A/N: Thank you for the love! Some people have asked for more Emma/Regina time, of which you'll have plenty in this chapter and the ones to come, however I do ask for a bit of patience as the story unfolds and develops naturally it's going to be sooooo worth it. ;) all chapters will be filled with Emma/Regina time, but other characters are necessary for the flow of the story as well. Enjoy!

Chapter 7

Sway (Bic Runga)

After Emma's admission Regina was rendered speechless. The blonde had just spoken of her parent's death with excruciating detail. Her broken voice, the way her hands trembled lightly, the muting pain harbored in green eyes told Regina of the most agonizing experience the woman had ever endured. Innocence ripped from her young heart with one single stroke.

The brunette's hands were gently entwined with Emma's, the last thing she wanted was to awaken any soreness in her scraped palms, but Regina wanted… she needed to comfort her. The doctor's brows were knitting as her brown eyes looked deeply into Emma's tear soaked ones, trying to bring her back into reality and out of that painful memory as gently as possible.

"Emma…" Regina said as she gently stroked uninjured skin of her hands.

The blonde seemed to be trapped in a distant dimension, or to be more exact… a different time. Her face flushed and covered with fresh and drying tears.

"I should have…" Came out in a low broken whisper.

Regina continued to listen attentively, even though her chest weighed heavily.

"I… um… I just" Emma mumbled as she slowly began to collide with the present. She could hear her own words and they began to sound foreign once spoken out loud for the first time. She suddenly felt insecure and inadequate. She blinked rapidly and snapped out of her trance, gently pulling her hands away from Regina's and wiping away her tears.

The doctor immediately missed the contact and flinched gently, she could almost feel a tiny crack in her heart from the blonde's action. She tightened her fists briefly, suddenly feeling vulnerable too… wanting nothing but to dry those tears away herself.

Emma on the other hand felt exposed and embarrassed. The doctor had been so gracious and done what not many would have so selflessly. She had stolen her scarce free time and now seemed to continue to dump all her shit on her. To Emma that felt incredibly unfair, but she couldn't ignore just how fucking easy it all felt with her, it was like things simply flowed with a kind of soothing simplicity that took away her ability to reason.

"I'm… so sorry Regina" Emma continued to wipe away her tears and even pushed out an embarrassed small laugh.

The doctor shook her head immediately tried to capture the blonde's attention "Emma… you don't have to apologize for expressing how you feel" She reasoned, green eyes finally looking up and into dark brown ones.

Regina's small smile was raw, honest and warm. Emma knew this was trouble, or maybe it was a kind of intimacy and support she never experienced with anyone before. A different kind of friendship.

The blonde mirrored Regina's smile "I've completely ruined your day off Regina, I am so sorry"

"Nonsense… and please stop apologizing" The doctor smiled a bit more brightly in hopes to cheer the other woman up "I am glad you felt comfortable enough to reach out to me, and even more pleased to be of help"

Emma could listen to this woman speak forever. The way she enunciated each word like it was the last she'd ever speak, the emotion in her eyes… the depth and rawness in her voice, everything about her from the way she smelled to the way she moved. She has a scar… and just like that green eyes got lost in the brunette's lips.

Emma was not the only one lost in the intensity of the moment. Another one of those compromising and exposing instances they seemed to experience in surplus amounts ever since that night came to be yet again. They stared at each other for what felt like forever.

The loud sound of Regina's cellphone startled them. Emma jumped slightly and the doctor took the device resting on her lap.

She swiped the screen "They've sent your results…"

'All OK for Emma Swan'

"Everything seems to be normal" The woman said as she read the lab tech's text, internally criticizing his briefness and ambiguous words.

"Great! See I told you I was fine, I have a very hard head" Emma joked and even winked once Regina looked up.

The doctor gave her a small amused laugh "Regardless of your self-deprecating observation Miss Swan…" She said with a bit of a flirty and playful timbre "I'd still like to go back down and review them myself" She smiled "Just to be safe"

"You Should trust your peers Regina" She teased.

