One hug

David parked his old battered truck on Main Street near the Sheriff's station and grabbed his duffel bag from the back. Ensuring that he wasn't being followed, he walked around the block to enter the bed and breakfast.

The sheriff found Regina and Granny as he had left them a few hours earlier, that is with Regina sound asleep and Granny knitting in the armchair. As soon as he entered the room, Granny looked at him expectantly. "What did Snow have to say?"

In response, David placed his duffel bag on the desk and retrieved the recording. After listening to the conversation between Mayor White and his daughter, Granny looked at David worryingly. "Where is Snow now?"

"She and Emma are with my deputy. It was too late to wake up a judge to have the bail rescinded tonight." David sighed. "I'll change the locks of the loft tomorrow too. But I don't think that Leopold would harm his daughter. He literally worships the ground she walks on."

"Not if she is siding against him in court."

David wiped his face with his hand. He was tired. He had been up for almost 24 hours and he could barely think straight. "I need to talk to the judge. But waking him in the middle of the night will not get Regina nor Snow anywhere. They are safe for tonight.", he finished more firmly. He was torn between his love for his family and his duty toward Regina. "How is she?" The sheriff nodded toward the bed.

"She's been sleeping since you've been gone." David looked at his watch and grunted. He hated to have to wake her up to take the medication Whale had prescribed. After watching the woman rest peacefully for another minute, he decided that the pills could wait; sleep was more important. "I've prepared the room next door for you." Granny continued as she stood from the armchair.

David shook his head. "No. I'll stay here with Regina. I don't want her to wake up alone in the middle of the night."

Granny nodded. "There are extra blankets and pillows in the closet. I'll be downstairs. Call me if you need anything."

"Thank you. For everything."

"It's the least I can do." Granny looked at Regina before opening the bedroom's door. "Good night, David."

"Good night."

As soon as the old woman left, David grabbed the blankets and pillows as silently as possible and tried to make the armchair comfortable for the night. His exhaustion won over his discomfort and he fell asleep immediately.

David was woken up a few hours later by screams and plaintive cries. "Please, no! Please, please, please!" Regina was thrashing on the bed in the midst of a nightmare.

"Regina!" David called out as he rushed toward the bed. Regina bolted upright, her eyes wide with fear. David reached for her but she shrieked in pain and fear. "Regina…" He softened his tone, "... you're ok. You're at Granny's. You're safe here." Regina looked around the room as she was more fully waking up. Her breathing was still labored but she had stopped fighting against her invisible husband.

David reached for her hand and rubbed the back of it with his thumb soothingly. "No one is gonna hurt you. You're safe." He kept reciting his mantra, watching Regina slowly calming down. David sat down next to her on the bed all the while reassuring her that her husband would never be able to hurt her here. Regina was sobbing in both relief and fear.

"Regina?" David called her name softly, trying to focus her on the present. The brunette turned her head toward David, ashamed to have let him witness her breakdown. Her lower lip was quivering and she was fighting her own tears. "Would you like to talk about it?" David offered.

Regina shook her head. She had no intention on reliving this particular nightmare. David scooted toward her on the bed and wrapped his arm around her shaking form in a gentle hug. Regina tensed immediately, her mind ringing alarm bells at David's proximity. She steeled herself, waiting for the blow that was surely about to come.

David's heart broke at Regina's reaction. After years of abuse, Regina couldn't even take comfort into a hug. "I'm not going to hurt you." He whispered to her. He never let go of Regina, waiting for her to make the first move.

Since Regina didn't try to move away from him, David tightened his embrace, gently rubbing her back. Slowly, Regina relaxed, letting David's warmth soothe her fears. She hesitantly snuggled more into him, looking for the comfort she was desperately craving. "I was with him." She finally whispered.

David placed his cheek on top of her head. "He's not going to lay a hand on you again. I promise."

Regina fisted his shirt and hold onto the only person who had tried to protect her. After the years of abuse at the hands of Leopold White, she barely remembered what a hug felt like. But safely tucked in David's arms, she started to remember the warm feeling of safety that came with the gesture. She closed her eyes and buried her face into his neck, letting her tears slide down his throat.

"You can talk to me, Regina." David whispered.

"I just want to be held." She said in a hesitant voice, afraid of the rejection if she expressed her needs.

David nodded. "I'm right here." He rubbed her shoulders gently, slowly leaning down on the bed pulling Regina with him. "You don't have to be afraid."

They stayed in silence for a long time until Regina's breathing evened out. Soon after, David closed his eyes, finally getting the rest he needed after the events of the past twenty four hours. His life has been completely turned upside down. He just didn't know how much just yet.