Ok. Confession time. I had no idea how hard writing and being the mother of a baby/toddler would be. WTF does time go ya'll? What's happened to my imagination?! I totally underestimated things.

*Sigh*.

That said, the fact still remains that I promised to finish this story and finish it, I will!

Due to the time lag, I realise that some of you will probably have to go back and read it all again to follow the plot and remember the story… I know I had to LOL!

Thank you once again to Loweze for her beta work and to Renbean for her reminders and encouragement :)

Chapter 33

"What on earth is taking you so long?" Regina exclaimed as she rounded the corner to Granny's restrooms, expensive heels clicking on the laminated flooring as she moved. "You know that I can only handle so much of your mother's sickening sentimentality before I-" she paused then, seemingly noticing the blonde's distraction. "Emma," she narrowed her eyes. "What are you doing?"

Upon hearing her name, the sheriff's head snapped up and she quickly drew her hand behind her back.

"Nothing," the blonde responded numbly, before her brain reengaged and she remembered with whom she was speaking. "Splinter," she offered in explanation, with a shrug that she hoped appeared casual. "I had a splinter." It was the first thing that came to mind. "From the bathroom stall," she fabricated on the spot as she flexed the fingers of her left hand behind her back.

"A splinter?" Regina asked, a hint of scepticism in her tone.

"Uh-huh," Emma responded, with a little more certainty to her tone. It was a believable explanation; the mayor was always commenting on how clumsy the Sheriff could be. 'You could injure yourself in a padded cell' was often the phrase of choice.

Regina surveyed the blonde for a beat until thankfully, Emma's reputation for being a bit of a klutz, paid off.

"Emma, I," the brunette rolled her eyes and with a sigh, took a final step towards the blonde. "And you wonder why I worry about you going to the Enchanted Forest," she reached around Emma's body in an attempt to grab the other woman's hand, "when you can't even use the bathroom without succumbing to an injury-"

Emma twisted her shoulder away from the brunette, blocking her retrieval of the hidden appendage.

"Let me see," Regina made a second attempt for Emma's hand.

"I said I had a splinter," Emma twisted again, before taking a step backwards and waving her palm up in front of the brunette's face. "See, it's gone now," she smiled and tucked her hand back into the safe confine of her jean pocket. If the brunette were to touch the sheriff's skin, she would definitely be able to tell that she was freaking out. "I'm fine."

"Okay," Regina said with a resigning shrug and a hint of annoyance. "But will you please come back to the table before your mother emotionally scars our son?" she turned and headed back towards the diner. "When I left, she was discussing the merits of Kegel exercises!"

Once Regina was out of eye shot, Emma released the breath she'd been holding; her shoulders sagging forward as she once again looked down at her palm.

Any visual trace of her encounter with Maleficent had now gone, but the blonde's hand still tingled.

Oddly, considering Mal's reputation, the magic didn't have the ominous signature Emma would have expected. The sheriff was now all too familiar with the scent of dark magic and would have recognised it's pull instantly.

No. This was different. It wasn't dark… yet it didn't feel entirely 'light' either.

The dragon's actions certainly hadn't seemed sinister to Emma.

But then what was with all the secrecy? Why can't Regina know?

The sound of clinking crockery from the diner dragged Emma back into the present and she straightened her back; now was not the time. She would have to figure out something, later; right now, she had her over-sharing mother to deal with.

Shaking her hand and flexing her fingers, the blonde followed Regina back into the diner.

xXx

"So, what would you both like to do for the rest of the afternoon?" Regina asked as she strolled between Emma and Henry down main street. The two of them had been incredibly quiet over lunch and although Regina would like to pin the blame on Snow White and all of her pelvic floor talk, the brunette knew that it was most likely the preceding conversation that had rendered her loved ones mute.

Emma was leaving in a matter of hours and there was no avoiding the details. Was she packed? What was she taking with her? Does she know where she can find shelter when she gets there? What not to eat? Places, people and things to avoid?

Regina had hoped that Gold's spell would be strong enough to send Emma so far back in time, that she would have no chance of running into the mayor's formally evil self (again).

However, the further back in time the blonde was sent (according to Gold), the more difficult it made her retrieval. Emma had to go back to just before the lake had dried up, which timeline wise, was right in the middle of Regina's reign.

