November 14th struck again, just five days after Emma's release from the hospital. Not that the blonde didn't mind not having to be alone in the huge house while Henry was at school and Regina was usually at work, really, getting lost was a common occurrence already, but something felt off about the day. Regina's reluctance to go anywhere was obvious, especially when she offered Henry a day off from school. Crazy kid turned the offer down with the reasoning of not wanting to miss the finger painting planned for the day.

Regina not going to the office wouldn't be such an odd occurrence, Emma couldn't even count all the hours she must have missed over the years while visiting her, if the former hadn't just the Monday prior set herself a new rule of being at the office at least five hours per day. And Regina's rules were basically the ten commandments.

Emma waited about an hour, plenty of time for the mayor to change her mind and go into work, before approaching her to investigate. "Not that I'm complaining, because I'd really rather not accidentally lock myself in a closet again when left to my own devices, but why are you here?" She sat next to her on the couch, where the brunette had apparently been absorbed in an upside down book for most of the previous hour.

Regina sighed, not looking up from the book. "I don't have a strict 9 to 5 schedule."

"I know, you changed it to a flexible noon to 4. Or whatever."

Regina stood, closing and setting the book on the cushion to her right. Showing this day would be better than telling. "Follow me."

Emma did just that, knowing it was safer to just do as was told when Regina was laconic. Up the stairs she was led, really that might as well have been exercise enough for that post discharge plan, in Emma's opinion. The one room she'd yet to be shown was the destination. Master bedroom. Emma's eyebrows raised in question, though she knew the conclusion her mind immediately jumped to was not the purpose of being there. The mood certainly wasn't right.

Regina led Emma to the vanity, where the ever important document of the day was framed and leaning against the mirror, a lit candle inches in front of it.

In large bold script was front and center written

Jasmine Emma Mills

November 14, 2002 – November 14, 2002

Beneath that on the line reserved for the mother's name was Regina's fancy signature.

The lightbulb went off in Emma's head. The current day served as the fourth anniversary of the loss of Regina's daughter. She pulled Regina into her arms, wrapping them around her protectively as if she could prevent damage already done.

"Even unconscious you were my greatest friend," Regina whispered as she sank into the embrace. "And she was so beautiful," she choked at the end. Though there were no pictures, Jasmine's face would always remain clearly burned in Regina's mind. Even if she managed to one day have another, her first would never be forgotten.

Emma felt tears sting her own eyes. She had no doubt a child with Regina's features would be beautiful. In her mind's eye she saw a girl with long dark hair bouncing with curls and dark eyes to match, pale skin with a splash of tanned undertone as perfectly unmarred as a porcelain doll. Had she the chance to meet her as she met Henry, she would surely be equally as taken and would spoil the girl silly. And then there was that bittersweet stab to the heart that her own name served as her middle name. Even when she was quite incapable of doing anything, it seemed she'd done enough to earn what she considered to be one of the highest honors. "I would have loved meeting her. I would have loved watching her grow up alongside Henry." She pressed a lingering kiss to the top of Regina's head.

A quiet sob escaped Regina at that, and she tightened her arms around the woman who was growing on her more and more each hour. It was a lovely image of what might have been, the two of them with the two little ones. It was unfair that had been stolen from them. Tomorrow would be a better day, she knew, but every November 14 for the rest of her life would be hell.

Emma moved her hands to Regina's cheeks, cupping them gently as she used her thumbs to stroke the tears away. "What can I do, Regina?" Her thumbs continued moving in soothing circles.

Regina closed the space between them to deliver a tender kiss which Emma was quick to return. Kisses had healing properties, it would seem, because a few drawn out moments later they weren't quite as sad.

Their fingers laced together as they left the room. Midway down the stairs, Emma's stomach rumbled, causing Regina to laugh. It was one of the most beautiful sounds one could hear.

"I think your stomach is trying to tell me something."

"Yup, that's it's feed me, Seymour growl."

"A Little Shop of Horrors fan? What a rare creature you are, indeed."

"Who wouldn't like an oversized Venus Flytrap that talks and eats people?"

"Many people, my dear." Regina chuckled. She'd never figure the pattern that was Emma Swan out. When they reached the bottom of the stairs, she took them to the kitchen. "Any requests?"

"Everything you make is amazing."

Regina smiled. "Thank you. That wasn't an answer, though."

"I'm coming on a blank for food…but I've got a drink in mind you may not have had before."

"What's that?"

"Hot chocolate with whipped cream and cinnamon."

Regina pulled a face.

"Ah ah. Don't knock it 'til you try it. I know, it sounds weird. It's not a combination I would have thought of on my own. But when I was little and staying with one of my foster families, I was allowed hot chocolate before bed. I decided to make it myself because I was too impatient to wait for my foster mother to get out of the bathroom and my foster father was at work. I was putting the can of powder back in the cabinet but I was short and had to stand on a chair. I knocked the cinnamon over and what didn't fall onto the counter went into the cup. I always had my hot chocolate with cinnamon after that."

It was an adorable mental image within Regina's mind. "Alright, I think I have everything for that." It was a fair trade. Emma had never had lasagna before the coma, and she ended up loving it. Regina could at least try the quirky concoction.