Tell Me a Story
"Tell me a story." Emma whispered softly against Regina's neck.
The brunette spent the entire day denying the reality, refusing to acknowledge the fast invading poison that was taking over her lover's soul. She paced up and down the narrow hall, waiting for the doctor to return with news. "There was nothing we could do." Dr. Whale broke the news to Regina, emerging from her room after her surgery had failed. "The crash just caused to much internal bleeding, I'm truly sorry. She's awake now if you would like to say goodbye." He had left the two to handle the news alone, giving them a chance to say goodbye while they still had time. Regina could feel death fast approaching, however.
"Okay baby," She gently stroked her lovers back, scared any sudden moves might brake her in her fragile state. "What story would you like to hear?" Regina did her best to focus on the sounds of the blonde's breathing, and not the insufferable beep of the heart monitor. She knew that with the surgery having done nothing, it wouldn't be long before she... slipped away.
"It doesn't matter. Just... Just distract me from the cold. I'm so cold..." The weakness in her voice scared Regina.
"Shhh...okay." She had never seen her this weak and defenseless before. There wasn't anything she could do to save Emma. Her own powerlessness was starting to kill her and all she could simple do was hold her. Regina fought to keep the tears at bay. She had to stay strong. For Emma. "Okay, close your eyes baby." She smiled at how peaceful Emma looked with her eyes closed, almost as if everything was all right again. Regina kissed her forehead lightly, it wouldn't be long now. "Once upon a time, there was a brave Knight, lost in the enchanted forest." She began her story, "This Knight, she wandered aimlessly through the trees until one day she ran into The Queen-"
Suddenly Regina was interrupted by Emma's mousy voice. "I'm getting sleepy."
Regina started to slightly panic, she could hear Emma's heart beat beginning to slow on the monitor. She jostled Emma slightly, bringing her back to. "Try and stay awake. All you have to do is listen, ok dear?"
"Okay I'll try." The blonde half nodded her head. "You know I love this story. It's my favorite..." She mumbled almost too softly for Regina to hear her.
"Yes, yes I know dear." It broke her heart. If only they hadn't gotten into a fight that afternoon. Emma wouldn't have been driving and she wouldn't be lying there now, slowly slipping from Regina's grasp. The brunette paused, regained her composure and then continued on with the story. "Anyway, The Queen was evil in the eyes of all that crossed her path, however not to the brave Knight. She saw something in the Queen that no one before her had seen."
"I saw you." Emma lifted herself up off Regina's chest slightly, eyes open to search out Regina's chocolate brown gaze. Her eyes lit up as though the little detail in the story was new and exciting, as if she hadn't heard the story time and time again.
"Yes, yes you did dear." Regina pulled Emma back down so she was resting her head against her shoulder again. "The Queen showed the lost Knight her way out of the forest, and in return, the Knight, being the brave Knight she was, showed the Queen what it was like to let someone in, to not have to be evil." Regina smiled as she told the last bit of the story, soaking up the feel of Emma's warm body against her's for as long as she still could.
"And they lived happily ever after." Emma finished as cheerily as she could manage. "You can't forget that part Madame May... Mad..."Emma swallowed drily unable to push out the rest of her lover's name. Regina nodded, unable to form words through her tears. "I think... I'll sleep... now." Emma rasped, all energy she had been running on long spent. She yawned and nuzzled into Regina further. "I love y-"
"I love you too." Regina erupted into sobs as the beeping heart monitor next to Emma's hospital bed flatlined. She screamed on the top of her lungs, unable to do anything else.
This can't be happening. "Whale! You will fix her." Regina followed the doctor out of the room after hearing the news.
"Regina, I'm sorry. Like I said, we did all we could, but the damage was too great." He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "You should go be with her now." The doctor turned to walk away but was stopped by a tug on his sleeve.
"I don't accept that!" She screeched, tears flowing down her cheeks in a steady stream.
He looked at her with eyes filled with pity. "Go tell her how much you love her." He turned away again, this time she didn't stop him. It wasn't him that she was angry at. She, she wasn't sure who she was angry at.
The next few hours Regina spent hunched over Emma's body. She didn't think it fair however, that true love's kiss didn't seem to wake her up no matter how many times she tried to rouse her lover. It alway's seemed to work in the fairytales.