Emma sat down on the edge of the bed next to where Regina was already lying under the covers. Getting sick again had caused Regina's headache to return along with some of the dizziness, and so Emma had stayed by her side and then helped her back into her room to make sure she didn't fall or lose consciousness again.

At the moment, Regina was lying on her side turned away from Emma.

"Are you feeling any better?" Regina heard a soft voice from behind her.

She turned just enough to see Emma. Their gazes lingered for a few moments before Regina's eyes grew tired. The brunette turned away to once more relinquish herself into the comforting embrace of her pillow.

Understanding the unspoken answer perfectly, Emma frowned as she looked at the back of Regina's head.

"Regina–"

A sniffle came from the brunette, and Emma felt her heart tug sadly at the sound.

Emma gave a soft, destitute sigh. She had hoped Regina's improvement earlier had meant the worst of the fever was over.

"Hey," Emma said gently. "I was just going to make some chamomile tea before I came in here. I was having a bit of trouble sleeping. I can put on enough water for you if you'd like? It might not get rid of your headache completely but it should help you sleep. Then you won't have to feel the pain."

After a few moments of silence, Emma heard Regina's quiet. "Okay."

"Do you want some water too?"

Regina made a quiet sound of agreement, so quiet that Emma probably wouldn't have heard it if she hadn't been listening for it.

"Is there anything else I can get for you?"

"No." Regina replied softly.

"Alright, I'll be right back then."

Emma got up to leave, and she had just reached the door when she heard a quiet, shaky voice from behind her.

"Emma?"

"Yeah?" The blonde turned around to see that Regina had turned over to face her again.

The brunette had a defeated look in her eyes. She didn't offer a response right away.

"What is it Regina?" Emma asked softly.

Regina gingerly pushed herself up, leaning on one of her elbows for support. Her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to say something, but then seemed to have decided against it.

"Regina?"

"Never mind." Regina mumbled.

"Whatever it is you can tell me."

"It's nothing."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, don't worry about it." Regina replied as she carefully lay back down again.

Emma's eyes narrowed in concern at the troubled look in Regina's eyes. "Okay... well, if you change your mind I'll be back up with the tea soon."

Regina merely closed her eyes in response.

Emma was about to leave when she hesitated, turning to look at Regina again. "Do you want me to see what Henry's up to? Maybe he'd like to come up and sit with you for a bit."

She waited for the few silent moments it took Regina to reply.

"No."

"You sure?"

"He thinks I'm asleep. Let him enjoy his movie, I don't want him to worry more than he has to this evening." Regina responded tiredly.

"I'm not sure he can worry any more than he already is. He wants to spend time with you."

Regina opened her eyes again. "I want that too, but the last time he saw me I was starting to feel better. Let's leave it at that for now. He's been through enough today."

"Okay..." Emma conceded. "I'll be back in a few then."

They had both already finished their tea and Emma was disappointed that Regina hadn't given any clue as to what she might have been wanting to say earlier. Emma could feel the chamomile kicking in and was beginning to get the sense that if she went back to bed at this moment, she would have fallen straight to sleep. However she kept hoping that Regina would talk to her about whatever it was.

The tea had calmed Regina's stomach and had eased some of her headache, but Emma could see that Regina was still in pain. Emma had brought her a compress fresh from the freezer, and Regina had used it for a while but eventually put it aside because it was giving her the chills.

As she sat leaning against the cushioned headboard, Emma watched as Regina writhed uncomfortably where she was lying down under the covers again. The brunette had her eyes closed, most likely to block out the lights that she was a little sensitive to at the moment.

Emma saw Regina's brow furrow in pain, and as the brunette rubbed her temple she breathed a deep, disquieting sigh. She turned over again and pressed her palm delicately to her forehead, moaning feebly from the unpleasantness.

Depleted, Emma began to shake her head slowly as she watched Regina's distress.

"This has gone on long enough." She said in a low, resolute voice.

"Hm?" Regina mumbled sleepily, keeping her eyes closed.

"I'm not just going to keep sitting here watching you suffer when there's so much more that can be done."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, we're in a town with magic. I don't care what anyone says, it should be able to cure you."

Regina breathed a soft sigh. "Well what would you suggest?" She asked, dropping her hand from her forehead as she turned over to face Emma again but remained lying down. "You've already seen, I can't use my magic."

