A/N: Hi everyone, I hope you are all having a good weekend. I probably sound like a broken record by now but I'm sorry again for the slow updates. I ended up having to move three times (long story) and so I've been crazy busy with that, schoolwork, and other stressful things so I haven't had much time to write. I hope you like the new update! The next chapter is already started so hopefully it won't be too long before the next post.

For those of you also reading Pieces of A Dream I am very sorry for the extremely slow updates on that one. I've known the ending for quite some time but just haven't gotten around to finishing it. I'll try to get to it soon!

Please don't forget to review after reading! Comments keep me motivated to keep writing xx

Snow found herself staring out the window into the backyard again. She had tried not to watch Henry and Regina's conversation because she knew that this was a very private moment between them, but she still couldn't help checking every once in a while to make sure they were okay. Snow had gone out only once, just to ask if they needed anything, but other than that she had left them undisturbed.

She was currently standing a few feet back from the windows in the living room hoping to avoid detection, and so far her presence had gone unnoticed.

The two of them had been out there for almost two hours now. Henry had come in about half an hour previously to get a blanket, but other than that they had been inseparable.

"How's it going out there?" David's voice broke through Snow's thoughts.

"Hey," she greeted him softly. She leaned into his embrace as he wrapped an arm around her. "It's as good as can be expected I guess. But Henry's taking it really hard."

"Well, I can't blame him for that. After everything that's been going on lately and now he has to hear about this? Losing a parent at his age, you and I both know how damaging that can be."

"Well we're going to do as much as we can to make sure that doesn't happen."

David nodded in agreement. "I really hope this doesn't end badly."

Snow heaved a troubled sigh as she watched Regina's delicate movements.

"What is it?"

"She's so uncomfortable." Snow responded, shaking her head. "I wish I could just give her some aspirin or something."

"She can't have painkillers?"

"No. They might be able to get rid of her headache but they would do her no favors in the long run. It's too risky, there's too much internal damage."

"Hmm," David nodded in understanding. "What about some healing herbs? That's what my mother always used to treat a fever."

"Well we could look for some I suppose, but so far I haven't seen any here in Storybrooke."

Just then the doorbell rang.

"Oh that's probably Emma." Snow said.

"I'll go let her in." David offered, rubbing her back gently.

Snow nodded, turning to look out the window again as her husband headed towards the front hall.

Before Henry had come inside for the blanket earlier, the ten year old had helped Regina move to an outdoor chaise longue so she could lie down and this was where they were currently huddled.

Snow smiled softly as she watched Henry fix the blanket around his mother and then settle into her embrace once again. At the moment Regina looked as if she could be sleeping, but when she adjusted her arms into a more protective hold around Henry, it was clear that she was merely resting.

"Hey Mary Margaret." Came Emma's tired voice from the doorway.

Snow turned and walked towards her daughter and husband, smiling in greeting. "How's everything in town?"

"Like the American Revolution and Civil War all tangled up into one lawless mess. Have they always been like this?" Emma asked, collapsing into a seat on the nearest couch. She rested her elbows against her knees and buried her face tiredly in her hands.

"No..." David responded. "I don't know what's gotten into them. It's been nearly two days you'd think they would have calmed down by now."

"Some of them are fighting over the stupidest things too!" Emma complained. "Like who owes who what money... or there's some people who are just angry because they'd forgotten they were supposed to hate each other or something just as ridiculous. Like seriously it's been twenty eight years can't they just let it go?!"

David shook his head, patting her shoulder. "They'll get there eventually."

"I'm thinking at this point maybe I'm better off just letting them fight it out." Emma grumbled.

"Maybe," Snow agreed. "Sometimes there are situations where the best thing to do is to just let them resolve themselves. You can't let this take over your life Emma, it'll drive you crazy."

"You don't need to tell me that." Emma responded. "And then there's the rest of them who are still determined to punish Regina. You don't know how many times I've broken up meetings about plots against her. I'm thinking maybe it's time we stop kidding ourselves about things getting better and just get her the hell out of Storybrooke."

