"Get up." Regina leaned over to Gold and kissed his nose.
"What for?" He asked sleepily, turning away from his wife and wrapping himself more tightly in a blanket.
"Because it's already mid-afternoon." She sat on the edge of the bed. "You need to go for a walk at least."
"Open the window and we'll pretend that I am already walking." Gold yawned.
"Well, it's impossible sleeping all day long." Regina pulled off the blanket from him a bit and kissed him again, this time on the neck.
"It is possible, if I really want to.", he shrugged a little.
"You know, the more you sleep, the more you'll want to."
"And the less I sleep, the more I'll want to. A vicious cycle." Gold yawned again.
"Get up!" Regina didn't give up. "Stern agreed to let you go home only on the condition that we follow all his recommendations to the letter. Amongst which are walks in the park and swimming."
"Right here, in the Park's reservoir? Or in the neighboring East River?", he specified. "I have no strength for that."
"Seriously, Rumple." the Queen frowned. "You can't lie in bed all day. David said that for the lungs to smooth over after the injury in order for you to breathe normally, you need movement. A lot of movement and a lot of fresh air. Without it, the recovery will be delayed and we still don't know what complications await you if you don't move ... You could at least not snore when I'm talking to you." She sighed, rubbing her husband's shoulder.
"Hm?" Gold opened his eyes.
"Get up the nice way or I'll pour cold water on you." She smiled.
"Evil." Her husband sighed.
"Well, people didn't call me "the Evil Queen" for nothing." Regina laughed.
"We should have taken the children with us; it would be somewhat more fun."
They walked slowly along the alley of Central Park, Regina being half a step ahead and Gold leaning on her arm.
"Aren't you happy with me?" Raising her eyebrows, the Queen turned to her husband. "Children will have a great walk with the nanny."
"Well, yes, I'm having a great walk with the nanny as well.", he nodded.
"Stop it." Regina stroked his hand. "When were we still able to walk in the park together, without children? When was the last time we did this? Somewhere around never? It's not so bad: having some time for ourselves."
"Perhaps yes," Gold agreed. "Just come on a little slower," he stopped, covering his eyes, and squeezed her hand harder.
"What's the matter?" The Queen asked fearfully.
"Nothing ... My head is spinning." He took deep breaths several times.
"Okay then, let's sit down somewhere." She looked around for a bench.
"Not necessary." Gold waved off. "Already passing."
"Are you sure?" The Queen looked tensely at her husband.
"Yes, it's already over." He let go of her hand. "It's okay."
"Let's take some rest regardless." She looked at the electronic bracelet in her hand. "We have already walked more than two thousand steps, this is not bad at all."
"You know, you'd better leave for a month or two."
They had just returned home. Gold was sitting on the bed in their bedroom, leveling his breath. Regina, squatting in front of him, was untying the laces on his sneakers.
"As in?" The Queen was bewildered. "Where to?"
"I don't know, at the beach." He put a hand on her shoulder. "Take the children, the nanny, your sister with you and go to the island. It's just not too hot there now. Regina, I don't want you to see me like that."
"You're looking pretty good." She looked up at him, laying her chin on his knee. "Although you're a little pale, of course. But I think this is normal for a person who has recently received a few liters of blood."
"Stop it." Gold grimaced. "I'm serious."
"And I'm serious." Regina smiled softly. "What happened? What came over you?"
"All this infuriates me." He gently stroked her cheek and pulled her chin up a little. "Just look at me. I can't even tie my shoelaces myself. Climb the stairs without your help. And how pleasant it probably is, walking in the park: from bench to bench. Aren't you sick of this still? I already am."
"You feel sick because you haven't eaten anything since morning.", the Queen tried again to change the subject.
"Stop doing that!" Gold said irritably. "Stop fooling around!"
"Rumple." She sat down beside him and hesitantly touched his shoulder. "Everything is fine. I am glad that you are home with me. The rest is not important. You are in a bad mood because you feel unwell. But everything will pass soon."
"Seriously, Regina, leave." Gold continued, just as annoyed. "I don't want you to be here right now. Just so you have to babysit me."
"Listen, I understand how difficult it is for you in this world." The Queen closed her eyes, leaning against her husband. "It's hard to feel vulnerable again, at times weak, in need of someone ... And you got stuck here because of Charlotte and me ..."
"Regina.", he hugged his wife, "I'm not talking about that at all. I just want to protect you ..."
"From what?" Regina interrupted him. "From a life with you? But this is exactly what I want. I am your wife. Do not push me away."
"Honey, I don't push you away." Gold kissed her temple. "I simply want you to do what's best."
"I'm perfectly fine with you." She laid her head on his shoulder. "And I don't care if you can tie the shoelaces."
"For how long?" He buried his nose in her hair, closing his eyes.
"You know, I think you expect way too much from yourself, given that you were discharged from intensive care only a few days ago." The Queen stroked his arm. "And you wind yourself up too much because of this."
"That's not the point." He caught her hand and kissed it. "You're right, I'm really not used to feeling vulnerable, it scares me."
"Do you want to go back?" Regina cautiously looked at her husband.
