9.

The big day arrives.

And Emma wakes up with the mother of hangovers.

Sometime in the middle of the night she found her way back to the room shared with Snow, though the memories are somewhat hazy.

Emma guesses that's what you get when you lose the count of just how much rum you've had.

No wonder Hook is always insufferable in the mornings.

Wearing her well-worn white tank top and cotton underwear Emma lays in bed trying to put together some of the fragments of the night before.

Her mind immediately takes her to Regina. How her mouth had been warm and inviting. How smooth her skin could be underneath the roughness of her own hands. The perfume that Emma can still smell lingering on herself.

Then she can't help but remember why she went looking for Regina in the first place. The sadness that was almost overwhelming making Emma's skin crawl as she tried to feel anything else.

Even without looking, Emma knows she will find Snow's bunk empty. The sun is already up in the sky what means that Snow has been up for hours. Always an early bird.

For all the bad things that have happened ever since this zombie apocalypse took place, Emma can't help but appreciate the fact she still has been able to have a family for the very first time. Not just a son claiming she's some sort of superhero, or a roommate to share intimate details about sex encounters (Emma still shudders when she thinks about Mary Margaret and Whale).

For the first time Emma has a mother - someone to look after her, to fight with her whenever she gets hurt by doing something careless and stupid, someone who takes care of her when she's sick and too weak to take care of herself. She has a son, a child who has had her as his sole caretaker for the last five years, a boy who she has taught pretty much all she knows - from skills to values - and who she has seen transform from a curious child to an impetuous and brave young man. And there's her little brother. The baby she held minutes after being born, whose first word has been her name, with whom she got to share so many moments that she had missed when she chose to give Henry up.

Emma has all that, and of course she misses David. He hadn't been her father for long when all happened, but he had been a friend, a confident, someone who could understand her better than Snow ever could and losing him had hurt. Maybe not the crippling kind of hurt that has turned her mother into a completely different woman, but still the one that makes your heart ache whenever you remember what you have lost.

So yes, she misses David. She's always going to miss David, but life goes on, and Emma knows that all too well. She knows that because Evan hasn't stopped growing, each day looking more like the father he didn't get a chance to know, and Henry is almost a man, and Regina is alive and back and making Emma feel all kinds of things she hasn't felt in a really long time.

Unfortunately, Snow doesn't seem to see any of this.

To her, time has stopped.

From the moment David's heart stopped beating, it's like somehow Snow's had too.

Back then, Ruby tried to assure Emma that it was only a matter of time. Losing someone you love changes who you are and even the former sheriff who hadn't known much about love then could understand that.

Yet, something inside of her kept trying to tell her it was more than just that. And the signs, come to think about it, where all there, plain obvious.

The way Snow had become sad and introspective, always hiding behind any sort of manual activity – from cooking, to fishing, to sewing – always running away from any real conversation. It was in the way she had rejected Evan, refusing to hold him at first and eventually forcing Emma to step up in the caring for the babe.

Most of all, it was in her stubborn and almost feral refuse in letting Charming go, talking about that thing that lived in a cell as if it still held the smallest resemblance to the man she loved.

Emma should have known. She always used present tense.

But Emma didn't know, or pretended not to know and now here she was, nursing a massive hangover as well as the heartbreak of being abandoned by her mother once again.

When Emma hears the knock on her door, it comes as a relief and she quickly wipes the single tear that has managed to escape against her will.

"Are you decent?" Comes the voice from the other side of the wooden door and Emma even allows herself a smirk in response.

"Get your butt in here, kid."

Henry obeys and enters the room right away, a knowingly look on his face and a steaming mug in his hand.

"Grams sent this to you." He hands her the mug and stands by her side, not willing to go just yet. "She said you would need it."

Emma takes the mug and smells its content before taking a wary sip. Her grimace is a perfect picture of just how nasty the thing is.

She drinks it anyway.

"Are your things packed?" Henry asks despite already knowing the answer.

"You know I prefer to travel light." Emma says simply, bringing the mug to her lips one more time. Henry agrees silently and stays there without saying much else. By now Emma knows him well enough to hear all the things he is not saying. "It's okay to get nervous. We are taking a big leap here."