"And then what? Take her back to Boston?" David asked.

"Yeah I guess. I mean at least in Boston there will be doctors who aren't hiding behind every corner trying to murder her. At least there she and Henry will be safe."

Snow gave her a sympathetic smile. "Have you talked to Regina about this at all?"

"A bit... She didn't want to have to leave. But at this point we might not have any other choice. Henry doesn't want to leave either but I think once he understands how serious it is that Regina gets to a hospital he'll come around."

"Actually I think he already understands." David responded. "Regina told him everything."

"She did?" Emma asked in surprise.

"Yeah, after what happened today I think she knew it was time." Snow replied.

"She couldn't protect him from it forever I guess." Emma folded her arms sadly. "How'd he take it?"

"He just found out his mother is dying. How do you think he took it?" Snow responded gently.

Emma nodded softly in understanding. "Was he angry with her for keeping it from him?"

"I don't think so. He seemed more hurt than anything."

Emma gave a regretful sigh. "Poor kid. But that's something at least. She was afraid he wouldn't forgive her for not telling him sooner."

"Well that's what family does, forgive those we love." David said. "I think Henry knows that there's no point in blaming her. It wouldn't change what happened and it would only make what's yet to come even more painful for the both of them."

"She did what she thought was best, it doesn't matter now if she was right or not." Snow agreed.

"I'm glad he's not pushing her away." Emma said. "She really needs him right now."

"They need each other." David agreed. "I spent some time with him today. He's really worried about her. If anything happens to Regina it's going to be really hard on him."

Emma bit her lip, not wanting to think about that.

"What happened this afternoon really scared him." David concluded.

"How is Regina? Is she okay?" Emma asked.

"Yeah. She's a lot better than she was a few hours ago." Snow replied. "But Henry was right to call us when he did."

"What actually happened?"

"We're not quite sure. She had a really high fever and it made her a bit confused. And she almost really hurt herself in the bathroom upstairs but–"

"Wait, what?" Emma's face paled. "You don't mean–"

"Oh no nothing like that." Snow hurriedly explained. "She just got really dizzy and fainted. But luckily Henry was there to help and he was able to get her back into bed."

"She's still feeling a bit lightheaded but she seems to be doing much better now." David said.

"She's getting worse though." Snow said uneasily. "We're doing what we can but what she really needs is a hospital."

"I'm working on that..." Emma replied.

"Maybe taking her to Boston really is the answer here."

Emma was shaking her head, loathing the whole situation. "She shouldn't have waited to start dialysis. Maybe if she hadn't then she wouldn't be so sick right now. I mean obviously she would still need the treatment but maybe then we would have had a little more time to work with."

"Why did she wait?" David asked. "Was it really just to keep it from Henry?"

"Sort of… If she didn't wait, then she wouldn't have been able to keep the truth from him. She knew he would blame himself for it and she didn't want to add to his guilt. Or maybe she just thought the process would scare him. Or she didn't want it to interfere with her life because it's like four hours a session three times per week. I don't know... I'm sure all of the above is true."

"But now her illness is interfering more than the treatment would have. And now Henry knows she's been lying to him."

"Listen, don't ask me to explain how Regina's mind works. What's done is done, and now we just have to focus on what can be done to help her in our current situation."

"Do you know how much time she has?"

Emma sighed dejectedly at the question. She shook her head again before standing up from the couch and beginning to pace the room. "Without treatment? Not much. Maybe a few weeks, maybe a month or two, maybe only a few days. It's so weird, it's like… she was doing alright and then all of a sudden she just started crashing. I don't think Dr. Whale saw this coming."

"Then we need to get her some help, and soon." Mary Margaret said.

"After what happened today I made a phone call appointment with a specialist in Boston for later tonight. Hopefully she can tell us more about what we should be doing."

"That's a good idea." David said.

Emma nodded, hoping the conversation would be useful.

