Emma woke up. The room was empty, Regina had left. Damn, she really needed to start waking up earlier. She walked downstairs and found the kitchen empty. Shit. Regina hadn't left, had she? She wasn't sure what to do, she didn't want to leave and have Regina get back to find her gone but she didn't know where Regina was. She couldn't just stay in her house indefinitely.
She was dithering in the doorway, unsure where to go. Something touched her back from behind and she jumped.
"Sorry!" Regina stepped past her into the kitchen, laughing, "I didn't mean to scare you so much!"
Emma caught her breath. "Ok, not cool. I thought you would be taking Henry to school."
"Nope. I caught up with him. He's happy and he's good with us, he just wants things to get back to normal at the moment so he decided to get the school bus today."
Emma nodded. She had been worried that Henry would freak out but he seemed to be taking it really well. "So. We need to talk about the queen."
"Actually," Regina turned and Emma noticed she was twisting her hands together. Nothing good then. "I think Gold's got it in hand for now." Emma frowned.
"He's making up a potion, he thinks we didn't completely divide but that he can fix it. I can't really help him at the moment. But I do need your mother's help."
Definitely not good.
"Or rather, her shoes." Emma raised her eyes incredulously. "If she still has the ruby slippers?"
"Oh. Yes. I think she does." What did this have to do with the evil queen? "Why do you want to travel to a new land? Where?"
"Oz."
"Ok... why does that not like a good idea?" Emma was surprised and almost angry, scared at the very thought of Regina putting herself in danger. "What for?"
"Hook's father was once under a sleeping curse and while he asleep, he fell in love with the woman who was caring for him. She woke him up."
Emma frowned, thinking. "But I thought you couldn't hear the outside world?"
"Well, after a couple of hundred years, the spell weakens. You can hear, and feel what happens around you. Assuming Rumple doesn't want to wait that long to convince Belle, we need some way to connect them."
"So he can talk to her?"
"Exactly! So I got to thinking about Zelena's necklace. It connected her to the other three witches and made them stronger. I think, if I could get hold of those necklaces, I could imitate their connection. Link Belle and Rumple together."
Emma nodded, still not really liking the plan but having to admit it made sense. "I'll talk to my mother."
"Or I could? I want to check I'm ok with Snow and you probably need to talk to Killian."
Emma deflated. Did she? It was so hard yesterday. But she couldn't continue sleeping with Regina unless she made sure her and Killian were over.
"Ok. Today is not going to be a great day. Meet for lunch? Grannie's?" She asked hopefully.
"I'd love to." Regina smiled and kissed Emma's hand. They already felt like a real couple and they had only been together for a few days. This just felt natural.
Emma dropped some bread in the toaster. Regina cocked her head curiously. "Just out of interest, can you cook? I don't think I've ever seen you doing real cooking."
Emma grabbed a plate and smiled. "Yes, I'm quite good with simple things, pancakes, breakfast foods mostly. But I'm not as good as my mother so I'm happy to let her cook for me while she's up for it!"
She looked around at the cabinets and Regina slid open the cutlery drawer. Emma loved the fact that she didn't have to say anything. She sat down at the table and Regina flopped down into a chair beside her.
"You don't have to stay you know? If you have to go."
"I won't leave you to eat alone. If you're alright with a slight detour, you could drop me off at the Charming's then head to the docks? Or not." She looked down.
She thought she was being too clingy. Emma loved having her around and would never get sick of spending time with her.
She put her hand on Regina's and Regina looked up. "That would be great."