Annnnnnnd another chapter! I'm a little behind in my writing so the next chapter may be a little late but don't worry. It's coming. But here is chapter 7.

Thanks so very much for all the lovely reviews and follows! Y'all rock. And who else is excited about tomorrow night's premiere? I'm excited but also dreading it. They are going to push Emma at either Neal or Hook and that makes me angry. I'd rather her just not have a love interest than one of them. They have made our show something that is not original anymore. They should just let us ff writers plot out the show. Heck, we should write the show! Anyone with me on that?

Anyway, a huge thanks to Laura, as always! She's the bestest beta EVER!

Please review!


The knock at the galley door interrupted Regina and Emma's soft conversation.

"Enter," Emma commanded as she smirked at Regina and her insistence that Emma go back up to her cabin to rest.

"Cap'n," Sleepy said, poking his head into the galley, his eyes at half-mast as always. His nickname was well earned. "They've arrived."

That made Emma straighten. "None the worse for wear, I hope," she stated.

Sleepy shook his head. "But very curious."

"Send Mulan and Aurora to my cabin. Let Charming go and calm Snow."

"Aye," the man said before ducking out of the room.

"Are you up for speaking with them?" Regina asked worriedly.

Emma smiled and stood. "I have had far worse," she said. "And you will be with me to make sure I don't pass out from the pain."

The excitement that entered the brunette's eyes made Emma smile even more as they left the galley. The short walk to the cabin was silent and when Emma opened the door, motioning Regina to enter before her, the two women already present turned their attention to the new arrivals.

"Captain Swan," the woman of Asian descent said firmly, grasping Emma's right hand in a quick handshake. "I hope you are well."

"As well as can be expected," Emma answered.

"Yes, I heard you were attacked." The dark eyes of the woman flitted over to Regina before settling back on Emma. "By the Wraiths?"

"Aye," Emma answered, moving to shake the other woman's hand. "Aurora," she said softly. "How are you?"

The light-haired brunette gave a soft smile and a quick kiss to Emma's cheek. "Quite well, Emma. But I fear my mood is soon to shift."

Emma grinned. "Please, sit." She motioned to the two chairs in the room. "We will take the bed."

The women nodded. Aurora gratefully settled into the chair offered to her by the other.

"This is Regina Mills," Emma said as Regina sat on the bed. "She is part of the reason we are here. This is Mulan Fa and Aurora Rose."

Regina nodded while Mulan narrowed her eyes at her. "Mills?" she growled.

"Cora Mills is my mother," Regina stated.

A soft gasp came from Aurora and Mulan quickly stood up, her hand on the hilt of her sword.

"That bitch had my family killed and me sold into slavery," Mulan yelled. "And you," she glared at Emma. "Have the nerve to bring her daughter to me?"

"Mulan," Aurora said placing a calming hand on the woman's arm. "Be still. Let Emma speak."

Emma shot the smaller woman a smile of gratitude before making eye contact with Mulan. "Calm yourself, Mulan," she said. "You know, as well as I do, that the sins of the parent do not pass down to the child unless warranted. Hear me out."

Mulan took a deep breath while Aurora gave another calming stroke to her arm. The warrior finally sat back down, her eyes focused on the captain.

"Speak," she stated gruffly. "And then I will pass judgment."

"May I say first," Regina said. "That I am very sorry for what my mother did to either of you. That is one of the reasons I came to be in Captain Swan's company."

"She is going to help us," Emma continued. "She knows a little of the inner workings of the Royal Navy, having lived in Cora's company for so many years."

"And what is it to her?" Mulan asked.

"My mother had my fiancé killed before my eyes. She then told me to get over it and move on with my life. That he was not worth it."

Three sets of eyes softened at the tale. Mulan's shoulders relaxed, Aurora gave an understanding smile to Regina, and Emma grabbed her hand, attempting to show her support.

"And Gold is also involved," Emma added. "It seems he is higher up on the Navy chain of command than even I suspected."

"So, what are we to do?" Mulan asked. "You have sought us out for a reason."

"It's true," Aurora said with a grin. "I doubt you came calling to have tea and biscuits."

