hands and walked over to the edge to watch the liner rock lightly. Her jaw tensed at the small body shadowed inside. The crew lowered their heads with their hats between their fingers as James came over to their captain with a torch in hand.

Regina gave him permission and he took the torch to the tip of the arrow. He stepped back and watched curiously as she pulled it back, paused, and then released it. It flew from the tips of her fingers and after a moment of unnerving silence, the small liner caught fire.

"Nice shot, Captain," James praised in disbelief.

"Be quiet boy. Don't be disrespectful." Killian nearly smacked in the head but refrained, saving it for a later date.

He nodded and glanced over to the boat beginning to disappeared out of their sight. He bowed his head and only looked up when Regina's shadow passed him and she disappeared to her quarters like he noticed happened often. Although this time he was sure her retirement was due to the woman in her room.

Killian watched until the boat was no longer even a small dot in his vision and when he turned he noticed Regina walking back to her cabin with her head hanging. He rushed after her to stop her before she got passed the two men at her door that wouldn't let him through. He reached out and caught her arm, spinning her around to meet his gaze, "You alright love?"

"Fine," she replied stiffly, brushing fallen hair out of her face.

"You watched her die…" He started sympathetically. Thunder clattered above them and suddenly it started to rain and that was all the answer he needed. He looked into her eyes and saw emotion in them. It wasn't the typical anger and sorrow is the last thing he expected to see.

"It made me feel something."

"That's…odd."

"Yes. I've seen plenty of dead children; this should make no difference."

Another clap of thunder seemed to make the ship vibrate and the crew erupted into worried whispers, casting glances over to Regina. Killian looked over his shoulder and then back her, "You should rest."

"Everything should be fine come morning."

"I'd believe that if there was even a chance you would sleep tonight, Mills."

"I have a guest to look after," Regina answered lamely.

"Speaking of which...what's happening with that?"

"She was a personal slave for the captain of that abandoned ship. It'd be too much to hope at the very least he wasn't sharing her with the rest of the crew."

"That kind of slave then."

"What other slave is there on a pirate ship, Killian?"

"You, Captain," he admitted. She looked up to him from the deck below her boots with a somewhat surprised expression but before she could comment he was already gone.

She glanced up toward the sky as the rain fell down on them before she turned back to her prior destination and dared the two guards to speak about the conversation they no doubt heard. They said nothing, not even sparing her a look as she walked by and closed the door behind herself.

A tired sigh left the older woman as she walked to the center of the room, wringing out her long hair and ignoring the puddles of water forming with her every move. She shed her top, dropping it to the floor and her hand automatically resting against her stomach where the splinter of wood from the attack had be implanted.

The tiredness that had followed her around since her encounter with Daniel had forced her to not even think about putting on another shirt. No one would disturb her tonight. She glanced over to her bed and found Emma curled up in a tight ball, a lump under the sheets and fast asleep. The thought to curl up at the edge of the bed occurred to her but something like that would probably terrify the woman so she dropped down in her desk chair and took the decanter of amber liquid into her hands.

"Someone has to die," she repeated to herself and leaned back, propping her feet up and pulling the decanter up to her lips.

Graham watched from afar as his old friend picked up a little girl happy to see him as his wife smiled at him. He held the pipe between his lips and inhaled just as he started to walk over to the scene. The happy trio continued to be so even as he stood by. Daniel's wife noticed him first and the man followed, his brow creasing in confusion.

"Sorry to interrupt," Graham said sincerely. "I need to have a word, mate."

"I'm with my family right now, Humbert."

"I assure you you'll want to know about this. It involves Regina Mills."

Daniel's wife narrowed her eyes at the name and then looked to Daniel for an explanation. He flushed slightly and handed his daughter back to her, kissing her cheek and promising to explain but she pulled away from him, "What's going on? Have you been to see her?"

"We happened to be on the same port. I was there to arrest someone," Daniel replied, ignoring Graham's smirk. "She's a tortured woman. I was just trying to help her."

