Thank you so much for all the wonderful reviews! I read every single one and thank you for all the kind words of encouragement. Welcome to another crazy emotional journey to some of my usual awesome readers from my other fics. And to that guest reviewer who asked about what kind of snow queen relationship I'm aiming for, well its a friendship one of course and to those who had asked, there will be plenty of regal believer feels!

Thank you again and Enjoy :)

Chapter 2 A World Of Darkness

Emma stayed with Regina as long as she could until the doctors had rushed her gurney through the OR doors. She was left standing there, suddenly feeling the adrenaline fading from her system. She could feel her hands shaking, the exhaustion finally creeping in.

The ride in the ambulance had been terrifying. All she could do was hold Regina's hand and talk softly to her while the paramedics did all they could to keep her stable. She heard words like abdominal internal bleeding, blood loss, vision loss, fractured ribs, and something about needing surgery. She didn't know much about the medical field, but she knew enough to know those words were serious.

She nervously paced the waiting room, waiting for when she would hear any news on Regina while she was in surgery. She also waited for David to show up with Snow and Henry. She would have to tell Henry what happened.

She wasn't ready for this.

She heavily sat down on a chair, running her hand nervously through her blonde hair. Somehow she knew today everything had changed. Life as they knew it would never be the same.

Henry showed up with her parents moments later. He was so worried and so terrified for his adoptive mother that she almost broke down herself. She explained to him what had happened, along with the blindness.

"Is it permanent?" he asked, his voice shaking and his eyes so full of devastation. That question shattered her because she just realized she didn't know the answer. She didn't even think it could be permanent. All that mattered was getting Regina to the hospital.

"I don't know kid," she whispered.

It was hours until Whale had finally come out and they all stood, eager to know how Regina was. Henry's eyes were shining with hope that she'll come out of this ok. Snow held on to David's hand, dried tear tracks staining her cheeks. Emma was so full of anxiety, the endless worry weighing heavily on her shoulders.

"How is she? How's my mom?" Henry asked.

"She's strong," he said. "She's going to be ok, but her recovery will be strenuous. She suffered internal bleeding in her stomach and has three fractured ribs so she will have to be on bed rest."

"And the head injury?" David asked, remembering the blood pouring from the wound on Regina's temple the moment they got to her after the crash.

"The blow to the head damaged her optic nerve to the point of immediate loss in vision. I had performed a lateral canthotomy where I removed the blood and pressure from the nerve, but there is no guarantee that it worked until she wakes up."

"Let's say it didn't," Emma stated shakily. "What happens then?"

"Then she'll be permanently blind," Whale answered and Snow let out a soft sob at those words. David hugged her and Emma could see Henry visibly holding in his own tears.

"Can we see her?" she asked, trying not to fall apart herself.

"Of course, just try not to wake her," he said and after informing them of a few minor details he led them to Regina's room and left them alone.

Emma and Henry went in first. Snow and David wanted to give them the space they needed. Emma sucked in a shaky breath the moment they saw Regina in that hospital bed. She looked so small connected to wires and machines. Her face was bruised all the way down the side where her head wound was. Underneath the hospital gown, her ribs were wrapped and her chest was marred by the seatbelt burns. The skin on her stomach was bruised from the internal bleeding.

"Mom," Henry whispered, going to his mother and taking her hand. "Mom, it's me Henry. I'm here. It's going to be ok." The tears he had been holding in since he got here were now flowing down his cheeks. Emma put her hand on his shoulder and he turned, wrapping his arms around her and burying his face into her chest. She held him close, her eyes never leaving Regina.

Hours later she managed to get Henry to sleep on the couch. He wanted to stay up until Regina was awake, but sleep had won over. Snow and David were asleep on a cot and Emma sat in a chair beside Regina.

"I'm not sure you could hear me Regina. I'm not good at this, but I just need you to know that we're here for you. You're not alone and you can't give up. Henry needs you." She reached out, taking Regina's hand. "I need you," she whispered.

She fell asleep with her head resting on her arms beside Regina, her hand still holding hers. It wasn't until she felt those limp fingers weakly squeezing hers the next morning then she finally lift her head from the mattress.

