The Savior wasn't quite sure where to begin nor what to say. She wasn't even sure why she'd come in to see Regina when she thought the Mayor was fast asleep. Maybe she just wanted to see her breathing again. After all, Regina was dead not just a few hours ago. Seeing her alive again would give Emma's winding mind some much needed ease.

"I uh. I thought you were sleeping." Emma nervously stuffed her hands in her pockets. Blood still stained underneath her nails despite the boiling hot hour long shower she took.

"I was. But my dear old friend the heart monitor won't allow that for very long. Henry made less noise as an infant."

Emma's chin fell to her chest and she smiled at the ground. She didn't realize how much she loved Regina's sarcastic humor until this moment. For a few silent seconds she savored the wise crack, as simple as it was.

"I should probably get going. You need your rest."

"No, I'm fine. I was going to look for a crappy made for TV movie to watch but I'd much rather have your company."

There was silence.

"That is you don't mind of course. It seems you weren't expecting me to be conscious." Regina snickered.

"Of course I don't mind." Emma quickly replied. "I came to check on you."

"Okay then." Regina fixed herself in the mostly comfortable hospital bed. She pulled the sheets up to her waist and adjusted the bed so she wouldn't have to sit up under what little strength she had. Emma took the seat right at the entrance of Regina's room, about 2 and a half yards in front of her bed.

"That's awfully far." Regina remarked. "Emma, it's okay. I'm not glass."

Still edgy, Emma got up and took the seat to the left of Regina's legs, only a couple feet from the bed. It painfully reminded Emma of being by Regina's side during the blood bath. It painfully reminded her that she'd have to tell Regina how she's still alive. How could she tell Regina that the machines were actually monitoring half of her own heart?

"See? I'm okay."

"Okay as ever." Emma sat back.

"Some night, huh?"

"Yeah. Hard to believe this is our life."

"Fighting evil doppelgängers and a savior is actually quite normal compared to the other predicaments we've gotten ourselves into."

"No kidding. Remember the wraith?"

"How could I ever forget the wraith? But I'd have to say the Chernobog is a personal favorite."

"Ahhh, the Chernobog..." Emma wryly recalled.

"Your rusty bucket of bolts helped save the day that time."

"Hey, don't knock the bug, alright?" She jokingly raised a finger.

"I might actually throw a town wide party when that thing can't run anymore and believe me it's sooner rather than later."

"Alright, alright I get it. You hate my bug."

"I do not hate it. I just... think you need a vehicle with 21st century safety specifications."

They glanced at each other for a moment then hunched over in simultaneous laughter.

"We've been through quite a lot, haven't we?" The Mayor sighed.

"We sure have." Emma gave Regina a helpless sort of look, but it was hard to recognize because of how dim the room was.

"You know I can't help but wonder how I'm... alive."

Emma's eyes widened.

"As hard as it is to admit, Aladdin got me pretty good. I didn't think there was any way I'd make it out of there with my life."

"What's the last thing you remember?"

"Well, let's see. I threw myself in front of the sword, was lying on the ground, I said my goodbyes and then I was here. Perhaps my farewell was a little too melodramatic but I really felt those were my last moments. For once in my life, I'm relieved to be wrong."

Emma nodded, a sad smile on her face as she picked at her nails.

"Maybe fate has an even worse death in store for me." Regina smiled.

"Don't joke like that. It's not funny."

Her face quickly fell as Regina realized how serious Emma was.

"I'm sorry. I hadn't realized how hard that must've been for you. You and Henry both."

"No, it's fine." Emma stood. "Now I'm the one being melodramatic." She gently placed a hand on Regina's knee. "I'm really happy you're okay." Emma gazed upon Regina's naked face. No dark lipstick, no eyeliner and mascara, no blush. Her skin was drained from last night's near death, or actual death, experience. She half-smiled at how absolutely beautiful she still found her face to be.

"Of course I'm okay. My father always told me I have a lion's heart. But thank you."

"Goodnight, Regina."

"Goodnight, Emma."

Emma left out of the hospital room and murmured to herself when she turned the corner.

"More like a Swan's heart."

...

