The Only Exception (Swan Queen)

Chapter 6

Do you think there is the possibility of you and I? In this lifetime, is that too much to hope for? There is something so delicate about this time, so fragile. And if nothing ever comes of it, at least I have known this feeling this wonderful sense of optimism. It is something I can always keep close to me – to draw from in my darkest hour like a ray of sunshine. No matter what happens next, I will always be gals to know there is someone like you in the world. ~Lang Leav, Someone Like You.

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Regina got to the outside of the cave and stopped for a moment, debating on which way to go. She was about to take off running again when a warm, soft hand wrapped around her arm. She turned to look at Emma. "I'm not in the mood for a lecture, Miss Swan," she snapped, yanking her arm back trying to get out of her hold but she didn't let go.

Emma sighed. "I just want to talk," she mumbled as everyone made their way out of the cave.

Snow cleared her throat awkwardly. "We'll go on to the camp. You guys come along when you're ready," the small brunette rambled, grabbing Hook and David before dragging them off before they had a chance to intervene.

Neal didn't need any convincing, he just gave them a small nod before following the others.

She sat back down on the rock after Emma let go of her arm. "Was it true? what you said?" Emma asked, sitting down next to her.

Regina frowned and looked up at her. "Do you think you would be alive right now if it wasn't?"

"You should have said something, Gina," she whispered, the sound of the nickname took her by surprise.

She looked up at her in disbelief. "And what are you implying?" she questioned, raising an eyebrow.

Emma chuckled. "It could have saved us both a lot of energy."

Regina let out a soft hum in response. She wasn't wrong. A lot of their time was made up of arguing, except for recently that is. Honestly, Regina prefers their current buddying relationship over their past one.

Emma wrapped her arm around Regina's shoulders and pulled her close against her side. "I believe I owe you a thank you for saving my life – again." She chuckled. 

Regina subconsciously rested her head on the blonde's shoulder. "Well, I wasn't going to just let you die," she mumbled.

Emma smiled. "Good to know." She stared down at Regina, smiling.

The older woman decided to chance it and placed a sweet, hesitant kiss on her cheek. Emma looked at her and smiled, she didn't reject it but she also didn't respond. Regina wasn't sure of what to do after that so she simply rested her head on her shoulder again.

Regina cleared her throat through the awkward silence that began to linger between them. "Did I miss anything interesting while you were all in there?" she asked curiously.

Emma shrugged. "Nothing much. Hook also confessed his love for me, Mary Margaret wants another kid, and David has been poisoned with dreamshade," she explained with a small frown towards the end.

Regina flinched slightly when she mentioned Hook declaring his love for her. She lifted her head slightly. "Isn't there a cure?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. When the blonde didn't answer, she assumed the worst. "It has a price, doesn't it?"

She nodded. "If he takes the cure, he can never leave this place. If he does, he'll die," she explained.

"Snow will find a way," Regina assured her.

Emma tightened her grip around her shoulders pulling her closer. Regina couldn't help but smile as she rested her head back down on the taller woman's shoulder.

"Isn't this a wonderful sight," that boyish voice hissed.

Regina scowled. "What do you want Pan?" Emma hissed. She didn't let go of her, instead her grip tightened.

He chuckled. "Oh, nothing. I just figured I'd stop by and talk about Henry."

Both women leapt to their feet in an instant. Emma drew her sword and Pan rolled his eyes. "Oh, please, there's no need for that," he muttered putting his hands in the air slightly. "I just came to let you know that Henry is helping me and the plan goes down tonight. So, you have till then to figure out how to stop me before he dies," he smirked with a deep chuckle.

Regina created a large fireball in the palm of her hand, but he was gone. She let out a fierce growl. "If he lays a hand on our son, he's going to regret ever threatening us in the first place," she snapped causing Emma to jump at her sudden rough tone.

A hand coming to rest on the small of her back caused a wave of calm to drift over her. "We'll get him back," Emma whispered, gently rubbing a small pattern on her back with her fingertips. Regina stiffened slightly under her touch.

She stared up at the younger woman, her sea eyes staring longingly into her own cocoa ones. "I promise, Gina," she whispered.

Regina's face fell. "Don't tell me you're taking pity on me?" she questioned. Emma looked at her completely speechless. "You only call me Gina when I'm hurt, or at least, that's what I've picked up."

Emma sat back down on the rock and pulled Regina down to sit next to her. "I know how hard it must've been for you in there," she whispered. "To be forced to tell a secret that you didn't want anyone else to know."

She sighed. Regina had originally planned to keep this hidden forever, or at least, for as long as she could. She never wanted to tell anyone, she wanted to keep it to herself. She let out a soft hum but gave no vocal reply.

Emma took her hand and gave it a small squeeze. "I didn't want to share mine either," she mumbled.

"What was yours?" Regina asked curiously.

She shrugged and wrapped her arm around her again but this time she slipped it around her waist. Regina's breathing hitched at the new feeling.

"I told Neal that I loved him," she stated.

Who was I kidding? Of course, she loved him. Regina thought to herself with a frown.

"But then I told him that I was hoping that he was dead," she finished.

The second part took Regina by surprise. Not knowing how else to respond, she wrapped her into a hug which to her surprise, Emma returned. They stayed there in the embrace for a moment taking it in. This is probably the closest Regina was ever going to get to the other woman. She took in her soft scent of vanilla and cinnamon before pulling away.

She smiled. "We should get back to camp and warn everyone."

Regina stared into her eyes for a moment, fighting the temptation to kiss her. She shoved the thought to the back of her mind and nodded. "Yeah," she mumbled getting to her feet. She straightened her jacket and looked at Emma.

Everything was silent for a moment before the blonde leaned forward and kissed her cheek. "Let's go," she whispered.

Regina stood there in shock for a moment before smiling. "Of course," she managed to choke out before they made their way back to camp.