Everyone went with Regina to get checked out and make sure there was no permanent damage from the electrocution.
"Well, there's nothing severe, but there is some damage," Whale said, "I'm not even sure how much. You said you haven't had any trouble moving around and just some aches and pains. We might have to wait and see what happens. Do you still have the cane and wheelchair?"
"Yes," Regina answered.
"Good, I think you should return to the loft for a few days just in case. There's no point in risking you falling down that giant staircase. Use either aid if you need to and keep me updated."
"Thanks," Emma said. Whale left and then the Charming family did as well.
That night, Emma, Regina, Henry, Snow, and David sat around the dinner table. "I don't get it," Regina said, "I have brain damage and nothing out of the ordinary has happened today. I've been able to move easily and just have some minor discomfort."
"It's almost as if you're complaining," Emma said.
"I would just like to know what my life is going to be like now."
"Perfect, because I'm in it," Emma smiled and Regina rolled her eyes while everyone else silently laughed. "Look, Whale said there was some damage but it wasn't severe. I wouldn't worry too much. Besides, you have all of us."
"It's true," David said.
"How does it feel to have a family?" Emma asked.
"Pretty damn good," Regina answered. The blonde nodded knowing exactly how she felt.
"We need to get word to Cora," Snow said. "Don't worry, I'll figure it out."
Snow decided to send a message to Cora who was in the Enchanted Forest, via bird. It would be a while before she heard back.
During the night, Regina woke up in a bit more pain. She really didn't think the pain would get worse so her pain medication was in the bathroom. The sleepy brunette pulled herself to her feet and felt her legs wobble. She instantly sat back down. After giving herself a moment, Regina grabbed her phone in case she needed to call Emma for help. She didn't want to wake the others. Regina felt herself hesitating before her legs moved here and there. She was able to make it to grab the pill bottle but knew she couldn't get back. The mayor slid to the floor and dialed.
"What the hell?" Emma answered sleepily.
"Is that really how you answer your phone?"
"Regina?" Emma shot up in bed and turned the light on.
"I'm in the bathroom. I needed the pain medication Whale gave me just in case, but I need help getting back. I had to slide to the floor and sit."
"I'm coming," Emma placed her phone back on the nightstand and went to the bathroom. "What happened?" She asked as she crouched down in front of Regina.
"I stood from the bed but my legs weren't stable so I sat thinking if I waited they would stabilize. They did but I had trouble moving my legs to get here."
"Can you walk back to bed if I help you?"
"No, I need my wheelchair."
"Okay, hang tight and I'll be back with it."
Emma ended up having to lift Regina off the floor to get her in the chair. Once Regina was all tucked in, Emma crawled back in next to her. "Thank you, dear."
"You don't have to thank me and you don't have to worry. This is one incident. It's going to take a while to see how affected you are by all of this. Just get some sleep." Emma took her love into her arms and the two fell asleep.
The next morning, Emma woke up before Regina which was rare. The pain pill Regina took just hours ago would keep her asleep for a while. Snow, David, and Henry came downstairs. They saw that Regina was still in bed, Emma was working on breakfast, and the wheelchair was next to Regina's side. It hadn't been there when everyone went to bed the night before The three went over to the kitchen. "What happened last night?" Snow asked softly.
"She woke up in pain and realized that her legs were in bad shape when she stood. They were wobbling and then I guess she hesitated with her steps as she walked to the bathroom. Regina didn't think she'd need the pain medication and that's where it was. She called me because she couldn't walk back to bed. Don't make a big deal out of it because she was really upset about it last night. Also, she may barbeque you if you do. This was all a few hours ago so she may sleep till lunch."
That's exactly what Regina did. She woke up just before lunch and looked around for Emma.
"Mom, are you okay? What are you looking for?" Henry asked and Regina realized the boy had come over to her.
"Emma," she said softly.
"I'll go get her. She's in the kitchen."
Emma returned without Henry, "hey, you finally woke up."
"Those pills really knock you out." Regina looked toward where David, Snow, and Henry were, "do they know?"
"Yeah and don't worry, I told them to not make a big deal."