"She's a pirate, Daniel. The worst of them all."

"She was going to hurt someone; I was just trying to guide her in the right direction. She's cursed."

"Handle this but afterwards I don't ever want to hear her name again," she said turning and stalking away with their daughter in her arms.

Daniel brought his attention back to the man behind him with strong glare taking over his face, "Why would you mention her in front of my wife?"

"Didn't think it'd be so much of a problem for you Colter. It's not like she has to worry about you having an affair with a lowly pirate like her."

"That's enough, Graham. What do you want?"

Graham folded his arms across his chest, "Admiral wants information on Regina. I've been sent to issue you your summons…verbally."

"Information?" Graham shrugged. "We go through this all the time no one knows anymore about her than they did over 25 years ago."

"Well as secret as your time as a pirate is, you being her lover isn't as much of a secret, mate. They want emotional leverage over her."

"Emotional leverage? She's practically dead. Her heart doesn't beat. There's barely enough emotion in there for her to be angry about something, let alone have deep rooted emotional connection with people. Why?"

"Devil's Hangman was involved in the sinking of a vital Navy vessel. They want to put her on trial but obviously they have to catch her first."

"Then why aren't they talking to you? You've been sleeping with her personal guard shouldn't you be the first person they track down?"

"My business is my business."

"And if it becomes theirs?"

"Are you threatening me, Daniel? A man who could potentially have very strong ties to murderous pirates who owe me a favor or two?" Daniel frowned at the implications. Graham stepped up closer to him and the slightly shorter man looked at him cautiously. "You have a beautiful family, Colter. Don't do anything to jeopardize that."

"Now you're threatening me…"

"No I'm just telling you what's in your best interest. Now I've handed off the summons to you. Be there tomorrow, noon or face prosecution for aiding the enemy."

"Understood," Daniel sneered walking away to console his wife.

"Captain," James said with his hand hovering over the woman's shoulder. Deciding whatever she might do to him wouldn't be that bad, he let his fingers brush her bare skin, "Captain!"

Regina bolted up from her seat, her hand latching onto his wrist tightly. Her chest heaved up and down and James tried not to stare at her bare chest, not that she cared much at all. She looked up to him and he held up a shirt to her. She took it and dropped her arm back into her lap.

"Captain…"

"What?" Regina questioned squinting up at him.

"Aren't you going to put it on?"

Regina glanced down to her bare torso and recalled the events of last night. She remembered drinking herself into a stupor and those weren't usually very pretty to witness. Typically, it was very violent. Her eyes immediately snapped to the bed, examining the lump under her silk sheets.

"Who let you in here?" she questioned eyeing Emma's form in the bed before glancing around the room. She frowned at its cleanliness. No tossed furniture, no shattered glass or torn fabric. She sighed in relief since that meant she hadn't disturbed Emma in her sleep or harmed her in any way.

"I-"

"Nevermind it," Regina said dismissively. She noticed him squirming his place and pulled the shirt over her head and down over her shoulders. He visibly relaxed and seemed to be able to look at her now. She knew he had already been very uncomfortable with the wound on her chest and certainly enjoyed fixing her boots more than his job of tending to it. "You may leave. I don't need anything."

"Yes, Captain." He bowed his head and moved out of her quarters.

"James," she called.

"Majesty?"

"Tell Theo his presence is requested immediately." He nodded and left closing the door behind him.

Regina adjusted herself in her chair and looked over to her desk. It was a bit messy as always but the three empty bottles of liquor made her seriously wonder how she hadn't destroyed the room. But she couldn't get too caught up in her thoughts as movement caught her eye. She looked over to the bed and Emma shifted under the sheets before a mess of blonde hair popped up. Unconsciously, Regina grinned at the sleepy woman as she rubbed her eyes and yawned.

"Sleep well?" Regina asked. Emma looked up to her and nodded with a small smile. "Good…Can you remember anything?"

