Hey everyone. Loving all the responses :) keep them coming! As promised here's the new chapter on time. Hope you all had a good weekend.

And ya I still don't own these characters blah blah blah. Enjoy :)

The rest of the evening went by with an ease both women would have never guessed they would share. Regina won five out of six games of chess, in which Emma would not stop gloating about. They topped it off with a few games of checkers, and some good old fashioned hangman. Who knew the evil queen was such a gamer? Emma mused. The night ended with a look of longing across the cabin that wasn't lost on either woman. The sighs they breathed out as they each rolled over to face their own respective wall echoed throughout the cabin.

The next morning Regina awoke before Emma, quickly dressing before heading up to deck to assess their progress. The door closed quietly behind her as she let her eyes wander over to the sleeping figure across the room, the result a slight tug deep within her chest. The morning light was blinding as she used her hand to shield her eyes and make her way over to the silhouette that was none other than Captain Hook himself.

"Good Morning Captain" Regina nodded as she took a standing position next to him, taking in the vast sea before them.

"Regina" he sneered.

"Have we made any progress for Neverland?" She asked, trying to mask the uncertainty in her voice.

He frowned. "It seems something is in our way or shielding us from the island." He gestured towards the compass and map floating above the table next to the ship's wheel. It was turning erratically in all directions, never staying still, and ever changing the course of the ship. By the looks of it, they could not even begin to assess where they were, let alone where they were heading. "Unfortunately I think the trip is going to take us longer than expected." He stated, his mouth now staying in a tight line.

Regina couldn't take her eyes off of the rotating images in front of her. "What could be doing this?" She asked, tentatively trying to still the compass.

"If not something, then someone," he answered solemnly. " I have heard of this effect before from other captains. Not many I might add. It is said when you are passing near or over the underwater Kingdom of Atlantica, all devices cease to work effectively leaving the ship isolated."

Regina nodded, taking in the information and processing what it all meant. She took in a deep breath, the realization slowly dawning on her. "King Triton and.."

"Ursula." Hook finished.

Both stood tight lipped and frowning for some time, staring at the sea as the wheels turned inside their head, reaching for any kind of plan that had a real chance to avoid this ominous danger.

"I assume with the size of the kingdom it probably takes about a day, maybe a day and a half to sail over it. So far it has been quiet, and I feel if we keep our heads down and sail steady that we have a good chance of going unnoticed. Madam I think we need to sail and wait it out." The captain finished and looked at the sails as the wind blew lazily through them.

The mayor took a deep breath to calm her nerves. Sitting ducks. That's what we are. She was infuriated at the predicament they had found themselves in. "So straight sailing until tomorrow morning?" She asked.

"Indeed that is what it looks like." He stated, obviously feeling the strain of the situation he and his ship were in.

Additional footsteps on deck broke the silence between the two as blonde hair shimmered in sunlight and headed towards them. Regina blew out a breath she didn't know she was holding as her eyes followed the blonde's silhouette approach. Crap how do we explain this to Emma without her freaking out? She briefly thought about lying to her, letting her enjoy some ignorant bliss as they seemingly sailed peacefully through the afternoon sun, but knew deep down she needed to tell her the truth. They were building some kind of friendship and she knew more than anything Emma valued honesty. Regina took another deep breath and steadied herself as Emma settled next to her with questioning eyes. Those beautiful green eyes. The depths in them are as deep as the water we are in. She shook the thoughts from her head and smiled sadly at Emma. Here goes nothing.

Emma could tell immediately that something was wrong. Regina and Hook both looked pale and stiff standing on the upper deck next to the ship's wheel. They were talking quietly but the worry and apprehension written on both their faces had Emma's stomach twisting into a knot. Something is wrong. She made her way over to Regina and could feel the woman tense up at her presence, her chocolate brown eyes not half as warm as they were last night as they sought out her own.

"Morning" Emma greeted, eyeing the both of them up. Who will crack first?

"Sweetheart, still enjoying your cabin?" Hook teased.

Regina's subtle glare out of the side of her eye was not lost on Emma, as her own rolled at the comment made by the captain.