Emma grinned at the petite woman but nodded. "We need as much help as we can get. And you two are two of the best warriors in the Empire."

Aurora laughed. "Lies," she giggled. "Mulan is the best warrior and you know that you get me as a tag-a-long."

Mulan rolled her eyes and threw her arm around her lover's shoulders. "You are one of the finest with a sword, Aurora. And you know it. I was the one to teach you."

"And while our noble lady here," Emma said with a teasing wink at Regina. "Has had fencing training, I would like her to be taught in the way of fighting for her life."

"It is a useful skill to have," Mulan mused. "But I do have to remind you, Swan,"

Emma cut her off. "Of the bounty on your head?"

Mulan gave a grave nod.

"It is of no consequence." She moved to the cabinet and pulled out her whiskey. As she poured the alcohol into four tumblers she grinned. "I have a significant one on my head as well."

"It seems that our dear Aurora does as well," Mulan said with a grin as she accepted one of the tumblers. "It seems her thieving days are catching up with her."

"Hold a moment," Regina said, refusing the glass offered to her. "All three of you have a price on your heads?"

Those very heads nodded.

"As do most people on this ship," Emma said dully.

Regina just stared.

"Didn't you know that?" Emma asked with raised eyebrows.

"I knew of yours," Regina muttered. "But I haven't heard of Mulan or Aurora."

"You may have heard of us as other names," Aurora said softly. At Regina's raised eyebrows, the other woman continued. "I am known as Briar Rose."

"The jewel thief?" Regina gasped.

At Aurora's shy nod, Regina just blinked. "And how did that name come about?"

Emma laughed. "When she steals something it is as if it is caught in a briar bush. But her beauty is like that of a rose."

Aurora blushed and buried her face in Mulan's shoulder while Emma and Mulan just chuckled.

"And Mulan?" Regina prompted.

Emma smirked while Mulan rolled her eyes. "The Sleeping Warrior," the blonde supplied.

Regina's eyes almost fell out of her head.

"The warrior that kills so quickly it is as if the other fighters are asleep?"

"One and the same," Aurora said with a grin, glad to have the attention pointed elsewhere.

"I had no idea I was in such…great company," Regina said.

Mulan and Emma chuckled while Aurora just grinned.

"Give it a while, Ms. Mills," Mulan stated with a laugh. "You will be just as well known before this adventure is done."

"I'm not sure if that is a goal I want to strive for," Regina countered with a grin.

As the four women settled, Mulan finished her whiskey and looked back at Emma. "What of your first mate?" she asked. "Is she still with you?"

"You saw Charming," Emma answered. "You know he doesn't travel without her." She finished her tumbler as well. "Similar to you and your Aurora."

Mulan eyed the blonde pirate and Regina, noticing their closeness but said nothing. With a glance at her lover she made a mental note to bring it up later when they were alone. "I think I will go visit her," the warrior said.

"Mulan!" Aurora said lightly. "You know she is terrified of you still being angry!"

"I am aware," Mulan said. "But I do enjoy seeing the panic enter her eyes when she sees me."

"Why is she afraid of you being angry?" Regina asked.

"Mulan's best friend and fellow warrior, Phillip, saved Snow's life from the Wraiths at the expense of his own," Emma answered softly.

"I was angry to begin with," Mulan said. "But after Aurora told me Snow's story, I realized Snow had no hand in his death. And I have told Snow such. But she still fears my anger."

"It may be," Aurora said, nudging Mulan's shoulder with her own. "That it is because you nearly took her head off with your anger."

Mulan shrugged. "I was livid. I saw nothing but the woman Phillip risked his life for. She was nothing compared to him."

"I think he would have argued otherwise," Aurora countered.

Emma chuckled and stood, offering Regina a hand to help her to stand as well. "Snow is down below. You two can visit her while I tell Red to cast off. The sooner we are away from this place the better."

"I have not agreed to help," Mulan said seriously.

Emma stopped and studied the warrior. "No, you haven't," she agreed. "I was under the impression that you wanted free of these shackles as I did."

"I do."

Aurora stood. "We do."

