A/N: So sorry I couldn't upload this chapter last night. I had a very busy day and was too tired. Today is busy as well, but I found some time to finish up this chapter and leave it here for you reading pleasure. :) You guys are amazing as always with your daily reviews, follows and faves on this story, and more of my others. Thank you. I hope you enjoy this new update. Happy reading!

Ruby was a great physical therapist. Also she was the granddaughter to her cook, Mrs. Lucas. She was the only one Regina fully trusted to come and assist her. Except for today.

Since her arrival, Emma hasn't stopped staring. Okay, so it wasn't Ruby's fault, and it didn't surprise Regina that anyone would be interested in her after her accident. Why would she when she could have someone functional like Ruby? And let's face it. Ruby was attractive. And she wasn't confined to a wheelchair.

"You rotate the arm in smooth, circular motions."

Emma watched as Ruby took Regina's right arm and rotated it as a form of exercise for her muscles. To keep them mobile. Ruby didn't come every day, so it would be part of Emma's duties to perform these exercises for her.

If only Regina wouldn't catch her eyeing the other brunette from time to time.

"You'll have to do the same with her legs. I'll show you how."

"If you're not too busy." Regina said sarcastically.

"Not at all. Rubes and I can handle it." Emma moved closer, her eyes on Ruby and a smile spread on her lips. "I'll show her my sensitive side. It's best viewed unclothed and from behind."

This time Regina didn't hold back an eye roll.

"Do you have any questions?" Asked Ruby.

"Yeah. Have you told your boyfriend yet that you're planning on leaving him to go on a date with me?" Emma smirked.

Regina glared her way, biting the inside of her cheek. "I'm sorry. This is your sensitive side?" She asked the blonde while Ruby smirked, reaching for a 10 inch hose from her bag.

"You won't like me very much after what I'm about to show you." Said Ruby, putting on a pair of latex gloves.

"Let me be the judge of that."

"Have you ever changed a catheter?" Ruby asked.

Emma frowned, her eyes moving to the hose Ruby placed aside. "...No."

The corner of Regina's lip tilted upward into a tiny smirk at Emma's reaction.

"It's not at all difficult to do." Ruby nodded, beckoning Emma, "Come, see."

The blonde swallowed the lump that formed in her throat, "I'm- I'm good. I can see from here."

Regina chuckled, "Are you sure you don't want to try? This might be the only source of action either of us might get."

Emma's brow raised, her lips parted. Was she flirting? Her brain couldn't grasp onto that question, as her eyes began to witness how slowly and easily Ruby began to pull the used catheter out from Regina's sex. There it was. Bare before her eyes. This wasn't exactly how she pictured ever seeing it for the first time.

"You sloooowly pull it out…" Ruby explained, pulling the hose with such patience.

"Oh, God…" Emma looked away, her thighs tightening, pressing together as her eyes dared to look over again, watching Ruby grab onto the new catheter.

"And the new one…" Ruby parted Regina's vaginal lips with one of her hands, and grabbed the new catheter, she placed it right in.

"Oh…! Oh, no!" Emma looked away again, her eyes shutting tightly.

"Goes right back in, like so." Ruby pulled up the brunette's pajama bottoms, giving her a smile once she's finished.

"I can't feel it." Said Regina, her eyes on Emma.

Emma's body was slightly hunched over, her hands rubbing against her inner thighs, near her own sex. "Well, I can." Her face displayed the mental pain that Regina couldn't feel.

Ruby had a smug look on her face as she looked back at Emma. "If you can't handle this, how are you going to…?" She held her index finger up and twirled it around in the air.

Emma's eyes grew wide, her face grew pale. "What's that?" Her eyes moved to Regina. "What does that mean?"

Regina smirked. "You'll see."

"Alright," Ruby motioned toward Regina, her eyes on Emma. "You want to help me flip her over?"

Oh, there was no way in hell she was doing this.

"No way. No. I am not sticking that thing up Regina's vaginal area, and I am most certainly not molesting her from behind either." Emma shook her head, still haunted by all she had to witness today.

