Emma sat at Regina's bedside for hours as the woman recovered, just holding her hand. Finally though coming to her senses enough to call for a water bowl and soft cloth to wipe away the blood from Regina.

As Emma looked back to the bowl to once again soak the now pink rag – the brunette's eyes fluttered open.

Regina reached out and grabbed Emma's arm – the blond knocking over the water bowl in shock.

"Ah!"

Regina's eyes darting around the room, pushing frantically to sit up.

Emma reaching to help and brushing her hands through dark hair, finally just lightly cupping Regina's face.

"Hey, shh, you're ok."

Regina was shaky as she took in her surroundings, she glanced up at Emma's face finally registering the blond she threw her arms around the girl. She sobbed out a broken cry.

"I'm sorry…" Regina's nails digging into the blond, Emma didn't care.

Emma held tight and started lightly rubbing at the woman's back.

"Don't be sorry, it's… it's my fault I shouldn't have taken you, it was too soon…" Emma choking on her own sobs, not able to calm her racing heart from the guilt that was stabbing at it.

The brunette closing her eyes, her chest trembling. Letting herself calm as she naturally followed the breaths the blond was taking in and out.

"No Emma, I should have been more careful. I should have…" she was at a loss, but she should have been smarter…she had let her guard down.

Emma pulled back and shook her head. "You did nothing wrong." Searching between Regina's eyes the woman finally sighing and nodding her head, "Ok." A weak smile accompanied her acceptance, she was safe with Emma, she wouldn't build these walls up, not yet anyway.

Regina bit her lip as it started to tremble, and her voice became even smaller.

"Emma?"

Emma looked for the warm brown eyes but they were gazing down at their intertwined hands, when that had happened, she didn't know.

"What if I lost the baby?" her voice cracking a bit at the end, her mouth going dry.

Emma squeezed her hands, "Regina it's alright maybe…"

Regina shook her head as tears spilled down, "It feels different, I'm sure I have…"

Emma pulled her close, Regina covering her mouth with her hand in a silent cry.

"I don't care Regina – I care about you. I just am so relieved you are ok."

Regina stilled, but didn't let go.

"Shit that came out wrong, I… I wanted her ok, I did but not by loosing you. I….?"

Regina nuzzled into Emma's neck it was warm and safe and sheltered by her light blond hair. It felt like her own personal safe haven.

Emma's voice grew quite as well, "How are you feeling?"

Regina shrugged. "I'm fine."

Emma pulled back to get a look at the brunette who offered her a fake watery smile before the façade collapsed and she closed her eyes, turning her head and trying frantically to wipe at her face.

"Shh it's ok, let me see you."

Regina shivered, she wasn't used to raw emotions or intimacy.

Emma could tell she was shaking so she lightly guided Regina's chin to look at her and brushed away tears with her thumb.

Emma leaned forward and kissed her forehead, "Everything will get better, I promise. I'm here for you"

Snow chose that moment to walk in – though she had certainly heard it all.

"I…I brought some food for you two – I had it double checked to be safe."

Regina tried to pull away from Emma but Emma wouldn't let her go.

Regina grabbed pale wrists, "She knows Emma…"

Snow looked at Regina and moved to sit on the very edge of the bed. Emma and even Regina held their breaths for a moment as Snow surged forward and enveloped Regina in a hug that was long overdue.

"I am so sorry Regina. From the bottom of my heart." Regina for the first time in her life clung to Snow White.

Emma set her hand on her mother's arm.

"Mom…"

Snow turned, brushing away more tears.

"We won't execute her Emma, she is… she is my mother, whether she wants to be or not."

Emma kissed her mother's cheek, tears streaming down her face.

"Thank you."

Regina wanted to ask why, how Snow could trust her now. But she stayed silent not wanting to give the woman a chance to change her mind. Right now she needed all the support and safety she could get, she had lost her safety net and now all that stood between her and death by the kingdom were these two women.

Snow looked between them and seeing how emotional they were and how they looked at each other she figured it was time for her to bow out.

"We will figure out a plan later to appease the people for now please rest both of you and watch out for each other yes?"

She kissed both women on the head and then left quietly.

Emma smiled moving to bring some water to Regina's cracked lips but the brunette turned away violently.

Emma jumped in surprise. "Hey it's just water, but she saw the flinch of fear ripple through Regina's skin.

"Please…please I can't. Don't make me." Her eyes seemed to shrink back. Forming a death grip on the pale wrist.

Emma brought it back to her own lips and drank. "See its fine? You have to drink something Regina."

Regina's hand was too shaky to take the glass though she attempted to. Emma catching it before it could fall.

"Easy there, I'll hold it, just tip it slowly."

Regina's eyes closed as she tried to overcome her fear of being poisoned again. Slowly, bit by bit, the water disappeared, and Emma relaxed a bit winning the small battle. She would have to convince her to eat later.

She stared at the timid woman before her, she – she loved her though she couldn't admit it yet. Yes, she had done horrible things, but she had never seen the evil queen, only Regina Mills to Emma. She had really fallen for her the moment she met her.

She pulled Regina's hand with the cuff over to her – questioning eyes crinkling in confusion till the metal band snapped off, Emma crushing it to dust.

Regina's eyes wide. "Emma, what are you doing?" Her voice still a bit wobbly.

"You don't deserve to be chained. I trust you, and you need your magic to protect yourself."

Regina rubbed at her wrist. Looking up with a sad smile.

"Thank you, but people…they will know and they will fear what I will do…"

Emma snapped her fingers an idea instantly coming to her.

"Maybe they don't need to know." Emma twisted her hand and a leather band appeared that she magically fixed around Regina's wrist.

"There no one will know." Holding up the wrist for Regina to inspect. She could already feel the buzz of her magic returning and the magic starting to recuperate in her body – though she knew it would be days considering how close she had come to not surviving.

a/n: we are stepping into more feels the coming chapter be warned!