Snow's POV
I hear the scream before anything else. Charming and I were just getting back from lunch. David, being forever sweet and.. well charming.. gave Regina a whole hour by herself! I was begging to go back five minutes after we left, but he stood his ground and we waited. Apparently I have been a little obsessive over Emma and have been unfair towards Regina. Can you believe that? After everything she has done to me, to us, Charming has the nerve to tell me to ease off a little! He's insane is what he is… but I'll do it. Not for Regina! Oh no, I couldn't give a care in the world about what she wants! I'm doing this for Emma, and Henry... and because Charming is making me…
We were making our way back to Emma's room when I first heard it.
"Emma! Don't leave me! Please don't leave me! Come back to me!" I could hear Regina's cries like she was standing right next to me. The cries shot through my body and before I knew it were we both running. Please don't be dying, I thought over and over. The distance to her room felt like a marathon, I thought we were never going to get there.
Regina was grasping on to Emma, taking no notice of the nurse she had obviously knocked to the ground. She looked desperate. Her face drenched in tears. For a second I felt sorry for her, hating seeing her in so much pain. That feeling was soon pushed aside as I looked into Emma's face. Only then does my face mirror Regina's. Choking! She was choking! All I can do is stand there watching. Watching as Regina is almost quite literally throwing herself on top of Emma, refusing to let her go. Watching as Charming finally manages to pry her away only to have her collapse in his arms. I watch as the nurses and doctors, finally able to move effectively, start assessing Emma's condition. I can't watch. I tear my eyes away and focus instead on Charming's strong arms holding Regina, trying to comfort her. I can hear the doctors talking, moving around trying to help my daughter, but I can't look. If this is it, if this is the end, I can't watch that.
Eventually the room becomes quiet. Regina's sobs have lessened and the rush of the doctors has come to a halt. I jump as the doctor breaks the silence that has accumulated the room.
"Snow, David, Regina." Oh God, oh please don't say it. "Emma has started breathing on her own. That's why she was choking, because she was breathing over the tube. We removed the tube, but she's still unconscious. There is still no telling when, or if she will wake, but this is definitely a good sign."
Regina has lost it again, collapsing into a pile of tears in my husband's embrace, this time though, they aren't filled with so much pain.
It's been 27 hours 14 minutes since Emma started breathing on her own. She hasn't woken up yet but her vitals have slightly improved. The doctor has said the only thing stopping Emma from waking up is herself. Physically she is fine. Her wounds have almost healed, her broken arm is setting nicely, and the bruises are almost completely gone. It's her mind, her brain, that the doctors are worried about. The fact that it has taken so long for her to wake up is concerning. They tell us to prepare for the worst; memory loss, physical or mental impairment, even the possibility of never coming out of the coma. I can't listen to them though. She's made it this far, she's fought. Our family has searched too long, fought too hard to try to be together for something as simple as a car accident to tear us apart. We travelled through worlds and back to be together for goodness sake. We can come back from this too. We have to.
*clears throat* "um? Hello?"
I hear a voice in the distance, slowly waking me from my sleep. Suddenly I feel a sharp and quickly lift my head, annoyed at the sudden pain.
"What the hell?.." I start, but suddenly realise where I know that voice from. Emma. I turn my head and see her, finger retracting after just poking me, but I didn't care.
"You're awake! Emma you're awake!" Tears are rushing from my eyes as I embrace my daughter.
"uh.. yeah." She replies. I release her from my arms and take one of her hands as I use the other to press the nurse call button.
"Oh Emma, you have no idea how worried we have been! Regina, Henry, your father. Oh my goodness! I need to ring them!" I feel so overwhelmed and frazzled. I can't believe she is awake. She's finally awake, I have her back. Just as I'm reaching for my bag I feel her hand on mine, stopping me. I look up to meet her blue eyes, so much like her fathers. I expected to see joy, excitement maybe even longing in her eyes, but I see none of that. All I see is confusion, pain and regret.
"Emma, sweetheart, what is it? Do you not want me to call them?"
She shuffles uncomfortably in the bed before quietly responding.
"No, its just.. uhh.. listen. You seem really nice and all, but I'm not your Emma. I'm not anyone's Emma. Whoever you are going to call don't, because I'm not the person they want to see. I'm not your Emma. You must be confused."