AN: I'd like to thank everyone for sticking with me through this. The reviews are awesome! Definitely keeps me going, so, bonus update :) This is my NaNoWriMo piece too (though I started early, still gonna try to jam out another 30K or more words this month) Sorry it's a cliff-hanger but the mystery behind Regina will be over soon.
Regina shoved Emma's drink into her hand, who promptly tipped it back, savoring the sweet burn of the alcohol, wishing she had another one (maybe later). Leading the brunette to the dance floor, she pulled her close in her arms. If this was all she was going to get, she would take it, savoring every moment of contact, pushing her limits, knowing that this may be all she'd end up having with the woman in her arms. She went back to the bar, getting another round of drinks for them between songs, trying to make their act believable, just in case that guy was still around. They danced to every song, drinking the night away, a blurred stupor enveloping them, stumbling out of the club when it closed, holding each other upright, a cloud of laughter swarming around them.
The rest of the night was a blur, and Emma was once again, slightly hungover as she made her way to the cruise ship. She had gotten Regina's number and was texting her already, unwilling to lose any sort of connection that was developing between them. She was positive she'd fallen hard for the brunette and wouldn't be able to find anyone else. Though she was still determined to try and make the best of this trip, despite her thoughts being somewhere else. Maybe a break wouldn't hurt, she could get her head on straight again. The brunette and her smile continued to swim around the blonde's head, not giving her a moment of respite. Their conversation wandered and meandered, sweeping past the events of the previous night, touching on neutral, safe topics. The wait time to get on the ship was way too long for Emma's liking, her deadline was fast approaching, and from the looks of it, there were quite a few people getting on this ship. Emma started questioning if she could manage to find the captain before the ship embarked on its journey, maybe then, just maybe, she wouldn't have to destroy the vacations of everyone around her, maybe they wouldn't be stranded at sea.
She found herself once again questioning what a cruise ship would do in the middle of the gulf with no captain around. That had to be a new situation, since when did just the captain disappear? Maybe she could make it seem like he'd fallen overboard as someone was bound to notice his disappearance pretty quickly, at the very least that light show that had erupted the last time.
When she finally made it on the ship, she set about finding her cabin so she could leave behind her suitcase before searching the ship for the one and only Killian Jones. He was according to his picture, a man in his mid-thirties, with rugged good looks, the type Emma supposed she'd go for, if she was straight, not that she couldn't appreciate him without any attraction. A slightly heavier five o'clock shadow graced his face, strikingly opposite his baby blue eyes that sparkled with a youth that was long past. He was tall and thin, and could probably bring home any woman he wanted, and Emma imagined he did quite often.
Her plan would be an over-used but reliable one, men were all the same, they'd always respond to an attractive woman wanting to accompany them for the night and Emma knew she was good-looking, at least enough that most men would not turn her away, and quite a few women would be hard pressed to deny her attentions too.
She set about wandering around the ship, trying to look lost, which considering she really was, was easier done than said, hoping to attract the attention of some young employee. She just needed to get close to the captain, and as luck would have it, she managed to bump into him, presumably returning from greeting the visitors that had slowly been boarding.
"Oh, hello, uhm, could you help me? I'm afraid I've gotten myself a bit turned around," She asked, faking a shy smile, trying to look embarrassed at her current predicament. Her blonde locks fell over her left shoulder, drawing attention to her cleavage, on display in her too tight tank top, her shorts a little too snug. She was the picture of innocence, and anyone who saw the scenario from afar would guess she was planning something, but the captain was too taken by her looks and ability to help her and maybe himself along the way.
He smiled wolfishly at her, "Of course, miss, I'd love to help one of our esteemed guests." He offered his arm out to her, and she accepted, wrapping her arms around it, holding firmly but not too tight, smiling up at him. "Now, what is it I can do for you?" His Irish accent coming out a bit thicker, no doubt in an attempt to seduce (women love accents after all).
"Well, I was out exploring the ship, it's really big isn't it? And well, I may have gotten turned around, and now I don't know where I am, or how to get back to my room, and it's all just a bit overwhelming. How do you even remember where anything is? Did you get lost a lot? I don't think I could ever find my way around, definitely not without a map."
Emma had begun rambling, trying to praise the captain while making herself seem weaker and foolish, knowing what his type would be. Definitely one to enjoy playing the hero. He asked her what her room number was and she gave it to him, following behind his every footstep. She punctuated her ramblings periodically to ask him questions about himself and offer compliments. Soon she was outside of her cabin, still holding on to his arm, she pulled him in for a hug, thanking him and whispered in his ear, "Would you like to come in for a drink? I'd like to thank you properly." She could feel his body shift under her as he took in the meaning of her words.
He pulled back, "Maybe later, love, I've got to get this cruise underway, wouldn't want to keep the other guests waiting."
"Oh of course, you have a super important job, but I'd love to see you, maybe you could stop by tonight, around 8?" She winked at him, her tongue poking between her teeth; she only had to keep this up for a bit longer. Hopefully he wouldn't put up too much of a fight, she had practically offered herself up on a silver platter already.
"I think I could manage that, can have my mate hold down the fort for a little while later. Eight it is, love."
Emma smiled and gave him a small wave of her fingers as she turned and entered into her cabin. She shut the door behind her and leaned against it, exhaling deeply, letting the act fall as she slid to her knees. It was almost over, she could almost go back home. At least, she could only hope for a break between now and her next mission. She was really starting to miss sleeping in her own bed, and maybe it would do her some good, she could hit up the bars, find someone or a couple of someones and forget about Regina.
She didn't move from her spot until she heard his feet softly thud down the hall, her head fell back and hit the door. Breathing out a sigh of relief, she pulled out her phone and checked it for any new messages. The clock on her lock screen read 2:46, she'd have just under 5 hours to prepare for her date. She slid up on the screen and opened her texts, scrolling through to Ruby's name, she typed out a message.
Shit, Rubes, I'm fucked.
What happened?
I met someone.
That's great, go for it! I don't see a problem there.
She's married, and straight.
Oh
Yeah, oh. You're a lot of help you know that.
Well, it could be worse.
How so?
She could be ugly.
Not helping Rubes.
I'm trying, but ur not giving me much to work with.
I've got it bad, she kissed me the other night and I can't stop thinking about her…
Well, if she kissed you, she can't be that straight. I'd be more worried about the married bit really. U might have a chance though. Are there any troubles in paradise?
Seriously? That's your advice? Hope she gets divorced?
Well, it's that or hope they're up for an open marriage and get used to being with a guy. Unless u wanna destroy a happy couple?
Not an option, I couldn't hurt her like that.
So, find someone else then. What makes her special?
Honestly, dunno. She's hot, and funny, and kind, but kind of a bitch too, ok a lot of a bitch, and not really that kind, she actually was really rude when we met. But she's funny, and idk, it feels right. She's really done nothing special to make her special, or different or anything.
God, Em, u got it bad. Better find someone else unless u wanna be friendzoned for life.
Emma leaned her head back against the door one last time, her arms resting against her knees. She could not wait for a vacation after this. Vegas. Definitely Vegas. Who would have thought travelling all the time for work could be this draining? At least she still had some time to watch TV before he'd stop by tonight.
She flipped through the channels absent mindedly, cycling through all twenty options the cruise offered before freezing. It was the 5 o'clock news, out of Houston. Emma grabbed her phone and immediately typed out a message to a certain brunette.
What the fuck were you doing today?! I saw you on the news; please tell me you're still alive.