"Oh, I do. In fact, I count myself lucky to work with such professional and capable people, however…"

"I knew there was a 'but' in there somewhere"

"I always personally review my patient's test results" She sighed "Call it a bit of an anal-retentive trait… nothing to do with distrust"

The blonde continued to smile, accepting her answer.

The moment had gone from extremely personal and painful to more upbeat and less somber, though Regina was happy the blonde seemed to be feeling a lot better, she couldn't help but to feel like there was so much more to be shared. Emma carried with something else, something that weighed on her soul and the doctor knew that was far from healthy, her scientific knowledge told her that psychological and emotional damage of that extent was harmful in the long run, however she knew and understood as a human… that most breathing warm blooded beings on earth walked around with tormented hearts and minds. She could only hope someday Emma felt comfortable enough to see her as someone worthy of her trust.

After effectively going back down to the E.R, the brunette conclusively verified the blonde was indeed fine. Every single test she had ordered came back normal. Now that she was feeling more comfortable knowing Emma was ok, they walked to the underground parking. They got in Regina's Mercedes and left the hospital grounds.

While they cruised the unique New York streets, Emma felt content. She didn't know if it was the forward moving vibe of this side of the beautiful city, she honestly almost never came to this part of town. She didn't know if it was the woman next to her. Looking out the window, she could smell and taste the uplifting magic these tall buildings held, the fast pace of each individual walking passed, everyone so different, everyone so alike, there was no room for giving up, so much to do and see… so much more to be. The weather was fantastic, a mixture of gentle sunny and gray. Cool and fresh even though it was almost noon. They had spent the better part of the morning at the hospital, and now… here she was. Sitting in Regina's brand new fancy car. It smelled like leather and her perfume. Emma looked to her left and saw the brunette sensually maneuver the wheel as she drove. Sensually? I've officially lost my mind… or I am as infatuated as a teenage lovesick boy.

As they turned on Maddison, Regina smiled as she felt eyes on her. The brunette debated if she should turn to the blonde now or just wait. The last thing she wanted was to make her feel uncomfortable. "How about some coffee?" Regina asked as she made her way through another familiar street.

"Regina… you've done more than enough really… there's no need, I mean I've already wasted half your day I—" Emma felt like she had repeated the same sentence all day, but the woman honestly didn't want the doctor to think she was taking advantage of her.

The brunette parked the car near her favorite coffee house and turned to the blonde "Actually Emma… I appreciate the company, my plan for the day consisted of medical journals and research" She shrugged and laughed at herself a little "And perhaps a lonely lunch"

Emma bit her lip not understanding how this woman was still single and so seemingly alone. Perhaps it was simply Regina's choice, just as it was Emma's choice not to open up to others herself. The blonde took a deep breath followed by a smile and a nod "Coffee sound great"

Regina beamed "Excellent then… let's go" She finished and opened her car door.

After exiting the vehicle, they walked to the intimate yet contemporary place across from central park.

"Would you like to seat outside?" Regina asked.

Emma shrugged "Sure… whatever you'd like is fine with me"

The brunette pulled out a chair and could not help but to admire the blonde's exquisitely developed body and musculature. Dark eyes discretely scanned as the taller woman removed her jacket and placed it on the back of the black chair. Regina felt an instant ache that surprised her. She found herself indulging on Emma's energy and the way she carried herself.

"The weather is lovely; it would be a waste to be inside" Regina offered casually as the cool air made its way into her lungs.

They sat.

Emma smiled "So Doctor Regina likes to enjoy coffee under slightly gray afternoons…"

The brunette returned the sentiment "Very much so… insanely gloomy of me I know" She laughed.

