A/N: For those of you hoping to see the desert scene … sorry!

The room was still dark when Emma's eyes blinked open. She frowned, unsure what had woken her until she heard a rustling on the far side of the room. She rolled over and saw the pale body moving at the foot of the bed, the slender frame bent over as Regina pulled on her underwear.

"Morning," she murmured, pulling the sheet over her naked body to keep out the chill of the wintery air.

"Good morning," Regina said. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you but I have to go back to mine for some fresh clothes before I head to work."

"You can borrow something if it means you get to come back to bed," Emma said, eyes roving shamelessly over the woman who was now clasping her bra behind her back.

Regina chuckled and shook her head. "Thank you but I really ought to head to mine anyway."

Emma pouted but nodded her understanding. It sucked that Regina had to go to work on Saturdays but she respected the woman's chosen career and knew that, much as she would enjoy spending her morning in bed with the brunette, she was going to be far more productive saving lives at the hospital. Plus, Henry would be up soon, she realised as she noticed it was already approaching six thirty.

"Are you coming back tonight?" Emma asked as Regina buttoned her slacks.

"Am I welcome?" she asked teasingly.

"Oh you're so welcome," Emma replied at once. "Last night was … amazing."

She briefly thought back to their time late in the evening, bellies comfortably full of pasta which Emma had microwaved for the two of them before they climbed back into the rumpled sheets and resumed their exploration of one another's bodies. She didn't think she'd ever forget the look on Regina's face when she had come with three of Emma's fingers buried within her as Emma rubbed herself on Regina's tensed thigh.

"It really was," Regina nodded, returning to the bed and crawling onto it, meeting Emma's eager lips for their first kiss of the morning. "Really amazing," she added as they broke apart. "And much as I would love to bail from my work and stay here with you and Henry, I can't."

"I know," Emma assured. "Go on, you're going to be late."

She gave Regina a final kiss before gently pushing the brunette's shoulder and encouraging her to finish getting dressed. She watched as Regina pulled on her shirt, then her cardigan and finally her shoes. Once she stood completely dressed in the dark bedroom, Emma swung her own legs out of bed. Her ghostly body moved across the room as she walked to where her dressing gown hung inside her wardrobe. Before she could put it on, however, she found herself pinned against the wall, Regina's mouth pressed hard against her own, two hands gripping her waist tightly as the brunette rocked her pelvis into Emma's.

"Fuck you're gorgeous," Regina said when she pulled back, releasing the startled and aroused blonde.

"So are you," Emma said, chasing the retreating older woman and pulling her into her arms for yet another kiss. This one was softer, gently and full of promise for what was to come.

"I have to go," Regina breathed when the kiss ended several minutes later. "I'm going to be late for work."

Emma stepped backwards and held her hands up in mock defence. Regina laughed at the act still enjoying the fact that the blonde was naked. But then Emma finally reached for her dressing gown and shrugged it on. The two of them moved through the empty apartment, opened the door and headed down the hallway. They lingered for the shortest moment at the front door, Regina promising to come over after her shift and Emma asking the brunette to text her if she had any dinner cravings. Then there was a final kiss, two shy smiles and the brunette had disappeared out of the building and into the early morning drizzle.

Henry woke less than ten minutes after Emma had finally donned pyjamas and crawled back beneath the sheets. He pulled himself up onto the bed and snuggled under the covers with his mother. Emma supposed she should be glad he wasn't demanding much of her energy that morning; she hadn't exactly gotten much sleep the previous night. But the fact that her six year old son wasn't bouncing up and down and requesting their traditional Saturday pancakes meant that he was still sick. Emma would have happily done anything her son desired if only it meant he was well again. Soon, she told herself. Soon.

"Mum, where's Regina?" Henry asked as he curled into her side, his body uncomfortably hot against her.

"She had to go to work," Emma said. "She's going to come back later tonight though."

"Can I stay up and say hi?"

"That depends," Emma said. "If you're tired, you're going to have to go to bed. Remember what Doctor Zelena said?"

"Yeah, I know," Henry nodded. "But my dad is going to make me better on Monday so it doesn't really matter, does it?"

