"Regina, you have to push now." The midwife said and Regina gripped Fraida's hand tighter as she bore down trying to push her child out of her womb. She hadn't felt well that day but the King had insisted that she come with him on their walk thinking that she just needed some fresh air. She had gone into labor halfway around the garden and then had to make it back to the castle and up to her chambers. Something was wrong and everyone knew it, it was to early and the pains were coming to close together.

A child's voice could be heard outside of the room. "Let me in! She needs me right now." Snow yelled at the guard.

"Princess, your father said that you should not be aloud in. He does not want you to see it."

"See what? Birth? One day I'll give birth you know." Snow retorted.

"He fears that it being her first child that there may be complications."

"All the more reason I should be in there with her!" Snow practically yelled.

"I'm sorry princess-!" The guard was cut off by the sound of his knees hitting the floor. Snow opened the door silently and went to Regina's other side. Fraida was sure the child would ramble and cause Regina more stress but she merely took her other hand in both of hers and stood there.

Regina had been pushing for quite some time and all she had to show for it was the sweat and tears pouring down her flushed face. "My Queen, I know you are tired and that it hurts but this is it, you have to push now. Your baby is almost here and the sooner you push the sooner this is over." There was a worried note in the midwifes voice. Something was wrong. They all new it. It was happening to fast and she was pushing so hard and nothing was happening.

Fraida was practically in tears and filled with fear.

"I can see the head." The midwife announced. "One last push Regina. Make it a good one."

And Regina pushed with all the strength she had left and she screamed as the baby's head and shoulders slipped out.

It was blue. And they laid... Her on a towel in between her parted legs and the cord was wrapped around her neck. The midwife tried to revive the baby but nothing worked. Regina sobbed and Snow sobbed with her and Fraida just stared and prayed that the baby wasn't actually dead.

The midwife wrapped the baby girl in a blanket and placed her in Regina's arms. "I'm sorry there wasn't anything I could do. It's not any body's fault these things just happen sometimes."

Silent tears streamed down her face as the gazed at her baby's blue face. Snow cried too as she looked at her stepmother and her assumed half-sister. They remained like that for some time. Tears falling down their faces and Regina gently rocking her baby. Young Snow with her arm wrapped lovingly around Regina as she rocked her baby. Fraida nestling beside the bed gazing at her friends broken face.

The midwives cleaned Regina up and the King entered tears in his eyes. He came to Fraida's side of the bed and she moved out of the way for him. He leaned over and kissed Regina's head kindly. He leaned over and kissed the baby's blue head. "What do you wish to name her?" He asked.

Tears still falling down her face she smiled at her child. "Her name is Elaina, because for a while she was a shining light in my life."

Fraida's eyes filled with tears and they rolled slowly down her cheeks. Her heart was breaking.

The King gave the order for the midwife to take the baby. Regina shook her head. "Just a little longer. I want to remember her face." They stood by for a moment while Regina drunk in the sight of her baby's perfect blue face and her tiny delicate fingers. After a while the midwife came forward and attempted to take the baby. But Regina clung tightly to her. "No... I'm not ready. I can't!" She cried, pleading with everyone. Leopold put his hand on Regina's shoulders and tried to force her back.

"Father no..." Snow said. "Let Fraida and I take care of her."

The King looked at his daughter who had tears in her eyes. He didn't smile he just turned and left.

"Regina..." Snow said. There was no response from her as she clung to her child.

"Regina," Fraida chocked out. "It's time to let go." How could she ask her to let this precious child go.

"I can't..." Regina sobbed.

"She is going to be okay. We are going to take care of her. She's in a better place now. Somewhere she is being taken care of." The midwife said.

"I'm not strong enough to let her go. If I do I feel like I'll cease to be." Regina replied honestly.

"Don't say that." Fraida said. "You are the strongest person I know. You will make it through this because you, are strong. And you a kind and compassionate. You feel more deeply than anyone I have ever met." Tears were once again rolling down her face. "You have been handed hard cards and it's not going to be easy for you." She paused for a breath. "But my mother said that we are never given more than we can handle. So you will handle this... If it's by yourself of with friends you will get through it... Because you have to. You have to survive." In many ways this was Fraida's goodbye... Her trying to tell her friend to be strong and find a way to get through all the bad things that had come and were still coming.

Regina nodded. She kissed Elaina's head and then gently handed her to the midwife who turned with her and walked slowly out of the room. Regina laid back and covered her face with her hands. Fraida climbed next to her and wrapped her up in her arms trying desperately to hold her together. Snow cuddled against Regina's other side tears still falling softly down her face.

They remained there all night. Huddled together trying the comfort Regina and each other. When morning came Snow arose and kissed Regina's head and left quietly but Fraida stayed.

"You'll make it. I know you will. You have to you hear me?" Fraida said to Regina turning her face so that their eyes met. "You have to make it. You find a way. No matter what else happens you find a way."

"What else is going to happen? Why do are you talking like something else is going to happen?" Regina said her eyes wide as she clung to Fraida.

"I am leaving. My mother wrote me a letter asking me to come home. I told her I would after the baby came."

Regina's eyes flooded with tears. She was about to be completely alone. Alone. Alone. Alone. That's what she was destined to be.

"I can't make it without you."

"You have to. Believe me I don't want to go... I don't want to leave you alone but I have to. It's breaking my heart but I'm needed elsewhere."

"That's exactly what I'll be if you leave me... Alone."

"No, Daniel and I will always be here." She said pointing to Regina's chest again. Regina nodded, and hot angry tears began falling down Regina's face.

"Go then, don't wait any longer if you are just going to leave me then leave. Just leave." She was pulling away from Fraida and Fraida could feel her own heart breaking because of the hurt she could see on Regina's face. The hurt she was causing. What had she done? How had it all come to this?

She rose from the bed. She wanted to say so many things. But she couldn't. There was nothing she could say to make this any better.

"Go! Just go!" Regina screamed angry tears streaming down her face.

"Goodbye Regina..." Fraida leaned down and kissed her friend's head. Regina grabbed her hand and Fraida squeezed it. She was backing away now and their hands were still clinched together until Fraida finally pulled away. Tears were streaming down both their faces and Regina was sobbing again.

Fraida turned and walked out of the door and right out of the Castle tears still pouring down her face. She walked over the grounds making her way to Rumpelstiltskins castle.

Hello you lot! I'm off on another adventure it would seem. Let me know what you think of this chapter and if you have figured it out or not! Be good while I am away! :D I feel kinda mean leaving you guys here, but, Mwuahahahaha... Poor Regina... I do hate that I did that to her...