"Not at all… I'm a sucker for New York autumn weather" She rolled her tongue on her lips and laughed "Unless it just makes us both gloomy and depressing"

Emma felt nervous and confident at the same time, she noticed Regina was being so nice… however she was always pleasant and content, the calm and well centered energy the doctor exuded made Emma feel all kinds of butterflies in her stomach. Butterflies… barf. I am so fucked. Emma figured it was part of her physician persona… doctors are supposed to make others feel good and safe… right?

After a waiter approached their table, he took their orders and left promising to quickly return. Regina had attempted to coax Emma into trying a fantastic mocha concoction they made so sinfully perfect in this place, however the blonde decided to go for a simple black coffee, hoping the ten-dollar bill safely tucked in one of her leather jacket's pocket would suffice to cover for the doctor's drink and her own. Money… She decided to put that very fucking scary thought in the back of her mind, at least for right now.

Minutes later the waiter kept his promise and expertly placed both drinks in front of each woman and nodded.

"Thank you" Regina looked up briefly and smiled at him, Emma nodded.

An awkward silence fell over them, however Emma quickly found her mouth uttering words pushed by another pesky little batch of courage. "So… did you always want to be a doctor?" The blonde asked genuinely curious.

The brunette finished taking a sip of her delicious coffee and swallowed "Actually yes… I've been fascinated by human anatomy ever since I can remember. The astonishing ways of organisms... and how they function, something that holds both simplicity and complexity at the same time…" She smiled "I find it riveting… Yourself?

Emma quickly thought of long forgotten desires "Well… when I was younger I wanted to go to art school" She shrugged and blinked softly "Never got the chance" features completely neutral.

Regina took a deep breath and figured this was due to her parents sudden and unexpected death. There was a lot about Emma's story that was left unsaid… so much she wanted to ask but didn't want to stir those strong emotions yet again, the brunette thought the blonde had gone through more than enough today.

"I am—I'm so"

"It's ok… it doesn't bother me really, when I was seventeen it was the thing I wanted and desired more than anything, but then again… I was just a silly kid" She let out a sigh "All that matters to me now is making sure Henry gets to go"

Regina could not help but to feel terrible for the blonde. The woman too had personal desires and goals like any other human being, yet everything had been taken away from her so unfairly at such an early age, leaving her with an immense responsibility to bear. She was forced to simply forget about herself in order to give her brother what she couldn't touch. Henry was a fantastic young man, who was also another victim… no one left to blame here but life and its sometimes unfair turns.

"I am sure he will Emma, you've done an amazing job raising him"

The blonde felt a soft warm feeling in her stomach. She smiled and nodded gently, suddenly feeling like praising words seemed so foreign when directed at her. "Thank you… he was always such a good kid, even when he was a baby" Emma smiled as she reminisced "He only cried when he was hungry or needed his diaper changed… something I was always grateful for, I mean I basically became a mom with the turn of one day… I went from sketching my prom dress design to raising a teething baby"

"It must have been difficult, you were just a child yourself" Regina offered as she took another gentle sip of her coffee, wind softly blowing raven locks of silky hair.

A lopsided grin sprouted from Emma's lips "It was so hard… and so scary" The blonde smiled as a memory fell upon her "But he became my little best friend you know? I mean we only had each other" The woman let out an amused laugh "For long periods of time, that kid was the only person who I could talk to, I was so happy when he said his first word! Until then it was just one never ending monologue"

Regina laughed with Emma comfortably. Everything felt just… right. It felt good.

"Perhaps this experience played a big role in him being such a fantastic listener" The doctor added.

"Yeah… he's great" Suddenly Emma's smile quickly turned into a frown "I'm just glad he doesn't remember…"

Regina inhaled deeply and quickly tried to make that frown disappear. Even though she wanted to know more, she refused to gain knowledge of Emma's past in exchange of causing her more pain.

The doctor shifted in her seat and smiled "Speaking of Henry, he called me this morning, right before you came to my home"

Emma raised a surprised brow "He did?"

"Yes… apparently, we must finish the project today and have it in route to MIT by first thing tomorrow"

"But… I thought you guys had another week"

"So did we… he mentioned receiving a letter from them today"

"Shit…" Emma's eyes widened "I mean shoot" She shrugged.