Emma bit her lip. She wished Regina hadn't had to go to work. She didn't quite know what she should or shouldn't tell Henry and, to be honest, she didn't quite understand the upcoming treatment herself.

"Well, we don't know that for sure, kid," she said eventually. "Your dad is going to come and try and help but we don't know it will definitely work. And it's still really important you're strong and ready for Monday because Doctor Zelena is going to have to give you some medicine which isn't going to make you feel well."

"Why?" Henry asked.

"Because that medicine will make all the nasty stuff in your body go away and then your dad can give you some of his healthy blood and you're get better."

Henry looked sceptical. That didn't sound like a great system to him. Why did he need new blood? Emma correctly read his confusion and disbelief.

"Regina is going to talk to you about it tonight or tomorrow so if you have any questions, I think you should ask her. She's a special doctor for children so she can explain stuff way better than me."

"Ok," Henry said. "Can we do some painting today."

"Sure," Emma said. "Are you hungry? I can make pancakes if you like?"

Henry shook her head but sat up and slid out of bed. Emma followed suit and together the Swans trailed slowly into the kitchen. The debris from her late dinner with Regina lay on the side and she quickly washed up as Henry clambered up into his chair at the small dining table in the corner of the room. They rarely ate in the kitchen but Henry often sat there while Emma was making their meals so she could keep an eye on him. That morning he pulled some paper and colouring pens towards him and began crafting … something. Emma had to admit her son didn't have much artistic ability thus far but diligently stuck each of his creations on the fridge nonetheless.

Twenty minutes later and she put a plate in front of her son with a pancake covered in blueberries and strawberries before him. She hated buying out of season fruit which had accumulated thousands of air miles but if it got nutrition into her son then she was willing to bite the bullet. Henry took a few mouthful under Emma's gaze but as soon as she turned back to her own lemon and sugar pancake, he pushed the plate away.

"A few more bites, kid," Emma said as she sat down opposite him.

"I'm not hungry," Henry said quietly, returning to his drawing.

"Eat the fruit, at least," Emma bargained.

Henry dutifully reached out and plucked a single blueberry from the plate. Emma sighed but didn't push him. She knew he already felt terrible and being scolded for not eating when he had no appetite was not going to help. She resigned herself to yet another quiet, low energy day with her son.

Which was exactly as it went. With the addition of Ruby who turned up after lunch with a selection of books and games for Henry. They played together in the living room floor for an hour until Henry fell asleep and Emma carried him to his room. Emma and Ruby then sat on the couch and Emma explained as much as she could about the upcoming bone marrow transplant and what was in store for Henry. Ruby had more complex questions than Henry and Emma found herself wishing Regina was there to answer them again.

"And Neal? What's his plan?" Ruby asked.

"He arrives tomorrow afternoon," Emma said.

"Shit," Ruby breathed out. "Talk about having a lot on your plate. Henry's sick and then he's meeting his dad for the first time. New relationship with Regina to boot. How's that going by the way?"

Emma couldn't help but smile. "Great," she admitted. "It's all great."

"You've slept with her," Ruby said at once. "Tell me everything."

And Emma did, only stopping when they were interrupted by Henry waking from his nap over an hour later and asking if his favourite doctor was here yet. Ruby looked between the two of them and remarked that she wasn't sure who was more lovestruck. Emma punched her friend on the arm and stood from the sofa to get her son a glass of milk.

Soon after four, a text from Regina informed Emma that if it wasn't too much trouble she was thinking a vegetable stir fry would be good for dinner. That was, she added, if Henry liked it. Emma smiled dopily at the concern in her girlfriend's text and asked Ruby to look after Henry while she nipped down to the local shop to get the additional ingredients she needed. As luck would have it, Henry also loved Emma's stir fry. They had the meal at least once a week, in fact. Regina seemed to fit just perfectly into their lives, Emma mused as she bought the egg noodles and some beansprouts to supplement the vegetable she already had at home.

