LOVE IS STRENGTH

Chapter 2

Disclaimer: Once Upon a Time, Regina Mills, Captain Hook, and everyone else appearing in this story belong to Disney, ABC, Adam Horowitz and Eddy Kitsis. Sadly I don't own Lana Parrilla or Colin O'Donoghue either.

Thank you to everyone who has read/reviewed so far. Don't forget to write me another one after reading this chapter. :)

Neverland Falls

They had set up camp in a cave behind a waterfall, which emptied into a lake. The forest was lush and green, and the water in the lake was so clear you could see the bottom. They would be safe here, Hook had said. Mermaids avoided waterfalls, and therefore this lake. The Lost Ones kept to the other side of the island. The Natives were really the only threat, but they had more important things to worry about, like defending their people from Peter Pan. And they were only violent if provoked.

Snow White and her prince started a fire, and the Dark One conjured food. Emma Swan sat beside her parents, and Hook sat at the cave opening, keeping watch.

Emma suddenly noticed the absence of one person in their party. Regina. She was worried about the former queen. She hoped Regina hadn't done anything rash and gone out to search for Henry by herself. She'd been heroic enough lately, and Emma honestly thought she deserved a break. Regina had used all her strength to stop the diamond, and she'd just been tortured.

Emma found Hook sitting on a boulder beside the falls. The light mist sprayed him, and it felt so good in this Neverland rainforest heat.

"Hey, Hook, have you seen –?"

Hook was watching her again. Regina hadn't said a word as she exited the cave, climbed down the rocks to the shoreline, pulled off her boots, stockings, heavy black coat, and blouse. She wore only her black satin camisole and pencil skirt now. The queen sat on the shore, and dipped her bare feet in the lake. Hook was mesmerized by her smooth ivory legs dangling in the water, and his gaze moved up and he took in the curve of her hips and up to her back. He was grateful that the camisole was tight, so he could appreciate her every curve.

Regina sighed and pulled her hair off her neck to cool off, then let it fall again.

"Never mind," Emma said.

"What was that?" Hook asked, pulled out of his daydream. "Oh, hello, Swan. Did you need something?"

"No, I just hadn't seen Regina in a while and I didn't realize she was out here."

Hook nodded and stared out after Regina again. The queen was staring down at the rippling water and hadn't noticed anyone watching her.

"Aren't there mermaids in Neverland?" Emma asked.

"Yes, but she's not in any danger here. Mermaids don't like this lake," Hook said. Emma nodded. "I wouldn't let anyone or anything hurt her."

Emma smiled; Hook was so protective of Regina somehow. He really could be a gentleman sometimes. "Are you in love with her?"

"I don't see how that's any of your business, Swan."

"Um, okay then. I was just asking," Emma said. "But for the record, I think she's lonely…and she deserves to be loved."

"We all deserve love, Swan," he replied, still staring off at the queen by the lake's edge. She was so beautiful, so vulnerable, especially out here. He was in love with her, but he knew Regina would never give him that chance. Hook sighed sadly.

"You do love her," Emma said. "Or else why would you keep staring at her?"

"Neverland is a dangerous realm, Swan."

"Uh-huh," Emma wasn't convinced. "I'm pretty sure Madam Mayor can take care of herself, even without magic."

"And she's beautiful."

"You should tell her how you feel," Emma said, and she turned and left before he could respond.

Hook smiled to himself. Maybe the Swan was right. He went down to the shoreline and sat next to her. Just being so close to her made him nervous, afraid he couldn't breathe. He gulped. "I'm sorry Neverland doesn't have the climate you're used to, my lady."

"Maine is too cold for my taste," Regina said. "But yes, Neverland is much too hot."

He smiled at her. "You get used to it, I suppose."

She nodded. "Well, I hope we don't have to stay here too long. I just want to find Henry and go home."

"We will find him, my lady," he said. "But getting you home will be more of a challenge. We will need a portal or magic beans or something." He thought about something Greg and Tamara had said. "Although I'm not sure if Storybrooke is safe for our kind, with Greg and Tamara's group closing in and hunting magic. And…I'm sorry for what they did to you. If I'd known…"

She nodded. "And I'm sorry for pushing you off a cliff."

Hook shrugged. "I was in no danger, Your Majesty." She laughed. Her smile lit up her whole face, and made her eyes sparkle. He felt his heart do a few flips. Her smile and her laugh made her even more beautiful. "I guess we're even then, my lady."

"I suppose so, yes."

"But…I meant what I said that day – about having nothing to live for if we complete these quests for revenge."

"The only quest I'm on is to get my son back safely," Regina said. "I give up the revenge path. It didn't get me anything anyway – except more emptiness and more pain."

"Don't worry, we'll get him back," Hook said, offering a smile.
"And Greg and Tamara will pay," Regina added.