It did make magical sense; however, Regina wasn't entirely sure that was really the driver behind Gold's time plan. He was up to something. She knew it.

The conniving little imp appeared to have a vested interest in their journey to the past; striking that deal with him had left Regina feeling anxious, but what choice did they have?

As Emma had rightfully said, Belle (albeit under a sleeping curse) was pregnant with Gold's child; it was highly unlikely he would risk changing that.

Regina's only hope was that the 'package' he wanted Emma to deliver for him, was nothing more than a note to tell himself that his future self, was an idiot.

"We could go to the beach?" When neither of her companions were forthcoming with ideas, Regina offered one of her own. She frowned. "It is a bit cold though. How about we go to the arcade? We're not needed until around 7-"

"Actually, Mom," Henry came to a stop and shoved his hands in his jacket pockets. "I think I'd just like us all to hang out at home."

Regina and Emma slowed to a pause and shared a knowing glance.

"At the mansion?" Emma asked. "Just like a regular afternoon, huh, kid?"

"Something like that," He shrugged, as they commenced their slow stroll towards the mansion.

They continued the rest of their walk in a more comfortable silence, yet Regina could still sense the tension surrounding them.

There was some comfort at the thought of spending the rest of the afternoon at the mansion with Emma and Henry, however achieving a sense of normalcy would be a challenge for all of them.

The saviour's impending journey was weighing down heavily on them all and Regina knew it would be hard to stifle that emotion.

They eventually reached the mansion and Regina unlocked the door and entered first, followed by Henry; it wasn't until the brunette had removed her shoes, that she noticed Emma was still hovering awkwardly in the doorway.

"Emma?"

"I'm ah, I'm just going to head on over to my place and collect some stuff I need," the saviour said, as she shoved her hands in her jean pockets and shifted her feet.

"Oh," Regina felt a tug of disappointment in her abdomen. She placed her shoes on the rack and moved back towards the door. "Do you have to go right now?"

Emma appeared to sense Regina's disappointment.

"I won't be long," she reassured with a tight smile.

"I'll come with you!" Henry said, eagerly slipping his sneakers back onto his feet.

"Henry, I-" Emma started.

Regina watched the emotions play across her sons face as his other mother prepared to let him down.

Henry's instant reaction to Emma leaving his side was a blatant reflection on his emotional state, and if Regina were honest with herself, it mirrored her own.

They were both going to miss Emma dearly and wanted to spend as much time with her as possible before her trip.

Thankfully, the saviour seemed to understand and caught herself.

"Sure, Henry," a tight smile crept across the blonde's lips. "Why not."

The saviours smile however, didn't quite reach her eyes and it gave Regina pause.

"Great!" Henry slipped past one mother to join the other on the porch. "See you later Mom."

"I won't be long," Emma reiterated towards Regina, with that same forced smile on her face. "Why don't you rest up? I can pick us up some dinner on the way back."

"Emma," Regina stepped forwards into the blonde's space, concern painting her features. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," the saviour shrugged it off. "Of course," she leant forward and placed a quick kiss to the brunette's cheek. "We'll see you soon."

With that, she grabbed Henry's shoulder and they both disappeared in a cloud of white smoke.

Regina stood on the empty porch, staring out across the empty street; a sense of dread coiling up her spine.

When Emma kissed her, she had felt nothing.

Not a single thing.

She blocked me…

Something was definitely wrong.

xXx

"Could you maybe warn me before you do that?" Henry groaned, hunched over with his hands on his knees. "Urgghh."

"I thought you'd be used to it by now," Emma rubbed his back, recalling having the exact same feeling when she first started to teleport.

"Not without a heads up," Henry said as he looked over his shoulder at his mother. "And not when I've just eaten." Then, upon noticing his surroundings, he stood up straight with a frown. "Wait…Why are we here?"

Emma took a step backwards from her son and looked towards the 'chocolate box' cottage, which was nestled into some trees up ahead.

"I need to talk to Mal," she said, matter of fact, before starting to walk towards the property.

"What?" Henry called after her. "Why?"

"Because I have a magical question for her that I don't want to bother your mother with."