Whether it was because he wasn't hungry or because he really was determined to stay up to see his favourite doctor, Emma didn't know but Henry adamantly refused to let Emma cook his dinner early. It wasn't until seven that he permitted her to stop playing the boardgames Ruby had brought over and begin cooking. Ruby herself had disappeared an hour earlier, heading on a night out with some of their other friends. Emma didn't feel like she was missing out. The only thing she was missing was Regina's presence. She had just turned the heat under the wok down low when her phone vibrated in her pocket, informing her the brunette had arrived. Deciding not to leave Henry alone in the apartment with an open flame, she hoisted his slender frame onto her hip and carried him downstairs.

"Hi Gina!" Henry shouted even before Emma had opened the front door.

"Hello Henry," the brunette mouthed back before repeating it once the door had swung inwards. "How are you this afternoon?"

"Mum made stir fry for me and you," Henry said.

"Did she now?" Regina said, smiling softly at Emma. "How kind of her."

"Come on up," Emma said, closing the door against the dark London night and leading the way back to the apartment.

She left Henry on the sofa and made her way to the kitchen. Regina, however, sat down beside the small boy who was sorting through a pack of cards.

"What are they?"

"Top Trumps," Henry said, showing them to the brunette briefly as he gathered them together. "Can we play?"

"Sure," Regina said. She curled her legs beneath her on the couch and waited patiently as the young boy clumsily dealt out the cards. Emma's head appeared around the doorframe at one point to see where the brunette had gotten to but she just smiled at the sight that greeted her and disappeared to put the finishing touches to their meal.

Less than five minutes she returned to the living room and placed the three plates she was carrying on the already laid table.

"Henry, wash your hands please," she called before disappearing to get the bottle of wine which had been chilling in the fridge. By the time she came back with two glasses and a juice for Henry, the boy and Regina were emerging from the bathroom. She helped her son into his chair, poured wine for her and Regina and finally took her seat.

"Wow, this looks and smells amazing," Regina said. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Emma replied. "How was your day?"

"Long but good," Regina said. "There are always a lot of kids admitted at the weekend but there were no serious incidents in our department. Everyone was pretty much ready to go home by the time I left."

"Because you're an amazing doctor," Emma grinned.

"Because most of the cases were simple and easy to treat," Regina amended. "But thank you."

"Gina, Mum said my dad is going to give me some good blood and that Doctor Lena is going to give me nasty medicine to make my bad blood go away," Henry piped up.

Emma shot a look at Regina which said 'I had no idea what to tell him!' Regina understood. Talking to children about their upcoming treatment was a hard part of the job and one she had trained for years to perfect.

"Yes, that's true," Regina said, putting down her fork. The food was delicious but she didn't want to be discussing blood transplants while eating. "There is a part of your body which is making some blood which makes you feel sick. We need to give you some medicine so that stops happening and then we can give you some healthy blood from your dad and hopefully you'll get better."

"So on Monday I'll be all better again?" Henry asked, perking up at the thought.

"Not exactly," Regina admitted. "We need to talk to your dad for a bit and take some of his blood to do some tests. If his blood really is good then we are going to give you this medicine to stop your body making the bad blood. But that will take a few days. It might be next weekend when we give you the blood from your dad. And then we'll give you the blood over three or four days. It could be a few weeks before you come home though. Your body will be very tired and we need to make sure you don't get sick."

"But I'm already sick," Henry frowned. "I can get sicker?"

"You could," Regina nodded. "But Doctor Zelena and I and everyone at the hospital are going to work really hard to keep you healthy and well. We're just going to have to take it a day at a time."

"Oh."

Emma and Regina exchanged glances. It seemed that perhaps, for the first time, Henry was realising quite how sick he was and that the doctors didn't have a magical cure for him. For the first time in his life, his mother was unable to make everything alright for him. In fact, she needed his mysterious father to help her. And Doctor Regina and Doctor Zelena.

"You're going to be fine, kid," Emma said, blinking back tears. "I'm going to be right beside you every step of the way, ok?"

Henry nodded and pushed away his food. He'd eaten about half of it which in Emma's head was a victory anyway. Regina understood; she'd lost her appetite too.

"May I get down?" Henry asked.

Emma nodded, not trusting herself to speak. The little body climbed from his chair and padded across the carpet to the sofa where he buried himself beneath his duvet. Emma suspected he was crying. She turned back to Regina with tears shining in her eyes. The brunette wiped evidence of her own sadness away. Emma needed her to be strong. She couldn't become emotionally involved in Henry's treatment. Although she already knew it was way too late for that.

