"Achoo!" Regina sneezed as she entered the mansion. This was the eighth time she had sneezed during her shopping trip with Ella, and she was deeply concerned about it.

She recognized this type of sneezing. And it wasn't just a random sneeze attack. It was the beginning of her annual autumn cold. The one that always lasted three days and made her feel like shit.

Damn it. Oh well. At least she managed to shop with Ella before coming down with this thing. That was something. Henry's girlfriend was a lovely young woman, and she and Regina hit it off quite well.

Regina blew her nose in a tissue. Despite this oncoming cold, she felt quite satisfied. Today had been nice, and she even managed to buy a few things for herself. Nothing fancy. Just a couple of blouses she absolutely couldn't live without. And after saying goodbye to Ella, she had stopped by the lingerie store and spent and indecent amount of money on fancy underwear and nightgowns so flimsy it was barely worth the money.

But then again, Laura's reaction would probably be every bit worth it.

So yes, Regina was quite satisfied.

Laura had texted once during the shopping trip, and she had been very interested in knowing exactly what Regina was buying.

Regina had teased her a bit and snapped a picture of the lingerie store, and she had planned on going online on Skype later to show Laura what she had bought, but since she clearly was getting a cold, she wasn't so sure about that anymore.

Video chatting while she was sick would probably make both of them miserable.

Regina wasn't particularly interested in having anyone seeing her whenever she was unwell. Especially not Laura.

"Achoo!" Regina blew her nose again and sniffled. "God damn it." this wasn't exactly what she had had in mind for tonight.

She had planned on going online and talk to Laura for hours, but this shaped up to be a "Netflix and bed by 8" kind of night instead.

Oh well. Another episode of Downton Abbey couldn't harm, could it?

Laura had tried to convince Regina to start watching Stranger Things, but Regina had declined. She was perfectly happy with Downtown Abbey, thank you very much.

Regina had carried her newly acquired underwear upstairs and was debating whether to put it away in the closet or snap a few pictures for Laura since she couldn't come on Skype tonight, when her phone beeped. She almost thought it was Laura again, but it wasn't. It was Henry. Ella was having a "ladies' night" with Ashley and Aurora, and Henry was planning on going over to Emma and Killian's place, and he just wanted to know if Regina wanted to come along.

Regina texted back and told him she appreciated the offer, but she was coming down with a cold, so maybe another time.

A moment later, Regina was curled up on the couch. She had changed into her warmest pajama and had even brought the duvet from the bedroom. And she had armed herself with a glass of orange juice, aspirins, plenty of Kleenex. And her laptop.

She sneezed for the millionth time as she switched the laptop on and tapped in her password. After a moment, her desktop appeared, and Regina quickly logged into the chat site to search after her favorite redhead. And it didn't take long before...

Laura: hey, luscious Latina :D

Regina chuckled hoarsely and blew her nose. That was a new one.

Regina: Hello, dear.

Laura: Skip the pleasantries, Ms. Queen. You've kept me waiting all day... Are you coming on Skype anytime soon, or...?

Regina winced a little as she tapped her answer.

Regina: No show tonight, I'm sorry. I'm coming down with a cold.

Laura: Oh no!

Regina: But I can still send you pictures if you'd like?

Laura: Nahh, I think I'll wait until I can see YOU in it.

Regina: Fair enough.

Laura: So, are you coming on Skype soon?

Regina: I'm sick.

Laura: So?

Regina: So I don't want to video chat when I'm sick.

Laura: Why not?

Regina: Because I don't want you to see me sick.

Laura: That's ridiculous, Ms. Mills.

Regina: No, it's not. You have such a lovely image of me in your mind. It would be a shame to ruin that.

Laura: Don't be stupid, Regina.

Regina: I'm not stupid. I'm vain. That's a completely different thing.

Laura: Give me one good reason why you shouldn't come on Skype right now.

Regina: Because I look horrible.

Laura: Not a valid excuse. Try again.

Regina: I'm dressed in my fluffiest pajama.

Laura: Wait, you own other nightwear beside sheer nightgowns? I'm shocked, Ms. Mills!

Regina: Very funny.

Laura: Jokes aside. I bet you look really cute in your fluffy pajama.

Regina: Yeah right.

Laura: I wish I could be there with you right now.

Regina: Why on earth would you want that? I'm sick and miserable and huddled under the covers on the couch.

Laura: I would love to cuddle on the couch with you.

Regina: And catch my cold.

Laura: I would be willing to risk that. For you.

Regina: You're very sweet.

Laura: And you're pretty miserable, aren't you?

Regina: Definitely.

