I'm so happy to finally be back in this fandom :) Thanks everybody!

It seemed like her prayers were left unanswered. Jealous and hurt green eyes sadly watched the brunette and the man beside her talk quietly. They had been sailing for a while now, and no matter how hard Emma tried to distract herself, her focus kept drifting back towards Regina and Daniel. The two were close together, still standing in the position they were when they departed Storybrooke. Emma sighed, her head dropping low. A gentle hand rested on her forearm.

"I'm truly sorry," Elsa said quietly.

Emma lifted her hurt eyes to meet Elsa's blue ones. "I would have done the same if I were in your position and it was Henry we were talking about."

Elsa's face turned sympathetic and she said nothing, choosing to provide comfort silently. The two women sat quietly for a while before Elsa stood up and extended her hand.

"Come, help me strategize," she said, waiting for Emma to join her. "It will get your mind off things."

Emma cast one last forlorn look at the two, and nodded, accepting Elsa's hand. They walked down to the ship's main quarters disappearing from view, oblivious to the dark brown eyes watching them.

Regina internally sighed when she saw the pair leave. She had noticed Emma's sad glances on her for the past hour, and couldn't help the flutter of guilt she felt at pushing the blonde away. But Daniel had returned. Her True Love, the man she had believed to be dead all these years had reappeared and loved her with all the intensity he had when they were young. What she and Emma had was new. Extremely new and fragile, and not being loved was a risk Regina wasn't willing to take. Daniel was her world when she was a teenager. It wasn't fair to him to be shoved aside for some woman she barely even knew. But you do know her, and yet you still shoved her aside. Regina pushed the voice away, angry with having been put in this situation in the first place. It wasn't fair to have to choose between her past and her present...Besides, it was Emma's choice to let her go. But you practically pushed her away. And now she's with that blonde...harpy. Regina gritted her teeth. It was a miracle Daniel was back, and she was going to take full advantage of this second chance with her True Love.

"Darling, are you alright?" Daniel asked her, his brown eyes filled with concern.

Regina slowly blinked before smiling up at him. "Yes, Daniel. I'm perfect."

He looked relieved and cupped her face softly, his warm hands making her feel safe. "I am so grateful we have this chance Regina," he pressed a kiss to her cheek, in the same spot Emma had kissed not so long ago. "I know it's been years since you've seen me, but to me, it's only been a day. I hope we can pick up where we left off."

Brown eyes closed. "Daniel, we've spent the last hour talking about my past. I want to make sure you understand the gravity of the things I have done during my time as the Evil Queen."

Daniel didn't respond, and Regina nervously opened her eyes. He looked hesitant.

"But you're not her anymore, right?" he asked, unsure.

"No," Regina shook her head. "But it's taken me a long time to get to this point. It doesn't lessen the fact that I was evil at one point. I carry that burden around with me every day."

"Our love will get us through it," Daniel said with conviction, tightening his hold on her face.

Regina sighed at his naiveness. "Daniel, my sins can't just suddenly be erased with love. I've killed thousands without mercy, separated families without a second thought, ruined countless people's lives with a flick of my hand, and burned whole villages to the ground. I need you to understand that, and accept that part of me."

Daniel looked confused. "I love you Regina. You wouldn't hurt anybody now. Who cares about your past?"

Regina shook her head. "Daniel, my past is a part of me. I'm not the same girl you fell in love with when we were young. I've changed, and you must realize that."

Daniel looked hard at her for a minute. Finally, he leaned down and brushed his lips across hers. "I love you," he repeated and hugged her. Regina accepted his hug, but felt uneasy. He didn't understand. Daniel had never seen her at her worst...he only understood her evils in theory, perhaps even believing that Regina was exaggerating the facts. He didn't get her suffering. Closing her eyes, she hoped that his naive view that their love would be enough was true.

Emma studied the map Elsa had presented her with.

"This is the path we're following now," the Ice Queen traced the browning paper. "On our journey, many mystical creatures of the sky - some hostile, most not - will attempt to get to know us. We must be ready for both." She moved her fingertip. "It will take us about a week to get to Arendelle, which is here. That will be the most dangerous part. Hans has enlisted the help of witches to guard it."

"Witches?"

"Yes," Elsa frowned, her visage turning dark.

"Oh," Emma sensed the Queen didn't want to talk about it, and pushed on. "So, how do we fight these creatures?"

Visibly relieved, Elsa took the olive branch and began to strategize defeat tactics. Emma interjected a few of her thoughts on how to attack, and smiled when Elsa responded to them enthusiastically. Suddenly, there was a small sneeze and Emma's hands shot out instinctively.

"Come out right now whoever you are," Emma's posture was tense.

