Sorry I took long. Life gets in the way but I'm here now :) Thank you once again for reading and reviewing. I love your feedback. One more week till OUAT! About time! lol I'm really excited to see Cora's influence on Regina. As much as I love her as the Evil Queen I do hope she doesn't go back to her old ways and continues to redeem herself for Henry. She deserves a happy ending.

Cortez2010 - I'm glad you think that. Thank you!

Rae325 - I love that you're enjoying the story and enjoy this next chapter! I'd love to hear your feedback.

CharmingFamily - It might be Henry, it might not be lol You just have to keep reading to find out ;)

Ailec-12 - Good I'm glad you like it. Out of all the chapters, that one was the hardest. Thank you so much!

Barbara Montgomery - You'll know soon enough... just not in this chapter lol sorry

Morgauza - Thank you for reading! This next chapter is a little on the angst side and it only gets worse so I think you'll enjoy it

impureevil - Thank you for the wonderful ideas. I don't think I can fit in a fire but the situation I have planned is a little like Regina having to make a choice. You'll see soon enough and its all angst so I know you'll love it. I love writing and reading angst too!

To all my silent readers - Thank you Thank you Thank you! Please review! I'm interested in hearing your feedback.

Chapter 14 She Loved Me

"Quick take her to the bathroom," Snow ordered David as she, Emma, and David all walked into the apartment. David had an unconscious Regina in his arms and right away did what he was told. He gently laid her on the floor and let his wife and daughter take over.

"Mom?" Henry's panicked voice suddenly sounded from behind them. Emma turned to see Henry standing at the door, his eyes fixed on Regina in horror. Snow started to fill the tub with cold water and Emma was going to start striping her clothes but had stopped. "What happened? Is she going to be ok?"

"Henry…" she said, her eyes pleading for him to understand. They had no idea if Regina was going to make it through the night. David seemed to understand what his daughter wanted because he took Henry's hand and led him out of the bathroom.

"Is she going to die?" he asked, his voice shaking with fear as David knelt down to his level.

"She's strong Henry. We're going to get her through this."

"But what if..."

"She's not going to die," he said sternly as he got up and turned towards the bathroom. "I'm taking Henry out. Call me if anything," he said. The girls nodded and as soon as David closed the door Emma started to strip Regina down to her underwear and bra. It was then that she had noticed the bruises and old scars covering her body. She looked up at Snow and noticed the anger she saw in her eyes. Emma didn't have to ask who that anger was directed at. She just didn't understand how a parent could hurt their own child like this and for what? For power?

"Are you sure this is going to work?" Emma asked as they lifted Regina into the cold water.

"I hope so," Snow said as she put Regina's hair up in a messy bun and started pouring cold water down her neck and chest. Her fever was high and they had to get it down. After a while, they had managed to get her fever under control.

Emma put her hand on Regina's forehead. "It's still there but she's out of the danger zone for now. I think it's safe to get her out now."

"This is insane," Snow said, her voice full of defeat. She was by Regina's head where she was wiping her flushed face with a cold towel.

"Yeah, taking care of the woman who tried to kill you and took everything away from us with a curse? Yeah, it's pretty insane," Emma said sarcastically.

"It's not just that," Snow said, completely missing the sarcasm. "It's Cora. I remember how she used to treat Regina before she disappeared and honestly now that I look back I don't know how I could've missed it. She was abusive to her daughter not just emotionally but physically too. It's no wonder she turned into the Evil Queen."

"Still, being abused isn't an excuse for what she's done. I have people coming down to the station and telling me the things she's done to either them or their family and it's just…"

"I know it's not an excuse," Snow interrupted her. "But it wasn't just the abuse, it's everything that came along with it and what I have done. All her life she's been controlled by her mother, by Rumplestiltskin, and my father. All she wanted was to be free and the only way she can get it was through power. She just went down the wrong path with it." Emma stayed quiet, taking in her mother's words. She never realized that maybe Regina could have been good at one point in her life… that certain tragic events had changed her into something dark.

