"Did you know that you agreed to call Bingo tonight?" Emma tossed a can of soda at Regina, who caught it absently and picked up her pace to keep up.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Yep, that's what I thought. Who agreed to this itinerary? Mal?"
"Probably. I'm not certain. Can we please talk about-"
"Come on. I'll show you the studio."
"Studio? What stu-? Emma will you please slow down?" The frustration was evident in her voice as Emma hurried through the passageway, ducking around corners and dodging sailors.
Emma stopped short causing Regina to run into her. "Sorry."
Regina snorted. "You don't seem very sorry. You are a terrible tour guide," she bit out, but the twinkle in her eyes told Emma she wasn't really upset.
"Hey! I resent that. I've been a great guide."
"Yes, dear. I have successfully seen every restroom on the ship at least twice."
Much as it rankled her, Emma conceded the point. "Come with me," she said. "I want to show you something."
"Will you slow down?"
"Nope! You'll just have to keep up."
It wasn't that Regina didn't know the blonde was moving a hundred miles an hour in order to avoid talking what had just happened between them in the restroom. The running, the quick subject changes, the dodging of reality? Those characteristics were so quintessentially Emma, they were as much a part of her as her green eyes.
So no, it wasn't that Regina was confused by what was happening here. It was more that she knew that pushing Emma to talk before she was ready was a waste of time, so gamely, she tried to keep up.
It wasn't easy. Emma knew this ship inside and out and more importantly; she knew how to navigate through an aircraft carrier comfortably. As Regina struggled with the narrow hallways and steep staircases that always seemed to be crammed full of people, she cursed the blonde under her breath for this ridiculous trek to god only knew where.
"Emma. This is absurd. Would you please just stop and tell me where we are going?"
"We're here," Emma replied, pulling open a door and stepping outside.
"Wait. Where are we?"
"This is the smoking sponson."
Regina's eyes narrowed. "I cannot believe that you still have that filthy habit," she began.
"I don't. Quit years ago." It wasn't exactly a lie as she had quit years ago, even if it hadn't exactly been the last time she had needed to fight that particular demon. "I just like to come out here for fresh air, sometimes."
"Fresh air? In a-? What was it you called this place?" Regina gestured vaguely around her.
"Smoking sponson. And that's not why I brought you out here." Gently she put her hands on Regina's shoulders and turned her around to face the ocean.
Puzzled, Regina glanced back at Emma for clarification.
Emma nodded towards the ocean. "Just give it a few minutes," she said.
Silently the two looked out at the water, until Regina spoke." Do you come out here often?"
Without turning her head Emma nodded. "Every night assuming my schedule allows it. If you would stop being so impatient, you will see why in just a couple of minutes."
As they stood side by side, the sun began to slip down over the horizon, leaving brilliant hues of color dancing on the ocean. Regina watched in awe as the sky turned a brilliant crimson color, nearly blood red, and so vivid it almost hurt to watch. It didn't last long, but as the sky deepened into the dark purple that twilight brought in its wake, her hand unconsciously reached out and held Emma's in her own. Emma glanced down at their clasped hands, but did not comment, just angled her body to block the view of their hands from prying eyes.
"That was-"
"I know."
The silence fell between them again, familiar and peaceful as the purple died down into an almost inky black.
"Watching sunset from the middle of the ocean is something everyone should experience at least once," Emma said softly.
"Thank you for showing me," Regina said. "It was magnificent."
Emma did not reply right away. She had too many thoughts in her head and she was afraid she was going to screw this up, as often happened when she let her mouth run away without her brain. Regina, sensing she had something to say, waited patiently.
"I know you're worried about me," Emma began, her eyes still fixed on the horizon in front of them. "I'm not going to lie to you and tell you that you have no reason to be. But I wanted to show you this. So that you know I, I'm going to be ok, you know? And I wanted to give you some idea of why I do what I do."
The admission was stunning, and Regina's mouth dropped open in surprise. The ability to admit she wasn't ok was something she had never thought she would see in her fierce knight in shining armor and Regina wasn't sure what to do with the tenderness that was rising in her chest. She desperately wanted to kiss her, even if it was just on their joined hands, but she knew she couldn't so she gave Emma's hand a gentle squeeze in response instead.
"Ok, tell me about this Bingo thing."
Emma chortled. "I can't believe they roped you into that. Is Mal pissed at you or something?"
"Not to my knowledge, but you are starting to worry me."
"You really should look at your itinerary when you get back to your stateroom. Tomorrow, they have you judging a karaoke contest."
"Excuse me?"
"Hey, don't ask me, I'm just the guide. My job is to get you where you need to be. That's it"
"Yes, and you are doing marvelously, if the missed breakfast this morning is any indication."
The pair headed back towards Regina's stateroom so that Regina could change for the night's activities. As they walked, Emma explained how it worked.
"Ok, so MWR sells Bingo cards at 10 bucks a pop."
"MWR?"
"Sorry. Morale, Welfare and Recreation. Just about every work center on the ship has a TV in it and everyone that bought a card plays together. The caller works out of the ship's TV studio and they have to keep up some sort of patter going while the game is going on."
Regina stopped. "Please tell me you're joking."
Emma burst out laughing again. "I'm really, really not. This is awesome. Come on, it starts in 30 minutes."
Regina shook her head in amusement at the blonde's reaction. "Forget changing. Let's just head to the studio."
