Mary Margaret entered the kitchen to find her daughter slumped forwards against the counter, leaning on her elbows. Emma had a spoon in her hand and was picking at an open tub of ice cream with a glum look on her face.

"Are you alright?" Mary Margaret asked, despite already knowing the answer.

"No." Emma replied, not looking up

Mary Margaret nodded softly as she approached the counter. "I get it; she sprung this on you. But you had to know this was what Regina wanted?"

"I guess..."

"And being Henry's legal guardian, I thought that was what you wanted? Even if you don't need the other forms, which hopefully you won't, Regina's still giving you guardianship of Henry, isn't that amazing?"

Mary Margaret's expression fell when her daughter didn't respond.

"Emma this is a huge step for her."

"Exactly." Emma said, finally looking up. "Why is she doing this now?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean even just half a year ago she never would have done anything like this. And if anything does happen to her she's already stated in her Will that she would want me to look after him. So why does she feel like she needs to give me guardianship now?"

"Emma think about it," Mary Margaret's voice dropped, "even if she doesn't die, she may still be unable to look after him if her health takes a bad turn. She just wants to make sure she's taking every precaution to make sure Henry will always be well looked after. And don't forget that she consented to Henry moving to Boston with you in the first place. That was something I never would have expected from her. So maybe we don't know her as well as we think we do. She has her reasons."

"What are they?" Emma grumbled.

"Well... honestly? I think if she had it her way she never would have let you take him... but she knew it was what he wanted and she hoped it would help him get through his depression."

"And then all this happened." Emma responded, shaking her head bitterly at the unfairness of the situation. "This has been so hard on him; he's so afraid of losing her Mary Margaret."

"I know, but we can't forget that this is what finally brought them back together... It's unfortunate but it's the truth."

Emma breathed a soft sigh. "It means a lot to me that Regina thinks I can do all this, and wants me to do all this but... I don't know." She scooped a small spoonful of ice cream from the tub and ate it, not really tasting the flavor.

"But what Emma?"

"It sounds like she's giving up."

"She's not," Mary Margaret insisted gently. "She's just being practical. She's hoping as much as you that you aren't going to need these forms, but she also needs to know that Henry is going to be okay no matter what happens. And in the case that she doesn't make it, you may be Henry's birthmother but that doesn't necessarily mean you'll be able to keep him. Anything could happen; and if Regina didn't make it Henry could have to go into government care while everything is sorted out. At least this way we would have proof that this is what Regina wanted."

"I guess... but what about signing her health care decisions over to me? This is crazy. I mean yeah we're close but we only just became friends not that long ago."

Mary Margaret gave her a soft smile. "She trusts you. And it's only in the case where Regina would be unable to express her own wishes. You probably won't have to make any medical decisions for her at all, I wouldn't worry about that."

"But what if something does happen and I'm faced with two options which could both potentially kill her? I don't want to be in control of that. What if I make the wrong decision and we lose her? After something like that I don't know how I would be able to live with myself. I wouldn't even..." Emma breathed a heavy sigh, not finishing her sentence. "And Henry would always know that it was my fault. He would never forgive me."

"Emma he wouldn't blame you for something like that." Mary Margaret replied gently.

"I would..."

Mary Margaret watched her daughter sadly for a few moments. "Emma you know this is all hypothetical; you're worrying way too much about this when you should be focusing on what's most important right now, getting Regina to the hospital. It's just a few hours away, she'll be fine, I know she will. By having the advance directive form, all Regina wants is to know that in case her health does get worse, there will be someone looking out for her; someone who knows her better than the doctors ever could."

"You've known her way longer than I have."

"And I also won't be joining the three of you in Boston. But Emma I don't think that's the entire reason she chose you over me."

Emma breathed a disheartened sigh as she stabbed at the ice cream in the container again.

Mary Margaret studied her. "You can always tell her you don't want to do it Emma. I'm sure she'll understand."

"No I don't want to do that."