"How was she like before?" she found herself asking. Snow slowly shook her head at the question.

"She was young and kind. She saved my life and taught me about true love. She was someone I miss." Hearing her mother's grief through her words, Emma didn't push for more answers so instead she put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"She's trying to change. Maybe there's still hope for her." Snow sighed and willed herself not to shed the tears that had suddenly welled up in her eyes. "Now come on," Emma said. "Let's get her out of here."

It wasn't long till Regina was dressed and lying in Snow's bed. She didn't want Regina lying in the uncomfortable sofa bed when she was this sick. Snow was sitting on a chair in the corner of the room just like the time when Regina was drunk. She was still so angry at everything the former Queen had put her through but yet she was scared to death that she wasn't going to make it. She was so confused and had barely even noticed Emma walking in.

"David just called. Hook attacked Gold at the town line and Belle was apparently caught in the crossfire. Henry's staying with Ruby tonight. We're probably going to be gone for a while. Will you be ok here?"

"Yeah, if anything I'll call you." Emma nodded and with one last look at her mother and then at a pale Regina she walked out of the room. A few hours had past and Regina's fever didn't seem to be getting worse so Snow decided to go make some soup for when she woke up. She couldn't stop thinking about what she had said to Emma. What Regina had done in the past had no excuse. She was still unbelievably angry at her but yet she longed for the person she used to be. She knew even if Regina did redeem herself it was too late for their broken relationship but it wasn't too late for Henry. That was why she was determined to keep her stepmother alive. Just as she finished the soup, she heard a loud thump in the bedroom as if someone had fallen. Alarmed, she rushed in to see a weak Regina on the floor. She was on her hands and knees and seemed to be trying to stand up.

"Regina, let me help you," she said, rushing over but Regina only pushed her away.

"No, don't," she whispered. Her eyes were glazed and she seemed to be out of it. Her body language clearly stated her head was killing her. Snow put her hand on her forehead and realized that her fever was going back up.

"You're burning up. Let me help you get back on the bed."

"No!" she snapped before Snow can even touch her. "I don't need your help!"

"Why do you have to be so stubborn?" she asked as she watched Regina struggle to get up. It was heart wrenching and she had to keep herself from going over to her. Regina was quickly running out of energy and had only managed to sit with her back against the bed. At those words she shot Snow a cold hard stare.

"I don't want you helping me," she said, her voice shaking with exhaustion. Her breathing was labored and Snow could see her shaking.

"Why not Regina? Why can't you just let me take care of you?"

"Because I don't deserve it!" she snapped harshly. Snow flinched at the bitterness in her tone and Regina's face softened. "After everything I did I don't deserve any of this. You and Miss Swan shouldn't even have rescued me."

"We weren't going to let you die," Snow said as she slowly approached Regina and knelt down to her level. She seemed to recoil further away as Snow got closer.

"Why not? Isn't that what you and the whole town wants?"

"After everything you've done to me and my family and the whole town I should want you dead but I don't. I admit that I'm beyond angry and I will never forgive you just like you'll never forgive me. There is too much bad history between us but it's not an excuse to let you die." Regina could barely even focus on what Snow was saying but she heard every word and it made her blood boil. She hated that this girl was too noble to properly hate her. She wasn't supposed to be taking care or her or rescuing her. She was supposed to leave her in that ship… she was supposed to let her die and now Snow White had saved her life twice even if it was her daughter that had summoned her.

"You're too noble for own good!" she spat as she pushed Snow to the floor and forced herself to stand. The heat of her fever, her pounding headache, and the intense vertigo she felt had nearly made her lost her balance but she didn't care. Despite her weakness she intended to leave this room but it suddenly became too much and she found herself falling to the floor. Snow rushed over and tried to help her up but Regina once again pushed her away.

