A/N: Happy Once Day/Sunday! I know we're going to have to brace ourselves for the inevitable Captain Swan, but I honestly don't think it's going to turn into that big a deal. But it still hurts, I know. So...here's the latest. WARNING: I do mention some stuff that have already established on the show, but I think most of my chapters will stray from the show from here on out with maybe a couple exceptions.
Anyway, enjoy!
"Don't use magic," Tinkerbell strictly warned the group as she led them through the jungle.
Regina followed Tinkerbell with Emma behind her. The Charmings walked behind their daughter, Charming's arm around Snow's waist to help her through her pain, and Hook at the end of their line of misfit heroes.
"You still haven't told us where we're going," Emma spoke before Regina let go of a branch and giant leaf hit her in the face.
Emma glared at the back of Regina's head as she pushed the leaf out of her way and the group continued through the jungle.
"We're leaving the protection of the caves," Tinkerbell replied. "We need a mermaid."
"Oh, no. Not with the underwater creatures again," Emma refused to accept Tinkerbell's solution. "I'd be happy never to see The Little Mermaid again."
Regina apologetically looked back at Emma and reached out for the blonde's free hand, Emma's right hand already gripped around Neal's sword.
Emma looked down at Regina's extended hand and took it after a hesitant moment.
"The mermaids aren't kind," Tinkerbell started. "But there are a few that remain hidden and out of the way of the bandits."
"The bandits," Snow asked, though she sounded tired and a little winded.
"Several of the mermaids revolted after King Triton's demise," Tinkerbell explained. "They banded together when Ursula took over and helped keep humans away from controlling the sea. It's another reason Ursula kept Ariel from marrying Prince Eric. The union would have meant the people from Prince Eric's kingdom would own the sea, which, of course means the mermaids."
"You know a lot about this," Emma said.
"Yes, well, after my time in the Enchanted Forest," Tinkerbell started as she continued to lead them through the jungle. "I came back to Neverland. I didn't have anywhere else to go."
"That's when I used a protection spell on the area around the caves. She opened a portal to Neverland and kept it open long enough for me to use my magic then leave," Regina added.
"I've been here many years," Tinkerbell spoke again. "I haven't left since the day Regina protected the caves so I've seen a lot of terrible things happen here. Believe it or not, Peter Pan was once just a sad little boy who'd created this land to escape his hopeless childhood. Know that I've watched him change into the monster he is today."
"Okay. Pan wasn't always evil, but he is now. There's a large number of angry mermaids that hate us and now we're going to find one of them to help us," Emma ran through the facts.
"Your deduction skills amaze me, Miss Swan," Regina dryly stated.
"Really? We're back to 'Miss Swan' now," Emma asked.
"When did she ever call you anything else," Charming questioned.
"Uh... Let's just worry about getting Mary Margaret help," Emma stopped trying to explain herself before she even began.
Charming frowned and looked over at the blonde.
"You're back to calling me Mary Margaret," Snow asked, deflated.
"What happened to Mom and Dad," Charming asked before his eyes fell toward the ground and accidentally caught sight of Emma and Regina's joined hands.
Charming narrowed his eyes at their hands and silently questioned the oddly affectionate gesture between them.
"I just...no one's really in danger, right? I don't..." Emma trailed off.
"Right," Snow started. "The only times you've ever called us that was if the situation was life or death."
"I'm sorry," Emma said as her eyes went from Snow to Charming.
"No, it's okay," Snow calmly assured Emma. "You're still not ready for all this family stuff. I get it."
"Well, I sure as hell don't," Charming boldly said.
Emma apologetically looked at Snow once again and subconsciously squeezed Regina's hand.
Regina looked back at Emma and saw her attention was set on her sad parents. She laced her fingers with Emma's and squeezed her hand back.
Emma turned to look at Regina when she felt the other woman squeeze her hand. She only saw the back of Regina's head, but faintly smiled anyway despite how the brunette might have looked.
"How much farther until we find the mermaid," Regina briskly asked and kept her eyes forward.
"It won't take much longer. There's a shoreline we can access just beyond those trees," the pixie pointed at the trees she'd referred to.
"Once we get there, how will we find the mermaid," Charming asked.
"We'll have to call for her," Tinkerbell replied.
"And how will we do that," Regina asked.
