A/N: Hey guys, sorry it once again took me so long to update. After my last chapter I got bogged down with assignments, term papers and finals and when those were finally over I had basically zero motivation to write. I finally got passed my writer's block by writing a little Christmas one-shot! Thank you for being so patient with me throughout this whole story.

Henry entered the dining room, unhappily dragging his feet as he did.

"Emmaaaa?"

"What's up Henry?" The blonde asked distractedly as she sat at the table, looking over a few papers.

"My mom's asleep."

"So?"

"So that's all she ever does now."

Emma put the papers aside and looked up at him. He had a mix of worry and sadness on his face.

"Yeah she does take a lot of naps doesn't she... How 'bout I go check on her?"

"She won't get mad if you wake her up?"

"Maybe she's not even asleep," Emma shrugged. "Why don't you go upstairs for a bit while I talk to her?"

She walked into the living room and found Regina in what was becoming her usual spot. The brunette was curled up on the couch, although today she was only under one blanket and the long cashmere cardigan that was wrapped around her was her own.

"Regina?" Emma asked quietly, stepping guardedly towards the sofa. "Regina? Are you awake?"

"Yes..." Came Regina's sleepy reply.

"You wanna get up? Henry and I were thinking of going to the park. You know; walk around, feed some ducks, that sort of thing. You interested? We'd love it if you came."

"Mm..." Was Regina's tired, muffled reply. She only opened her eyes briefly to glance at Emma before closing them again. "No thank you, you two go ahead."

She sighed, adjusting her pillow and settling deeper into the couch.

Emma folded her arms, watching Regina for a few moments. The brunette didn't budge; either she didn't care that Emma was still there or she was just too tired to question it.

Emma sat down on the coffee table parallel to the sofa. "You sure? Some fresh air and exercise would be really good for you. It'll make you feel loads better; probably even give you some energy."

"I just need a little longer." She responded, keeping her eyes closed.

Emma bit her lip. She shot a glance at the doorway to make sure Henry wasn't listening before continuing. "Well then what about breaking the curse? Since you're napping 24/7 am I supposed to do that solo now? Don't forget, it was your idea to tell me the truth and ask for my help."

Regina gave a quiet, annoyed moan. "Emma... I just need some rest."

It was true the mayor was looking less than well lately, but Emma couldn't figure out why. She had appeared to be doing much better when they had released her from the hospital, so why did she seem to be getting worse?

"What's going on Regina? You've been sleeping more and more every day. You used to be so full of energy. This I know for a fact because you and I were enemies for months remember?" She added jokingly. "You were relentless."

Her smile faded as Regina opened her eyes, but still didn't react.

"Look, I know you've been through a lot and I know you're still recovering but this isn't like you. At first I thought the trip to Boston had just worn you out, but then it only just kept getting worse. It's been almost two weeks, I know something's up Regina. Henry's worried about you too."

"I'm fine." Regina insisted again.

"You're not fine Regina, you sleep more than a cat! You do know that's not normal right? Do you think maybe this is something you should go see Doctor Whale about?"

"I've already seen him."

"But that was two weeks ago! Maybe something's changed since then that Whale can help with."

Regina sighed, she reluctantly pulled herself into a sitting position but remained under the warmth of the blanket. "I don't think so."

"Well you'll never know unless you ask. Why don't you tell him the symptoms you've been having and see what he–"

"Emma," Regina interrupted. "I know you mean well but this is not your concern. I don't have to tell you every detail of my health and I don't need you to tell me what to do."

Emma was trying to be patient but it was difficult. "You know, I am just trying to help Regina. Something's obviously wrong but I have no idea what to do about it."

"Just leave it alone then."

"No I won't leave it alone." Emma snapped. However she hesitated when she saw the brunette's eyes flash ever so slightly.

"Please, just tell me what's going on." She continued a little more softly. "Otherwise there's no way for me to help. If you're not telling us because you want to keep it a secret from Henry then I swear I won't tell him until you're ready. But we can't keep going on like this."

Regina held her gaze for a few moments. She glanced at the door and Emma didn't know if it was because she was making sure Henry wasn't there or if she was judging whether or not an escape was feasible.

"Alright..." Regina began. "I suppose you do have a right to know."

Slightly surprised at Regina's concession, Emma moved from the coffee table to sit down on the sofa too.

"What is it Regina?" She asked softly.

The brunette swallowed hesitantly. "Do you remember back when I was in the hospital, Doctor Whale said that I had some liver damage?"

"Of course I do."

"Well, it turns out since the pills and... well since everything was in my system for so long before David and Mary Margaret found me that day, it looks like I have some kidney damage as well."

Emma sighed, shaking her head sadly. "But Doctor Whale didn't tell you that when you were admitted to Emergency?"

"Apparently it was too difficult to detect in the earlier exam."

"Is it really bad?"

Regina took in a deep breath. "Well I think it's clear that it doesn't seem to be getting any better."

"Oh no... I'm sorry Regina that must have been awful to hear."

The brunette pulled her sweater further around herself "Don't be sorry, it's my own fault. I shouldn't have done something so stupid. Of course it wouldn't work, that would have been too easy."

Emma felt a chill run through her. "Regina... you don't wish that you hadn't been saved do you?"

Regina seemed to withdraw into herself a little at the question. But after a few moments pause she finally responded.

"No, of course I don't." She said quietly. "But I do wish I'd never tried in the first place."

"Regina you were hurting. You were in a lot of pain and at the time you saw it as your only way out. You just wanted it to stop. There was no way you could have known that we were looking for you or that any of this was going to happen. I don't know if I could have done what you did... but I can understand why you felt you had to do it."

