A/N: Thank you again, for those of you who are liking this story enough to continue onto this next chapter. :) Happy reading and continue on enjoying!


As Graham followed both women onto the beach, listening to the waves sound rougher and louder, he stopped and looked toward where Regina was pointing.

"Right here," Regina stepped aside, allowing Graham to pass. "We left him playing right here with his airplane while we were sitting just a few feet away," she pointed toward the familiar rock. "On that rock."

Graham observed the distance between the waterfront and the rock. It had been a good three feet. His eyes looked to the water.

"I know what you're thinking." Said Emma, gaining Graham's attention. "Henry would never go into the water on his own."

"Ms. Swan-"

"Sheriff." Regina stepped in, to Graham's surprise. "In this case, I agree with my wife. Henry, he's- he's a good little boy. He would never, ever dare to go into the water without our supervision. He can't even swim."

"Well, in that case," Graham scratched the back of his head. "I suggest you two remain calm. I know it isn't possible in these types of situations. But, it would be in Henry's interest for you two to just go back to the bed and breakfast while I go out searching for him. I'm sure he couldn't have gone far. He's probably just hiding."

"You can't expect us to just stay locked in our room and do nothing to find our son." Said Emma.

"You are more than welcome to search with me. But, it will only make you more upset. Look, I'm just trying to help here."

"Well, Emma and I could look around town together, while you look elsewhere." Said Regina. "That way, we can cover more ground."

"Of course. Yes." Graham nodded. "I'll gather up a few of my men and we'll begin to search. Do you have a picture of Henry?"

Regina quickly dug inside her purse, pulling out the one wallet size picture she kept of all three of them. "You can keep that one until we find him."

Graham nodded and looked at the picture before tucking it safely into his breast pocket. "You two keep a sharp eye."

"We will. Thank you." Emma nodded, her eyes landed on the officer's hand as it reached out to touch Regina's forearm.

"We'll find him. Don't worry." Graham's voice bore a promise, and he smiled at both Emma and Regina before he walked away.

"Emma, do you really think we'll find him?" Regina asked her wife, tears falling from her eyes that she was quick to wipe away.

"Yes," Emma nodded, holding Regina in her arms. "We'll find him. Henry will be fine. I promise."


Hours passed, a day passed… Two… No Henry.

Sheriff Graham had placed Henry's picture all over Storybrooke. He had officers comb the woods, the road out of town, high and low the entire town of Storybrooke and Henry was nowhere to be found.

That was something that wasn't sitting right with Emma. She hadn't been sleeping, nor had Regina. Emma had been sleeping on the other bed, while Regina slept in what would have been 'their' bed. During those sleepless nights, Emma thought about sneaking into their bed, but didn't dare to feel rejected by Regina. Then again, if she did dare… Would she be rejected? After all… She wasn't the one who 'almost' cheated when their marriage was falling apart.

Emma's eyes glanced over at her wife as they sat inside Granny's diner for a late meal. Regina's hamburger had remained untouched, while Emma had only ordered a coffee.

"You aren't going to eat?" She asked Regina.

Regina shook her head, "I'm not hungry."

Clattering of plates was heard coming from other customers. Emma's eyes looked at a few eyes that were on them. Two days into Henry's disappearance and the entire fucking town knew who they were. It was crazy how fast a small town found things out. To some of the population, they had become the two concerned parents, who needed to be whispered about. Or the two women, who cried wolf simply because they never saw Henry with them on their first day in Storybrooke.

Everyone had their different opinion on the matter, but that wasn't stopping Emma nor Regina from searching for their son.

"You aren't hungry?" Emma sighed, hunching over their booth and cradling her cup of coffee in the palm of her hands. "Well, why did you order food if you aren't going to eat it?"

Regina's eyes glared up at her wife. "Why don't you just drink your coffee?"

Emma's eyes followed Regina as she stood up from their booth, dropping some money to pay for her dinner. "Where are you going?" She asked.

"Where else? To look for our son." Regina's eyes pierced Emma's in anger.

"Regina, it's been two-"

"I know how many days have passed, Emma!" At Regina's shout, the entire diner fell silent, leaving her to look at every prying pair of eyes before looking back at her wife. She leaned in, to keep her voice at a whisper, "Do not start trying to make me believe that our son is dead like that useless Sheriff has."

"You know, more than anyone, that I don't believe that Henry is dead, Regina. I never believed that." Emma glared. "But, you can't go out alone to search for him."

"Why not? You do." Regina's posture straightened as she gathered her trench coat and scarf. "You can come with me if you want, but I'm going out there into those woods, into every corner of this town and look for my son until I find him."