He doesn't look at her, as if embarrassed by having been caught. Nevertheless, he doesn't deny it either. "Where do you think she will take us?"

Emma gives it a thought before answering. They've been so worried about getting away that so far she hasn't stopped to think about the destination. "I dunno. Maybe the Enchanted Forest, if still exists. But for all I know we could end up just about anywhere. Wonderland, Neverland, Oz… To be honest, I'm not sure she knows either."

"Well, as long as they don't have zombies or any plagues of the same nature, I guess it doesn't really matter."

"You've got that right, kid."

.::.

Regina is reading her notebook going over her scribbles once again when she hears the commotion. Once she reaches the main deck, the voices become loud and clear.

By one side Regina sees Henry, clearly distressed; his face red as he shouts and shouts. His voice blending with Ruby's protests. On the other side, Snow looks sorrowful, holding herself with her arms as she tries to give what seems to be a pitiful attempt of an explanation in between declarations of just how sorry she truly is.

"Grams you can't do this! You can't just stay behind!" Henry rubs his red-rimmed eyes, not caring for the audience they've managed to attract.

"Snow, I know you think you're doing the right thing, but please don't do this!" Ruby begs holding her pregnant belly as Hook stays right behind her, trying to offer her his support with small, diffident touches.

"Guys, I'm so sorry. But you know why I have to stay. You know why I can't go with you." Snow says with resignation, despite being upset.

"You can't! You can't do this!" Henry fights stubbornly, and Regina can't help but feel this pure agony blooming in her chest, born in the need of making her son feel better.

Yet, she refrains from intervening, trying to understand what is happening before saying anything.

"Henry, Hook was right. Taking David along isn't an option for the group. But leaving him behind isn't an option for me." She tries to touch his cheek, but he backs away, too angry to accept the gesture. It makes Snow smile sadly.

"But Snow, that's not David anymore." Ruby argues, tears streaming down her face. "Can't you see that?"

"Maybe not now. But he wasn't always like this. What's to say about tomorrow?" Regina shudders once Snow's blind optimism comes to surface while Snow adds, offering her hand to Ruby. "I could never give up on him. He is my true love."

"I can't leave you behind, Snow. You're my best friend." Ruby takes her hand on her own and holds it tightly.

"But you have to." Snow touches Ruby's stomach, a genuine smile escaping through the corner of her lips. "You're about to become a mother. You have to think about what's best for your family."

"What about your family?" Henry inquires bitterly. Snows frowns for a second, then she looks Henry in the eye, her voice wistful, almost serene.

"I am thinking about my family. That's why you, your mother and Evan must go. I wouldn't have it any other way."

Henry hiccups then, accepting Snows touch as she wipes away his tears. "I love you all so much. You can never forget that."

"Emma, aren't you going to say anything?" Ruby asks the blonde woman who, for the first time, Regina notices to be present. Standing over the quarter deck, Emma has been witnessing the whole scene when Ruby's words find her with blank expression.

Anxiously, Henry looks at her, waiting for what might as well be the equivalent of a divine intervention. In fact, everyone else does the same, including Regina. Emma's reaction however, fails to please the expectations.

With a stone-dead glare, Emma declares. "I have nothing more to say to her."

And just like that, she turns her back and walks away.

.::.

About an hour later, Regina finds Emma on the same spot, the poop deck, which seems to be her favorite place.

She doesn't mean to scare the former sheriff, but her silent approximation does exactly that.

"Now I understand what brought you to quarters last night." Regina says with no guile, just plain sincerity.

With her heart still pounding, Emma does her best to restrain the long list of curses that immediately finds its way to the tip of her tongue. Instead, she tries to calm herself down taking a deep breath. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Were you really so inebriated that you've forgotten?" Regina asks knowing full well the answer. Emma squirms then, the pink in her cheeks providing all the answer Regina needs. "That's what I thought."

"What do you want Regina?" It's Emma's turn to ask, though her voice sounds very much weary with no hint of the usual tweak.

"I just wanted to make sure that…" Regina hesitates. "—that you're still up for the task we have ahead of us."

"Why wouldn't I be?" Emma asks dryly, without looking at her and Regina almost lets her frustration get the best of her.

Almost.

