Regina, Snow, and David hovered in the waiting room anxiously. A nurse had only come out once with an update on Emma's surgery. David paced the room the way Emma would have; like father like daughter. Snow and Regina sat beside one another, thinking and worrying.

Six hours after Emma was initially taken to an operation room, Dr. Whale emerged in his blue scrubs and gown. Snow and Regina shot out of their chairs, and David stopped his nervous walking.

"Well?" Regina prompted.

Whale removed his azure cap and wrung it in his hands. "Emma had quite a bit of bleeding, but we managed to clean it up. We mended the bullet wound, and as of now, she's stable. The anesthesia will take a few hours to wear off, and she should wake up by then."

"And if she doesn't?" Regina asked dreadfully.

The doctor exhaled deeply. "If she hasn't, then we'll discuss the possibility of a coma. But, until then, we shouldn't worry about that. Emma's being wheeled into recovery. You can visit her now, but only one can stay the night. Remember, she's still asleep."

Neal smiled warmly at his former partner and offered his hand. Emma was reluctant to accept his help, as she had no idea why or how he was there. The last thing she remembered was David crying and hugging her.

"It's been a while," Neal wowed. He looked exactly the same as he had 16 years before; mussed, black hair, a matching mustache and soul patch, dimples. He even sounded the same with the raspy voice of his.

Emma frowned at the ghost, "What are you doing here?"

"Ouch," Neal teased. "A man's been dead for over a decade and he can't even get a hug?" Emma didn't laugh. She saw no reason to. "Relax, Em, it was joke. I know what you're thinking; no, you're not dead."

"But you are..."

"True, but when a body dies, the soul doesn't. It's taken somewhere else," Neal explained.

"And that is...?" Emma questioned. She felt herself rest her hands on her hips like Regina had done so many times before.

"Your favorite place," Neal said simply.

Emma scanned the land around her, "You're favorite place is Storybrooke?"

Neal laughed his familiar laugh, and Emma felt as though they were back in Tallahassee. "No. My favorite place is with you."

Regina let her numb legs carry her into Emma's room, followed by Snow and David. She heard her mother-in-law gasp at the sight of her daughter, as it was the first time she'd seen her all day.

Emma rested with the same clear tube stuck between her lips; her chest rose and fell with the machine. Her gray hospital gown draped over her pale form and Regina could see the bandages through the dress.

She took the seat on the right of Emma and held her hand gingerly. "Emma, we're here. It's just your parents and I. The kids are home. Henry and Maya just drove in an hour ago and they offered to stay with them while I'm here. At some point, they want to see you." Regina had to pause to regain control. "Dr. Whale said you're going to be fine, sweetie. You just need to heal and wake up, all right? So we can have your party. Does that sound good?" Emma didn't answer, but Regina knew she could hear her. "In a few hours, you'll be back to your old self. I know it."

"Uh, you're favorite place is with me?" Emma shifted uncomfortably across from Neal. His sudden admission caught her off-guard, to say the least.

"Don't worry, I know you're married," Neal pacified. "I just meant... You were my best friend for a long time. Plus, we've got a kid together. Being with you... it always made sense."

Emma scoffed dramatically, "Right. And that's why you bailed on me?"

"Emma, you know that's not how it was."

"Yeah, whatever. Look, I don't have time for this."

Emma started walking away when Neal caught her arm. "You've got more time than you think, Em."

"Ok, A) don't call me that. And, B) What's that supposed to mean?"

Neal let go of the blonde, "Look, just... chill. You know magic; you're obviously here for a reason. The sooner you figure it out, the sooner you can get back to your family."

"There's nothing to figure out, Neal. Apparently, I'm dead," Emma spat angrily.

"You heard me before, I know you did. You're not dead, Em... ma. You're in..." Neal struggled for the right words.

"What? Limbo?" Judging from her surroundings, Emma didn't believe it.

"Yeah, something like that. And, I'm here to lead you." Neal said this with a whimsical air, as if he were truly excited at the prospect.

"You? Lead me? You're kidding right?"

Neal gave Emma an earnest expression. "Just call me your spirit guide."

Snow and David left the hospital around midnight. Regina had chosen to stay with Emma, because, why wouldn't she? Henry and Maya could handle the kids for a little longer. She couldn't bear to leave Emma's side. No, Regina wanted to be right where she was; though she preferred for her wife to be awake with her.

Regina talked to Emma as though the blonde could hear her; as if she were expecting her to respond. "That pathetic excuse of a man is in custody," she mused. "We've got everyone monitoring his cell. Actually, he's not even at the station. He's somewhere different; somewhere he can't hurt anyone else. Red, Gold, Granny, Blue, they're all guarding him, Emma. They're all waiting for a command... from me." Regina launched herself out of the plastic chair and moved by the window. Scattered lights shone in the night as she looked out over her town. From the room, she could see the clock tower. "Just a little while longer, Emma. Then you'll wake up. You have to."

Emma stomped through the empty town with balled fists and tried her damnedest to ignore Neal's casual conversation skills. There were no cars parked on the streets, Granny's looked abandoned, and Gold's Pawn Shop was closed. Archie and Pongo were nowhere to be found, as well as any of the dwarfs. Storybrooke was not more than bare buildings and leaves drifting with the wind.

"Where is everyone?" Emma wondered.

"They're not here, Emma," Neal sighed. "I told you, it's just souls here; only our own."

"Stop talking like that," Emma grunted. "If I'm in my favorite place, then my favorite people should be here, too."

"In theory, yeah. But, you know what everyone says; 'Magic works differently here.'"

Emma fought the impulse to punch Neal in the jaw for that one. "Don't even give me that. I've been here 20 years, I know how magic works."

"Do you? 'Cause, if you did, I don't think you'd be asking questions." Neal had a smug smile on his face, as if he'd forgotten Emma's temper. "Come on, Emma, don't fight it. Just let it happen."

"I don't even know what 'it' is!" Emma threw her hands in the air exasperatedly.

"That's what I'm here for," Neal reminded her with a smile. "Are you done freaking out now?"

"Do I look like I'm done freaking out?" Emma challenged. Her eyes bore into his soul- what was left of it- and she tapped her foot impatiently. It wasn't until now that she noticed the habits she'd picked up from Regina.

Neal tilted his head to one side and nodded, "Yeah, pretty much."

Emma rolled her eyes at the father of her son, "Fuck you."