I have been so addicted to writing this and wanted to get some stuff out before I had to focus on a bunch of finals! Let me know what you think, and I have some ideas about where I want to go, if you're interested in possibly beta-ing something for me, let me know!

"So, Gold, tell me what you can do about healing my father." Gold looked up at Emma's interruption and smiled a dark smile.

"Anything I have would be in my shop, dearie, and he's die before we make it back. If the pirate is to be believed, the moment your father leaves the island is the moment the poison comes back."

"Say we can figure out how to get him there alive, could you save him?"

"What are you willing to pay, dearie?"

"Nothing. You'll do it free," Neal interjected.

"Ok, yes," Gold said after a moment of silence. "I have something I believe may work."

"Charming, we may be able to get more of the water for the journey, you'll still be tied to the island and it's magic, but once we got back to Storybrooke, maybe the effects will wear off," Hook added, standing with the group. "I can't guarantee it'll work, but we could give it a try."

Snow looked at Gold. "Thank you," she said. He responded with a not unkind smile. Snow then looked at Emma, "can we talk?"

"Yeah, let's uh, sit over here," Emma answered, gesturing to a fallen log on the edge of the clearing.

"Why did you need to be alone with your father?"

"I thought it was goodbye. Ready or not, when I get Henry in my arms, we're leaving. No matter who gets left behind."

"Oh. I understand."

"And I figured you'd be by my side and ready to go. I didn't figure you'd plan something as ridiculous as staying."

"Emma, he's my true love."

"Yeah, true love trumps kid. Got it. Doesn't matter, all I care about is Henry."

"Emma, don't be mad."

"How can I not be mad? You tell him you want a do-over on a child, so you can raise your kid to be who you want it to be, to be the prince or princess that you wanted. Then we just found each other and you're going to leave me, again. How am I supposed to feel?"

"Emma, I … I'm sorry. I love you."

"Clearly," Emma spat, her voice louder than she intended. The entire group was staring at them. Snow stuttered and Emma stood. "I'm going to go wait for Ariel to get back. Regina, Hook, Gold, are you guys with me?"

"Emma," Neal started. Emma shook her head.

"I think I'll stay here, dearie," Gold said.

"Then I suppose we should go, someone with reliable magic should be there in case the mermaid shows up," Regina said, reaching for Hook's arm.

"We, darling? Last time I tried to sleep around you, I don't recall either of us doing much sleeping," Hook joked.

"Funny, Killian," Regina snarled.

"Anyway, shouldn't Charming and I go get the water?"

"You'd rather spend time with Charming than me?"

"Not rather, but I feel it is necessary that we get this taken care of. Henry will be disappointed if his grandpa can't go home."

"Ok, find. Enjoy missing me, dear."

"Oh, darling, you have no idea."

"I'm coming, too," Snow said, standing and walking to the two men.

"Emma, can I come with you?" Neal asked.

"No, Neal, why don't you stay here and make amends, or something," Emma responded, looking pointedly at Gold. "I need him to actually be trying to help and if he thinks you want nothing to do with him, then he probably won't be trying as hard."

"Emma, he's my son, too," Neal said.

"No! No, he is our son! He is my son, and he is Emma's son, but he is not your son," Regina yelled, stepping closer to Neal, lifting her chin to show dominance. Emma couldn't recall exactly how many times Regina had used that same move on her, and it had always made the blonde wonder what made such a woman so tough. As petite as Regina's frame is, she knows how to use it to dominate an atmosphere, easily. Emma felt relief that this was one time when the darker woman's anger was not directed at her.

"He's my son, too! He wants me, too," Neal yelled back.

"But if he had to choose who could be there, it would be Emma and me. So sit back down and waste your time learning how to be a son, then maybe you can be a father." Regina turned around and stormed off, Emma looked at Neal almost apologetically, then followed the brunette.

Almost caught up to her, Emma called out Regina's name. She saw the blue blazer of the other woman and slowed her pace. Regina stopped and waited for Emma to finish catching up.

"Come one, R, relax," Emma said, after she caught up with Regina. The brunette's face scrunched in distaste when she heard the shortening of her name.

"'R'?"

"I didn't think you'd appreciate it if I called you Gina." At the blonde's words, Regina glared disapprovingly.

"No. And what's wrong with calling me by Regina?"

"It's a lot of syllables?"

"It's only one more than yours."

"But that's so much longer."

"Whatever you say, dear."

"See? You call me 'dear' and that's less syllables than Emma."

"It's a term of endearment."

"Lie! You call everyone 'dear'."

"Ok, savior."

"Nope. I don't want to be the savior to you. I want to be Emma."

"You are Emma, darling."

"I like darling, babe."

"Babe? Absolutely not." Emma chuckled at Regina's rejection.

"I'll come up with something."

Regina hued and raised an eyebrow at Emma before linking her pinky with the blonde's and then women continued through the jungle.

"Emma?"

"Yes, Regina?" Emma responded, emphasizing each syllable, eliciting an eye roll from Regina.

"You told Charming?"

"Yes."

"And what did he say?"

"He was shocked and maybe unhappy, a little bit."

