A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews that so many of you lovelies left on the last chapter. I wasn't expecting a response like that so I was quite blown away. I appreciate your taking the time to leave your comments, I'm glad so many of you liked the chapter so much! I'd love to hear from you all again!

Timeline info: In this story, so far the curse has only been broken for just two days. I know that may be hard to believe since the chapter in which the curse broke was posted last winter, but it's true! I just thought that would be important to mention in case anyone has forgotten!

The following chapter is dedicated to Gunner4Life. I know you are very busy so I don't know if you are on this chapter yet or when you might see this, but your comments helped to keep me encouraged at a time when this story had little support. I might have stopped writing this a long time ago if it weren't for you! I remember when you started reading I hadn't updated for a long time but then your comments and questions inspired me to start working on it again. For that I will always be grateful. Thank you! xx

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Emma.

Emma!

"Emma!" A whispered voice caused the blonde to wake with a start.

"Wha–?"

She looked up to see her mother standing beside where she had fallen asleep in Regina's room.

Mary Margaret raised a finger to her lips, indicating the still sleeping brunette in Emma's arms.

Mary Margaret recognized Emma's confusion at being woken up, and so she made a gesture to indicate that Emma had a phone call.

Emma sucked in her breath. She had set her alarm in her own room but hadn't known she wouldn't be staying in there, and as a result had missed it.

"Crap," she whispered.

She looked down at Regina and tried to mentally figure out a way to manoeuvre out from under her without waking her up.

"Is it the doctor?" Emma asked in a whisper.

Mary Margaret nodded.

Emma couldn't see any way to get up without moving Regina, so she carefully lifted her up a few centimeters and tried to slide out towards the edge of the bed.

However as soon as Emma did this, Regina moaned softly and began to stir in Emma's arms.

Emma winced, closing her eyes tightly at the mistake as if the damage would be reversed if she couldn't see it.

When she peeked an eye open she saw Snow's sympathetic smile, and then looked down to see Regina groggily blinking her eyes open.

"Emma?" She whispered before looking up and noticing Snow. "What's wrong? Is everything okay?" She tiredly passed a hand over her eyes in attempt to wake herself up.

"Yeah don't worry everything's fine." Emma replied gently. "It's just the doctor from Boston, she's waiting on the phone."

Regina gave a weary sigh. "Do you need me to–?"

"Only if you're feeling up to it. I can talk to her by myself if you want."

Regina blinked her eyes heavily, not looking at either Emma or Snow. She gave a tiny nod before she gingerly began to move out of Emma's embrace. Since she would no longer be lying in Emma's lap, she decided it would be more comfortable to lie in bed the normal way rather than along the top near the headboard.

Emma got up, and once Regina was under the covers Emma pulled the sheets and duvet up to Regina's shoulders as the brunette settled into her pillow. As usual, Regina was resting on her side.

Emma placed a comforting hand on the blankets under which Regina's arm was. "Get as much sleep as you can. I'll come back up later to tell you what she says."

Regina didn't respond vocally but instead reached for Emma, still with her eyes closed. Emma noticed this and took the hand that was offered to her. She gave a soft smile as she felt Regina squeeze her hand gently in what Emma knew was a gesture of gratitude.

When she felt Regina's grip loosen, Emma reached to brush a few strands of hair away from Regina's eyes. "I'll come and check on you after the call." She said in a quiet voice. "If you're asleep do you want me to wait until the morning to tell you about it?"

Regina made a sleepy noise of agreement in response.

Mary Margaret gave Emma a soft, admiring smile as the blonde stepped away from Regina and turned to leave.

"I left your phone in the kitchen." Mary Margaret said.

"Thanks." Emma glanced at Regina again and then left the room. She was too preoccupied to notice the look of pride in her mother's eyes.

Mary Margaret's expression fell as her daughter left, and she looked a little sadly at Regina before she followed after Emma.

"Wait, the kitchen?" Emma asked as Mary Margaret caught up with her. "I thought I left my phone in my room?"

"You did, but I brought it downstairs to answer it in case it wasn't the doctor who was calling. I didn't want to wake you up unless I had to. You need your sleep more than any of us."

