Chapter Text
A/N: Okay so, I've never really written anything before so bare with me here. This takes place in 5b, and everything is canon up to this point.
Love can never be
What you want it to be
But I'd still follow you down
Slow motion, no sound
To the edge of the world
End of the Earth - Marina
Emma took a deep breath as she glanced around, committing the scene to memory. It pained her to think that she may never see it again. She leaned her torso forward against the island in her mother's kitchen, letting her arms support her on the countertop before letting out a deep sigh.
Her parents huddled next to each other on bar stools, her father’s arms wrapping around her mother’s small frame, as if he were supporting her. Their faces looked tired and the cup of tea she clutched steamed around her face, unsipped. They gazed up at her expectantly, hope shining in their eyes in their typical fashion.
Standing next to Emma, Regina’s brow creased into her forehead, her lips sinking into a worried frown, her arms crossed against her chest. She knew that most family meetings involved someone or something trying to kill them, and given the recent ordeal with the Dark Swan and all that they had to go through, she didn’t believe it was an overreaction.
Across the island stood Henry, his face looked young and bright in contrast to the dreary topic Emma knew they were faced with. She had made her decision, and now she knew without a doubt that she had to go through with it. She could never forgive herself if she didn’t at least try.
The tension in the air grew taut and thick until she couldn’t bear the silence another minute. The feeling of unease ate away in her abdomen as she clenched her jaw one last time before opening her mouth to speak.
“I have to go to the underworld to save Hook. I need you guys to stay here and protect the town.” She finally blurted out, choosing to just get it over with rather than draw it out any longer.
“Emma, ” Snow said, the realization of what Emma said sinking in. She reached out, clasping Emma’s hand in hers, and desperately pleaded, “you can’t possibly go alone!”
Emma squeezed her mother’s hand once before pulling away, making the mistake of looking at Snow’s face. Doe-eyed and soft, her face spelled the turmoil in her heart at the thought of her daughter making such a journey. Shaking her head, Emma shook her immediate guilt away; the guilt of leaving Hook for dead would be a million times worse than any of her mother’s tears.
"It's my fault he's there,” she declared valiantly, her voice hard as steel. Regina felt a twinge in her heart, seeing her so firm in her resolution awakened something in her that she hadn’t known was there anymore. She knew that she had to help Emma in any way that she could, even if she wasn’t crazy about the pirate. Emma rubbed her temples, smoothing her hair back as she contemplated what even brought them to this point. “If I hadn’t turned him into a dark one, this never would have happened."
“I never thought I’d say this but Snow's right, Emma. You can't go alone,” declared Regina, moving to stand closer to the woman that, during a very different time in their lives, she hated most. Knowing that she had to protect Emma, even if it meant her own detriment, her chest felt tight as she felt the emotion bubbling up inside her chest. The words that came out of her mouth next surprised her as much as they did anyone else in the apartment.
”And you won't. I'll go with you.”
Emma whipped around to face Regina, a look of shock plastered to her face. Taken aback, she swallowed the lump in her throat as she considered the woman before her. Once, long ago, they had been enemies but through their shared love of Henry, the hate between them slowly blossomed into a beautiful friendship. The thought of spending time with Regina, albeit in the underworld of all places, made her heart begin to flutter. She quickly pushed those feelings aside, not wanting to know what they meant, and opened her mouth to speak.
“Regina, are you sure? What about the town?”
“Yes, I’m sure” she persisted, reaching a hand to clasp over Emma’s. “You're not going to hell by yourself. I know better than anyone how hard it is to kill your parents.“ She looked towards them, offering a small smile at the aforementioned heroes. “They can handle the town for a few days while we’re gone.”
“What about Henry?” asked Emma incredulously. Peering into eyes like honey, her heartbeat pulsed so loudly in her ears that the next words spoken sounded distorted and foreign.
“I'm fifteen, Ma,” insisted Henry, recognizing the look on both women’s faces- one full of fear, the other determination. “I'll be fine, but if it makes you feel better, I'll stay with grandma and grandpa.” Snow and Charming quickly nodded along in agreement, murmuring that they’d care for him as their own.
