A/N: I'm sorry you guys had to wait such a long time for an update yet again. I know I am terrible for updating but I hope you like the new chapter! Please review and let me know what you think, reviews keep me motivated! Otherwise I don't know whether or not you are still enjoying the story. xx
Also, I want to give a special thank you to Gunner4Life for rekindling my motivation to work on this story!
"So how'd it go?" Emma asked Regina as the mayor joined her and Henry in the waiting room of Storybrooke General Hospital.
Archie had recommended that Regina go back for a checkup. After their emergency session earlier that day he was convinced that what had caused Regina's fainting was high anxiety. However he wanted to be sure there wasn't something else behind it as well since she had also been quite sick the day before.
Regina's eyes lingered on hers briefly before answering. Every once in a while Emma had this certain look in her eyes ever since Regina had told her the truth about Henry's stories. It wasn't quite fear, but something else. And it always disappeared quickly whenever it was detected.
"Fine. It doesn't look like anything too serious but I'll have to wait for the test results to know for sure."
"Do they know what caused the fainting?" Emma and Henry stood up and the ten year old hugged his mother before the three started to make their way out of the building.
"Doctor Whale said it was most likely from stress; my blood pressure is a bit high."
"Did you tell him about what happened on the way to Boston this weekend?"
"Yes Miss Swan I did." Regina responded a little short-temperedly. She was a grown woman, she could handle her own appointments.
"Just checking. I've been wondering if maybe the two are connected."
Regina gave a tired, soft sigh and chose not to answer.
"So you're really gonna be okay?" Henry asked.
Regina wrapped an arm around his shoulders as they neared the staircase. "Yes sweetheart I am."
She glanced at Emma and noticed the way the blonde was eyeing her, as if she knew there was something Regina wasn't saying.
"Was there anything besides the stress?" Emma asked. "What was making you sick yesterday? Or does Doctor Whale think it was all from stress?"
Regina glanced down at Henry as if she didn't want to say it in front of him.
However the ten year old looked up at her curiously, waiting for her to answer his birthmother's question. Regina knew she had to stop keeping things from him, after all it was one of the things that had caused them to drift apart in the first place. She grudgingly decided to answer the question even though she was getting tired of everyone knowing her private matters. Although, Henry was her son and did have a right to know. And she had to admit, Emma certainly could no longer be categorized as 'everyone'. Not after how involved she had become in Regina's life.
"It partly has to do with diet, I wasn't exactly eating properly last week and now I have to be careful. I can't eat too much or too little and I have to slowly get back into normal eating habits. For now I have to stick to very simple meals because anything more can make me queasy. And the fainting could have something to do with lack of nutrients and energy."
"Was it because you weren't eating enough?" Emma asked. Or at all, she added in her head, thinking of how much weight Regina had lost in just one week.
Regina nodded. "My body needs to get used to processing normal amounts of food again."
"But didn't they feed you when you were at the hospital?" Henry asked, confused. If she had been getting sick at the hospital no one had told him that.
"Well they tried... but they weren't always successful." Regina admitted.
"Mary Margaret told me they almost had to put you on a feeding tube you were so stubborn." Emma added.
"I wasn't being stubborn, I was nauseous." Regina responded, still as defensive about the subject as she had been when she'd been in the hospital the week before.
"Well in that case Madam Mayor," Emma said leading the way down the stairs. "If we have to get your eating back on track what do you both say to lunch at Granny's?"
"Yeah!" Henry said happily.
"We'll get some toast and homemade soup into you, that should make you feel better." Emma said to the brunette.
"Sure." Regina gave a small smile.
"But we could take it to go if you'd rather eat back at the house?" Emma suggested, holding the door open for the others as they left the hospital's front entrance.
"No that's alright, I've been cooped up for so long I should spend more time away from home."
"Oh! You could come back to Boston with me tomorrow if you want," Emma offered teasingly.
Regina breathed out a laugh. "Thank you but I think one trip to Boston this week is enough for me. And besides, I wouldn't want to risk a repeat of yesterday's car trip. Again, I am sorry you had to witness that."
Emma waved her hand dismissively. "Don't feel bad about that Regina, it happens. I'm just happy I was able to help. But if you do change your mind and want to come, the offer still stands."
"Can I go?!" Henry asked hopefully.
"You have school young man." Regina reminded him.