"What?" Henry frowned, before hurrying towards his mother. "Ma, wait," when she didn't slow down, he grabbed her arm.

Emma stopped, turning to glare at him.

"Are you ok?" He released his grip on her arm.

"Of course, I'm okay," she said somewhat snappily and took a step backwards, kicking at the dirt with her boot. "Why does everyone keep asking me that today?"

"Um, I don't know. Maybe because you keep doing stuff like that?" Henry softened his tone. "And you just lied to Mom."

"I didn't lie, exactly," Emma turned and started to walk again. "I am going to go home and collect my things, once I'm done talking to Mal."

"I know you're worried about going, ma." Henry said, starting after her once more, "and it's okay to be worried, you know."

Emma had never been good at showing vulnerability; she was especially bad at doing so in front of her son. She was his hero. The White Knight. The Saviour. He really didn't need to know that in all honesty - she was terrified.

"I'm fine, Henry."

"I mean, I'd be worried too," her son continued, rushing slightly ahead so he could face her as they walked. "There's just so much that can go wrong," he continued. "I mean, the Evil Queen could capture you again or Gold could stop you from returning, or you know, you could step on a bug and irreparably change the future –"

"Henry," Emma cautioned, but Henry continued.

"Like, you could come back to a world with no…no Velcro or something. I mean, can you imagine a world with no Velcro?"

"Ok, Henry," Emma came to a halt and grabbing her rambling son by his shoulders. "Stop," she looked into his eyes. "What's gotten into you?" She released her grip on him and stepped backwards. "You're usually the voice of optimism; 'Hero's always win', remember?"

"I'm not a kid anymore," Henry protested. "I know that's not true."

"Sure, it is," Emma shrugged.

"Killian was a hero," Henry's voice was quiet.

Hook. This was yet another thing she had failed to talk to her son about. Her mouth suddenly felt dry.

"Henry," Emma started. "Hook was different."

"Because he wasn't the hero."

"I don't follow," she frowned.

"The hero is the one that triumphs and everyone else in a story is just…collateral," Henry explained bleakly. "I know that now."

"Henry, Hook was not collateral," Emma reasoned.

"But what if he was? And what if this isn't your story? What if it's mom's and she's the hero and you're-"

"Expendable?"

Henry visibly swallowed, nodding his head.

"Henry," Emma took a deep breath before she continued. What Henry was saying made little sense to the Saviour, but what she did understand, was that her son was desperately worried about her and with everything that had been going on, she'd completely missed it. "Think about what you're saying. Think about all the comic books you read. You know there can be more than one hero in a story. Look at the fantastic four or, or the Avengers-"

"But Thanos-"

"Okay, bad example," Emma rolled her eyes. "But, Henry, you're over thinking this. Maybe," Emma thought for a beat. "Okay, maybe this is a love story."

"Gross."

"Hear me out," Emma pressed. "The Evil Queen and her Valiant Saviour. You said it yourself; it would make one hell of a story," Emma smiled at him encouragingly. "Snow White and Prince Charming – now that's a great love story, with two heroes – and they're both still alive."

"I guess," he frowned, softly; his mother's words were starting to break through his panic. "I mean, they do always find each other – even across time."

"That's right," Emma smiled, at him encouragingly. "And Henry, I will always find your mother," she placed her hand on his shoulder. "And I will always find you," she gave his shoulder a squeeze.

"Yeah?" He asked with a hopeful smile, which to Emma, made him appear much younger than his years; her boy may be almost grown, but he still needed his mothers.

"Now, can we please go and find out what the Mistress of Evil did to my damn hand?"

"Okay," Henry said with a bit more enthusiasm.

Emma started to walk away.

"Wait," Henry hurried to catch her up again. "Your hand?"

xXx

"You're an idiot," was the greeting Emma received from Mal, as the older woman opened the front door to her cottage.

The elder blonde was no longer dressed in her statement pencil suit and fedora. Instead, her hair was loose around her shoulders (albeit perfectly coifed) and she wore a pair of high waisted red trousers, a white camisole and a flowing black kimono.

This must be her 'indoor attire', Emma surmised.

Who does that?

One of the dragon's hands loosely gripped the interior door handle and the other, rested gently on her cocked hip; her expression was about as welcoming as her words.

