Regina and Henry collected their checked suitcases from the carousel and then exited the baggage claim to the public area of Arrivals. It was just as busy as it had been back at the gates, but here Regina could see all of the people who had come to pick up their loved ones. She felt a deeper sense of regret as they walked past all the hugging and crying happy and reunited people.

A part of her wanted to turn around and go back for Emma. How could I have been so stupid?! She yelled at herself inside. She couldn't go back into the secure area without another plane ticket... but it would be crazy to buy another plane ticket just to search for someone she had just met... wouldn't it? As much as she would like to, she couldn't just jump security and race to Emma's gate, hoping the whole time that she wouldn't be tackled by security. Surely she would be arrested, and likely before she would be able to get anywhere even close to Emma anyway. That kind of thing may work in the movies, but this was real life, and in real life if she were to attempt a big romantic gesture like that she would likely not only ruin her own Christmas but probably Henry's as well.

Regina breathed a deep sigh as she looked sideways at her son. He was all she had ever had, and until now, was all she had ever felt like she needed. She just needed to let Emma go and move on. She and Henry would have a wonderful Christmas together just like they always did.


You. Have. Got. To. Be. KIDDING ME!

Back inside the terminal, Emma was staring up at the Departures screen and she felt like she could scream. They had really, really been lucky to get a flight from California today because now that they were in Boston nearly all of the flights were in the red. About ninety-five percent of the flights were listed as either Delayed or Cancelled.

Emma felt sick. Had she really just flown all this way to still miss Christmas? Back in Los Angeles she had even considered the option of driving from Boston to South Carolina but that seemed ridiculous to her now. If the weather was so bad that the planes couldn't safely take off then how the hell was she supposed to drive for over fifteen hours?

Emma felt like she could cry, and she wished with her whole soul that she was back on the plane with Regina and Henry. Sure Regina wasn't into her the way Emma had hoped she would be, but Regina had still been very nice to her and Emma thought they could be great friends. Perhaps it would be difficult to be close to Regina and not be able to have the kind of relationship she wanted, but getting to be near her just might be enough.

Emma pushed the thought aside, it was too late for that, Regina was gone. After what had happened on the plane Emma had been too nervous to ask for contact information. Emma forced herself to focus, and she stared at her flight where it was listed on the board:

AJ 815 - Charleston - CANCELLED

Emma breathed a heavy sigh. She decided to do what probably literally every other hopeful passenger in the airport was doing, and go to the desk for Ajira Airlines. She knew before she even got there that they would confirm that her plane was not leaving any time soon. Once she finally made it to the front of the long line at the counter, the employee helping her checked her flight status on the computer. This woman's name was Debra, and Emma hoped that Debra would turn out to be as wizard as Cindy.

"Well..." Debra muttered to herself as she studied the screen. "Your plane is actually already here at Logan, but I'm afraid it won't be flying out today."

Emma bit her lip. "Isn't there any other flight I can get put on?" She didn't even know why she was asking this redundant question but she couldn't help it. "What about JFK? If I can get to JFK I might have a better chance of getting to South Carolina, the weather's a little better in New York right?"

"Unfortunately ma'am, JFK is experiencing heavy cancellations too." Debra told her with a look of deepest sympathy.

Emma figured Debra must have been giving this same look to every single customer today, and Emma did not envy her having to be the bearer of bad news. Angry travellers were people she liked to stay far away from.

"What I can do for you is get you a spot on the standby list... but with the amount of people already trying to get flights out, it's my best guess that you won't get a seat until tomorrow morning."

Emma sighed, leaning on the counter in front of her.

I want Cindy...

"Would you like me to do that for you?" Debra asked her.

Emma breathed another heavy sigh. "Sure, why not."


Emma was curled up on a cushy chair in one of the Oceanic Airline lounges. She had been here several times before but never had it been so busy. Emma was miserable as she looked around and watched all the people interacting with their travelling companions. Many seemed to be couples or friends, some had younger children with them, and while there were many people who were clearly upset over their busted travel plans, Emma suspected that none of them were as unhappy as she was.

She thought back to her parting with Regina. Regina actually hugged me! I can't have screwed things up that bad if she's hugging me.

Emma was usually so good at reading people but today she just couldn't figure it out. Regina didn't seem to want a relationship, but she was hugging her... Emma thought back to the look in the other woman's eyes when they had said goodbye, and the way she had held onto her hand just that little bit too long.

Emma's heart started thumping as she realized what Regina's body language had been telling her. Regina was afraid of getting her heart broken.

Emma recognized the way Regina had reacted on the plane now, and it only made sense. Regina knew they would be parting here in Boston and probably wouldn't see each other again. Regina didn't want to start anything that couldn't possibly last, because she didn't want to have to say goodbye.

No no no...

Emma knew it was possible that she was wrong... But I'm not wrong.

Emma grabbed her coat quickly and raced out of the lounge. It had been so long since they had landed but maybe, just maybe, Regina was still here at the airport and Emma could catch her before it was too late.


A/N: I'll be with my whole family after tomorrow so I don't know how much writing I will get done but I will do my best! Thanks for reading, please leave a review xx