CHAPTER

(A few days later when Natalie is out of the hospital.)

I wake up slowly and roll over to see my mom lying next to me.

"Hello" I mutter tiredly and she smiles before kissing my head. I walk sluggishly to the kitchen and pull out a bowl of cereal as my parents watch me worriedly.

"How do you feel today?" mom asks and I shrug "tired."

They keep watching me and finally I sigh sitting my spoon down. "What's up?" I ask and mom smiles walking over to me.

"Sweetheart you need to go and see Regina. She has been here ten times in the past three days. She isn't sleeping she was worried sick about you." Mom says

"What do you want me to do? Go stay at Regina's?" I ask and see jumps.

"Sweetheart, we have had you for forty six years. We know how strong you are but she doesn't and hasn't. She needs to see you, so she can feel a little better. Even though she didn't raise you, it doesn't mean her maternal instincts have died. Just for a few days." She says quietly and I push my bowl away.

"Okay I'll go." I say and they smile at me before I hug them.

I get my backpack and pack a few clothes before going to my car and driving to Regina's mansion. I watch the house intently from the car. Finally I take a deep breath and climb out of the car.

I slowly walk up the sidewalk looking around nervously. Before I get half way up the sidewalk the door fly's open and Regina stands in the doorway looking at me like I'm a ghost.

I stop where I am and she takes off down the steps and runs till she is in front of me holding me in her arms tightly.

"Hey" I mutter as I feel her tears on my shoulder. Her body shakes as she grasps me.

A few minutes pass and she doesn't let go. "Regina?" she pulls back reluctantly and moves the hair out of my face.

Her eyes are red and puffy with dark circles under them. She strokes my face with her knuckles and stares at me. "Regina have you slept?" I whisper as my voice hasn't recovered from my screaming. Regina laughs shaking her head.

"My baby girl was fighting for her life." She whispers before kissing my forehead.

"How are you? They weren't easy on you either." I ask and she takes my hand.

"I'm ok baby, come on lets go inside." She says walking forward and pulling on my hand.

"I need to get my bag out of the car." I say and her face lights up. "You're staying?"She asks in a childlike voice looking at me expectantly.

"If you'll have me." I say shuffling my feet. A moment later she throws her arms around me again excitedly.

Finally she lets me go smiling brightly. I smile back weakly "but you have to sleep tonight." I say and she laughs nodding.

"With you here I can sleep for days." She says pulling me inside.

We go upstairs and she opens a door. "Here this is your room. You can put your stuff in here, but it would make me feel better if you would sleep in my room." she says pointing down the hallway.

"Uh… I… um" I stutter and she watches me carefully.

"I don't feel comfortable with people touching me right now." I say looking at my feet. "Sweetheart I'm you mom, I won't touch you if that's what you want." She says not breaking eye contact.

"Ok" I whisper before sitting my bag on the bed.

I come down stairs after putting my stuff up and see Regina in the kitchen making dinner. She sees me come in and smiles.

"Are you settled?" she asks and I nod before sitting down at the table.

"You don't have to make anything big for dinner." I say and she looks at me concerned. "I'm just not that hungry." I explain and she smiles weakly before going back to cooking.

"I'm making some Sheppard's pie." She says and I nod but remain silent.

Later the food is cooked and she sits it on the table before joining me. She scoops some into my bowl then some into hers.

"How is Henry?" I ask and she smiles "he is ok, I saw him earlier and he was very worried about you." She says and I move my food around with my fork.

"I'll go see him soon, I just want to lie low for a while." I say and Regina nods. "Snow has been to see you every day." She says and I smile thinking about my old friend.

"Honey are you ok? You're not eating." She says watching me worried. "I'm… I'm-…" I jump up and run up the bathroom before emptying my stomach.

A moment later Regina is behind me holding my hair. "It's ok sweetheart… its ok" she rubs my back till I am done.

"I don't want to eat anymore." I say as I rinse out my mouth. "Ok baby… ok"

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I come into Regina's bedroom and see her sitting on the bed. She is on the phone and doesn't see me.

"Emma I don't care. Throw the book at him! Emma do something or you will wake up to find him dismembered around that jail… No I will not calm down! He hurt my daughter! What if he tortured Henry?" Regina says yelling then ending softly and biting her thumb nail.

"Exactly! Thank you Emma. Talk to you tomorrow." Regina says before hanging up and looking over at me.

"Oh hey sweetheart." I walk over and sit down on the bed and she walks over before sitting down next to me without touching me.

"Are you ok honey?" she asks before slowly and carefully moving some hair out of my face. "Yeah I'm fine." I reply but I can tell she doesn't believe me.

She moves the blankets down and I slide into the bed. She pulls the blankets back up and moves the hair out of my face.

"Good night sweetheart." She whispers before gogin around and getting in her side.

-(Regina)-

My eyes open as I feel the bed moving. I look over and see Natalie thrashing around in the blankets. "Please stop it!" she begs with tears flowing down her face.

I sit up and rest my hands on her shoulders. "Please don't do that!" she screams and I shake her hard. "Natalie wake up!"

Her eyes snap open and she flies up slamming into me. "Ow!" I groan holding my nose.

Natalie's eyes rest on me and they calm a little bit. "Reggie?" she uses her name for me and I nod. "I'm so sorry." she whispers with tears in her eyes.

I let go of my nose and grab her in a hug. "No! No! Sweetheart its ok." I whisper rocking her back and forth.

"Nat can I ask you a question?" I whisper and she nods. "Did I do something?" I ask "after that last night in the basement you won't make eye contact with me." I say and she stiffens.

"It was my fault." She whispers "what was?" I ask and she pulls back. "I didn't try hard enough to stop him." she whimpers and I realize she is talking about the SOB that took advantage of her.

"No… no baby. That was not your fault. You have nothing to be ashamed of." I whisper before kissing her head.

"But I didn't-…" I cut her off putting my finger over her mouth.

"No! You were sick and weak from being torched." I say and she stares at me still not believing. "You need to sleep." I whisper "but honey believe me, that was not your fault and I am going to make that man pay." I say and she looks at me concerned before lying down next to me.

I pull her to me so that her back is against my front. "You will keep me safe?" she whisper and I place a kiss in her hair and wrap my arms tighter.

"With my life." I whisper back.

"Good night Reggie." She says before yawning and a moment later I hear her deep breaths.