I cannot apologize enough for the epic mega wait for this to be updated. It's not even the kind of story where waiting long periods of time is actually worth it lol. In any case, here we are.
"What do you mean don't bother bringing her in? Her temp is up over 100 and she's mumbling garbage!" hissed the blonde, shaking the thermometer which read 101.
Emma had returned from work to find the other woman had in fact followed instruction and stayed in her bed. Regina had a high temperature though, and it had slightly increased as the night had gone on.
"Sheriff Swan it's just a fever, keep her cool, try and make sure she is getting plenty of fluids and if she goes over 104 then give me a call but she doesn't need to come to the hospital. Some Tylenol may help bring her temp down."
She swore and ended the call to Whale. She pursed her lips, hands on hips, observing the small figure sweating away on the bed. Regina's skin was burning up as small tremors ran through her frame, one hand clutching the sheets, the other a tissue. She soaked another cloth and took up a seat next to Regina, pressing the cool cloth to the furrowed brow and listening to the occasional muttered nonsense from the brunette. Names, places Emma didn't know were being uttered, the odd name she recognized - Henry of course, Snow, Robin. Her own name, Emma noted with an arched eyebrow. And it wasn't with the rage that the woman had been directing at her for the last few weeks either but it was all whispers and groans. Emma peeled the thin sheet back from the other woman, ignoring the unimpressed huff. The blonde stood with her hands on her hips, wondering what else she could do. Tylenol, right she remembered Whales words.
Emma ambled her way into Regina's bathroom and made a beeline for the mirror. She did a little cheer in her head when it swung open to reveal a small cupboard. Of course Regina would be a fan of hidden compartments. She rifled through the various containers before swiping the one she was looking for. Returning to the bedroom with the pills she sat next to the human sized furnace before pausing. She didn't know what it was, the sheer vulnerability of the brunette, or the glow of heat that was coming off Regina's skin in the lamp light, but before she realized it she was stroking damp hair back from a hot forehead, fingers lingering a touch too long before sweeping down to cup a fevered cheek. Emma shook her head when she realized she was being observed by ever so slightly open brown eyes. Fighting back a furious blush, Emma drew her arm back as nonchalantly as she could, opting to not give any hint that what she was doing may even be considered odd or awkward.
"Here, I've got some Tylenol for you, Whale said it might be a good idea."
Regina seemed to summon a lot of energy to audibly sigh and roll her eyes before declaring "He got his degree from a curse what does he-"
"Regina." Emma cut the other woman off with a pointed look. "Just take the damn pills, it's no worse than what you would take for a headache." She didn't wait for a response, just slid her arm under the warm frame and helped her sit up a bit before giving the pills to the other woman. Regina glowered but did as she was told, popping them in her mouth with a disgusted 'ugh'. Her face twisted before grabbing the glass of water Emma offered. Slapping it back in her hand, Regina started to struggle out of Emma's supportive hold before dissolving into a coughing fit. The blonde sighed and withdrew, standing up.
"I'm cold, wheres the blanket?" Regina demanded.
"You may or may not have noticed your majesty, but you have a fever. We need to keep your temperature down. You know this, you've looked after Henry through a fever." The blonde supplied, looking away at the mention ofthose memories. She didn't notice Regina staring at her, jaw working. The brunette sighed and turned on her side as Emma started towards the door.
"Why are you doing this for me?" Emma stopped at the threshold to the bedroom. She turned to the sick woman.
"Because you wont let anyone, Regina, and I can tell you to stuff it when you are being pig-headed," Emma ventured with a slight grin. "You need to let people take care of you from time to time, you know, you can't be invincible all the time."
Pursed lips parted in an aggrieved sigh, "But you don't let anyone take care of you, Miss Swan."
Emma paused, considering this. "I guess I have people now... I never did before, but now that I do, I might. And now you have people, so suck it up."
"Hey Kid, how's it going? Yeah she's OK. Bit of a temp but Dr Whale doesn't seem concerned so hopefully she'll feel better in a few days. How's staying with your grandparents going?"