"Except for Regina."

Mary Margaret gave a thoughtful nod in agreement. "So... everything is fine between you two?"

"What do you mean?"

"It's just that Henry said you were fighting earlier."

"Oh... Yeah we're okay."

"What happened?"

"I sort of lost it. Seeing Regina this way, I just can't stand it anymore. I was angry and I took it out on the wrong person. She didn't deserve that."

"What exactly did you say to her?"

"It doesn't matter now." Emma said, not looking at her.

Mary Margaret folded her arms as they got to the bottom of the stairs. Emma was already heading towards the kitchen and Mary Margaret wasn't sure if her daughter wanted privacy for the phone call or not. Since Emma didn't look back at her, Mary Margaret assumed that Emma would prefer to be alone and so went into the living room to sit with Henry instead.

The ten year old looked up as she entered. He was sitting on the couch with his shoulders slumped.

"So it was Emma's phone?" He asked.

"Yeah. I'm glad we heard it. That wouldn't have been a good call to miss."

Henry didn't respond but let his gaze drop to the floor.

Mary Margaret smiled sadly.

"Henry it's almost your bedtime." She said quietly. "Do you want to go upstairs and get ready?"

Henry shrugged. "Is my mom awake?"

"She was a minute ago so she might still be up. But I don't think she's feeling very well. We tried not to wake her but it was difficult."

"Are she and Emma fighting with each other?"

"No honey, I don't think so." Mary Margaret said, taking a seat next to him.

"Do you know why Emma was so mad at my mom?"

Snow sighed sadly. "She wasn't mad at Regina. Emma's just... well, she's afraid."

"Emma's scared?" Henry asked. He didn't think that was something the Savior could ever be.

"Yeah." Mary Margaret replied softly.

"Of the people in town?"

"No not quite. I think she's mostly afraid that she won't be able to protect you and your mother."

"Really?"

Mary Margaret nodded, giving him a gentle smile. "Right now she wants to help Regina more than anything, but while Emma's doing everything she can, she just keeps having to watch as your mother's health gets worse. She's afraid that despite her best efforts she might not be able to save her."

Mary Margaret felt her heart break as Henry's gaze dropped sadly again.

"Henry... that fear has been bottled up inside her and it came to a point where she just couldn't keep it buried any longer. Her outburst was ill-timed, and she lashed out at the only person who was there to listen. Unfortunately that happened to be your mother. The real people who Emma is angry with are the ones preventing Regina from getting to a hospital. Emma might not have been right in losing her temper, but we have to remember that this is difficult for her too. She's never had to deal with anything like this before."

"You mean trying to save someone she loves? She's never had a family before..."

Snow gave a soft smile at his choice of words. "That's part of it yes. But just a few months ago she didn't even believe that anyone in this town existed. And now they've risen up and are prepared to take the life of someone she really cares for. It's a lot to deal with at once."

Henry – still keeping his gaze lowered – nodded to show that he understood.

"I didn't realize it before," Snow continued, "but I can see now that your two mothers have become very close. I honestly don't think Emma meant to lose her temper. She's just frustrated at how much your mother is suffering and she snapped. But Henry it was an accident."

"Emma still didn't have to yell at her." Henry said in a small voice. "Not with the way she is right now."

"No... But she truly didn't meant to. When I was upstairs I could tell, she's torn up about it too. But Henry your mother has already forgiven her. Therefore I think we should too. Please don't blame Emma, she's doing the best she can."

"I won't..." Henry replied, looking up at her again. "Is my mom okay? It looked like she was going to cry when she told me to come back down here."

"She's fine... Emma's been doing a really good job looking after her. It's sweet how much she cares about Regina." Mary Margaret smiled softly as she thought back to finding Regina asleep in Emma's arms. "They are two people I never would have expected to become friends. Emma's not one to make friends easily, not real ones anyways. I'm really glad they have each other now."

"But aren't you Emma's friend too?"

Snow's eyes were shining as she looked at Henry again. "I was... I mean I still am... but now she knows that I'm also her mother. I have a feeling that might change things slightly."