"Yes Hook, enjoying it a lot actually." She winked at the Captain as the faintest blush crept up Regina's cheeks.

"I see," His eyebrows raised in amusement and curiosity, "well if you find yourself in need of a.." Hook was caught off.

"Enough Hook." Regina raised a halting hand. "Emma I need to speak with you about something." She said as she slowly passed the other woman heading down the stairs of the upper deck. Emma looked up at Hook who quirked an eyebrow at her before his face turned completely solemn and he gripped the wheel noticeably tighter.

Emma turned, following the apple scented wake that Regina left behind as she walked on deck towards the back of the ship. Even though her stomach was in knots she couldn't help but notice the sway of hips that she effortlessly followed. Even on a ship she's got it.

They leaned on the wooden rail looking out over the water in silence for a bit. Regina studying the water and picking at a splinter in the wood. Emma too admired the vastness, but couldn't help being distracted by the way the sunlight was bouncing off of chestnut hair next to her. She may have been staring at one point but wasn't sure.

Regina could feel eyes on her. Building up her courage she finally spoke, "Emma."

"Yes?" Green were now searching a warmer brown than before but couldn't miss the fear she saw in them.

"We have run into a problem. The ship's compass and map are not working properly so we essentially have no idea where we are or where we are going." She paused letting the information sink in and wished she could soothe the blonde as stress clearly now etched the lines in her face. Regina continued, "In the past this has meant that a ship is passing near or over the Underwater Kingdom of Atlantica. " She eyed the blonde for any recognition of the Kingdom. She's going to make me spell it out. She took a deep breath, "King Triton's Kingdom… With Ursula."

Emma's eyes went wide. Of course they are real. Why wouldn't they be? Ursula?! That witch scared the crap out of me as a kid! And she's under our ship?! What are we going to do?! The thoughts poured in and swirled around her head so fast that she was dizzy. She began biting her lip and gripping the rail tighter. Leaning forward she blew out her breath slowly. This cannot be happening. She felt a hand cover hers and squeeze it gently. Emma started to shake her head to calm some of the thoughts. Breathe.

Regina's chest ached as she saw the woman in front of her slowly start to panic and realize the danger they were in. And she was helpless to stop it or protect her from it. Crap. She did the only thing she could do out of reflex which was to reach for the woman. She placed her hand over hers trying to steady her. Seeing as Emma calmed just a tiny bit, she found her other hand reaching to rub circles on her back. They stood there for a few minutes, the mayor comforting the savior. Emma had now eased into her touch, the circles soothing her and stopping the panic.

"Just breathe" Regina spoke low and earnestly. "Emma breathe"

Emma looked up into those deep chocolate eyes and felt herself feeling better and grounded. There were so many emotions behind those eyes and Emma found herself briefly getting lost in them. Her hand reached up and pushed back a strand of hair behind Regina's ear that had freed itself in the gusts of wind that pushed the ship forward. Regina's cheek was so warm and soft that she didn't realize she had left her hand there.

They stared into each other's eyes searching for an answer when Hook was heard in the distance telling Nolan to change the sails. Regina was the first to move. She took a half step back effectively removing Emma's hand from her cheek. Immediately missing the contact, she pretended to study the railing instead of looking at the blonde in front of her.

Trying to slow her heart, Emma's mind finally started to process all the information." "What do we do?"

"We wait." Regina stated.

Emma huffed in response, clearly as frustrated as Regina. Running her fingers through her hair she looked at the other woman, still captivated by her. "Well what should we do to pass the time?" She smiled.

Regina couldn't help but be distracted by the change of subject and pace. A smile slowly graced her face as she didn't have time to realize it was happening.

"Hmm I sure we could think of something Ms. Swan" She teased.

With an ease that closely resembled the night before they made their way across the deck in hopes of finding some way to pass the hopefully uneventful afternoon.

So what do you think? Do you mind taking a trip to the Underwater Kingdom? dun dun dun.

Reviews=love

Thanks for reading :) the next chapter is coming soon.