After saving Emma and Snow, Regina felt her strength draining more by the second. She was heartbroken when Henry walked away from her to have dinner with his biological family, but truth be told, she was a bit relieved. She didn't want Henry to see her so weak. It took all the strength she had to climb up the staircase to her bedroom. Regina fell asleep instantly and slept until her phone rang the next day.

"Emma, is everything alright with Henry?"

"Yeah, he's fine. I just wanted to invite you to a party Granny is having for me and my mom tonight."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, you did save us and it would mean a lot to Henry."

"Thank you, I'd love to come."

"Great, I'll see you there. Oh, can you make that lasagna? I hear it's the best and I want to try it."

"I can do that."

The two hung up and Regina decided to get up. As slow as she was moving, she'd have to start on the lasagna right then.

Regina did not receive a warm reception when she entered Granny's. Not that she was expecting one. Henry was happy to see her and even Emma appeared to be happy about Regina's presence. She had hoped that saving Snow and Emma would have made people hate her less, but that wasn't the case. Regina sat at Granny's watching everyone enjoy the party. While she appreciated the invite from Emma, she also felt out of place. Her exhaustion was beginning to set in and so she decided to leave before she felt worse. Henry had only spoken to Regina when she arrived and Regina left without saying anything to him. She no longer felt that she had a place in Henry's life. Regina walked out of Granny's and started descending the steps. She tripped on the last step but caught herself on the railing. After collecting herself, she began to walk away from the restaurant.

"Regina wait!" the brunette turned around to find that Emma had followed her. "Come back inside for some cake."

"I appreciate the offer, but I think it's best if I make myself scarce."

"It would mean a lot to Henry."

"He appears to be doing just fine. Thank you, Emma, for showing me the kindness everyone knows I don't deserve." Regina turned and began to walk away but stopped. She began to sway and feel as if she was about to lose consciousness.

"Regina? Is something wrong?" before the mayor could answer she collapsed onto the concrete,

"Regina!" Emma ran to the woman and knelt beside her. "Regina, wake up," Emma commanded,

"Regina, if you don't wake up then I'm going to bug you until you do."

Henry had walked outside after seeing Emma run and crouch down, "mom, what's wrong?"

"Henry, go back inside."

The boy didn't listen and soon his grandparents followed. "What happened?!" Henry asked.

"I don't know. We were talking, she went to leave, and then fell like a ton of bricks."

"I'll get Whale," Snow said.

"No!" Emma said more harshly than intended, "sorry, but we know how he feels about Regina."

The mayor began to groan and move a little. She opened her eyes to find Emma beside her with Henry, Snow, and David standing above her, "what happened?" she groaned.

"You fainted," Emma answered. Regina went to sit up but Emma stopped her, "just give yourself a moment."

"Mom, what's wrong? Why did you faint?" Henry asked.

Regina began to panic and the other adults saw. "Henry, why don't we give your mom some space?" Snow suggested. The boy was hesitant but followed his grandmother in the end. David stayed behind which surprised Regina and Emma.

"I think I'm good now," Regina said.

"Emma, you take her hands and I'll support her back," David said.

Once Regina was sitting up against David's legs she put a hand up, "stop, I need a break."

David and Emma exchanged worried glances. When Regina was ready again, David helped her to her feet. He held on when she started swaying. "Someone should drive you home," he said.

"I'll be fine."

"Regina, he's right," Emma said, "you know he is."

Regina's head lowered, "I know, but I don't have anyone to drive me home and you're not leaving your own party."

"Emma, I'll take her home," David offered, "I'm gonna text Snow because she's better with the nurturing thing."

"Are you okay with this?" Emma asked Regina.

"I don't have any other options. Thank you, David, I'd appreciate the ride."

Emma returned to the party and Snow left. David drove the truck while Snow drove Regina home in her Mercedes. Snow helped Regina out of the car, "you okay?"

"I think so," Regina had a tight grip on Snow. David was unlocking the mayor's home, "I'm gonna faint again," she said softly. David heard the comment and rushed to Regina. He lifted her in one fell swoop and Snow took the key. David carried Regina to her room but left to give her some privacy while Snow helped her change.

"Someone should stay with you tonight," Snow said.

"They'd probably kill me in my sleep."

"Not if it's a family member."

Regina was confused at first before realizing what Snow meant. "I'll be fine alone. Besides, I'll probably sleep most of the day tomorrow."

"When did you start feeling like this?"

"Yesterday after leaving Gold's shop. No, he didn't do anything to me."

"How do you know?"

"I know, trust me."

Snow thought for a moment and then a realization came over her, "the portal. You absorbed all the magic from the portal."

"Yes, I did."

"You know what's wrong, don't you?"

"I don't want Henry to know."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't want him to spend time with me out of pity."

"How long until you're better?"

"Never," Regina said grimly.

"What?"

"That magic is eating away at me from the inside out."

"There has to be something we can do."

"There's a potion to reverse the damage and cure me, but I don't know where the book is."

Snow helped Regina get ready for bed and settled in. The woman was out like a light and Snow left the room to talk to her husband, "she's dying."

"How would you know that without a doctor looking at her?"

"She absorbed the magic from the portal. She said it's going to kill her. There's a potion but she doesn't remember where the book is."

"I'll call Emma and we'll all look for it."

"I'm going to stay with Regina just in case she wakes up."