The Journey was long. And Regina had never guessed that Emma would get so seasick. Certainly did not help since Emma was not constantly ill. But Regina stayed by her side nonetheless on the ship. One night Emma woke up breathing hard. That night she had Henry, on the ship, just a few days before they would reach StoryBrooke. Hook had given them his quarters when he saw the state Emma was in and refused further payment from Regina. He was, under the pirate persona, a decent man.
Regina held Henry close with one arm and had her other connected with Emma. She didn't want Emma to feel replaced, not even with her own son. The woman had been through a lot, just like Regina.
As she felt the ship dock, she leaned over and kissed Emma.
"Emma, wake up were here." Regina donned the biggest smile.
Emma blinked sleepily. Sat up pawing at her eyes. Regina kissed her on the head.
Emma started to wake up, "Do you want me to take him?" Emma held out her arms.
"Only if you want to dear." Regina was worried maybe this Emma really didn't want Henry.
"Sure, you've had him all night." Emma's face didn't change but she took the baby.
Regina was a natural mother, she just wasn't. This thing cried, and she could never tell what it wanted, she would have gone crazy if Regina weren't there. But she did love the look Regina had on her face when she held Henry. Emma loved watching the two together.
Regina leaned in and kissed Emma. "No one is replacing you dear, I promise. I can love both of you." Emma smiled, it was stupid, she had worried about that.
"I know that Regina." She leaned her forehead.
…
Regina was giddy as they stepped off onto the dock. She started babbling off about the town, it put a smile on Emma's face.
"Oh and we have to take you to Granny's! You will love the hot chocolate there, then there's …" She turned around and saw Emma smiling at her.
"And I am doing it again, I'm sorry…"
Emma leaned her head on her girlfriend.
"It's fine Regina. Promise, I'm just worried about…"
"Seeing the other me again? Emma she will be thrilled to see you."
Emma didn't feel that way. She still was dealing with being abandoned by her parents and if she was honest with herself the other Regina. But she had her happy ending, this Regina hadn't left, well yet anyway. What if she really did like the other her better. Her stomach tightened in fear.
Regina noticed the shift in her mood, "Trust me it will be fine. They will help us."
…
Mifflin street was a good thirty min walk from the docks but Emma and Regina didn't mind as they had been on a ship for the past few days.
Soon enough they were walking up to 108 Mifflin Street. Right before Regina knocked she had a wave of panic. What if this Emma wasn't happy to see them… What if she was just glad their lives had returned to normal? No Regina needed to do this, for her family, they couldn't just wander off into a land they knew nothing about, not without a little help first.
The Queen took a deep breath and knocked.
She heard a thundering of movement inside.
A boy's voice filled the air.
"Ma I got it, I win…" He glanced up to see the Queen.
Henry stood with his mouth open.
"Hey Henry…" Regina had the most awkward smile, Emma had her mouth hanging open. This boy was her son?
Once Henry got over the shock he shook his head then the widest smile spread across his face.
"MOM!?" He yanked her into a hug so quickly, Regina was only held up by her teenage son.
"Henry! " Regina started to laugh and held his face with both of her hands, "I missed you." Her face reflected the giant smile on his.
"Kid who was …" Emma stood there, StoryBrooke Emma, the person who had taught her how to love, that she was still worth loving.
"Regina…" Emma said quietly.
Shit no maybe this was bad.
"Emma, I'm sorry to bother you…" She was yanked from Henry into an even bigger hug, if that was possible.
"Regina! You're ok!" Regina relaxed into Emma's hug, and gripped back as tightly.
"I miss you too." Emma also donned the biggest smile.
"And… were being rude." Emma released Regina.
"Emma this is well MY Emma." Regina said proudly.
Henry looked over, "Oh no way! Is..is that little me?!" He said running over and scaring EF Emma.
The Queen laughed, "Yes Henry, actually would you mind taking him for a bit."
"Boy would I, I'm gunna go read me comic books!" He looked up at Emma as he took little Henry,
"Oh hey I'm Henry, nice to meet ya Ma." He said with the biggest smile.
Emma just stood there wide eyed and nodded.
"Henry leave her alone, she just got here, you are freaking me out." Older Emma laughed from the doorway.
"Right." Henry went inside.
Emma walked forward and grabbed her hand.