"Regina," Emma watches her wife storm out of the diner, not caring about any prying eyes looking her way. "Shit," she mutters, standing up from their booth and fishes for some money to drop onto the table before storming out after her.

Ruby's eyes watched Emma storm out the door, keeping her thoughts to herself.

"Regina, hold on a minute." Emma raced a few steps behind Regina, who never stopped walking. "Hey," it wasn't until she grabbed her wife's arm that Regina whipped around. "Can you just stop?"

"Stop what, Emma? Looking for our son? At this rate we will never find him." Said Regina.

"Regina, you aren't the only one who's upset here about Henry's disappearance."

"Really? Because ever since we arrived in this town, that's when things have been going to shit. Ever since we arrived in this town, you have done nothing but look out the window-"

"Regina, I have been searching for our son!" Emma shouted.

"Have you?!"

"Yes! I have! I have been out there in those woods, searching, praying to find our son alive." She motioned out into the direction of the woods. "Every single night, since his disappearance. And you know this. But in order to have that amount of energy we also need sleep."

"Sleep is the one thing we can't afford right now, Emma." Said Regina, her eyes locking onto her wife's, tears streaming down her cheeks. " We need to find Henry."

"I know we do." Emma takes a step toward her wife, cupping her face with both of her hands. "But if you really want to find Henry, we also need to get some sleep, Regina. We are no good to Henry if we can't function as his parents. Tomorrow is a brand new day, and you and I will go out into those woods and look under every fallen leaf until we find him."

Regina couldn't think of anything else to do but to hug Emma, hug her so tightly, Emma felt as if her life could be drained out of her body. But right now, she didn't care. She didn't care about anything, except giving her wife the reassurance that they would find Henry. That they would find him and leave this God-forsaken town as they arrived in it. Together.


Emma watched Regina sleep that entire night. She couldn't even blink to save her life. She thought about their son, about how much she missed him. She thought about sleeping with Regina in the same bed. This was the first time in years that they slept together in the same bed, or so close to one another, holding each other. Emma missed this. She missed her wife. She missed their son.

Regina shifted in her arms, as Emma held her tighter toward her, not wanting to let go. The blonde inhaled a breath and slowly withdrew out of their bed, and stood by what had become her usual place by the bedroom window.

The town was quiet tonight. So quiet. Hardly anyone was out on the street tonight. Until she saw a familiar face from up above. Smee. She had told Graham about him the day before, but he swore to her how harmless he was, how drunk he always was, so he wouldn't know anything about seeing Henry that day he was on the beach asking for a damn quarter. But that wasn't enough to leave well enough alone.

Turning to look at Regina and wanting to make things right with her. For their marriage, Emma reached for her jacket, shuffling it on as she made her way out the room.

She needed to take a walk.

"Emma!" Ruby called out to her, grinning from ear to ear in her jogging sweater.

Emma's heart stopped as she turned to look at Smee who was walking farther and farther away. "Hey, Ruby." She looked over toward Smee.

"Listen, I've been meaning to talk to you since your son's disappearance. I'm really sorry this happened to you. I mean, really, this is such a nice town. Harmless."

"Thanks." The corner of Emma's lip tilted into a small smile.

"Listen," Ruby reached out to touch Emma's shoulder. "If there is ever anything I can do, please let me know. Maybe… A drink would do you good."

Emma looked down at Ruby's hand that remained on her shoulder before flashing her another smile. "Thank you, Ruby. Truly. You have been a really good friend to me these past couple of days."

"Does that mean yes on that drink?" Ruby grinned, and Emma chuckled.

She really shouldn't, but hell freeze over if she didn't need a drink.

"Yeah. Okay, let's get a drink." Emma followed Ruby into the diner, hearing the bell above the door ring as they walked in.

Emma sat in her usual stool when she would visit the diner alone, while Ruby went into the back and in about three seconds came out with a brand new bottle of tequila.

"Tequila, huh?" Asked Emma, hearing the liquid being poured into Ruby's shot glass, and then hers.

"It's times like these when a good tequila is needed." Ruby held up her glass, clanked it with Emma's and they both chugged down the first drink.

The liquor burned Emma's throat on the way down, her eyes closed momentarily.

"I mean, I'm not a mother, but…" Ruby refilled the shot glasses, setting the bottle aside. "I think I can understand the pain you're going through. Both you and your wife. It can't be any easier on a marriage that's already hanging by a thread." She refills Emma's glass as she had chugged the liquor down and then takes her shot.

