Chapter 9

All Henry could think about was his mom. Regina took on the deadliest curse known to man, only to save her nemesis and Emma. It didn't make any sense whatsoever. The ambulance had arrived shortly after Emma had called. However, when they arrived, they refused to help her, since she was the Evil Queen, and she had never done anything for them. All she inflicted was either misery or pain. The common feeling was that she could live with that, or as it now looked like, die. The ambulance left as fast as it came. David became furious, and Emma no better. All Henry could do was stand there and watch his mother kick the gravel and his other mother's life hanging by a very thin thread.

Henry was pulled out of his thoughts by a warm hand on his shoulder, and a subtle smell of vanilla. He could recognize that smell anywhere, anytime.

"Is she gonna' be okay, Emma?" Henry whispered, staring into the fireplace, and pushing the fire with a stick. Emma had decided that she was going to stay with Henry, Regina and David at the mansion, until Regina got well. If she ever would.

"I… I don't know, kid." Emma answered back with a certain break in her voice. Honestly, things did not look great for Regina, but she did not have the heart to tell Henry that. She couldn't help but to feel guilty for all of this. If Regina never had taken on the curse, this would never happened. Emma turned towards the door as she heard it squeak. David was standing there, pointing her over, as if he did not want Henry to see him. She rose to her feet quickly, gave Henry a kiss on his temple.

"I'll be right back, kid." Emma said as she left the living room, and followed David into the hall. David just stood there, scratching the back of his neck. Emma was starting to get impatient, and David was behaving strangely, awkward almost.

"What is it, David? You're starting to freak me out here." David snapped out of his thoughts, and focused his attention back at Emma, shifting his eyes between Emma and the floor.

"I kissed her."

"What? Who did you kiss?" She asked, putting her hands on her hips. David muttered a name under his breath, but Emma could not quite catch it.

"Come again?" Emma said, David just coughed to clear his throat, and straightened his neck.

"I kissed Regina."

"You what?!" David flinched at Emma's shriek, and Henry who had heard the scream, came running into the hall in fear.

"Is everything okay?" Henry asked a little out of breath. He went over to where Emma was standing, mouth open in shock, tears gathering in the inner corners of her eyes. Fear sent a chilling feeling down Henry's back as realization hit him in the gut.

"Is my mom…?" Tears running down Henry's cheeks as he began panting uncontrollably as the unenviable feeling kept rushing through is body. Guilt hit David's heart, as he understood what Henry saw of this situation. He surged forward and pulled Henry into a tight hug.

"Oh my gosh Henry, no. She is alive. She's gonna' be okay." All that could be heard was the sobs of a scared little boy. David lifted his gaze towards Emma, only to be met by an empty space. Emma was gone.

ECECECECECECECECECECECECECECECECECECECECECECECECECECECECECECECEC

Pain. Blood. That was all Regina could sense. No, wait. There was another feeling, but she could not quite identify it. It felt like this tingling in her stomach, like a movement. Was it excitement? No, she had nothing to be excited over. Why does my mouth produce so much saliva? Oh, no. No. Anything but that. She could not even finish her thoughts before her entire stomach emptied itself on the floor. Pushing herself back on the surface where she was currently placed, hurt like a bitch. She could not remember the last time she was in this much physical pain. Maybe back at the palace? She felt a cough ripple through her body, and as it did, pain surged all the way from her head down to her toes. Her tired hands fisted the sheets and she buried her head in the pillow placed under her head. She was most definitely not in the forest anymore. Someone actually cared enough to pick her up. David. Her thoughts were interrupted by a loud sound coming from her left. She carefully turned her head, and squinted her eyes open. Oh yes, that is definitely a black eye.

"Oh my God, you're awake!" David surged forward and cupped Regina's cheek in his hand. Her bruises looked even worse now; they were purple and blue, and her lip was covered in blood. The room was filled with relieved laughter, as he kissed Regina on the crown of her head. He carefully lifted her up into an sitting position, and helped her lay back against a tower of soft pillows.

"Wh… what happened?" Regina's voice was unbelievable dry and raspy, like she had not done anything else but smoking cigars for 30 years. She's probably thirsty as hell.He grabbed the cup he had put down for her, and held it up toward her mouth. She hurriedly grabbed the straw between her lips, and enjoyed the sensation of coolness down her throat.

"You took on the death curse." David said, to answer her earlier question. She swallowed painfully as he tried to move her neck towards David, who was currently seated at the edge of her bed.

"I vomited on the floor. I'm so sorry." She said, tears in the corners of her eyes. David looked down on the other side of the bed, and just took her hand in his.

"Regina, you do not need to apologize. I'll clean it up, no worries." He brought her hand up to his mouth and kissed it warmly. Regina gave him a small smile, but he noticed the conflict in her eyes. She quickly pulled her hand back to her chest, her brows furrowed in pain. David reached for the painkillers on the nightstand, quickly unscrewed the top, and gave Regina the pills. She quickly swallowed the combination of pills and water which were somewhat soothing to her throat.

"Where's Henry?" She asked, worry taking over her, trying to sit up and look around, only to be stopped by David's careful hands. He put her down, and pulled the duvet over her.

"He's safe. He's in his bedroom sleeping, it is 3 AM after all." He said, yawning as he checked his watch. She visibly relaxed at his words. Her little prince was safe. She had done her job.

"And Emma and Snow?" she asked closing her eyes in pain as she laid back down. Confusion raised within her when David did not respond, but rather sitting there, white as a ghost. He coughed, and rose up from the bed and walked towards the door.

"Emma made it."

"But what about Snow?" she asked, her voice as small as David had ever heard it. Dread filled Regina's body, as it hit her.

"No." Was all that came out of David's lips. He shifted awkwardly, before clearing his throat. He looked at Regina, and her face was literally unreadable and expressionless. David walked towards the door, telling Regina that he was grabbing a bucket to clean up the vomit by the bed. Regina just laid there, her story with Snow running through her memory.

"I'm Snow. Snow White."

"I love you, Regina."

"You're going to be my new mother now."

"Why do you have that bruise? Did you fall of Rocinante?"

"Regina, I'm tired. I just want my stepmother back. Leave my family alone. You can have the kingdom."

"No, the good person I used to know is long gone, but, oh, how I hope she comes back soon."

One solitary tear ran down Regina's cheek. This was it. Her victory. It was not supposed to feel like this; she felt horrible and sorrow was filling her body. She actually missed her. Her smile, how her laughter would fill the palace, even in the darkest of times. She was the light. Regina had felt weak for needing a little girl; but then again, she was just a little girl herself. A little girl who needed something to feel anything at all. She would rather feel anger, than feeling numb. Snow was the closest thing she had to a friend all those years at the palace, even though she was a naïve, optimistic girl who told her secret. She was hope. Now, her hope was gone.