Their dinners abandoned, Emma and Regina returned to the sofa and sat down carefully either side of the mound they knew to be Henry. Emma put her arm around him and shuffled his body closer. After a moment, his face appeared, hot and teary as he looked up at his mother.

"I want to be well again," he said quietly.

"I want that too, baby," Emma said, lifting her son onto her lap.

She wrapped him up in her arms, kissing his fiery cheek and rocking him softly. She glanced at Regina, heartbroken at the fact that her son had finally realised how sick he was. The doctor looked sympathetically back, knowing there was nothing she could say to make either Emma nor her son feel better. The fact was that until Neal arrived in the city and they began the treatment, all any of them could do was wait. She also knew that this wait was going to be the longest, most stressful and most nerve-wracking of Emma's life. She was just pleased the blonde had allowed her to be in her life in some way to support her. She might be a doctor and she was going to do her damnedest to treat Henry effectively but she knew Emma needed her emotionally as well. Putting on a brave face for Henry was one thing but out of view of her son, Emma was going to need someone supporting her. Regina hoped that would be her.

And it was. Once Henry was put to bed an hour later, face no longer teary but not smiling either, Emma fell into Regina's arms, sobbing hard. The two collapsed on the sofa, Regina holding Emma close to her and stroking her hair as the blonde let out her emotions. Henry couldn't see how scared his mother was about his upcoming treatment but Regina could. Regina could be there for her, could support her, could help her. Regina was the one person who not only knew what Emma was going through but was able to offer her professional support herself. Emma felt some comfort in the knowledge that Henry would be treated by two of the best paediatric doctors in the country. Regina, on the other hand, was terrified at the thought. Of course she wanted to help Zelena during Henry's upcoming treatment and had already cleared her observation of the procedures with the department. But that also meant she was now responsible for Henry, for his health, for his life. Emma was putting her trust in Regina and her medical abilities, something parents did every day when they arrived at the hospital. But this was different. This was Emma. With Henry, there was more at stake. The boy's health was, of course, far more important than their blossoming relationship but Regina also knew they were intrinsically linked. If, she shuddered at the thought, Henry's treatment was unsuccessful, she knew their relationship would be over. Emma would associate her with her sick son. Would she blame her? Resent her? Hate her? Regina was determined it wouldn't come to that. She was determined that Henry would battle this. He would receive the transplant, get better, be healthy once more. He had to. He had to survive.

That night, the women held one another in the darkness of Emma's room. It was intimate but not sexual. Just a simple need to be close, to feel one another, to be supported. The sounds of London lulled them to sleep, their dreams plagued with their own, real life fears.

Sunday was likely to be Henry's last day in his own home for a long time. He'd come back eventually, Emma told herself as she made him breakfast, but it was going to be a while until he was released from hospital after the transplant. Assuming it went ahead, of course.

Although the day was cold and grey, Emma suggested they go out to the park. Regina had assured her Henry was well enough to go out and she wanted him to get some fresh air before he became cooped up in a hospital room for weeks on end. They bundled into their coats after lunch and headed down to the park. It wasn't long before Henry asked Emma to carry him, his energy levels still low. The trio weren't the only group to venture out to the playground but Emma found a free swing, placed Henry on it and made sure he was holding tightly before she began to push him. He managed a small smile as he swung through the air and even waved at Regina who was taking a few photographs. Emma tried not to think about how many more photo opportunities she may have with her son.

It didn't take long for Henry to complain of being cold, despite his fever making his body burn up. Emma hoisted him onto her hip again, ignoring the lightness to her son's body, and they set off home. A couple of parents Emma recognised waved at her, smiling sympathetically. Word had clearly got around Henry's school that he was sick. She waved politely back before taking Regina's hand and leading the way out of the playground. Regina squeezed her fingers reassuringly; she had seen the pitying faces too and knew Emma wanted to get away from them.

"What would you like for dinner, Henry?" Regina asked as they walked back to the apartment.

"I'm not hungry," came the reply, muffled by the scarf wrapped tightly around his face.