Regina laughed lightly.

"He must be freaking out then" Emma continued.

"He sounded very anxious yes, I asked him to come over to my house after school so we could finish it, I hope that's ok with you"

"Of course Regina… Thank you actually"

"No need to thank me… in fact… perhaps you could—" Regina looked down at her lap and rolled her tongue on her crimson lips, she smiled still hiding a rush of heat and blush invading her cheeks. Emma could see she was trying to hide sudden embarrassment.

The blonde smiled as the cool wind blew gently. She quickly felt a rush of confidence wash over her.

The brunette finally looked up "Would you like to join us? We could have dinner together… the um, the three of us of course" Did I just stutter?

The waiter approached the table and placed the black leather check presenter on the table. Regina swiftly placed her hand on it without second thought.

"Regina no… I'll take care of it" Emma instantly objected to the brunette's action.

The doctor looked up "If I recall correctly… I invited you Emma…"

"It doesn't matter" The blonde looked at the check presenter wanting to reach over and take it from perfectly manicured hands "I mean it… please, it's the least I can do after everything you've done"

By the time Emma was finished talking Regina had pulled out a black card from her Birkin bag and placed it in the holder "When you are the one who extends the invitation to me… then you may Miss Swan" She finished with a smile, suddenly feeling her usual confidence return.

The blonde's shoulders dropped as she leaned back on the chair knowing she wasn't going to win this one. Did she just hint for me to ask her out? Emma pretended those last words hadn't sent her heart out of control.

As the man took the presenter and walked away, Emma pressed her point.

"That's so not fair Regina" Emma tried with a grin.

The brunette licked her lips and smiled "And yet here I am still waiting for what I hope is a positive response to my previous offer"

Emma smirked "I should say no" She feigned seriousness with a playful gleam in her green eyes.

Regina laughed and shook her head "I will take your probable statement as reluctant yes"

The blonde joined the doctor and laughed too. "Alright" Emma finished.


Afternoon had fallen upon them. They were now at Regina's apartment. The brunette comfortably moved around the kitchen, Emma struggled trying pull a cork from a bottle of wine as the doctor washed a batch of brightly colored romaine.

The taller woman had been arguing with the brunette for the past ten minutes since she would not allow her to help. Regina tried to distract her with wine duty.

"I swear Regina…" A loud pop was head as the blonde finally removed the cork. "When the hell did they seal this? The eighteen hundreds? Christ!" Emma opened and closed her sore hand and discretely winced.

The doctor looked up and immediately widened her eyes "Oh no Emma… your injuries" She felt like absolute shit. She quickly dropped the lettuce and walked over the kitchen island.

"Regina… I'm fine"

The doctor took Emma's hands without second thought. She gently caressed them as she inspected both palms, noticing one of the small scrapes was faintly bleeding again. "I am so sorry Emma… I'm such an idiot!"

Emma shifted her weight from one foot to the other and shook her head "I'm fire, really it's nothing"

The doctor looked up and into emerald green with furrowed brows and guilt stricken brown eyes. "You're bleeding again… I…" Regina let out an annoyed huff. She was mad at herself.

"Hey… Regina, it's ok" Emma tried with a smile "I'm pretty tough, I can take it… this is nothing alright?"

"It is definitely something" The brunette said and gently pulled the blonde towards the sink. "Here, place it under warm water, I'll got get my medical bag"

Emma rolled her eyes "No Reg-"

Emma had no chance to protest, the brunette was gone in a blink.

The blonde slouched her shoulders and washed her hand.

Seconds later the woman was back with her medical supplies. She took Emma's hand into hers and gently dried it with some gauze.

The blonde could not help but to stare and revel in the feeling this amazing woman brought up in her. Watching her care for her with such gentleness. Emma noticed the small vein that faintly popped on Regina's forehead. She must feel so distressed… The taller woman quickly realized the doctor was being too hard on herself. It felt like she truly cared. Does she care?