"Um…What?" Emma asked, completely confused. She was the one that was supposed to be doing the berating.

In answer to the blonde's question, Mal swung the door open more fully to reveal Regina, standing in the kitchen, arms crossed over her chest, looking pissed.

"Mom?" Henry exclaimed.

"How did you?" Emma spluttered, her brain almost short circuiting as she thought of a way to explain her presence. "We were just-" at Regina's raised eyebrow, the blonde stopped; her shoulders sagging in defeat.

Busted.

"You blocked me," Regina said, calmly. "Which, for your information, is as obvious that something is wrong, as letting me actually feel it for myself. Worse, in fact."

"Like I said," Mal purred as she turned and headed back into the house, "you're an idiot." She took a seat on an oversized armchair and crossed her legs.

"This place is huge," Henry had already moved inside the spacious, open plan cottage and was having a look around. He was correct. The cottage looked so small and quaint from the outside but opened up like the Tardis on the inside.

Magic, Emma surmised.

"Thank you, dear," Mal said as she reached for, what looked to Emma like, a dirty martini on the coffee table. "Do close the door, Saviour, you're letting the cold in."

Emma, who was still standing on the porch in stunned silence, numbly crossed the threshold and closed the door behind her.

It didn't make the room feel any warmer.

"So, are you going to explain yourself?" Regina pressed, obviously not caring that they had an audience. Emma wanted the ground to swallow her whole.

"How did you know I'd be here?"

"I didn't," Regina admitted. "I came to see Mal. I couldn't be sure, but I thought I felt her presence at the diner earlier. I thought that she may have known what upset you."

"And what did she say?"

"'She?" Mal Scoffed. "I told Regina that I had no possible idea what could have upset you, because our interaction earlier was nothing but friendly."

"Friendly?!" Emma exclaimed. "You put the whammy on me!"

"The whammy?" Mal frowned.

"My hand!" Emma thrust the inflicted appendage accusingly towards the elder blonde. "It still tingles."

"Sounds positively excruciating, dear," the Dragon said with an eyeroll as she got to her feet and moved past Regina, heading towards the kitchen. "I am quite sure that I've never heard of a 'whammy'," she said as she placed a kettle on the stove. "So, I can only guess that you are referring to my summoning sigil. Tea, anyone?"

" You," Regina turned her attention to Mal. "You gave her your sigil?"

"As a precaution only, Regina," Mal explained. "I don't actually expect her to need it."

"I can't believe you did that," the mayor moved to stand on the opposite side of the kitchen counter to the Dragon.

Emma stared at Regina, confused; the brunette actually sounded touched by the notion.

Shouldn't she be angry?

"I just didn't want you to worry unduly, dear," Mal confessed to Regina. "I didn't want you to think I had no faith in your plans."

"Hang on," Emma voiced her confusion, moving over to join the other women in the kitchen area. "What in the holy hell is a summoning seagull?"

"You cannot be serious," Mal paused her movements in the kitchen and looked straight at the Saviour, a bewildered expression on her face. "How can you not know-" the Dragon didn't finish her sentence. Instead, she sighed, shook her head and moved to grab some teacups and saucers from a cupboard. "I honestly have no idea what you see in her, Regina."

"Excuse me?" Emma protested.

The Dragon dropped two teabags into a teapot then folded her arms over her chest to survey the Sheriff, disapprovingly.

"I'm sorry, I just find the fact that I have to explain basic magic to you very disturbing – you being the saviour and all."

"She kicked your ass," Henry muttered under his breath as he poked at an ornamental dragon on a nearby bookshelf.

"Henry!" Regina admonished her son, before turning her attention to Mal. "Emma's training is a work in progress," Regina explained.

"Quite," Mal sighed and rested her hands on her hips. "It's a 'sigil'," she corrected Emma's earlier mispronunciation. "And think of it as a….a magical beacon."

"A beacon?"

"You do know what a beacon is?" Mal raised an eyebrow.

Emma treated that remark with the contempt it deserved and threw the old Dragon some serious shade.

"A beacon for what? For you? For past you? Do I just wave my hand around if I need your help and you see this 'sigil' in the sky like some kind of Bat Symbol?"

"Which would be awesome," Henry said, moving over to join them in the kitchen area.