"That doesn't matter. We still have someone else we can ask."

"Let me guess, the Blue Fairy?" Regina reluctantly sat up, knowing this conversation wasn't about to end quickly.

"Yeah. David and Mary Margaret don't think that she could help you but I think we should at least ask her to give it a try."

For a brief few moments Emma could see a look in Regina's eyes that she didn't quite understand. It looked almost like desperation.

"No, don't bother." Regina finally responded in a small voice.

"Why not?"

Regina pressed her lips together, looking away as she thought over her answer.

"Regina, if the alternative is doing nothing and watching you die, that is not something I'm okay with."

Regina sucked in her breath softly at Emma's words. She dropped her gaze, but still didn't provide an answer.

"Regina tell me why, because none of this has been making any sense to me. First David and Mary Margaret are telling me that with everything magic can do it can't cure one illness, then second, Blue doesn't even respond when we call her, and now you're telling me that you don't want to even ask her if she can try to help you? Something doesn't seem right about all of this."

Regina's brow furrowed at the first thing Emma had mentioned. Snow had said earlier that she didn't understand why magic couldn't heal a disease, and that hadn't made sense to Regina because of course magic was strong enough to do such a task. But David thought the same thing too? Regina didn't know why the couple believed such a thing, but she decided not to enlighten their daughter.

"Your parents are right. Magic wouldn't be able to heal what I have. Even if Blue wanted to help she wouldn't be able to."

Emma looked crestfallen as she took this in. "But... if you knew magic couldn't help you then why did you try to heal yourself yesterday?"

"Because–" Regina began, but her voice caught in her throat as she realized she didn't know how to respond. She was far too exhausted to think up a clever excuse. "I was just trying anything... I just hoped that maybe–"

Emma immediately saw through the lie.

"No." She interrupted. "It's because you did think magic could heal you didn't you? There's something you're not telling me."

"Emma–"

"Regina, I don't understand. Why don't you want me to ask Mother ...Blue or whatever the hell her name is now to come try to help you?"

"She's not going to help me." Regina insisted tiredly.

Frustrated, Emma stood up and paced for a few steps. "We tried contacting her today but she didn't hear us, or she was busy, or... well I don't know what she was. But I don't care if she didn't respond then. I swear I will go down to that abbey and drag her ass back here if I have to."

"Emma..."

"How many times do I have to say this Regina, she put the protection spell around the house for you!" Emma practically shouted, causing Regina to jump in surprise. "You keep telling me that she did it for Henry but she didn't. I was there with her when she cast the spell. She explicitly said that it would prevent anyone from getting in here with ill intentions towards you."

"Yes. Anyone using magic." Regina short-temperedly corrected Emma. "After the curse broke how many people in the crowd did you see trying to use magic against me? No one."

Emma breathed a frustrated sigh. "What are you talking about?"

"I don't know, maybe she did it for show...Who knows what she was thinking. When you first told me that Blue cast a protection spell I was relieved. I didn't question it because I was too concerned about Henry at the time. We were both still quite shaken up." Regina swallowed heavily, folding her arms around herself at the memory. "But then later on, once I knew Henry was going to be okay, I was able to pay more attention to the spell she cast. That was when I realized how useless it was."

"Useless?"

"The people who want me dead aren't using magic. The barrier wouldn't do anything to stop them if they were determined enough."

"But... What–?" Emma stammered as she took in this new information. "I'm not following."

Regina sighed. She was trying to fight her fatigue and was trying to ignore her headache so she could focus on making Emma understand.

"The spell Blue cast... all it does is merely to keep those wielding dark magic from crossing the threshold of this house. Anyone else would have no problem entering."

"You can't be serious. That's ridiculous!" Emma responded. But the look on Regina's face confirmed that she was telling the truth. "But... how could you have even known about this if I didn't? I never specified what kind of spell Blue used. I thought the idea behind it was that it covered all security breaches. I didn't know there were different kinds so I never thought to ask what one she used. Which meant I couldn't have told you what kind it was."

"Just because I can't use magic doesn't mean I can't still sense when it's around me." Regina explained, softly pressing a few fingertips to her closed eyelids in exhaustion. Her head was pounding but she did her best to ignore it. "It wasn't hard for me to tell that Blue's spell does nothing to stop the average citizen. How do you think Kathryn was able to come inside?"

"Um–" The question caught Emma off guard. "Because I invited her in?"