Tinkerbell slowed down and reached into the small pocket of her short, green dress. She retrieved a sea shell and a vile of what appeared to be a dull gray dust, seemingly not enchanted.
"With this," Tinkerbell answered and gently waved around the sea shell for the group to see.
"Non-mermaids can call for mermaids," Charming asked as they approached a clearing.
"Yes, although it requires a bit more effort than it would a mermaid."
"You're not about to use magic, are we," Regina asked. "After you just told us not to to?"
"Of course not," Tinkerbell came to a stop once she pushed past a few bushes and walked into the clearing. "Not everything requires magic."
Regina stood face to face with Tinkerbell, Emma at her side with their hands still joined.
Tinkerbell spoke directly to Regina when she mentioned magic and her tight, less than amused tone expressed her momentary disdain for the brunette.
Regina almost growled as she glared at Tinkerbell.
Emma hissed and let go of Regina's hand. She shook her own hand around as though she'd been burned, which she almost had been.
"Easy, Regina," Emma exclaimed, her face scrunched up in pain. "No magic, remember? I'd also really like to avoid burn marks whether or not we can use magic."
Regina looked down at the hand that previously held Emma's and saw its redness as well as the small flame that threatened to flare into a fireball. She sighed as she closed her fist and made the flame diminish.
"I'm sorry," she quietly apologized as she looked up at Emma.
"We're close, but there's still a bit of a ways to go," Tinkerbell interrupted whatever moment Emma and Regina had tried to have.
"Well, I'm not wasting anymore time," Charming said and pushed his way into the clearing with the women, Snow still at his side as he continued to help her walk. "I don't care how far away the mermaid is. I'm not losing Snow while we're camping out. We've gotten plenty of rest. Let's get moving."
"Um, there's also kind of the problem of Henry," Emma interjected.
"Right," Charming sadly looked down.
"We should split up," Hook suggested.
"But without Jack's compass, how are we supposed to find him," Regina asked.
"I told you that thing wasn't any good," Emma said. "There's got to be another way."
"The only thing I can think of is a locator spell," Regina replied.
"No, no magic. I don't want Pan to find us," Emma firmly said.
"I know, but...there is no other way," Regina flailed her hands in frustration.
There was a moment of silence between the group, awkward and upsetting. After a moment, Tinkerbell broke it.
"If we don't split up," Tinkerbell started. "Then we can ask the mermaid for help."
"I thought you said most of them weren't very friendly," Snow said.
"Bargaining chips," Tinkerbell said. "We can offer her something in return."
"What could we possibly offer a mermaid," Emma asked. "We barely have enough weapons and knowledge to protect ourselves and half of us don't know our way around this island!"
"We've still got time to think about it," Tinkerbell calmly said.
Emma sighed and walked away from the group. She ran a hand through her hair and paced in a circle. When she made a full three hundred-sixty degree turn, she kicked the dirt under her feet and tried not scream.
Everyone looked at Emma and just stared as they waited to see what she would do next.
Charming almost growled, however. He did not look pleased.
"Emma, we have to do something. You can't just pace around and cry and whine like a kid that isn't getting her way," Charming told her.
Regina turned to Charming and dropped her jaw at what she'd heard. Her shocked expression turned into one of rage, but she didn't get to defend Emma before the blonde spoke up for herself.
"I'm thinking! Okay? I don't know about you, but I've got parents and a son to think about. If you guys had just been more careful then I wouldn't have to chose between you guys and Henry. But...if you're going to be mean and try to bully me into making a decision, let me tell you that I wouldn't pick you," Emma yelled as she approached them with a finger pointed at Charming then lowered her tone into a growl. "My son is the only thing that matters out here. He may be smart and know how to put up a good front like Regina, but he's still just a kid. You and Mary Margaret are adults. I shouldn't have to be looking over my shoulder wondering if you two are okay."
Charming opened his mouth to say something, but Snow patted his shoulder. When she had his attention, she shook her head with a sadness in her pleading eyes.
"That's the difference between you and me," Emma said, softer that time. "I pick my kid. I wish I'd done that the first time around, but knowing what I know now, if I could go back, I wouldn't change a thing. Henry was better off without me at the time, but now? I'm not leaving him. I'm in this. One hundred percent. So if splitting up is what's best for Henry, I'll do it."
