Just so you know, I'm on spring break this week. So either I get a ton written because I'm not in school or I get very little written because of family. I don't yet know which way it'll go.

"No. Absolutely not."

"Oh come on. How do you expect to take a bath without taking off your clothes?"

"This is exactly why I didn't want to take a bath with you in the first place."

"Come on, Madame Mayor. We need to get you clean."

"No. How many times do I have to tell you that I am not stripping in front of you?"

"Not completely naked, we just need to get the skirt and blouse off to make sure nothing's infected. You can keep your underwear."

"How generous of you."

Emma simply rolled her eyes, a juvenile action that prompted a raised eyebrow from Regina.

"Get me a tank top."

"A what?" was Emma's first response.

"A tank top. Bring me one. Heavens knows you own at least a dozen white ones."

"Only like five." Emma muttered as she acquiesced, leaving the room momentarily.

Regina tried not to fidget as she perched on the edge of the claw-footed tub while she waited for Emma to return. She had to retain her façade of power even now, after all.

"Here, one of my hundreds of white tank tops." Emma's voice dripped with sarcasm.

"Thank you." Regina nodded as she accepted the garment. "Now this is how this will happen. I would prefer to tend to my injuries myself, but I know I have scrapes I could not hope to reach alone. So I will put on this shirt," her voice insinuated she used the term loosely. "and keep my skirt, and we will clean the scrapes with a washcloth, then apply hydrogen peroxide." Her voice took on a softer tone. "And then I'll see to that laceration on your face."

Emma was momentarily touched, but snapped out of it quickly enough. "Sounds good. Need help getting the blouse off?"

"I am a grown woman, Sheriff Swan. I am fully capable of dressing and undressing myself."

However, her actions belied her statement when she grimaced as she tried awkwardly to remove the fabric without renewed oozing from any of the gashed on her arms. Emma was silent as she gently eased the mayor out of the shirt and helped her into the tank top.

"Even if you're not taking a bath you should put your feet in the warm water. You might like to keep all ten toes."

Her attempt at humor earned her a glare she was well-accustomed to, but the mayor stood nonetheless and adjusted her skirt minutely as she prepared to step into the tub. Emma grabbed her hand to help steady her, and much to the blonde's surprise she accepted the assistance.

Regina placed one foot in the tub, then began to add the other. However, as she was shifting her weight onto the submerged foot her balance caved under the combined pressure of a slippery tub and deadened feet. Emma tried to arrest her fall but was only doused for her efforts. The broken beauty's eyes were wide with surprise and panic, her every emotion playing across her face as time slowed. She heard a resounding crack as the porcelain slammed into the porcelain skin of her cheek and her vision was rapidly invaded by blackness.

Thanks for reading.