"Regina?" she asked hopefully, her voice groggy with sleep. Regina murmured something hardly audible and Emma squeezed her hand. "I'm right here. You're ok."

Henry started to wake up at Emma's voice and he was by both of his mother's side the moment he realized Regina was waking up. David and Snow woke up too and they silently watched from the distance, not wanted to crowd Regina.

"Emma…" she whispered, her voice so low Emma almost didn't even hear her.

"Yes, I'm here," she said, not even thinking and moving Regina's hand, open palmed, to her cheek. "And Henry is here too and my parents."

"Try opening your eyes Regina," Snow said softly, moving closer.

"Take your time," Henry encouraged her and his voice seemed to motivate her. She started to stir and her eyes fluttered open. She blinked, still trying to fully wake up.

"Regina," Emma's voice sounded again. "Can you look at me?" Those dark brown eyes were unfocused as she blindly searched the room. Terror and distress streaked across her face and Emma knew she couldn't see. Regina couldn't look at her. Tears were suddenly streaming down Regina's cheeks and the people who were now her family were just as devastated. Snow hugged Henry while David held in his own tears and left the room to go find Whale.

"Emma, it's dark," Regina cried, suddenly panicking and Emma gently pulled her up and held her, being careful of her injuries.

"I know and I got you. Just breathe," Emma said, trying to calm her.

"I can't see anything. I can't see!"

"Shh, I know," Emma whispered and Regina melted into Emma's embrace, her head burying into Emma's chest and tightly clutching her red leather jacket. She didn't have to see it to know it was the one Emma was wearing. It was the last thing she had seen along with those green eyes. Emma was the last person she had saw before her world had plunged into darkness.

Regina was suddenly so trusting towards Emma. Their relationship had still been a bit rocky so this was a bit shocking to Emma. Snow had noticed too and she and Emma both exchanged concerned looks. Whale came in at that moment with David and he moved towards the anguished brunette who was still holding on to Emma.

"Regina, I need to examine your eyes and your injuries," he spoke, his hand touching her shoulder. She jumped at the contact, panicking that she couldn't see where it was coming from. Emma tightened her grip.

"Hey, it's ok. I'll explain everything he does so you know exactly what he's doing," Emma told her softly, pulling Regina away from her body. She shivered from the loss of warmth and she suddenly felt so vulnerable. Emma laid her down and she explained exactly what Whale was going to do. He checked the incision on her stomach where he had stopped the internal bleeding. The skin was severely bruised, but otherwise she was healing nicely. He then checked the incision on her temple before moving on to her eyes all with Emma's commentary. The sound of Emma's voice calmed her and the silent support Henry was giving her by holding her hand helped as well. Whale shinned his penlight into her eyes, telling her to look in different directions before finally putting it away. Emma sat on the edge of the bed, her hand comfortingly rubbing Regina's arm before taking her hand.

"He's done now," Emma whispered and she could see Regina visibly relaxing.

"The wounds are healing and the incisions I made for the internal bleeding are holding up strong. As long as she doesn't do anything strenuous, then they won't tear."

"And her vision?" Snow asked.

"The procedure didn't work. I'm sorry…" he said, looking at Regina even if she couldn't see him. He sighed, a tiny bit of sympathy flashing in his eyes for the woman who was his enemy. "You're permanently blind, Regina."

A sob escaped Regina's lips, the anguish clear on her face and Emma moved infront of her, shielding her from Whale's view. David thanked him, placing a hand on his shoulder and steering him towards the door.

Regina was crying hysterically.

The usual strict mayor and sorceress who was always so in control of her emotions was breaking down. She had never let anyone see her cry like this. Not even Henry. She couldn't stop and she didn't care who saw her like this. How could she stop knowing she had lost a sense that not only took her sight, but took her entire life from her? She would never again see her son. She wouldn't see him grow into the man he was slowly becoming each day. She would never see the world around her. Her world would forever be encased in darkness.

Warm arms were suddenly pulling her up and Regina was being held against a warm chest… Emma's chest. She was holding her, cradling her head into her neck and whispering soothing words into her ear.

"I'm here and Henry's here too. You won't be alone in this. You have me."

She would never again see the flash of red leather or those bright green eyes that were Emma.