Snow looked completely heartbroken at Emma's words.
Regina proudly grinned and took a moment to enjoy the suffering Snow seemed to be in. Sure, she'd healed Snow twice during their time in Neverland, but that didn't mean she and the younger brunette had made amends. They still had a long way to go as far as Regina was concerned. So she reveled in the moment then spoke up.
"We don't have anything to offer this mermaid so we should split up."
"With no way of finding Henry," Tinkerbell asked. "I actually don't think splitting up is the solution."
Emma furrowed her brows and appeared lost in thought. She seemed way too concentrated, though only Hook noticed.
"What's the matter, Swan," Hook asked. "You look like you're having some digestive issues."
All eyes were on Emma again.
"I think I can find Henry," Emma ignored Hook's comment.
Regina took a few steps toward Emma with hopeful eyes.
"How," Regina asked as she stopped in front of Emma, a foot or two of distance between them.
"He's...crying."
Regina instantly paled while Emma visibly deflated at the realization.
"What do you mean he's crying," Charming asked.
"You can hear him," Regina quietly asked as she rested a hand over her stomach, one of her nervous habits.
Emma nodded.
Regina swallowed hard and took a moment to change her demeanor and slip on one of her well practiced masks. Her eyes were dark with rage and her posture went completely rigid before she turned to the rest of the group.
"We're splitting up. Emma and I are going after Henry," Regina took charge. "If one of you wants to help us then join us now because we're leaving. Snow, Charming, you two are staying behind to find that mermaid. Heal Snow and come find us when you're well."
Regina started to usher Emma away from the group and further into the jungle.
"Wait," Tinkerbell stopped them.
Regina and Emma turned to the other blonde and saw her toss Charming the sea shell then approach him and hand over the dust.
"Blow into that," Tinkerbell told Charming. "And when the mermaid comes, use this if you have to."
Tinkerbell finished explaining when she handed over the vile of dust.
"What is it," Charming asked as he curiously looked at the vile in his hand.
"Poppy seed. It'll knock out anyone long enough to detain them and it's not magic so it won't attract attention," Tinkerbell answered.
"What are you doing," Regina asked with a furrowed brow as she watched Tinkerbell approach herself and Emma.
"I'm coming with you. Hook knows the island well enough. He can protect Snow and Charming. If you two wander off without me, you'll either get yourselves lost or in trouble."
Emma rolled her eyes.
"Part of me would prefer Hook helping us," Emma bitterly said.
"That can be arranged, love," Hook smirked.
"No," Regina stopped him from taking even a single step in their direction.
Emma questioningly eyed Regina, as did Tinkerbell.
Regina looked at the two blondes on either side of her then back to Hook who had raised an eyebrow with a stifled laugh.
"Henry's still with Rumple and if we do find him, I don't want Hook to let his vengeance get the best of him," Regina explained.
Everyone shrugged off her answer as though they bought it, except Tinkerbell. She waited until Regina looked at her again so the brunette would know she suspected Regina had another reason for keeping the slimy pirate away from Emma.
Regina caught Tinkerbell's look and refrained from rolling her eyes. Instead, she gave Tinkerbell a look of her own that said she spoke the truth.
"Like Charming said, let's not waste any more time," Regina said and brushed past Tinkerbell.
She and Emma headed toward the thicker looking part of the jungle while Tinkerbell followed after them, but still seemed disbelieving of Regina's excuse about Hook.
Emma didn't even bother to say goodbye to her parents. She didn't hate them. She knew that, but Charming seemed less like himself and more tense. She blamed it on being stuck in the middle of nowhere with no way home, but it felt like there was more to it than that.
After trekking through a handful of prickly bushes, she let it go and focused on getting Henry. Although, that seemed a lot easier than when it was just her and Regina. With Tinkerbell along for the journey, the fairy only distracted her, especially when she talked to Regina.
"About last night," Tinkerbell started while she walked with Regina at her side a few steps behind Emma. "I didn't mean to upset you."
"Don't worry about it," Regina plainly said.
"What do you mean 'don't worry about it'? You're mad at me. I can tell."
"I shouldn't have expected anything different," Regina carelessly said.
"Excuse me," Tinkerbell asked, a little outraged and a lot offended.
"You're just like everyone else, Tink, whether you like to admit it or not."
