Ruth and Mary Margret both stuck to their words, and stayed in the waiting area of the hospital. James was now camped out outside Regina's room, and Stella still hadn't left. Cora had tried to go in a few minutes earlier, but was stopped by Whale.

"I'm her mother" she growled.

"I appreciate that, Mrs. Mills; but your daughter has requested that no one disturbs her" Whale informed her.

"Ms. Cassidy is still in there" she argued.

"Per your daughter's request. Like I said, she's the patient and she's a mature, adult; whatever she wants, she gets" Whale said simply, before walking away. Cora took a look at where James was sitting in a plastic chair, and knew that there was no way he will let her in.

And so, realizing that her options would be sitting in a room with Ruth and Mary Margret for the rest of the night on the hopes that her daughter will ask for her, knowing that it probably wont happen; or going home, getting some proper rest and returning in the morning; she quietly but arrogantly stomped out of the hospital.

"Good riddance" Ruth mumbled under her breath, and Mary Margret chuckled weakly.

Mary Margret was now asleep on the small, two persons couch in the room, while Ruth paced the length of the small room. Even though she didn't know the mayor all that well, and this wasn't really her place to be worried, she couldn't help the pang in her heart. She was a mother, and seeing any body subjected to that kind of pain and suffering made her sick.

Finally, she decided that she couldn't take it any longer, and quietly left the room. The night nurse was sitting at her desk, going through some files, and Ruth smiled politely at her. She walked down the long corridor, smiling softly at her exhausted son.

"I figured you would've fallen asleep by now" she remarked gently, and he shook his head.

"I cant, even though I know he's in custody, I still cant seem to be able to rest until the whole fiasco with his father is solved" he said.

"Well, Leopold said that they were gonna go to the judge in the morning, and see what can be done" she stated, and he nodded.

"Stella still inside?" she asked, and he nodded once more.

"This girl never ceases to amaze me" she said in awe, and he had to admit that she had a point.

He didn't object when she moved towards the door, and opened it as slow as possible careful not to make a sound. For the second time this year, the sight of Stella and Regina sleeping soundly next to each other melted her heart. Regina had a serene look on her face that she never saw on the young Mayor's face before, and Stella, well she looked like a mother hen. They were both on their sides facing each other, with Stella's head slightly higher than Regina's on the pillows, the latter had her head resting in the crook of Stella's neck, right under her chin. Stella had one arm wrapped protectively around Regina, the other tightly grasping Regina's hand.

They looked so peaceful, and Ruth couldn't help but smile at the sight. At least Regina had one person watching out for her.

FTL-22 Years Ago.

Ruth tossed and turned in the over-sized, and over-luxurious bed, her mind refusing to let go of the thoughts regarding the sick six year old down the long corridor. She had been in the castle for almost two weeks now, but she still couldn't get used to some of the luxuries, and she knew that no matter how long she stayed she wont be able to tune out her motherly instincts. She knew that Regina was kind and a devoted mother, but she doubted that she was staying up with her six year old.

Stella had been feeling off all day, slightly dizzy and no appetite. She barely ate anything, and she wasn't her usual active self. She stayed next to Regina for most of the day, and finally gave in to the sickness before the sun was down. Her temperature spicked, and she hurled whatever little food she had ate during the day. Apparently, it was her first time getting sick since her return, and in her feverish state, she started crying when she threw up. It took Regina a good fifteen minutes to calm her down, and assure her that it was okay. Ruth couldn't deny that Regina stayed with her, and was the one pressing the cold cloth against her warm forehead, but she knew how those royals were. The second it was time to get her beauty sleep, she was going to turn the sick child over to Johanna, and retire to her own chambers. The thought of a sick child all alone without the comfort of her mother, saddened Ruth deeply. She remembered how David was when he would get sick as a child, and she couldn't tolerate the thought that the child will have no one to soothe her in such a state.

She threw the covers off of her and decided to forget about whatever rules they may have set for the young princess, she can ask the maids to keep it a secret and they wont have to know. She grabbed the robe that was lying at her feet, and put it on as she headed for the door. She opened it gently, careful not to make a sound that would echo throughout the large castle, that was almost deserted of any life at this hour, and tiptoed towards her destination.

When she reached the large, wooden, double doors, she was surprised to see that it wasn't closed all the way. She pushed it open, and went in. Her face didn't hide the surprise she felt when she saw the queen propped up on the pillows against the head board, with Stella curled up in her arms. She had her head on her mother's chest, each leg on one side while her arms laid limply by her side. Her face was flushed and covered with a thin layer of water, but Ruth wasn't sure if it was sweat from the fever or water from the cloth that Regina was dabbing gently against her face. Regina's silk night gown was slightly darker around Stella's head, from the water.