Ruby entered through the kitchen door, being followed by Emma. "Well, you might want to talk to Zelena about that."

"About what?" Zelena stood by the kitchen counter, coffee cup in hand.

"You hired me to help her, not molest her."

"I beg your pardon?" Zelena's brow furrowed, looking at the blonde in shock.

"She's talking about the bowl program." Ruby explained, grabbing a cup of coffee for herself.

"Oh. Well, it's part of the job." Zelena nodded, giving Emma no choice.

"It's not part of my job. That's not what a life auxiliary does." Her arms crossed over her chest.

"It's what a life auxiliary does."

"Well, not this life auxiliary."

Zelena's eyes looked right into Emma's. "Strike one, Ms. Swan."

"No," She shook her head. "That's not a strike. That's a check swing."

"No, you broke the plane."

Emma's brows raised to her hairline. "So, now you're the plate ump? Don't you have to talk to the third base ump?"

"I'm every umpire. Strike one." She walked past the blonde, mug in hand.

Emma sighed. She walked out of the kitchen, looking for Zelena, but instead her attention was caught by an office, the door ajar. She went right in, her eyes falling on a shelf filled with books. She noticed one in particular. A hard covered book, maroon colored with a few red streaks. It was a fairy tale book by the brother's Grimm. It is Henry's birthday today. She thought to herself, and the kid was crazy about fairy tale books.

The clearing of a throat disrupted Emma's thoughts, causing her to turn abruptly toward the door, her eyes noticing Regina watching her, right by the wide open door.

"Do you have a minute? I'd like to discuss something very important."

"Sure. Yeah." Emma followed the woman out of the office and down the hallway, walking right behind her.

"So, you and Ruby seemed to be getting along famously." Said Regina, stopping right in front of Emma, her chair rotating to get a clear look into her green eyes.

Her brows lifted up to her hairline, "Whoa… is- is there something going on between you and-?"

"Don't be ridiculous." Regina scoffed. "She's not my type."

"No? What is your type?"

Regina remained silent, her eyes not breaking contact. "Tell me something, has Zelena informed you about the DNR?"

"DN- what?" Emma's brow furrowed.

"DNR: Do Not Resuscitate. Do you understand what that means?"

"Like, say, I don't have to give you mouth to mouth if you're choking on your kumquat?"

"No extraordinary measures if I stop breathing. Nothing." She paused, her features not showing an ounce of humor. "It's something you'll have to agree to, as my carer."

Did she really want to die that much? Emma's lips parted in shock at the newfound discovery of the brunette. Regina seemed like such a strong woman, that was the first impression Emma saw of her ever since meeting. Now it turns out she would give up just like that? As if what she had left of her life meant nothing?

Regina turned away, traveling down the hallway, leaving Emma gawking.

"So, that's it?" Emma stopped the brunette from moving further down the hallway. "You'd give up just like that? You don't even care enough to be here anymore?"

Regina remained rooted to the spot on the ground. Her eyes displayed a pain that only she carried, only she knew. She couldn't even face Emma at this point.

"Hang on a minute," Emma walked down the hallway, her eyes studying the back of the brunette's head. Her hair was short, shiny and very beautiful. Just like her. "Is that why you hired me instead of anyone else? Because you think I wouldn't give a shit if you stopped breathing?"

You shouldn't. Regina's eyes closed for a second to fight back unwelcomed tears. "I'll take my lunch in my room. Please, tell Eugenia." She moved along the hallway, leaving Emma alone and rooted to the ground.

Emma traveled back to her part of the city. Regina gave her a small break to do so. She had missed so many of her son's birthday's before, she did not want to miss any more. It was the weekend, and Henry would be with Ingrid. She drew in a deep breath, her fist knocking on the door.

Ingrid's head popped out as the door opened. "You made it." She smiled, stepping away from the door to allow Emma inside.

"I was given a chance to come by really quickly. I wanted to see Henry." Emma stepped inside, her eyes landing on her son, who was doing homework, sitting by Ingrid's breakfast table.