"We're not vampires Emma."

"Wha–? Hold on... then why did you tell me you felt safe in here?"

"I do still have quite the effective security system installed." Regina replied. She didn't feel like explaining herself further and she was too busy focusing on trying to keep her dizziness at bay.

Emma folded her arms, shaking her head again. "That's it, I'm finding her. She failed to make sure you were protected in your own home, anything could have happened. I thought you and Henry would be safe here. If I'd have known about this I never would have left you and Henry alone here today. I think after all this, Blue owes it to you to at least try to cure you."

"Emma..."

"What? Give me one good reason not to go track her down right now."

"I'm not saying this again Emma," Regina said in a dangerously low voice that Emma hadn't heard in months. "Don't ask her."

Emma gave her a look of incredulity. "You don't have one do you? What is this, a pride thing?! You don't want to ask her because she's supposed to be a hero and you're supposed to be a villain and you don't want to go running to the enemy to save you?!"

"She's not my enemy," Regina challenged, eyes suddenly blazing. "And I don't appreciate your choice of words."

"What. Is. The problem?!"

"What's going on?" Henry's frightened voice came from the doorway.

Emma turned around, horrified.

"Henry." She breathed.

Regina rested her painfully throbbing head in her hands to try to calm herself down. "Henry, sweetheart go back to your room. Emma and I are just talking."

"Emma why are you yelling at her?" Henry asked in a small voice. He was standing partially behind the doorframe as if he was afraid of what could happen next.

"I–" Emma looked like a deer caught in the headlights as she looked from Henry to Regina. "I didn't mean to."

Henry cautiously entered the room, watching them both as he moved towards them.

Regina sighed regretfully, glancing at Emma before forcing herself out of bed.

"Henry... everything's alright, I promise." Regina said gently, although she couldn't keep her voice from shaking. She placed her hand on his shoulder in attempt to lead him towards the hallway. "Why don't you go back downstairs with Mary Margaret for a little while."

"Are you okay?" He asked, looking into her teary eyes.

"I'm fine." She replied, although she far from looked so.

Emma had even stepped forward instinctively when Regina had gotten up, just in case the brunette wasn't able to keep herself steady. Emma held herself back however, wondering if maybe Regina wouldn't want her assistance just then.

"Why are you guys fighting?"

"We're not." Regina responded softly. "We're just having a bit of a disagreement that's all. Go back downstairs okay?"

Henry glanced back and forth between his mothers uncertainly. Finally he gave a small "okay", before turning around and slowly dragging his feet from the room.

Emma watched his retreating form guiltily before she went to shut the door behind him. Once she had, she pressed her palms to the surface, closing her eyes and leaning forwards against it as she tried to calm herself down.

"I'm sorry Regina, I–" Emma began.

However, a sharp intake of breath from behind her caught her attention and she whipped around to see Regina clutching her forehead in pain.

"Regina?" Emma's voice broke as she hurried towards her in worry.

Regina started to take a few steps forward but instantly regretted it as the room around her began to whirl again. She closed her eyes to block out the dizziness but could still feel the effects of it in her head.

"Hey, sit down okay?" Emma's voice said soothingly. "Just try to relax."

"Emma." Regina whispered, blindly reaching an arm out in front of her for help.

"Don't worry, I'm here Regina."

Just as she felt her legs give way, Regina felt a pair of arms catching her. Rather than making contact with the floor, she instead collapsed into Emma's protective embrace. Regina's arms desperately wrapped around Emma's shoulders as she buried her face into Emma's shirt.

"Emma," Regina's voice quivered fearfully.

"It's okay Regina I've got you."

Emma felt terrible as she heard a quiet whimper of agony from the woman in her arms.

"Here, let's sit down." Emma guided her slowly back to the bed and helped her to take a seat. "Are you okay?"

Even once Regina was settled, Emma didn't remove her arms from around her even though Regina had already let go of her. Regina's head was bowed, her face was hidden in her hands, and yet Emma could see that Regina was shaking with sobs.

Not knowing what else to do, Emma rubbed Regina's arm comfortingly as she held her. She felt a few tears of her own beginning to form as Regina leaned into her embrace and began to weep more heavily.

The side of Regina's head was now resting above Emma's collarbone, and Emma could feel Regina's breath against her skin. Emma's hand came to rest gently on the back of Regina's head, and soon she began to delicately brush her fingers through Regina's soft, raven strands while whispering words of comfort.

