Emma dreamt of fantastic things that night. Her and Regina, laughing while running down the sidewalks of storybrooke hand in hand as the rain fell over them. For the first time rain wasn't something to fear, the gloomy day gave them something to smile about as they raced home. She dreamt of waking up with Henry sleeping in between them, as he slept with his arms wrapped around Regina's head.
Emma rose every morning, beside Reginas bedside with a smile on her face. The dreams she was able to have at night made everything better, dreams where her and Regina were a family with Henry and everyone accepted it. Henry came everyday after school and sat beside his mother. He spoke to her, as he had his whole life. Told her of his day, what he had learned, who he had played with and how much homework he had. After 5:30 David would swing by to pick him up.
"Bye mom see you tomorrow" he'd say.
Giving Regina a super magic smile, as he exited. Everyday a different Storybrooke resident would stop by to relieve Emma. She would run home take a shower and hurry back to Reginas bedside. Shed sit beside her and read, tell her gossip about the town, and around 8 om every night, make her way to the nurses station to kick Robin out. And just like that she'd lay her head on Reginas belly, and fall asleep. The routine became a part of her life, she knew what every morning would bring and she had become use to it. Being with Regina even if she wasn't awake made her feel like she was needed. The wounds on Reginas neck and chest were healing. Slowly but they were indeed healing. 6 weeks had passed since the incident. Leopold was still being held at the jail, since everyone believed Regina would need to testify against him, and be a big part of the decision of what they should do with him. Mary Margaret made her way to Reginas bedside everyday to replace the flowers that sat beside her. She would bring Emma coffee then go to school. She would stop by with Henry in the afternoon and then make her way home to her son, who granny watched for her.
She watched Emma talk to Regina everyday almost as if she didn't want Regina to miss anything. She spoke of Robins new found alcoholism and of Rubys new love interest in the mad hatter. She spoke of Dr. Hoppers creepy attachment to Pongo, and how Henry had managed to score straight A's once again. Of how Rumple believed that Belle was cheating on him, and how her baby brother Neal was an adorable handful.
"Hey good thing you saved that kid if not David and Mary Margaret would be extremely bored". She laughed.
Emma looked at Regina when she spoke to her a sign was all she needed, some kind of moment like she had given her all those weeks before. Yet every day that went by Emma lost more and more hope. She felt like a fool, what if I'm talking to her and she can't hear a thing I have to say what if I'm a stupid moran and I'm wasting breath, she thought. Everytime she arrived at that conclusion she quickly brought herself back, it's not a waste even if she can't hear me because at least I'm here, at least when she wakes up she'll know I never gave up I was always by her side.
Seconds turned to minutes while minutes turned to hours and then into days. The sun rose and fell each day turning days into weeks and then into months. Each day, Whale checked on her and was never able to come to an appropriate conclusion.
"We just have to wait". He'd say. "Don't lose hope Emma".
Eighteen heart wrenching weeks had passed. Emma looked terrible, she had lost weight she was pale to the bone and wouldn't speak of Regina to anyone. Hope had escaped her mind and the little she had left she clenched in her heart. Sun beamed into Reginas room as it feel on the horizon. Henry lay next to his mother on the hospital bed, touching her face and telling her of his day like he did everyday. His words were a mere whisper but Emma listened tentatively, it seemed his stories were what made her day easier. He was there for Regina but he was there for Emma too. He coughed a little and began to speak louder.
"You see mom, that's why you have to wake up, because I miss you and I need you and because..." he paused
"And because Emma needs you, because she loves you, and she loves you like really loves you...don't you Emma".
Emma wanted to lie she wanted to deny it, but there was no use, obviously Henry was a smart boy and he had figured it out.
" I do Henry, I love her very much, and since we both love her so very much she's going to wake up".
He smiled at her a nodded while wiping a tear from his cheek.
" i think I may be able to help". A voice said from the doorway.
Rumple stood by the door holding his cane and a little silver jewelry box. Emma stood up and made his way over to him. She motioned him into the hallway.
"Well be right back Henry, keep your mom company". Emma walked out into the corridor followed by Rumple.
"What do you mean you can help, if you could have helped, why wouldn't have you done it 3 months ago".
"Because I didn't have a way to help, it took me three months to make this potion, I can't even be sure it will work, and I'm missing one ingredient, we'll maybe 2 I think with 2 it will be much stronger".
Emma looked at him suspiciously.
"Well, what is it! What do you need!?". She spat.
"Well it took me 3 months, because I had to collect pieces of people that cared about her, I took hair from everyone in storybrooke, but those people only care about her, I need a piece of someone who loves her, and a hair won't suffice here dearie, I need a real piece, and that's where you come in".
Emma cringed a little bit but it seemed like a small price to pay for Reginas return.
"Alright, well how a big a piece?" "Just some flesh from an area she was stabbed, therefore some flesh from your shoulder or your neck, I'm sure Whale will take it from you, I'm sure he wouldn't mind I small cut this is the only way it will work".
"And if we both give a piece then it will be stronger that's why you said maybe 2 ingredients since we both love her".
Henrys voice interrupted their conversation, he stood behind Emma in the corridor.
"Henry, you can't think I would allow you to hurt yourself, that's simply put of the question by all means".
"But she's my mother Emma, if a small piece of me can wake her up I'm doing it, your heard Mr. Gold, with both of us it's stronger, we can risk it not working, I'll have a bandaid but I'll have my mother back I need her Emma".
Emma looked at her son. This bravery was because of Regina. She had given him the power to stay strong and survive. Regina had given their son her exceptional fight, and she knew that there was no winning here.
"Ok then let's get Dr. Whale in here to explain what he needs to do for us". Emma said decisively.
Henrys face lit up, he believed with his entire core that this would help that he would soon be held by his mother and the thought over whelmed him.
Emma looked at her soon as Rumple walked over to the nurses station asking her to page Whale. The truth was she believed with all her heart that this would work. After all its all they had. She smiled at her son with a reassuring nod.
"It's going to be alright". Emma smiled.
Before she could gather her though, Whale came running down the hallway.
"Did something happen, the nurse said it was urgent?".
"No, we just need your help. Rumple has come up with a plan and we think it will work".
Whale pursed his lips looking up at Rumple with distrust in his eyes.
"Let's here it" Whale ordered.
Emma interjected "we need you to cut some flesh from us nothing big just small cuts, that Rumple can use for a potion to wake Regina up".
Whales eyes widened and a grin formed on his face for a moment he thought she had to be kidding him, but he looked at the seriousness in her eyes, and his grin quickly diminished.
"You are actually serious" he coughed out.
"Yes he needs the flesh of someone who loves hwr and we'll I love her and we'll Henry loves her so we are the prime candidates". Henry yelled.
Whale drew his gaze at Henry.
"You are sure about this Henry, this won't be pleasant".
"I'm sure, let's get going, the quicker we do this the quicker I get my mother back".
Whale closed his eyes and shock his head.
"Fine follow me".
Emma and Henry disappeared into a small room. Minutes later they both emerged with small bandaged on their neck and shoulder. Emma handed Rumple a small jar with what he needed. Rumple nodded.
"I'll be back by the end of the day".
He walked out of the hospital as quickly as he had entered. Emma and Henry walked back to into Reginas room both sporting enormous smiles. Henry climbed into bed with Regina and put his hands around her head. Emma smiled at the sight she had seen in her dream. Hope had been resorted. She grabbed a chair and placed her feet on Reginas bed.
"Now we wait".