"Your Majesty" Ruth exclaimed in surprise, but still managed to keep her voice down so as to not wake up the sleeping, sick, six year old.

"Ruth" an equally surprised Regina said, "is everything alright? Do you need anything?" she inquired and the older woman shook her head.

"No, I don't need anything. I was just checking on Stella, I know she wasn't feeling well, and I didn't want her to be alone" she replied, coyly referring to the fact that she wasn't expecting Regina to be there.

Regina smiled in understanding, "I'm a mother first, and a queen second. A mother who spent five years without any knowledge of where her baby was, believe me I know better than anyone what a miracle a child is, and what it means to have a caring mother. I never had one, and I always dreamed of being one. I'v been dreaming about it since I was five, and abandoning my child when she's sick was not how I pictured it" she explained, and Ruth smiled apologetically.

"I'm sorry, I didn't..." her apology was cut short by Regina, "no, you have nothing to be sorry for, it shows what kind of a mother you are"

"You're unique; no other queen would be doing all of this" Ruth remarked, waving her hand around to signal the absence of maids.

Regina snorted, "the other queens looked at me like I was crazy when I told them that I wont hire a wet nurse to feed her; they were expecting me to change my mind after one week, and were even more surprised when I didn't"

"Well, I cant wait to see Queen Beatrice's face when you tell her that you were staying up all night with Stella" Ruth quipped, and Regina chuckled.

"I'll let you both get some sleep now, good night" Ruth stated, before she left the room.

"Good Night, Ruth" Regina said back.

Storybrooke-Present.

Regina couldn't remember the last time she slept this well, she actually felt rested. Yes, the events of last night were horrible, but she was happy when she slept throughout the night without a single nightmare. Maybe the knowledge that Stella was there made her feel safe enough?

Her eyes fluttered open, and she squinted a little in the face of the morning light. Once her eyes adjusted, she saw that the bed was empty, and cold to the touch. Meaning Stella had been up for a while, 'or maybe was never even there' her mind screamed at her. Before her dark thoughts could get the best of her, she heard the door to her room open. She turned around and was met with the sight of Stella, still in the previous night's clothes.

Stella smiled softly at her when their eyes met, "Morning sunshine" she greeted softly, and Regina chuckled weakly.

"Morning,how long have you been up?" she asked.

"About an hour, I just left to tell Ruth to send some clothes back with James" she replied.

"Ruth was here?" Regina questioned, clearly surprised.

"She and Mary Margret spent the night in the waiting room, and James camped out at the door" Stella answered simply, and Regina's eyes widened in surprise.

"Why would they all do that?" she stammered.

"Because they care about you, and didn't want anyone rattling you up. Albert Spencer dropped by last night and wanted to talk to you before you and I 'get our stories straight' but Leopold told him that he cant be the one to try the case since the accused is his son. Whale banned anyone from talking to you until he gives the green light, so they were just making sure he wont come back. If he got past one, he wont get past all three,and I already had the room covered"

Regina was speechless, no one had ever done something like this for her before.

"I...I...I don't know what to say" she stuttered.

"You don't have to say anything, no one twisted our arms into doing so, we willingly did it. People do care about you Regina, it's about time you accept their help. It's alright to ask for it sometimes, it doesn't mean you're weak, it just means you passed your limits"

"Thank you" Regina said tearfully.

"You don't need to say that either, at least to me. I grew up in foster care, I know the cruelties mankind is capable of. I know how hard it can be to bounce back on your feet, and you need someone to help you along"

Regina's heart wrenched at the idea that a young Stella had experienced anything remotely resembling the horror that she had been living.

"Also, your mother is here and she wants to talk to you. Whale said it's okay with him, if it's okay with you" Stella declared, and Regina tensed.

"You don't have to talk to her if you don't want" Stella suggested.

"She'll be pissed, and she wont take no for an answer" Regina stated.

"I can handle her" Stella said.

"No, it's fine. I'm gonna have to talk to her sooner or later, might as well get it over with" Regina sighed, "can you get her please?"

"Of course, and if you need anything, just call" Stella said, before she left.

Cora walked silently, but angrily behind Stella down the corridor. She took a step back when Stella suddenly rounded on her, "if you convince her to go back to him, or even drop the charges, I will kill you Cora" Stella hissed threateningly.

Cora visibly swallowed, and tried her best to shoot Stella a dirty look, but knew that it would be pointless, so she nodded. Stella signaled with her hand to the room and watched as Cora went it, silently praying that this isn't a mistake and that she doesn't need to make herself invisible and go in.

Since people are actually reviewing, a little, it is helping encourage me to write and post faster.

Let me know what you all think of this chapter.

To Anonymous, scenes with Leopold and Regina how? Like friendship ones? Thanks for the review, and I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long.