"Then you must help," Emma said.

Dark slanted eyes met wide green ones. Nothing was said out loud but much was said between gazes. Finally, Mulan gave a swift nod and left the cabin, Aurora following behind after a quick smile to Emma and Regina.

As the door closed, Regina let out a breath. "She is…intense."

Emma gave a dark chuckle and gathered the glasses. "Aye, that she is. Always has been."

"You've known her for a long time?"

"I met her once before I started pirating."

"Where?"

Emma set the glasses down on her desk and took a deep breath. "On a slave ship."

"A slave…?

Emma nodded and turned to look back at Regina. "I'm an escaped slave, Regina. Not that anyone bought me. Your mother had me put on the auction block just hours after…" she trailed off.

"After?" Regina asked softly, taking Emma's limp hand in hers.

"After I had my baby."

The silence that descended on the cabin was so thick Emma felt like she was choking on it. But she kept her eyes on Regina, wanting to see if disgust and anger would appear in those deep chocolate eyes.

But nothing of the sort ever appeared. Instead, compassion and sadness took their place.

"She took away your baby." It wasn't a question. Regina already knew.

Emma just nodded.

"What then?"

Emma shrugged. "I have no idea." She sighed and leaned against her desk, keeping Regina's hand in hers. "But it has been my goal for ten years to find my baby boy again."

"Ten years?" Regina's eyes widened. Something was tickling the back of her mind.

Emma nodded and ran a hand through her hair. "She took him from me right after he was born. I didn't even get to hold him." She gave a soft snort. "Not that I would have been able to keep him. I was a slave. A nobody. I couldn't have a child."

"His father?"

"Gold's bastard son."

"What?"

Emma looked down, studying her boots with great intent. "We were kids. I thought it was love. No one, besides my brother, had ever showed me kindness. When he told me he loved me…I believed him."

Regina gently tugged on Emma's hand and led them to the bed. They both sat down and the brunette turned to face Emma fully. "What happened?"

"He handed me over to Cora. Said he had no need for me anymore since he had bedded me." Emma wouldn't look Regina in the eye and didn't see the anger enter those brown orbs.

"He just handed you over?"

Emma shrugged. "Basically. I got jumped one night on my way to our home. They beat me and dragged me to Cora. She was on some grand ship. He was there when I came to. I thought he was going to save me. But he just laughed, spit on me, and left." She sighed. "I found out I was pregnant a week later."

"Oh, Emma," Regina whispered. She laid her head on Emma's shoulder and clutched her hand tighter.

"It's okay," Emma said softly. "I've come to terms with him being a bastard. I will kill him when I see him. But Cora…she took my baby. And I have no idea where he is."

Regina slowly sat up and bit her lip. "I think I have an idea," she began.

Emma finally looked up. "An idea? About what?"

"Just hear me out," Regina soothed. "And keep in mind that this is just an idea. But the facts seem to be falling into place too easily."

Emma just blinked.

"Cora took your baby from you ten years ago." At Emma's slow nod, Regina continued. "I was given Henry ten years ago."

"By Gold."

"Yes," Regina confirmed. "Who was very close to my mother even then. And Cora probably knew that your baby was Gold's son's."

Emma narrowed her eyes and sat in silence. Her mind racing with thoughts of the past. "But, if what you are implying is true, why would he give his grandson to you?"

"At my mother's insistence. She had just had Daniel, my fiancé, killed in front of me. I was horribly distraught. I wouldn't eat, sleep, move. She needed me alive for something. And right before I tried to kill myself, Gold brought me Henry. Said it was a gift."

Emma's breathing sped up, her eyes wide, and her hands shaking.

"I didn't question it," Regina continued. "He was so small. Obviously just born. He was perfect. And it woke me from my self-imposed stupor. I had something to care for, something to love that would love me in return."

Emma quickly grabbed Regina's free hand and swallowed. "If this is true, then Henry…." She couldn't seem to finish.

"Is yours, Emma. He is your son."

To be continued…

Bum, bum, BUH! It has been revealed! Not that anyone is surprised! Anyway, let me know what you think!