Neither of them knew how long they stayed like that, but Emma continued to hold Regina even after her tears had mostly subsided.

"I'm so sorry Regina." Emma said quietly once Regina had calmed down. "Henry's right I shouldn't have lost my temper. I wasn't thinking. I haven't slept in like two days... I'm stressed to the max because of everything that's been going on lately and–"

"Don't apologize." Regina interrupted, her voice still raw from crying. "You were right. It's stupid not to ask for help when we both know how badly I need it."

"Then can you please explain to me why you don't want to ask Mother Superior?"

Regina sighed, sitting up straighter so she could see Emma again. "Because..." She ran a hand tiredly through her hair before resting both of them on her lap. She stared downwards, giving another soft, pained sigh.

"What is it?" Emma prompted gently.

"Because I already asked her." Regina responded with a catch in her throat.

"You did?! When? What did she say?"

Regina gave her a look. "Isn't it obvious? She doesn't want to help me." She responded quietly.

"What?! Why not? What reason did she give? Doesn't she know that without her help you could die?"

"Oh trust me she knows. But she also knows that I've done my fair share of terrible things in my lifetime. In her words, perhaps this is the price I have to pay for all the wrong choices I've made."

Emma's mouth was hanging open for a few moments. "I don't know what to say... I thought for sure she would help. If not for you at least for Henry."

"Well it would appear that she believes one mother is sufficient enough for him."

"This just isn't right. When did you ask her?"

"Yesterday evening. She came by to see how Henry was holding up."

"And didn't she even care how you were doing?"

"Not much, no."

"Doesn't she realize how hard it is for him to see you suffering like this? If she really cared about him she would help you. Even if she does disagree with some of the things you've done in your past she has to know that taking a child's mother away from them is one of the worst things someone could do."

Regina didn't have a response for that.

"I thought the Blue Fairy was supposed to help everyone who needs her." Emma stated in disbelief. "I thought she was all about second chances and happy endings and stuff. Doesn't this go against some fundamental fairy law or something? I mean how could it not?!"

"Well as I've said before, you shouldn't believe everything you read in fairytales."

Emma shook her head slowly. "Regina why didn't you just tell me this in the first place? Why lie about it?"

"Because..." Regina blinked back a few tears. "Because of Henry. He knows I don't have many allies in this town but he still believes Mother Superior is on our side. I don't want him to lose hope. It's too important to him."

"What about me? Why not tell me at least? Were you afraid I would tell him? Regina, despite my wanting to tell him the truth about your health I kept your secret from him for weeks. I think by now I deserve a little more credit than that."

"Emma it was never about me not trusting you."

"Then what was it about?"

Regina held her gaze sadly for a few moments, blinking back a few tears. "I didn't want to tell you because I didn't want us both to be lying to him."

Emma had a heartbroken look in her eyes. She thought of everything Henry had been exposed to lately, Regina was right, it was changing him.

"Well... I guess I can understand that." Emma replied. "But I still wish you'd just told me."

"I'm sorry."

Emma was frowning as she looked off into the distance. "I don't believe this. Mother Superior... of all people..." She said to herself.

"I know."

As Emma thought over this new information, Regina took a deep breath to steady herself. She used the pause in the conversation to wipe the remaining tears from her face, and as she gave a quiet sniffle, she grew aware that she was still leaning into Emma's embrace.

For a minute or two she took in her surroundings, and she couldn't help but feel suddenly disappointed in herself.

"I'm so pathetic." She said in an anxious whisper of realization.

"What?" Emma was brought back to attention by the out-of-place comment, wondering if she had misheard. "Why would you say that?"

"Because I'm not the kind of woman who goes crying to her best friend about every silly little problem." Regina said with a heartbreaking look in her eyes. "This isn't like me. Or it didn't used to be like me..."

Emma gave her a sympathetic smile. "Well... I won't tell anyone if you don't. And I am touched that you consider me to be your best friend but I don't think this qualifies as a silly little problem Regina. Not in the least."

"It's like I don't even know who I am anymore." Regina mumbled.