The blonde stared down into her lap thoughtfully but the door swung open and she startled, cowering back into the headboard of the bed and pulling sheets up her body protectively. Thea came into the room relieved to toss her hat away and let her long braided blonde mane to fall passed her shoulders. Emma's shoulders immediately relaxed from the tension but Thea's eyes only fell to Regina. Her nose was pink as were her cheeks and she gave Regina pleading look.

"It's hot out there, Captain Mills. We need shade."

"Don't complain," Regina said sounding just a stiff as she looked behind her desk. "You need the sun."

"I'm not you, Captain. I'm not an exotic woman from the place where the natives' glow golden like treasure."

Regina rolled her eyes and nodded over to her bed. Thea shifted her eyes over to the blonde and smiled at the familiar look in Emma's eyes.

"Emma. You still remember me?" Thea asked.

Emma grinned and nodded back. Thea came over to her and hugged her tight. The older woman in the room watched from her desk quietly, analyzing everything about their interaction. She hoped maybe she could learn something from it and maybe have a less strange way of communicating with her. She looked on thoughtfully as Thea smoothed down wild blonde hair and caressed her face gently as Emma held onto her and smiled softly at her whispers.

Suddenly, feeling like she was imposing on a private moment amongst family, Regina stood silently from her chair and grabbed her coat from the hook to her left. A loud sound vibrated the air around them and Thea, seeing her up from her desk turned slightly to her, "Someone caught a thief."

Regina nodded at the new information and walked over to the doors, "I'll leave you two to…catch up. I believe I have business to attend to. If you would like a show, make yourselves comfortable on the helm with Jones."

"Aye Captain," Thea said watching her leave before turning back to Emma next to her on the bed. Emma looked curiously after her and then looked at her for explanation. "I think she's going to throw someone overboard. I heard it's quite entertaining."

Emma's brow furrowed in worry, her eyes asking why.

"She's a pirate, Emma…The Queen of the Damned. She's gotta damn somebody." Her sister nodded in agreement and hugged her again. Thea wrapped her arms across her shoulders.

The whip cracked again, breaking the air around them. Regina jolted from her daydreaming at the searing pain splitting down her back. She had drifted off to dissociate herself from the torture she was receiving. If she'd counted right it would've been number seventy-two.

She blinked at the unnaturally bright sky over them and she whimpered as another crack came down on her back. She jerked forward at the force and blood spilled from her lips dripping down her chin into the puddle of sweat and blood under her.

"Have you had enough yet?" Gold snickered.

Regina flexed her fingers, flinching at the cold that bit through her flesh from the shackles around her wrist. Her knees were burning from kneeling in front of the contraption she was strapped to. All it really was, was a wooden cylinder in the center of the deck with a piece of plank wood across it, which was where the shackles held her arms in front of her leaving her only support her elbows.

The whip came down on her again and it forced a cough out of her. More blood dripped from the corner on her lips and she sighed, "If I said yes, would you actually make him stop?"

"I'd consider it. Only if you've learned your lesson, Your Majesty."

Another slash to her back caused another spill of blood from her lips. Most people would be dead and if not dead they'd be wishing for death but that was her curse. Even if she wished for it, she could not die. Even if she'd try to kill herself it wouldn't work. She'd just suffer the pain.

"Okay," Regina gagged. Her chest heaved for the relief of cold air stinging the raw flesh of her back. "I've learned my lesson."

Gold glanced up at her and walked over to her, inspecting her quivering thighs. He got down to her level and looked her deep in the eyes, his hand fell to her right thigh, "Are you sure? There's still some unblemished skin available."

"No. I've learned."

"Fine then." He stood up and gestured to his minion to unshackle her.

Rough hands released her without a touch of gentleness and as soon as her wrists were free, she dropped to the ground in exhaustion. It had been two hours of torture and verbal abuse for her disobedience. Her body wouldn't function right for a while so she'd be laying there for a while.

"Now when I tell you I want a soul damned to my dominion, what are you going to do?" Gold sneered down at her shivering form.

"I'll do it," Regina mumbled, beginning to slip into unconsciousness.