Henry sniffled. He felt Mary Margaret's hand on his shoulder as he blinked back the few tears that he suddenly couldn't prevent from forming. "Do you think my mom is going to die?"

Mary Margaret felt her heart wrench at his question. "I don't know honey. I really hope not."

"I don't want her to."

"I know you don't. And she knows that too. She'll hold on for you as long as she can Henry, trust me."

"What happens when she can't anymore?"

Mary Margaret's eyes saddened, she didn't have a helpful response for that. "She's here now and that's what matters. She'll keep fighting, just as long as we keep showing her that she has something to live for. One of the best things we can do for her right now is to show her how much we love her."

"You–" Henry wiped his cheek with his sleeve. "You love my mom too?" He asked in a quivering, but confused voice.

Mary Margaret breathed a laugh at his expression. "I know it may be hard to believe, but let's not forget that she is my mother too. Well, stepmother to be exact. I know I don't have a typical mother/daughter relationship with Regina... but yes. I do care about her. Despite everything she's still my family."

Henry was silent for a few moments. Mary Margaret saw something change in his expression, and while he didn't say it, she could tell that he was happy his family was sticking together.

"Grandma?"

A soft blush rose in Mary Margaret's cheeks and she felt a few tears of happiness fill her eyes at the unexpected title. "Yes Henry?" She asked gently.

"Thank you for looking after her today."

"Oh, you're welcome sweetie."

"So... does this mean that you and my mom made up as well?"

Mary Margaret nodded. "I think we're on the mend, yes."

The ten year old gave a small smile, but his expression soon fell and he seemed to withdraw into himself again.

As Mary Margaret wiped Henry's cheek with a tissue, she empathized with how he must have been feeling.

"Do you want to go see her?" She asked him softly.

Henry sniffled again before nodding. Mary Margaret stood up and offered him her hand. When he was on his feet she wrapped a comforting arm around him before they left the room.

When they reached the master bedroom they found Regina lying with her back to the door, so it was unclear as to whether or not she was sleeping.

Mary Margaret knocked softly on the door. "Regina? Are you still awake?"

There was a few seconds of silence before Regina carefully turned herself over.

When she noticed her son standing there too, her attention piqued a little.

"Henry?" She whispered, lifting her head slightly from the pillow.

Mary Margaret placed her hand on Henry's back to gently coax him into the room.

Henry took a step forward but found it difficult to move. Regina pushed herself up further; there was a look of concern washing over her.

She felt her heart break as she heard his sniffling.

"...Mom?" Came Henry's shaky voice.

"What is it sweetheart?" She asked in a gentle, but worried voice.

Henry wiped his face with his sleeve, sniffling again. He glanced up at Mary Margaret briefly and she gave him a reassuring smile.

He looked back towards where his mother was sitting up now, and then couldn't stop himself. He ran forward and clambered onto the bed beside her. He knew he probably should have gone slower but he was too distraught, and all he could think of was that he needed his mom.

"Henry, what's wrong?" She asked in hushed surprise.

He had burrowed into her embrace, already sobbing into her shirt as she wrapped her arms around him. She looked up at Snow with a devastated but questioning look on her face.

"Mom I'm scared." Henry sobbed.

Having her answer, Regina sadly gave a soft sigh as she looked back down at him again. She wrapped her arms more protectively around him and delicately brushed her fingers through his hair as she hushed him soothingly.

"I know Henry." She whispered. "I am too."

"Mom..."

Regina felt the tears in her own eyes as she looked up at her stepdaughter again.

Snow slowly crossed the room and took a seat on the edge of the bed next to the two of them. She placed a comforting hand on Regina's arm. "I know you're not feeling well but I hope it's okay that we came up here. He needed to see you."

"Of course it's okay." Regina responded, rubbing Henry's back softly as he clung to her.

"Mom I don't want you to die." Henry sobbed into her shirt.

Feeling her heart break for him, Regina rested her cheek against the top of Henry's head as she continued to hold him closely.

"I know..." Was all she managed to say.