"I know..."
"How 'bout this Henry," Emma suggested. "Since you can't come, what d'you say I pick up another comic book for you?"
Henry grinned. "Okay, thanks Emma."
Emma suppressed a laugh as she got into the driver's side of the yellow bug.
"Anything for you kid."
That night, Regina approached Henry's room and could hear his and Emma's voices as the two of them said goodnight.
"Sweet dreams kid." Emma said as she and her son shared a hug. She patted his shoulder gently as she stood up to leave, smiling at Regina before disappearing into the hallway.
"All ready for bed?" Regina asked as Henry placed his storybook on the bedside table.
He nodded as he climbed into bed, sitting cross legged under the covers.
"Mom, do I have to go to school tomorrow?" Henry asked as she adjusted the blankets.
She frowned and sat down beside him. "You don't want to go?"
He shook his head.
"But darling you've missed two weeks already. If you miss any more classes you'll start to fall very behind."
"I know..."
"I know things have been difficult lately, and I know Miss Blanchard is very understanding about what's happened, but I still think it's important for you to keep up your studies regardless."
"I guess... But Mom?"
"What is it sweetheart?"
"Someone should stay home to look after you. Emma's going to Boston and you'll be here all by yourself. What if something happens? What if you faint again, or get sick again like on the way to Boston? I don't want you to get hurt again."
Regina gave a small smile as she cupped his chin. "I'm touched that you're so worried about me. And that you want to stay with me to take care of me, but that's not your responsibility. I'll be fine. I promise I'll be careful while you're gone."
"But Mom–"
"Henry, if you really feel that you're not ready to go back then you don't have to. But if you think you need to stay home for me then there's no need. The best way you can help is to go back to school. Getting back into a normal routine is the best way to move past difficult situations."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. And as much as I'd love to spend the day with you tomorrow I think it's time you got back to your studies."
Henry gave a small smile as she placed a kiss on the top of his head.
"Speaking of which, you need to get some sleep or you'll be falling asleep in class tomorrow."
Henry nodded. He laid down and she pulled the blankets up to his shoulders.
"Goodnight Henry."
"Night Mom."
She pressed a kiss to his forehead before getting up to switch the light off.
"Love you." Henry's voice came from behind her.
A smile graced her lips before she turned to face him again.
"I love you too sweetheart. Have a good sleep."
Regina went downstairs to turn off the lights and met up with Emma who had gone to the kitchen to retrieve her phone.
"Hey." Emma said. "Going to bed soon too?"
"Yes I think so, it's been a long day."
"Yeah..."
Regina waited for the blonde to leave the room before switching off the light.
She headed into the living room and realized Emma had stopped in the hallway, seemingly waiting to ask her something.
"Is there something you need dear?" Regina asked, turning off the lights in the living room and then joining her in the front hall again.
"Yeah..." Emma said a little distractedly, not meeting the other woman's eyes.
"Well, what is it?"
"Okay, so like, I'm going back to Boston tomorrow to take that trailer back and to get my stuff from the apartment right?"
"Go on..."
"Now that I know about the um... you know, the curse... is it safe for me to cross the town line? The way Henry always goes on about it he makes it sound like a death trap. 'Bad things will happen' he always says. I just want to make sure that when I cross I'm not gonna like, be blown to smithereens or something."
Regina gave a small smile. "No dear you should be fine."
"You sure?" Emma raised a doubtful eyebrow.
"I'm sure."
Emma gave a relieved sigh. "Good."
Regina's eyes gave a flash of surprise but she quickly buried it. She found it amazing how quickly a certain trust had built up between the two of them. She had almost expected Emma to doubt Regina's assurance that the border was indeed safe.
"I know I've already said this, but you really are handling this very well." Regina observed.
"Yeah... Tell me about it."
"I half expected you to call the madhouse on me after I told you about the curse."
"Well the thought did cross my mind to be honest." Emma joked.
"But you do believe me?"
"Yeah. And if for some reason I find myself not believing you then I think it's time I start believing Henry."
Regina nodded thoughtfully.
"On that note, any more thoughts on how to be sure no one will get sent back when the curse is broken?" Emma asked. "Or maybe a way to make sure Henry can come with us if it turns out we do have to go?"
Regina folded her arms. "I have a few thoughts."
A/N: Thank you for reading, please don't forget to review!