Alright, so just a warning, this chapter is pretty dark and so will the next one be. I had to cut the chapter in half because of how long it would be so the next one should be up fairly quickly.

Trigger warnings - death of a loved one(not Regina!), emotional and mental abuse, dark thoughts, violence, depression, mother daughter issues

I know this story is dark and I'm aware that I've lost some readers because of it, but writing this is kind of like therapy for me. Of course I didn't go through what Regina has, but there are some elemnts in my life that I used as inspiration. Please don't read if you are uncomfortable by these dark themes. The next chapter is where we will reach the peak of the conflict, and it isn't pretty nor will it be too graphic in a respectable sense.

That being said, thank you so much for hanging on and for reviewing.

Chapter 25 The Funeral

Emma woke up the next morning to a very comfortable pillow. In fact, as she opened her eyes and started to become aware of the other patient's hustle and bustle as they started their morning routine, Emma realized she was using Regina's chest as a pillow, she looked up to see brown eyes staring back at her.

"Good morning, beautiful. Were you watching me sleep?"

Regina nodded and kissed her quickly on the lips before starting to shift, indicating she was ready to get up. Emma moved off of her and sat up.

"Can you stay for breakfast?" she asked, sitting up as well and running her fingers through tangled dark hair.

"Of course," Emma replied. "In fact I was planning on staying until Henry showed up. Michael, the twins' dad, is offering to bring him and then I'll take him home after."

Regina gave her a smile. She seemed calmer today, despite her nightmare last night. Which reminded her, she needed to check her phone. Regina stood and slipped on some slippers, grabbed her basket of toiletries and some fresh clothes.

"I'll be back," she said and then left the room. Emma assumed she was headed for the bathroom. She grabbed her phone, bringing a hand down through matted blonde locks. Her eyes widened when she saw who her missed call was last night. She had assumed it was the station. No, in fact it was Cora Mills. And she called her several more times after she had fallen asleep. She immediately called back, holding the phone up with a shaking hand.

"Sheriff Swan! Why isn't my daughter answering her phone!" Cora all but shouted at her without such much as a hello.

"Her phone is… off at the moment," she struggled to find an excuse. Regina didn't want her mother knowing where she was. Currently her phone was off and back at home in her desk drawer.

"Where is she!"

"Hold on, you are not talking to her like this," Emma said sternly. "What's wrong?"

Cora huffed and after a moment of silence, Emma could hear the older woman taking a breath. The intensity of emotion and grief in her voice surprised her when she spoke. "Henry had a heart attack last night. The doctors did everything they could to resuscitate him… He didn't make it."

Emma froze, the sounds echoing from the halls were muffled. She couldn't even register what Cora was saying. Henry was dead. Regina's father had a heart attack and didn't make it.

Regina… This was going to break her.

"Emma!" Cora snapped her out of her shock. "Are you listening?"

"I'm sorry, I'm just in shock."

"I said the funeral is in a couple days, I expect to see Regina there." She hung up, not even caring to tell Regina herself. This woman was something else. Emma shook her head in disbelief.

"Shit," she cursed under her breath as she quickly grabbed her clothes from her bag. She closed the door to get dressed, hoping one of the nurses won't see. When she was done and had brushed her hair out, she headed to the bathroom to brush her teeth, wash her face, and use the facilities. She didn't see Regina and figured maybe she was in one of the shower rooms.

She headed back to the room after and sat on the bed to wait for Regina. She didn't know how to tell her the news. She kept practicing in her head, but nothing sounded right. How could it? She was about to shatter Regina's heart right now. There was no easy way of doing this. As she waited, she texted Archie the news and asked him to come over right away.

It wasn't long till the brunette had come back freshly showered and dressed. She lit up when Emma made eye contact, but then she must have seen the grief reflecting in her green eyes because she immediately became worried.

"Emma, what is it?"

Emma took a shaky breath and stood.

"Regina, love I have some bad news."

"What? Henry?"

"I need you to sit down," she said, guiding her to the bed, but Regina moved away from her hands.

"Emma! Is it Henry?" she demanded, her voice rising with panic. The sound of her voice alerted one of the nurses.

"What's going on?" he asked, only sticking his head inside, knowing full well Regina wasn't comfortable around men. Regina looked at him and froze.

"Look at me, Henry is fine," Emma assured her, getting her attention, and then addressing the nurse without taking her eyes off of Regina. "Can we have a moment please? You could even stand outside if you have to." The nurse agreed and once they were alone, Emma stepped up to her and took her shaking hands in hers. She reached out and gently caressed her cheek.

