A/N: Thank you all for your comments and being so patient in waiting for my updates on all my stories. In honor to that, here is another fun update for this AU based on this fun gaming series. With the way things are going with this story, I may decide and work on pt. 2, as well as do other video game based ff's in the future. ;) Happy reading! I will try to post my next update ASAP. For all my gamer fans, I hope you like my own addition to this chapter that isn't in the game.
Regina sat by with her flashlight on and reading the rest of her book, her hand picking at a few berries she had set aside for later for herself. Feet plopped up on one of the couches within the office, her eyes looking up at Emma's unmistakable figure, which automatically made her place her feet down, giving her room to sit.
"Aren't you supposed to be sleeping?" Emma asked, taking a seat right next to the brunette, her eyes on the book she held in her hands.
"I just finished it." She shut the book, placing it back inside her backpack, "You know, you're right…" She sat back up, her eyes on the blonde as she popped a berry into her mouth, "You're not a romantic at all. In fact, you're as cold as can be."
Green eyes locked onto brown ones, looking momentarily down at how sensually Regina would chew on that berry. Maybe she wasn't trying to do it on purpose, but maybe it was just the way she looked in the dark.
"We're eating his food now?" She asked, shaking herself again from yet another trance. That seemed to be happening a lot today and she scolded herself for it mentally every time.
Regina shrugged, chewing down on another berry, "He said we were welcomed to more."
Emma's eyes looked down at the small bowl being offered to her by the brunette, this time not hesitating to grab one, placing it slowly into her mouth, eyes locked on brown orbs staring intensely back at her.
"Do you think things would ever go back to normal someday?" Regina's voice was so husky and low, it kept Emma in that trance again.
"I don't know." Emma's tone was equally soft, "If it does, the first thing I'd do is sit on my front porch, enjoying a nice cup of hot coffee… maybe play guitar again."
A corner to the brunette's lips twitched into a tiny smile. She could easily see the blonde sitting out in a front porch, the sun beaming down at her, making her look stunning, or the darkness of the night surrounding her with nothing but a porch light lid, making her look quiet and mysterious all at once.
"I think I'd…" She thought about it, and the more she thought about it the more her heart fluttered, "No. I don't think I'd want things to be back to normal again," she continued as Emma raised a brow at her in question, "because then I wouldn't be with you. I wouldn't have met you if it wasn't for this."
They were sitting so close to one another, their shoulders were practically touching. Emma didn't even realize when that had happened. As for Regina, she knew what was going on between them. Not that Emma wasn't completely aware, but the brunette wasn't afraid to expose a little bit of her feelings. There was something about their journey together- tonight that just made her want for Emma to know what she made her feel.
"Regina-" She mumbled, but before she could say anything else, ruin this small moment, Regina decided to jump in with a change in conversation.
"You'll play for me one day, won't you?" She asked Emma, her tone of voice changing as she could clearly see it still scared her to act on their moments, "I'd love to hear you play and sing. Hopefully."
That's when a small corner to her lips tugged into a smirk, "I'm not much of a singer. I'm afraid you'll be holding your breath for a while on that one."
"Even if I show up in front of your doorstep with an early cup of freshly made, hot coffee?" Regina smiled, which made Emma smile a tiny bit.
The room was quiet, only their whispering could be heard within the walls. Jefferson and Grace slept soundly in another room of the office. Somehow, Emma could picture Regina actually showing up with some coffee, welcoming her inside, maybe for a cup for herself, laughing over who had to do what on the previous day. Playing for her. A feeling that was beginning to rise in her again, it was scary.
"It's late," Emma blinked, her smile gone as she attempted to stand up from the couch, "We should get some sleep. We'll really need it-" She gawked as the brunette held her back against the seat, quickly cuddling beside her, underneath her arm, feeling her head lie on her chest in one quick movement.
It was a dirty, maybe too soon move to pull, but if this was the only moment she would get to have with Emma before she acted all frightened again- so be it.
To her surprise, Emma didn't pull away. She remained still, so still she was almost too afraid to move. Scolding herself for thinking how nice and at home she felt with the brunette cuddled underneath her arm like this, providing her with some type of security. Her heart danced inside her chest, doing cartwheels and flips as her hand came in contact with the woman's shoulder, scooting her more towards her side.
