Part Seven

It's nightfall and we are all up on the deck as the ship slowly approaches the island. I have asked the pirate about an hour ago to speed up that old bathtub, but apparently, this sorry excuse for a ship can't go any faster. I am eager to get to land. I am eager to start looking for Henry. I'm eager to get my son back! I look forward, to Emma and I can see she is eager for the same thing as me. She keeps shifting her weight from one foot to the other looking out the island the same way I am. Or was before I started to watch her. After three days we have finally arrived on that damn island and nothing matters now. Nothing other than henry. I have been telling myself that over and over and over again since last night and I'm hoping against hope that I can shake ridiculous thoughts of a young blonde woman out of my mind. She has no place living in it. I hate her. I have to remember that.

"I'm going to anchor the ship now," Hook says "Then we take the boat and paddle to the shore"

I nod and come closer (closer than what I would like) to the charming clan. Hook anchors the shit and the five of us get inside the boat. Hook works the ropes with expertise that actually surprises me. For a one-handed pirate, I mean. The boat hits the water and Emma takes charge of the paddle on one side while Charming gets the other end. I try not to look at Emma and how her arms flexing at each row she gives on the paddle. I try not to stare at the way her muscles flex or the way she gasps for air or even how ridiculous strong she is or even how it would feel like to have her pinning me against a wall, holding my arms up with one hand while the other. I shook my head as I feel my whole face burn. I fucking hate her! We finally made it to shore and I quickly get out of the boat.

"It's time we stop running," Emma says when she leaves the boat "Gold was right, this land is run on belief, all of us have been too busy on each other's throat to be believers…I was as wrong as anyone else. But it's time for all of us to believe. Not in magic, but on each other"

"You wanna be friends?" I ask in disbelief "After everything that happened between us?"

"I don't expect that," Emma says and I can e hurt in her eyes "I know there is a lot of history here, a lot of hate"

"Actually I quite fancy you from time to time, when you are not yelling at me," Hook says and I can't help but roll my eyes.

"We don't need to be friends. But we need to know that the only way to get Henry back is cooperation" Emma says.

"With her? With him?" Charming says and I feel like burning his ass "No Emma, we need to do this the right way"

"No, we don't. We just need to succeed. And the way we do that is just by being who we are, a hero, a villain a pirate it doesn't matter which because we are going to need all those skills whether we can stomach them or not"

"And what is your skill, Savior?" I ask.

"I'm a mother. We both are. And now I'm also your leader so either help me get our son back or get out of the way"

I'm surprised at the way she spoke to me. She looked so angry when she said that and as much as I hate to admit, it hurt. It hurt the way she spoke with me, especially after the last three days in the Jolly Roger. Especially after what she told me when we were in there, but I guess that now that we are here on land that friendly atmosphere is over. I should be happy about this. I hate this woman with all that I am. So why the hell I feel on the verge to cry?

The group keeps on advancing through the woods, and as much as I hate, I follow them. Regardless of what Emma told me, one thing is true, our chances are better together. My magic is finally strong enough now, but still, it wouldn't be wise to go against Peter Pan all alone. At least not now anyway.

The woods are dark now, much darker than when we arrived. The moon is hidden behind a curtain of clouds and the only source of light we have is now gone. At that same moment, something hits me. We have no idea where we are going. The pirate says he knows this land, but he is walking in front of me while Emma is taking the lead. It actually surprises me that he isn't right by her side trying to charm the pants off the woman. Gods, how could she even fall for that type? He looks like he hasn't bathed in months! Not that I care.

"Do you even know where we are going?" I ask.

"Yes, Emma we have been walking for a while now," Snow says.

"We are walking the land…looking for…Henry," Emma says lamely.

"So, you have no idea where we are going?" I say.

"If you have a better plan, feel free to share, Regina," Emma says.

"I thought you were supposed to be the bigger leader here,"

"Well, I…am"

"Worry not, Love," Hook says "I know exactly where we are"

"And where is that, Capitan?" I ask sarcastically.

"If we keeping walking ahead we will find an open land where we can set up camp," Hook says

"Sey tup camp?" I ask "We need to find Henry!" I say.

"Regina is right, Hook," Emma says "We can't waste any more time"

"We have no light, Love," Hook says "These woods are dangerous, and trust me, you don't want to cross paths with a lost boy at night…or morning"

"So our plan," I say "Is to do nothing?"

"Now you got it, Your Majesty,"

"I can light up torches," I say.

"That would only make Pan aware of our presence and we would lose the element of surprise," Hook says "Trust me, Love you don't want that either this soon into the rescue"

"So we set camp?" Snow asks.

"We sat camp," Hook says back.