"Emma…" she whispered. "You're scaring me."

"Your mother called last night so while you were in the shower I called her back. Your father had a heart attack last night… He didn't make it." Her voice cracked at the heartbreaking confession. Emma watched the shock encompass Regina's face. Her mouth fell open in a horrified disbelief. Her eyes darkened as the weight of Emma's words came crashing upon her.

"No… no… no…" she stepped back, her voice sounding discoherent. Emma kept her arms stretched out in front of her, seeing how unstable Regina suddenly became on her legs. "No, he can't… I talked to him last night. He…" Her face crumpled with tears and she let out a heart wrenching sob.

"Regina?" Emma moved closer, her hands gently taking her forearms.

"He wasn't feeling good," she cried, putting the pieces together that explained his off behavior last night. "No, papi… no…" She was full on sobbing now and Emma saw it before it even happened. Regina's legs gave out and Emma broke her fall, holding her tightly against her chest as she sank to the floor with her. She held her tight as Regina sobbed hysterically in her arms.

"I'm sorry," she cried, pressing kisses on top of her head. "I'm so sorry, love."

"Regina?" Emma's voice sounded a million miles away. It was as if there were cotton in her ears. Her mind was numb as she stared out of the car passenger window, her eyes fixed on the passing scenery but not actually seeing anything. It had been a couple of days since her fathers death, and mentally she knew she wasn't doing so good. She was barely responsive, almost as if she were in shock still. Her heart felt like it had broken in the most cruelest of ways.

"Regina? We're almost there. Do you want to stop for a moment before going inside?" Emma asked as she drove through her parents' neighborhood. Archie and Reyes had immediately approved Regina's early release to attend her father's funeral and spend time with her family.

She flinched when a warm hand was suddenly placed on top of her own shaking ones, getting her attention and turning to the woman in the driver's seat.

"I'm sorry if I startled you," Emma whispered as she parked a few houses down from her mother's cold mansion. "I just want to check in with you." Henry unclipped his seat belt and leaned forward, his hand gently squeezing his mother's shoulder.

"We're here for you," he said sweetly and Regina looked back and gave him a small smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, before turning back in her seat. Her make up was heavy today, dusky dark eyes and apple red lips, which wasn't uncommon when she was feeling vulnerable. She wore one of her best black dresses with a loose skirt and heels to match. Emma wore a nice dress as well and Henry was dressed in a suit. They were on their way to her mother's house and then from there they would be heading to the funeral.

Her gaze was fixed on some point ahead of her. It was hard to comprehend a world without her father in it. She still couldn't believe he was gone. He had been her only comfort as a child. The only parent she could run to when she needed to be held and was too afraid to go to her emotionally unavailable mother. Even if he never stood up for her, even when he saw how afraid she was of her mother and then her husband, he was too weak to do anything. She should hate him for that, but she didn't have it in her. She loved him, and now she lost him.

"Regina?"

"Mhmm," she barely responded, turning to see green worried eyes staring back at her. She hadn't meant to space out. She just got so lost in her thoughts.

"Talk to me," she encouraged her. "What are you feeling?"

"Like I'm in some kind of nightmare I can't wake up from," she whispered, looking down at her shaking hands. Her body was trembling suddenly. The car started moving and it wasn't until it came to another stop, then Regina realized Emma had driven the rest of the way to her parents mansion and parked in the driveway.

"Henry, why don't you go and wait for us?" she heard Emma ask, followed by the door opening and closing. When they were alone, she suddenly felt Emma guiding her chin up so she would look at her.

"I know you're not ok," Emma whispered. "I know you're more than just hurting."

She felt her chin tremble as she fought to hold back tears. She's cried enough since the morning Emma gave her the horrible news. She took a breath, swallowing the sob that was fighting to come out.

"I don't know how I can walk in there without seeing him," she confessed, her voice shaking. Emma moved her hand from her chin and took her own shaking hand in hers, giving her a comforting squeeze.

"You won't be alone," Emma assured her, leaning in to kiss her cheek. "Ready?"

She'll never be ready, but she knew she couldn't sit in the yellow bug forever. She knew she needed to walk in there and face a reality where she wouldn't be hugging him or hearing his voice. She needed to go in there and face her mother.

She nodded and stepped out of the car. She held Emma's hand as they joined Henry at the doorstep.

"Are you ok mom?" he asked, hugging her and looking up into her eyes. She kissed his forehead and wrapped her arms around him.