"Thank you," Regina sighed. "Will you wait here while I see if I can stand?" Emma stepped to the side and watched as Regina moved cautiously. Regina reached her hand out for Emma, "just in case." Emma held on as Regina pulled herself to her feet.
"How do the legs feel?"
"Fine, actually," Regina was surprised. She was expecting to face plant the moment she stood. "I'm going to brush my teeth and get dressed." Regina took her clothes and her phone with her. Emma walked over to the sitting area and sat by her mother.
"How is she?" Snow asked.
"She said her legs feel fine."
"Maybe it was just her body crashing after the past few days."
Emma's phone rang and she looked at the screen, "no, it wasn't. Stay here," she stood and went to the bathroom. Regina was sitting on the side of the tub, "honey, what's wrong?"
"My legs started feeling tired and I needed to sit. Could you stay here until I'm done? I'm not sure I can manage on my own."
"Sure, do you want me to hang back until you need me?"
"That's fine," Regina held out her hand and Emma slowly pulled her to her feet. Emma had to step in a few times while Regina was getting ready. Regina would grip the sink when she felt her legs ready to give out and Emma would hold onto her. Emma helped Regina walk from the bathroom to the kitchen table. It was practically lunchtime and Emma felt it would be easier if Regina was already at the table.
"What are you doing?" Regina asked when Emma pulled out a notebook.
"I'm keeping track of these episodes and what you tell me they feel like. That way we can give Whale more accurate information. I'm just doing it for now."
Snow, David, and Henry didn't say a thing about what Emma had told them when they joined the couple at the table. "You guys don't have to tiptoe around me," Regina said.
"We didn't know how to approach the subject," Snow said.
"Plus, Emma said you might barbeque us if we say the wrong thing," David added and laughed as Regina glared at his daughter.
"Apparently, my dad wants to see that happen to me."
"Why don't you just rest for the next week?" Snow suggested. "We want you to start living again, but we also don't want you to get hurt."
"I know and I appreciate that. I would actually like to take it easy for a while. Well, a week."
"Take as long as you need," David said.
"You do realize the longer I take, the longer I'm here?"
"You look all better to me," he joked making everyone laugh.
"Mom, where's your cane?" Henry asked.
"I have no idea. Emma put it away because I was blind at the time."
"It's in the closet by the stairs," Emma said.
Henry stood and brought the walking aid back to his mom, "thank you, sweetheart."
"Don't just rely on that now," Emma warned.
"Trust me, I have no intention of getting hurt even more."
The family finished dinner and then sat in the sitting room to watch a movie. Emma knew that Regina was scared, and Regina knew that Emma was right there for her.
Over the next week, everyone gained a better understanding of Regina's condition. She wasn't terribly affected, but she did need her cane on occasion. She, Emma, and Henry stayed at the loft one more week just to be safe. Cora had returned with the news that she was moving to Storybrooke. Regina offered her a room and so did Snow and David. After living at the loft for nearly five months, Henry and his moms went home. Cora stayed with Snow and David until Emma, Regina, and Henry were settled in. Then she was going to go stay with them for a while. Emma took her things with her to permanently move in with Regina and Henry. A month later the couple was engaged and three months after that they got married. One year to the day of that awful fire, Regina surprised Emma with the news that she was pregnant. The mayor had been inseminated by Neal. This way Henry could have a biological connection to the baby. Eight months later, Odette Margaret joined the family. Later that year, Emma gave birth to Faline Regina Mills. A few years later Regina gave birth to Remy Robert Mills and Emma to Oliver David Mills. All of the children were Neal's as well. Regina and Emma had no problem with Neal being in the children's lives. Especially the boys. Both women were the main guardians of the children. Neal didn't mind the arrangement and was just grateful he was able to be a part of their lives. Regina had many terrifying experiences but none was more terrifying than the four months she was blind. That feeling of helplessness and the unknown. She was vulnerable and had lost control of everything. If not for Emma, Regina has no idea how she would have gotten through that time. She doesn't know how she would have gotten through it without Snow, David, and Henry either. That fire may have killed the Evil Queen, but it brought Regina Mills back to life.