"Hey, Mom."

"Morning, Emma!"

"What are you doing here? What's all this?"

"I'm making a special welcome home breakfast for Regina."

"She's coming home today?"

"Yup. Against doctor's orders of course but Regina insisted on it."

"Amazing, isn't it? You two were mortal enemies, now she's going to come home to Snow White making her breakfast in her kitchen. It's uh... pretty crazy, ya know?" Emma crossed her arms.

"I guess it is." Snow remarked in an inquisitive tone. "I seem to recall you two were enemies once. Now you share both a child and a heart." She started whipping eggs.

"You don't have to say it so openly like that."

"It's the truth. And you're going to have to find a way to deal with it and tell Regina."

"How do you know I haven't already told her?"

"Because you wouldn't have come in here with your sad puppy dog face and random comments about mine and Regina's past."

"Fair enough."

Snow offered a matter of fact nod and continued her masterpiece in the making.

"Where's Henry?"

"He's already at the hospital. He didn't tell you?"

"No, he did not." Shutting her eyes in frustration.

"Well, don't be so hard on the boy. He watched one of his mothers die in front of his very eyes. I wouldn't be surprised if he'll sleep in the same bed with her for the next month."

Emma raised a hand.

"Please, stop. He doesn't need anymore dysfunctional stories to hide from his future wife."

"Or husband."

"What?"

"I'm just saying. Some people fall in love with people of the same gender. It happens. Sometimes it even happens unexpectedly. Without warning. Or you could fall for someone and not even know you have until something drastic happens. Ahhh... isn't love grand?"

"... okay..."

"What? I'm just talking about the many wonders of love. All love is beautiful. Don't you agree?"

"Of... course I do. Does Henry have a boyfriend or something? What's gotten into you?"

"Not that I'm aware of. Just saying!" Snow placed some turkey sausage links into another pan separate from the perfectly yellow eggs that were still sizzling.

"Yeah... anyways. I'll go to the station and check on things. I'm sure the dwarves are throwing a tantrum over the damage done to the roads last night."

"Nope. Your father already went to the station this morning before taking Henry to the hospital. Everything is fine. You're gonna stay put right here."

"What? Why?"

"Because Regina needs all the support she can get. We're a family. Now sit down."

"I think you're experiencing some sort of shock."

"I'm not! Now c'mon. Set the table. Regina will be here in about a half hour."

...

*ding dong*

"They're here." Snow sang.

What on Earth has gotten into her?

Emma pushed her hair behind her ears and once again found herself nervously jabbing her hands into her front jeans pockets. She held them there for a moment then placed her thumbs in her back pockets in an effort to act natural. Emma wasn't sure why she suddenly was so terribly anxious with Regina around but she brushed it off as simple nerves. Keeping secrets from Regina's wasn't exactly her strong suit.

"Regina!" Snow excitedly cried before the door had even fully opened. Sunlight burst into the foyer and silhouetted around Regina which made her seem angelic, ethereal. Emma's mouth couldn't help gape. The barely recovered Mayor had an arm draped around Henry's shoulder as she crossed the threshold and passed the reach of the blinding late morning sunlight. The two best friends shared yet another warm embrace.

"It's good to see you, Snow." Regina's eyes lifted. "Emma."

"Hey, Regina." Emma answered with a toothless smile.

"What smells so good?" David asked.

"That's a special breakfast made for a special someone." The dainty princess cocked her head to the side and smiled at Regina.

"Snow... you didn't have to do-"

"Ah-ah. No objections. Let's eat."

...

"And then he said, 'I'll sleep for 44 years' AHAHAHAHAHA!" David exploded into raucous laughter and the rest of the family followed suit.

For the past hour, everyone was eating, laughing, sharing stories, saying appreciative words to Regina. Everyone except Emma that is. The Savior barely touched her food, had her chin to her chest most of the time and uttered not three words since they all sat down. A petulant child surely had more tact than the display Emma put on. Snow, to say the least, was infuriated. David, realizing his wife was fuming underneath her thick skin, took the reigns.

"Emma, you've barely touched your food. Everything alright?"