"Geez Mom, no need to get all defensive," a sheepish Henry emerged from behind a barrel, his hands up.

"Henry!" Emma's mouth dropped and she let her hands fall to her sides. "What the hell are you doing here kid?"

"What does it look like?" he grinned. "I'm along for the adventure. There was no way I was going to stick with Ruby the entire time you guys were gone. Do you know how boring that would have been?"

Emma shook her head, trying to find it in her to be mad at her son but failing miserably. She opened her arms to him, smiling widely when he held onto her tightly.

"I'm so happy to see you, kid," she whispered.

"I also came along to help with Daniel and Regina," Henry said, looking proud. "I've been doing a whole lot of thinking, and I want to help you two get back together. I've decided to call this mission Operation Swan Queen. Get it? I-"

"Henry, that's enough," Emma held up her hand, her eyes turning serious. "I made the choice to let Regina go. She deserves to find happiness, and if that's with Daniel, then I can't stop her from having her happy ending without me."

"But her happy ending is with you...and with me," Henry said, frowning. "How could you give her up so easily?"

Emma swallowed thickly. Elsa suddenly came up and placed a comforting hand on Emma's shoulder.

"Henry, imagine you having to choose between two people you really loved. That would be impossible. Emma made it easier for your mom because she loves her so much," Elsa tried to explain.

He shook his head. "That's dumb. You don't give up people you truly love. If Emma really loves my mom, then she would have convinced her to give up Daniel."

"I tried Henry," Emma said sadly.

"You should have tried harder!" Henry was beginning to get angry. This wasn't the Emma he knew—the Emma he knew would have fearlessly laid her heart out to Regina and win. The old Emma would not have backed down from a challenge. "You're just afraid. We could have been a family...a real family, and you just let her go."

"She doesn't want me Henry!" Emma finally burst, tears spilling out of her eyes. Pressing her hand to her mouth, she couldn't help but break down in front of her son who was now staring at her with wide eyes. "She chose Daniel over me," she said brokenly. Elsa glared at the boy.

"M-mom, I'm sorry," Henry said, his voice wobbling. Fear filled him as he watched his strong mother break down in front of him. "I'm sorry."

He cautiously moved towards her and wrapped his arms around her. "I'm so sorry," he whispered. He understood now. Much like his own, Emma's greatest fear was not being wanted, and it had happened. No wonder why she wasn't fighting. Emma's shuddering gasps were muffled by Henry's shoulder as she tried to calm herself down. Finally, she pulled away and sheepishly wiped her eyes.

"I get it now," Henry said, staring into green eyes. "I get why you gave her up."

Emma gave him a weak smile. "I can't keep her from her happiness, kid. Even if that happiness doesn't include me."

"You made it easier for her," Henry said sadly, referring to Regina. "You must love her a lot."

Emma let out a sad chuckle, hiccuping slightly. "I do. So very much. And while I appreciate your plan, I think it's best we leave them alone for now."

"Alright," Henry said quietly and embraced his mother again. "I love you."

"As I love you, kid," Emma whispered affectionately.

Elsa watched the two embrace in front of her with a small smile on her lips. "Shall we go back up on deck for lunch?"

"Yes," Emma waved her hand, magically erasing any traces of her crying before standing up and guiding Henry out of the cabin.

As they emerged back into sunlight, Regina's cry of "Henry!" made all of them flinch. They had forgotten he was technically a stowaway. After a long lecture from Regina that finally ended in a sweet hug much like his and Emma's, the group settled to lunch.

"Love, where did you learn how to cook like this?" Hook grinned at Elsa as he munched his food.

"Magic," she responded, swirling her fingers and making deviled eggs pop up.

Henry was sitting next to Emma, protectively shielding her from Regina and Daniel who thought it was cute to feed each other. Correction, Daniel was hand-feeding Regina who looked slightly annoyed by the gesture, but made no move to stop him. The boy rolled his eyes and did his best to block their view from his blonde mother. Emma shot him an appreciative glance but couldn't stop the ever-growing sadness in her heart from gnawing an even bigger hole.

"So, what are the...sleeping arrangements tonight loves?" Hook leered at Elsa who looked extremely uncomfortable.

"I will be in my own bunk," Elsa said forcefully, staring at the pirate.

"Regina and I will be sharing," Daniel piped up.

"Emma and I can share then," Henry nudged his mother. She shot him a forced smile.

"So looks like you have a cabin all to yourself, pirate," Elsa crossed her arms.

"Ah, shame. Thanks for lunch love," Hook grinned at her before standing up and making his way back to the wheel.

