A/N: Ok here is the next installment, was a bit tricky but I like how it came out.
Emma Swan enters the dimly lit tavern. Her hair is damp, as she looks around. Spying Regina in a corner, she heads over towards the brunette. Regina has seen Emma enter, and is momentarily stunned, as she watches Emma comb her fingers through her wet locks. She is pulled out of her reverence when Emma speaks two words.
"Hey Reg."
"Excuse me?" Showing her annoyance, she quirks an eyebrow. At the same time she takes in the fresh, rosy color on Emma's cheek's.
Emma sits next to Regina, leans in close so no one can hear. "I can't call you by your name, you're suppose to be a guy remember? So thought I just call you Reg, or maybe Reggie," smirks the blonde.
Puffing out a breath, Regina rolls her eyes up. "Well don't get use to the name dear."
Still working on drying her hair, Emma looks around. "Thanks for getting that private bath for us to use. I know there isn't much we can do about our clothes, but least I feel cleaner."
"You are welcome, and thank you for letting me go first."
"Yea, well it was only right considering we were only like, what, three miles from here last night. I guess I figured since I made you sleep on the ground, it was the least I could do."
"Hmmm..yes, sleeping in a bed would have been preferred." 'Though I will always cherish the memory of waking up with you even though it will be the only time,' sighs Regina.
"So what is there to eat in this place. I'm starving."
"I went ahead and ordered us something, just prior to you entering."
Just then a young, bleach blonde girl, with a very large bust, and who appears to be around 17 years old, approaches with a tray. "Here you go dark and handsome." She puts down a pitcher of water, mugs with a dark liquid in it, and some bread, as she practically pushes her breasts into Regina's face. "Your order should be out in a few minutes." The server winks at Regina, who is blushing.
Emma clears her throat. "Hey, thanks." The server briefly looks at Emma, takes in the commonly look, the imperfect features, and just goes back to Regina.
"Let me know if you need anything else sweet cheeks."
Just then a voice yells... "Meg stop flirting and get back to work!"
"Yes Mama. Til later," winks the blonde.
"What in the hell was that all about," whispers Regina.
"Uh...she thinks your a man remember, and apparently she thinks she's old enough to have her way with you." Emma continues to glare at the retreating woman, as she murmurs, "She needs to keep her eyes..and chest to herself if you ask me."
"You sound a bit jealous. But I was referring to how she looked at you. Like you were yesterday's garbage."
Shrugging, Emma grabs one of the mugs, takes a sip. "Eh, I'm use to it."
Regina flashes the blonde a questioning look, "You are so much better than her Emma."
Emma gives Regina a small smile, then picks up the mug and takes a sip. "Mmm thanks for this. What is this? Tastes like almost like coffee." Emma indicates the mug, "Normally don't care for straight black coffee, but right now even this tastes like heaven.
"It's called kaffee. It's very similar to our coffee, but it's made with a different kind of bean I believe." Regina gets up, goes to an empty table, grabs something, comes back and puts said items in front of Emma. Beaming at the brunette, Emma picks up the milk and sugar and proceeds to fix her kaffee to her liking. Taking another sip, "Haaaaaa...perfect! Thank you!" Emma bumps shoulders with Regina.
Just then the blonde comes back, plops down a bowl in front of Emma, then graciously sets a platter in front of Regina, as she leans on the table, her hip brushing the brunette's arm. Once more she winks at Regina, then heads off.
"Blonde bimbo," mutters Emma.
"What's that dear?"
"Nothing." Emma proceeds to dig into the bowl, finding it's some kind of stew, with meat, potatoes, carrots, and onion in a rich, savory broth. "Mmmmm! What is this? It's wonderful. Oh no..wait..don't tell me..I don't want to know."
"It's rabbit stew."
"What? Cute little bunnies? I told you I didn't want to know!" cries Emma, but she hasn't stopped eating, "Oh..well...sorry Bugs..I am too hungry to care right now."
"Slow down, you eat worse than our son."
"Reg, I haven't had a decent meal in days...so shut it," gripes the irritated Sheriff, as she tears off a piece of bread and stuffs it in her mouth. Then she looks over at what Regina is daintily eating. "What is that?"
"It's squab with braised turnips. It's actually very good."
"Excuse me..what?"
Rolling her eye, Regina cuts a piece, using the fork she puts it near Emma's mouth. "Here try it."
Raising an eyebrow, Emma carefully takes the tidbit, then chews, then surprise shows in her face. "Oh, that's actually good, tastes sort of like chicken."
"It's pigeon dear."
"Wha..what?" chokes out the blond. "Those nasty city birds...ewww."