"That obvious?" Asked Emma, picking up her glass. She waits for Ruby to refill her own before they clank their glasses again.

Ruby shrugged, "Afraid so." As Emma chugs down her drink, Ruby refills it. "May I ask… What happened?"

Emma's green eyes glare up at Ruby.

"I mean, if it's too personal, I don't want to-"

"It is." Emma chugged down her drink and pushed her glass toward Ruby. She released a deep sigh, "This is why we came here, you know? We've been trying, staying together for Henry." She pauses, feeling her eyes water. "He was the glue that held us together, and now…" Emma makes a faint sobbing sound in the back of her throat, her hands shielding her face, refusing to allow her eyes to shed any tears.

"Hey," Ruby reached for Emma's shoulder, massaging it lightly. "It's okay. It's okay to cry every now and again. It's good for you."

Emma sniffs, reaching for her refilled glass and chugs it down, a single tear rolling past her cheek.

"I'm sure Henry will be found. He has to be. You just gotta… You just gotta keep having faith that he will be okay." Ruby smiled, her knuckles softly wiped away the next tear that slid down Emma's cheek.

Emma nods, her eyes looking into Ruby's again. "I'll try."

"Do you… Do you still love her?"

Emma nods once more, without an ounce of hesitation. She did love Regina, even if she hadn't fully forgiven her yet.

The bell to the door rang, making Ruby look up toward the door and Emma to turn around on her stool.

"Regina," Emma breathed in surprise.

"Hi, Regina." Ruby straightened her posture, flashing a smile.

"I thought you were sleeping." Said Emma.

Regina's lips pursed, "I was. Imagine my surprise when I wake up in the middle of the night to an empty spot where my wife usually sleeps." Her eyes look over to Ruby before she watches Emma stand from her stool.

"She was feeling bad about Henry," Said Ruby. "I told she could-"

"Of course you did." Regina grinned.

Emma cleared her throat, "I think it's best if I go, Ruby. But, thank you for the drink."

"Anytime." Said Ruby.

"You don't have to leave on my account, Emma." Said Regina, her eyes piercing Emma's. "By all means, stay. Drink. That's the last thing I needed after losing our son. To lose you, too."

"Regina-" Emma took a step closer, but was stopped by Regina.

"But do me a favor," Regina jumped in. "If you're going to do more than share a few drinks, the least you could do is be honest with me next time you leave my side."

"Regina- Reg-" Emma sighed as she saw her wife storm out of the diner, the glass door almost slamming against one of the booths.

"I hope I didn't get you into any trouble." Said Ruby, giving Emma an apologetic look.

"No. Don't worry about it." Emma smiled a little. But deep down she knew this would cause another argument. "Thank you again for the drink, Ruby but I think it's best if I-"

"Go ahead." Ruby nodded, immediately speaking up as she saw Emma's hand reach into her back pocket. "Please," she shook her head. "On the house."

Emma smiles and turns to leave.


Eugenia watched in silence as Regina stormed into the bed and breakfast, her footsteps pounding as she made her way up the stairs.

"Regina!" Emma's eyes looked at Eugenia. "Good evening, Mrs. Lucas."

"Good evening." Said Eugenia, hearing Emma call out to her wife once more before she heard the door upstairs slam shut.

"Regina," Emma stormed into the room.

"Close the door." Regina glared her way, pacing around the room.

Emma shut the door, locking it in place before she turned back to her wife. "Regina… I know what you're thinking."

"Do you?" Regina's brow lifted, her hands resting against her hips.

"Nothing happened."

"No? Is that why you've been staring at her every single night from outside that window?" Regina pointed in the direction of the window, scoffed and shook her head, her jaw clenched tight. "I suppose I can't ask you not to sleep with her. After all, I did almost do the same."

Emma shook her head. "I would never cheat on you. Because despite what you might think… I still love you, Regina." Regina catches a tear rolling past Emma's cheek. "And I'm trying. I'm trying so fucking hard to find our son so that we can get the hell out of this place." Her breath trembles. "You don't think I blame myself every single day since his disappearance? You don't think I hate myself for it? For what happened?"

Regina's angry gaze dissipates right before Emma's eyes. Her eyes are glossy with tears that are soon revealed against her skin, leaving it damp.

"You don't think I want to be happy with you all over again? Just like we used to be before everything happened?"

Regina steps back as Emma steps closer, her back pressing against the wall. "Emma…" She breathes, wiping away a tear from her own cheek.

