The roads were abandoned and Emma couldn't tell if it was because of the late hour or if Armageddon was actually here and now. She tried to recall what it had been like when she drove with Henry to Storybrooke for the first time - had there been a lot of traffic then? She couldn't remember. She felt weary and her eyes stung as she stared at the little bit of outside world shown by the car's headlights. It was dark now, but dawn was just around the corner and with it a new day. She hoped, wished, for it to be a better one than the day she'd just barely lived through.
In the rearview mirror she could see Ruby and Mary Margaret sleeping, snuggled together under a shared blanket. Emma had expected Henry to throw a fit when they were driving out of town - his fixation with the curse leading him to believe that bad things happened to people who tried to leave Storybrooke. Instead of getting upset he had crawled from the backseat into his mother's lap and was now snoring lightly with his head on her shoulder. Apparently the threat of zombies taking Regina from him had brought on the realisation that his mom wasn't all bad, and that she was the one who made him feel safe. Emma had noticed how he had clung to Regina every chance he got. She was happy about his change of heart - hoping it would stay this way.
Emma looked at Regina, the only other person awake in the car. Their earlier discussion about Henry and his aversion to his mother came to mind. Had that only taken place this morning? Had it barely been a day since they left the safe confines of Regina's office? It seemed like forever ago - Regina sitting behind her desk wearing her proper designer dress, heels and obligatory mayoral scowl. The woman now sitting next to Emma seemed like a completely different person, but she wasn't. The only thing that had changed was their perception of each other.
"I told you he didn't hate you." She felt a smile tug at her lips as her eyes returned to the road. Glancing sideways she saw her smile returned.
"Thank you." They were rare words to leave Regina's mouth. They sounded small, but heartfelt.
"For what?" Emma had to ask.
"For... everything. For saving us. For caring about... loving Henry. For not leaving us."
Emma met eyes full of vulnerability. "Regina, I care about both of you, not just Henry. I won't leave the two of you - ever. I couldn't." It was a confession she'd never thought she would divulge, but being honest felt right. She could have said that she loved Regina, but it was too soon, too early, for those words to leave her lips. This would have to do - for now.
She felt a hand on her thigh, squeezing, then simply resting there. The gesture did not only warm her thigh, but her heart as well. She let one hand drop from the steering wheel to wrap around a delicate wrist, thumb tenderly stroking soft skin. Lifting their hands to her lips she tenderly kissed the bruised skin over Regina's knuckles. Emma turned her head, green eyes meeting warm brown and she saw her own smile mirrored in Regina's face.
They continued on in silence until the sky grew a few shades lighter and the forest around them gave way. Emma stopped the car and the lack of movement woke the others up. Ruby and Mary Margaret moved about in the back, both leaning forward to look out through the windscreen. Mary Margaret reached for Ruby's hand as both their faces paled. Henry turned in his mother's lap and let out a whimper at the same time as Regina's fingers squeezed Emma's.
In the early light of dawn the skyline of Boston could be seen - stretched out before them like a gruesome painting. Thick smoke rose from the city, darkening the heavens and telling them all that they needed to know - they wouldn't be safe here.
They wouldn't be safe anywhere.
A/N: The end - for now. Rather classic zombie ending my friends.
I have a short fluff-epilogue written, which I could post, but I think this story deserves more than that - a sequel. So let me breathe for a bit and we'll see what happens.
