Author's note: Another expanded SQ1T ficlet. This one is aboard the Jolly Roger, a moment between Emma and Regina. To say more would give it away I think. Oh, I do think maybe a box of tissues should be close at hand.

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Unintentional Desire

by LZClotho

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Emma looked up from the bunk, anxious as the door started to swing inward. Regina had been gone a long time. In the low lighting of the cabin it took a moment for Emma's eyes to adjust, to see what was there. But when she did, she felt her stomach tighten.

The brunette's expression when it appeared around the edge of the door was neutral, painfully so, like she was trying to hold something back. "Regina? What's wrong?"

Without saying anything, Regina lay down with her hands over her stomach.

"Something's changed. You walked out of here pretty quickly this morning. I thought, after last night..."

"Nothing's happened. Nothing's... changed. I was... seasick."

"We've been on this damn boat for three weeks. You haven't been seasick once before this morning." Emma thought some more. She'd been feeling crampy herself. "Period?"

"No, Emma... just... No." Regina turned over, still resting her hand over her belly. Emma rolled over.

Despite Regina's attempt to edge away, Emma resolutely put her arm over the other woman, cupping the woman's hand against her belly. Something else occurred to her. Timidly she asked, "Are you pregnant?"

The silence seemed to go on forever. Regina's breathing was harsh but gradually deepened and slowed. Emma held herself tense, waiting and watching for ... She didn't know, but it felt like she needed to be ready. To catch something precious, prevent it falling, shattering. There was the tiniest intake of air through crimson lips, and Emma's throat tightened.

"No." Regina's tone was dead, and her voice barely audible.

Emma tenderly squeezed the body in her arms. She whispered back just as softly, a little afraid of the answer, but wanting, needing to connect with Regina right now. Their joint magic use had connected their emotions so she didn't question it. "Were you.. were you hoping to be?"

Emma saw the shine increase in brown eyes before lashes shut, attempting to hide weakness from sight.

Yes." Regina's voice broke at the end of the word, such a tiny word spoken so faintly it was barely breath on the air between them.

Emma buried her face in the back of Regina's neck, lips brushing against the silk of hair and skin. She held on tightly while Regina's body shook with the force of her sobs.

Face dripping with tears, Emma hadn't even been aware she wanted something like that until it wasn't. Stroking Regina's hair, she brushed her lips against a warm wet cheek, tasting the salt, letting her own tears mingle with Regina's.

"I know... nothing with... us is ever... simple. But, we can... work on us... on this. Intentionally. If..." Emma paused as Regina moved in her arms. The brunette rolled onto her back and looked up into Emma's eyes. A shaking hand lifted to Emma's cheek. "If you...want to, I mean," Emma finished quietly.

A thumb lightly caressed her cheekbone and eyes shed tears to allow Emma a glimpse of the cracked soul in need of healing inside.

Continuing to stroke Regina's hair, Emma lowered her mouth to lightly caress lips still pressed together with tension. A smile blossomed slowly, like petals welcoming the morning sun. Emma deepened their connection and Regina opened fully to welcome her inside.

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A/N: I hope you enjoyed this fic. I did think about not posting it because of recent events. But perhaps it can be catharsis and metaphor for SWEN.