"You're Regina Mills. You're still the same person you've always been, you're just going through a difficult time. And you've realized that it's better not to push people away. I think it's something we've both been learning."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, before Storybrooke I was never able to call anyone family. I've never had someone I could consider to be a true friend. My point is Regina, I've never felt as close to anyone as I now am to you, Henry, Mary Margaret, and David too. I've never really felt like I belonged anywhere. But now I have a family. I have a son, I have parents... sort of... And you too."

"Me?" Regina laughed in quiet incredulity.

"The first person I've ever considered close enough to call a real friend."

"What about Mary Margaret?"

"She's my mom."

"You didn't know that."

"But I do now. And besides, there are things I haven't told her that I've told you."

Regina gave a soft smile, but didn't meet Emma's gaze. "And what about that girl you once told me about? Have you forgotten about her?"

Emma breathed a soft laugh. "Lily. When I was a kid I thought we were going to be so close. But it never really turned into anything. She wasn't the person I thought she was."

"Why not?" Regina asked quietly, closing her eyes.

"None of that matters now. But when I think back, I can see that we were never going to be good friends. In comparison she never would have come even close to you Regina. You're special."

Emma's eyes sparkled when she saw the colour returning to Regina's face and some of the light returning to her eyes. Regina however, didn't offer a response to Emma's words.

"And if I were you Regina, I wouldn't go telling Kathryn what you just told me. I think she considers you her bestie, it might hurt her feelings if she finds out the feeling isn't mutual."

Regina looked at Emma and narrowed her eyes in amusement. "What are we teenagers now?"

Emma gave a soft laugh. "I'm just kidding. You can have two BFFs if you want."

Feeling a little calmer than before, a very tired Regina dropped her gaze and blinked her eyes softly. This evening had drained her tremendously.

"I don't know how to explain it." Emma continued. "It's like I have this connection with you that I've never felt with anyone else. I think that's why I lashed out before, I wasn't mad at you, I just can't stand seeing you suffer this way anymore. This whole situation just makes me so angry."

Regina looked up into Emma's eyes again. She could see the remorse that Emma felt for losing her temper and subsequently aggravating Regina's fever. It was clear that Emma hadn't meant to hurt her.

Regina was about to respond when another wave of dizziness overcame her from moving too quickly. She whimpered softly, taking her face into her hands again to try to make it stop. She felt Emma's hand rubbing her back softly.

"Are you alright?" Emma asked in a tone that suggested she already knew the answer.

"It just hurts so much."

"I know..." Emma responded sorrowfully. She just wished she could take some of Regina's pain away and carry it herself instead.

Emma's expression changed as she had an idea. It wouldn't fix anything but it might help Regina to feel a little better.

"Hey," she whispered, letting go of Regina in order to get up and walk around her to take a new seat against the headboard. "Lie down here." She said softly. "I'll rub your head for a bit if you want, it'll help get rid of the headache. I think they're also supposed to be relaxing."

"You think?"

"Well I've never actually given or had a head massage so I wouldn't know from personal experience." Emma grabbed a spare pillow and put it on her lap.

As Regina eyed the pillow she had to admit, nothing else seemed to be working right now and a head massage did sound lovely.

"You don't have to do that." Regina replied gently. "You should be sleeping."

"I won't be able to sleep if I know you're in pain."

Regina's expression softened at the words. After giving Emma a small, appreciative smile, she emotionally blinked back a few more tears and found a comfortable position lying parallel to the headboard. As she nestled into the pillow on Emma's lap, she felt Emma pulling a blanket over her. Allowing herself to relax, Regina closed her eyes.

"I know I keep saying this but I mean it; we're going to get you through this Regina. I promise."

Emma kept her eyes trained on Regina for most of the time she spent nurturing her sore head. In contrast to earlier, Regina looked far more at peace now. Emma made a mental note that head massages were far more effective than tea when it came to relieving Regina's pain.

It only took about ten minutes for Regina to fall to sleep, and Emma's eyes softened as she watched Regina's delicate, steady breathing. Emma herself was feeling exhausted by this point, but she didn't want to risk waking Regina up again by trying to move. She had to admit that her current location was quite comfortable, and so instead of trying to return to her own room she simply rested her head back against the soft headboard and closed her eyes. It didn't take long before she too fell asleep.

At some point in her sleep, Emma subconsciously wrapped her arms around the sleeping brunette. If anyone had entered the room, they would have guessed correctly, just how protective The Savior had become of the Evil Queen.

A/N: Thank you for reading, please don't forget to review.