"You got it, boss." Without warning, Emma flipped around the started walking the direction they had just come from. "I'll drop you off there so you they can get you all set up, then I'll go grab you a snack. Anything in particular you want?"
"Any chance for a glass of apple cider?"
Emma snorted. "You're cute. How about an apple?"
"I suppose that'll do." She looked at the door that Emma stopped in front of and pointed at and headed inside.
When Emma returned 15 minutes later, apple in hand, Regina was seated at the table with a small microphone attached to her shirt. The Public Affairs Officer was talking to her and the chief in charge of medial department was explaining to 2 sailors how to angle the cameras. He glanced up and grinned.
"Hello Chief Swan."
"Chief Cassidy," she nodded as she walked towards Regina. Her voice sounded formal, but there was an undertone of affection in it that only those who knew her well would be able to detect. She liked Chief Neal Cassidy; once he figured out that hitting on her was a waste of time, he had become a good friend.
"Emma, I'm glad you're back."
"Miss me already?" she joked, handing over the apple.
"Always. But I am especially glad you are back because I was just telling Chief Cassidy that I thought the bingo calling would go better if I had a partner to bounce off of."
"Oh really? What sucker did you get for that job?" she snickered until she saw the wicked grin on Regina's face.
"Not a chance." She said, backing towards the door. Chief Cassidy blocked her exit, grinning at the horror on her face.
"Come on Miss Swan. I don't know anyone else on the ship." Regina flashed the smile that she knew perfectly well was impossible to say no to.
"Uh uh. Not gonna happen."
Regina stood and placed her hand on Emma's shoulder. "Please?" was all she asked.
Emma sat down with a sigh. "I fucking hate you," she grumbled, as Neal and the junior media sailors let out a cheer. "What do I have to do?" She gamely allowed the media department representative pin a microphone to her uniform shirt, grumbling something about the "fucking good idea fairy" as Regina looked on in delight. This night was looking up.
"What's got you in such a good mood?"
Regina laughed in glee. "I can't believe you agreed to do that."
"Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up, Chuckles. You have any idea how much shit I am going to take for that tomorrow?"
"I can imagine. What made you agree?" They had reached the front of Regina's stateroom by then and were standing out in the hall, not wanting the evening to end.
"I guess I still have a hard time saying no to you," Emma said. The look on Regina's face at that made the humiliation of the experience almost worth it.
It was after 11 by then and the usual hustle and bustle of the ship had died down to an occasional sailor roaming the halls. The PA system had been silent for over an hour and would remain that way until 6 in the morning, barring some sort of emergency. Standing in front of Regina's stateroom in the relative quiet after an evening of romantic sunsets and laughter, it was impossible not to feel as though she were dropping her off after a really successful date.
Regina apparently felt the same way, because as she opened the door to her stateroom, she waited in the doorway, a silent question in her eyes.
Emma knew she shouldn't go inside. It was a bad idea for her career, and it was a really terrible idea for her heart to get involved again. Still, as she stared at the brunette's dark eyes and questioning smile, every cautious argument in her head paled against the prospect of spending time alone with Regina. Shrugging, she glanced around the hallway to ensure it was empty and followed her inside.
Regina walked over to her suitcase and pulled out a pair of sweats. Without thinking twice about it, she began to change her clothes and Emma could only stare at her as she released her breasts from her bra with a contented sigh. Suddenly, Regina seemed to remember she was there and hastily pulled a t-shirt over her head, blushing. "Sorry," she said. "Old habits, I guess."
Emma did not respond, just nodded. She knew what Regina meant. All day, it seemed, they had been falling back into their own patterns, bickering and picking at each other. Clearing her throat, she spoke. "Its fine." She invited the brunette to sit next to her by patting the bed she was sitting on. Regina sat, brushing her hair and the routine was so familiar that for all intents and purposes, it was 2003 again.
Slowly, Regina put down her hair brush and tentatively put her hand on Emma's cheek. "Stop her!" the last voice of reason in her head screamed, but it went ignored as Emma closed her eyes and leaned into her former lover's touch. The hand on her face stroked gently and when at last her eyes drifted open, Regina's lips were a breath away from hers.
Without thinking, as though by instinct, Emma leaned in. When Regina's lips touched hers softly, she felt every bit of caution that remained fly out of her head. Nothing mattered, just this kiss. This perfect moment in time, with the sweet lips she had once loved so much on hers.
When Regina pulled away at last, Emma sat shock still, already missing the contact. "Was that ok?" Regina asked softly.
"Yes," Emma replied. "But I am not ready to go any further than that."
"I know." Regina laid back on the bed and opened her arms. She appeared to be in no hurry for Emma to make up her mind. She looked so perfect lying there that Emma spoke without thinking.
"Flaming June."
"What?"
"The painting by Sir Fredric Leighton. That's who you look like right now."
Regina rolled her eyes and blushed. "Stop being ridiculous. Are you going to join me or not?"
Emma hesitated. This was a terrible idea, if for no other reason than it could destroy her career. If she got caught in a civilian's stateroom, not even her friendship with David would protect her from the hellstorm that was sure to follow. Still, the temptation proved too much to resist. She stripped down to the tank top and underwear beneath her uniform, then crawled into the bed next to Regina. Regina pulled the covers over both of them and gently stroked Emma's hair when the blonde laid her head down on her chest. Curled up in Regina's arms, Emma drifted off for her second peaceful night's sleep in a row.