She wanted to say something to comfort him but she couldn't think of anything. Promising him that she would be fine would be a lie. Promising him that she would safely get out of Storybrooke and to a hospital was something not she, nor any of their family could guarantee.

"There has to be something that can save you." Henry sobbed.

Regina took a deep breath as she tried to quell her emotions.

"Henry, no matter what happens..." She began in a slightly quivering voice. "Just know that I love you. And nothing is ever going to change that."

"I love you too Mom." Henry responded, looking up at her through tear-filled eyes.

Regina gave him a soft smile, gently stroking his cheek with the back of her finger. "You've made my life brighter in so many ways."

"Except for when you needed me most." Henry responded as more tears streamed down his face.

Regina's eyes filled with anguish. "Henry as I've said before, that was not your fault. Please believe me when I say that."

"But Mom, if I had never left you, you wouldn't have tried to hurt yourself. You wouldn't be..." Henry sniffled, wiping away a few tears with his sleeve. "You wouldn't be dying now."

Regina gave a quiet, sad sigh as she glanced at her stepdaughter who was wiping away a tear of her own.

"Henry you only asked me if you could move to Boston because you felt so unhappy here. You didn't do anything without my permission." Regina said softly. "If you had left without telling me that would have been very different. But I hoped that by giving you some time away, you would be able to find the home that you didn't feel you could have here. I knew there was a chance you would never want to come back to me, but I had to hope that you would someday return home on your own terms. Of course I didn't want to lose you, but a part of me wanted you to go to Boston only because I hoped you would finally be able to find the happiness there, that you weren't able to find here with me. I've been pushing you away for years, I just didn't realize it until it was too late. I really didn't mean to Henry, but everything that happened, it was my fault."

"But Mom... it was my fault too. When you knew I wanted to move to Boston you tried to spend more time with me. You kept trying to convince me you still loved me and that you would make it up to me if I stayed. I just wouldn't let you."

Regina blinked back a few tears. "But that's just it; I shouldn't have needed to convince you of anything. I have always, and will always love you Henry. But if I had properly done my job as your mother you would have already felt like you belonged here. You already would have known how much I care about you."

"I know that now..." Henry replied in a small voice.

Regina swallowed back her emotions as she tried not to let any more tears of her own shed. "Love has to be earned, and I didn't earn yours. While I didn't understand then why you didn't love me, I think I do now."

"I don't." Henry replied, his voice was raw from crying. "I loved you when I was little, and I still love you now. How could I have thought I didn't love you? You're my mom."

Regina took a deep breath as she thought over her words. "Henry... the day I was discharged from the hospital, you told me that before you left for Boston you thought you didn't love me, and that was why you wanted to leave. Do you remember that?"

Henry nodded, there was a look of shame in his eyes.

"And you had also thought that I didn't love you." Regina continued. "And Henry... if you believed I didn't care for you, how could anyone expect you to care for me?"

"But I did love you Mom..." Henry insisted. "I just didn't realize how much until we were apart."

"I know sweetheart." Regina said gently. "But I think the reason why you didn't feel that you loved me was because you didn't want yourself to get hurt by loving someone who didn't love you back. You were protecting yourself. You can't blame yourself for that. I know I certainly don't blame you. With the way I am I didn't make things easy for you."

Henry frowned as he thought about this.

"Does that sound like a possibility?" Regina asked him softly.

"Maybe..." He vaguely remembered having a similar conversation with Archie.

"You believing that I didn't love you... that was my fault. So please stop blaming yourself for leaving." Regina tried to force a soft smile. "I don't know how to love very well. I wasn't capable of it for a very long time. But I know... I remember, that if you hold on to someone too hard, that doesn't make them love you. And unfortunately I seemed to have forgotten one of the most important things about love; while it is one of the most powerful forces in any world, that doesn't mean it can't be lost, especially if you take it for granted."

"Regina," Snow said gently, speaking up once more. "I think it's safe to say that anyone who has been in this house over the past few days would disagree. You do know how to love, and I believe you always have."

Henry sniffled, nodding his agreement.

Regina gave Snow a small smile as she rubbed Henry's back consolingly. "Well if that's true, then I suppose I just don't always know how to show it."

