Chapter 42

"Good morning ladies, Henry, did you all have a good night?" Whale greeted the family as he approached the bed.

"Good morning." They all answered as they looked at him.

He smiled "Yes, you all definitely had a good night, I can tell by those smiles." He took the chart from the foot of the bed and approached his patients "So I'm going to do a quick check up and I will leave your discharged papers and you will be free to go home tomorrow…"

"Tomorrow? I'm feeling fine, why can't we go home today?" Regina interrupted him, she just wanted to go home.

"Regina you do realize you just had your baby yesterday and I'm just making sure you are both healthy and strong enough to leave this hospital, besides its standard procedure."

"Fine." She sighed. On the sides of the bed Emma and Henry couldn't stop the laugh that came out at seeing Regina's pouting face.

"Sheriff if you don't mind can you take Aileen to the nurse's station? They are waiting for her and while you do that I will do Regina's checkup."

"Of course Doc." She took their baby girl from Regina's arms and kissed the brunette's forehead whispering "We will be right back, promise." As she got to the door she looked back and called out "Henry lets go."

The boy looked at both his mother's and only after receiving a nod from Regina did he get off the bed and left the room with Emma and his sister.

"Very protective your boy." Whale pointed out before saying "Now take a deep breath." As he placed the stethoscope and started his checkup no more words were exchanged between them.

"Well I'm glad to tell you that everything is looking good, so I will leave your discharged papers at the nurse's station and tomorrow they will take care of everything."

"Thank you Whale, for everything." She managed to give him a small smile, they weren't in the best terms but he had helped her through all of her pregnancy, so thanking him was the least she could do.

As he approached the door he looked at her once more and added "Please be careful, I already have one patient that we don't know if he is ever waking up. You know Jefferson better than I do and I know he will stop at nothing until he gets what he wants."

She was surprised to see the concern on his face "You also know me, and you know I will stop at nothing to protect my family, no matter what it takes."

"Even if it takes your life?"

"If that's the price I have to pay to keep them all safe and sound, yes." Her voice was firm and showed that she had no doubts about what she had just affirmed.

He could see the love and the determination in her eyes, so he nodded at her and simply added "Good luck." Before he left the room.

She laid back against her pillow and a single tear escaped her eye.

The next day

"I hate this wheelchair." Regina repeated for what seemed like the hundredth time.

"It's the hospital standard procedure beautiful." Emma kissed the top of her head as she kept guiding them towards the hospital's exit.

"Standard procedure… blah, blah, blah…" she looked at Aileen and smiled, they were almost home. Lifting her head and using a soft tone, trying to get her son's attention but at the same time trying not to wake Aileen she said "Henry, wait for us."

"Don't worry mom, the bug is right outside." He assured, looking back at her and running out of the hospital.

Emma simply smiled at their boy who had took the car keys from her so he could open the door for his mom and baby sister.

When they finally exited the hospital Emma froze and Regina felt like her heart had stopped beating as they took in the scenario in front of them.

Leaning against Emma's car was Jefferson holding Henry by the boys neck with one hand while the other hand held his hat firmly.

Closing her eyes Regina took a deep breath and using her connection with Purple she started calling for her, she would at least keep their daughter safe from this maniac. Emma's first instinct was to place herself in front of the brunette and their baby girl, using her body to protect them and at the same time making Jefferson look at her instead of Regina.

"Let Henry go." Emma demanded.

"Or what Savior? You're going to kill me?" he asked sarcastically.

"I don't want to kill you, please don't make me do something that I will later regret." she kept her tone firm and unwavering.

As Jefferson was about to answer, Purple appeared beside Regina, the brunette kissed her daughter's forehead and whispered "I love you." Looking at the fairy she told her "Keep her safe." With tears running from her eyes she gave the baby to Purple, who after securing the baby to her chest and squeezing Regina's hand disappeared leaving behind a light cloud of purple smoke.

Taking Emma's hand she got up from the wheelchair and standing side by side both women faced Jefferson.

"And her Majesty rises, shame it won't be for long, because you will soon be on your knees begging for mercy." And as he spit out his words he spun his hat and threw it to his left side.

As he kept his eyes fixed on the opening portal Regina whispered "Emma you save our son no matter what, don't leave them alone and remember I love you, today and forever, always." Not giving time for the blonde to answer she let go of her hand and moved closer to the Mad Hatter.

"Regina, don't take another step." Jefferson warned her pushing Henry closer to the portal.

"You don't scare me, not anymore, I'm not that young girl you tricked anymore, you want to hurt fine but leave my family alone."

"Don't you see? The only way to hurt you is to hurt them, you are so used to being mistreated that nothing I physically inflict on you will hurt as much as hurting them, which it's why I have to do this." And as he said it he pushed Henry into the portal.

"No…Henry…" she screamed as she heard her son crying out for both his mother's.

Emma ran towards the portal and jumped in after their son and without looking at Regina she yelled as loud as she could "I love you beautiful." And as she went through the portal closed and Jefferson maniacally laughed.

Without wasting time Regina threw a fireball that hit him right on the chest, making him scream out in pain as he fell on his knees and tried to put out the flames that were on his shirt. Getting closer to him with fire on both hands she said "Give me one good reason to not kill you right here, right now?"

He was about to answer when Ruby appeared and got closer to them "I can give you more than one reason for you not to kill him, you have changed, you are not the Evil Queen anymore and you have people that love you that would go to hell and back for you and you need to think about them, they need you now more than ever."

"What she said." Jefferson said mockingly.

She extinguished the flames in her hands and punched him hard enough to knock him out.

"Where are Emma and Henry?"

"I don't know but they will be back soon." She whispered as Ruby cleared the tears from her face.