"Well, what's your favourite ever meal because from tomorrow you'll be in the hospital and that food isn't great, is it?" Regina reminded him. "So I thought I could cook you and your mum something extra special tonight."

"You're staying at ours again?"

Regina glanced at Emma who gave her a grateful smile. "Yes, I am," Regina replied. She didn't have to go to work until Tuesday and was more than happy to be spending every minute she could with Emma and Henry. She knew it was rather intense as far as an early relationship went but she also knew the circumstances weren't exactly normal. "So, what do you want for dinner?"

"McDonalds?" Henry suggested.

Both women laughed. "How about I make us some special burgers?" Regina suggested. "I promise you they'll be even better than McDonalds and far healthier."

"Ok," Henry said.

The walk home wasn't long but Henry fell asleep before they arrived. Just as they reached the apartment, Emma's phone rang. She gestured for Regina to fish it out of her back pocket as she opened the door with her keys, trying not to wake her son.

"Go ahead and answer," Emma said.

Regina nodded, looked at the screen and faltered as she read the called ID. "Oh, it's Neal."

"It's ok, answer," Emma assured her.

The brunette obliged. "Hello."

"Emma?"

"No, it's Regina, her friend."

"Oh the chick from Cardiff, right?"

"Yes," Regina said as she followed Emma inside. "How are you?"

"Could be better," came the reply. "My hotel messed up my booking and they're full tonight. Is Emma there?"

"Yes, hold on, she's just putting Henry to bed," Regina said as they entered the apartment. Emma looked quizzically at her girlfriend who shrugged and held out the phone. Emma nodded and disappeared into Henry's bedroom, emerging seconds later and reaching for her mobile.

"Hi Neal, sorry about that. What's up?"

"My hotel made a mistake and they're fully booked," Neal repeated. "I was wondering if it would be alright if I crashed with you for tonight? I'll find somewhere else tomorrow but I'm too exhausted right now."

"Stay here?"

Regina's head reappeared around the kitchen doorframe at those words from where she had been checking the fridge to see what ingredients she'd need for Henry's requested burgers.

"Yeah, is that ok?" Neal asked.

Emma glanced at Regina who was wearing a curious expression on her face. Emma shrugged and shot her an apologetic look before answering.

"Sure, it's the least we can do after everything you're doing for Henry. I'll text you the address."

"Thanks, I'll see you in a bit," Neal said.

Emma said her goodbyes and hung up the phone. Regina was still stood in the doorway, looking at the blonde.

"Neal's staying here tonight," Emma stated. "His hotel messed up or something." She sank onto the sofa. "Shit, Henry's about to meet his dad." Should she prepare him? Henry knew Neal was coming to London for the tests the following morning but what would her son think when he woke up to discover his dad in his living room.

Regina appeared in front of her seconds later. "He's staying here? With you and Henry?"

"For a night, yeah," Emma nodded. "Is … are you ok with that?"

"Of course," Regina replied at once. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Emma said nothing. She recognised jealousy when she saw it but decided to avoid an argument.

"I want you to stay here tonight as well," Emma said.

"I think you guys might need some time alone to talk," Regina said, the words spilling from her lips before she could stop them.

"Then stay for dinner at least," Emma said.

"I promised Henry I would make him burgers so of course. I'll go and get ingredients now; enough for four people."

Emma reached into her purse for some money but Regina shook her head, insisting she was happy to pay. She was more than happy to pay for Emma and Henry's food but the fact that she'd be cooking for Neal sat far less happily with her. She kissed Emma lightly before she headed out of the apartment, hoping the walk to the local shop would give her enough time to clear her head. Emma needed her, she reminded herself. She doesn't need someone with jealousy issues. And anyway, Emma was gay, Regina mentally scolded herself. She wasn't interested in Neal. Sure they had history, they shared a son, Neal was able to save their son. But Emma didn't want any more from the man. She wanted Regina. Emma had told her as much on Friday night. There was no need to be jealous, Regina told herself firmly as she strolled down the aisle looking for minced beef.

Back at the apartment, Emma's phone rang just as she was finishing tidying up the living room.

"Hey, I'm here."

A/N: this story will have a happy ending … But I like the drama along the way. What do you guys think of Neal rocking up?