You are playing at a very dangerous game here, Swan, she scolded herself more and more, but deep down, she couldn't help to miss this feeling. Even if it was just for tonight, she missed having to feel someone cuddled up to her this way. Even if her body went completely numb and stiff at the sudden contact the brunette surprised her with. She found herself weakly giving in.
"Good night, Emma." Regina whispered, her eyes soon closing on her as she quickly drifted off to sleep to the sound of the blonde's rapid heart beat.
It took her awhile to find her own voice as it had caught in her throat. Her body frozen stiff, while she worked out the muscles in her throat, trying to get words to come about. Her skin feeling like it was caught on fire from lack of human contact. But as stiff as she felt, eventually she found herself uttering back her reply, "Good night." Her eyes closing on her so quickly, she didn't even realize how tired she truly was.
Hours that felt like only minutes of sleep were over once Emma opened her eyes to Regina standing before her, slightly shaking her awake. The room much darker than before.
"It's time to go." Said Regina, her backpack strapped to her shoulders.
Emma stood up with a light grunt, her eyes on Jefferson, who held his daughter by her shoulders.
"Now, Grace, listen to me." His eyes dead focused on his daughter's, "We're going to be moving fast, okay? So, when we go out there- no matter what, I need you to stick to me like glue."
"Got it." Grace nodded.
"Like glue." He glared.
"Dad. I got it."
His hand caressed his daughter's cheek, "Good." He stood up right, eyes on the two women, "Alright. You two ready?"
Emma and Regina exchanged quick looks, before the blonde provided him with an answer.
"Yeah."
"Let's get moving." They all began to head out across the office spaces, and doors, "We stick together and watch our backs out there."
"Have you done this before?" Asked Emma.
"Uh… sure."
"That's comforting." His reply wasn't too convincing for her liking.
"Relax. This will work."
"You better know what you're doing." Emma uttered under her breath, following his lead, right behind Regina.
"This way." Jefferson headed down a couple of stairs, their footsteps echoing lightly within the area. He held out his hand once they reached the bottom door. It creaked lightly as he slowly opened it, crouching instantly for cover.
Emma crouched down, moving closer to him as he beckoned her to move in closer. At the sight of his finger pointing out the door, she quietly peeked out at two hunters keeping warm by a bonfire they had created inside a metallic round container within the building.
"Now all we have to do is take them out quietly." He whispered to her.
"Wait here with the girl." Emma looked over her shoulder to Regina, who nodded, keeping Grace close to her, while the blonde moved along with Jefferson as quiet as possible against the two hunters keeping warm by the fire.
"How's it looking out there?" Asked one hunter to the other.
"We put down some infected, but no sign of those tourists."
"You think they're still in the city?"
"Yeah, they're still around."
Emma and Jefferson grabbed on to each one of the hunters, killing them quietly with their knives, dropping their bodies down on the floor. Jefferson held out his hand towards the brunette and his little girl at the sight of a search light just outside the building, preventing them from moving just yet.
"It's just two of them. Once the searchlight turns away, you can take the one walking around on the floor, and I'll get close enough to take out the one in the tower."
"Can you move that fast?" Emma teased, which made Jefferson release a light chuckle.
"Just shoot your arrow, Hawkeye."
Emma smirked a tiny bit, drawing out her bow and an arrow in the process. She took aim as soon as the light moved out of their line of sight, getting a good visual of the hunter's head, even as it was dark. She breathed in, releasing the arrow which went right into the hunter's head. Hearing another gurgled moan, she hoped that was the second hunter being taken down and not Jefferson.
It was silent for a while that seemed eternal. Emma remained hidden, her mind racing with a million thoughts racing through her mind, about Jefferson possibly being the one who died, about his daughter Grace. She couldn't just leave her behind. Even if she wanted to, she knew Regina wouldn't stand for it. She sat back against a wall, quietly withdrawing her knife, listening to distant footsteps approaching her. Just as she was ready to strike and rose to her feet, Jefferson held up his hands before her, smears of blood decorating his hands that clearly wasn't his own.
"Whoa- it's me!" He hissed, relaxing his stance once the blonde relaxed, putting her knife away. "You're a pretty good shot."
"I thought you were dead." Emma admitted, finally feeling like she could breathe.
"And leave my daughter with you? Not a chance. Let's go."