"Then what's the problem?"

"It's just... I guess I never saw my life turning out this way. Just a year ago I was living by myself in Boston; no family depending on me, no friends, not really anyway... And I'm not saying in any way that it was better, because it wasn't... But now... I don't know if I'm ready for all of this."

"You had to have thought you were ready or you never would have taken Henry with you to Boston in the first place." Mary Margaret reminded her.

"I don't know... that was different. I mean he still had Regina if he needed her. And she was still going to be there if I ever needed her help with him you know?"

Mary Margaret's eyes narrowed. "Emma where is this coming from? You were prepared to take on all of these responsibilities before. What's changed?"

Emma shook her head, at a loss for what to say. "I just... I don't," she sighed, tossing the spoon into the ice cream tub and pushing it away from her.

"What?" Mary Margaret gently pressed.

"I don't want him to lose her."

"I know you don't; none of us do." Mary Margaret carefully studied the look in her daughter's eyes for a few moments. "But that's not all is it?"

Emma glanced at her with a tired look in her eyes.

"You don't want to lose her either do you Emma?" Mary Margaret observed softly.

Emma sighed, reaching for her ice cream again. "What do you mean?" She muttered, half-heartedly nudging at the ice cream with the tip of the spoon.

"I see how close you and Regina have become. You and I were friends, but now I'm also your mother. But Regina... you two have been good for each other. I know that you haven't had a lot of good friends in your life until now Emma, and neither has she. To be honest I don't know if she's ever had a true friend in her life before you."

"No?" Emma asked quietly.

Mary Margaret shook her head. "She just needs you to be there for her right now."

"I am there for her," Emma replied a little defensively.

"Yes I know you are, but right now no one knows what is going to happen. It's very likely that in a few hours you won't need these forms at all, but it's crossing the border that's worrying her right?"

Emma nodded. "She's worried that something might happen to her when she crosses; not necessarily a memory wipe but maybe something else. Or she's worried about her condition taking a bad turn before we can get to Mass General. Or both. I don't know exactly, but I think she thinks it's part of the price of casting the curse."

"Well, regardless of what it is, it's just the peace of mind she needs."

"That's what Regina said too."

Mary Margaret nodded. "She has these forms because in their own way they're comforting to her. She just wants to know that things will be taken care of regardless of how everything plays out today. If it were me in her shoes I think I would be doing exactly the same thing. Emma if you were Henry's age I would need to know that you would be okay if anything happened to me."

"I guess you're right..."

Mary Margaret smiled softly, placing a reassuring hand on Emma's arm. "Try not to worry too much. Regina is going to be fine, and the three of you are going to make it safely to Boston today."

Emma nodded, glancing up in the direction of Regina's bedroom briefly before dropping her gaze again.

Mary Margaret turned as if she were about to leave the room, but seemed to change her mind almost immediately.

Emma looked up at her, an inquisitive look on her face. "What is it?"

"I was actually talking to Regina a few minutes ago... and she seems to be under the impression that you might be avoiding her." Mary Margaret said softly. "Are you?"

Emma gave a tiny shrug.

"Why Emma?" Mary Margaret asked in hushed disbelief. "You guys are leaving in just a few hours."

"I know..."

"Regina thinks there's a good chance she could die tonight, I'm sure she could really use your support right now."

Emma didn't respond, but guiltily hunched her shoulders as she leaned against the counter.

Mary Margaret continued to watch Emma silently, she had never seen Emma this way, but she knew that Regina needed a friend today more than ever. Mary Margaret was more than happy to take on that role herself, but she knew it was Emma's company that Regina really wanted.

However, as she continued to study Emma's body language, she began to understand her daughter's behaviour more fully.

"Emma, you've never lost anyone close to you before have you?" Mary Margaret asked gently. "Is that why you're pushing her away now? It's too painful?"

Again, Emma didn't respond. There was a few moments of bated silence as Mary Margaret remained hopeful for a reply.