"It's going to be hard to explain why bringing Regina in will be difficult though. I'm probably going to have to lie and say she doesn't want treatment or something."

"We're going to have to do something about the townspeople around the borders." David said. "I'm guessing they're still a problem?"

"Oh hell yes." Emma responded grumpily. She gave a frustrated sigh. "I don't get it. Can't magic cure Regina? I'm guessing Gold wouldn't want to help her but why can't we get Mother Superior to come do it? She healed Henry, she could do the same for Regina couldn't she?"

Snow and David shared a look.

"Emma, this is all new to you. There is a lot about magic that you don't understand yet." Snow explained gently.

"Excuse me?"

"There are some things that magic simply can't fix. And I'm afraid this is one of them."

"What do you mean?"

"Emma, when I was little my mother was dying of a terrible illness. When it became clear that there was no medical way of saving her life, my nanny–her name was Johanna–she told me to ask the Blue Fairy for help."

"Okaay," Emma raised her voice expectantly, waiting for Mary Margaret to go on.

"And Emma, when Blue came to me she told me something that I'll never forget. She told me that death is the way of the world. There was a way to save my mother's life through magic, but it was terrible and wrong and my mother wouldn't have wanted me to use it. And I don't think Regina would want Henry to see her resort to it either, even if it would mean saving her life."

"What are you talking about, what the hell was it?"

"It was dark magic Emma. And a long story short is that in order to save my mother, I would have needed to sacrifice someone else's life to do it."

"Are you kidding me?"

"No. Death is one thing that no one can escape. Unfortunately not everyone is meant to live into their old age. It's a sad fact but it's true."

"But Henry–"

"Wasn't meant to die." Snow finished for her.

"And who's to say Regina's meant to die?! Regina was trying to heal herself, she wouldn't have tried unless she thought there was at least a chance it would work."

"Maybe it was just wishful thinking."

"Or maybe it's because she's just not strong enough to use her magic at all right now!" Emma challenged. "But if someone else tried, then maybe magic could save her. Regina couldn't heal Henry any more than she could heal herself, but I'm sure if she had been able to use her powers then she could have saved his life without Mother Superior's help."

"Emma– "

"–And if Mother Superior could save Henry then what's so different about Regina? Henry was dying, Regina is dying, explain to me the difference because I'm failing to see it." Emma said heatedly.

"Emma I know how badly you want to help Regina. And we still have a really good chance of saving her life, maybe just not through magic. Fatal illnesses are different. Blue may only have been able to save Henry because he was injured after sacrificing himself to save another's life. That bullet was never intended for him, it wasn't his time."

"Are you seriously telling me that with everything magic can do it can't heal one stupid disease?" Emma snapped, pacing the room angrily. "What the hell's the point of it then?"

"Emma I know it's hard." David tried. "But it's the truth. Just like Snow, my own mother was dying before my eyes and there was nothing I could do to stop it. I wanted to help her so badly, but nothing we tried worked. Fairy dust wasn't strong enough to heal her. We gave her water from a lake that possessed powerful healing magic, but it failed too."

"But Emma don't worry. This doesn't mean in the least that we're giving up on Regina." Snow insisted. "It just means that we have to focus our attention on getting her out of town safely that's all. Getting her to a hospital is her best chance."

Emma was now gripping the back of a desk chair so tightly that her knuckles had turned white.

"Blue knows that Regina is sick." Snow continued. "I'm sure if she thought she could help she would have done it by now."

"Why don't we ask her then." Emma said, still not meeting either of her parents' eyes.

"What?"

"Ask her. We should call her, or summon her, or wish for her or whatever the hell you're supposed to do to get her attention."

Snow looked helplessly at David. After what appeared to be a silent conversation between the two of them David eventually nodded.

"Okay. If it'll make you feel better then that's what we'll do." He said.

Emma relinquished her hold on the chair and stood up a little straighter. "So what do we do, phone her?"