Emma beckoned Regina to follow right in front of her, which the brunette hurried along with Grace, following right behind Jefferson towards two giant steel doors. Between everyone they pushed and pushed, sliding the door open. Heads turned, their eyes wide at the sight of a truck with a bright searchlight driving their way.
"Shit! Go!" Jefferson hurried, squeezing through the door along with everyone else. Emma helping him shut the door quickly. Jefferson withdrew his weapon, firing a shot at another hunter that was running up to them. "I got him, let's move quickly! Up the truck, help me up, I'll see if the coast is clear." Emma boosted him up to the top of the truck, "Grace, you're next," he said, reaching out as Emma and Regina lifted the girl up into his arms, as he pulled her up.
"Gina." Emma placed her hands out, helping her boost up towards the truck, while she grabbed onto the side ladder. A ladder that broke off as soon as she put her weight on it, but with luck Jefferson managed to grab onto her and pull her up.
"Open the door!" A hunter's voice was heard just outside the steel doors.
"Emma!" Regina laid on her stomach, reaching out for the blonde, her head turning towards Jefferson, "Help me lift her up!"
Jefferson stared at both women, looking towards the door as they were starting to be pushed open, "I'm sorry." his hand squeezed at his daughter's.
"What?" Regina looked over her shoulder.
"We're leaving. Let's go, Grace."
"Jefferson!" Emma shouted, anger building up inside of her.
"Dad!" Grace shouted at him, being pulled by her father even more.
Jefferson jumped off the other side of the truck with his daughter, making a run for it. Beads of sweat building up on his forehead. He felt like a coward, and traitor, but he also had his daughter to think about and he couldn't risk her life over anyone. Not even his own.
"Where in the hell are you going?!" Regina shouted, looking back down at Emma.
Emma turned towards the doors, being banged on and pushed by other hunters. She quickly looked up at Regina, "Regina, run. Get out of here!"
"Drive through the fucking door!"
Regina glanced at the door being pushed open.
"Regina, go!" Emma watched the brunette jump back down to her, without a care or second thought in the world.
"We stick together." Said the brunette, "I'm not leaving you too."
Emma grabbed onto Regina's hand, "Alright, come on. We have to hurry." She rushed her over to another door, pulling it open with the brunette's help. Their heads turning to the other doors parting open. Shots were fired their way, bullets bouncing around them, but missing them by an inch. "I got it, go!"
Regina ducked down, sliding through the bottom of the door, holding it up enough for Emma to quickly squeeze through. Both falling back as the door slammed shot, hearing the shots echoing just outside.
"Go around the other side!"
Regina helped Emma up to her feet, both panting, "Now, how are we going to get out of here?" She asked the blonde.
Emma looked around at the dark room, her eyes falling on an empty beer bottle that was on the floor. She bent to pick it up, "Stay close." She whispered, entering another room, and ducking behind a counter. The bright light from the truck could be seen streaming in through the windows. That was their only source of light, enough for Emma to see and hear a hunter moving closer and closer to where they were hiding. Her hand reached for a metal pipe that was by her feet, gripping to it tightly, as well as the bottle she held in her other hand. She waited to hear the steps growing closer.
"Agh!" The hunter held his face from the sudden impact feel of the bottle. And just as he did, Emma moved quickly, swinging the pipe hard across his face. She quickly grabbed onto another hunter, aiming the weapon to his head, while his friend aimed his gun right at Emma.
"Let him go!" He ordered her, releasing a yell of pain as he felt something stab him in the back.
Emma quickly shot him in the head, shooting the hunter she held within her hold soon after. "Thanks."
"Endure and survive, right?"
Her lips curved into a tiny smirk. The blonde quickly moved to the door, pulling it open as far as it went, since it was chained up, "Can you get through?"
Regina nodded, squeezing through the doors, waiting for Emma to squeeze right through right after her. Their hands joining together once again, out of instinct as they spotted the truck again with the bright searchlight driving through another pair of doors.
"Run! Run!" Emma shouted, making a run for it through the bridge, not letting go of the brunette's hand.
"They're going through the bridge!" One hunter shouted, firing shots their way that with luck, missed them.
Both women squeezed right through a bus that was blocking the bridge, both stopping on their tracks, looking down at a long drop ahead of them, along with a body of water as the bridge was broken, preventing them from continuing any longer.
