She had switched purses, trying to find one she was familiar with. She hadn't put the epipen in…Regina's heart dropped and her entire body was trembling as she looked back to her son. She picked him up and cradled him in her arms before whipping her head around frantically.
"I need help!" She screamed, gaining the attention of everyone in the store. The bag boy jumped, catching her attention. "You! Get the pharmacist, now! I need an epipen now! Now! Move!" She screamed at the young man making him jump.
"He— he's still at lunch." The boy stuttered and if Regina hadn't had Jamie in her arms, he would be a crumpled heap on the floor by now.
Tears gathered in her eyes as she looked around desperately. Then she saw a sight she had never been more thankful for in her life. The sheriff's car was slowly making its way down the street, patrolling. She used one hand to grab the bag boy's collar jerking him hard.
"Go outside, get the Sheriff! Tell her what happened! Go!" She shoved him hard and he barely caught himself before falling into the door. He did as she said though, and whether it was the urgency of the situation or the fear for his own life, it didn't matter because he ran hard.
"You're okay, baby. It's okay, you're going to be okay." She was crying, kneeling down to the floor and rocking the boy whose eyes were fluttering as he fought to get air through his narrowing windpipe.
Much sooner than she thought possible, Emma came sprinting through the door with a bag underarm. She slammed it open so hard the glass shattered, though neither mother noticed. She landed hard on her knees right in front of Regina and Jamie.
Emma tore the bad open and ripped the end of the box with her teeth, turning it sideways to let the pen fall into her hand.
"You're going to have to hold him tight, Regina." Emma said in a voice a hundred times calmer than their situation suggested.
She pulled the cap off the end and pushed up the pants on one of her son's legs. Regina was trembling hard as Emma picked up his leg.
"Regina!" She yelled, gaining her attention. "Tight, now!"
Regina did as told and her eyes widened significantly when Emma lifted her arm and slammed the pen into Jamie's thigh, hard. She kept it there momentarily, letting all the medication seep in. With her free hand, she gently pushed the falling bangs out of his face. He was red and crying, but no sound was coming out. His eyes kept fluttering but he had not lost consciousness completely.
"Hey there baby boy, look at Mama. Look at me, baby." She said in a soothing tone, rubbing his cheek and he managed to focus his wavering gaze on Emma. "Hey there, good boy. That's my boy." She pulled out the needle and smiled at him, lifting him out of Regina's arms and standing up. She moved towards the door, holding the boy against her chest but glanced back to see Regina still on the floor.
"Regina." The brunette looked up. "Come on, we gotta get to the hospital."
Regina just stared still shaking and not moving and Emma knew this was not the time for her wife's emotions and feelings to be soothed.
"Get. Up. Now. We have to go. Now!" Emma turned back and walked quickly to the squad car parked outside. To her relief, Regina followed.
"Get in the back, I'll hand him to you."
Regina did as told, still not saying a word but Emma didn't care right now. She placed the boy in her lap and buckled them together. She called Dr. Whale as she drove with her lights and sires on, making it to the hospital in record time.
Once again, she lifted her son out of Regina's arms and jogged with the weak boy into the hospital. The staff worked quickly, starting an iv line and hooking him up to fluids along with a mask to provide some extra oxygen. He cried when the needle went in, but with some soothing from Emma who held him through everything, he stayed calm.
Emma had looked to Regina, who was doing a stellar job holding up the wall, several times trying to get her to join them, but to no avail. Regina had always had a natural ability to soothe any injury or illness either of their children suffered from and Emma had learned from her. But now, the brunette stood back in fear of getting in the way or making anything worse. The complete opposite of what her Regina would be doing.
After some time, Henry showed up and took over watching the now sleeping toddler so the mothers could talk to Dr. Whale.
"He's going to be just fine." Whale said before they even had the chance to ask.
"Are you sure?" Emma couldn't help but still be worried a little.
"Yes Sheriff. He responded very well to meds and the humidifier seems to be helping. The inflammation is down, his O2 sats are up, heart rate and blood pressure are back up to normal, he's hydrated. No heart dysrhythmia. He's sleeping now because we gave him some Benadryl, but I would say give it a couple hours, we'll make completely sure everything is perfect and he can sleep in his own bed tonight." Emma sighed and smiled in relief. "You guy's did everything right. Well done, today"
"Everything right?" Regina snarled, making a sound for the first time since the grocery store. "I nearly killed my son! How the hell did I do 'everything right'?" Whale took a step back with his hands raised but before he could respond, Emma stepped between them, facing him.
"Thank you so much, Doctor, we'll be back in there in a minute." Emma then turned to face Regina who had her fists clenched and was pacing angrily. "Regina—"
"What?! Go ahead, I'm sure you've been waiting for this! Well congratulations Miss Swan, you win. You're the better mother!" Regina threw her hands up and Emma shook her head, looking incredulously at her.
"Regina, don't be ridiculous. This was an accident, I know that."
Regina spun on her. "He could have died! It doesn't matter if it was intentional!" Tears formed again but in her anger Regina didn't notice.