Laura: Shall I send you a picture of my entire collection of spoons to make you feel better? ;)

Regina: You know, at some point you have got to let that spoon incident go, dear.

Laura: Not until you admit that you moaned.

Regina: I most certainly did not.

Laura: I'm not letting it go, then.

Regina: This isn't making me feel any better.

Laura: I'm sorry. How about this then? In two months, minus three days, you and I will be on Mauritius.

Regina: That's better.

Laura: Lying on the beach all day with a colorful drink...

Regina: Even better.

Laura: Maybe going for an occasional swim in the crystal blue water...

Regina: That sounds wonderful.

Laura: And once we've enjoyed a ridiculously delicious dinner, we head back to our hotel room...

Regina: Go on.

Laura: Where I lean in and kiss you, simply because I can't hold back anymore. Mauritius is a warm place, so you won't be wearing much. Maybe a dress I can just hitch up.

Regina swallowed. This conversation was officially heading in a very lovely direction.

Laura: Maybe we won't even make it to the bed. Maybe I'll want you so much I have to have you right then and there. Right against the wall. Or maybe on the floor. Let's hope there's thick carpets. And thick walls.

Regina: I feel better.

Laura: Do you really?

Regina chuckled hoarsely and coughed.

Regina: Not health-wise, but I'm definitely not miserable anymore. Thank you.

Laura: Everything for you, babe. But of course you know that this wasn't just a story, right? I'm planning to actually follow through with this when we get to Mauritius.

Regina: I really hope you do. It sounds wonderful.

Laura: I'm still thinking you should come on Skype. I'm sure I could make your night even better.

Regina: I'm sure you could, but not tonight. Not when I'm sick.

Laura: You are silly.

Regina: No, I'm not.

Laura: You are.

Their little banter about whether Regina was silly or not went on for a while until somebody knocked at the door.

Regina: Somebody's at the door. Give me a moment.

Laura: Sure.

Regina got up from the couch and wrapped the duvet around herself. She was miserable enough to do that. Whoever was behind the door would just have to live with that.

There was another knock on the door.

"Hold on, I'm coming," Regina croaked as she headed into the hallway to open the door.

It was Henry standing on the other side of the door, and he was grinning from ear to ear.

"Henry," Regina said pleasantly surprised. "What are you doing here? I thought you were at Emma's?"

"That looks like the autumn sniffles," Henry commented and nodded towards the duvet around Regina's shoulders and her general miserable appearance.

"I think it might be. You're supposed to be at Emma's."

Henry shrugged. "I changed my mind."

"Why?" Regina asked and frowned. Ouch. That hurt her head. Damn it. She did not need a headache. In fact, a headache was the last thing she needed right now.

"You're sick, so I'm going to hang with you instead," her son grinned.

"You really don't have to. I don't want you to catch anyt..."

"Nonsense," Henry brushed her aside and throttled past her into the hall. "I might have moved out, but I can still drop in on you unannounced whenever I like."

"Of course you can," Regina immediately agreed. "Anytime you want."

"And I didn't come empty handed," Henry grinned, and only now Regina noticed the basket dangling from his arm.

"What is all that?" Regina asked as she followed him into the kitchen and he began pulling various items out of the basket.

"Chicken soup that just needs to be heated in the microwave. Herbal tea for your throat. Dark chocolate with almonds for your mood. And..." he grinned from ear to ear as he slid a DVD across the table. "My Fair Lady. Borrowed from Grandma."

Regina chuckled. It was a well-kept secret in the family that "My Fair Lady" was her go-to movie when she was sick.

"You didn't have to do all this, Henry," she scolded lightly.

"I wanted to," Henry shrugged. "Why don't you go back into the living room and rest while I make the chicken soup? I'm sure you haven't had any dinner yet."

"I was getting to it," Regina lied.

Henry scowled at her. He didn't buy her lies for a moment.

Regina looked appropriately embarrassed and ducked her head slightly as she headed back into the living room. Henry knew her too well. That was sometimes both a blessing and a curse. Her computer screen was blinking, and she quickly sat down to check the message.

Laura: Was that the boogeyman outside?

Regina laughed so hard she started coughing. Still wheezing, she tapped in a reply:

Regina: Not exactly. It was Henry. He has come to "take care of me".

Laura: Good.

Regina: Good?

Laura: Yeah. Somebody should be there and take care of you while you're sick. And since I can't, your son is a great second option.

Regina: I don't need to be taken care of.

Laura: Of course you do, Ms. Queen. And if there was a way to enter your god damn "magically sealed off town" I would be on my way to do it myself.