While Regina properly tended to Emma's tiny wound, the blonde's thoughts continued to ramble. She could feel a delicious rush invade her blood stream. She remembered the brunette had told her how careful and pedant she tended to be when it came to her patients. That must be it…

"There…" Regina said softly as she finished.

Emma smiled and slowly took her hand back "Thanks"

The brunette finally smiled softly "My pleasure… and now, please sit" She finished with a sterner timbre.

A soft beeping sound interrupted their exchange, and Emma turned to see where it came from.

Regina walked back to the kitchen "It's just the concierge… Henry must be here"

Emma nodded as she watched the doctor punch a number on the small screen attached to the wall. "It is him" She turned and smile.

"I'll get it" Emma pointed at the door but stopped on her tracks as Regina raised a brow.

The taller woman raised both hands in midair "Ok… ok, I'll just… sit" She finished and plummeted onto the chair.

The doctor smiled "Much better… thank you" She finished and walked towards the door, leaving Emma to roll her eyes and smirk to herself.

The blonde could hear her brother's voice and seconds later, the tall teenager was rushing to her as he dropped his backpack next to her chair "What happened to you?!" Henry asked with wide concerned hazel eyes.

"Hey I'm ok don't worry…" Emma could tell he was genuinely worried and maybe shocked to find here there. She placed a hand on his arm.

"Your head!" His eyes feel to Emma's lap "And your hands! What happened? Why are you all banged up sis?"

"I got mugged" She simply admitted.

"What?!" Why didn't you call the school wha-?!"

Regina continued to prepare dinner and occasionally looked to the pair, allowing them their space.

"Because… I'm the adult kid… remember?"

Henry's shoulders slumped as he rolled his eyes.

"Besides… I'm fine, Regina took care of my wounds" The blonde looked over at the brunette and their eyes met, Regina smiled and swiftly returned to what she was doing.

"She even made me take all kinds of tests at the hospital… they all came back normal, so… see? Nothing to freak out about"

"What did they steal?"

Regina suddenly felt uncomfortable since Emma's look changed quickly. The blonde's smile turned into a frown and her eyes grew anxious. The doctor looked down to the salad she was making.

"We'll talk about that later" Emma whispered as green eyes met his hazel ones with a more serious look.

Henry nodded and accepted Emma's answer "Ok" He knew everything was not "Okay"

"I heard they changed your deadline" Emma smoothly changed the subject and pushed a serene smile.

Henry quickly felt the stress return to his body "Ugh! Yes… we still have some things to go over" He scratched his forehead "I hope we have enough time to finish"

Emma could tell her brother was exhausted and could not help but to feel bad for the teen as he'd have to continue working on his project for the rest of the afternoon.

"I'm sorry kid, but I'm sure that… if anybody can accomplish that it's you" She smiled and looked to the brunette a few feet away from them "And Regina of course"

The blonde blushed lightly, and even though she could not tell from where she sat, so did Regina.

Henry grinned still looking at his sister.

"Why, thank you for the confidence Miss Swan" Regina added playfully.

"You're welcome doctor…" She said returning the playful prefix "After all you've done, a bit of sucking up is the least I can do" She joked lightly as hse raised her scraped hands.

Regina scoffed playfully. She was actually glad to see Emma feeling relaxed enough to joke so casually with her.

Henry eyed them both as he pressed his lips holding back a smile. All the shameless flirting made him far too excited. Finally! Some progress between these two oblivious little cowards.

"Henry..." Regina was putting the finishing touches on their food as she looked up

The teenager looked up "Yes?"

"Would you like to go over my notes while I finish here? It would give us a head start" She suggested.

"Sure! Sounds great… where are they?"

She dried her hands on a crisp kitchen towel "My laptop… it's on my bed I believe, first room to the right down the hall… could you please get it for me?"

The teenager nodded and almost hesitantly walked towards a part of the apartment he's never been to.

