Regina's heels clicked softly as she walked across the hospital floor. Flowers in hand, she tried her best to keep her face blank. She quietly opened and closed the door to the private room she had reserved for Emma. She deposited the flowers carefully in the vase on the bedside table.
"Swan," she said, addressing the blonde, "I hope you liked your homecoming turnout. We scrambled to do the best we could. I'm so happy you're back home. So are the others. Snow is supposed to come later today with James. I wish you were here, I have so much to tell you. Life is so painful to go through now without you by my side. I'm not allowing Henry to visit you just yet. He's gone through so much, and he's been struggling to cope. Honestly, I think he was kind of glad to not visit today. I think he's scared, which is understandable. Don't worry though, I'm sure he'll be here by the end of the week. Our poor boy is so fragile, he misses his momma. I miss my wife. Emma, we need you back with us. I wanted to tell you I'm sorry. I let you go too easily, and now, you're on the brink of death. I wish you would wake up, and look at me with your beautiful green eyes and tell me you love me. Because I know you do. Even though you're not here, I can still feel it, it's just not as strong," Regina paused, inhaling deeply.
"Give me a sign. Let me know you're still here somehow," Regina murmured, grasping Emma's limp hand. The brunette stared at Emma's face, waiting. She sighed.
"Okay, well. I have to go pick Henry up. I'll visit you again tomorrow. I love you, Emma. Welcome back home," Regina said, leaning down to kiss her cheek. As she walked out, she stole one last glance over her shoulder, tears in her eyes.
A Few Hours Before...
The ambulance turned the corner and parked in front of the Storybrooke Hospital. There was a large group of people awaiting them.
"That's new. Never seen such a big crowd," the driver said, rolling the window down.
"Small town. Everyone knows everyone," Regina said, sauntering over to the driver's window.
"Or, a very popular patient," the man replied.
"That works, too," Regina said, smiling slightly. The driver nudged the door open and hopped out of his seat.
"So I'm guessing she's pretty well known?"
"Oh, you have no idea. One of our finest and most beloved," the mayor declared. The driver glanced around at the dejected faces of the townspeople and his heart broke a little.
"Well, then except my sincerest condolences and apologies," he said genuinely.
"Yeah, well I don't think words will wake her up, now will they?" Grumpy shouted angrily.
"Leroy!" Regina said, addressing the man by his Storybrooke name. The fairy tale town still had an image to keep up, if they wanted to their closely guarded secret to remain confidential.
"No, I understand. Hearing this from a complete stranger isn't really convincing. But we all must hold onto hope, am I right?" he said smiling. Regina nodded, unshed tears threatening to fall. She looked up at the kind man.
"Thank you. So much. Even if it's not visible on the surface, your concern means the world to the people who love her," Regina swallowed, gesturing to the gathering.
"Some of you might wanna turn away, the boys and I gotta take her out of the ambulance,"the driver said. The back doors opened and two younger men carefully removed Emma's cot from the truck. A collection of somber weeps rang through the air as the still body came into view.
"Regina?" Emma screamed, "Henry?" She ran as hard as she could, dodging trees left and right. "Regina! Henry!" Jumping over a log, she continued at a fast pace, but all Emma could see was tree after tree. She pushed her way through the dense forest until she saw a clearing up ahead. She must've just been in the Storybrooke forest. Smiling in relief, she sprinted the rest of the way and tumbled out of the trees until she hit a dirt road. Emma heard a low, rumbling noise and she whipped her head around wildly, searching for the sound's source.
Suddenly, a procession of horses hooked up to a carriage and men in black armor came into view, headed right at Emma.
"What the hell..." Emma breathed and she leaped out of the way, just in time.
"Hey!" Emma shouted at the procession and it stopped. The door to the carriage swung open and a dark figure emerged.
"Hi, could you help me..." Emma's words trailed off as she realized who the figure was. A bright smile lit up her face.
"Regina!" Emma cried, rushing up to hug the woman, "Oh my god, I'm so glad I found you!" Regina yelped at the contact. Emma stepped back, hands clutching the brunette's arms gently. Emma looked Regina over. She wore an outfit made of leather, a round hat with a feather, and her hair was much longer and curled.
"What's... what're you wearing? What's all this?" Emma asked, her excitement faltering when she noticed the empty look in her supposed wife's eyes.
"Regina?" Emma murmured softly. The woman's tore herself away from the blonde, outraged.
"How dare you touch me? Do you know who I am?" Regina spat, wiping herself off.
"I... I-I"
"What are you doing in my forest?" Regina interrogated, her tone poisonous.
"Hey, if this is a game... it's not funny," Emma warned.
"You think your life is a game? Then consider it game over," Regina said, waving the guards over. They drew their swords and advanced on the blonde. Emma's throat ran dry.
"Wait! Regina, it's me!" Emma shouted, clutching the brunette, "It's me, it's Emma!"
Her eyes welled up, and she searched Regina's for signs of recognition, but they drew a blank.
"Regina?" Emma pleaded, her eyes stinging, "Don't you remember me? Don't you remember us?"
"Guards, seize her!" Regina snarled. The armored men closed in on her, gripping her arms firmly. Emma struggled, thrashing wildly like a fish out of water.
"Regina! Don't do this!" Emma screamed.
Emma stopped fighting the men and stared into the woman's soul, making Regina shudder. "Tell me you remember," Emma begged, "Please."