"But he didn't. He's going to be fine. Regina, you just met him three days ago, okay. We spent a lot of time nailing this into our heads. I should have reminded you. I mean I sent you to the freakin grocery store. I should have double checked that you had one on you. I didn't even show you the one in your car. This is as much my fault." Regina kept pacing and Emma tried a different tactic, speaking in a firmer tone now. "No one is blaming you for this, no one is angry at you for this. This is not the time for a sad pity party. Right now, he needs you so go in there and hold your son." She finished, jaw set.
"After what just happened, how can you say that?!" Regina was red and still crying but Emma relaxed and gave a soft smile.
"Because it's exactly what you said to me last time."
Regina looked up, surprised.
"Accidents happen, Regina. All that matters is that our son is okay. And he is. You'll be chasing him around the house tomorrow. Which by the way, is also what you said to me. But I'm serious, regardless of your feelings, you need to go in there — hug him, kiss him, tell him you love him. Now." And just like Regina had done last time, Emma placed her hand on Regina's back and physically pushed her wife into the room with their children.
It seemed that once Regina had Jamie in her arms again, she couldn't let go. She held him, rocked him, carried him around his room rubbing his back, whatever he needed until he was discharged a few hours later and she very reluctantly placed him in the car seat of the SUV Henry had driven back to them. The second they pulled into the driveway, she had picked him up and taken him inside. Jamie seemed happy with the attention and snuggled into his mother's neck, relaxed and happy.
The child was drowsy enough that is didn't take more than a few cartoons before Regina could feel the deep and even breaths against her chest. At this point, she was lying down comfortably on the couch, her son sleeping soundly and safe in her arms. There was absolutely no part of her that was willing to separate from the child so she let her own body relax and closed her eyes.
She was aware of someone moving around the room at some point. She heard the T.V. go off and felt a blanket placed over her and the little boy. She heard what she assumed was a kiss placed on Jamie and then had to control herself not to react when to her shock, she felt a very light kiss placed on the side of her own forehead.
She knew Emma hadn't moved yet from her spot next to the pair and felt a hand touch her shoulder lightly. She also knew if she had really been asleep, she would never have known this moment occurred. The next words were spoken so softly, even awake Regina barely heard them.
"I miss you so much, Regina. Please come back to me. I need you…I love you." There was a slight hitch at the end and Regina could hear she must be crying. A moment later she felt the hand move away and heard the steps leaving the room.
Slowly, she opened her eyes. She just started up at the ceiling for the longest time. She didn't usually feel other people's pain — she didn't care. And Emma, well she had barely moved beyond hating her. But hearing the words spoken so softly and with such pain…Regina felt it. She felt an uncomfortable tugging in her chest she couldn't shake.
After an hour, she finally decided she wouldn't be getting any sleep there and very gently lifted Jamie with her before walking up the stairs to her bedroom. She didn't turn the lights on because of the sleeping boy so it wasn't until she was only feet from the bed that she saw her.
Emma had apparently used the pair sleeping on the couch as an opportunity to stay in her own bed for the night, not expecting anyone to notice. That uncomfortable squeezing in her chest only increased when she noticed Emma hugging and pressing her face into Regina's pillow.
Not even Regina could be so cruel as she wake the blonde, but she stood there for a minute considering her options. She still wasn't willing to part with Jamie but the idea of trying to fit her body on his little bed for the whole night was not appealing in any way and going to the guest room just sounded ridiculous.
After a few more minutes, she finally shook off her nerves and with a throw pillow left on the floor, she laid down next to the woman who had saved her son today. Their son she reminded herself.
She looked at Emma and saw the dried tracks running down her cheeks. Once again, Regina had to deal with the clenching feeling in her chest. Luckily for Regina, in the comfort of her own bed, she was able to sleep. And luckily for Emma, the brunette was asleep before there was a movement and a soft gasp from the other side of the bed.
Emma laid still next to Regina, tapping her fingers on the covers anxiously for a few minutes before she couldn't take it anymore. She lurched forward, intent on leaving again before harsh grip on her forearm jerked her backwards onto the bed again.
"Regina!" Emma groaned earning her an eye roll from her bed mate. "Come on!" Regina kept the tight grip, but casually looked over to the nervous blonde giving her a stern look.
"Emma, you are being ridiculous. Stop worrying, he's fine."
Emma tried to twist out of her grip but realized it was futile. "You don't know that, just let me check one more time—"
"No. You checked a dozen times already. Emma, he was fine all day today. You are not sleeping in there again tonight, you are staying with me." She said with finality and Emma still looked conflicted.
"But—"
Regina let go of her arm to close her hand over Emma's lips. She kept her hand in place while rolling herself on top of the squirming blonde. She used that hand to turn Emma's head slightly to the side and pressed her lips against her wife's ear.
"No buts. Except maybe this one." She said, moving her free hand down to Emma's ass and squeezing. She licked up the shell of Emma's ear and hearing the muffled moan, smirked before opening her mouth to take in the lobe and bite down on it. After releasing it, she used her hand to turn Emma's head to face her once again. "Now, are you going to be a good girl and stay, or am I going to have to tie you down?" Both sets of eyes darkened significantly.