This time it was Mal's turn to look confused.

"It's truly like we speak a different language."

"Mal's sigil will allow you to call upon her in the past, should you run into any trouble," Regina explained. Emma was pleased to note that the brunette's tone when addressing her was softer than before.

"Emergencies only," Mal added. "You will inevitably get yourself into trouble," she waved her hand in the air, dismissively. "You are you, after all." The kettle boiled, and the dragon continued her explanation whilst she filled the teapot with water; "But it's only for use in dire emergencies. Life or death only, you understand."

"Okay. So," Emma was beginning to wrap her mind around what had happened earlier that day, but there was one thing didn't sit well with the younger blonde. "Let me get this straight," she frowned, confusion etched into her brow. "You did something nice..." she screwed her face up, as if the idea appalled her, "…for me?"

"I did it for Regina, dear," Mal responded quickly as she lifted the teapot onto a small tea tray. "And by proxy, for you I suppose. But, please, don't let that get in the way of our mutual animosity."

"Emma," Regina took a step towards the Saviour. "Is that what's been troubling you?" She asked. "Is this the cause of the worry you didn't want me to feel?"

"Well, yeah!" Emma exclaimed. "I had no idea what she'd done to me or why I couldn't tell you."

"I didn't feel it warranted explanation," Mal said defensively as she brought the tea over to place it on the coffee table.

"Ok, alright," Regina held her hands up. "Everybody, stop talking," she rubbed her temples. "Can we please let this be a lesson in transparency?" She looked individually at each occupant of the room.

"What did I do?" Henry asked, when his mothers' steely gaze landed on him.

"I'm pregnant," Regina continued. "I am not fragile of mind. Do not keep things from me."

"Regina, I-" Emma started.

"I know it comes from a good place." Regina silenced the younger blonde with a wave of her hand. "And I know it was never your intention, but really, your handling of this situation has caused more anxiety than it would if you'd just come to me in the first place." Regina glared at Mal. "That message was for both of you."

Mal sat down in her armchair with a roll of her eyes and took a sip from her cocktail.

"I am sorry," Emma said sincerely, taking a step closer to Regina.

"I know," Regina outstretched her hand and linked her fingers with the blonde's.

Emma felt a flood of reassurance and smiled.

"You need to tell me if you're worried," Regina said softly. "You don't need to keep it from me or shield me from it." She looked to Henry; "neither of you do. We'll need each other to get through this."

"Listen to you being all emotionally mature," Emma smiled, teasingly, tugging on the brunette's fingers which were still threaded between her own.

"Well, I've recently learnt that not being honest about how I feel can cost me time with the people I love."

Emma's teasing smile spread into a goofy one.

"The people you love, huh?"

"As much as I am enjoying having a front seat to…" Mal interrupted and waved an arm in the direction of the other two women, "…whatever this is - would you mind awfully not continuing it in my kitchen?" She took a drink from her martini. "Regina already ruined my cocktail hour by crash landing in my gladioli, I'd rather you didn't put me off of my evening meal too."

Gladioli? Again?

Amusement flashed over Emma's expression and she looked at Regina. A slight blush was colouring the brunette's cheeks as she answered the blonde's unspoken question.

"I honestly have no idea."

xXx

The rest of the day went by in a blur.

Why did it always happen that way?

The things Emma looked forward to seemingly took forever to arrive, whereas the things she was dreading hurtled towards her at lightning speed.

As per Henry's request, they spent the afternoon at the mansion playing boardgames and eating pizza.

Having arrived in this 'land without magic' in the 80's, Regina happened to have a huge collection of boardgames that were popular throughout Emma's childhood; classics like the Game of Life and Frustration. Being an orphan, these where games that the blonde rarely had an opportunity to play, so she was in her absolute element.

Despite Regina's hormonally induced temper tantrums over losing (she was a terrible loser, even when it was their son that was winning), the afternoon was a perfect one and it allowed Emma, for the most part, to forget about her pending departure. For a few hours, it allowed the blonde to focus on the good things in life, which really, were the whole the reason she was taking her trip to the past in the first place.

It's a lifetime of 'this' that I'm fighting for.