"What is it that I told you? Always remember that that line…"

"Someone must die."

"That's right. Someone must die. And you're going to be the one to make sure they do." Regina closed her eyes lazily but listened for as long as she could. "I am your master! You are my property and you will do what I say when I tell you!...Now what do you say?"

"Yes, master."

"Good girl. When you wake you'll be back on your ship," Gold said dismissively.

"Thank you, master…"

Regina blinked out of her memory as she stood in the center of her chanting crew. They created a packed circle on the deck. They yelled and threw out their bets waving any money they were willing to risk. She glanced over to Emma and Thea at the helm next to Killian and turned back to the ring she was in. She removed her captain's hat and dropped her coat and the quartermaster scurried over to her and handed her, her sword.

She pulled it from the sheath and ran her index finger on the edge of the blade to the tip until it nicked her finger. Blood pooled up on her finger but she paid it no mind.

"I'm sure you all have been waiting for a good show," Killian announced loudly, heard by everyone over all the cheers. "Well, you all get a front row seat to the best and bloodiest show in the sea. We have a traitor amongst us." Killian smirked at sudden booing. "Traitors get no mercy! Now…place your bets, lads. And choose wisely because Hell hath no fury like the Queen of the Sea!"

The crew cheered and shouted and the thief was pushed forward into the manmade ring. He didn't look at terrified or even the least bit sorry. Regina didn't mind it. It really just made her fun come without an instance of guilt. He drew his sword and pointed it at her from where he stood. He received a shove from someone behind him in the front of the crowd at the disrespectful gesture.

"Pussies first, bastard!" Someone shouted and encouraged more yelling and chanting.

Without a thought, the thief lunged at her and she sidestepped him effortlessly. Everything fell silent. She walked forward calmly holding her sword limply at her side and turned to face him as he straightened himself. He shook his shoulders and bounced on the balls of his feet seemingly more confident than anyone should have been. With cry, he waved his sword above his head before it came down to meet Regina's.

The clash of iron vibrated the air around the ship and the crew had renewed optimism. They shouted and chanted Devil's Hangman from the top of their lungs with rum bottles in the hands. Killian chuckled and drunk from his own flash before handing it over to Thea who shrugged and drunk from it.

He knew the crew's enjoyment contributed to Regina's fight. She enjoyed giving a show and grew cocky and smug as the noise around her grew in her favor, as it always had. The sound of chanting and drunken songs along with the small thuds of dice hitting the wood beneath as gambling broke out on deck as the fight continued.

A particularly loud clash of metal sounded and Emma jumped under her sister's arm around her shoulder. Thea glanced over to her and squeezed her shoulder, pulling her closer. Emma seemed genuinely scared for the Captain's wellbeing and Thea grinned at her knowing exactly where this could be leading to.

On top of her gratitude to Regina for saving her and her urge to cling to the woman, she also was developing a crush on her too. It had been a while but she was still familiar with the glint in those stormy green eyes.

"Hey," she said into Emma's ear, "She's going to be just fine, Emma. I'm sure she gets a kick out of this."

They looked back as thief swung Regina around after having a collision and gave her no time to recover before he thrust his sword into her chest. Adding insult to injury, he grabbed her forcefully by the waist pulling her closer and digging the sword deeper. He stepped back with a look of satisfaction as the ship grew silent.

A gasp escape Emma's throat and she leaned forward over the railing, fighting her urge to help. She didn't bother to question her strong emotions for the pirate so she also didn't fight them. She saved her life of course she cared about her safety. That was all she cared to address for the moment.

"Or not…" Thea said quietly and Emma glanced at her in concern before forcing her eyes back to the sword in her savior's chest.

Regina stepped back a few feet and turned to the first man she saw behind her. She put her hand up and gesturing for him to hand something over. The red headed man understood immediately and gave her his cigar. The older woman took it gratefully and lifted it in her hand appreciatively before she turned back around and sat down the stool that happened to be present in the circle.

Everyone watched her inhale deeply and pulled the cigar away from her lips as she blew smoke through her nose.

