She swallowed thickly.
"I wanted you to see the future we could've had together, with Henry. Maybe we could've had more children. Maybe we'd bicker over what to name our child," Regina smiled, "and over what color the nursery would be."
She traced a finger along Emma's lips.
"We could've grown old together."
The mayor retracted her hand once more.
"But then again, did you even want to be with me? I wondered that every day, Ms. Swan; I'd like to think you did."
Regina was quiet for a while.
"You look like you could be sleeping. Isn't that what death is, Emma? Growing tired from this weary life? But you didn't choose to go, did you? Would you have stayed with me?"
A single tear rolled down the brunette's face.
"They told me you didn't suffer. You went instantly."
Silence filled the room for a moment.
Regina cupped the blonde's face with her hand.
" I wanted to kiss you, at the mine. But I was prideful," she stopped, "no, I was scared. I was scared you would reject me."
"I was in love with you Emma and I know I will never hear those words leave your lips but know, I will always love you."
Regina bowed her head until her lips met Emma's.
No sparks flew and no magic happened, because Emma was truly gone.
The mayor brought her head back up and sighed.
She pulled a folded piece of paper from her trench coat pocket and slipped it into the blonde's leather jacket.
"Goodbye Emma."
Regina walked out of the building, leaving a piece of her heart inside.
She walked home, people looking at her with pity in their eyes as she passed.
Somebody stopped her.
"I'm sorry for your loss." spoke the person.
"Of course you are, just like everyone else." Regina spat back, tears threatening to fall from her eyes.
She kept walking, ignoring anyone else.
Back at the hospital, Snow was talking to Emma, saying goodbye.
"I'm sorry I was never there for you. I'm sorry I couldn't be the mother you wanted."
Just then, Emma sat up and took a deep breath.
"Regina." She whispered.
"Emma?" Snow asked.
"Where's Regina?" Emma asked.
"She went home, I'll go call her." Snow said, pulling out her phone.
The phone rang a few time before someone picked up.
"Hello?" Regina spoke.
"Regina. It's Snow, you have to come back to the hospital. They found something you need to see." Snow said, speaking quickly.
"I'm on my way." Regina said before hanging up.
She ran all the way back to the hospital, this time getting looks of curiosity instead of pity.
She burst through the front doors and sprinted to Emma's room, Snow was outside the door.
"Snow, what did they find?" Regina asked, slightly out of breath.
"See for yourself." Snow replied, nodding her towards the door.
Regina opened the door and walked in.
"Emma?" she asked when she saw her sitting on the bed like nothing had happened.
"Regina, oh thank god. What happened?" Emma asked.
Regina lost it, she broke down into tears and hugged Emma.
"Okay. Regina it's okay, whatever happened it's okay." Emma spoke into the brunette's ear.
Eventually Regina calmed down.
"What happened Gina?" Emma asked, making Regina smile at the nickname.
"You died." Regina answered in a barely audible voice.
"What?"
"You died, someone shot you. I killed them on the spot."
"What- Then how am I here?"
"I don't know." Regina gasped at a sudden realization.
"What?" Emma asked.
"True love's kiss," Regina whispered, "that's the only thing that makes sense."
"True love's kiss? Who kissed me?" Emma questioned.
"Me." Regina answered, looking at Emma.
"You? Regina why-"
"Because I'm in love with you, you idiot."
Regina didn't wait for a reply, she grabbed Emma and kissed her.
Emma tensed at first, but eventually kissed Regina back.
When air was necessary, they pulled apart.
"I love you too." Emma said, smiling, before leaning in to kiss Regina again.