However, the time eventually came, for them to leave the safety of the mansion and head to the barn. Emma's travel backpack had now been stowed in the trunk of the Mercedes, she and Henry were putting on their shoes in preparation for leaving and Regina was preparing some snacks in the kitchen.

"Knock, knock!"

Emma glanced up from pulling on an ankle boot, to see the head of Snow White appearing around the open front door.

"Are you ready to go?" The teacher asked, a sad smile on her face.

"Hey Grandma," Henry smiled as he squished his left foot into his already laced up sneaker and got to his feet.

"Mom?" Emma frowned as she zipped up her boot and also rose to stand. "I thought you were meeting us at the barn."

"We were," David said, somewhat wearily as he appeared in the doorway behind his wife.

"I wondered if you might need a hand transporting your stuff?" Snow said, a saccharin smile on her lips.

Lies

Emma didn't need her lie detector to spot that whopper; she and her father shared a knowing glance.

Earlier in the week, Snow had handed her daughter a carefully written list detailing absolutely everything that she could possibly need in the Enchanted Forrest. The blonde drew the line at three pairs of nude pantyhose, but for the most part, the list was really useful.

"Bag's in the trunk," Emma pulled a set of Mercedes car keys from the pocket of her red leather jacket and tossed them into the eager hands of her mother. "Knock yourself out."

Snow beamed at her daughter, before slipping outside to check her handywork.

"What's in the bag?" Emma asked, motioning to a canvas bag that David was carrying.

"Baked goods," he said, with a tight smile and handed the bag to his daughter.

"Right," Emma said, knowingly, "Thanks." Emma looked over her shoulder, towards the kitchen. "I'm glad you're here actually," she lowered her voice, so as not to be heard. "You think Henry could ride to the barn with you guys?"

"Sure," David said with a shrug. "Everything okay?"

"What?" Henry asked. "Why?"

"Everything's fine," Emma answered her father. "There's just some stuff I wanna short out with your Mom before I go, kid," she explained to Henry. "It won't take long," she assured him. "We'll be right behind you."

After such a hectic start to their day, the two women had spent little time alone and Emma felt as though there was still so much left to say.

"Alright," her son said glumly, then reached to grab to the bag of baked goods. "You want me to put those in the trunk with your bag?" He asked, his expression - a picture of innocence, but Emma knew better.

"Hand's off, kid," Emma said as she swiped the bag from her son's reach.

"Hey," Henry mock protested.

"You'll be living here and enjoying your mother's cooking for the next 30 days," Emma defended her actions as she peered into the bag. "I'll be eating roasted chimera once these have run out and trust me when I tell you, that stuff smells like ass."

"Must you be so vulgar?" Regina voiced as she joined them all in the hallway from the kitchen; she carried with her a paper wrapped package. "David? I thought you were meeting us at the barn?"

"Mom wanted to check my packing," Emma responded for him.

"Of course, she did," Regina said, dryly.

"She made me brownies?" Emma looked to her father with child-like glee in her expression.

"It appears Snow and I think alike," Regina handed the paper package to Emma with a pained expression. "Mine will be superior, naturally," she added with a glint of good humour in her eye.

"You both know me so well," Emma smiled at the brunette.

"Great job," Snow said proudly as she reappeared in the doorway. "Regina, you made snacks too?" She asked, noticing the additional package her daughter now held.

"Regina was just saying how alike you two are," Emma said with a smirk as she slipped the paper package into the canvas bag.

Snow beamed at the concept.

"Not what I said, at all," Regina said defensively, snatching the proffered car keys back from the teacher.

"Right, so, we'll see you there?" David asked.

"We're not travelling together?" Snow asked, confused as her husband ushered her out of the door.

"I'll explain in the car."

"Later," Henry half-heartedly waved at his mother's, before walking out of the door behind, his grandparents.

Regina looked to Emma, a confused frown tugging at her brow; she was clearly wondering why their son was leaving without them.

Emma simply offered her a soft smile and the confusion lifted from the brunette's face; she understood.

As the door shut behind Henry, a charged silence filled the air.

"Emma I-"

"Are you-"

They both spoke at the same time.

They smiled.

"You first," Regina motioned to Emma, but the blonde simply shook her head and held her hand out to the brunette.

"Come here."

