Hello friends! My goal is to give you two chapters in one go, so look for another one coming soon. I have a lot of ideas of how to finish this story off!

They made it to Toronto within the day, crossing the border with no problems. Emma had to wonder a little bit at how they had managed that, after all Regina wasn't exactly a native US citizen. Right?

"You're thinking too hard about something," Regina teased as they pulled into the hotel.

"Just how you managed to get a passport," Emma said. "How did you manage that?"

Regina just smiled at her and winked. "Magic."

Emma laughed and grabbed their bags while Regina went inside to check them in. They had decided on taking the road trip as fast or slow as they pleased, it wasn't like they were expected in California. Emma planned on calling when they got closer to the state to gauge interest and support from the police who had dealt with Avery's case, but she would have her ways to get answers if they weren't willing to help.

Without realizing it, Emma had unloaded all of the car and was now just standing by the trunk. She shook her head and closed it, grabbing her and Regina's stuff and heading inside before Regina came out to get her.

She was relieved when she walked in the door of the hotel to see Regina thanking the receptionist and getting their room keys. It wouldn't seem odd that she had been outside for a while longer than probably needed. Better not to concern Regina more than she already was.

"You okay?" Regina asked, grabbing her bags from Emma.

"Yeah, just tired of that question," Emma said, grabbing her own bags and leading the way to the elevators.

"Get used to it," Regina fired back. "Just for that, I'm going to ask it even more."

Emma groaned as the doors to the elevator doors slid closed.

"You need sleep," Regina said gently as she watched Emma pace by the end of the bed.

Emma waved her off, continuing her trek back and forth. She was too keyed up to sleep. Or rather, she didn't want to risk going to sleep. It was like an itch under her skin, she could tell that another memory was trying to break loose.

Regina sighed. "Emma-"

Emma shook her head. "I can feel it, there's another memory there."

"I don't think depriving yourself of sleep is going to make it come to you any easier."

"No, but it may appear in sleep. I don't really want to risk that."

Regina hummed in understanding. "You're trying to avoid it."

"I don't think 'avoid it' is the right way to look at it," Emma argued. "More like, putting it off."

"That's the same thing," Regina said, rolling her eyes. Her gaze softened as she continued to watch Emma pace. "Honey, a nightmare isn't the end of the world."

There was a falter in Emma's step at the sound of the endearment slipping out of Regina's mouth. Regina didn't use them often, but when she did it managed to get Emma every time. "I know it isn't."

"Then come to bed," Regina said simply, holding out her hand. Emma paused in her pacing to look at Regina's hand skeptically. "If you do have a nightmare, we'll handle it the way we do everything else. Together."

It took a couple seconds, but finally Emma's shoulders slumped in defeat and she took Regina's hand. She allowed herself to be dragged to the bed and got under the covers next to Regina, who held her close. Slowly, Emma felt her eyes begin to droop in the comfort offered from being in Regina's arms.

"Boys, leave that bird alone!" Ingrid shouted from the kitchen. Emma looked outside to see the neighbor boys chasing after a white bird in the backyard. Her eyes widened and she quickly ran downstairs; ignoring Ingrid scolding her for running in the house.

The boys saw her coming and ran out of the yard, leaving the bird to finally settle on a perch Emma had set up specifically for the doves that regularly visited. This was the first one that wasn't red, and she felt her stomach drop at the new color. White wasn't good.

Looking behind her to make sure Ingrid wasn't watching, Emma untied the note from the leg of the dove and watched as it flew away. She wished she could give a response to Avery. Not wanting to wait until later, Emma quickly opened the note.

Hey Em,

I know that you've noticed the color change of the dove, and there's a reason why. The truth is, I've found out some pretty big news that has led to the color change. I don't consider it an illness but I really don't have a choice because I don't know what else to call it. I'm not fine, so I can't use the red bird. The truth is…I'm pregnant.

I didn't ask for this to happen, and I definitely didn't want it to. I'm way too young to even consider being a mom, but he's happy about it I guess. I asked if he would let me go home now so I could be with my family. He refused. Please help find me. Help find me and my baby.

Avery

Emma jolted awake, throwing Regina's arms off of her and running to the bathroom. She barely had time to think before she was over the toilet throwing up all the contents of her stomach. Even after throwing up, she stayed over the toilet, just trying to breathe. Her lungs took in small breaths, refusing to cooperate. Avery had been pregnant. She had been pregnant at that young of an age. A teen mom. A teen mom pleading with Emma to find her.

With each thought, Emma's breathing became shallower and faster until she was on the verge of hyperventilating. She didn't even notice it when Regina entered the bathroom and quickly dropped to her side. She only noticed when Regina began rubbing soothing but firm circles on her back, trying to both soothe and ground her.

Emma tried to get enough air into her lungs to speak. "I-I can't-"

"I know," Regina said, cutting her off. "Just focus on my voice and breathing, no more talking."

Nodding, Emma focused on slowing her breathing down as Regina guided her through it. In for 4, out for 4. In for 4, out for 6. She coughed, her lungs trying anything to get air. Emma whimpered, the exercises were not working. Without saying anything, Regina maneuvered the two of them so that they were sitting on the floor, Emma's back pressed up against her chest.

"Close your eyes," Regina commanded gently, wrapping her arms around Emma. Emma noticed that she recognized Regina's tone, it was the one that she used when Henry was upset. "Just focus on matching your breathing to mine."

They sat like that for several minutes, Emma doing nothing but focusing on the rise and fall of Regina's chest against her back. After a while, her breathing finally returned to normal. She fully relaxed against Regina, relieved that her lungs were cooperating.

Regina pressed a kiss to the side of Emma's head. "Can you stand? My butt is falling asleep on this floor."

Emma huffed out a laugh before cautiously standing up and pulling Regina with her. She reached for her toothbrush and brushed her teeth with Regina standing watch in the background. After spitting out her toothpaste and taking another deep breath, she followed Regina back to bed.

They both sat on top of the covers, Regina not wanting to pressure Emma into going back to sleep even though they both needed the rest. Emma reached to the top of the bed and grabbed a pillow, hugging it tightly and bringing her knees up to her chest.

"Are you going to tell me what happened?" Regina asked, reaching out to tuck a stray piece of hair behind Emma's ear.

Emma shrugged. "I had a nightmare."

Regina smiled and shook her head. "Obviously, dear. A nightmare or a memory?"

"Aren't they one in the same at this point?"

"I suppose we could call it that."

"Why is there a 'we'?" Emma asked, curling tighter in on herself. "Aren't you tired of doing this?"

Regina just looked at her in confusion. "I'm not following. Tired of doing what?"

"This," Emma said, gesturing to herself and the state she was in, tears beginning to form in her eyes. "I mean come on Regina. This isn't exactly what you signed up for when we began dating."

"Hold on a second," Regina protested. "First of all, this isn't a business deal. I didn't 'sign up' for anything. Second of all, I knew exactly who you were when we started dating and I can guarantee that I regret nothing. There is not one day that I wake up next to you and think of anything but how much I love you and how lucky I am to have you with me."

Emma sniffed, wiping the tears from her cheeks. "I think I'm the lucky one here."

Regina reached out and brushed the remaining tears from her cheeks. "I think we'll call it even. Now then. What was the dream about?"

Emma took a deep breath. "Avery was pregnant. I think we need to look at the crime scene photos again"

Toronto Pt.2 is coming soon, I'm typing it up right now! I needed to cut this chapter off here because it's so long. Stay tuned!