"I'm going insane here, Regina," Emma breathes, closing more of the distance that's between her and her wife. Her hand softly rests against Regina's shoulder.

"Emma," Regina pushes her wife's hand away, but feels it come back up, all the way to her throat this time.

"We possibly lost Henry, but I am not about to lose you, too." Emma's lips brushed against Regina's, and she felt the brunette's hands land against her chest.

Regina pushed her so hard able to jerk Emma back, and her hand swung in the air until her palm struck her against her cheek. Hard. If there was anything that angered Regina more than someone else being interested in her wife, was for people- including Emma- to believe that their son was dead. "Don't say that!" She shouted. "Henry is not dead!" She hissed this time.

Emma's head rotated slowly, her eyes glaring in the direction of her wife as her hand massaged her cheek.

Call it grieving for their lost son, coping with the idea that might possibly never see him again. Pure carnal desire that Emma possibly felt for Regina after being angry with her for so long, But that slap across the face awoke something in her that she had to act on.

Emma grabbed Regina by the waist, pulling her close until their bodies pressed closer together and their lips crashed in a kiss so fierce, so rough, that made Regina want to pull away, giving Emma no choice but to cup the back of her wife's head, keeping her close. Her lips pressed even harder on Regina's.

Regina had never seen Emma become this way. Nor did she think it would turn her on by the way she had been grabbed, but truth was, it had. For the first time in years, Regina was just as turned on as Emma was.

Was this their way of grieving, of being each other's anchor once again?

All Regina knew was that she couldn't stop herself from guiding Emma right back toward the wall, shoving her hard against it and hearing her grunt as her back slammed onto the wall.

Their kiss never faltered, until Emma broke it, her breathing as heavy as Regina's, both their pupils dilated. Both bared private little smirks that wanted to let each other be known, but were prevented as soon as Emma surprised Regina by rotating their bodies, until Regina was the one with her back slammed against the wall. It was then and only then that Emma's lips focused all of their attention against Regina's neck.

Regina's eyes closed, her hand gripped onto Emma's long blonde hair while Emma's hands began to explore every curve of Regina's stomach, her sides, down to the curves of her waist, those familiar curves she missed so much. Emma couldn't help tugging on Regina's shirt, which was tucked inside her jeans. So fast that it turned Regina on all the more, making her peel Emma's jacket right off of her body, while Emma tossed it clear across the room. Hearing it land somewhere in a thud.

Their lips desperately met again in a rough, passionate kiss, breaking apart for a shared intake of breath while both their hands worked on undoing each other's jeans. Once undone, that's when Emma dared to pull Regina closer, guiding her, along with herself off the wall so that her hands could slide down her curves, slide across her waist until she was able to grip onto Regina's perfectly rounded ass. As Regina dared to moan inside of Emma's mouth, that was all the spar Emma needed to lift up the brunette right onto her arms and carry her across the room.

And what Regina felt pressed against her back wasn't the soft mattress of one of the beds, but the hard surface of the desk that was by the bedroom window. Emma placed her wife so spontaneously onto the desk, that it slammed against the wall. Regina's hand lifted up to hold herself in place, and to keep her head from slamming onto the window.

Regina's legs wrapped around Emma's waist, rushing her in, quickly sliding her hand in the small space between them, until her fingers slid along Emma's soft skin belonging to her stomach. And she could feel Emma do the exact same action, which made Regina bite her lip before huffing out a sharp breath, followed by another, mixed with a pleasurable moan against Emma's lips, their breaths warmly mixing together once she felt her wife's fingers find their destination in between her legs.

A crease formed in between Emma's brow, her eyes dark and lustful and so hungry as they looked into Regina. Their foreheads pressed close together. A moan was released from Emma, matching Regina's moan once she felt how Regina slowly slid two fingers inside of her own wet folds.

Their fingers might've entered slowly, but their rhythm was something completely different. With each thrust their hands took on each other the entire desk would bang against the wall. Emma's hips would move with the synced rhythm of Regina's fingers as they moved inside of her, and with each thrust, her hips would buckle in between Regina's legs, against her own hand, pushing it, thrusting it inside of her wife. Enjoying her, drinking her in, feeling her, wanting her, more and more. Their moans grew louder along with the sound of the desk banging harder and harder against the wall. So hard, it ended up cracking the window.

Emma moved in closer until her nose touched her wife's shoulder and inhaled. Her eyes looked straight at the crack that had traveled up the window, she could see it expanding more and more the harder and faster they moved. Her eyes looked down, right outside onto Sean's auto-shop, seeing him drive off inside the red convertible.