Emma drove as fast as she could towards the town line as the Chernabog flew over them. She had to get this thing over the town line without losing Regina. That wasn't an option.
Regina glanced back at the beast before turning back around and looking at her surroundings. "What made you choose yellow?"
Emma turned to look at her quickly before turning her attention back to the road. "What?"
"Your bug," Regina said, looking at Emma. "Yellow? Bold choice."
"I like yellow. I stole it. Is this really the time to question my taste?" Emma asked, glancing in the rearview mirror.
"Sorry," Regina said, looking out her window. "I'm just trying not to think about being some demon's lunch."
"You're not going to be," Emma said, looking in her side mirror.
"I'm glad you're confident," Regina said.
The Chernabog landed on the car, scaring both women. It pulled back a hand before slamming it against the top of the car.
"What is this thing made of, tin?" Regina asked.
"Hang on, we're almost there," Emma said, staring straight ahead. She had to get to the town line.
The Chernabog chose that moment to lean over the edge of the car, looking straight into the car at Emma. Emma swerved, hoping to lose the Chernabog. Instead, the Chernabog hung on before punching through the glass of the windshield. Emma and Regina both brought their arms up to cover their faces from the glass.
"It's too late," Regina said. "I'm not going to let both of us die in this metal coffin on wheels."
Emma swerved the car left and right, trying to force the Chernabog to lose his grip. With every movement, the Chernabog grabbed the car tighter, hanging on.
Regina turned to Emma. "Thanks for trying Ms. Swan."
Emma glanced at her. "What?"
Regina disappeared in a cloud of purple smoke. "Regina!" Emma said.
The Chernabog stuck his hand through the hole that he had made in the windshield, grabbing at Emma. She waved her arm, as if swatting away a pesky fly instead of a monster.
Regina stood at the town line, waving her hands over her head. "Hey!"
The Chernabog looked at her before roaring. Emma sped up the car, looking intensely ahead. As she got closer to the town line, she slammed on the brakes, successfully dislodging the Chernabog from the top of the bug. Regina ducked, and the Chernabog flew over the town line, dissolving into nothing.
Emma knew that she and Regina were both alive. But they could have died today. And that scared Emma more than anything.
She parked her bug outside of the mansion before getting out. Regina would probably think that she was crazy, but Emma didn't care. Whether Regina liked it or not, they were friends. Emma hoped that one day they could be more than that, but that didn't matter.
Walking to the front door, Emma rang the doorbell. She waited for a while before thinking about leaving. As she turned to go, the door opened.
"Ms. Swan?" Regina said in confusion. "What are you doing here?"
"You can call me Emma you know," Emma teased. "It won't kill you."
Regina rolled her eyes. "What are you doing here?"
Emma shrugged. "Just wanted to make sure that you were okay. You know, with the whole Chernabog thing."
Regina looked at her curiously. "I could ask you the same thing. You don't look very well."
"I'm fine," Emma said. "And clearly so are you, so I'll just go." She turned to leave. Maybe this had been a bad idea.
"Emma," Regina called. Emma turned back to her. "Why don't you come inside? I have a feeling that you want to talk about something."
Emma nodded before walking inside. Regina closed the door before leading the way to the living room. "Where's Henry?" Emma asked.
"Upstairs sleeping," Regina said. "It's 11 at night."
"It is?" Emma asked, looking at the clock on the fireplace. "I didn't even realize."
Regina looked at her with concern before sitting on the couch. She cleared her throat, getting Emma's attention, before patting the cushion next to her. Emma smiled before sitting down.
"So what's going on?" Regina asked. "Are you okay?"
Emma sighed before looking at her hands. "When we were driving today, away from the Chernabog, all I could think about was how I couldn't lose you."
Regina's eyes widened. "You were?"
"Well yeah," Emma said. "You're basically my best friend. I couldn't imagine what would have happened if the Chernabog had gotten you today. I didn't want to imagine it."
Regina reached out and placed her hand over Emma's. Emma looked at her in surprise. "You know why I left your bug to sacrifice myself? Regina asked.
Emma shook her head. Regina smiled. "Because I couldn't imagine losing you either."
Emma's eyes widened before she smiled back at Regina. In that moment, Emma caught a glimpse of love flash in Regina's eyes. They may not act on it now, but one day, they would be together. As a couple.