“Alright. It's settled then,” asserted Emma, relief hitting her abruptly as she realized that she wouldn’t have to make this trip alone. She peered up at Regina, her emerald irises gleaming gratefully. “We leave tomorrow morning."
Moving to hug her parents, she was enveloped in the smell of fresh linens and lavender as Snow’s arms wrapped around her more tightly than she would have thought the small woman was capable of. Her father, whom she realized hadn’t uttered a word, gathered her tightly in his arms as she took in his woody scent. She knew he must be trying to be strong for her, but she could see the concern moving deep beneath his proud mask. The only one who actually seemed enthusiastic about her venture was Henry. As his arms enveloped her in a hug, he smiled brightly, wishing her luck. She couldn’t wait to hear the codename he would pick out for this particular mission.
After finishing her goodbyes and excusing herself, she walked down the path to the parking lot towards her yellow bug. A beautiful creation, she reflected nostalgically on all of the adventures her car had seen her through, always able to rely at least on that. Lost in thought, she was taken by surprise when she felt Regina’s hand on her elbow, a gentle pull urging her to turn around. She knew Regina must have a million questions; she wasn’t one to be unprepared, but she was suddenly filled with an exhaustion that made her thoughts sluggish.
“How are we going to get there?” Regina’s cognac eyes implored nervously, unable to settle her mind without some answers. She didn’t know why she even volunteered to go with Emma; that was something she never would have done before- before Storybrooke or Henry. But Emma awoke something unexpected inside of her spirit again and again: hope.
“I bought a plane ticket to Greece. The flight wasn't full when I booked mine earlier so I'll add on another ticket for you when I get home," said Emma, wringing her hands nervously to keep from rubbing her eyes tiredly.
“Stay at my place tonight that way we can go over your plan,” insisted Regina, putting a reassuring hand on Emma’s shoulder. “Henry can stay with your parents.”
With her touch, Regina seemed to melt away all of Emma’s unease. She routinely had a habit of making Emma feel like she was capable of anything, and that wasn’t something that an orphan got a lot growing up. She beamed up at Regina, relieved that she wouldn’t have to spend the night in her own place. She probably would have ended up worrying all night anyway, at least this way she wasn’t alone.
“Okay,” started Emma. “The flight is leaving from Boston. We'll need to leave early.”
Regina let out a sigh of relief that the stubborn woman seemed to agree so willingly to her coming along. She was worried that she was going to have to do some convincing.
“By the way, we're taking the bug. More room," she shrugged, that gorgeous grin breaking out across her face again. Before Regina could protest, Emma got in the monstrosity of a car and drove off in the direction of Mifflin street.
Unbeknownst to them, a sixth person was watching them and taking in the whole scene. Draped delicately in her white silks, Aphrodite had looked on as she watched Regina declare that she would go to Hell for the woman she loved, knowing it was to save the other woman's boyfriend. She tousled her cascading waves of golden hair, frustrated as she watched the scene fold out. Being the goddess of love, Aphrodite had a way of knowing when two people should be together, even if they themselves hadn't realized it yet. She knew she had to find a way to get them to see, but the fools were in such denial about their true feelings, that she wracked her brain trying to come up with the perfect plan.
Suddenly, a thought hit her. She could accomplish this little love story, but she would definitely need some help first. Descending Mount Olympus, she immediately visited Morpheus, the god of dreams, confessing her desire to bring them together. Waiting patiently through her anecdote, he absorbed the information she presented to him with a quizzical brow, confused as to why she even needed his help.
“Why not have your son Eros shoot them with an arrow?” he questioned, his large hands splaying out to his sides.
“Because they're already in love,” insisted Aphrodite earnestly, her small hands clasped together as she smiled at her brilliance. “They're just too stubborn to realize it.”
“What, then, would you have me do?”
“Show them through their dreams,” her silvery voice rang out as she circled around him to clasp his shoulders with her hands. The next words she spoke into his ear from behind, allowing her voice to slip out of her throat in a seductive manner, as was her usual style.
“Let them live out our stories. Start with Hades and Persephone. Let them see what true unadulterated love looks like."
“You think that would work?” Morpheus raised his chin slightly, his brow still raised.
“I do,” she insisted confidently. “They just need a gentle push.”
