A/N: Hey everyone, sorry it's been a while since I've updated. I've been dealing with some things and it didn't give me a whole lot of time to write. Also a lot of the time when I've been working on this it has been for future chapters. so while it may seem like I'm not working on it, I am I promise! I wanted this chapter to include the next scene but I know it has been quite some time since I've updated this story so I thought I would give you this little bit now. I hope you all have a good weekend! Please review after reading, it really keeps me motivated to keep working on it!
Mary Margaret was helping Regina down the stairs from her bedroom. Her stepmother was still quite dizzy, and when Regina staggered on one of the last steps Snow felt the other woman grab onto her a little tighter. Instinctively, Snow had also tightened her arms a little more securely around Regina to make sure the latter didn't fall.
"Are you okay?"
Regina was breathing heavily but she gave a small nod in response. "Perhaps we should just go a little slower."
"Yes of course, take your time."
"I can't believe I let you talk me into this." Regina complained, wishing she was still tucked up in bed.
"You don't have to stay outside for long. But I promise, a few minutes of fresh air will do wonders for you."
Regina just made a noise of disbelief as she finally stepped foot onto the main floor after what felt like a lifetime. Once there, she stopped in her tracks.
"Is everything alright?" Snow asked.
Regina had pressed her hand to her forehead and scrunched her eyes shut tight against the dizziness that Snow knew must still be plaguing her.
"I'll be better when I sit down I think."
"We can take a break if you want. In the living room?" Snow pointed to the room beside them, but Regina still had her eyes closed and didn't notice.
"No... We might as well get this over with now."
"Okay, but if you do need a break just tell me. There's no point in pushing yourself."
Regina breathed a soft sigh before blinking her eyes open. "I'm so tired of all this." She said quietly.
"I know. It must be so frustrating." Snow responded softly. "But don't give up just yet. If there's nothing in Storybrooke that can help you then we'll get you to another hospital, you'll see."
"What if by then it's too late?"
"It won't be." Mary Margaret said, rubbing Regina's back comfortingly.
Regina blinked tiredly, unable to bring herself to feel as confidently as her stepdaughter did. "I just hate feeling so powerless. What nearly happened to Henry yesterday..." Regina's voice broke as she shook her head, disheartened at the memory. "He was dying in my arms and there was absolutely nothing I could do to help him."
Snow's eyes saddened. "I know... I felt the same way. But don't let yourself dwell on that now. Henry's fine."
"But I should have been able heal him. My magic should have been returned. If only I'd never tried to–" Regina sighed, closing her eyes again. "I know it's because of what I did."
"I know." Snow said softly. Emma had told her that Regina believed it was the illness that was making her too weak to use her magic, and Snow agreed that it sounded quite probable.
When Regina opened her eyes again, Snow felt her heart break at the pain she saw in them.
"I just want to feel more like myself again." Regina said quietly.
"Well, you can start by showing this illness that it can't stop you from living your life."
Regina looked at Mary Margaret warily. "By going outside?"
"Exactly."
Regina gave another soft sigh. "Well then… I suppose we don't have all day do we?" She said, looking towards the back of the house.
"Do you need anything before we go out? Maybe a coat? It's pretty nice out but I know you've been a little sensitive to the cold lately. And I know it may sound strange but it's always a good idea to keep warm when you have a fever, not just because it can cause chills but because it'll help with–"
"Yes, I am familiar with treating a fever thank you. Henry's had his fair share and I seem to recall having to help look after you on occasion."
"Right," Mary Margaret mentally kicked herself. "Of course you are. Sorry."
Regina gave her a small smile to show her it was fine. "Maybe I'll see what it feels like out there first."
Mary Margaret gave a relieved smile in return. "Okay, but seriously if there is anything you need just let me know."
"Thank you."
"And if you do want to come back inside just tell me. I promise, the last thing I want is to force you into something you really don't want to do, especially if it's going to make you feel worse. I just want you to at least try to get some fresh air because I honestly think it will make you feel better. But if it doesn't we'll just come back into the house."
Regina nodded in response but immediately regretted it as a fresh wave of dizziness overcame her. She felt Mary Margaret rubbing her back between her shoulder blades in an attempt to make her feel better.
As she thought of the current situation between herself and her stepdaughter, Regina gave a small laugh in spite of herself.
"What?" Mary Margaret asked.
"I don't suppose you believed you'd ever be looking after me this way again?"
"What do you mean?"
"I think the last time I had a fever, you were the one to nurse me back to health then too."
Snow looked mildly confused for a few moments before she realized what Regina was talking about. Her face broke into a smile. "You mean that time you were pretending to be that girl... oh what was her name?"
"I believe the name you're looking for is Wilma."
Snow chuckled. "Right. Wilma."
Regina breathed a soft laugh of her own at the look on Snow's face, which caused Mary Margaret to giggle a little more at the memory.
"At the time I was so angry at you for that." Mary Margaret said. "But thinking back now, it's kind of funny."
"I know." Regina responded warmly.
"But really... what were you thinking with that move?"
"Well I had planned on killing you." Regina said lightly.
"By going undercover as a peasant?" Snow gave her an amiable look. "Why didn't you just use your magic?"
"Well somehow I felt it would be more satisfying to kill you the old fashioned way."
Snow studied her curiously as she realized something. "You had so many opportunities in those few days. Regina, I even armed you. What was it that stopped you?"
Regina held her gaze for a few moments. Soon she turned her face away and closed her eyes, seemingly trying to stop a new wave of dizziness. She took a few steady breaths before she opened them and met Mary Margaret's eyes again.
"Come on." Regina said quietly. "At the pace I'm going, we should get a move on if we want to make it to Henry and David before nightfall."
Snow was disappointed at Regina's lack of response, but nevertheless she nodded her agreement. She secured her arms around her stepmother again and continued to help her towards the back of the house. Every so often she would steal a glance at Regina, trying to figure out what her stepmother was thinking.