"I am sure someone will be very happy to see you." She pulled herself in the house.
As she rounded to close the door,
"She's up in the bedroom, go surprise her." She gave her younger self a little push.
The younger Emma looked back and got another encouraging nod from herself. She looked back towards the stairs and took a deep breath and started moving. She never thought she would see Regina again.
She lightly pushed the door open.
"Dear…I told you we are NOT going to Granny's today, we spend more time there then we do at home." She glanced up.
Emma shifted awkwardly in the doorway, "Uh ok…" They continued to stare at each other, "Hi Regina."
Regina's hand flew to her cover her mouth.
Was she angry? Tears started to flow down her tanned cheeks.
Emma wrapped her arms around herself. Regina stood, swayed a little.
Emma rushed forward to steady her, "I..I'm sorry."
Regina pulled her to her, "My little princess!"
Emma finally let go the tears she had been holding, she pulled tight.
"I miss you."
Regina held her at arm's length, "Let me look at you."
Her face turned serious, "Is she treating you alright? Why are you here? How are you here? Are you ok?!" Regina fussed over Emma and made her laugh lightly smacking Regina's frantic hands.
"Regina, stop… ha I'm fine really." She smiled.
"it's just…good to see you. She, the Queen, she has been amazing. She… I think she really loves me." Emma's face broke out into a smile.
"And she is great with baby Henry, me not so much, I'm trying …." Regina pulled her back into a hug.
"I can't believe you're here!"
Emma rested in the crook of Regina's neck.
She felt safe.
….
The women upstairs finally ventured down to join the other two in the kitchen. Who were laughing and catching each other up on everything they had missed.
"Uh Gina you should have seen your face when you got back, thank you so much for my wife back."
Regina sipped her tea and looked up adoringly at her own Emma entering the room.
Regina walked up to the Queen.
"Um, hi Regina." She stuck out her hand.
Henry walked in with himself, "Mom just give her a hug, come on." He smiled at the Queen.
Regina relented and pulled herself into a hug, "Hello dear, glad to have you."
Regina blushed, damn older her was hot, SB Emma caught the blush and giggled, the Queen shot her a glare telling her to shut it if she knew what was good for her. Emma just rolled her eyes and walked over to Henry.
"Hey can I hold you? I never did when you were a baby." Emma took the baby and it started crying.
Regina laughed walked over and kissed the child and he calmed back down, "You still don't have the touch dear."
Emma stuck her tongue out.
"Hey it's my baby." She jokingly walked off with him. Regina rolling her eyes.
She looked back at the other two.
"So what brings you two here? How long with you be staying? You will stay with us of course, we certainly have the room." Her smile held so much affection it put the other two at ease.
The Queen spoke up, "Thank you Regina, we are actually seeking refuge form our home, would you help us? We want to be in a place without magic, beyond StoryBrooke is like this yes?"
Regina nodded at the Queen.
"We can certainly help," now growing concerned for Emma, "what happened?"
The Queen gripped Emma's arm, "Political differences, that is all. I just wanted my Family to be happy. Hard to achieve when everyone looks at you like the evil queen." Her face dropped a little.
"I remember the feeling yes. Well Dinner at Granny's later it is, I'll cook for us all tomorrow night, I wasn't expecting company…but I am glad we have it." She quickly added the last bit.
"Why don't you two go get settled in the guest room. Then we can head over to Granny's."
Regina held Emma up as the Queen took baby Henry upstairs with Emma so they could figure a crib like contraption for Henry.
"Overwhelming?" She glanced at the still shy blond.
"Yeah, just a bit…" Regina put her hand on her shoulder.
"It gets better, if you want to talk about what happened… I am still here for you dear…" Just as she was about to say more the door bell rang.
"Oh that's right, Mary Margaret was going to come by for dinner… I'll just inform her of the change of plans."
Regina opened the door and Emma's heart, if it could have stopped, it would have.
There stood her mother. With a baby.
"Hey Regina," MM looked over to Emma.
"Emma sweetheart did you do something to your hair?" She mused.
Emma backed away.
MM grew confused, "Emma, honey, what's wrong."
Regina saw the fear and flight in her eyes.
Emma saw a gap and shot by her mother out the door. She didn't stop running.
-…
Gahhhhhh nooooooooo Emma come backkk! Well what are you thinking? Did you see the story going this way?