"Emma put yourself in her shoes. If you believed this was going to be your last day on this Earth," Mary Margaret began softly, "how would you want to spend it? Alone? Or with your friends and family? Don't make her suffer more by forcing her to wait this out on her own."

"I think Henry's with her..." Emma mumbled, her voice rising in the excuse.

Mary Margaret gave her a knowing smile. "Emma... do you think maybe the reason you're so upset by these forms isn't so much to do with the responsibilities, but more to do with the fact that you're upset that Regina thinks there's a good chance they're necessary?"

Emma looked up at that. Suddenly she realized there was a tear threatening to fall from the corner of her eye and so she quickly brushed it away.

"I know it's upsetting to think about losing her," Mary Margaret continued, "but you shouldn't take your anger out on her this way. It's not fair."

"How am I taking it out on her?"

Mary Margaret searched Emma's eyes sadly. "By punishing her for doing what any responsible adult in her position would."

Emma's eyes wandered in thought for a few moments before she gave a pained sigh, half rolling her eyes in an admittance that she knew her mother was right. It still didn't change things though. She knew it was wrong to isolate Regina, but she also couldn't bring herself to talk things over with her either. She hated to admit it to herself but she was afraid; afraid for so many different reasons.

Emma felt her mother's comforting hand on her arm.

"I'm going to go see if Regina needs anything okay?" Mary Margaret's voice said.

"Alright..." Emma said distractedly, looking down into the melting tub of cherry vanilla.

Once the brunette had left, Emma's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts as she began to pick at the ice cream with her spoon again. She heard soft voices in the hallway and she assumed Mary Margaret had run into Henry, but when she listened more closely she realized that the second voice belonged to Regina.

Emma's attention piqued and she tried to make out what they were saying, but unfortunately she couldn't.

After a moment or two the voices fell silent, and soon the mayor made her way into the kitchen. Regina's movements were cautious and delicate; she was clearly still feeling the effects of her fever along with her regular symptoms.

"Hey," Emma greeted in surprise, standing up straight from where she had been leaning on the counter. "I thought you'd have gone back to sleep by now, are you alright?"

"I am, I just thought I would have some tea before trying to go back to sleep." Regina replied in a soft voice. "My headache is starting to come back but I'm hoping not to take any more Tylenol."

"Were you alright getting down the stairs? You could have called down and asked for help." Emma said as her eyes washed over the Queen in worry.

"It was fine, I just took my time." Regina smiled gently, pulling her knee-length cardigan sweater more fully around her petite frame. It was then that she noticed what Emma had in front of her and her gaze lingered on the open tub of ice cream. She had a concerned look in her eyes as she glanced at Emma again. "How about you, are you alright?" She asked softly as she approached the counter.

"Me? Oh yeah, 'course I am." Emma brushed off Regina's worry.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"

"It's just I know I surprised you earlier." Regina responded, watching the sheriff carefully.

"Don't worry about it." Emma said, closing the lid on the ice cream. She placed the spoon in the sink and walked towards the fridge. "Sorry about this," she said, waving the container. "I guess I could have grabbed a bowl."

"You don't have to apologize," Regina said with a hint of amusement. "It's your ice cream after all."

Emma grinned as she returned her treat to its place beside the rocky road. However as she closed the freezer, her smile quickly fell again.

"Want me to make that tea for you before I leave?" She asked, not looking at Regina as she went for the kettle.

"Leave?"

"Yeah, I'm going to meet David in town remember?"

"Oh, of course, I almost forgot."

Emma could see the tiredness in the other woman's eyes, and noticed the amount of effort she had to put into her movements. It was clear that her muscles were still sore and that, as usual, her body was craving more sleep.

"Regina are you sure you should be up?" Emma asked. She had needed to help Regina both up and down the stairs at lunchtime.

"I'm fine. And besides, I didn't want to go to sleep on a full stomach. I did try lying down for a little bit but I was starting to feel sick so I thought it might be best to stay up for a while longer, just in case."

