Sorry for the wait!

It took 2 days for the results to come in. Regina waiting by the phone for those 48 hours afraid to even go to the bathroom in the event the doctors office called. Regina had just picked Emma up from Cora's since Emma didn't have school and Regina needed to sit by the phone and get some work done as well.

Emma ran up to her room and grabbed her legos from her closest dumping them onto the floor. Regina could hear the telltale signs of Legos hitting the wood floors. She just hopes Emma remembers to get all the pieces up this time; as Regina discovered stepping on a lego, barefoot, is like stepping on knives.

As the door closed the phone rang. Regina dropped the coat in her hands and her purse, onto the floor not caring that the coat would wrinkle or that the contents of her purse would be all over the floor.

Regina dashed to the office and answered the phone, "Hello?"

The same woman as before responded, "Hello, Ms. Mills. This is Hannah from Dr. Delsi's office. We have Emma's results. From what we can tell at the moment Emma tested negatively for cancerous cells ruling out leukemia."

Regina sighed the biggest breath of relief, "Oh, thank God. So what do we do now?"

Hannah cleared her throat, "With these results it makes diagnosis harder. Until more tests are done it is impossible to know what the exact problem is. I know this is not what you wanted to hear, but Emma's going to need to come back. Dr. Delsi is passing the case to another pediatric doctor who can focus on finding the root of the problem since cancer has been ruled out."

Regina rubbed her eyes, "How long is this going to go on for? I can't… Emma is miserable. I know parents probably say this all the time and in comparison to cancer this must seem like nothing. But Emma isn't this stay on the couch type of kid, I… I just want my baby better."

Hannah nodded, "This isn't nothing, you and Emma have every right to feel the way you feel. While it's not cancer it is something that is impacting Emma; her mood, her personality, and her energy. All of those things are valid concerns. I'm not going to assume I know what you are going through, but I do understand how frustrating not knowing can be. My best advice would be to follow up, get the tests, any and all, done and see what the cause of the problem is and then hopefully a solution can be found to get Emma back to her old self. Let her go back to school, see how she does— don't let this stop her from being a kid; just try to prevent overexertion. I'm sorry I can't offer much more."

Regina sighed, "No, thank you for.. well listening. I understand you must be busy. I want to get Emma whatever test she might need."

Hannah, clicked her keyboard, "Ok, well then how about next week at 2:45pm on the Tuesday? We will run another round of blood work, and we will also schedule a bone marrow biopsy should the blood work call for it."

Regina sighed, "Yes. Thank you. Have a good night."

Regina hung up the phone and sat in her office chair placing her head into her hands, pressing her palms into her eyes trying to quell the tears that were on the verge of overflowing.

Regina sobbed and covered her mouth to try and muffle the sound so Emma wouldn't hear.

Regina doesn't know how long she sat there but it was a soft tiny knock at her office door that got her attention. Regina got up and pulled the door open revealing Emma in her footy pajamas, the carton of ice cream with two spoons, and two juice boxes in her pajama pockets.

Regina chuckled and bent down to Emma's height, "And what's this?"

Emma handed Regina the ice cream and a spoon, "The peoples in Aunt Kat's movies cries and den they get ice cream, silly pajamas, and juice, then they stop crying. So you gotta get your jammies so yous stop crying."

Regina didn't know what to say, here was her baby sick with some.. thing.. that even the doctors didn't know and here she is trying to make her feel better. Regina puts the ice cream and the spoons on the nearby side table and then Regina nods her head, "You're right sweetheart, I need to get my pajamas on and then we can have our ice cream and juice. How about we watch some movies in momma's room?"

Emma nods and lifts her arms while securing the juice boxes in her hands. Regina lifts Emma up and onto her hip. Emma snuggles into her momma, but then pops up and seriously says, "Don't forget the ice cream."