Regina and Henry exchanged looks.

"Oh. Yeah. I'm fine. Just feeling a little queasy I guess. I'll be right back." Emma rose from the table and walked out of the dining room towards the staircase. She didn't want anyone to hear her so the upstairs bathroom would be better.

For a few minutes, Emma sat on the edge of the bathtub scolding herself for being so dreadfully obvious about her dismay.

"All you had to do was smile and eat your damn pancakes. The woman sacrificed her life for you and you've ruined her welcoming home." She got up and leaned on the sink to look into the mirror.

"You can do this, c'mon. You'll tell her soon enough. 'Hey, we share a heart' no biggie." She shrugged as a 'no big deal' gesture to herself. Then she shook her head, completely mortified at how embarrassing she was.

She flushed the toilet even though she hadn't even used it, washed and dried her hands and entered the hallway again. Just as she was going to go down the stairs and rejoin the family she noticed an open door at the end of the hallway. She thought for a moment... it's not in her nature to snoop on loved ones, but she realized she's never seen anything on the second floor other than Henry's room.

Against any sense of good judgment Emma thought she had, she walked down the hall and into what would be the master bedroom. Everything was delicate and perfectly arranged. Even Regina's dresser, which was a complete mess in Emma's house, was neat and polished. The bed was a California king size and closer to the floor than most beds. The entire room was modern, lavish and silver themed. Emma felt there was no personal touch but then she looked over at the closet and saw a bit of off-white fabric poking through the bevy of dark sensible pants suits.

"It can't be."

But it was. Emma pulled on the fabric and discovered it really was her baby blanket.

"So you found it." Regina's voice called behind Emma. She nearly came out of her skin.

"Regina! I- I wasn't snooping. I just..."

Regina raised her eyebrows.

"Okay, maybe I was snooping just a little? I was curious. I've never seen it in here."

"It's okay. I don't mind. I've nothing to hide." Regina laughed then sauntered over to the bed to sit. She was still terribly weak from last night and couldn't stand for too long.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Why do you have this?"

"Why wouldn't I have it? You're messy and disorganized. That blanket was the key to getting us to you when you were the Dark One and it obviously has sentimental value. We can't go losing it now, can we?"

"I didn't do so bad. I kept it safe for 28 years." Emma sat beside Regina.

"Yeah, and you're lucky it lasted that long. I'd have more peace of mind if you left it here."

Emma side eyed the brunette.

"Deal." She folded the precious material and held it in her lap.

"Now it's my turn to ask a question."

"Shoot."

"What is up with you? You're acting very odd and I mean more odd than usual."

Emma lowered her eyes to the baby blanket and toyed with the loose threads that hanged off of it.

"I don't know."

"Emma." Regina was stern this time.

"Alright, I just... I don't know I guess you just really scared me last night. We're both Henry's parents and that means he needs us both in his life. I need you in his life."

Regina measured Emma's face.

"Truth be told," Emma continued, "You know him better than I do. I mean come on, you have a whole 10 years on me."

"Well, you do have a point." She smiled. "I'm not going anywhere, Emma. You're going to have to put up with me for a very long time."

"Looking forward to it." A sadness crept inside Emma but she cloaked it with a faint smile. For a moment they were silent, but Emma broke it soon enough. "You're wearing jeans... and a t-shirt."

"Hahaha. Yes. I feel naked."

"Why? It's a great look on you."

"Maybe, but in my 30 odd years in this world, I have never worn a single pair of jeans... nor a t-shirt. Who is Regina Mills without a sensible pants suit?"

"You're you."

Regina glanced up Emma's half-smiling face and returned the look.

"Thank you, Regina."

"For what?"

"You gave your life for me."

"Almost gave my life for you. Not quite."

"Doesn't matter. You were willing to and you took a bullet for me. I owe you well... my life."

"There you go getting melodramatic again. We're family. It's what we do."

They exchanged more toothless smiles.

"I think we should get back to breakfast."

"You go. I'm actually growing weaker by the minute. I think I could use a few hours of sleep without Mr. Beepy the heart monitor."

"Okay. Sleep well."

"Bye, Emma."