"Or you tried to bury it." Snow replied softly. "You forget Regina, I know you well. I know that for the longest time you believed love was a weakness; Cora made sure you did. You were always capable of love, you just tried to hide it for so long that you'd forgotten how strong your ability to love was. But Regina, your love has always been strong."

Regina emotionally held her gaze for a few moments. "Do you really believe that?"

"Yes Regina I do."

Regina had a warm look in her eyes as she smiled gratefully at her stepdaughter. "Well, I'm happy to know that after everything that's happened between us, you both still have faith in me."

"Of course we do." Snow replied, rubbing her stepmother's arm softly.

"It really does mean a lot to me that you've all been so supportive. I honestly don't believe I could have handled everything without you."

Snow pressed her lips together as she tried not to shed any more tears. "We'll always be here for you Regina."

"Just please stay." Henry mumbled into Regina's shirt.

He burrowed further into his mother's embrace, he still couldn't help feeling guilty for not recognizing the strength of the love that she had always had for him. She had said before that she wasn't the best at showing her emotions. And while that may be true, he also knew that it wasn't her fault. It was her mother, along with others from her past who had made her this way. She had always loved him more than anyone. Knowing her as well as he did, he should have been able to see it.

Blinking back a few tears, Regina dropped her gaze to the ten year old in her arms. She absent-mindedly ran her fingers through his hair, wondering what the days ahead would bring.

"Henry..." Regina began quietly. "I know I may not have long left, and I know how frightening that may sound, but I also know that it's a miracle I didn't pass away months ago."

Henry sniffled. He raised his head a little to listen to her. "You mean the day you took the pills?"

Regina nodded softly. "For that reason I know someone up there must be looking out for me."

"What do you mean?"

"Doctor Whale said I was very lucky. He said that many other people in my position would have passed away long before I was found. Something, or someone gave me the extra time I needed for you, Emma, Mary Margaret and David to find me. And if that's true then that means..." She drew a shaky breath as she tried not lose control of her emotions. "Then that means if the worst does happen, we can at least take comfort in knowing that there is someone waiting for me on the other side. I won't be able to be with you, but I won't be alone. And I know you won't be alone either." Regina wiped a tear from the corner of her eye as she shared a soft smile with Snow.

"And I think you have someone else looking out for you now too." Snow said, placing a gentle hand on Henry's back. "A real life guardian angel. Not everyone could do what you did for your mother yesterday Henry. That was one of the truest acts of love I have ever seen."

Regina blinked back her tears but a few still escaped through her lashes. She gave a tiny nod in agreement, but found herself pulling Henry more protectively into her arms at the memory of nearly losing him to the bullet that was meant for her.

Henry however, was still thinking over what Regina had just said.

"Do you mean your father?" He asked, looking up at her. "Is he the one looking out for you?"

"Maybe." Regina replied with a soft smile. "But there is someone else it could be too."

Henry was silent for a few moments as he pondered this. "But... if they really wanted to help you they wouldn't let you die this way. They would make the townspeople leave you alone so you could go to a hospital and get better."

Regina felt a tear roll down her cheek. "No one can control everything Henry." She whispered.

"Henry we're doing everything we can to get your mother safely out of Storybrooke." Snow said, rubbing his shoulder consolingly. "David's in town right now. He and the dwarves are trying to find a clear path out of town. There are a lot of people trying to prevent Regina from leaving, but they can't block all of the exits at once. Not for the rest of their lives."

Regina dropped her gaze, resting her chin on the top of Henry's head and closing her eyes as she tried to fight her exhaustion.

"But for the rest of Mom's life they might."

Snow's eyes filled with guilt. She should have chosen different words.

"I know how scary all of this is." She said. "But please don't lose hope. There are still a lot of people on our side and together we can stop the town. David's even going to Gold to see if there is anything he could do. We know that he–"

"He is?" Regina's eyes flew open in surprise. "When?"

"This evening actually. We know he used you to cast the curse; therefore David thought maybe he would be able to convince him that he owed it to you to help."