Regina chuckles and makes sure to grab the ice cream and spoons from the table and heads upstairs. Regina plops Emma down onto her bed and goes to change into her pajamas. Regina returns to Emma rearranging the pillows and getting comfy.

Regina jumps into bed next to Emma and Emma giggles. Regina leans back against the pillows and headboard and pulls Emma into her lap. Emma squeals at the sudden movement but makes herself comfortable in her momma's lap.

Regina lets Emma pick the movie and she picks Toy Story. Regina and Emma share their ice cream, watch their movie, and enjoy their juice. When the movie is over Emma looks up at Regina and smiles, "Yous not crying no more momma. It worked!"

Regina wrapped Emma up into a tight hug and nodded, "Yeah baby, it worked. But your snuggles work the most."

Emma and Regina stayed in bed as they were watching movies, again not thinking about what lies ahead.

Emma was back at school the following morning since there really was no reason for her to be home or out of school.

Regina too decided to head back to work. Regina walked into the office and could see the nervousness radiating off of Robin as she walked past him.

Before Regina could even take off her coat and turn her computer on Robin was entering the office and closing the door.

Regina sat in her chair and motioned for Robin to sit. Robin rushing into the chair and sighed, "So…"

Regina ran her hands through her hair, "Not leukemia, thank god, but they don't know what it is. They want to send her for more and more tests depending on what each one can determine. They are… they are talking bone marrow biopsies. She's four and a half… what… why her?"

Robin shook his head, "Hey, don't think that way. Not leukemia is a huge sigh of relief. Don't go down the why rabbit hole. Emma is the strongest four and a half year old I have ever met, hell the strongest person I've ever met. She's a fighter, no matter what it turns out to be she's a fighter."

Regina sighed and took a deep calming breath. Regina then smiled thinking back to last night, "But on a lighter note…When I found out the results I was relieved but also terrified. I tried to cry softly but Emma heard. She… she came to the door in her footy pajamas with juice boxes, spoons, and ice cream. She said in Kathryn's rom com movies to stop crying they had to eat ice cream, wear silly pajamas, and drink juice, and then they would stop crying."

Robin placed his hand over his heart, "She is adorable. I should take some pointers from her."

Regina rolled her eyes, "I couldn't help but get my pajamas on, sit in bed with Em, eat ice cream and drink juice boxes. I completely forgot about my coat and purse on the foyer floor.'

Robin smiled at the story and stood up from the chair and rounded the desk, giving Regina a hug. Robin then nodded and headed for the door, "Granny's breakfast?"

Regina nodded, "Oh yes! Please!"

Robin nodded, "Your wish is my command."

Regina rolled her eyes, and finally turned her computer on.

Regina was sitting at her desk finally finishing the mounds of paperwork that had piled up. Regina signed the last document and leaned back in her chair rubbing her now tired eyes.

Soon the phone rang, Regina answered, "Yes Robin?"

Robin paused and said, "There is a Daniel on line 1."

Regina was shocked. Regina then cleared her throat, "Umm.. patch him through."

Robin agreed and transferred the call to Regina's office before hanging up his line.

Regina answered the phone professionally, "Good afternoon Daniel. How can I help you?"

Daniel gulped, "Umm.. I… I know I'm the last person you want to talk to but.. I talked with Mal, I just.. I wanted to know how, our kid was doing?"

Regina paused, "Excuse me? Our.. our kid? No.. how MY daughter is doing is my business, my families business, even my close friends' business; but one thing it is not, is your business. I have given you countless opportunities to spend time to get to know Emma, to give you an opportunity to know my daughter. Opportunities that your sister has taken advantage of. You on the other hand have pissed each and every possible chance down the drain. So I'll tell you what I'd tell any other citizen of Storybrooke, Emma fine, thanks for asking and your concern. Is there anything further Daniel?"

Daniel took a moment, "No. For what it's worth I am sorry. Just know if there is anything I can do or anything you need from me please, please just ask. I promise not to do anything more than what you ask."