"Of course." Ingrid shut the door, her smile directed toward Henry, who remained seated in displeased silence. "Henry and I were going to head on over to the arcade for his birthday. He didn't want much of a party this year."

"Hey, kid," Emma smiled at her son, her head tilted to see what he was working on, her body leaning over him. "Math, huh? I always hated it. I was never any good." She sat across from him.

"I told him not to worry about homework on his birthday, but he likes school." Ingrid stood by.

Emma's eyes fell on her son again, smiling. "That's good. I bet you're the smartest one in your classes, huh?"

Henry remained silent, keeping his eyes glued to his book, his pencil keeping up its writing against the pages.

Emma turned toward Ingrid, who encouraged her to keep on trying. "Hey, uh… I got you something." She reached behind her back, pulling out the book she had spotted from Regina's study, and placed it before her son on the table.

Henry's eyes landed on the book. It was an awesome book, and it did excite him, but he wasn't about to show it. His mother just couldn't come after all these years, showing up to this birthday and think it would all be okay.

"It's for your birthday." She smiled at him.

Henry's brown eyes looked up, locking his gaze into his mother's. A frown on his lips. "Which birthday?" He asked her.

Emma nodded, her heart feeling crushed inside of her chest. "I deserve that."

"Well," Ingrid spoke, her hands landing softly against Henry's shoulders. "Emma, why don't you join us? Show Henry your arcade skills."

Henry looked up at Ingrid, who only nodded at him, her hands providing a gentle squeeze to his shoulders.

"No, uh, that's okay…" Emma could tell her son didn't want her to be a part of his day. She could, but she wasn't about to force her kid to be with her if he didn't want it. Henry was right. She hadn't been here for any of his birthday due to her bad choices, so why would today make any difference? "I have to get back to work anyway," she smiled as she stood, her eyes landing on her son. "Happy birthday, kid."

Ingrid rubbed at the boy's shoulders, "Henry, why don't you go get ready, hm?" She nodded at him, moving toward the door with Emma as Henry hurried toward his bedroom. "Emma."

The blonde stopped by the door, looking down at her feet to avoid Ingrid's gaze. It was more to keep her from wanting to cry.

"Just give him some-"

"Time." Emma nodded, "I know. I know." She chuckled, shaking her head. "I have to get back. Have fun."

Ingrid pulled the woman into a hug, watching her walk away afterward. Her eyes red from holding in her tears.

Thunder clapped, rain tapped outside of Emma's bedroom window. It was raining cats and dogs tonight. Usually when it rained this badly, it would put her right to sleep, and she could sleep right through it like a log. But tonight wasn't that night. Tonight, she was tossing and turning in bed. She couldn't shut her eyes, just like she couldn't shut her mind from going into deep thought about her son. About her life. Her past choices. This wasn't the life she would have chosen for herself, or for Henry, who never asked to be brought into this world like this.

She would blame the asshole who got her pregnant and left her to get arrested afterward, but really, it wasn't his fault either. It was all her. And she could admit that.

As an even louder thunder clapped outside her window, Emma finally sat up in her bed, her hands rubbing at her face in frustration. Her golden locks casted over her shoulders. What am I going to do? Why did I steal that book? She shook her head, her bare legs sliding from under the covers as she stood up. She wasn't naked, as Zelena still worried about her being. Emma wore a pair of red underwear to bed with a white tank top.

Zelena. She chuckled to herself, her head shaking. That woman is very hard to please. Emma knew, she was just looking for any reason to fire her. And who could blame her? Emma didn't think of herself as reliable either. Regina shouldn't even trust her, given that she just stole from her own boss. Old habits die hard, Swan. She scolded herself.

Then there was her boss… Regina. Boy, was that woman something else.

Would it be wrong of her to assume that Regina was jealous of her finding Ruby attractive? Pfft! Get real, Swan. You are in way over your head. Even behind her suppressed smiles, Regina was a regal, smart woman. And who knows- she was probably still too in love with her deceased wife to even care to date anyone else.