The mayor readily accepted and allowed the Sheriff to pull her into a hug. She pressed her face against the blonde's chest and snaked her hands beneath her red leather jacket.

Emma felt the warmth of the other woman's hands through her sweater and relaxed into the embrace.

"Thank you," the brunette said, her voice muffled by fabric as she tightened her arms around the blonde's waist.

"For what?"

"For this," Regina pulled the blonde in tighter. "I'm going to miss it."

Emma would miss their newfound closeness too, however her reason for hanging back with the brunette ran a little deeper than simply needing some time with her alone.

Despite what Regina had said at the hospital earlier that day, Emma knew the brunette was still uncomfortable with people knowing about their relationship. The mayor had proclaimed on several occasions over the past two weeks that she now 'didn't give a damn' what people thought, however her actions – like at the hospital with Whale - had been to the contrary.

The sheriff also knew that Regina's hesitance wasn't really about the two of them at all.

The mayor was being honest with Emma when she'd said that she 'didn't care' if people knew they were in a relationship or not. It wasn't about the 'gay thing'; it was more about the timing of that development.

Emma was convinced that the brunette's reluctance to shout about her love for Emma from the rooftops, was actually all about Robin.

As much as Emma didn't like to think about it, Regina was still carrying Robin's child; the brunette wasn't even really showing and yet, she'd already moved on.

On the face of it, the blonde had to admit that to an outsider, it did look bad. And if she were honest with herself, at times, she still felt a little guilty about Killian.

Both she and Regina seemed to have moved on awful fast.

Just because Emma understood her reasoning however, didn't mean it didn't still sting a bit.

Had they left their goodbyes until the barn, Emma knew that Regina would have been all stiff and awkward about the whole thing; the experience would have been tainted and that was the last thing the blonde wanted.

She needed the closeness.

She needed a nice goodbye.

This is definitely better.

"I just wish we had more time," Emma voiced her thoughts as she returned the embrace.

"I know," Regina whispered and when her voice cracked, Emma felt a resounding pang in her chest.

"We will," the blonde said, pulling back from the embrace to look down at the other woman.

"30 days?" Regina questioned, her deep brown eyes searching the blondes.

"30 days."

Their lips touched softly at first and a familiar wave of comforting warmth spread through their bodies.

I don't want to go.

I don't want this to end.

I have to go.

I love her.

I'm terrified.

Emma's thoughts drove her to deepen their kiss. She cradled Regina's jaw and kissed the other woman with a ferociousness that was driven by a hopeless desire to feel grounded; to feel safe.

Almost immediately, a second wave of emotion surged at the blonde. Regina's love, hope, fear and desperate need collided with her own feelings and for a just moment, Emma thought she'd be overwhelmed.

She squeezed her eyes shut against the tears that threatened to fall as she tried desperately to temper the onslaught of complex emotion she was feeling.

Emma needed to sear the good feelings to memory; the ones she didn't want to forget. The softness of Regina's skin, the silk of her hair, the smell of her shampoo, the feeling of being needed so badly and loved so much by another person.

But it was all too much.

They pulled away in unison, completely breaking contact. They gasped for air, both grappling with emotions that were not just their own; the blonde's knees rendered weak from the exertion.

"That was," Emma started, between panting breaths.

"Too much," Regina finished, using a hand to support herself against the wall. "Too intense. I," Regina sucked in more air and exhaled. "I didn't feel-"

"Like yourself," Emma said. It wasn't a question. She had felt just the same. It was like their energies had become one. It was one thing to metaphorically lose yourself in a person – but to actually do it…

"Exactly," Regina said, shaking her head. "This thing between us," she gestured back and forth in the space between them. "It's getting stronger."

Emma swallowed.

"I felt it," her throat felt oddly dry and her head felt woozy, but despite how she was feeling, the blonde wondered if their connection growing stronger was such a bad thing.

In about an hour, they were going to need to communicate over space and time - any boost to that ability had to be a good thing.

Right?

Regina didn't look too pleased though.

In fact, she looked downright nauseous.

"Are you okay?" Emma asked, stepping forwards to offer a hand in support.

"I'm fine," Regina evaded the contact and the blonde felt the cold stab of rejection in her chest. "I just," the brunette shook her head, both of her hands now rested on her stomach. "I'm okay," she stood up straight. "Honestly," she said with a tight smile. "It just made me a little dizzy, that's all."

