Fall
A/N: There is no Robin 2.0 in this verse. That was just a sad, annoying (and frankly cruel) turn of events from this ever-disappointing show.
Regina opens eyes heavily crusted with sleep. The room is dimly lit, letting her eyes adjust slowly. She's in her bed, that much she can sense as the mattress and duvet both hug her body. Turning her head slowly to avoid aggravating the pounding inside her skull, she tries to piece together how she got here. She certainly hadn't expected to.
When her eyes finally focus, she's nose to nose with her son sleeping soundly beside her on top of the blankets. She makes to brush his hair from his eyes, thinking that he's long overdue for a cut and that that is probably only one of many things she's neglected of lately while trying to snuff out her evil half. Her arms are pinned though, held firmly to her sides by another sleeping boy who is wrapped around her waist and thinks there is probably no better way to wake up from certain death than with her children clinging to her. She won't wake them yet; they look so peaceful and she's certain they need the rest.
She shuffles slightly, knowing it would take an earthquake to wake her boys, but still, she won't chance it. Her body feels like lead and she can already feel the pull of sleep ready to take her back under, but she fights it off, turns toward the light in the corner wear Emma is curled up on her chaise reading a book. Robin is sprawled in the adjacent chair, mouth hung open, sleeping as soundly as his son.
"The pirate has good taste," Regina croaks out, her voice barely there from under use.
"He does," Emma muses, absently spinning the ring on her finger until she realizes who she responded to. The book is tossed aside and she's sitting on the edge of the bed seconds later. "Welcome back," Emma tells her while her fingers probe Regina's neck to check her pulse. Satisfied with what she feels she leans back and stares Regina down.
"How long was I out?" Regina asks.
"A few days," Emma tells her, helping her untangle at least one arm from Roland.
"A few?" Regina asks, running her hand through Roland's messy curls. She still can't reach Henry, but his weight on the mattress is comfort enough for now.
"Five," Emma tells her, checking the bedside clock for confirmation. They've officially entered the 5th day of this bedside vigil.
Five!" Regina bolts upright, tries to at least, but Emma's strong hands on both of her shoulders push her back against the pillows. Both women look to see that the boys are still soundly asleep.
"You almost died, Regina," Emma keeps her voice low. "I'm not entirely sure you didn't die for a few minutes back there. You need to rest."
"What happened?" she asks the blonde. Regina can feel it now that she's more awake; the darkness that is lurking within her. She's whole again. Again the only prison fit to hold the Evil Queen. But there's something else there and she closes her eyes, focusing, searching it out. Light magic, healing her still, moving slowly and purposefully through her veins. "Emma?" she asks again, needing confirmation of what she already knows.
"Sleep now. I promise I'll tell you everything when you're well enough to remember we had this conversation." Emma's eyes search Regina's, but find no sign of the maniacal queen. Only her friend stares back at her, tired and confused. Emma allows herself to relax, hopes Regina hadn't noticed the sword stashed under the chaise in case it was other eyes that finally opened; knowing she would understand if she had.
"Is everyone okay?" Regina asks, not willing to go back to sleep without at least knowing that much.
"Everyone's fine," Emma confirms as she scoots off the bed. "We won."
Regina's body releases the tension she didn't realize she was holding as Emma walks across the room, picks up her book and whacks Robin's arm with it. She can't help the smile as Robin's jolted awake. Emma is between them. She can't see his face, but she can hear the weariness as he leans forward, sighing into his hands. "Your turn to watch her," Emma tells him, glancing over her shoulder and winking at Regina before stepping back so Robin can stretch and pop his joints back into place. "Make sure she goes back to sleep," Emma tells him as she walks out of the room. She's not to the door before Robin's eyes fix on Regina's. His smile quickly matches her own.
Its super short, I know, but I hope that posting it holds me accountable to finish it fairly quickly.