"Not all pigeon are city dwellers. Here they are raised or caught out in the woods, even in our world, they are considered a delicacy."
"Hmm...well if they taste that good, may have to try it again once we get home." Taking a spoonful of her stew, she holds her hand under it, and moves it towards Regina. "Well since you shared your pigeon, it's only fitting I share my Bugs Bunny stew with you," smirking as she waits for Regina to take the bite.
"Mmm..yes it is rather tasty. Haven't had rabbit in a long time."
After watching Regina eat her pigeon very, very delicately, Emma chuckles.
"What?"
"Reg, you eat like..well like a queen."
"I am a queen."
"Yea but you're a guy. You need to eat like one."
"Oh so I am suppose to eat like...you," Regina snarks back.
Emma sports her trade mark cocky grin. "Well...yea."
Regina pauses, then gets an evil glint. She grabs one of the pigeons with her hand, then pulls off one small leg and tears into it. "There..is that better dear?"
Emma is transfixed on the former Queens lips, as Regina licks them. "Uh..um...yea."
Regina then rips off a small piece and this time brings it to Emma's lips with her fingers. Emma gazes at the offered morsel, or rather, the fingers holding the morsel. Opening her mouth, she delicately takes the tasty meat with her teeth, gently closing her lips around the fingers. "Mmmm..uh..thank you." The blonde murmurs as she chews, trying to quell her rapidly beating heart and breathing.
"Yo...you're ..uh..welcome," stammers the equally stunned Regina, as she can still feel those soft lips on her fingers. 'I need to stop this, but I don't want to stop.'
Both women continue to feed each other bits of their meal, neither realizing that they have yet to stop looking at each other.
A throat clears, and both blink and look up. "Are you all done sugar?" The server, is smiling at Regina.
"Oh, yes, thank you. It was all very delicious. Can we get a refill on the kaffee please?"
"Sure thing hot stuff!"
SMACK! Both Regina and the blonde look at Emma. "Okay, I have had enough of this." Pointing at the blonde server, Emma glares, "Can you not see we are together here? Besides HE is too old for you. You're a kid, don't you have to go play in a sand box or something?"
Glaring back at Emma, the blonde looks her up and down. "I rather play with him." Turning back to Regina, "You know, I would be a much better choice than...her...least you wouldn't have to pay me."
"Why I outta..!" Emma stands up, but Regina intercedes.
"Cut it out! Both of you!" Regina speaks in a low tone. "Miss, I am not interested. I am perfectly happy with my companion here. You can go now." The blonde turns in a huff, after gathering the dirty dishes. Turning to Emma, Regina lowers her voice. "You need to calm down! We don't need to draw attention to us."
"She started it! She thinks I am some damn hussy." Emma sits back down, crossing her arms, scowling.
"Yes and you have to remember she sees a different woman that I do. Just forget about her. We need to concentrate on our next move."
"What is this plan, and who is it we are waiting for that you couldn't tell me before."
"It's someone we both know, though you," Regina makes a disgusted face, "know more intimately."
Scrunching up her eyes, Emma thinks who this could be, then realizes, "Hook? We are waiting for Hook? First off, we are NOT intimate, and second why him?"
Regina shows a bit of surprise as she comments, "If he is in port, then I am hoping that Snow will try to seek passage on his ship. And what do you mean, you two always seem to be joined at the hip."
"It's not for his lack of trying. I'm just...well I like the attention but he really isn't what I am looking for..he was just a distraction..." Reaching for the water pitcher, Emma's throat, a bit dry from this topic of discussion, she pours a cup of water. As she does, Regina spies something on her left wrist.
'What is that?"
"Uh..a pitcher?"
"No idiot, that..on your wrist. Is that a tattoo?" Regina's eyes go a bit wide.
"Huh? Oh..yea..I keep forgetting about it. I normally have my leather bracelets on to cover it up."
"What is it, and when did you get it?"
"I was like 17, me and Neal were drunk, decided we get tattoos. When I woke up the next day, realized it was a crappy tattoo, so I started hiding it. I know I could get it removed, but now I guess I use it as a reminder of my old stupid youth." Emma shrugs as she looks around, a bit embarrassed.
"You're not."
"Not what?"
"Stupid. Far from it. Okay you're an idiot at times, but you are not stupid Emma." Regina gazes at those sea-green eyes, giving a small smile. "It's a flower, nicely done, so how is it so terrible?"
"It's suppose to be a daisy. I always loved daisies, even as a little girl." Emma points at the tattoo, "That is NOT a daisy..I have no clue what that is. Can we get back to the plan, and besides, me and Hook, we're not.."