Regina breathed a bitter laugh. "Don't get your hopes up. As far as Gold's concerned my part of the deal was getting to cast the curse. I don't think he'll believe he owes me a damn thing."

"But he wouldn't have let you cast the curse unless he got something of equal value in return. Whatever he asked you for back in the Enchanted Forest, I don't believe that was what he truly wanted from your deal. Despite his position in town he hasn't received much from this curse. Unless there is something I've missed. He lied to you."

"He wanted the curse to be broken..." Regina agreed thoughtfully. "Before Emma broke the curse he knew what was coming, he told me so himself. If he had wanted the curse to stay intact he would have done everything in his power to stop it. But instead he did nothing."

Snow nodded. "And I know he may not seem like the most compassionate person, but sometimes people can surprise you." She said with a soft smile, quoting Regina's words from so many years ago. "It's quite possible that nothing will come of David's talking to him, but at least we'll know we tried."

Regina tiredly blinked back fresh tears as she looked down at Henry again. His expression was unreadable, but she gave him a soft smile to show that Snow was right, they shouldn't give up hope just yet.

Snow placed her hand on top of Regina's where it was resting on Henry's back. "Now, I think I'll let you two have some time alone. I know how hard today has been on both of you."

"Thank you Snow." Regina whispered, turning her hand over to clasp it briefly in her stepdaughter's.

Snow softly returned her stepmother's smile before quietly getting up and heading towards the hallway. Once she reached the door, she turned to face the two of them again.

"Henry, don't keep your mother up too long okay?" She said in a gentle teasing voice. "She needs her rest."

Henry gave her a small smile in response before she showed herself out of the room.

"It's okay if I stay a bit longer?" Henry asked his mother.

"Of course it is sweetheart. But Mary Margaret is right, I do need to get some sleep. And unless I'm mistaken it's time for you to go to bed too?"

Henry nodded. "I guess..." He said, not wanting to leave.

"Henry you can stay in here with me tonight if you want to." Regina said gently.

"Okay," he mumbled. However he remained huddled in her warm embrace for a few moments longer before reluctantly getting up to go get ready for bed.

About five minutes later when he had returned to her room, his mother was lying down under the covers again. However when he sat down beside her she opened her eyes.

Even though she felt extremely unwell she could tell that he needed to talk some more. And so she sat up slowly, knowing that if she moved too fast her dizziness would get the better of her again.

Regina propped her pillow up against the headboard so she could lean back against it. Even though the headboard was not usually uncomfortable, her back pain was making it more disagreeable lately. Known only to Emma, this was why Regina so often slept on her side as of late. She didn't know why, but her back pain along with her other symptoms had quickly become significantly more tormenting since the curse had broken such a short time ago.

Once she was settled, Henry burrowed into her embrace again. She pulled the blankets up over his legs before wrapping both of her arms around him. She closed her eyes, partly to try to ignore the discomfort she felt in her back as well as in some of her muscles, but she was also taking comfort in the fact that her son was safely in her arms.

"Mom?" Came Henry's voice.

"Mhmm?"

"Do you think Mr. Gold will help?"

Regina remained silent for a moment or two. She doubted very much that he would, but perhaps her stepdaughter would turn out to be right about the Dark One.

"I don't know sweetheart." She said, blinking her eyes open again.

Now it was Henry's turn to stay silent.

"This is all my fault." He finally said in a broken voice, looking up at her. "I'm the reason this is happening to you. If I had just stayed and lived under the curse with you, the town wouldn't be trying to hurt you. You wouldn't be dying... and you wouldn't be stuck in Storybrooke. You would be safe."

Regina shook her head sadly. No matter how many times she tried to convince him otherwise, he continued to believe this was all because of him.

"Henry no, I am the reason this is happening to me. I was the one to push you away in the first place. It was my choice not to stop you from moving to Boston. It was also my choice to try to end my own life, and an action like that always has consequences."

Henry's arms tightened around her at that last sentence and he buried his face in her shirt again. Regina closed her eyes for a few moments. She was focusing on keeping her breathing at a slow, steady pace, while also focusing on trying not to let her exhaustion get the better of her.

