Chapter Text
She stumbles to the edge and grasps the railing of the rebuilt vessel. The dry heaving had become a normal occurrence after the eighth day of their honeymoon when she ran out of motion sickness pills.
"You okay love?" Killian chuckles, moving to gently pat Emma on the back.
"Y-yeah," Emma answers, taking steadying breaths and squeezing her eyes shut to stop the swishing of her stomach. "How much longer until we dock in Storybrooke?"
"About an hour." He points west in the distance. "You can already see it from here."
For the first time in a week, she smiles. "Good."
He leans closer to his new bride, pressing himself against her back almost too forcefully. "Can't say I'm too excited," he murmurs in her ear, "We didn't get to consummate our nuptials as much as I would have hoped love."
Her response is throwing up again.
----
The first face Emma sees once their docked is Henry's. He runs over to his blonde mother and wraps her in one of his rare teenage hugs and her nausea is already forgotten.
"I missed you Ma," he says giving her another small squeeze before releasing her.
Hook approaches them with Emma's luggage and pats Henry on the shoulder. "Nice to see you too lad."
Henry nods and smiles before pulling Emma away. "Come on! Everyone is waiting for us at the diner."
Emma gives Killian an apologetic expression.
"It's okay Mrs. Jones." He waggles his eyebrows and Henry tries not to gag at the reference. "I'll take our things home and meet you all there."
Henry wastes no time pulling Emma away from the docks and towards Granny's. Upon walking in, the blonde stiffens realizing everyone has indeed shown up to see the "fairytale" couple return. Snow breaks through the crowd and embraces her daughter.
"Welcome home sweetie!"
"Thanks Mom, but was all of this necessary?" She gestures around the diner.
"Of course! In the Enchanted Forest, a couple's return from their honeymoon was a joyous occasion and marked the hopes of them growing their family." Snow's beaming and David's smile is one of attempted comfort.
Emma feels nauseous again. "Ah..well...thanks?"
The diner thins out pretty quickly after many congratulations and welcomes are exchanged. After the initial shock settles, Emma continues to search for a familiar face that had been missing the entire time. She can't seem to get a word in to ask about said missing face.
"So tell us how was the honeymoon?" Ruby inquires.
Ruby, Snow, Belle, and Mulan are in a booth with Emma. David had left to put baby Neal down for a nap and honestly trying to avoid gossip of his daughter's honeymoon. Henry had left to see Violet a short time ago, leaving his mother to many uncomfortable questions.
She shrugs. "It was fine."
"Emma Jones, don't be modest," Belle teases.
Emma shifts in her seat, clearing her throat to stall for time and twisting the wedding band on her finger. Had it always been this tight, she wonders.
"I for one appreciate your modesty Emma. I really don't want to hear about you boinking," Mulan chimes in, "So on that note, I have to get back to station. Break's over."
"God bless you, you cross dressing historical hero," Emma thinks to herself.
"Guess that's my cue as well," Ruby sighs, "Emma drinks and catching up at the Rabbit Hole soon?"
Emma smiles and the town's two new officers leave. The doorbell to the diner chimes again and Emma hopes to see the face of her best friend, but is disappointed to see that it's Zelena.
"Swan, how lovely to see you," Zelena greets, sliding into the booth beside Snow. Belle's still seated at the head of the table. "I take it your holiday with the pirate went well."
Emma nods and before she can ask about Regina, the door opens again and Hook appears. For the second, or maybe it was fifth time today, her stomach drops.
He takes the seat next to Emma. "Ladies." He greets before kissing Emma on the cheek and putting his arm around her. "Is my wife dishing about our lovely trip?"
"We were just getting to that," Zelena states and rolls her eyes at the scruffy male in front of her.
"A girl never kisses and tells," Emma responds to placate her husband. The beaming smile her mother gives her across the table lets her know that her answer is good enough.
"Boring," Zelena huffs and signals the waitress over to order a tea.
"I've seemed to have missed the Evil Queen," Hook taunts at Zelena, "I thought she would have stuck around long enough to throw a few jabs at me making up for lost time."
Emma stiffens. She didn't want to ask about her best friend in front of him. Why? She didn't know. Best friends and can ask about each other's whereabouts right?
"While I'm sure Regina will have tons of insults lined up for you Hook, she's actually been on holiday herself," Zelena answers.
This information was certainly new to Emma who was now staring around the table waiting for some type of follow up.
"Oh you didn't hear!" Belle responds enthusiastically. "She went on a singles cruise."
Emma eyes widen and Zelena barely contains the smirk behind her mug.
"Sh-she what?" Emma tries to look casually surprised, but it looks a bit pained.
"Isn't it great?" Snow trills. "Zelena and Henry thought that after the whole split personality thing, and the whole save the world thing, and the whole Robin's gone, Robin's back, Robin's gone, Robin's back, Robin's gone fiasco, she needed a bit of Regina time."
Emma's stomach is starting to do that sinking thing again, much more rapidly than before.
"We thought Henry would have told you at the docks. He's been staying with us and we love having a babysitter," Snow concludes with a laugh.
"I..I..no he didn't mention it," Emma says, her voice distant.
"Yes, that wonderful son of yours just thought my idea was lovely. I think he called it "Operation Get Mom's Groove Back". Catchy right? Some fun in the sun with a boatload of hot strangers is just what the doctor ordered," Zelena added with a wink in Emma's direction.
Emma wanted to punch the emerald eyed witch, but settled for a contemptuous glare.
"I think it's wonderful. Who knows? Maybe she'll find real love," Belle says dreamily.
Emma scoffs.
"Well a good romp never hurt anyone if you ask me," Killian comments, giving his new wife a suggestive squeeze.
"Well no one asked you!" Emma blurts out. She immediately wants to take it back and watches the confused expressions appear on Snow, Belle's and Killian's faces.
But not Zelena's. Instead, the red-headed witch sister of her best friend is grinning like a goddamned chessy cat.
"I'm sorry," Emma murmurs to Killian. "I guess I'm more tired than I realized after our trip. Let's head home."
Everyone gives her reassuring smiles before the newlyweds slide out of the booth.
"And Emma," Zelena calls out before they exit the diner, "My sister returns in a week. I'm sure we're all dying to catch up with her too."
Emma restrains herself from flicking Zelena off, only because she's sitting next to her mother. She continues to exit the diner with Killian pressed into her side.
She makes it home before throwing up for the final time...she hopes.