Just then a loud, boisterous group comes through the door. It's Captain Hook and a few of his crewmen. As both women watch, they move toward a table, look at the occupants, who scramble away. The men sit, and quickly, two servers, one of them being the blonde, come with bottles of rum and some cups. One of Hook's men brings out some kind of dice game and they start playing and drinking.
Regina just looks up at the ceiling and rolls her eyes. "Typical Hook."
Emma quietly snickers, "Don't I know it," as she watches the women sit on either side of Hook.
"Now, we just let them drink for a bit, but the plan is we need to keep Hook distracted, while one of us goes and finds Snow, hopefully near The Jolly Roger. As much as I loath asking this, but you need to keep him occupied, drinking, while I go and find Snow, convince her to help us."
Emma stands up, removes her cloak, fusses with her corset, pulling it down a bit, pushes and jiggles, to accentuate her breasts more.
"Emma what are you doing!" Whispers Regina, blushing, as she stares at the newly exposed cleavage.
"I am going to keep him occupied, and we both know I am his type."
"You are NOT his type," crossing her arms, Regina glares at Hook for a second, then glances at Emma again. "You are so much better than him."
Emma stammers at the admission, "Uh...thanks. If I didn't know better, I think you were jealous. I got this, I have dealt with this Captain Hook before, the last time I was here, remember? How do you plan getting my mom to help us?"
"I am not jealous, and I am not sure yet, hopefully something will come to mind once I find her. Wish me luck." Regina gets up to move, as Emma heads over to Hook. She watches a few minutes as Emma leans over the table, putting her 'assets' in Hook's face, says something to the two women that makes them leave.
Shaking her head, and quelling the jealous rage inside, she turns just as the blonde teen comes up to her. "Ha...told ya that damn woman was a wh..." She stops as a finger points at her face.
"Do not say anything else!" Regina growls low, "That woman has more integrity in her little finger than you will ever have in your pathetic life." Then more to herself, "I just hope some day I can be worth her."
"Damn it Meg, get your ass in this kitchen before I tan yer hide girl!" A woman's voice yells from the back.
"Your mama is calling you, little girl, best you be running along." Regina drops a few coins on the table. "Thanks for the food." She turns and heads to the door, glancing back at Emma with Hook, a sad look on her face, then she is gone.
When Emma left Regina, she sidles up to Hook, juts her cleavage in his face. "Hey Captain, how about a new game to play?" She then looks at the two women. "SCRAM". Both women move off. Emma then moves around the table, and sits next to Hook. "So...how about a drinking game...say shots for every question answered truthfully, I want to hear all about your exploits." She winks at Hook. As Hook glares lustfully at the cleavage, Emma sees past him, watching Regina walking out the door, a sad, melancholy look on her face before she disappears. 'Wonder what has her so sad'.
===========SQ===========SQ==============SQ==========
Near the docks, a cloaked figure is walking along the road, occasionally peering around to make sure she isn't being followed or seen. She is headed for a ship, just a head, where several men are bustling around on deck. Just as she passes a stack of crates, she hears a noise, and is about to turn and run.
"Snow...Snow White," a whispered voice calls, "Please, don't run. I need your help." The woman stops, watching a man hidden in the shadow.
"Who are you? Do I know you?
Regina moves out of the shadows, giving a small, gentle smile. "I am a...friend, and we are acquainted in a way ."
Snow becomes alarmed, once more ready to flee.
Putting her hand on Snow's arm, she once more pleads. "I will not harm you, nor am I working for the Queen. I know you are trying to get away from this kingdom and her. I can help."
"Who..how do you know this?"
"I was near by when you were speaking to that pirate captain. Didn't mean to overhear, but I, well, me and my companion can use your skills."
"How do I know this isn't some trick, that you are luring me into a trap of some kind."
"We both have a mutual, lets just say, dislike for the Evil Queen." Regina lowers her voice, so as not to be overheard. "I know about how you were pretty much blamed for your father's death, that you were labeled a murderer, slapped with treason."
"Yea well anyone who can read wanted posters would know that." Still very suspicious, Snow glares at the man. "Where is this so called companion, laying in wait?"
"No...no..she is keeping the captain of that ship occupied while I tried to find you, and convince you to help us instead."
=======SQ=========SQ========
Back at the tavern, Hook is getting drunker by the minute, as Emma continues to play him.
"Say love, if I di...didn't know better, I'd think you...wer.. were trying to get me drunk." The inebriated pirate pointed with his cup, sloshing the contents all over the table.
"Why Captain, I thought all pirates could hold their liquor." Emma batted her eyes as she poured both of them another shot. As Hook slung back his, Emma slings hers over her shoulder, then quickly made it look like she had just gulp it.
