Disclaimer: I own nothing and make no profit.

Emma steeled herself by breathing in the cold night air deeply before raising her hand to ring the bell. She asked herself for the seventh time why she was here, waiting for someone to answer the door when she should be sleeping. And like the other six times, she remembered the image that had flashed before her eyes just before she succumbed to blissful darkness.

An image of Regina's pained eyes as she watched the son who didn't have any recollection of being raised by her for eleven years walk away.

Her whole body had jerked as her mind jump started again, apparently refusing her any beauty sleep before she made sure the woman was okay. Regina hadn't answered her phone, but it was to be expected. She was probably fast asleep, like she herself should be. Still, her body refused to calm down, that slight feeling that there could be something wrong churning in her gut. And so she had groaned as loudly as she dared, not wanting to wake up Henry or her parents - she really needed to figure out how to tell her son they'd be staying a while so she could find somewhere less cramped to stay - and risk questions, before pulling on the first clothes she could reach that weren't skin-tight and sneaking out of the apartment.

She rang the bell again, not really surprised to hear no sounds of movement. She had tried calling the woman again on her way over - Regina's disapproving voice telling her how dangerous and reckless it was to call and drive at the same time - but recieved no answer. It was late though, no need to worry.

Emma pressed the bell three times in quick sucession and strained her ears. In a moment the woman would be cursing her for bothering her at this ungodly hour. She frowned when there was still no indication of life from inside the mansion. Surely Regina should have awoken from the noise.

She looked around to make sure no one was around - it would be awkward to explain to her parents why she was caught lurking around the Evil Queen's property in the middle of the night - before she made her way off the front porch and started walking around the house, peering through the windows as she went so she could try to assess if there was any cause for concern. She saw nothing.

Emma released a huff when she reached the front again, looking around once more to make sure she was still alone, before she decided to hell with it and unzipped the inner pocket of her jacket. Her tongue piqued over her lips as she carefully and meticulously started picking the lock to the door. She grinned and mentally patted herself on the back when she heard it click open five minutes later.

Sucking in a breath she slowly pressed the handle and let the door fall open, listening for any sounds inside. The absolute quiet that hit her ears made her skin crawl uncomfortably. A mansion should never be this silent, it couldn't be normal.

"Regina?" she tried gently, wincing as her voice rebounded in the hallway. The quiet made it feel like she might as well have shouted. "Okay, let's do this, Swan," Emma muttered to herself as she carefully shut the door behind her and let her eyes adjust to what little light seeped in through the windows. Of course Regina would be one of those women who never left any light on in a room that wasn't being used.

The first step she took made a dull thumping sound on the floor and she winced again as she strained her ears and eyes just in case. Fisting her hands so she'd be ready if anyone tried to jump her - but who would, everything was fine, right? - she slowly started making her way through the hallway to the living room.

She froze as soon as she could see inside, every muscle in her body tensing when her brain finally caught up and she realized there was a body on the couch. "Regina?" she whisper shouted. Even in the darkness she could make out the woman's head against the back of the sofa. It couldn't be anyone else.

Fear coiled low in her abdomen when there was no sound or movement from the woman; no sign of life at all. For the longest moment she just stood there, staring at the back of Regina's head, her mind blank. Then it kick-started as her heart jumped and all breath left her lungs. And she was running to the couch, around it, dropping to her knees in front of the woman without a care for the pain it caused when they hit the hard ground, as she frantically started chanting the woman's name while shaking her.

"Regina, oh God, Regina, don't do this to me," Emma begged as she grasped her arms firmly, completely forgetting that you should never shake someone who might be injured in case of spine damage.

And then she heard the most beautiful grumble she'd ever heard and involuntarily released a relieved sob as the woman started moving.

"It's okay, you're okay," Emma repeated nonsensically as Regina groggily opened her eyes and tried to focus.

"Wha-Em-Emma?"

"I'm here," she promised with a shaky smile and glassy eyes. Regina was alive, she was okay. God, she could kiss her. And punch her.

Regina blinked rapidly, clearly trying to regain her bearing, before looking down at the hands holding her arms tightly.

"What-" the woman had to clear her throat as it gave out, "What are you doing here?"

Emma noticed the way Regina looked at her hands and quickly pulled them away, settling one on her own thigh and the other next to the woman on the couch. "I wanted to check up on you, see that you were okay."

For a moment Regina's face relaxed as she eyed her. But then she apparently remembered who was sitting in front of her becuase her eyes narrowed and her lips pursed. "Well, you've seen me, and I'm clearly still around."

"Regina," Emma said with a tired sigh as the woman started fumbling to get up, forcing her to stand and give her space. "What happened?" Then she glanced around and noticed the empty bottle and the not quite empty glass and realization downed on her.

She reached out automatically to steady her when Regina stumbled, but the woman growled in warning and pushed her hand away. "I don't need your help," Regina barked and Emma raised her hands in a show of surrender.

"Of course you don't," she placated quickly. Regina was unpredictable on the best of days and she didn't want to find out what she could do when drunk on alcohol and pain. She'd follow behind her up the stairs just in case though.

"You can leave now," the woman said with just a hint of a slur and Emma nodded her agreement.

"Just as soon as you're in bed, I promise."

Regina sent her a glare that told her just what she thought of that idea before she apparently decided it would be better if she just ignored Emma all together. The woman released a sniff before slowly starting to make her way towards the stairs. Considering she was probably shit-faced, Emma was pretty impressed with how Regina almost managed to walk normally. For the first time she noticed that the woman were sans heels and marvelled at how petite she actually was. The heels and the attitude usually made her feel like Regina was taller. She followed the woman wordlessly up the stairs.

"No," Regina said firmly when she reached her bedroom door and Emma made a move to follow. The blonde folded her arms and frowned, but the woman wouldn't be deterred.

"Regina..." she breathed when the bedroom door was opened and the woman made to walk inside. "Don't..." Emma uncrossed her arms. "Don't do anything stupid. We'll find a way for you to get him back."

Regina's bottom lip trembled for a moment before she nodded once and turned away, shutting the door.

It wasn't until she started the engine on her beloved bug that Emma's mind caught up to the trashed room she'd glimpsed before Regina shut her out.