Tinkerbell furrowed her brow, confused.
"How is that?"
"Everyone has always wanted something from me and you're no different. A little over twenty-eight years ago, I was shocked to find out just what exactly it was you wanted from me and it seems that in the time we've been apart, I had forgotten just what it was you wanted. That's why it came to me as a shock last night, but I should have remembered. I should've known better."
"Known better than what," Tinkerbell angrily asked.
"Known better than to trust you'd actually help me without asking for anything in return."
"You need help, I need help. So what if we scratch each other's backs?"
"Okay," Emma broke up the lover's quarrel and spun on her heels to face Regina and Tinkerbell. "I'm trying to concentrate on the crying, which isn't easy for me considering what it all means that I can hear it in the first place, and you two are talking about...God, I don't even want to know! Can you two just please stop talking so I can hear Henry?"
Regina looked down and subtly cleared her throat. Her silence was the answer to Emma's question and Emma noticeably appreciated it.
Tinkerbell looked off to the side, still angry, and crossed her arms over her chest while she pouted.
"Thank you," Emma puffed out and turned back around to face her previous direction.
Emma closed her eyes and listened to the cries. Once she could hear them again, she tried to zero in on Henry.
Everything around her was quiet. Branches and bushes swayed in the breeze while twigs snapped under someone's feet. She didn't realize who it was that had stepped over the twigs until she felt a hand on her lower back.
Emma gasped at the light contact of Regina's fingertips on her shirt and the other woman's scent. Suddenly, Emma heard Henry with perfect clarity.
"You did it," Emma whispered.
"Did what, dear," Regina asked right in Emma's ear.
"I can hear him again. Better than before," Emma admitted.
"Can you pinpoint where he is," Regina asked as she moved her hand off Emma's lower back and walked around to stand in front of the blonde.
Emma had to focus harder when Regina stopped touching her. She squeezed her eyes her eyes shut tighter.
"It's harder to... I think I'm losing focus," Emma exasperatedly confessed.
"Don't think," Regina quickly reminded her. "Just feel."
Regina closed the space between them and grabbed Emma's forearm.
Seconds ticked by before Emma smiled and opened her eyes.
"Got him," Emma directed her smile at Regina.
Regina smiled back, elated by the good news.
"Let's get him back," Regina said.
Emma didn't hesitate and took off in the direction of Henry's cries. Regina followed after her with Tinkerbell hot on their heels.
"We're not far now," Rumple told Henry as he continued to carry the boy as he limped toward the shore.
Henry groaned and buried his face in Rumple's neck.
"I know it hurts, Henry. I promise I'm trying."
"I want my moms," he said into Rumple's neck.
Rumple had no response. He looked saddened if not hurt by Henry's admission. It just reminded him of Baelfire when he was younger, only wanting his mother. It got much worse after Rumple had turned into the Dark One.
"We're almost there," Rumple said after a moment in an attempt to assure Henry.
He limped through a few more overgrown bushes before he saw the shimmering shoreline. The rising sun gave the island a peaceful glow that would have been a beautiful sight under different circumstances.
Rumple grunted in his struggle to set Henry down in the sand, but he accomplished his task soon enough.
"Where are you going," Henry asked as he tried not to sob.
"Nowhere," Rumple answered as he hobbled closer to the water and knelt down. He reached into the sand and grabbed a moderately sized sea shell.
It may have been a while since his last visit to Neverland, but he still knew a few tricks.
"I'm right here," Rumple said to ease Henry's worry then lifted the sea shell to his mouth.
Rumple blew into the shell, but it made no sound. He didn't seem the least bit concerned about that. Instead, he dropped his hand to his side with the shell still in it and waited.
"So...how do we use this," Charming asked as he inspected the shell then looked up to Hook for the answer.
"You blow."
Charming narrowed his eyes, not pleased with that particular answer.
Hook smirked then stepped up to Charming and invaded his personal space. He held out his hand and hovered over the shell in Charming's hand.
"May I," Hook asked, only then concerned with being granted permission.
Charming sighed and begrudgingly handed the shell to the pirate.
Snow sat on a rock off to the side while the two of them talked, or whatever it was they were doing. She stared out at the sea while the sun barely started to rise and let out a pained sigh meant to be one of relief and tried to relax, or at the very least remain calm.