"No." Gold shook his head. "I don't want to. You and I have already discussed this. I want to stay here. I want more children. But for several days now I can't stop thinking that it's too irresponsible, that one day the weakness will cease to be temporary. Now I am still in force but what will happen in ten, in twenty years? It is so insignificant by the standards of our world and yet so monstrous by the standards of the local world. One day you will wake up next to an old man who won't be able to take care of you."
"Well, then I will take care of you." She hugged her husband. "Rumple, I love you. From the first day we met, I knew you were the one I wanted to live my whole life with. I don't need you to be a knight in shining armor. I just want you to be around. That's enough."
"Perhaps that's only what you think now." He smiled sadly.
"Yes, anything is possible.", the Queen agreed. "It's also possible that I learned how to do the injections by practicing on myself all day and persuaded David to let you come home simply because you are a burden to me now and instead of babysitting you here, I dream of flying to San Bartholomew and dive into the ocean already."
"You practiced on yourself?" Gold looked at his wife in amazement. "Have you gone crazy?"
"There were no other volunteers", Regina shrugged, "and it is impossible to feel the correct infusion rate by practicing on a model. But now I'm full of vitamins. And talking about injections…", she looked at her watch, "Lie down, it's time to inject our beloved anti-inflammatory."
"The one that feels like broken glass under the skin?" He nonetheless lay down. "Listen, can't I just drink the ampoule? Does it really matter how it gets inside?"
"Don't be capricious." She took out a syringe and an ampoule from the nightstand. "Do you want me to kiss it and make it all better afterward?"
"No." Gold laughed. "We can do without erotic games. Either way, we both won't be able to carry on with them."
"As you wish." Regina shrugged, drawing medicine into the syringe. "Take your pants off."
"See how sad it all is?" He sighed. "Could I have ever thought the day would come when my wife would ask me to take off my pants only because it was time to give me an injection?"
"Do not delay the inevitable.", the Queen grinned. "Definitely don't want me to kiss it?" She asked, taking an injection.
"You're joking again…" Gold looked at her in a false reproachful way. "Are you sure you don't want to go rest? Break free, get some tan? What's the joy in babysitting me all day long?"
"A great joy!" She leaned over and kissed him. "You are alive, you are at home - what could be better than that? Stop torturing yourself. And let's eat something already. It's 2 p.m. and I can't persuade you to eat something since morning."
"Well, if by food you mean again some boiled chicken mashed with cauliflower, then I pass." Gold grimaced.
"It's not so bad." Regina shrugged. "Yesterday, I ate everything with pleasure, for example."
"You just couldn't see your face at that moment.", her husband grinned.
"You are just like Gideon." the Queen sighed. "He also needs to be fed his mashed chicken with songs and dances. Perhaps you want some candy too?"
"No, I don't want candy." He got comfortable in bed. "I want a steak of marbled beef, well-done, crusty, with wine sauce. And to the side, some grilled vegetables or potatoes baked with rosemary. I don't know, I haven't decided yet. And some whiskey."
"Perhaps I should leave you alone.", she patted her husband's hand. "You and your fantasies. Here." She took a napkin from the nightstand. "Take a handkerchief. I can do without saliva dripping onto the pillow."
"Go away, you Evil Queen." Gold grinned.
"But I will be back soon and I will feed it to you with a spoon, if you refuse eating it by yourself. Take that into account!" The Queen looked sternly at her husband.
"Are you afraid I'll lose some of my extra weight?" He asked with irony.
"I'm afraid that tomorrow I won't be able to get you out of bed at all if you only sleep all the time and eat nothing."
Downstairs, a door slammed shut and voices were heard in the hallway.
"Oh, and here are the children." The Queen went to the door and listened. "Now you'll be able to do some useful things. He's been longing for your attention since morning. Three ... two ... one ...", she counted slowly.
Gideon rushed into the bedroom.
"Dad!" He quickly climbed onto the bed. "Are you awake?"
"Well, as you see, I am indeed." Gold smiled. "Hi baby."
"Just don't jump on dad, okay?" Regina put the little boy on her half of the bed. "Sit down here, next to him and dad will read to you." She took a book from a shelf and handed it to Gold.
"What kind of fairy tale do you want?", he asked the boy.
"A scary one!" He made big eyes, clinging to his father.
"A scary one is still around the corner for us today." he grinned. "Mom has already cooked chicken and broccoli. We better read something funnier." He flipped through a few pages. "Well, this one doesn't seem bad..."
"You see how useful you are?" His wife winked at him. "We all need you."
"Get out." Gold answered kindly. "I realize already it's impossible to talk to you about anything seriously. Mockingbird."
"Whatever you say.", the Queen sighed. "But you still love me."
"That's for sure.", he agreed. "I love you to bits. Now get out and don't bother us while we read!"
"Already gone.", the Queen laughed.
"Once upon a time...", he began.
Regina looked at them for a while, standing in the doorway. Then she went downstairs.
"Thank you, Mrs. Savage." She smiled at the nanny, who had carefully undressed Charlotte. "You are free for today. I'll be waiting for you the same time tomorrow."
"As you please.", the nanny nodded. "How is Mr. Gold feeling?"
"Much better already." The Queen took her daughter in her arms. "Thank you for worrying."
"It's sincere." The woman smiled at her. "You know, I have worked in many, let's say, wealthy families. And usually it is not so easy. But your family is special. I want you all to be just fine."
"We are." Regina nodded. "And I know we will be."