"I think so," she said vaguely. She wasn't ok, but she didn't want Henry to worry more than he already was. She heard Emma take a breath, knowing how difficult it was for her girlfriend to be in Cora's presence, and then knocked on the door.

The butler opened it and let them inside. The house was cold, but then again it always was. Everyone was meeting at the cemetery and then coming back here afterwards. Cora had requested Regina accompany her to the cemetery.

"Mother?" Regina called out as they entered the foyer, her heels clicking on the marbled floor. There was no answer and Regina was starting to get worried. Usually her mother always made sure to properly greet them. She thought about the way her voice sounded so stressed and tired the past couple days on the phone. She didn't even seem to have it in her to question Regina for being MIA, and had simply accepted the excuse she gave her instead of the truth. "Stay here," she told her family, and then climbed the grand staircase alone. She had a feeling where she might be.

Her parents' relationship was complicated at best. Cora's strong and often cold personality easily overtook her father's laid back and soft demeanor. She bullied him or as Regina would better describe, mentally abused him. She had never struck him like she did with her daughter on the rare occasion. She was a hard woman to love, but for some reason her father loved her despite her cruelness. And after everything Regina had gone through in her life, she could never understand why. How could her father love his abuser? She would never know.

She walked down the hall, to the room that had become her father's when he became too sick to share a bed with her mother and had to be attached to monitors and oxygen. That was where she found her. Cora was standing at the foot of the hospital bed, her back to the door.

"Mother," she whispered, standing behind her, her hand raising as if to console her, but she stopped and she let her hand fall back down to her side. Cora turned and Regina was shocked to see her light brown eyes full of tears.

"Oh Regina, you're here," she said so softly, her voice heavy with emotion. She pulled her into her arms and Regina was rigid against her. She didn't know how to relax in her own mother's embrace.

"I'm sorry I wasn't here," Regina murmured, feeling sick to her stomach as she realized this was the room he passed away in. She started shaking, and Cora pulled away, gently raising her hand which Regina flinched away from. Cora frowned at the reaction and gently placed her hand on her cheek.

"How could you have known," she said. "It happened so suddenly."

Cora's eyes were dulled and held none of the fiery personality Regina was accustomed too. She looked defeated, heartbroken, and Regina was concerned. She was confused. Not once in her childhood did she ever see her mother give any affection towards her father. Cora saw love as weakness. Yet here she was, grieving as if she lost a piece of her heart.

Regina felt like her skin was crawling, the same fear she associated with Leopold's touch started to burn through Cora's fingers. She took a panicked step back and hid her gloved shaking hands in the coat of her pocket.

"We should start heading out," she said, keeping her voice from shaking as well. She couldn't show weakness. Cora nodded, although she seemed to be absentminded to Regina's fearfulness. She walked out of the room, head held high, and expected her daughter to follow her.

The ride to the funeral was tense. They drove in Cora's car since the older woman was absolutely disgusted by Emma's yellow bug. No one had the energy to fight her so they just clambered into her car and sat in silence the whole way to the cemetery. Regina's hands were shaking. Emma had noticed it since she had come down the stairs with Cora. She held her hand the whole way, trying to offer as much comfort as she could. Henry held the other. When they finally arrived, the guests were already there as well as the minister. They stepped out of the car, and after greeting their guest, they sat in the front row. The coffin was full of flowers and the picture they had used was a beautiful one of him in his younger days. He was handsome and Emma recognized Regina's brown eyes in his.

The service started and there wasn't a dry eye. Maybe except for two Mills women. Cora sat up straight, her body rigid as she masked every emotion on her face. That wasn't a surprise, considering she was emotionally cut off on a daily basis. Regina, however, had completely shut down since she broke down in the hospital and Emma was extremely worried. She was barely responsive when spoken too, her dark eyes often clouded over as if she were a millions miles away in her thoughts. She was still in shock. Emma kept a much closer eye on her now, since she was released from the hospital. She couldn't take any chances if her depression got the best of her. She was wearing sunglasses so she couldn't tell if she was crying or not, but her body was rigid in her seat, just like her mother.

