He ran to them, wobbling in a dazed zigzag, before taking both women's hands and swinging them. "Mommy, what are we doing?"
Before either woman could answer him, the boarding sign for Baghdad International Airport appeared on the call screen accompanied by the announcer claiming, "Boarding for flight 5628 will begin momentarily."
Regina caught Emma's gaze. The green that had been twinkling with mirth for the past few days now looked despondent as the owner of them crouched to the boy still swinging obliviously from their arms. "Hey bud," Emma pre-emptively soothed. "Remember how I work to stop the bad guys?"
He nodded understandingly, the oversized cap on his head falling over his eyes in the process.
The soldier laughed and adjusted it, tucking his bangs under the lip so he could see. "I've gotta go back to work again."
He furrowed his brow and wrinkled his nose in a way so characteristically like Regina one would hardly think he was adopted. "When?"
"Right now. Soon."
He crossed his arms over his chest and pouted. "No."
"Henry. . ." Regina warned. His bottom lip was already trembling, and his cheeks were painted red: sure signs of an impending tantrum.
"No," he said firmly, holding his resolve.
"I'm sorry, kid, but I've got to."
He stomped his foot loud enough to draw viewers. "You just got here!"
The words Henry had shouted were the same ones running through Regina's mind, and the tiniest part of her commended her son for holding his ground, but the distress on Emma's face was too much, so Regina, as best as she could in her skirt, bent down to calm Henry. "Sweetheart, what did we say about yelling?"
"But Momma!" This time the water works released and Henry fell limp into Emma's arms, wailing and sobbing and pounding his fists against her chest.
"Hey," Emma soothed, wrapping her arms around him tightly and lifting him off the floor in a big hug. The cap fell to the ground and her rucksack lay at her feet forgotten. She kissed his temple, using her chin to move aside his hair to kiss again on his flesh. "It's gonna be okay, Hen. I'm coming back soon."
He sniffled and refused to look up, even when Regina had stood and rubbed his back. "Two sleeps?"
The soldier frowned. "More than that."
"Five?" He whined.
She pressed her forehead against his and sighed. Huge brown eyes, watery and red-rimmed, stared back at her, and Emma was sure her own would soon match. "More than that," she admitted quietly. "But you gotta promise that you won't grow up too much, okay? I can barely wrap my arms around you, you're such a big boy."
"No more greens?" He hoped.
Regina and Emma let out a watery chuckle before his mother steeled her gaze and looked sternly. "You eat your greens, mister."
Emma was more than a little watery-eyed when she took a deep breath to steady herself, grateful to feel Regina's hand rubbing circles on her back as well.
"Hey, little guy." The trio looked up to see an older man, heading for Orlando if his khaki shorts, flower shirt, and bucket hat were anything to go by. He ducked his head so he could meet Henry's gaze and smiled. "You've got a real brave Mama there, you know that?"
Henry nodded, clinging tighter to Emma's shoulders.
The man smiled then directed it to Emma and nodded reverently. "Thank you."
The soldier nodded him off as he moved toward his terminal, and for a second, his words caught up with Emma when she turned to face Regina who continued to pat Henry's back. Maybe the man hadn't seen Regina, or maybe he didn't care, but having more of a title than just Corporal Swan made her chest tighten in the best way, though it made her duty of leaving impossible.
"Boarding for flight 5628 will now commence."
Emma crouched down again, putting Henry down on his feet and wiped his tears with both thumbs as she cupped his face. "I gotta go now."
He pouted but didn't try to get her to stay.
"Can I have a hug?" She opened her arms wide and expectantly, but all Henry did was cross his own and jut his lip out. "Oh," Emma gasped, slowly bringing her arms around herself. "Hug's closing. Better get in."
He fought to keep his angered composure, but just before Emma's arms wrapped around herself, he pulled them open and dove straight for her chest, hugging her tightly. "Love you, Emma."
This time Emma let the water building up in her eye fall over as a tear slid down her cheek. There was always a stereotype about soldiers and how they were big, muscular men who felt no pain and showed no emotion, but if serving taught Emma anything it wasn't discipline or duty. Soldiers could feel everything, probably more intensely than the average person. Making life or death decisions where a life loss could either be an innocent civilian or a friend leaves a mark like no other. Not feeling, well that just got most soldiers home alive.
And as Emma hugged Henry tightly, her tear falling onto the top of his head and disappearing into a thick thatch of hair, she though of one thing. This was living. "I love you too, Henry." She kissed his cheek and released him quickly, grabbing her cap off the floor and placing it on her head before turning to Regina who held herself around the middle, already anxiety-ridden and worried.
She reached out and squeezed the older woman's elbow affectionately. "Hey," she began softly. "I'll be back before you know it."
Regina nodded. "I know."
"Try not to miss me too much," Emma joked but the grin didn't quite reach her eyes.
Regina nodded. "Be safe."
"I always am."
They held each other's gaze as if memorizing the other's features. So many times had they done this, and so many times could they find new things to commit to memory, wanting to never forget. Then Regina stepped forward, and Emma met her halfway, arms wrapping around one another in tight hug. Regina's face was nestled against the pressed collar of Emma's jacket, and Emma took a second to breathe in Regina's perfume once more. They could have stood there longer, but both women were acutely aware of the crowd around them, judging whether they were holding on for too long. Just a second shy of questionable behaviour, Emma pulled back and kissed Regina's forehead before turning sharply, picking up her bag, and heading toward the terminal.
She got all of four steps before she turned back to Regina and Henry with one final thought in her head. Fuck it. She marched back to the family, her family, ignoring the traveling college students in her path as they ran to catch their plane or the bewildered expression on Regina's face as she advanced. As soon as she returned to them, she dropped her bag at their feet and cupped Regina's face tightly, a crooked smile plastered on pink lips. She kissed her soundly, not giving a damn about anyone around them.
She felt Regina gasp before their lips crashed, and though she was worried the brunette was going to pull back, reluctant to cause a scene and sully her good name as Mayor, Regina kissed her back just as desperately. When they pulled away, Regina's cheeks were stained pink but a smile threatened to spill on her lips. Emma pecked her one final time. "I love you."
That smile flourished on Regina's face, and Emma only realized the older woman had been hanging on tightly by the collar of Emma's uniform when Regina tugged her closer with it. "I love you too," she whispered breathlessly against her lips.
If Emma's smile could get wider, it did. "Good, because that would have been really awkward."
Regina rolled her eyes, kissing her chastely once more, then gave her shoulder a firm push. "Go. Your plane is leaving."
Emma bent to pick up her bag and ruffled Henry's hair. "Take care of each other, okay, little man?"
He nodded, coming to stand in front of his mother as Regina's arms weaved around his shoulders. Further and further, Emma walked away until she was finally behind a door designated for passengers and gone from sight, but not from mind. Subconsciously, Regina touched her lips, smiling softly to herself as her heart pounded in her ears. She'll come back, she reminded herself. She always comes back.