"Very well then. We are supposed to leave at noon." The former queen informs curtly, but before leaving Emma's presence, she breathes in, deciding to say just one more thing. "A friendly reminder though: you're not the only one who is being forced to say goodbye to your mother."

And just like that, it hits Emma.

.::.

By the time Emma gets to his quarters, she is surprised to hear the voices inside, so instead of knocking on the door and revealing her presence, Emma stays put and allows herself to listen to what's happening inside.

She can't hear Evan's voice. He still hasn't said a word, but the feminine voice that reaches Emma's hearing surely belongs to her mother. Cautiously, she presses her ear against the wooden door.

"You know what day is today, don't you Evan?" Snow asks with an encouraging smile, sitting across from him on his bunk. Without looking at her, seemingly busy playing with his old stuffed bunny and the wooden horse Grumpy has made him, Evan still manages to offer her an affirmative nod.

"There's something you need to know though." The blonde boy looks up at her, inquisitive green eyes analyzing her features while expecting whatever she has to say.

Snow's heart actually skips a beat at the sight of just how much Evan looks like Charming – she always make sure of never paying that much attention to it, which is horrible and yet the brutal truth.

Only this time she can't run.

"Mommy is not going with you on this big adventure you are about to embark." The boy looks confused then, a frown marking his expression. And just like that, Snow sees Emma in him. "You, Henry and Emma are still going. So is uncle Killian and auntie Ruby. And Pongo. And Regina. But mommy is not. I have to stay."

She swallows hard and closes her eyes, forcing herself to go on. "There's a good reason why mommy is not going though. You see, there's this special mission I have. Something no one else can do beside me. Something you will only understand when you are older."

Snow opens her eyes once again, and does her best not to cry. Which is not to say some tears don't escape anyway.

"I have to stay Evan, to make sure there's still true love left in this world." She gives him a bright smile, the tears running freely then. "Now I know from the bottom of my heart that I don't have to worry. You, my darling are going to finally have the life you deserve. And I know that no matter what Emma and Henry will always look after you. I just want you to know that mommy loves you very much, okay? So don't you ever forget."

The boy nods, and as to reassure Snow, offers her a hug. She holds him then, holds him tight, for all the other times when she couldn't bring herself to do just that. And all the others she won't be able to.

When Snow opens the door to leave the room, she finds herself facing Emma directly. Her daughter looks two seconds from losing it and Snow wishes there was something she could do.

Unfortunately, that doesn't come with the choice she's made.

"I don't understand how you can do this." Emma declares full of contempt, her voice hoarse and her eyes stone cold.

It breaks Snow's heart all over again.

Perhaps Emma would take comfort in that if she knew it. Her anger, however, allows her to see little else other than Snow choosing to leave her side once again.

So Snow gives her what little she can. A bunch of words all wrapped with her best hopes and wishes.

"When you find your true love, you will."

.::.

At noon, they leave. A small sad caravan leaving behind a ship with three crew members; Snow stays for love. Grumpy, for the sake of loyalty. And Whale, whilst most likely harboring more obscure ambitions, claims to stay for the sake of science and finding a cure.

Emma doesn't look back.

In fact, none of them do.

.::.

The journey to the well is made among a mournful atmosphere and small setbacks.

Though bringing only the more basic utilities, travelling with a small child and a pregnant woman is hardly the best arrangement. Emma and Hook take turns at hauling the improvised chariot designed by Whale and made by Grumpy and Henry, where Ruby and most of their belongings are placed.

Regina offers to use magic to help, but the group vouches for her abstinence, believing to be more cautious if she preserves all the energy she can for later.

Evan is close to terrified and Henry has to carry the boy on his back all the way, with Pongo by their side.

Overall, everyone is aware and tense of what dangers may be waiting for them on the road. Only about forty minutes in, Emma starts dreading just the opposite, having a bad feeling about the lack of activity from the creatures.

When they finally manage to come across one, it is halfway to its permanent death already, slayed from the waist down, left to rot in the middle of other motionless corpses.

Covering for the group, Emma finishes it with her hand dagger and takes the opportunity to feel the temperature on the other ones. When she comes back to the group, her verdict is troublesome.

Someone has just killed them.

And if there's a bigger menace than a horde of dead people it's a group of live ones willing to do whatever it takes to survive.

On that, all of them can agree, and being that so, they rush as best as they can to their destination.