Regina hmmed, "Very well. Well I need to get back to work. Have a good day Daniel, and give Mal my greetings. Good day." With that Regina hung up.

Regina had more of a headache now than she did before. Daniel always had a way of grating Regina's nerves while also consuming her thoughts. Regina shook her head and tried not to think about Daniel and his request.

Regina paged Robin, "If I have any walk-ins tell them I'm busy. No calls unless regarding Emma, or there is some kind of catastrophic town event."

Robin agreed and left Regina to her silence.

(LB)

Regina felt like the day would never end, but finally Regina was able to leave the office. Regina had Zelena pick Emma up from school today seeing as she needed to stay late and finish up the last of the months documents.

When Regina entered her house she could hear Emma's giggles and Zelena's cackle. Regina took off heels and coat, placed her keys in the bowl and placed her purse on the side table.

Regina quietly entered to witness Zelena and Emma acting out a scene from one of Emma's storybooks. Zelena was the wicked witch and Emma was the knight in shining armor.

Emma used a pillow as a shield and a wooden spoon as a sword. Emma yelled gibberish and threw a cotton ball at Zelena. When the cotton ball hit Zelena, she shrieked and dramatically went down to the ground, "I'm melting, I'm melting!"

Emma went behind Zelena and reached onto the coffee table lifting the plastic pitcher off of Emma's doll. Emma took the doll and cheered, "I saved the Princess!"

Regina clapped when the scene was over and Emma ran to her momma, "Mommy!"

Regina lifted Emma into her arms and placed a kiss on her cheek, "Has the wicked witch fed the savior?"

Emma pouted and shook her head, "No, not yet. We wanted lasagna but we didn't have any."

Regina turned her gaze to Zelena who laid on the floor smirking, "What, your lasagna is amazing, I'm not gonna try and top that."

Regina shook her head and placed Emma onto her hip, "Well how about we all make the lasagna?"

Emma smiled and nodded, "Yay!"

Zelena grumbled but nodded. Regina placed Emma onto the island and handed her the bowl of cheeses to mix together while she and Zelena chopped the ingredients and prepared the pasta.

They were going to have a lovely family dinner.

Just outside the mansion was a somber looking Daniel. He pulled his jacket tighter around his body bowed his head.

He wanted to knock on the door, tell Regina and Emma how sorry he was, and that he's sorry that he's brought so mess to their lives.

He heard from Mal that Emma was sick, all he could think about was her being sick with the same disease that killed his mom. He would hate himself even more if he was the reason she was sick.

Daniel watched Emma and Regina smile and laugh for a bit longer, before her turned and walked down the street.

His phone started ringing in his pocket so he stopped at the end of Mifflin street and answered the call, "Hello?"

The voice was gravely as it chuckled, "Mustang… what a lovely little town you're in. I'm learning so much…"

Daniel's blood ran cold and his insides churned, "Wh-what do you want?"

The voice chuckled darkly, "I want what is owed to me.."

Daniel paused, "I don't owe you anything…"

The voice laughed, "Oh? So someone else took care of my horses and my distribution routes? Some other guy took off out of the blue with half my product, at the same time as one of my horses was stolen. Hmm.."

Daniel gulped, "Look.. I don't have the dope and I don't have the horse.. not anymore. What do you want money? I have nothing."

The voice sighed, "Mustang, I'm not stupid I know you don't still have my product or my horse, and I also already know that you don't have money. But what you do have is a rich baby mama. Maybe you should ask for her assistance. I'd hate for something to happen to that little bastard of yours."

Daniel snarled, "Leave them out of this!"

The voice chuckled, 'You get me say half a mil and you won't ever hear from me again. You have 4 days."

Daniel couldn't respond before the line went dead. Shit.

Well now we are getting into why Daniel needs to stick around. Going to give some answers to Emma's illness in the coming chapters. Please drop a review with your thoughts, I love reading my readers comments,Thanks!