I sighed and follow the idiots because, really, there isn't much I can do about it. The one-hand Saviors professional flirter has a point. I want to go out there and explore until I find Henry, but the woods are heavy and I don't know the ground. If this was the enchanted forest, I'd leave them behind in a heartbeat, but in here, as much as it pains me to admit, Hook is the best chance we have.

We find the spot Hook told us about and as I look around I realize that this isn't a good spot to camp. The grass is low and the ground is mostly sand. The woods, however circles all around us, with big threes where people could easily hide and therefore trap us. I have years on my back commanding my troops to hunt for Snow White in the enchanted forest. I was their general. They followed my rules. But do I say anything? NO! I'm not really in the mood for another argument with these people. I'll just make sure to put a protective spell on my tent. I watch as they unload their weapons onto the floor. I start to walk a little further away from them when…

"Where are you going?" Snows ask.

"To catch some air, dear," I say without turning around.

"No! I don't trust you alone, Regina"

"That's not my problem, dear,"

I start to walk away from the camp. Away from them. I need some fresh air and I need to process everything that is happening inside of me. I arrive at the beach, curious enough even though we walked for hours we were still near it, and I sit down on the sand. I have been staring at the sea for so long that it's sort of comforting now. Gods, please make Henry be okay. It's so dark out here and he is all alone. My boy. My little Prince. I close my eyes and the image of Emma makes an uninvited appearance. She had been so kind and gentle to me over the past three days that I can't shake off the hurt I feel about the way she spoke to me earlier. She was upset, I get that. I was too. But honestly, the worse part of this isn't even how she talked to me. It's the way I feel about it. I hate that she was capable of hurting me like that. And what the fuck did that even mean? Was I…Was I having feelings for Snow White and Prince Charming's daughter? I swallow thickly because that was impossible! And ridiculous! Just the thought of that should make my inners revolt. But it doesn't and I don't understand. I don't understand how this could have happened. I should hate her. I do hate her!

"Regina?" I hear her voice behind me.

"Miss Swan," I say "I would like to be alone please"

"I'm sorry," Emma says behind me.

"For what,?"

"I shouldn't…I shouldn't have talked to you like that," Emm says "That was uncalled for"

"Honestly Miss, Swan," I say "I dont care,"

Except that I do. So much. It means the world that she is apologizing, because yes, she did hurt me.

"Still, that wasn't cool," Emma says "I'm sorry"

"No problem," I say "Is there anything else?"

"Yeah, we kinda need you to make fire,"

"Excuse me?"

"At the camp. To warm up"

"I thought we weren't supposed to make any"

"Hook says it should be okay if we make a small fireplace for the night,"

"Does he now?" I ask sarcastically.

"Yep," Emma says "So, are you coming?"

"Yes, dear,"

I rose from where I was sitting and follow Emma back to the camp. Thank God the night is cold and she has a long sleeve blouse covering her arms. The sight of them still gives me the chills and I absolutely hate that. I hate the mere sight of her arms can distract me from my mission. And I hate even more that I started to stare at her ass inside those damn jeans as I walk behind her. I just hate her. Except, that I don't. Not anymore.

We arrive at the camp and I see Snow and Charming sitting on a log, exchanging affection with one another and the sight of it makes me sick. They, I still hate. At least that!

"It's all ready for you, Your Majesty," Hook says and bows in a mocking way that makes me want to fire his ass instead.

I look down at the pile of wood on the floor and I move my hand in the air producing one of my beautiful fireballs. I stare at it for a moment, the fire burning hot in my hand, the flames flapping with the wind, the bright orange, and blue color that I majestically produce. I smile at it and then throw my creation at the woods on the ground.

"There," I say as the fire burns strong.

"Thanks, Regina," Emma says.

I nod and walk to the other side of the camp. I flicked my hands in the air and just like that a tent is right in front of me. It's big and purple with golden shades, fit for a Queen.

"Wow," Emma says behind me "Can I get one of those"

"No,"

"Come on, Regina, we don't have anything," Emma says "We are going to sleep on the ground"

"That's not my problem"

"You are the only one with magic,"

"You know that's not true"

"You are the only one who knows how to use it,"

"Well, that is true"

I walk inside my tent, please with what I had just produced. There are a Queen size bed and red carpet on the floor. A small fireplace where the fire burns strong, making the whole tent warm and cozy. And a little toilet room because I am NOT going back to those barbaric days.

"Regina, come on, you can't just…"

I hear Emma say and then there is nothing before I hear her body crash against a tree and then cursing. My protection spell worked and Emma went flying in the air when she tried to get inside my tent. I smile as I picture the scene outside. Now, we are even.