"A little bit unhappy, right. I'll believe that when Charming learns how to grow brain cells by magic, which he could use."

"Regina," Emma groaned. "Please, don't do that around them, ok. Sometimes I don't mind you doing it around me, because I know it's easier to be nice to them when you can make your snarky comments to someone else, but I really am trying to get to know them, as my parents."

"Yes, dear."

"Are we there yet?"

"I believe we are just about there, yes. And also, your parents will always hate me, dear."

"I know. Well, maybe not David. It'll be nice, I guess, that he knows, when I tell my… my mom."

"Why is that?"

"Because even though he was always on her side because he loved her, it was never his fight. I'm hoping that means that that combined with the fact that he's a guy, may make it easier for him to like you. If he likes you, it may be easier for her to accept."

"You're being far too optimistic. I don't think she'll ever be ok with you and me together, dear."

The women came into the clearing of the beach and Emma looked around. They were alone, not that she expected anything else. She glanced over by their tree and saw that the two blankets were still there.

"Regina! You left our blankets?"

"Well, my dear, I knew I'd be back even if you weren't."

"Are you tired, my beautiful?"

"That's five syllables, dear."

"Oh, shut up, Regina," Emma said, laughing.

"I'm not tired at all. I'm physically exhausted but I don't think I could sleep even if I wanted to. I'm hoping Ariel is here soon and we can go. I just need to feel Henry in my arms, soon."

"I'm right there with you. I hate this idling. I hate so much that I can't just march in and get him."

"Emma, dear, did I ever tell you about when Henry got the chicken pox?"

Emma chuckled. "No, would you?"

Regina nodded and pulled Emma over to sit on the blankets by the tree.

"He was 7 years old, I don't even know how it happened, and it must have been because of Maine, because I never knew of chicken pox. Or maybe it was just because I was privileged. Anyway, I obviously had never had them so after treating him the first two days and cutting his nails so short he could not scratch, I woke up with them. Henry, by this time was almost better, at least, he wasn't nearly as scratchy and his fever was gone. He wanted to take care of me. He wasn't allowed to use the oven or stove but he wanted to make me dinner. Well, he made me a salad."

"Aww, Regina you raised such a cute kid."

"Oh, just you wait," Regina continued, smiling, small tears in her eyes. "So he comes up to my room with a bed tray in his tiny, little hands and is so excited that he made me a good, healthy meal. He ripped apart some leftover chicken breasts, put shredded cheese on it, he even remembered to put croutons on it. It was a beautiful salad."

"Where's the punch line? I can tell in your face that there's something you're holding back."

"I'm trying to create suspense, my darling."

"Ok," Emma said, allowing a pause, then continuing. "Well, what is it?"

"So impatient, dear. Ok, I took a bite and of course, it isn't lettuce at all. He had used cabbage for my salad. But he didn't know the difference because I usually only kept cabbage when he was sick and I would make him stew."

Emma laughed a loud, hearty laugh. Regina joined in and the women soon had tears falling down their cheeks from their shared joy.

"So, did you eat it?" Emma asked, after recovering.

"Of course I did. I ate every last bite, and told him it was the best salad I ever had. Because it was, he was so cute and loving and I appreciated his care."

Both women had sobered from their laughter and sat smiling at each other. Emma felt her heart swell with love and happiness for this woman that raised their son to be so sweet.

"Regina, you're such a good mom. Thank you so much for being good to him."

"You're forgetting all the lying."

"Forgiving, that's a beautiful difference."

"I certainly don't deserve you, dear."

"Everyone deserves happiness, and we just happen to be each other's."

"You're more than I could have even imagined to ask for."

"Tell me more, about Henry as a kid, tell me everything."

"Until you came to town and he started leaving early to sneak off and see you, he was impossible to wake up in the morning. When he was really small, I'd pick him up out of bed and set him on the bathroom floor, water already running for his shower or he would never get up."

Emma smiled, picturing it. "Was he a good baby?"

"He was so good, perfect. He slept, a lot. I had a nanny for a while, then daycare until he was in school. Everyone always told me how good he was as a baby. I don't think I could have wished for a better one."

"Did you always really want children?"

"I did. Actually, I just wanted a family. I wanted to love people and have them love me in return. You're giving me that."

"What about more children? Did you ever want more than one?"

"Yes, I always wanted more. But, there is only so much even I can handle."

"What about in the future?" Emma asked the question slowly, looking away from Regina, not really embarrassed, but uncertain.

"You mean to ask, would I like to have more children, a bigger family?"

Emma nodded, she could feel her cheeks burning and knew Regina would be able to see the redness on them.

"Would you?" Regina countered.

"I don't know," Emma paused. "Yes, I think so. I mean, if Henry was ok with it. I want you and Henry and me to be a family. And I want a big, loving family. You're an amazing mom and I'd love to learn from you."

"Who would carry? Or would we adopt?"

"You could, if you wanted. Or I could, or we both could! Or we could adopt, or we could do it all!"

Regina chuckled at Emma's excitement. "Well, how many more do you want, dear?"

"Three. We could each carry one and we could adopt one. Then we'd be a nice, big family of six."

"We'd have to find a good donor."