"Oh..we can...can.., now how about...how about.. I take you back to my ship, and prove to you how much in...how much control I am." Hook waggles his eyebrows. Emma just internally groans.
"But I want to stay here, I'm not ready to go yet."
"Yes, well love, I am, lets take this bottle, and we will have a night cap in my quarters." Hook grabs the bottle, then Emma's arm, pulling her along.
========SQ==============SQ==============SQ=============
"Again, why should I help you at all."
"I have no love for the Queen." Regina starring solemnly into Snow's eyes, as old voices bounce around her head; 'Regina, we are family.' … 'I thought of you as an older sister' … 'He's our son', "She has hunted, terrorized..my..family, and friends for years. My own father was killed, because she needed something from him.
"I'm sorry, for your loss," Snow gently touches the man's arm, "go on, I am listening."
"We have a proposition for you, one that will mutually benefit us all. We need you to steal a ring. Tonight, there is a ball at King Midas, for the up coming marriage of his daughter to King George's son."
"Yes I know about it, what is so important about this ring."
"It once belonged to my companion's mother. Somehow it got into the hands of the King, and well she really like to have it back. It's very sentimental. It's in a bag that Prince Jame's has. It has other jewelry in it, we just want the ring. You can keep the rest and use that to buy you passage out of here."
"You could hire anyone to do that, why me?"
"I will help anyone that will thwart the Queen in anyway. If by helping you, her most hated enemy, to get a far away from her, then that is reason enough."
Just then, something catches Regina's eye behind Snow. 'Damn it Emma, that's not what I meant by keeping him occupied.' The brunette groans, causing Snow to turn her head. They both watch as Captain Hook, literally carries a woman onto his ship.
"What's going on."
"Well that is my companion, who apparently has failed to keep him away from his ship." Worry in her eyes, Regina ponders what she can do. "I need to find a way to get on that ship and rescue her."
Snow, seeing the anguish in the man's eyes as he watches helplessly, decides she will take a chance. For some reason, her gut feeling tells her to trust this man. "Okay, I will help you with that ring, and I will help you get your lady back."
"What...wait..she isn't...oh...never mind. Thank you, but what can you do?"
"Trust me, I will work out a distraction of my own. Go on, get ready to get on that ship."
Regina glances once more at the ship, then back at Snow, nodding her appreciation. Then she works her way toward the ship, staying behind crates and other stacked cargo. As she nears the gangplank, she peers toward where Snow was, seeing she now is gone.
"Damn it! Where did she..."
BOOOM! There is a loud explosion back behind a building, as flames start shooting out. The men on the ship scramble off, toward the cause of the explosion.
Seeing her opportunity, Regina, sneaks on board The Jolly Rodger, then heads for the steps down to the main quarters.
Meanwhile, down in the Captain's quarters, Hook is trying to kiss Emma, who keeps squirming out of his grasp.
"Now now..Captain, what fun is it if I just give myself to you. Half the fun is the chase you know."
"Well maybe so, but I am tired of chasing, I will have my fun with you now." Giving Emma a sneer, he lunges for her. But after drinking 3 bottles of rum, his balance is way off, and he misses. Just as he turns to grab on to his prize, a fist hits him. Emma has had enough, and puts a full fist in his face. As he swirls around, another fist cold cocks him again. This time he goes down.
Emma looks on, as her eyes go wide. "Regina? What the hell? I had it covered!" Laughs the blonde.
"I didn't like how he was trying to manhandle you." Regina shakes her hand, "Besides I have been wanting to do that for a long time. Damn that hurt, but sure as hell felt good also." She peers at Emma, "I just don't understand why you are with him, you are so much better than him."
"We...I am not with him. I ended it."
"What? When was this?" Glancing around, still holding her hand Regina looks down at Hook one more time, making sure he is still out. "We need to get out of here, now. Come along."
"I ended it with him the morning of the potluck." Taking the brunette's hand, Emma looks at it, "how is your hand?"
"We can worry about my hand later, let's go." Not letting Emma's hand go, leading the way, Regina goes up the steps, then stops and looks around the corner. The crewmen are still standing around the fire, pointing and shoving each other. "Keep quiet and stay right behind me."
"You got it."
Both women quietly, but quickly sneak off the ship. As they move back behind some crates, they turn to head off the opposite direction as the fire. Just before they do, Regina glances back, sees Snow in the shadows, watching them. She nods her head, which Snow returns. Emma looks at what Regina nodding at, and a smile forms as she gazes on her mother's face. Snow gives Emma a quizzical look, then turns and heads off.
"Come on, lets get out of here. We have a castle to storm."
A/N: Next chapter will be another fun one to do, as we will have the Ball scene :)