Emma grinned at Henry's enthusiasm – A few nights of being kept awake by Neal would have him slightly more jaded. Her heart warmed at his insistence for Emma to tell his mom he loved her. "Yeah kid, of course I will, and you know she loves you." She smirked at his stuttering at realizing he was being uncool before telling him to say hi to her parents.
Emma ended the call and cast her eye over the kitchen. She guessed that she may be here a couple of days so she'd better start making sure the place was in a decent condition, otherwise she'd never hear the end of it from Regina. The blonde spent a few moments tidying the various items she'd left at her backside downstairs.
Emma stretched as she entered the bedroom again, realizing she'd forgotten to turn the lights off. Not that it mattered, Regina was curled up tightly in the fetal position, faint quivers going through her form. The blonde checked the other woman's temperature again, sighing when the thermometer revealed it hadn't changed. She perched on the end of the bed, letting her eyes roam over Regina, basking in the opportunity to do so. The woman was still breathtaking, even when ill. Even when her teeth were practically chattering. Even mid sneeze attack. Emma rolled her eyes. Deciding it was a good idea to sleep in the bedroom again – just in case of course -Emma grabbed the blanket and stretched out at the edge of the bed. She made sure she kept the quilt away from the shivering woman, not wanting to add to the considerable heat she was always putting out. Regina was stubborn. But Emma was tenacious too. And not only did she feel like she should be here, she wanted to be here. She closed her eyes, and allowed herself to slip off.
They spent a couple of days in an unspoken routine. Emma awoke and fed them. She shuffled a cranky Regina into the den, ensconcing her on a sofa. Regina would snark and huff and accuse Emma of "clucking about like a mother hen". Emma would smirk and roll her eyes. She would go to work, come back at lunch with food and new clothes, then fuss over her charge before returning to work. It was... comfortable... in a tentative kind of way. They spent their evenings downstairs in the den. Regina dozed off and on with a book, feet eventually making their way onto Emma's lap whilst the blonde sneakily changed the channel when the opportunity rose. They ignored the elephant in the room for the time being. Emma found that in those quiet moments she was just so comfortable. Content. This surprised her greatly. But at the same time, it really didn't.
It was almost like a mild form of penance, Emma told herself. Tidying up after the other woman, making sure her needs were met, feeding her - much to the brunettes sarcastic amusement. Regina's temperature was gradually coming down, though it would quite often spike at nighttime so Emma continued sleeping nearby, occasionally waking and extricating herself from being tangled with the furnace that was Regina.
Domestic life. Emma found she really didn't mind it at all.
Emma woke to brown eyes regarding her impassively from across the bed. She shifted under the speculating gaze from the other woman, letting out a luxurious moan as she stretched. A sculpted eyebrow snuck up Regina's forehead. Smirking, the blonde rolled back onto her side, propping her head up on a hand.
"Good morning, how are you feeling?
Regina's eyes darted up to the ceiling as though contemplating her answer.
"Better. You may leave now." Emma let out a tut at the brunettes reply.
"Regina, I don't think so. You and I, we need to talk. How about a shower, and I shall go make us some breakfast." The younger woman didn't leave any room for discussion as she left the bed.
"...All I wanted was to be happy, and I finally had that... And it was taken from me... Again"
Emma came to a halt. "Look, I may have created this situation... But he is off playing happy families with his wife, Regina." Emma paused, hands starting to come together before she forced them to her sides, "He has been asking after you..." she conceded, "but I've been fobbing him off."
Regina sharply raised her head from the bed, vein in her forehead popping, "Why the hell would you do that Emma?"
The blonde met the brunettes angry gaze, "Because if he was worth his salt," she moved back towards the bed, "he would be here no matter what I said..."
Regina's features softened, "And here you are..."
Emma swallowed, "I am here... And he is not."
Narrowed eyes stared at her intently before returning to the ceiling. Regina slumped back to the bed with a huff throwing an arm over her eyes. "Make yourself useful and go make breakfast then if you insist on playing nursemaid"
Emma suppressed a dramatic 'Yes your Majesty' before leaving, sensing the other woman needed a moment.