It was obvious the woman was wrestling with demons of her own. And that's something Emma was well familiar with. She also knew, that if Regina so much as found a bit of glory in her life, she could get her second chance at happiness again.

Little did Emma know that in the brunette's bedroom just down the hall. Regina was being deprived of sleep, deep in thought of what has become of her life since her tragic accident.

What indeed?

Two years. Two fucking years of being confined to the damn earth without so much as a twitch. Two fucking years of having people care for her, as if she was an infant all over again. Two years having to carry the burden and guilt of having killed her wife in that accident, as well as tied her sister to her over a ridiculous promise she made to their parents.

What was life when she hated it this much?

She didn't want to be that burden- for anyone. Yet, thanks to her sister, now she gets to add a new name to her list of lives she's putting on hold. Emma.

Boy, was she something else. 'Is that why you hired me instead of anyone else? Because you thought I wouldn't give a shit if you stopped breathing?' Did she care that much?

She hoped. Because the truth was, Regina was starting to care for Emma. Even if the woman didn't know what she was doing half the time while caring for her. She couldn't understand it. Why was Emma so different?

Look at you. Regina Mills, crushing on some woman you hardly know nothing about like some schoolgirl. She chuckled to herself. Her mother would be rolling over in her grave if she could see how pathetic she was.

'You're a Mills, Regina. And a Mills never dates or marries below them.' Her mother would say. She said it so much, it had become a ridiculous family mantra.

"Who's below who now?" She murmured, shaking her head afterward.

Get over yourself, Regina. Emma would never go for someone like you. No. She would go for someone like Ruby. Who is able to go on actual dates with her if she wanted to. Who could kiss her if she wanted to. Who could make love to her if she wanted to. Who could walk. Ugh… Her eyes glanced down at her right hand, which laid motionless on top of the covers. Come on. Move… Move, damn you! Her lip curled up, her bottom lip trembled at her un-mobile hand.

Why kid herself? She could never take Emma out on a real date. Not glued to this damn bed, or that damn chair. Her eyes moved toward her door as she heard faint footsteps echo just outside the hallway. She could see a shadow being casted below her door. It's Emma. She's awake?

Emma walked along the house, unable to shut off her endless thoughts. She figured, while she's up and about, she might as well explore. Walking along the hallway, she stopped right in front of the brunette's door. As she faced the wall just across it, her eyes landed on a picture of Regina. She was vibrant, smiling and happy. She had on an orange and light gray jumpsuit, with an orange helmet and goggles to protect her eyes. From what Emma could make out, within the darkness of the hallway, the brunette was standing on a cliff that was covered in green leaves of grass. She stood next to a paragliding kart. Clearly a daredevil back in the day.

Emma noticed a few empty spots on the wall where frames used to be as she walked down the hallway. Further down, she entered the living area, which was bigger than Ingrid's entire apartment. She could never imagine having this much money in all her life. And even if she did, she didn't think she would ever own a penthouse like this. Of course, for someone like Regina- a penthouse was just right. It suited her, and it was all obviously decorated to her liking.

She stopped in front of a painting, the background was a bright yellow, and it had a blue transparent square painted over it, stroked over with a brush. She didn't understand art, but obviously Regina did. Whatever this meant, she was sure it was beautiful in its own way.

Continuing on, Emma's eyes landed on an entire white shelf that took over the entire wall. There were endless piles of books as far as the eye could see. A few small statues here and there were placed around or before them. Her brow furrowed as she came across six sets of books, all hardcover, light gray with lime green letters. She noticed the brunette's name printed on all of them. These were her books.

She looked around for any signs of the wicked witch. Once confirming she was still the only one in the living area, she reached for the first volume, glancing down at the cover. The Lateral Wall: Creative Ways To Invest In The Present and Future. She flipped the book, seeing Regina's smiling face along with the rest of her as she stood tall and proud. She wore a pants suit, her lipstick and make up on point with her choice of attire.

Maybe a little reading would put her to sleep. On the plus side, she could pick at the woman's brain and get to know her intelligent side through her book. Why not? She shrugged to herself, heading back to her bedroom with the book in hand.