Regina: Really?

Laura: What do you mean "really?" of fucking course I would. You're my girlfriend. I love you. Of course I will take care of you when you're sick.

Regina: It's just the sniffles.

Laura: Doesn't matter. Is your son feeding you chicken soup?

Regina: As a matter fact, he is. How did you know?

Laura: I'm physic. You know that.

Regina: Ha, ha ha.

Laura: I'll leave you in your son's capable hands. You sure you're not coming on Skype later?

Regina: A hundredth percent sure.

Laura: Fine. Can I at least call you and tell you a bedtime story, then?

Regina: A "bedtime story"?

Laura: I promise I'll make it a good one.

Regina: Sounds... Interesting.

Laura: It will be, I promise ;) feel better, Ms. Mills.

Regina: Thank you. I will.

Laura: I love you.

Regina: I love you too.

Laura: Give my best to Henry. And tell him thanks for doing what I unfortunately can't.

Regina shook her head. The message was followed by some sort of crying emoji.

Regina: I'll tell him you said hi.

Laura: Oh, and another thing. Please don't fall asleep before we have talked. I know I might be asking for the impossible, but I would really like to hear your voice before going to bed.

Regina: You are very sweet. Rest assure I'll stay awake until you call.

Laura: Great. Talk to you later, Ms. Queen.

Regina: Indeed.

[Laura has logged out]

[Regina has logged out]

Regina closed the laptop shut and cleared her raspy throat again.

"You're smiling," Henry observed as he came in with a bowl of chicken soup. "Was that Laura?"

"Yes it was. And she sends her love."

"How's she doing?" Henry asked. "Looking forward to Mauritius already?"

"I think we both are."

"I'm glad you decided to go," Henry smiled. "You deserve a little adventure."

Regina laughed croakily. "I think I've already had plenty of adventures in my time, Henry."

"You know what I mean," Henry scoffed. "The good kind of adventures. Here's your soup. Extra garlic."

"My hero," Regina chuckled. "My little prince has turned into a knight in shining armor."

"Mom," Henry said and rolled his eyes.

"I'm allowed to call you that whenever I want," Regina teased and dipped the spoon into the soup and took a sip.

"Good?" Henry asked.

"Very," Regina hummed in appreciation.

"The priciest one in the grocery store," Henry joked.

Regina mock gasped. "You didn't even make it yourself? Henry, I am disappointed in you."

Henry laughed. "Want me to put the movie on for you?"

"That would be nice." Regina nodded and considered for a moment before continuing: "But you don't have to stay and watch it. I'm sure you'll be just as happy without "My Fair Lady."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Henry grinned as he propped the DVD into the machine. "I've already seen it about a million times. I can handle a million and one."

"Very funny. I haven't watched it that many times."

"You're a sucker for Rex Harrison," Henry teased.

"I most certainly am not!"

"And Audrey Hepburn," Henry continued and snickered.

"Henry!" Regina protested and cough-laughed. "That is not funny."

"It is."

"It isn't."

"It is."

"It isn..." Regina shook her head, admitting defeat. "Never mind. Remind me to tell Laura you said that. She'll laugh her head off."

"I'm sure she will," Henry chuckled as he sat down next to Regina to watch the whimsical action on the screen.

Regina ate her soup slowly and in little nips. Her throat was scratchy, but this wasn't half bad.

She hadn't counted on Henry showing up with a basket full of goodies, but she definitely wasn't complaining.

The only thing missing from this picture was Laura. How nice it could have been if she was here and occupying the empty spot on Regina's left side. Having both Laura and Henry here could have been amazing.

But this was definitely nice too. More than nice. And so was the chicken soup. Nice and creamy and full of garlic. Perfect. Her sinuses appreciated that. And she had almond chocolate for later. She was already looking forward to a piece before bedtime.

"You want some herbal tea now?" Henry asked when Regina sat the empty bowl aside.

Regina wrinkled her nose. Herbal tea wasn't exactly a favorite. "I think I'll wait," she said.

"Alright." Henry turned his attention back to the screen and grinned. "You know, she isn't half bad looking."

"Who?" Regina asked slightly mystified.

"Audrey Hepburn," Henry answered and didn't even try to keep the amusement out of his voice.

"Henry, I swear to god," Regina said and shook her head. But she couldn't find her stern voice.

Henry laughed shamelessly.

"That's enough insubordination. You're grounded," Regina said dully. "Go to your room."

That only made Henry laugh even harder. "Nice try, mom. But I don't think that's gonna work anymore.

Regina shrugged. "It was worth a shot."

To Be Continued...