Emma felt the salty sting of the sea air as she warily made her way along in the dark.

The port side of the Jolly Roger seemed empty, everyone gone below for the night. With no horizon to fix her eyes upon, she was far from certain she'd finish this part of the voyage upright.

Her grip on the wooden rail grew too tight and she felt her stomach somersault. Again.

Fucking boats.

She stopped and allowed herself a deep, deep breath. She let her knees unlock and tried just listening to the waves lap at the sides. It could be peaceful here. Perhaps.

Another sound, though, entered, and Emma's stomach tumbled again, for completely different reasons. Someone ahead, there in the dark, was crying. Quietly. And the throaty shudder between sobs made the identity clear.

Regina.

Emma pulled herself further forward and peered into the darkness, trying not to startle, and not sure if she should approach at all. Again, for the second time in less than 12 hours, she was bearing witness to the unexpected vulnerability of the strongest woman she'd ever met. The unflappable Evil Queen.

'let me die as Regina.'

Those five words still rang in Emma's head, and she had to shake them from her mind, as she finally spotted Regina at the bow. Regina wasn't dead. She was just before her. Right there.

The moon glinted off coal dark hair, else Emma might not have seen her at all. Still clothed in black, now folded over and into herself. Emma was close enough to see Regina's shoulders move, in anguish, from the cold. Both.

Emma let her foot drag a bit, announcing her presence, as she called out a quiet, "Regina?"

She didn't turn, but her head lifted, quickly, and her hands jumped to her face to compose herself, no doubt. "Emma." She said, after a moment. "Go back inside." Her voice was rough, exhausted. " It's cold."

Emma stood and stared at the back of the woman she'd hated, despised even. She'd respected her, protected, and been mystified by Regina. She'd wanted to kill her for endangering Henry. She'd wanted to hold her for bringing her and Mary Margaret home. She'd wanted to love her for her sacrifice. But she never did. She did none of it – good or bad – none of those sky-high responses that Regina seemed to invoke in her did she completely express. She was afraid of them. She stood in her own way. Regina stood in her way. Everyone stood in their way.

Emma saw the path ahead. Clear. Unobstructed. Nothing between she and Regina but six feet of weathered planks. She felt her boots step forward.

Regina didn't pull away as Emma's arms wrapped around her from behind.

"Turn around." Emma spoke softly, close at her ear, evoking from Regina a slight, extra shiver. There was a pause as Regina seemed to consider the instruction. And then she turned.

Regina brought her arms around Emma, burrowing herself into the offered warmth.

"We'll find him. He'll be okay. You'll see."

Emma felt the small nod at her shoulder. She held Regina to her. She felt her own heart racing, and then slowing, a bit. Grateful. She felt her two feet beneath her, strong. Felt Regina,filling in the empty parts, making her balanced. Whole. She felt, for the first time since beginning this journey, steady. The boat rolled.

Emma closed her eyes and breathed in, out.

Regina. Regina.