Hook blew into the shell and the sound of his breath hitting the edges of the shell sounded in the space around them. He stood and waited. He scanned the horizon and looked for anything in the open, and surprisingly quiet, sea.
After a couple minutes, Snow and Charming stared expectantly at Hook.
"Huh," Hook furrowed his brow and continued to stare at the sea. "That should've done something by now."
"Maybe you did it wrong," Charming said and grabbed the shell from Hook.
"Please. There's no way I did that wrong."
"Yeah, well then why isn't anything happening?"
Charming raised the shell to his lips and blew into it. The sound of his breath against the contours of the shell were faint, not as obnoxious as Hook's breath. He raised the vile of poppy seed and kept it at the ready, just in case. He hadn't been ready last time and they might have gotten lucky that Hook had been unsuccessful in calling a mermaid.
After a moment, Hook chuckled.
"Guess you didn't do it right either," Hook said.
Charming glared at him, but before he had the chance to come up with a witty remark or even punch Hook just because he felt like it, the water rippled in the distance.
Snow, Charming, and Hook all turned to see something in the water as it encroached upon the shore.
"We wanted to call a mermaid, right," Charming nervously asked as he watched the water rise to make a wave, the three of them unable to see what creature swam toward them.
"Not sure that's a mermaid, mate," Hook grimaced. "Maybe you're the one who did it wrong."
"Jury's still out," Charming slowly said as he reached for his sword and unsheathed it just before the water lapped against the shore.
When the wave disappeared, a mermaid with dark brown hair positioned herself on her hands. She kept her tail under the water as best she could so close to land and managed to flap it around enough for Charming, Hook, and Snow to get a good look.
"Nope," Charming said. "Didn't do that wrong."
Hook jealously looked at the mermaid, bitter about Charming's success.
Rumple quickly pulled his dagger out of his boot when the mermaid approached him. He threateningly held it out, ready to attack if need be, and waited for the sea creature to get her bearings.
A redheaded mermaid with a shiny, teal tail appeared, but instantly cowered at the sight of Rumple's dagger.
Rumple cocked his head to one side and curiously stared at the mermaid.
"You," he drawled out in realization. "You're alive?"
The mermaid swallowed, suddenly unsure of her safety, but took a chance and pulled herself closer to the shore.
"You called," she asked.
Rumple snapped himself out of his questioning thoughts, all confused and shocked by the mermaid's identity.
"Yes," Rumple answered. "My grandson needs an antidote for Dreamshade. I'm told you have it."
The mermaid looked over at the pained boy Rumple motioned to and frowned, concern soon etched on her face. After a quick look at Henry, she returned her gaze to Rumple before she replied.
"I may be able to help, but I've heard more than one call."
"That means nothing to me. Why should I care if you've been called to help anyone else? Do you know who I am?"
"If the stories are true about the Enchanted Forest, then yes. Your dagger tells me exactly who you are."
"Then you'll help me or suffer the consequences," Rumple spoke in his slimy, authoritative voice he'd only previously used in the Enchanted Forest.
"I've suffered a worse fate than any punishment you could give me," the mermaid darkly said.
Rumple devilishly grinned.
"Yes, I suppose you have," Rumple slowly said. "Ariel."
Ariel glared at Rumple as though the sound of her own name discomforted her. She remained silent with her death glare trained on Rumpelstiltskin for another moment before she spoke again.
"We have a limited supply of antidote."
"Well, unless you have no antidote, I'm only asking for a single vile."
"You don't seem to understand the meaning of receiving more than one call. There's someone else on this island in need of the antidote as well."
"You'd end a mere boy's life because someone else wants a vile? I knew you mermaids were ruthless, but I guess you in particular learned a lot from Ursula."
Ariel growled, though she also flinched at the Sea Witch's name.
"We only have two bottles of the antidote you require," Ariel spoke in a low, angered tone.
"Then give one to my grandson."
Ariel let out a long, heavy sigh through her nose. Even Henry knew the mermaid was aggravated and he hadn't been able to focus on the conversation as much as the poison in his calve.
The redhead closed her eyes and Rumple and Henry heard a faint jingling sound.
The jingling reached the brown haired mermaid's ears and even Charming, Hook, and Snow managed to hear it. The three of them looked around in confusion and tried to find the source of the jingling. They saw nothing else but the single mermaid they'd called.