Observing the two of them made Emma realize they're actually not so different. Cora was cruel, while Regina can be at times when her anger got the best of her, but she never took it out on her family like her mother had. Cora was abusive, selfish, and power hungry while Regina was the complete opposite. Despite those differences, they were both out of touch with their emotions, both afraid to look weak, and both had suffered from more than one trauma. She thought of Cora's upbringing. She had to live with an abusive drunk as a father and no mother, and worked as a child to survive. She nor Regina will ever know the extent of what Cora had gone through or completely understand why she was the way she is. Maybe Henry Sr. saw the goodness in her, just like Emma saw the real Regina behind all the anger and trauma when she first came to Storybrooke. Maybe Cora loved her husband when no one was looking.

For the first time since she's known her, she felt a bit of compassion for the stern older woman. Maybe now she was understanding Regina's complicated love for her.

When the minister was done speaking, Cora whispered something to Regina. She nodded, took off her sunglasses and Emma could see she had indeed been crying underneath. She wiped her eyes and shakily stepped up to the podium. Her eyes lingered on her father's portrait for a long moment before looking out into the crowd.

"My father was a simple man. He never cared about status, money, or gifts. All that mattered to him was family, and the love that comes with it. Growing up, my family wasn't perfect, but he loved us and that was enough for him. His humbleness, love, and ability to forgive made him very special. He had the ability to forgive even those that had hurt him." She gathered the single stemmed roses that were on the podium and very gently laid one down on the coffin.

"Mi papá es la estrella más bonita que existe en el cielo," she said so low, only the people in the front row heard. It wasn't meant for anyone, but Regina. Emma didn't know what it meant, but it sounded beautiful. She then passed out a rose to each person that meant the most to him.

One for Cora, for Henry, for Emma, one of his best friends, and the last one to her uncle. His brother. He stood when she approached him with the last rose, her eyes welling up with tears as he hugged her tightly, unaware of the trauma she had endured. She flinched, but then relaxed as she closed her eyes and leaned into his embrace. Her shoulders shook with a sob before she pulled away and pulled herself together. He gently took the rose from her fingers, taking and squeezing her hand in the process.

"He would be so proud of you mija," he said and then approached the coffin to lay his rose with the others. Regina stepped back besides Emma and a few more people went up to speak. Cora remained rigid in her spot, and Emma wasn't surprised that she had nothing to say.

The coffin was lowered and after each person grabbed a handful of dirt and dropped it into the grave, the coffin was finally buried.

Everyone went back to Cora's mansion after. People who couldn't attend the funeral were also arriving. Henry was catching up with some family members he hasn't seen in a while, so Emma decided to go check on Regina. She had mentioned she was going to grab some hot tea from the kitchen, but that was a while ago and plus it was time for her antidepressant. She entered the pristine white kitchen and found Regina sitting alone at the island, tea in front of her, her eyes glazed over as if she were lost in her thoughts.

"Regina?"

She didn't respond, so Emma approached her until she was standing behind her and then gently placed her hand on her shoulder. The moment she made contact, Regina flinched and turned to face her, her eyes widened in panic.

"Shh, it's ok," Emma quickly assured her. "It's just me."

"I'm sorry I didn't hear you come in," she said, taking a breath of relief. Emma gently hugged her from behind and kissed her cheek, seeing how frightened she had become for that split second.

"No, I'm sorry I startled you. You were lost in thought for a moment there."

"I was just thinking about him and my mother."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"I don't understand their relationship," she shook her head. "She verbally and emotionally abused him for years as she did with me, but when no one was looking they had their own special relationship. He loved her despite everything she's done. He would have forgiven her." She turned in Emma's arms so that she could face her. "I could never forgive her," she whispered. "But she is my mother and I still love her. I will always want her approval, but I could never forgive her for what she has done to me. Not like my father would have."

"Just because she is your mother, you're not obligated to forgive her," Emma said, flashing back to when she was a teen in therapy and had been unsure about her ability to forgive her parents for giving her up if she ever found them. The therapist had said those same words.

Regina hummed in thought and Emma sweetly kissed her cheek. "It's time for your medication," she reminded her.

Regina's eyes clouded over with some kind of emotion that Emma couldn't decipher. She pulled away, her face becoming stoney like the unemotional mask her mother had been wearing all day. "Not here," she said, getting up and pouring a small glass of water. She then led Emma into the guest bathroom by the foyer.

They locked the door and Emma pulled the small vial from her coat pocket. She poured out a pill and handed it to Regina. She's been getting better at taking them. She wasn't dissociating anymore at least. Her eyes darkened with self loathing, and she wouldn't dare look at Emma as she swallowed the pill and drank the water.

"Look at me, love," Emma whispered, reaching out and lifting her gaze. "Do you want to know what I see?"