"Yeah... that's probably a good idea." Emma agreed. "But here, why don't you sit down; I'll make the tea."

"You don't have to Emma," Regina said softly. "I'm sure I can manage."

"Don't worry about it, it won't take long. I can even bring it upstairs for you if you want to have it up there? It might be a bit tricky getting up the stairs with a hot drink in your hands."

Regina gave a small smile, "thank you."

"Don't mention it." Emma replied as Regina supported herself against the counter with one hand and guided herself onto a stool with the other.

Emma watched Regina closely, albeit discreetly, to make sure she really was as okay as she claimed to be. Since Regina had still been a little dizzy that day and was still feeling unwell, Emma was worried about Regina accidentally slipping if she was suddenly overwhelmed by dizziness as she was taking a seat. Emma felt a little more content when she saw Regina leaning forwards against the counter once she had settled into her seat, and the blonde was able to focus more on gathering the tea supplies.

Once the kettle was boiling however, Emma kept her back turned away from Regina as if she were hoping to avoid a continuation of their conversation from earlier. Regina more than understood the gesture, and even though her lips parted a few times as if she were about to say something, ultimately she kept her thoughts to herself.

After a period of somewhat tense silence, Emma began to relax when she sensed that Regina wasn't going to bring up the legal documents.

The tea had already been made and both women had ended up staying in the kitchen to talk. They didn't discuss Regina's health or the forms, nor did they discuss Boston or their trip out of Storybrooke. Instead they made small talk, covering topics that neither of them truly had much interest in.

Regina had been sipping at her tea throughout this, but soon set it aside, not wanting to drink too much before going back to bed.

After mentioning that she should go back up to check on Henry who had fallen asleep in her room, she carefully stood up from her seat and went to dump the remaining tea down the drain.

Emma's eyes followed the brunette in silence. There was an unreadable but slightly dispirited expression on the blonde's face, and this time Regina noticed that she was watching her.

Regina didn't comment on it however, instead she continued to rinse out the mug and place it in the sink. Once that was done she silently walked back around the kitchen island, making her way hesitantly towards the door to go back upstairs before she stopped and turned to face the other woman again.

"Emma..." she began with some uncertainty.

As she leaned on the counter beside her with one hand, she held Emma's gaze for a brief few moments before casting her eyes to the floor, debating on what to do next. She knew Emma didn't want to discuss the legal forms, but there were only a few hours left until they had to leave and Regina needed to know where they stood.

"Did you want me to come with you in case you have difficulty on the stairs?" Emma asked, assuming that was why Regina had stopped.

"No it's not that." Regina replied softly, even though her dizziness was still forcing her to move much more delicately than usual. "Emma... about earlier, back when we were upstairs... I was–"

The blonde suddenly glanced at the clock, "Oh, hey actually I'm supposed to be in town by now." She said, quickly grabbing her cell phone from the counter.

"Emma–"

"I really should go, I was supposed to meet David like half an hour ago." Emma explained, very briefly meeting Regina's hurt expression before she quickly needed to look away again.

"Emma I was actually hoping we could talk some more." Regina said softly, turning her head as the blonde rushed passed her.

"Could we maybe talk about it later?"

"Emma there is obviously something bothering you." Regina said as she took a few steps to follow after the other woman. "I know it's about the papers I showed you."

Emma froze in the doorway, just standing there with her back to the kitchen for a few moments. Regina could tell that the blonde had something to say and so she waited, her eyes were rounded in concern as she kept her gaze fixed on the back of Emma's head.

Soon the blonde quickly turned around again.

"Why do you want me to be Henry's legal guardian?" Emma demanded.

Regina folded her arms, there was now a troubled look on her face as she swallowed, thinking over her answer. "Why do you seem so opposed to the idea? I honestly thought this was something you wanted."