"I'm afraid if I do decide to help you," the mermaid started as she opened her eyes and the jingling stopped. "I can only supply you with one vile of this antidote."
Charming winced, an expression Hook caught just before the Prince masked it with a brave face.
"That's all we need," Charming firmly said.
"Very well. In exchange for this antidote, however, I require something myself."
"Of course you do," Charming fought to keep his anger under control. "What is it?"
"My sister. She's in desperate need of a salve, but the ingredients needed for it are all on land."
"So you want us to make a salve for your sister? Then you'll give us the antidote?"
"Yes. We've been able to keep her wounds sealed temporarily for a while now, but we seemed to have missed the fact that she now has an infection. She may very well die from her injuries if a Cracken doesn't follow her blood and swallow her whole first."
Hook questioningly furrowed his brow.
"Who's your sister," the pirate asked.
"Ariel."
Charming and Snow's eyes widened, both completely taken aback by that information. Hook only raised an eyebrow.
"Interesting," Hook commented, more to himself than anyone else.
"Wait, Ariel... She isn't dead," Snow asked from the rock she remained perched on.
The mermaid looked at Snow and shook her head.
"She only fooled Ursula into believing she was. Although, she was nearly dead when she finally escaped," the mermaid explained. "We've been trying to overtake Ursula for years, but...we don't have the strength or resources we once had. And, honestly, Ariel is still terrified of her."
"Oh, so you don't know," Snow carefully asked.
"Know what," the mermaid tilted her head and asked.
"Ursula's dead."
The mermaid gasped.
"We're...we're free?"
Snow slowly smiled then nodded.
"Yes. My daughter...well, she and Regina-"
"Regina. The Evil Queen?"
Snow nervously nodded.
"I've heard she's just as cruel as Ursula," the mermaid glared at Snow, suddenly doubtful about trusting the group she faced.
Snow shook her head.
"She's the one who killed Ursula," Snow explained.
The mermaid's eyebrows shot into her hairline.
"Well, I would gladly accept that in exchange for the antidote...but Ariel truly does need the salve."
"I understand," Snow soothingly said. "We'll prepare it. Just tell us the ingredients and we'll work as quickly as we can, so long as you can keep Pan away from us."
"Pan is after you?"
Snow sadly nodded.
"He seems to have a fascination with my grandson," Snow informed the mermaid.
The mermaid slowly nodded in understanding.
"You're working with the people who have freed us from Ursula's reign and you'll give us the salve that will save my sister's life. For that, I'll get the rest of my family to thwart whatever attacks we can. You have a small band of mermaids on your side."
"Thank you," Snow warmly smiled at her.
"Alright, what do you need for the salve," Hook impatiently asked. "The clock's ticking and I'd rather not be in Neverland much longer than I have to."
Emma had significantly slowed her pace in the last ten minutes. She almost stopped in her tracks while she struggled yet again to differentiate between Henry's cries and the lost children of the world. At one point on their way to where she believed Henry was, she thought she heard her own crying. She hadn't been sure and neither Tinkerbell or Regina had told her if she'd started to cry. Although, it made a little bit of sense that she might not have been crying out loud. She cried on the inside a lot. She'd built up enough defenses to withhold her tears, but there times when feeling like crying and actually crying were two extremely different things. And sometimes, she just had to let it out.
"Did you lose him," Regina sadly asked Emma, her voice also still filled with concern as she sidled up to Emma.
"Kind of. I can still hear him, but there are a lot of crying kids," Emma explained.
"It's okay," Regina tried to assure her and comfortingly ran her hand up and down Emma's bicep.
"No, it's not," Emma shrugged away from Regina.
Regina frowned and watched Emma fight with herself.
"I should be able to find him! He's with Rumpel-freakin-stiltskin and I want to believe that he wouldn't hurt Henry because he's his grandson. But I can't know that and I don't like not knowing if he's safe!"
Regina faintly smiled and laughed under her breath.
"Welcome to motherhood," Regina said.
Tinkerbell stood a few steps behind the two of them and just watched the scene unfold.
Emma puffed out a frustrated sigh and carelessly flailed her arms before she dropped them to her sides, defeated.
Tinkerbell rolled her eyes and stepped closer to Emma.