"I'll take Tamara for shooting Baelfire. You take Greg for what he did to you."

"Deal," she said. "And then no more revenge. I don't want to be the Evil Queen." She sighed. She didn't know who or what she would be if she wasn't the Evil Queen. It had been so long since she was anyone or anything else. "But then, who will I be?"

"Just Regina. Former queen, former mayor." He reached over and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, and stroked her cheek. She flinched, but then relaxed. His touch was gentle, sweet, kind. Pirate's wife, he thought. That was his dream. Her skin was as soft and as perfect as he imagined. "You are so beautiful," he finally said aloud, and leaned in closer. Their lips were only inches apart, and Regina closed her eyes. She could feel what was about to happen. This handsome pirate was about to kiss her! Her breath caught in her throat in anticipation. Hook cupped her chin gently in his good hand and drew her closer. And then he pressed his lips to hers. The kiss was gentle and sweet, and she placed her hands on his cheeks, and returned the kiss. Her lips were as full and soft as he thought they would be. If there had ever been any doubt, all of it was gone. Killian Jones was so completely in love with this beautiful, poor, sweet, heartbroken queen.

The need for air broke them apart, but this time it was Regina that leaned in for more. The passion increased as they moved their lips together. She was so perfect…

"I love you, Regina," he murmured. "I know it's so soon and it's our first kiss but…"She silenced him with another kiss. "I can't help what I feel," he continued. "I want you to be what I'm living for. I want to make you happy again. And I will help you, I'll do anything I can, to get your boy back. I'll do anything for you." He kissed her again.

"But I…don't deserve this; I don't deserve you," Regina said, pulling back. The kiss had been wonderful but, she was so conflicted now.

"Oh, my lady, I think you do. You've – we've – lost so much. Isn't it time we start over, and love again?"

Daniel's words – "Then love again." – echoed in her memory. "Daniel would want me to be happy," she said.

"I think he would," he said, leaning in for another kiss. "Give me a chance…please."

Regina nodded and gave a small smile, and her eyes welled up with happy tears. She felt happier instantly. Someone finally loved her, and she knew Hook was someone who could see past all the horrible things she'd done, just has she could see past his. But she also felt guilty. She shouldn't be falling in love in Neverland. She was here to find Henry. And even though Daniel gave his blessing to love again, she was afraid to open her heart, and afraid of being hurt again. What if he left her, or if something happened to one of them? What if she fell deeply in love and she lost him again? She wasn't sure her heart could take even more loss. And what if something happened to Henry? She'd never forgive herself if something happened and she lost him while developing this love for Hook. She knew she shouldn't have any kind of distractions now.

But, on the other hand, Hook promised to be there for her, to love her and live for her. He'd begged her for a chance, so perhaps…just maybe, she should trust her heart again. So Regina gave in to her attraction and developing feelings, nodded, and kissed him once more. She sighed and leaned her head on his shoulder. "We should go back to the camp before they wonder where we've gone. Or suspect something."

He smiled, wrapping his arm around her waist. "Swan came out looking for you before I came over here. So she knows where we are."

She looked up at him. "What did she want?"

"I think she just wanted to make sure we stick together and that nothing had happened to you."

'That's considerate of her," Regina said.

"She also suspects my feelings for you," Hook said. "I told her it was none of her business."

Regina laughed to herself. "It's going to be interesting to explain this to Miss Swan and her parents."

"What's there to explain, my lady? I love you, simple as that."

"And I love you, I think."

"And everyone deserves a happily ever after."

Regina smiled sadly. "Daniel did tell me to love again."

"And I'm sure Milah wants me to be happy," Hook smiled. "They'll figure it out when we lay down to sleep tonight, and I wrap you in my arms."

Regina's cheeks flushed pink. It had been so long…since Graham…since anyone had held her. The thought of falling asleep in Hook's arms sounded…nice.

A Night in Neverland

After the group sat down for dinner in the cave, they waited for the fire to die down before pulling out their pillows, blankets, and sleeping pads. Hook put his bed right against Regina's and laid next to her, wrapping his arms around her waist. He was always careful with his hook.

"Goodnight, love," he whispered and kissed her cheek.

She smiled and snuggled into him. "Goodnight."

Emma's jaw dropped and she looked over in shock to Snow White and Charming. Snow shook her head to not make any kind of comment. Rumple rolled his eyes and turned to face the cave wall.

Regina smiled. That went better than she thought it would. She admitted she liked feeling protected and taken care of. Love wasn't weakness, as her mother always made her believe. She felt stronger knowing Henry loved her and with Hook…Killian…nearby now. Maybe love was strength?

Author's Note: Well, what did you think? What happens next? The Rescue Mission! Stay tuned. :)