Regina noticed and smiled "Please don't be embarrassed… It's more than alright go ahead"

He narrowed his eyes sheepishly "You sure?"

"I am sure" She assured him.

He walked off and Emma piped in "So… what are you making? Whatever it is… smells amazing"

"Well… due to the lack of time to prepare something a bit more proper, I had to go for a simpler dish… tempeh bacon veggie burgers and salad"

Well damn that sounded too healthy to smell so good… Emma thought as she nodded, Regina did not miss the skepticism in her eyes. The doctor smiled.

"Animal protein contains high amounts of saturated fats… though it may not sound delicious, it actually is…" She let out a small amused laugh due to Emma's expression "I promise… just give them a chance"

Emma melted a little bit inside, how could she resist this woman? She did not show her weakness though.

"Alright… but just so you know, nothing could ever replace the perfection of real bacon… just sayin"

"Fair argument, however… you shouldn't see it as a replacement, but as a completely new and different healthier option"

"Mmm no no. You said tempeh 'bacon' Regina you can't just replace bacon" She shrugged "You should maybe call them tempeh strips… or something like that, but bacon… only delicious pigs are worthy of that name"

The doctor laughed and shook her head. "You are impossible"

"I'm just honest" She chuckled. The blonde made her way towards the island where the bottle of wine sat open. "Good thing we have your delicious chateau to wash it down with" She poured two glasses.

The doctor took a small piece of tempeh bacon and offered to the blonde "Here try it… it's not bad at all"

Emma hesitantly looked at the offering and took it. She inspected it.

Regina laughed "Just try it! Trust me… please"

And that's all she had to say to make the blonde melt some more. Perhaps it wasn't what she said, but the endearing way she said it.

The taller woman took an exploratory bite and green eyes quickly widened "Mmm ok… this is actually so freaking good" She took another bite.

"I told you it was" Regina took a sip of her wine.

Henry cleared his throat and sat on the table as he opened Regina's laptop. He entwined his fingers and popped them "Alright Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis… here I come" He finished and began to read over Regina's notes.

Emma raised an eyes brow and looked at him.

"Hmm" Regina swallowed the delicious red "By the way Henry your challenging views on the cause of autism spectrum disorder were simply fantastic, I know a handful of archaic thinking colleagues who would brand you as a medical Pariah… could not disagree more"

Henry smiled witout breaking eyes contact with the compute "Thank you Regina!"

"Oh… and please also review the ones on adrenoleukodystrophy…"

Emma's eyes darted to Regina with the same confused face and then turned back to her brother "There are more of you…"

Regina let out an amused laugh.

Henry was far too invested in his reading; he did not bother to look up "What was that sis?"

"Never mind Patch Adams… carry on" Emma said and took another sip.

About thirty minutes later, the trio enjoyed dinner and then moved on to finish Henry's task. Emma decided to pick up one of Regina's books and move on to the sofa, allowing them to completely dive into the project. The blonde could not deny, it had been an eventful day. It started out the worst way possible and simply turned into one of the best ones she'd had in far too long. After a while of debating, shifting and turning in the doctor's comfortable sofa, she finally gave into slumber.

It was now well past three am and Henry as well as Regina were half way smeared on the table. The boy had surrendered first not even realizing when he fell asleep on his notes and journal, while Regina continued until the project was successfully finished. She placed it in a large envelope after printing it, also including a digital copy in the package. She addressed it and crashed at around one am.

Emma jolted awake. And after taking in the unfamiliar surroundings quickly remembered where she was. The blonde never spoke of it, but she usually found herself awakened in the middle of the night by the same recurring nightmare for the past sixteen years. She stood from the overly comfortable piece of furniture and immediately saw her brother and Regina peacefully sleeping with half their torsos on the table.

She smiled softly and gently caressed Henry's hair. As her eyes landed on the stunning woman sleeping near him, she wished she could do the same to her.