Regina didn't answer, so she gently led her to the mirror and positioned her in front. She hugged her from behind, resting her chin on shoulder as they stared at their reflection.

"I see a beautiful strong woman, who despite everything she has been through, continues to fight with everything she has. Despite everything, she still opened her heart to me."

They watched as a tear escaped and streamed down her cheek and Regina gave her a small shy smile as she wiped it away. Emma turned her and pulled her into a kiss, her arms wrapping around her neck and holding her close. Making out in the guest bathroom of Cora's home probably wasn't the most romantic thing, but it was the only place they can be alone. It wasn't until they heard muffled familiar voices out in the foyer then they immediately broke apart.

"Is that?" Regina asked, her hands suddenly trembling, her eyes flashing over with anger that she only reserved for one person.

"Regina… wait!" Emma tried stopping her, but she had already pulled the door opened and was heading into the foyer. Emma followed her in the foyer where they were greeted by none other than Mary Margaret and David.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Regina asked, her voice teetering on the edge of anger to rage. It was low and dark and the tone sent chills up Emma's spine. Cora was standing smug beside the younger couple. Emma glared at her, wondering what she gets out of this.

"Your mother invited me," Mary Margaret explained. "I only came to pay my respects to your father. I grew up with him too, Regina. And I'm so sorry for your loss. I know how much he meant to you."

Regina was seething, she couldn't even speak and then she made eye contact with David and took a fearful step back. It was subtle perhaps to Cora, but not lost on Emma, Mary Margaret and David.

"I'm just here for moral support," he explained.

"Regina, don't be rude. They are family after all," Cora reprimanded her as if she were a child. "Eva was my best friend. Of course I would want her daughter here."

What Emma saw next was perhaps the most frightening thing she's ever seen. Regina's anger suddenly disappeared and her face became completely emotionless, as if she swallowed the anger and there was nothing left behind. Her eyes were vacant. And then she smiled, a sly slow smile at Mary Margaret.

"Of course dear, thank you for your condolences," she spoke, her voice taking on an emotionless tone. She then walked away to the kitchen, leaving everyone standing in the foyer in shock. Cora was smirking and Emma rounded on her immediately.

"What are you playing at?!" Emma snapped.

"My daughter needs to learn her place. She seems to think she can get away with that speech she made today, humiliating me at my husband's funeral? She announced how unperfect our family was and then ended it with Henry being able to forgive those who had hurt him. I know that was aimed at me!"

"Wait, you used me to hurt her?" Mary Margaret asked, her eyes tearing up and her body trembling at the frighting display she just witnessed from Regina. Emma shook her head in absolute disgust.

"You're insane!" Emma spat at the older woman and then rushed into the direction Regina had disappeared to.

She found her in the kitchen, her back turned to the door. She was standing over the sink, her hands clutching the edge as if she were trying to catch her breath. Emma recognized the signs of an oncoming panic attack.

"Regina!" she announced as she approached her, letting her presence be known as to not startle her. Regina turned to face her and to Emma's relief the scary vacant expression she had in the foyer was gone and all she could see was pain. "Oh, love," she whispered, pulling her into her arms. Her breaths were quick and Emma knew if she didn't control her breathing she'd be falling into a full blown panic attack.

"Why is she doing this?" she whispered, burying her face into her shoulder, and desperately trying to breathe.

"She's insane," Emma grumbled angrily. "Breathe love, that's it. Slow breaths."

"I want to leave."

"Ok, the moment your breaths are regulated, we can go get Henry and leave."

Regina took a moment, breathing in tangent with Emma's calm slow breaths. She held onto her, hugging her and soaking in her comfort. That all went out the window, however, when Cora stalked in angrily. Her eyes were cold and furious, but there was something else behind the anger. Grief maybe, Emma couldn't tell. Regina tore away from Emma and faced her mother head on. At least she was able to calm her breathing beforehand and prevent the panic attack she had almost fallen into.

"Your behavior is despicable," Cora growled at her. "Your husband would have never let that behavior slide."

Emma saw red, she hardly even noticed Mary Margaret walking in with David.

"Cora, enough!" Emma snapped. "The only one whose behavior is despicable is your own. How dare you even bring that monster up at a time like this. You're talking to your daughter!"

"I stand by what I said," the cold woman said with not an ounce of remorse. "Now, get out of my house." She walked away then and Emma could see the anger in Regina bubbling to the surface. Regina's fist clenched as she watched her mother walk away. Her body was rigid, her mind falling into the dark mindset she had seen her fall into in the foyer.