"Focus," Tinkerbell sternly commanded.
"I can't focus," Emma snapped.
Regina quickly stepped between the two blondes and ushered Emma away from Tinkerbell. She shot a warning look over her shoulder at the fairy then redirected her attention solely back to Emma.
"Take deep breaths," Regina calmly said as she stopped Emma and turned the younger woman to face her. "Breathe. Relax."
Emma, without hesitation, listened to Regina and regulated her breathing. It soon went from erratic to normal and her heart stopped angrily thudding in her chest. She closed her eyes and tried to focus on Henry again, but certain thoughts wouldn't leave her mind when she failed to bury them.
"I wish you could do this and just poof us to him," Emma confessed.
"Shh," Regina slowly ran her hands up and down Emma's arms again. "Remember the day Henry found you in Boston?"
Regina took a step closer to Emma, the blonde's eyes still closed.
"Yeah," Emma answered.
"Were you surprised to see him?"
Emma smiled as the memory flooded her thoughts and took precedence over everything else.
"Of course. I...I never expected to see him after that day, after I gave him up."
"What happened when you saw him for the first time since that day?"
"He was at my door and just invited himself inside. All he said was, 'I'm Henry. I'm your son' then barged into my apartment. I freaked out and ran into the bathroom and he asked for juice. I couldn't breathe."
"But you got over it and brought him back to Storybrooke."
Emma smiled again, brighter than the first time.
"Yeah. He kept talking about his book of fairy tales. I was dead set to just give him back to his parents and go back to my life, my boring and lonely life."
"And yet, you couldn't that, could you?"
Emma shook her head.
"Why is that," Regina asked.
"Because I looked at him and he seemed so hopeful. He was cute and persuasive and sneaky. He purposely left his book in my car so I'd have to come back."
Regina smiled at that and took another step closer to Emma, close enough to breathe the same air.
"I felt that connection. That link to him that all mothers have to their kids, biological or not. And I knew, I couldn't admit it to myself, but I knew. I loved him. I love him more than anything and I just want to find him. I want to bring him home. I want my son back."
Before Emma could shed a tear at her admission, Regina leaned in with closed eyes and pressed their foreheads together. The second they made contact, the ground shook and pulled them out of their moment.
A panicked yelp caused Emma and Regina to whip their heads in the direction Emma had started to lead them in before she needed to stop and readjust her focus.
"Henry," Emma and Regina simultaneously breathed out.
Tinkerbell gaped at Emma and Regina in that moment. She was impressed, amazed, sad, and maybe a little jealous at what had transpired.
None of them had a chance to really process what had happened before the three of them rushed toward the scream at near lightning fast speed.
"Henry," Regina called out.
"Henry!"
Two mothers ran for their son like their lives depended on it. And both would admit their lives had depended on it. If they lost Henry, both would be destroyed and there was no question about it.
Emma, Regina, and Tinkerbell ran straight to the shore and saw Rumple hold Henry close to his body.
"You can't have him," Rumple yelled at the demented boy who clearly ran the tragically managed island.
"Well, that's not for you to decide, is it," Pan grinned.
Then, as if on cue, the Shadow appeared and loomed overhead.
"No," Emma wildly yelled, more guttural and inhuman as the sound ripped its way out of her vocal chords and not for the first time since their arrival in Neverland.
"Henry," Regina called again, still unable to match Emma's angry shouts. She settled for an attempt at a more sane way of announcing their presence to their son.
"Mom!"
A flash of red hair disappeared in the water and flicked her tail before she submerged herself entirely. Then an echoed and somewhat watery, muddled jingle sounded and left Rumple, Henry, Emma, Regina, and Tinkerbell confused and speechless.
Pan laughed and confidently stood before the group with his Lost Boys spread out behind him.
"When I want something, I get it," Pan said. "And I want Henry."
Note: So, I KNOW there's a Captain Swan issue happening on the show right now and I tried to give all of you some much needed Swan Queen action. Unfortunately, this is a slow burn Swan Queen story so I couldn't push too much in this one chapter. For that, I'm sorry. But there will be more to come soon enough. For now though, I included jealous Emma AND jealous Tink with some small, but deep Swan Queen moments. What did you think? Not enough? Still excited for more of this story? Review and let me know.