Author's Note: Holy crap! We are seven chapters in and I realize I have forgotten the disclaimer. -_-() so here it goes...

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Literally I own nothing, like I don't even have a job, so I make no money. I especially don't own Emma Swan and Regina Mills (if I did Swan/Queen would have been cannon like the first episode). They are characters on the show "Once Upon a Time" and I don't own the show, don't write for the show, and didn't think of the show. I made no money off this, and am just a lowly penner of stories and smut (sometimes both at the same time; I'm talented like that). Please don't sue.

I cannot believe how many of ya'll are following this story! *waves* And thank you for comments, I read every one of them. You all are amazing!

Anyways, onna witha the show!

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As the weeks went by and bright colors of fall leached into the monotone grays of winter; Emma diminished.

Emma's iron resolve and frantic sense of survival had made her existence bleak. This combined with the repressed memories resurfacing afforded Emma little rest in both waking and sleeping hours.

Her nightmares had gotten so bad she had started sleeping with some sort of light on, so that she would immediately know where she was. Several times, she still woke up screaming. After it happening with Henry in the house, she took to staying late at the station and sleeping there most nights.

Food was unappealing to her, and often she would get sick if she ate. So she would more often than not just end up staring at whatever food she had on her plate, pushing it around, until she finally ended up tossing it in the garbage uneaten. As a result she began to lose weight and had to punch extra holes into her belt. People noticed. Red tried to ask her several times what was wrong, but she put it off to just being sick.

The only time she seemed remotely herself was when she was around Henry. For his sake she put on a happy face and tried to pretend to be ok. Henry wasn't stupid and saw through it. However when he asked her about it, he got the same response; she was sick. Then, she would usually distract him with a video game or something to eat. As the weeks went on, it got harder to pretend. She began to weaken. So, Emma stayed more and more at the police station.

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It was the week before Thanksgiving, and Regina found herself driving Henry to school.

Emma had been under the weather for the past few weeks and had asked her to take care of Henry. Well, Charming had asked, but she had a suspicion the request had come from Emma. When Regina asked what was wrong, chalking the concern up for Henry's sake, David had just shrugged and mumbled something about being under the weather before going back into the house to play with his son.

"I'm telling you mom something's up," Henry's voice cut through her musings.

"Um, I'm sorry Darling what where you saying?" Regina said, upset that she had let her mind wonder.

A couple of years ago Henry would have lapsed into a sulky silence, and, at times, he was still prone to do that, however at this moment he worry for his other mother drove him past teenage piques.

"Emma," Henry said, "Something's wrong with her. She's lost a lot of weight," boy said his eyes furrowing together. Regina noted that the gesture made him look startlingly like Emma.

"Well dear, Char- I mean you grandfather said she has been under the weather," Regina said trying her best to sooth her son.

The truth was the subject of Emma was a sour one with Regina, she had not seen the blonde since the last time they had played together. It seemed to Regina the blonde was going out of her way to avoid her. It hurt. While Regina wasn't so foolhardy to think they were friends, she did like to consider them to be at least on amicable terms. Now she scolded herself that foolish thought, and for the desire she felt whenever she saw Emma.

There was something about the blonde that awakened Regina's base instincts. She desired to possess this woman, to claim her, but at the same time protect her. The circular nature of the relationship they had briefly dabbled in filtered through Regina's mind and she shook the thoughts off with a small imperceptible noise of irritation.

"No Mom! It's more than that. She screams at night, and she doesn't really look like she's eating. It's like the Savior needs saving. I'm the only one who sees it. I'm always the only one," Henry said with a bitter tone that made Regina look at her son.

She saw frustration in his dark eyes, worry, and hope. It was the same hope that had driven him to her time and time again, before books and hormones had placed a wedge between them. It was the hope that mommy could fix this, mommy could, after all, fix anything. Regina felt herself fall in love with her son all over again.

"I'll try and talk with her Henry. I promise you. However, if Ms.- if Emma won't talk to me or even won't admit something deeper is wrong, then my hands will be tied," Regina said trying to both assure her son, but at the same time let him know that she was limited in what she could do.

Henry nodded and gave his mother a rare and treasured hugs.

"Thanks Mom!" He said and slipped out of the car, running towards the school entrance.

Regina watched him go a tender smile graced her features, transforming her from an imposing hard woman, into the gentle idealistic one she once was.

"Anything for you my little prince," She said softly to herself.

When he was safely inside the school, she turned the car down main street knowing that by this time Emma would already be at work. She thought back to what Henry said. It seemed that Ms. Swans demons where running rampant, with no way to release them they were consuming her. Regina was annoyed not only because Emma could possibly put their son in jeopardy but also because she was damaging herself.

"I won't dwell on that last thought," Regina said pulling into the parking lot of the municipal building.

She braced herself for the confrontation about to come. She had told Henry the partial truth, if Emma did not want to tell her what was wrong there would be nothing Regina could do to help her. What Regina did not tell Henry was that she wasn't going to give Emma a choice.

"Damnit Emma, why haven't you come to me?" She growled as she entered the building and walked up the steps.

She had just about reached the top of the landing when she heard a loud crash come from the sheriff's office. Regina's heart clenched in fear and she raced up the steps and into the police station, vowing next time she made a curse; she would remember to put all the municipal buildings on ground floors.

She rounded the corner and gasped. Emma was on her side unconscious. A thin line of blood trailed down her face.