Back with the rest of the group, more walking ensued. Emma's heart raced as they went on in silence. How was she supposed to prove her love when it was already so difficult to work through her own feelings? But she knew what she wanted, and she knew it wasn't Hook or Neal. Regina was all she could think of. Her touch, her kiss, her voice... Emma drifted off into her own thoughts as they continued on through the forest, until the path ended and she nearly walked right into her father.

"What the Hell?" she blurted out, irritated that they'd come to a sudden halt. "Why are you stopping?"

"There's no more path," David explained. "It just... ended."

"What?"

"Yeah. I know."

"Move," Regina said, shouldering her way past David. "Let me see."

Regina looked around, her head turning back and forth from right to left.

"This way," she announced. "I can feel the residue of magic over here. It has to be Pan."

They took a left turn, and Regina stayed in the lead, leaving Emma behind to follow the group, feeling suddenly put off, until the woman spoke again.

After a few minutes, Regina called back, "Emma. Up here with me."

Her eyes went wide, but Emma obeyed, pushing her way through the men who were looking confused. Beside Regina, she watched the way her hair swayed slightly as she walked, the way her hips swung ever so slightly with every step she took - instead of watching her step. Of course, it wasn't long before she tripped and stumbled to her knees, catching herself with her palms. She raised her hands and looked down at them; they were bleeding from the impact. She assumed her knees were bleeding through her jeans as well, which they were.

Regina stopped and reached down, grabbing her hand and lifting her off the ground.

"Be more careful, idiot. We don't have time for this."

Emma bit her lip and looked down, and when Regina saw this, her tongue darted out to lick her own lips, not failing to notice the sensual way the subtle gesture made her feel warm. As Regina started to let go, though, Emma squeezed her hand tightly, feeling her heartbeat speed up again. The queen couldn't hide her surprise as her eyes went wide.

They hurried along, but Emma still didn't release her hand. The men were staring, but neither of them could see it, since they refused to face anywhere but forward. As they picked up their pace, they began to put distance between them and the others.

When they were just out of earshot, Regina leaned closer and whispered, "What are you doing?"

"Showing you I'm not ashamed to be with you, and that I'm not afraid to let them know," Emma said, looking up at her with strength and sincerity in her eyes.

"I can't believe you're actually doing this," the queen said. "I'm sure they're talking about us."

"I don't care. I'm not scared of them."

"But you're scared of your mother."

Emma laughed lightly and nodded her head.

"A little bit."

"You're an adult, you know," Regina pointed out. "You can make your own choices."

"She's going to have a conniption."

"Do you even care?"

"No. I suppose I don't. All I care about right now is you. I don't care what they think or what they have to say about us."

"What about Henry?" Regina asked, uncertainly suddenly filling her voice.

"What about him?"

"What do you think he'll say?"

"Honestly?" she asked, not waiting for the response. "I think he's going to be happy that his parents are together. And maybe a little surprised."

"A little?" Regina laughed.

"Okay, a lot. But still. You know what I mean."

The brunette nodded, looking down at their hands as they swung slightly forward and back again. She was surprised at Emma's emotional strength to fight the urge to hide their relationship - if that was even what it was. She was brave. In addition, Regina know that telling her mother would be an even more difficult challenge. Emma was right; her mother would absolutely throw an exaggerated, overdramatic fit. It was a weird family tree that had developed, but Regina didn't mind. She cared too much for Emma to let her go - even if she wasn't willing to admit it.

"I think he's going to be happy about this," Emma said. "At least, I hope that he is."

"What if he's not?"

"Then we explain to him that we're adults, and we can't help the way that we feel about each other. But he won't be upset, Regina. He's going to be fine with it, if not ecstatic."

The woman nodded and sighed, still unsure, not wanting her son to be upset with her over anything, especially not the woman she cared so deeply for. But Emma was probably right about that, too; they were adults, and Henry would have to live with their decision. Even if he didn't approve, eventually, he would come around and accept them.

"I'm glad that you're here with me," Emma told her.

"I'm glad that I came."

Emma giggled, shutting her eyes for a moment as she moved a little closer to Regina, who instantly rolled her eyes. But she was stifling a laugh as well.

"You still haven't proved your supposed 'love' for me," Regina mused with a smirk.

"What more can I do?"

"You can tell your mother," Regina suggested. "In front of me."