"Tell me…" she waved her hand in a half circle and then gestured to a member of the crew to her left.

"Salazar, Captain," he answered proudly.

"Salazar," Regina nodded. "Tell me what happens to a thief on my ship."

He stepped forward and turned to the person facing the Hangman's trial, "You lose your hands." The crew yelled in agreement. "Then we'll see how fast you can swim from the sharks covered in pig's fat. The crew's personal touch."

Two members of the crew rushed through the crowd with a heavy barrel and sat it in the middle of the circle before rushing back into the crowd with devilish smirks on their faces. The thief looked around then back to Regina who stood up from the stool with her sword dragging against the deck. She took a drag from the cigar as he feet stopped just short of the man.

With one swipe, quicker than anyone could even see the man cried out in agony not having even realized what had just happened. He trembled looking down at his arms seeing the both hands were gone, fallen to the ground along with his sword that Regina removed from her chest.

"You don't live if you steal from my people," Regina said blowing smoke in his face as involuntary tears streaked down his face and he violently trembled. Some cringed at the flow of blood, spilling out onto the deck, splattering against Regina's clothes. "Your debt is paid. You belong to the devil now."

She turned to the quartermaster and handed over her bloodied sword. She looked over shoulder and nodded to her crew who immediately flocked forward towards the man and proceed to make him walk the plank with pig's fat soaking his clothes.

Regina retreated back to her quarters casting a glance up to the three at the helm and noticed Emma's eyes glued to her. She saw concern in them and she blinked in response not sure how to handle that. She bowed her head to emerald eyes and took her leave to her quarters.

Red watched impatiently as the man across from couldn't manage to stop his fidgeting. It was a peeve for her. The twitching and leg shaking put her on edge but this time she put it aside as best she could and cleared her throat. Maurice French looked up from his lap with hopeful eyes and baited breath.

He locked his hands together at the fingers and sucked in a gulp of air, "I sense you have bad news for me, Miss Lucas. It's not something I want to hear but it also wouldn't be wise for me not to listen. I need closure regardless of my longing to have my Belle back."

"It's progress, not significant progress but still. The fact remains that it's very possible that Captain Mills would have no choice but to raid every ship she comes across." He nodded blankly at her words and Red took that as sign he knew this wouldn't come with an easy fix. "At this rate it could take her years to find your daughter. And only by miracle or a nonexistent act of kindness from the devil, would she be able to find her in less time than that."

"Money is no issue, Miss Lucas."

"I know you don't want this to be the case but if it really could take years, I wouldn't bleed myself dry for it. In years she could be dead."

"With all due respect, Miss Lucas," he said raising his voice, "I don't think you have the right to speak for any parent missing their child."

"I try not to be rude and cruel," Red said softly. "But I will dismiss this favor you're asking of Regina Mills before it ever reaches her ears, so I would be careful who you piss off in your understandable outrage over this situation."

He dropped his head and removed bite from his voice, "My apologies. I don't like the thought of her being lost forever."

"I have leads but I cannot act on them until Regina is present. As soon as her two feet touch land, I'll be on her about this immediately."

"Thank you. I really do appreciate your help."

"I've been quite bored the past few years. I like challenge and I'm glad to be of assistance."

The pirate paced behind her desk, breathing harshly against the healing beginning to join her skin together again. She hated the feeling of his dark magic crawling around her body every time she was injured. Her thoughts drifted back to her crew still causing an uproar on the deck even though the sharks had long banged their tails against her ship in their frenzy and swam away.

A smirk crossed her face at how riled up they got for such a thing but she figured it was reasonable considering she hadn't really gone pirating around the world with her crew in a year. Even the cook seemed to be bored and he had plenty of mouths to feed during the day.

The doors to her quarters opened quietly but the movement in the corner of her eyes got her attention. She turned to see Emma carefully closing the door behind her and wringing her hands in front of her hips as she turned to face Regina. Their eyes met and a lift caught the corners of Emma's lips and she waved shortly at the older woman.