"You're sure?" Emma asked, although she needn't have. She could always tell if Regina was lying.

"Don't look so crestfallen, Emma," the brunette said with a roll of her eyes. "I just needed to gather myself before you touched me again." She moved forwards and wrapped herself around the blonde; a protective layer of clothing offering them respite from each other's emotions.

"I felt your fear," Regina said quietly after a beat; her voice was barely audible.

"I'm fine," Emma started, then realised it was pointless. Regina had now felt her fear and knew that it was very real. "I guess it's just…"

After a beat of silence, Regina pressed on.

"Tell me," she said, her face still pressed firmly into the blonde's sweater.

Emma closed her eyes and felt tears rolling down her cheeks.

"I'm scared to lose what I finally have," she answered honestly.

"What's that?" Regina asked, her voice still small.

"Everything I've ever wanted," the blonde answered simply, before burying her face in the brunette's hair and finally letting her tears fall.

"Oh, Emma," Regina pulled back from the embrace enough to loop her arms around the blonde's neck and placed a chaste kiss to her hairline.

"But I have to do this," she continued, the floodgates now open.

"You don't have to do anything," Regina pulled back to look at the blonde, a soft, concerned frown on her brow. "Emma, no one is forcing you to go."

"I am. I'm forcing me to go. I'd never forgive myself," the blonde argued. "If I don't at least try," she shook her head.

Regina nodded her understanding; her own eyes glazed with tears.

"I feel so helpless," the brunette admitted.

"I know," Emma nodded, solemnly; she'd felt it.

"I feel like I lose either way," Regina continued. "And that this situation is entirely out of my control-"

"And entirely within mine," Emma finished the brunette's sentence.

"Indeed," Regina smiled, softly. "A prospect that would usually deeply concern me, Miss Swan," she said, teasingly before her expression sobered. "Emma, I know you can do this."

"Look at you, being the optimist," Emma teased.

"You're coming home." Regina said with conviction. "Any other outcome is not an option."

Emma nodded, silently.

"And that thing that you're so scared of losing?" Regina grabbed fistfuls of Emma's sweater and tugged gently. "Know that it is my everything too and I will not rest until you are back in this world with Henry and I," she tugged on the sweater again for good measure. "Do you hear me?" She searched the blonde's expression for understanding; her grip relaxing when she finally saw it there.

"I know," Emma voiced her acceptance.

In a weird way, it did help to hear the brunette be the strong voice of reason. So often, the shoe was on the other foot and just listening to the former queen sound so positive that everything would be okay, made the blonde realise just how negative her thought process had been.

Regina is the optimistic one.

'Regina'.

Snap out of it, Swan.

"And now I'm done delivering my hope speech," the brunette said with a glint in her eye as she stepped back from the blonde. "How about a nice dose of normality?"

"Meaning?" Emma frowned.

"Your clothes," Regina waved a hand in the general direction of the blonde's body, a distasteful expression on her face.

Emma looked down at the jeans, sweater, and red leather jacket combo she was wearing.

"What?"

TBC

So, I know I have said for the past two chapters that Emma's journey to the past will be in the next chapter…and I'm going to say it again LOL!

Before you shout at me, in actual fact, it WAS in this chapter - but it was just such a HUGE chapter that I have split it into two sections.

Look on the bright side: 1) It means that the next chapter has already been written and will shortly follow this one. 2) This way I also have time to complete a third chapter as well, so you won't be waiting as long for an update :).

Finally, I have a favour to ask of you all.

I would REALLY appreciate it if you could all (pretty please) take 15 minutes to watch and share my first ever short film. I have career aspirations of becoming a screen writer, so this film is a HUGE thing for me, and honestly, it's a tough industry to crack and I could really use the support.

Please, head on over to Youtube, search for Brentwood Movie Makers and select the film called Little Love.

We have a Facebook page too Little Love – A Short Film

Kerrie and Loweze (my beta's for this story and fellow Regals) also had a hand in the production. Kerrie is the female lead and Loweze was production assistant and props :).

We all met through OUAT fandom.

As always, I love to hear your thoughts.

TTFN