"We could search and search until we find a perfect one."

"Can I ask your opinion on something, Emma?"

"Of course."

"I want to use magic with Rumplestiltskin, and you, maybe the Blue Fairy, too. I want to figure out a way to let us leave Storybrooke without anything happening."

"You don't want to live there?"

"I do. I just don't want out future children, or any of Storybrooke's children to be forced to stay, if they want to go to college or go find non-magical lives elsewhere."

Emma stared at the brunette in shock. She couldn't put her words together to make a sentence. She knew her jaw had dropped and she probably looked stupid, but she was shocked.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"No. No, it's incredible. That's a brilliant idea. I knew you were changing, but this is so selfless, Regina." Emma was grinning like a schoolgirl, and leaned in, pressing her lips to her loves. "Do you think it's possible for your heart to lose its blackness?"

"I've been thinking about that a lot, actually. I think, maybe. I did not believe so before, well, before you. But now, I feel lighter, not as dark. There's only one way to be sure, but I'm not certain we should try it."

"Taking out your heart."

"Yes."

"Can you take out your own heart?"

"Sure. Do you want me to?"

"No. I…I can feel the change in you. I don't need to see it on your heart."

"I would show you, if you wanted. I trust you, even after such a short time, I trust you."

"You've taken out your own heart before?"

"On this island, even. I let Tink hold it, told her to crush it, or to help us."

"What if she had crushed it?! Regina! Don't you ever do something that stupid ever again!"

"I knew she wouldn't hurt me, she doesn't have enough darkness to kill."

"So, let's make a deal though, I won't be careless with my heart, because now it's yours and you won't be careless with yours. Can we agree?"

"I will do anything I can to please you, dear."

"Hmm, anything?"

"I guess it depends on what your next request is." Regina smiled, teasing Emma. Making the blonde curious was one of her new favorite things to do.

"Oh, y'know, not much, I'd like eternal servitude from the gorgeous mother of my son, homemade pancakes whenever I want them, bear claws daily, grilled cheese and fries for days."

Regina playfully rolled her eyes. "I have no idea how you maintain such an attractive figure."

"Exercise. And as I intend to have extra physical activity when we get back, I'll be eating all the junk food I've missed."

"Extra physical activity, you say? And where will I be during all of this extra physical activity?"

Emma leaned in toward Regina and put her lips to the brunette's ear and whispered. "On top, on bottom, on your knees, in front of me on my knees, I can go on."

Regina felt her body warm down to her core and turned her face to capture Emma's lips with her own. She pulled the blonde flush against her, putting her hands on Emma's waist and gripping her while she leaned herself against the tree. Emma parted her lips and slid her tongue against Regina's bottom lip, which opened immediately for her. The two kissed hard and passionately, roaming each other's bodies with their hands. Emma released Regina's lips and kissed her cheek down her strong jawline. She moved her lips down her neck and pressed her tongue into the brunette's pulse point. She had one hand on a breast and the other tangled in dark hair while supporting Regina's head. She bit Regina's collarbone, causing a moan to emit from full lips.

"Ariel," Regina breathed. "Emma, we have to stop, what if Ariel comes?"

"Just conceal us, we have time for this, I'll be quick, sort of."

Emma kissed her way down Regina's body and the brunette waved her hand to conceal them. The blonde, when she got to Regina's pants, wrapped her hands over the band above the voluptuous ass of the other woman and pulled them all the way down to the top of Regina's boots. She settled herself between the brunette's knees, on one elbow and her shins, she placed her mouth over Regina's clitoris breathing hot air onto it for a full minute before touching it without her tongue, causing Regina's hips to buck in response. Emma slid one finger, then two into the warmth of the brunette. She pumped her hand with the pulse she heard in her own ears while sucking and flicking the bud with her tongue. It didn't take long before the brunette's hips were bucking in motion with the blonde, her hands tangled in blonde locks, keeping the warm mouth against her. Only a short time passed before Emma felt Regina's body tense around her fingers and underneath her and then slowly release, calming down and relaxing beneath her.

"Oh, Emma," Regina breathed. Emma looked up into the face of the woman she loved. The red lipstick was smeared around full lips, lips that were swollen further from the force of kissing. Even in being disheveled she looked perfect. Emma pulled Regina's pants up and righted them.

"You're so perfect, my love."

"Two syllables."

"You're absolutely correct."

"You are quite adorable, my Emma."

Emma laid down next to Regina and sighed contentedly. She couldn't imagine going back to a point in time before she discovered her feelings for Henry's mom. Regina waved a hand and her face and self were righted. The two women laid there, Regina on her back, hands folded on her stomach and her ankles crossed, like a perfect lady. Emma turned over onto her stomach, propped herself up on her elbows and her feet were swaying back and forth in the air.

"You're quite enjoyable, Emma."

"I like it, with you. Sex has almost always been just a means to an end, before. With you, I can just enjoy you."

"Same for me, darling. I've never had someone just want to please me without anything in return."

"Well, I could do it everyday for the rest of my life."

Regina looked like she was about to respond when the women heard a splash in the water. Regina sat up quickly and Emma shoved herself up so she was standing, and the women looked into the water.