"Leave me alone," she said, her voice sounding strained as she fought to keep her emotions in check. Unfortunately, Snow saw right through her walls.

"No," she said sternly as she helped Regina up. "You are sick and you need help. I don't care how much bad blood is between us because right now in this moment you need someone. You can act like you're better off alone all you want but the truth is you don't have to be alone. So I'm going to help you back on that bed and care for you just like Cora should be doing instead of hurting you." Regina was frozen at those words and she couldn't say anything as she let Snow help her up and guide her back onto the bed. Regina then noticed her clothes had been changed.

"You saw the scars," she whispered, unable to make eye contact with the girl she's hated for so long. Snow nodded and she could see a flicker a shame in her eyes before it disappeared and was replaced by the cold mask she often wore for protection.

"What Cora did to you…"

"No! You don't get to talk about her. I loved her and she…"

"She hurt you," Snow whispered as she sat on the bed besides her stepmother. She didn't fail to notice how flushed she was. She can tell the fever was rising and she seemed to have a pretty intense headache. Regina finally met her gaze and Snow almost flinched when she saw the pure hatred flashing in her fever glazed eyes.

"She loved me," she said, her voice full of suppressed rage. Snow shook her head and gently laid her hand on Regina's. Regina was shocked to feel herself melting into the touch. She just wanted to feel something right now… anything but the sickness raging through her body. Whenever she had gotten ill when she was young Cora never cared for her. All she wanted was to be held and Snow was the only one who had ever given her that all those years ago when she was sick with the flu. She wanted that again, to be cared for but her anger and hatred for Snow once again took over and she quickly pulled away as if Snow's touch had burned her. The reaction had bothered Snow but she didn't show any sign of it. She wished Regina could just let her guard down long enough to let people see the person she really is behind the mask.

"That's not love. Hurting you… abusing you isn't love. Torturing you with magic and making you sick like this isn't love. Turning you evil isn't love." Regina didn't respond and Snow could tell she was trying her best to block out her words. She simply just didn't want to hear it so Snow just pulled her warm body into a tight caring hug.

"This is what love feels like," she whispered in her ear. "I know you've forgotten somewhere along the way. I know there's still good in you. I've seen it when you're with Henry and I saw it today when you fought to stay awake to see if Archie made it back ok." Regina let her mask fall just for a second. She fought the wave of emotion threatening to take over. She couldn't appear weak in her enemy's arms so she abruptly pulled away, her eyes cold with darkness. Her face had the expression of the Evil Queen and Snow knew she had gone too far. Regina only crawled further away from the kindness she had shown her.

"My mother wasn't the one who turned me evil my dear, it was you."

Snow was seething with anger when she walked out of that room. That woman just loved to get her all rallied up. She had hid how much those words had hurt and excused herself to get her some food. She knew Regina saw how much it bothered her but she kept her calm till she was on the other side of the curtain. Regina's fever was too high so instead of giving her soup she decided to make her some dry toast. As she put the bread in the toaster and waited for it to pop up, she checked her cell to see that there were no missed calls. Whatever it was that Emma and David needed to take care of she hoped it wasn't too serious. She didn't want to spend another moment with Regina any longer than she had to. Things got ugly and awkward, not to mention over emotional. It wasn't long till the toast was ready and Snow was shaken out of her thoughts by the sound of the toast popping up. She put the toast on a plate, grabbed a glass of water and some fever reducer pills, and took them into the bedroom. What she saw made her almost drop everything she was holding. Regina was sobbing uncontrollably. She was holding her head and Snow knew she was in pain. She rushed over and put the stuff on the nightstand before reaching out to Regina.

"Regina! What is it?" she asked, her voice laced with panic.

"My head," she cried through her tears. "It hurts… make it stop… please!" Snow knew she really must be in pain to begging and crying like this. She took Regina's hands, forcing them from her face and pulling her against her as she sat on the bed. She didn't know what else to do but hold her.

I'll update soon. Please review!