"Regina," Mary Margaret spoke up for the first time, her voice shaking and small. "I'm so sorry I fell into Cora's trap. I didn't know she was going to hurt you through me. David and I will be leaving."

"Mary Margaret…" Emma started, seeing it before it could even happen. Regina turned to her, dangerously fixated on her and before she could even stop it, Regina flew at her, her hands wrapping around Mary Margaret's throat in a flash of unrelenting rage.

"Regina, no!" Emma cried as both women went down. Regina was on top of the gasping brunette, her hands squeezing her throat until she started turning blue. Emma tried pulling her off, but she was strong and unrelenting.

"Regina! Let go please!" David cried, panic in his voice as he desperately tried pulling his fiance away.

"Regina," Emma said in her ear, holding her from behind. "You are going to kill her, and you can not come back from that. Let. Her. Go."

Those words seemed to have gotten through to her, because Regina suddenly let go and Emma fell back on her behind, taking Regina with her and holding her tight in her arms. Mary Margaret gasped, sucking in as much air into her lungs as she could. Her color was improving as David encouraged her to take careful breaths.

"What have I done..." Emma heard Regina whisper and her body was suddenly shaking hard in her hold. "Oh god, I didn't…" She started sobbing as if she had realized in that moment what she had just almost done. She would have killed her if Emma didn't snap her out of it in time.

"David?" Emma asked. "Is she ok?"

"I'm fine…" Mary Margaret gasped, her voice strained from nearly being strangled to death. She was sitting up, her face was pale as if she were about to be sick, but her gaze was fixed on the hysterical woman that Emma held tightly against her. "Regina, I'm ok. Look at me!"

Regina wasn't responding. It was as if something inside of her snapped. Emma didn't know what to do. Her girlfriend just nearly killed someone and now she had broken down so completely. She wasn't responding as she cried in Emma's chest. She looked at her two friends with a look of devastation. She was so overwhelmed and in shock, she just sat there frozen.

"What do I do?" she asked, her lower chin trembling with an escaped sob, her own tears starting to stream down her cheeks. David stood, helping Mary Margaret to her feet and over to one of the island stools.

"Lets get her upstairs to a room for now before someone walks in," David said and Emma agreed. The last thing they needed was for one of the guests or god forbid Cora or even Henry to walk into the kitchen. She needed to find Henry though so he wasn't wondering where they were, but first she needed to calm Regina down. Regina was so far gone she didn't even realize David was the one to lift her off of Emma.

"Mary Margaret?" Emma shakily got to her feet and looked at her friend.

"I'm fine, Emma," she assured her, her hand rubbing her bruising neck. "Take care of her." Emma nodded and then guided David to the foyer. Since all of the guests were in the living room, they were able to get upstairs without being seen. Emma led David to the guest room and had him lie Regina down on the bed.

"Thank you David, and I'm so sorry," she said, hugging him and then pulling away to sit by Regina who had stopped sobbing and was crying silently into the pillow.

"It was her hands around Mary Margaret's neck and yes, we could've lost her, but I don't blame Regina. I blame Cora and I blame Leopold. I heard what Cora had said to her. It's no surprise that she snapped."

"I'm scared," she whispered, her hand rubbing Regina's back and even that didn't get a response from the shocked woman.

"Is there anything I can do right now?" he asked, his eyes full of compassion for them both. Emma shook her head. What can he even do at this point?

"No, we'll be ok. Take Mary Margaret home and get her checked out at the hospital. Regina's grip was strong, and she didn't look so good."

David nodded. "Call me if you need anything. I'll let Henry know you're up here and that you need some time alone."

"Thank you," she whispered and once he was gone and the door was closed, she focused on Regina. She was shaking so hard as she silently cried. Emma couldn't get the image out of her mind of the pure rage in Regina's eyes as she went after her former stepdaughter, and then the shock when she had snapped out of it, followed by the brokenness that washed over her when she realized what she had nearly done.

"Regina, she's ok. You're ok," Emma whispered, getting into the bed and pulling her close, comforting her in the only way she knew how at this point. Regina buried her face into her chest, holding on tight as if her life depended on it. She curled into her and Emma held her just as tightly. Regina was in no shape to make the long drive back to Storybrooke. Emma wasn't even in the right mindset to drive. Maybe later, when Regina calmed down enough, her uncle or one of the other guests could drive them to a hotel for the night.

Mi papá es la estrella más bonita que existe en el cielo - My dad is the most beautiful star in the sky