"She hasn't been at the abbey much and she doesn't carry a cell phone." Snow thought aloud. "It would be best to call for her the old fashioned way."

"Okay. So what do I have to do?"

"Just think of her name in your mind." David responded. "Think of your wish, and when she hears it she'll come."

"My wish?"

"Well, in this case just think of what it is you're asking her help for. She'll still hear it, as long as you call to her."

"Alright, I'll give it a go. Do I have to close my eyes or anything?"

"If it helps you think more clearly than yes, if not it doesn't matter." Snow replied.

Emma sighed. She shuffled her feet a little awkwardly, not used to the concept of contacting someone through her thoughts alone. She felt foolish just standing there as her parents watched her, so she closed her eyes and tried not to think about the two pairs of eyes on her.

She thought about the Blue Fairy, envisioned her in her mind, and said her name in her thoughts.

She tried to convey her message as clearly as she could, and after what felt like an eternity she opened one of her eyes to take a peek at the room.

"Did it work?" She asked.

David and Mary Margaret looked around for any sign that the fairy could be coming.

"It doesn't seem so." David responded.

"What happened, did I do it wrong?"

"Blue?" Snow asked aloud.

"What, I could have just said her name out loud?" Emma complained. "Why didn't you tell me that in the first place?"

"Because it shouldn't matter." Snow replied distractedly. "She should come either way."

"Maybe try again?" David suggested.

"Reul Ghorm." Snow said a little louder.

Emma gave her a strange look but didn't question the unusual words.

The room was silent for a few moments as they waited.

"She doesn't hear us." David said.

"Do you think she's busy?" Emma asked.

"She's never not come when I've called before." Snow said, her eyes narrowing in concern.

"Could it be possible Regina was right about her?" Emma asked. "Do you think she's ignoring us because she doesn't think Regina deserves to be helped?"

"No, she wouldn't do that."

"Well then what's the problem?"

"I don't know..."

Emma threw her hands up in frustration. "This is unbelievable."

"Well Emma even if Blue had come I'm sure she would have just told you what we've already said." Snow said gently. "But don't worry we'll get in touch with her."

Emma didn't respond. She had her back turned to them as she had resumed gripping the back of the chair.

"Emma?" David asked.

"Emma are you alright?" Snow asked.

"So where are Regina and Henry?" Emma asked, ignoring their questions.

Mary Margaret pointed to the backyard.

Emma folded her arms as she walked towards the window. Despite her temper, a small smile graced her lips as she saw Henry and Regina curled up on a lounge chair. Henry was lying beside her, but the top of his torso and his head was resting on her chest. There was a blanket over Regina, but she had both of her arms wrapped protectively around her son. Emma couldn't quite see Henry's face but Regina appeared to have her eyes closed.

"Wow, you actually got her to go outside? I'm impressed." Emma commented.

"Well, she did put up a little bit of a fight." Snow admitted. "But I think deep down she knew some fresh air would be good for her. I think she was arguing with me because that's just what we do."

Emma breathed a small laugh. "Is she asleep?"

"I don't think so. She and Henry were talking a few minutes ago. She's probably just resting."

"Okay. I'm going to go out and talk to them then."

Snow smiled, squeezing Emma's hand softly. "We'll be in here if you need us."

"Thanks." Emma replied distractedly as she headed for the door.

"Oh and Emma, there's one more thing you should know first."

Emma stopped and turned around. "What is it?"

"Before she fainted... I think Regina was hallucinating."

"What?"

Snow nodded. "Henry was wondering if he should ask you to come home but she told him not to. She asked him to call her father instead."

"She did?" Emma's eyes narrowed in concern. "But isn't he–?"

"Yes. He passed away shortly before the curse." Snow responded quietly. "She... Well anyways my point is, check her fever if you can. Make sure her temperature doesn't get too high. I think that was what frightened Henry the most."

"Okay... I'll see what I can do." Emma responded. There was a troubled look on her face as she left the room.