Over the next few days, though Regina was mostly sullen and withdrawn, Emma saw a slight improvement in her demeanor.
"You're looking well this morning," Emma told her over breakfast. "Brighter today than yesterday."
"Yeah..." Regina replied slowly. "I feel a little different. Less heavy. I... I still feel empty, though. Like I'm failing my kids, you know? Like... Why can't I just show them I love them? But something stops me. Something blocks that affection from coming out. It hurts, but I can't help it. I just feel so... so broken and fucked up."
"Honey," the blonde sighed, wrapping an arm around her wife's shoulders. "This will pass. You just have to stick with it and keep taking the meds, alright? Have faith. We'll get through this. Together."
Regina sighed too, saying, "It's getting better, yeah, but I feel like it'll never fully go away. Like I'll never be what I used to. Like I'll never be able to fully love my children."
"Regina. You have more love in your heart for your children than anyone I've ever met, and I know that you care for them. Henry knows that, and Amelia will know that too. You can't blame yourself for being sick."
"I do, though, Emma. I do blame myself. How could I let this happen?"
"You didn't. It happened, but it wasn't your fault. You did nothing to cause this."
"Yes, but-"
"Regina. This isn't like my alcoholism, where it was my poor choices that caused my problem. This happened to you without any warning, without any provocation. You're a victim of your own biological chemistry, that's all. You own no blame for what's happened to you."
"Emma... I'm still... I'm still seeing things. Especially when I'm alone. I keep thinking... feeling like something bad is going to happen."
"I'm not gonna let anything happen to you, or our family, Regina. I'm going to be right here until you get better, and after that. Always. I will always be here to protect you."
This brought tears to the brunette's eyes, but she wiped them away quickly and turned her face away. Emma turned her face though and kissed her cheek slowly, letting her lips linger, pressed against the soft skin there.
"Emma," Regina breathed. "I'm so sorry."
"Honey!" Emma cried, quickly pulling away. "Don't say that! You've done nothing wrong!"
"I'm pulling our family apart! This is all my fault! You've had to take time off from your job, and-"
"Regina, no. I want to be with you. I want to take care of you. I don't care about my fucking job."
"You do, though. You love your job, and we both know that. I'm holding you back, and-"
"You're not holding me back! I want to be here for you! You mean the world to me..."
The two stared at each other for a few long moments, then Regina finally replied, "I think I need to go back to work."
"It's too soon, Regina. You can't. Not until you start feeling better."
"But I think it'll be good for me."
"Not if you're seeing things!"
Regina looked away, hiding her face in her hands as she started to cry.
"Oh, honey," Emma whispered, wrapping both arms around her lover this time. "You'll get better soon, and you'll be back at work before you know it."
"How do you know that, though? What makes you so sure?"
"Because I trust your doctors. I trust you to be strong enough to get through this, with some help. I know you'll pull through it. I just know you will."
The brunette sighed and continued to avert her eyes, then finally stood up and rinsed her coffee cup, putting it in the sink to be washed when she was done.
"I love you, Regina," Emma said. "I love your strength, your passion, and your determination."
"What, my determination to destroy your parents' happiness? My determination to steal my son back from you, when all you were trying to do was love and protect him? My passion for hurting people? For hurting you?"
"Regina!" the blonde cried, standing up and stepping closer to her wife. "You didn't try to hurt me."
"Oh, yes, I did. Maybe you've never said anything about it, but that night that I-"
"Mom?" Henry asked, appearing in the doorway to the kitchen. "You guys okay?"
"Yeah, Henry..." Emma assured him slowly. "We're okay."