"Do you?" Regina practically whispered, not meeting her gaze.

"Yes. I see how much you love Henry. Him leaving must have been so devastating. If I'd have known just how hard it would be on you I never would have let him move to Boston with me."

Regina crossed her arms defensively, she remained silent for a few moments.

"I thought he wouldn't miss me." She said quietly. "I thought he'd barely notice the difference; maybe even be relieved when I was gone."

"Regina–"

"Had David and Mary Margaret not arrived when they did, I would never have known how much Henry still cared."

Regina breathed a troubled sigh. "He would have thought it was his fault, I know he already blames himself for what happened no matter how many times I try to tell him otherwise. What you said that day in the hospital was true, he wouldn't have deserved to live the rest of his life thinking he was responsible for my death."

"Regina I was way out of line when I said all those things to you. I was tired, and upset that Henry changed his mind about living in Boston with me. But I had no right to take it out on you. Especially not after what you'd just gone through."

The brunette chose not to respond. She wanted to tell Emma not to worry about that anymore but she just couldn't bring herself to say the words.

"Wait." Emma held up her hand as she tried to piece everything together. "How long have you known about this? Since your checkup the day after we got back from Boston?"

"Since the test results from that appointment came in."

Emma stared at her. "And when was that?"

Regina eyed her a little reluctantly. "Early last week."

Emma shook her head. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"I didn't want to give Henry any more reason to worry. He's been through enough already, he doesn't need this on top of everything else."

Emma sighed sadly. "Hey, I get that. But you could have at least told me. We've been really worried about you you know. We had no idea what was going on."

"I'm sorry." Regina said quietly.

"Something this big Regina... You should know by now that you don't have to go through this on your own."

Regina gave a small nod.

"So this is why you've been sleeping so much? It's like a side effect?"

"Yes. Doctor Whale said that not everyone experiences the same symptoms, but he did tell me that they might get worse."

"Which obviously they have been. Regina you should have just told me, I might have been able to help."

"There was nothing you could have done."

Emma pondered this for a few moments. "Is it at least something that can be fixed? For most people, kidney failure isn't a death sentence right? It can be treated."

Regina nodded distractedly. "If it stops getting worse then I may be able to get back to a more normal life soon. But if it doesn't, well then I may have to get the damaged kidneys removed or begin dialysis."

"And how are things looking so far?"

"Not good."

Emma shook her head slowly. "Did Doctor Whale say when you should start the treatment?"

"He says I can wait until my condition worsens if I'd prefer."

"And do you? Want to wait?"

Regina merely nodded.

Emma nodded too, folding her arms. "I guess this why you've been lying to me about taking your sleeping pills?"

"I–What?"

"Regina, I'm not stupid. I knew something was up. I haven't seen the prescription bottle since the weekend we went to Boston. I know you've been having those dreams again, and it was when I figured out you were having them that I knew for sure you'd stopped taking the pills. It didn't take long for me to put the pieces together. I realized later that the prescription had disappeared right after that emergency checkup you had after Boston, I just didn't know why. I assumed it had something to do with your liver; you know, to avoid further damage."

"The dreams?" Regina asked confused as to how Emma could know about that.

"You told me about them, remember? You were having them when you were in the hospital. And now I've been hearing you get up in the middle of the night sometimes after having one. Sometimes if I'm passing your door I can hear you in your sleep."

Regina felt her blood run cold. "You can?"

"You never really say anything, but you just sound... I don't know, scared I guess. It's hard to tell."

At the look on Regina's face Emma hurriedly added. "Oh but don't worry, it's not often and you're really quiet, I don't think Henry has heard anything."

The brunette seemed to relax a bit. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"It's your business. I figured if you wanted me to know the reason you would tell me. You're still allowed to have some privacy Regina."

"Except for today I suppose?"

"Having dreams is one thing. Sleeping the entire day away, that was starting to freak me out a bit."

The brunette gave a small smile.

"So what do we do now? Are you too umm... Should we you know, postpone trying to break the curse?"

"No... we haven't even made a proper plan yet. Just keep pushing Mary Margaret towards David, we'll figure out the rest soon enough."

"Well that shouldn't be too difficult, not with the way those two carry on. But don't you kind of feel bad for what we have to do to Kathryn? I mean, she is your friend after all, isn't it kind of wrong to drive her husband away from her after how hard she's tried to keep him?"

Regina folded her arms again. "Don't worry about Kathryn. She's much stronger than she seems and she doesn't truly love David. She herself is beginning to see it despite her attempts to bring him closer."

"So you're saying that's an excuse to break up their marriage?"

"No... but she'll be alright in the end. Back in the Enchanted Forest she had someone else whom she loved very much."

"She did? Where is he now?"

"He's here in Storybrooke, once the curse breaks they'll be reunited. I'm sure when that happens she'll be quite upset with me for separating the two of them but it won't be any different from the rest of the town."

Emma didn't respond for a few moments, and Regina shifted uncomfortably at the way the blonde was suddenly looking at her. Was it a very subtle form of disgust? Horror maybe? She couldn't quite put her finger on it.

"What?" She finally asked.

Emma quickly rearranged her expression. "Nothing, I'm just worried about what's gonna happen that's all."

Regina eyed her suspiciously for a moment before continuing. "What David and Mary Margaret have is more than a crush." She said a little bitterly. "Deep inside them both is one of the strongest forms of love two people can have for each other, they just need to unlock it. So far they are one of our best options."