When Regina finally arrived at her house having made a short stop at the store, she didn’t notice that Emma was already waiting on the front porch steps until she climbed out of her car. Shooting Emma a curious look, she flipped through her keys until she landed on the bronze key that fit her deadbolt, the click of the tumblers satisfying as she felt Emma reaching out to take some of the bags from her hands.
“You have a key,” said Regina, the roll in her eyes quite audible even though her back was facing Emma. “You could have just went in.”
Emma shoulders shrugged, the only explanation she seemed to be able to come up with as she followed closely behind Regina as she entered the mansion. In truth, it was always hard for Emma to allow herself to be a burden to others in her own eyes. She never wanted to overstep or assume her place in people’s lives, especially Regina's. It was hard for her to actually let her guard down enough to be comfortable walking into her house, terrified that one day Regina could change her mind.
Tossing their keys onto a table in the foyer, the jingle scraping harsh against the glass dish that held them, they pushed their way through the rooms until reaching the kitchen and placed the grocery bags on the counter.
"Go sit down. I've got this." Emma Said as she immediately began putting the items where they belonged. When she was done, Emma then allowed herself to fall into Regina’s surprisingly soft couch. It seemed that everything about Regina’s life was exquisite and wonderful, she thought to herself as she closed her eyes, sinking deeper into the cushions. Hearing footsteps approaching, Emma snapped her eyes open to see Regina saunter over carrying two glasses of cider in her hands. She offered one to Emma before settling into her favorite armchair, crossing her legs as her countenance took on a professional nature.
“Do you have a plan?”
Taking a long sip from her glass of cider and leaning back into the wonderful couch again, she began to speak matter-of-factly. “I booked you a plane ticket while I was waiting on you to get here. Our flight leaves at 1pm. When we get to Greece, we have to find the river Styx."
"Oh," interrupted Regina, taking another drink of her apple cider before finishing her thought. "I read an article a few years back saying that historically the entrance is the lowest point of Greece."
"Yes, exactly. It's called Cape Matapan. Once we find it, we'll pay the ferryman Charon to take us across, use your magic to charm Cerberus into not eating us, and then we're in,” explained Emma excitedly, leaning forward to rest her elbows onto her knees, clasping her mug in both hands.
“What if my magic doesn't work?” she asked, her brow furrowing as a frown set over her lips.
“It should, but if it doesn't, we're fucked. I don't really have a backup plan. This is what Orpheus did. He sang his way through, though,” explained Emma, pausing to take a deep sip of her cider. “Can you sing?”
“I've never tried,” admitted Regina, her voice tinged with sudden self-doubt as a shadow of emotion crossed her face. Emma couldn’t quite decipher the look, but pursed her lips up into a crooked smile.
“Then I guess we better hope our magic works,” she responded hopeful and determined, her coy smile tugging at Regina’s heartstrings.
“What's our plan once we get there?”
“I haven't really thought that far yet,” admitted Emma. As a look of alarm flashed across Regina’s face, Emma sighed, reaching out to rest a hand on the other woman’s thigh, gently squeezing. “Let's just get there first. We'll be fine. We moved the moon together, remember? We can do anything as long as we have each other."
“Yeah, good point,” mumbled Regina, still unconvinced but refusing to let her skepticism fill her with anxiety. She pushed her worry out of her mind before finishing her glass of cider. The day was starting to get to her the longer she relaxed in the chair, and she brought her hand up to rub her eyes.
“I’ll look some more stuff up tonight before I go to sleep,” promised Emma, her eyes red from the exhaustion Regina was beginning to feel. She hated the thought of being away from the blonde, but knew that they both needed their rest if they were going to actually accomplish a rescue mission to the Underworld.
“Speaking of sleep,” started Regina reluctantly, a quick yawn finally bursting through her lips as she stood up. “I think I’m going to head to bed. I’ll set an alarm for 7.”
“Sounds great,” exchanged Emma as they lumbered up the stairs. “Goodnight, Gina.”
Later that night, the two women slept soundly as Morpheus stepped into their dreams. He began to use his hands to navigate through Regina’s unconscious mind, delving deeper and deeper until he found the perfect dream to weave. He began hard at work, using her deep, unknown feelings to build the perfect narrative.
Morpheus smiled to himself, impressed this time with his own abilities.