So I'm trying to teach myself sign language for fun, and so far it's awesome.
"We need some kind of secret code," Emma said, walking into Regina's office urgently. "Just in case something happens to one of us and we need to communicate."
"You want to invent a new language?" Regina asked, completely unfazed by Emma's random entrance into her office. She did it all the time.
Emma shook her head. "I want to teach you one that I know that doesn't require speaking. Then we can communicate without whoever has us being able to tell what we're saying."
"Are you expecting to be kidnapped sometime soon?" Regina asked, looking up at Emma in amusement.
"With this town, it wouldn't surprise me," Emma said. She started pacing back and forth, resisting the urge to bite her nails. Regina would just call her out on it.
Regina studied Emma closely. "What's bothering you so much that you want to teach me another language?"
"I just have a bad feeling," Emma said, continuing to pace.
Regina stood up and walked around her desk, leaning on it to study Emma closer. "Your bad feelings don't usually leave you restless enough to pace the floor like a caged animal."
"Something isn't right," Emma said.
Regina gently reached out and grabbed Emma's arm before pulling her close. "Take a deep breath before you give yourself a panic attack. I'll learn whatever language you want me to just to be prepared. Okay?"
"Okay," Emma said, relaxing slightly in Regina's arms.
"So what am I learning?" Regina asked.
Emma smiled. "Sign language."
Regina was a quick study. Whether it was due to her magic of just her dedication to learning to calm Emma down, she had learned all there was to know about sign language within a month.
Emma was a great teacher, and admitted she had learned sign language while on the streets to communicate with another kid her age. She didn't feel as lonely when they had talked.
Nothing had happened to the town in that time, but Emma's bad feeling was starting to get worse. It had even begun to give her nightmares.
"This is getting out of hand," Regina said, running her fingers through Emma's hair. "I don't know what's going on, but something needs to happen so that the feeling you're having goes away."
"I know," Emma mumbled. "I have a feeling that it will be soon."
"How soon?" Regina asked. She didn't know if Emma would know the answer to that, but she was curious.
Turns out, Emma didn't have to answer. At that moment a crash sounded down the hall and there was a shout. Emma and Regina both froze before jumping out of bed at the same time and running down the hall. The commotion had come from Henry's room.
"No!" Emma shouted. Henry's sheet and comforter were thrown to the floor, but they boy himself was missing. Emma clutched the end of Henry's bed for support as the room began to spin. Bile started to rise up in her throat, but she tried to swallow it down. Henry. Poor Henry.
"Emma," Regina said, cupping Emma's face in the palms and forcing Emma's eyes to meet hers. "Take deep breaths. Relax. I know who took him and how to get him back. But we can't do that if you don't calm down."
Emma nodded, taking deep breaths. "Why aren't you more freaked out by this? You always freak out when Henry is in danger."
"Because this time, the person who took him is inexperienced in kidnapping and left behind a ton of clues that lead us directly to where he is," Regina said. "We work together well, and we'll get him back in about half an hour."
Emma looked at Regina in surprise. "Who took him?"
Regina pursed her lips. "I don't think you want to know right now. It might send you over the edge. Let's just-"
"No," Emma interrupted. "I want to know who we're facing."
"Hook," Regina said. She pointed at the boot marks on the floor, then at the bottle of rum lying on Henry's bed. "He's obviously drunk, so I don't blame him that much. But we still need to get Henry back."
"You don't blame him that much?" Emma asked. Her eyes blazed with fury as she straightened up. "He is so dead."
Regina quickly grabbed Emma's arm before she could just storm onto Hook's ship. "That's what he's going to expect you to do. Relax."
Emma took a deep breath and let it out slowly before walking calmly onto the ship with Regina at her side. Hook's crew stepped out of her way as she wove through them, wondering where Hook could be.
"I was wondering when you would get here!" Hook slurred, walking towards Emma. "Great to see you, love."
"Don't call me that," Emma hissed. "Where's Henry?"
"Down below," Hook said, chuckling. "Can't come up until we make our deal."
"Deal?" Emma asked. "There is no way that I will ever make a deal with you."
Regina gently nudged Emma to get her attention. Easy, she signed. He is drunk and unpredictable.
"What did you just do with your hands?" Hook asked. "Did you just cast some sort of spell?"
"No," Regina said. "My hands were getting anxious and I needed to shake them out."
Hook looked at her skeptically. "Very well. Now then, back to our deal."
"There is no deal," Emma said. "We're taking Henry and we're leaving."
Hook's crew moved closer, ready to pounce in case Emma or Regina made any sudden moves. Regina looked around and inwardly cursed. Emma wasn't the negotiating type.
Now what? Emma signed frantically. We're surrounded and still have no Henry!
How confident are you in your magic right now? Regina signed back.
Emma shook her head. Regina cursed again. They really needed to work on Emma's magic in stressful situations.
"Well lookie here," Hook drawled. He looked close to passing out, but Emma had no doubt he would hang on for a long time.
"What deal do you want?" Regina blurted out, ignoring Emma's glare.
Hook smiled. "Finally. A reasonable woman."
Regina had to grab Emma's arm to keep her from grabbing around Hook's throat. "What do you want?"
"Easy," Hook said. "I want Emma's hand in marriage."
Emma held up her left hand, which already had a ring on it. "I'm already taken. But nice try."
Hook shrugged. "That doesn't mean anything to me. Promise to marry me and I'll give back your son."
What do we do? Emma signed. I'm marrying you.
I know that, Regina signed back. Let me poof to where Henry is. Be ready to fight if you have to.
Emma shook her head frantically. I can't fight! My magic doesn't work under stress!
No time like the present! Regina signed, poofing away.
"Where did she go?" Hook asked. "Has she gone to set the boy free? Crew, attack!"
The crew moved towards Emma, ready to take her down. Emma panicked as she felt her magic rising. She didn't want to hurt people, and it was this distraction that usually was her downfall without Regina at her side.
"She went home," Emma said weakly.
"You are a terrible liar," Hook said. "It's something that I always loved about you. I do love you, Emma. And that's why I'm doing this."
Emma jumped as she felt two of the crewmembers grab her arms. She didn't like being touched. Not by people she didn't know.
Her magic lashed out on its own and sent the whole crew to their knees. She shuddered, as the feeling of their hands didn't leave her skin. She'd be having one heck of a shower later.
"Ma!" Henry called, running over and hugging her tightly. "You used your magic under pressure!"
Emma smiled shakily. The stress of losing Henry and using magic was catching up to her quickly. Regina noticed and immediately ran over, using some of her magic to give Emma some energy back.
"You dare defy me on my own ship?" Hook roared. "We'll see about-"
His eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed to the ground, snoring loudly. Emma laughed. "The rum finally caught up to him. Come on, let's go home."
Regina smiled before signing one last word. Home.
I was originally going to describe each sign and have them be choppier in their talking, but that got too complicated. Some signs are hard to explain without just showing someone.