"I apologize for the messy show, Miss Swan," Regina stated. "It slipped my mind that I wasn't amongst strictly dirty pirates such as myself."

Emma only smiled at her and Regina didn't know how to respond so she averted her eyes and gestured told her replenished liquor supply, "Drink?" She received another smile and nodded. She poured a light amount and handed it to the blonde who took it, not tearing her eyes away from deep brown orbs. Regina shifted uncomfortably on the balls over her feet and Emma drunk from it to ease her discomfort.

"Have you-" Regina swallowed her question and rubbed the back of her neck. She instead asked, "How are you?"

Emma grinned at her taking sips from her drink and Regina felt something in her stomach at the slight scrunch of her nose every time she drunk more after a pause. For the first time it didn't feel like pounds of rock fighting with the acid in her stomach or just the typical blade to the gut. But it also didn't feel like anything any normal person would feel. It wasn't a flutter as far as she knew, it was just a feeling. And it was very perplexing.

The blonde looked at her thoughtfully after she got lost in her thoughts and she finished her drink until there was a barely a swallow wading at the bottom. She sat it down on the desk behind the brunette and touched Regina's elbow lightly. The brown of her eyes lifted to her face and glossed over her features. Emma pointed to her chest and Regina looked down and then frowned in confusion.

"I…I don't understand."

Emma sighed instantly and pointed again but Regina, as beautiful as she is smart, was really dense. Her brow creased in confusion once more and the blonde woman turned Regina to her face her. Regina had been gentle with her and gave comfort to her willingly even though Emma knew she forced it on the woman. A large part of her wanted to return the favor to the older woman. To show her kindness.

Regina tensed as warm hands reached out to her shirt and undid the buttons. Emma paced herself in case the woman protested until she was looking at the olive skin marred with violent wounds. She looked to the valley between her breasts before reaching up to touch the penetrating wound from the fight she'd just had with the thief.

The brunette grabbed her upper arms and Emma hesitated for a moment, looking into her eyes for any sign of fear. When she found none and noticed her grip was actually very light against her arms, Emma raised her other hand to her chest and felt the broken flesh beneath her hands.

"I'll be fine," Regina assured.

'Pain,' Emma mouthed.

"No pain. Not anymore."

'Liar.'

Emma brushed her hand over the wound on her heart. Regina frowned knowing that the only thing that would be brought on by her touch would be the arousal she was quite disgusted with feeling after all these years. Lust was not something she craved anymore. She'd already had a lifetime of one night stands and they were not anything special no matter how satisfied her sexual hunger was afterwards.

To her surprise, Emma leaned forward and rested her chin on her shoulder, pulling her into a hug. Regina stiffened at the contact but then thought not to reject the tortured woman's pull for comfort. So, she placed her hands on the middle of the blonde's back and rested her chin on her sharp shoulder.

"Emma…are you all right?" She received a nod against the base of her neck. Emma sighed softly and figured the older woman wouldn't understand but she quite liked the way the pirate's embraced brought safety so she forced the woman to stay in her hold. Regina pressed her hand to the back of her head hoping her even with her lack of normal emotion it still did something for her. "Can you tell me about him? The man that hurt you? I want to find him."

Emma pulled away from her and shook her head.

"You don't know or you won't tell me?"

'I won't tell,' Emma mouthed to her.

"Why not?" Regina questioned in frustration walking away from the blonde with a huff. She ran her fingers through her hair and turned back to her. "He has to pay his debt for what he's done. Protecting him doesn't help you. You're safe and he can't hurt you if you tell me."

The younger woman shook her head and shrugged her shoulders with her brow creased.

"Do you not feel safe here?"

Regina started wondering what she could change about the ship to make her feel safe but before she could start in on her unknown uncertainty Emma plopped down on her bed ungracefully. She folded her arms across her chest and shot the brunette a look.

Regina relaxed slightly and glanced around knowing she wanted to drop the subject.

"Do you...fancy a game of chess?" Regina asked and the blonde smiled in response.