There was something about the magic that lingered in the air while everyone slept. Things seemed brighter and more beautiful, but Regina… well, she had been continuously beautiful inside and out no questions asked, uninterruptedly, irrevocably her. 24/7.

Emma noticed how breathtaking and tranquil the city looked through the oversized windows that lead to the doctor's exclusive balcony. She opened the glass door as quietly as she could manage and walked outside. The intense breeze hit her and she allowed her eyes to close, she inhaled deeply. Maybe it was the lights of the city from where she stood, perhaps it was that enthralling magic she related to silent midnights' or simply the fact that she was now feeling something she had never felt before. Emma had a lot to think about and consider. Regina was this breathing walking unbelievable fantasy woman… straight woman, and she was allowing herself to enjoy her far too much, far too deeply and far too quickly.

Her mind chatter was interrupted by the subtle sound of the glass door. Emma turned to see a sleepy faced Regina. Hair slightly disheveled, make up almost completely gone and slightly smudged. God… even still, she looks more exquisite… more intimate, raw and real.

"Hey…" Emma managed softly "I'm sorry if I woke you… I just needed some fresh air"

Regina crossed her arms and shivered lightly. "You didn't... I sent Henry to one of the guest rooms, I hope you weren't planning on leaving this late" She rolled her eyes and laughed lightly "Or early for that matter"

Emma grinned still taking her in and shook her head. "Thank you for everything… I mean that" She finished with a sincerity and vulnerability Regina hadn't seen in emerald eyes before.

The brunette simply nodded and gave her the same openness and exposure from dark gleaming eyes.

Emma turned her gaze back to the astonishing view of New York City at three am. She could hardly believe she lived in such a beautiful place. It simply did not feel the same from her familiar every day view.

"It's ravishing isn't it?" Regina said as she too reveled in such perfect sight and Emma nodded.

The brunette's insides, as intoxicated with the ever consuming and magical attraction as the other woman's, neither one knew. Both doubting each other. Both terrified. Both choosing silence and friendship in stead.

"I should have gone back for her" Emma whispered as she looked to the horizon.

Regina rolled her tongue on her lips and blinked softly, quickly realizing the blonde was speaking of her mother "Emma there was nothing you could have done"

Tears stung Emma's eyes and a knot lodged in her throat, making it hard to swallow. "I left her to drown Regina"

The doctor furrowed her brows and swallowed the lump Emma couldn't seem to "Emma… listen to me" The brunette whispered with a broken voice suddenly feeling tears sting her eyes. She placed a hand on the blonde's arm and turned her so they were face to face.

The taller woman's breath caught in her chest as she saw the emotion in Regina's glowing reddened eyes. The compassion and empathy in them. Emma took a breath in and could not find the will to release it. She looked into this woman in front of her and nodded holding back her own tears. She listened attentively.

Emma looked so small and so guilty, it simply broke Regina's heart, all she could see was a scared teenage girl, blaming herself for her mother's death.

"You did exactly what she asked you to…" Regina said as she rubbed Emma's arms with her thumbs.

The blonde's lip trembled.

"You saved Henry's life Emma… you could not have left a baby on the side of the lake and then swam all the way back to her" The brunette shook her head, with red rimmed eyes. "You did so much more than enough…"

Emma nodded, almost as if that kind of confirmation was all she wanted to hear. Tears fell.

And so did Regina's.

Emma felt like she could finally release that breath she had been holding.

Regina forgot about her reservations and gave into her desires, she walked closer and looped her arms around Emma. The blonde returned the affection and placed one hand on the brunette's waist and the other on her back. Emma sobbed, allowing the woman who held her be the first one to hear and feel the weight. Regina gripped the blonde's shirt tightly and got lost in her warmth, her frailty, and the intensity of everything that was Emma Swan.

For the first time since that fatal afternoon, the blonde allowed herself to cry in the arms of another, for the first time she allowed someone to hold her and comfort her.

A/N: Thank you! I hope you enjoyed this one please leave me a review!