"Shit!" Regina exclaimed.
"How many bullets do you have left?" Asked Emma.
"Are you crazy? Chances are they'll kill us!"
"What other choice do we have?" Emma asked, listening to the truck attempting to push through the bus.
"We jump." Replied Regina.
Emma shook her head, "No, it's too high and you can't swim. I can boost you up and you can run past them."
Their heads turned to the bright light of the truck as it pushed the bus further, enough to knock a car into the water.
"Shit." Emma muttered under her breath, moving back a little. Her heart wanting to leap out of her chest.
"You'll keep me upfloat." Said Regina, looking down at the drop and water.
"Regina-" Emma's head turned to the truck again as they moved the bus even more.
"No time to argue." The brunette jumped off the bridge, without a second thought, not even thinking about her not being able to swim. She wanted to live and wanted to give Emma a chance to live.
"Regina!" Emma's eyes grew wide, turning her head towards the truck as they were driving right through, "Damn it!" She jumped next, not wanting to leave the brunette alone or to drown. It was dark, but she heard a splash, seeing Regina's body hit the water, followed by her own. The stream was rough, dragging them farther and farther from the hunters that were after them. Emma gasped for a breath as she came upfloat.
"Emma!" Regina stretched out her hands at the first sight of the blonde, not even knowing how she managed to come upfloat herself. Her hands held on tight to the blonde's body.
"I got you." Her voice was breathless. Her arms suddenly wrapped around the brunette's body, her back slamming against a rock, hard enough that she saw black.
Green eyes opened up to the sight of a blue, early morning sky, she groaned, feeling the pain of the rock hitting against her back. As well as the string to a cut she now had on her right cheekbone.
"Dad! She's alive!" Emma heard a little girl's voice, followed by the sound of Regina's own voice.
"Hey, you. We're alive." Regina smiled, relieved to see Emma was alright after that swim.
The next thing the blonde heard as she was sitting up, rubbing the back of her neck and her shoulder was Jefferon's laughter, followed by his voice, "See? What'd I tell you, Grace? She's fine." He smiled at the blonde as she power walked her way up to him, "You know if my daughter hadn't spotted you, you'd be as good as dead. You two had taken quite a bit of water-" He fell back against the sand, his hand holding his jaw after the next thing he saw coming was a right hook from a very pissed off blonde.
Regina held onto Emma's shoulders, even as she withdrew her weapon, aiming it right at Jefferson in anger.
Jefferson held out his hand, stopping his daughter from trying anything against either women, "It's fine, Grace. It's okay," His eyes dead on Emma's dark green ones, "She's pissed, but she won't do anything."
"Are you sure about that?" Her lip curled up in anger.
"Please, stop!" Grace shouted at her.
"Emma." Regina squeezed the blonde's shoulder, speaking in a more calm tone.
"He left us to die out there." Emma hissed, her weapon still on aim.
Jefferson held out his hand towards the blonde, remaining down on the floor, "No. You had a better chance of making it, and you did. But, coming back for you meant putting my daughter at risk." He held out a hand towards Grace, "Step back, Grace."
Regina's eyes looked over to the small girl, who had fight in her, but was smart to listen to her father.
"If it was the other way around, would you have come back for us?" Asked Jefferson, "I saved you."
Regina's hand moved down towards the blonde's forearm, "Emma. He saved me too."
Her head turned towards the brunette, green eyes locking into hers. Her lip curling up in anger, jaw clenching but she placed her weapon back in its holster against her hip. Her posture relaxing. Grace kneeling next to her father.
"I'm alright, sweetheart." He smiled at her, standing to his feet, his eyes on Emma's, "For what's it worth, I'm really glad we spotted you." He paused, rubbing at his jaw. A tiny pearl of blood coating his bottom lip, result of Emma's punch. "Now, the radio tower is on the other side of this cliff. The place is going to be full of supplies." He smiled, "You'll see, you'll be really happy you didn't kill me."
Emma watched as Jefferson continued along the beach with his daughter beside him, her head turning towards the brunette as she felt her hand squeeze at her forearm again.
"Are you going to be alright?" She asked her.
The blonde nodded, deciding to stay calm for Regina's sake, "I'll be fine. Let's just find that radio tower." At the sight of Regina's smile, they followed right behind, but keeping close watch on him.