Emma followed Ruby down the ladder. Even though there were undead out in the streets none seemed to have ventured into the Inn. Her best guess was that they were attracted to sound and possibly smell, at least that's what she thought. She really had no way of knowing besides taking into account what she'd experienced during the day.
As dusk came they had finally decided to put their plan to work. Regina, Mary Margaret and Henry were looking down at them from the attic - their faces worried. An encouraging smile from Mary Margaret was the last thing Emma saw before the ladder was folded back up to make sure that the attic stayed hidden if their activities were to draw any unwanted attention.
They had discussed who should go for supplies and a car, and the discussion had escalated into a hushed argument before Emma had managed to convince Regina that one of them should stay with Henry because if something happened to one of his mothers he would still have the other. Regina was injured and Emma was not - making her the obvious choice of who they should send for supplies. Ruby would come with her because she knew the Inn and where to find what they needed. They wanted to be as quick and effective as possible and at the same time hopefully stay under the radar of the savage beasts roaming the streets of Storybrooke.
Earlier, when Emma had sat next to Regina and a sleeping Henry, she'd made a mental list of what they needed. When Regina had started to move uncomfortably at the weight of their son Emma had lifted him from her lap, careful not to wake him. She had wrapped him in a blanket that Mary Margaret had found in one of the boxes and had rolled her jacket into a makeshift pillow for his head. She had placed a kiss on his forehead before holding out a hand to help Regina to her feet. Once standing their hands hadn't separated and Emma had been treated to something soft and affectionate in Regina's eyes. That special look had still been there when they'd argued over their escape plan and Emma felt sure that yet another wall had fallen between them - bringing them closer to one another.
Ruby rounded a corner and went down the stairs towards a storage room, Emma following close behind. They were to pack a few bags with food, blankets and a first aid kit - all which could be found in the Inn. Once that was done they would place the bags at the front door, ready to be picked up once they came back with a car.
Walking behind Ruby, Emma thought about the gaze she'd shared with Regina and what it might mean. She knew what she wanted, but wasn't sure she dared hope. All her life she'd been wishing for a family and when Henry found her she felt like her wish might come true. She knew that the closed adoption gave her no right to him, but if she could just be a small part of his life, and he be part of hers, she'd be so happy. She had tried to ignore the little voice in her head that said she'd like to be part of Regina's life as well, even though the woman was impossibly hostile and all they seemed to do was argue, but now standing in a darkened corridor with a gun in hand she let herself believe.
Entering the storage room Ruby pulled two bags from a shelf, throwing one over her shoulder she handed the other to Emma. She then bent to rummage through a toolbox, finding a screwdriver and a drilling machine she grinned up at Emma - hot-wiring the car suddenly got a lot easier. Their next stop was Ruby's room where they stuffed blankets and some clothes into the bags. Ruby grabbed a warmer jacket and Emma found a pair of scissors and a package of matches which she pocketed.
The adjoining bathroom provided them with towels, a first aid kit and a couple of toilet rolls. Next they headed for the kitchen. Emma was pleased to see that the pantry was well stocked and they stuffed the bags full, a picnic basket stood on the floor, packed with utensils and plates and she tilted her head towards it, letting Ruby know to bring it as well. Knives were next, placed in the side pockets of one of the bags.
They stacked everything by the door, relieved that this part of their mission had been trouble-free. Emma feared getting a car would be the big challenge. They'd have to venture outside, into the open, making themselves targets. Hopefully things would go well, they had to succeed because before leaving she had made a whispered promise to Henry that she would come back for him - for them. She wouldn't break that promise. She couldn't let him down.
Ruby pulled a gun from the back of her trousers and Emma readied her own as they silently snuck out the backdoor and made their way around the Inn. They'd left a rifle with Regina and Mary Margaret just in case. The evening was chilly and Emma was glad she'd pulled her jacket on before leaving the attic. They planned to sneak past the zombies, but if that failed Regina would throw books they'd found in one of the boxes at the tin roof of the garden shed. Hopefully the noise would be enough to attract the zombies away from them.