Daniel leaned in and pressed a kiss to Regina's lips after feeding her a strawberry. Abruptly, Emma stood too and murmured her thanks to Elsa before making her way to the front of the ship. Sitting on the forward part of the hull of the boat, she let her legs swing freely off the edge. The cool wind whipped her blonde locks, and she sat there for a long time, letting her mind wander. Absentmindedly, she experimented with her magic and smiled when Elsa joined her halfway though the afternoon. They began making snowflakes together, testing to see if they could make different colored ones in varying sizes. For the first time since her whole heartbreak started, Emma let out a genuine laugh. The Queen's gentle and playful presence was exactly what she needed to get her mind off of everything.

Dinner was a slightly awkward affair, saved only by the fact Hook loved to talk, and Henry became enraptured with his stories of pirating and looting. Emma steadfastly ignored Daniel and Regina, focusing her attention on watching her son marvel at Hook's adventures. Soon though, his eyes began to droop, and he excused himself to go to bed. He hugged Regina first, and then Emma, who closed her eyes at the slight smell of Regina's perfume that lingered on his shirt collar. Emma offered to take the night shift, and Hook smiled at her gratefully, exhausted from sailing all day. Taking a bottle of rum with him, he flashed a seductive smile at Elsa and slipped into his cabin. Daniel led Regina by hand to their cabin, leaving Elsa and Emma alone.

"I told you I can handle it," Emma smiled at the white-haired woman.

"I know, but I thought I'd just stay with you for a little while. Look at the moon. It's spectacular."

Indeed it was. The bright silvery orb seemed so close to them, illuminating the two woman's faces in a beautiful pale light. They talked about Arendelle, and Emma learned all about Anna and Kristoff. She laughed at Elsa's description of Olaf, and tried to imagine Kristoff communicating effectively with a reindeer. Elsa yawned, and Emma gently pushed her to go to bed.

"You've been cool staying up with me," Emma said smiling, "but you're exhausted."

"Well, I did force you to go on this trip," Elsa shrugged, but her face showed relief at the thought of going to bed.

"Go to bed," Emma said, not unkindly. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Emma?" Elsa said quietly, making Emma focus all her attention on the Queen.

"Yeah?"

Elsa embraced Emma in a tight hug, and green eyes fell shut at the sweet gesture.

"Good night," Elsa whispered before slipping away to her cabin.

Emma smiled after the woman and she sat on the starboard edge of the ship. She let one leg dangle off the edge in open air while the other one laid straight out in front of her. The night air was refreshing, and Emma inhaled deeply.

"Emma?"

The blonde flinched and almost fell off the edge of the ship. A warm hand snatched out to grasp onto her bicep, steadying her.

"I apologize for startling you," the husky voice said, and Emma turned to be met with chocolate locks.

She refused to look into the woman's eyes, and instead focused her attention on the skin just at the edge of the woman's eyes.

"What can I do for you?" Emma said tiredly. She really didn't have the energy or the nerve to confront this woman just yet. Out of her peripheral, she saw white teeth sink worriedly into a plump lower red lip.

"I couldn't sleep, so I'd thought I'd join you out here," the soft voice said.

"Right," Emma said, looking back to the moon. "You're more than welcome to sit here."

"Emma," Regina hesitated before blurting out, "Daniel isn't at all what I expected him to be."

Emma closed her eyes. She wanted to ignore the other woman, or ask her how this was any of her business, but instead she said, "How do you mean?"

"I don't know," Regina said in a frustrated tone. "He's just not what I...want. He's stuck in the past because he literally just came from there. He doesn't know of me, or of the Evil Queen, or any of the things I have done. Daniel is in love with the wrong version of me."

She fell silent.

"What do you want me to say?" Emma said brokenly, still not facing Regina. "That I wish Daniel loved you for you? That I wish Daniel knew how to help you? The truth is, I do. Damn it, I really do. I want you to be happy."

"I..." Regina swallowed thickly.

"Go back to sleep," Emma said quietly, "things will look better in the morning." She turned back to gaze at the corner of Regina's eye. "Daniel will understand in time."

Regina nodded silently. And before Emma could process what the other woman was doing, Regina slipped a warm hand under her chin and raised her level with her eyes. Immediately, Emma snapped her own shut.

"Why won't you look me in the eyes?" Regina asked sadly.

"It will break me even further," Emma responded truthfully, knowing she had nothing left to lose. "I'm trying to be strong. Like Daniel, I need time to...adjust. I'm building myself back up. I can't allow myself to be that vulnerable ever again."

Regina didn't have a response, so she turned back to her cabin. As she climbed into bed next to a slightly snoring Daniel, her heart ached as she processed Emma's response. I'm building myself back up. I can't allow myself to be that vulnerable ever again. Building her walls back up is what she meant, Regina thought, and this time, nobody would ever be able to climb them again.

She fell asleep with tears sliding down her face.