Halfway to the well, it becomes obvious that luck isn't on their side. The Sun disappears behind dark blue clouds and a cold drizzle starts falling from the sky.

Nevertheless, they don't have much time to mourn over it. Too far along on their journey, coming back is no longer an option and the darker the sky gets, the more nervous Regina becomes.

Then, when patience is already being worn thin, Regina recognizes the pathway and lets a blaze of relief warm her from inside out.

As soon as they reach their destination, Regina starts the arrangements.

However, right after it, Pongo seems to detect the presence of strangers and with the use of her senses Ruby confirms it – not dead, but living ones.

"Emma, I need you to concentrate. You need to raise a protecting shield around the group." Regina asserts without interrupting her preparation.

"Lady are you nuts? Are you forgetting I don't have an ounce of magic in me anymore." Emma argues already wielding her sword. "Why can't you do it?"

"The amount of magic that still resides in this well is close to nothing. That's much less than what I expected to find. Which means I'll have to use much more of my own. Now I can't invoke that amount of magic with the weight of a protective shield on my shoulders."

"Fine, I get it. But that doesn't change a thing. I still don't have any magic left." Emma explains restlessly while Pongo's barks become angrier.

"But you do! I've felt it. It may not be much, but it's still there. You just have to find a way to access it." Regina explains, too focused on making the plan work to even lose her patience with Emma's lack of confidence.

Under expectant sets of eyes, Emma closes her own trying to invoke whatever power Regina is referring to.

Nothing happens.

What Emma lets Regina know by letting out a frustrated grunt.

Too busy to spend any more time with useless discussions, Regina interrupts everything she's doing, crossing the small circle they've managed to create and holding Emma's face with both ungloved hands, only to press her lips against hers.

It lasts less than a second really, and unlike many of the kisses shared by the two of them over the last few months, this one doesn't have any hints of passion or lust.

In fact, later Emma would probably describe it as a CPR step and not a magical kiss of any sort. Only instead of oxygen, Regina's been inflating her lungs with exactly that.

Magic.

As soon as Emma recognizes the now familiar touch of Regina's lips, the other woman backs away, going back to her own agenda.

But that's okay, because Emma is definitely feeling the juice pumping into her veins and sure enough a light blue shield soon covers the whole group.

With a dumbstruck expression, Henry can't help but comment. "Wow, that was—"

"Hot." Hook offers and Henry's face immediately contorts in disgust. At the same time, Ruby finds in her to hit Killian squarely on the head.

"Dude, they're my moms." Henry exclaims shaking his head.

"Sorry mate." Hook offers as a sincere apology still touching the sore spot left where Ruby hit strong enough to leave a bruise.

"You better be." Emma threatens him with murderous eyes and Hook is almost thankful when they hear the sound of something clashing against the magical shield.

The group surrounding them haven't come nearer, but decided to finally attack. Rocks and arrows are being used. Emma deduces they don't want to attract the wrong kind of attention with the noise of bullets and guns.

The attack pushes Emma to dig deeper in her magic, what doesn't come without some serious effort. Gritting her teeth, she still manages to say loud enough. "Regina, what the hell? Why are you taking so long?"

After positioning the crystals around the well and pouring some of the ingredients she brought with her to reinforce the chances of opening a portal long enough for everyone to go through, Regina is already holding the bean she managed to save on her hand.

"Everyone, in position." She orders which means they are supposed to be ready for whatever is about to happen.

When she drops the bean inside the well, an explosion occurs and a green swirl opens on the middle of the ground swallowing whole the well.

Two by two, they go through it and once their turn comes, Emma's powers start oscillating.

"Emma, you have to go. I must be the last one in order to make sure no one crosses it after us."

"Are you kidding me?! Those creeps have arrows Regina. God knows what else! If I go, so does the shield."

"It will be a matter of seconds. Less than that really. Go."

"Regina-"

"The boys are waiting for you." It's Regina last shot, and much to her relief, Emma takes the bait.

Once Emma finally jumps into the green spiral, the shield she was creating disappears and although Regina jumps soon after, sealing the portal behind her, she can still feel something sharp hitting her.

The portal closes right after Regina's gotten through it, but the damage is done; She crosses it wounded.

.::.