They had decided to get one of the cars from the other side of the road - it was a minivan and Ruby was sure that she'd seen John, the owner, fill it with gas earlier that morning. Hot-wiring the van wouldn't be a problem for either Emma or Ruby, something that had earned them both an amused look from Regina and a slightly flabbergasted open-mouthed expression from Mary Margaret. The only problem was that they would have to cross the road without protection, and once they'd started the car they doubted they'd go undetected. That's why they'd opted to pick the others up at the front door - although being more in the open it was closer to where the car was parked, and if they had used the backdoor they'd risk getting caught in the small alley behind the Inn.
Everything seemed to be going smoothly, Ruby had already reached the car and was now working to get the door open. Emma had stayed by the front door, waiting there to help the others and to have a better advantage point if something should go wrong. Ruby had the door open in no time and as she slid into the driver seat Emma saw one of the undead cross the street. She didn't want to shoot unless she had to, so instead she sneaked up behind the creature and reached for the icepick still tucked into her back pocket. With all the strength she could muster she jammed the sharp tool into the back of the creature's head, piercing the skull and embedding the steel spike deep into the zombie's brain. The body fell to the ground and Emma let her eyes wander to the attic window, seeing Regina standing there. There was a scowl on her face, which Emma managed to make worse by giving an intrepid and obviously silly thumbs-up gesture.
The look on Regina's face turned panicked and Emma had no time to react before she felt a hand grip her shoulder tightly. She spun around, finding herself face to face with what had once been Michael Tillman. He had been a big man; strong, something that obviously hadn't changed after his death. His hand was like a vice clamping shut and Emma fell to her knees, unable to keep a strangled sound from escaping. She looked up at the window, seeing Regina turn from her, apparently saying something to Mary Margaret and Henry. Michael's other hand reached for Emma's throat and she tried her best to stop him from getting a good grip. Ruby who had been busy with the drill and screwdriver looked up and noticed what was going on. She jumped out of the car, gun drawn.
"No, don't. We can't risk it." Emma hissed, she was scared shots would attract even more zombies. She would have to take Michael down some other way, or not at all. The important thing was that Ruby got the car going. She managed to deflect the hand grabbing for her throat and ducked her head to keep him from getting another chance at a stranglehold. "Ruby, get the car going." Ruby was clearly conflicted, her eyes large and worried, but as Emma landed a good kick at Michael's knee, she did as she was told - getting back into the car and continuing drilling into the keyhole.
Emma struggled for an advantage, wishing she could fire her gun into the large body looming above her. The front door opened, revealing Henry with the picnic basket and Mary Margaret with the other bags thrown over her shoulder. Michael's hand returned to Emma's head, this time clutching her hair as he leaned towards her, mouth open, teeth sharp and ready to bite.
She heard the engine rev, saw Mary Margaret push Henry into a sprint, both getting into the back of the van. Emma had a few seconds to wonder where Regina was before she jumped from the unmistakable loud sound of a rifle being fired, followed by Michael falling on top of her. She pushed at him, rolling him to the side so she could get up. She searched for Regina, not seeing her anywhere. She looked at the Inn, the front door open but empty. Next her eyes went to the attic window and there she saw her - rifle resting on the windowsill.
The sound of the shot being fired and the revving engine had been enough to draw out other undead. They came lunging from down the street, making sounds that sent chills down Emma's back. She gestured for Ruby to turn the car around and get ready to drive them out of there. Then she let her eyes return to the Inn but Regina was no longer visible.
Emma ran to the door, eyes searching the hallway for Regina. When she finally appeared through the door leading to the kitchen Emma reached for her hand, dragging her towards the front door and the waiting car. She only managed to take a few steps before her arm was tugged backwards. Turning to face Regina she was greeted by soft lips pressed against her own. Her eyes fell shut as time seemed to slow, sounds fell away and all Emma could focus on was the intense tingling in her lips and the heat spreading from her wildly beating heart to her stomach, and then further down. She forced her eyes open, her breathing laboured and a silly grin splitting her face.
Regina frowned. Anger glinting in her dark eyes. "Don't you ever do something so stupid, reckless and rash ever again! I... We... I could have lost you!"
Emma couldn't stop grinning. She couldn't conjure the regretful expression she knew Regina wanted from her. Instead she placed a quick kiss to Regina's lips and leaned in to whisper in her ear. "I might be stupid and do all kinds of reckless things, but it got me a kiss from the most beautiful woman I've ever met."
Regina didn't have time to say anything else as Emma once again dragged her towards the waiting car. They had to get out of Storybrooke - now.