Emma had pretty much moved into Regina's. The woman had been having more episodes lately and Emma didn't like not being there. One night Emma returned to the living room after tucking Henry in bed, "did he make you read the storybook?" Regina asked.
"He tried to but I said I would only read a little bit of it."
"Emma, can we talk?"
"I thought we were."
"Well, I just really need to thank you for all you've done for me. I wasn't exactly welcoming and you helped me anyway."
"I've told you that you don't have to keep thanking me."
"I know, but I wanted to say that before I said what I really wanted to say. You see, I think, well, I feel that I am possibly falling for you."
"Wow, that's the most nervous I've ever seen you."
"My nerves are justified."
"Yes, they are." Emma took Regina's hand, "I feel the same, but I know how high your walls are so I decided to let you figure things out and lead the way."
"You, you have feelings for me?"
"Yeah, and I have for a while. I've always been attracted to difficult people."
Regina laughed and spotted Henry in the doorway, "what are you doing up?"
Emma turned to see their son, "can I have a small snack?"
Regina was about to say no, but Emma spoke first, "sure, but eat it in the kitchen."
Henry turned and went to get a snack. He came back after he was finished, "I'm heading back to bed."
Before his moms could say anything, Henry collapsed. Emma ran to her son and knelt beside him. "Call an ambulance."
Regina did and rode with Emma to the hospital. "I can't imagine what happened," Regina said.
"Is it possible the apples in your turnovers went bad?"
Regina turned her head in shock, "what?"
"That's what he ate."
"Oh my God!"
"What?"
"He wasn't supposed to eat that."
Emma stared at the woman for a while to try and read her. "It's true, isn't it? Everything in the book."
"Yes," Regina said emotionally.
"Wait, was that turnover for me?"
"It was just to put you to sleep for a while."
"What the hell, Regina?"
"The only ones who remember everything are me and Gold. He said I had to get rid of you or you'd break the curse and I'd lose Henry."
"And you believed him?"
"I admit that it was a mistake. I had decided to throw it out while you were upstairs. My body wouldn't cooperate with me so I was going to have you throw it out. I never thought Henry would eat that. I'm so sorry, Emma."
"I know," Emma said gently, "let's just try to figure out a way to help Henry."
"Okay," Regina whispered.
The two women worked as quickly as they could to find a cure for their son. Before they could the hospital called, but by the time the moms had arrived, it was too late. Henry was gone. Emma and Regina slowly entered the room as the nurse was removing the oxygen mask. Regina stayed back while Emma walked up to the bed. She kissed Henry and felt a sudden rush that the entire town experienced. Henry woke up and looked at Emma, "you did it," he said, "you broke the curse."
"I guess I did." Emma looked at the people in the hospital, "what's going on?"
"They're remembering," Henry said.
Emma saw the panicked look on Regina's face. Mother Superior turned to the mayor, "if I were you, your majesty, I'd find a place to hide."
Emma walked up to Regina before she could leave, "go home and lock yourself in the house. If you have to go somewhere else then let me know."
Regina nodded before turning and rushing out of the hospital room. She knew what was going to happen next but didn't have the courage to tell Emma. Regina was going to die at the hands of her people.
Emma ran towards Regina's home and saw Whale restraining her against one of the columns in front of her home. "Get off of her!" Emma yelled and pulled Whale off of Regina.
"You're really gonna defend her? After what she did to your family?"
"Look, this isn't the answer. If you kill her then you're no better than the Evil Queen."
"Are you sure it's not because you're in love with her?"
"You are here threatening and restraining a disabled woman. Now, get out of here."
David and Snow ushered everyone off the property. Emma helped Regina back into the house and up to the sofa. "Thank you," Regina sighed as she sat.
"No problem. Are you alright?"
"They were really going to kill me. Not that I could blame them. I don't remember a time when I felt so terrified and helpless."
"Maybe we should look into moving to another realm. I want you to feel safe and you clearly don't here."
Regina winced and moaned as her left wrist began to spazz. Emma put an arm around her, "hey, it's okay. Just breathe," she had become an expert at helping Regina during episodes.
"Anything we can do to help?" Snow asked.
Emma looked up and was surprised, "I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were both still here."
"That's okay," Snow said.
Emma turned back to Regina, "do you need anything?" The woman just shook her head. "Will you be alright if I talk to Snow and David for a moment?" Regina nodded and Emma helped her lean back on the couch before taking her parents to the hallway. "I need to ask you for a favor."
"Sure, anything," Snow said.
"You won't like it."
"Probably not," David said and Snow glared at him.
"People need to see that Regina isn't the Evil Queen anymore. I'm going to take her outside and I think you should bring people around. Tell Gold you need an invisibility spell to keep an eye on Regina or something."
"We'll see what we can do," Snow said.
"Thanks, we'll be in the backyard." Snow and David left so Emma returned to Regina. "Let's go sit outside."
"Are you crazy? The entire town wants to kill me and you want to put me in plain sight?"
"We'll be in the back. Besides, I won't let anyone hurt you." Emma tried to not smile when Regina reached out for her. The blonde helped the mayor scoot forward to the edge of the couch and then to her feet.
"It's really bad today," Regina said.
"I've got you." Emma wrapped an arm around her girlfriend and helped her slowly hobble outside. The two were unaware that several sets of eyes were on them. "Do you need anything?" Emma asked once Regina was seated.
"No, please don't go inside."
"I won't," Emma could tell the woman was terrified.