"Henry I've done many terrible things in my lifetime, as you well know. This might just be my punishment for all the pain I've inflicted on others over the years."

"But lots of bad things happened to you too. Even after you became Queen." He said as more tears filled his eyes.

Regina gave him a soft smile, relieved that he was seeing things a little differently then he used to. "But that still didn't grant me the right to do the things that I did. Perhaps this was always the way it was meant to be. No one can live forever, this may just be my time to go."

"But–" Henry's voice broke. "But you're too young aren't you?"

"Not everyone gets to live into their old age Henry. It's a sad truth but that's just the way the world works."

"But you're my mom. I don't want to grow up without you."

"And I don't want you to have to." Regina swallowed back her emotions. "I know this is hard, and I know you think you could have prevented all of this... but what's happening here is not your fault. And Henry, even if you hadn't moved to Boston things still would have been far from perfect."

"Because you think I would still be mad at you like I was before I left?"

Regina felt her heart tug sadly at the thought. "Perhaps. But that's not all. The curse was never meant to last forever. Even if you and Emma had stayed in Storybrooke, the curse still would have broken eventually and the town still would have wanted revenge for what I did to them."

"But at least you would have still been healthy."

Regina breathed a soft, troubled sigh. "I know how messy this whole ordeal has been but as I've said before, it brought us back together. That is something I wouldn't give up for anything."

She looked down at him but the way he was currently huddled against her blocked his face from her view. Knowing how distraught he still was, she carefully leaned down and pressed a loving kiss to the top of his head.

"Henry I know how close I came to death a few months ago and... I don't know how, but by some stroke of fortune I was given another chance. I know that what's happening to me seems unfair, but in reality I believe it to be a blessing."

Henry sniffled, pulling back from the embrace just enough to see her. "Mom you're dying. How is that good?"

"Because even if I don't make it through this, having these few extra months allowed me to see that I still have people who care about me. If you had never moved to Boston we might not have been able to resolve things between us. Sweetheart, knowing that you still love me is the greatest gift I ever could have asked for. That in itself is worth every moment of suffering."

"It's not worth it to me. I shouldn't have pushed you. I shouldn't have made you think I didn't love you anymore."

"Henry..." Regina whispered. "As much as it pains me to admit, I know I did the same to you. You believed that I didn't love you. As your mother it's my responsibility to make sure you always feel safe and loved. Regrettably, I failed. Therefore anything that happened after that was completely my fault."

"But you didn't mean to. That's the difference. There were still times when I knew I still loved you but I wanted you to think I didn't. If I had never done that you wouldn't be so sick right now. I'm sorry Mom."

Regina gave him a gentle smile. She reached for a tissue and dabbed it softly to his cheeks, wiping away the tears. "It's okay Henry. I promise. I don't blame you for any of this. And I don't want you to keep blaming yourself either. It's breaking my heart."

"I just didn't mean for any of this to happen to you." Henry sobbed, burying himself in her embrace again.

"I know you didn't." Regina whispered. She pressed her lips to the top of his head again and brushed her fingers consolingly through his hair.

She cradled him in her arms like this for as long as he needed in order to calm down. His tears didn't abate easily, but after spending enough time in his mother's protective embrace they eventually subsided.

Regina was feeling quite exhausted by this point, but she had wanted to make sure her son was feeling at least a little better before trying to go back to sleep.

She glanced at the time, wondering if Emma was still talking to the doctor. Since she hadn't come back upstairs yet, Regina had to assume that she was. Feeling the way she did, Regina knew that trying to stay up would be a mistake. She could tell that her son was tired as well, and there was no point in forcing them both to stay awake.

"What do you say we both get some rest now hm?" She whispered softly.

Henry nodded, and after a moment or two he pulled away from her enough to let her lie back down. When she was comfortable however, he moved back into her arms once more.

"I love you Mom." Henry said, closing his eyes as she fixed the blanket around him again.

"I love you too." She whispered, wrapping a comforting arm around him. She pressed a soft kiss to his forehead.

"Sweet dreams, my little prince."

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