"It was." Emma replied a little breathlessly. "But back when Henry wanted to move to Boston with me you wouldn't have stood for the idea. I even had to bribe Henry's new school with a donation so they would accept him. They didn't want to take him because his only legal parent lived in a different state. I–"

"You never told me that; I could have helped. You shouldn't have bribed the school, you could have gotten in trouble for that."

"I just didn't want to give you another reason to change your mind... Anyways what I'm saying is that I only would have wanted to be his guardian so I could enroll him in school and so I would easily be able to get him hospital care and stuff like that... you know, if anything ever happened and you couldn't come right away or something. But I knew it would be hopeless to ask if you would even consider it. You would think I was trying to cut you completely out of his life. So why now?"

"Be fair Emma, a lot has happened since then." Regina responded with a hurt look in her eyes. "You and I are on much different grounds now."

"I know we are."

Regina studied her expression for a few moments, she still didn't understand what the problem was.

"Emma it's not like I'm giving up my rights to him. Under Maine law I'll still be his natural guardian. All this does is give you the right to make important decisions in his life if ever I'm unable to. But if everything works out the way we hope you'll never have to use it. I just thought with how serious my health has become it would be a good idea to take this precaution. Was I wrong?"

"No, you weren't." Emma bit her lip, not wanting to explain further. "But look I'm sorry, I really do have to go. David's been waiting."

She turned and left Regina in the kitchen, heading down the hall towards the set of stairs that led to the front door.

"Emma please tell me why you're reacting this way." Regina urged as she followed. "Please, I don't understand." She was quickly falling behind because she couldn't walk nearly as fast.

Emma sighed dejectedly before stopping and looking back at Regina again. Of course she knew what the truth was; Mary Margaret had been close, but she hadn't been completely right.

It wasn't just to do with the pain of knowing that Regina was preparing for her own death. That was extremely hard to watch yes, but Emma was also concerned with something else. Because Regina was giving her custody of Henry, Emma believed that meant Regina had lost hope for herself. It meant she was giving up. And that was crushing Emma more than she would have thought possible. Emma couldn't find a way to talk to Regina about this without hurting her, and as such she knew it was best to just keep it to herself.

"I'll be back as soon as I can Regina." Emma went down the steps.

"Emma wait–" Regina stepped forward but the blonde was already opening the door.

"Emma?"

At the top of the stairs, Regina gripped the railing with one hand, feeling lightheaded just looking down them. She heaved a breath of frustration before she forced herself too quickly down the few steps, using the wall to support herself.

Once she reached the bottom, because of the wave of nausea she felt, and due to her annoyance and letdown with the fact that Emma was obviously pretending not to hear her, Regina wasn't thinking when she followed the blonde out onto the front porch.

Already halfway down the path to the road, Emma stopped when she heard a quiet, strangled cry from behind her.

Emma's brow furrowed in confusion as she turned around and looked back at the brunette.

"Regina? You alright?" She called.

It was as if Regina's entire body had momentarily frozen in shock.

As soon as she had stepped out of the house, Regina had faltered as she realized where she was. Suddenly it felt almost like an invisible force was holding her back.

"Regina?" Emma repeated, beginning to make her way back to her. "What happened?"

When she was able to force herself to move, Regina took a staggering step backwards towards the house. Her hands reached behind her to touch the wall to the right-hand side of the open door, as her eyes fearfully scanned the area around the front yard.

"What is it?" Emma quickly glanced around, wondering what had scared her, but it didn't take her long to realize what it was.

She turned back towards Regina, her heart went out to the other woman.

"Regina, it's okay." Emma said carefully. She slipped her car keys into her jacket pocket so she could try to console the brunette.

"Emma," Regina whispered.

The Queen seemed to be in an almost trance as she continued to look around the front yard as if she expected an attack at any moment. She hadn't been out front since the mob had come for her and she hadn't realized it would affect her this way.

Regina was breathing heavily now, unable to move again. She swallowed anxiously as her eyes dropped to the spot where only two days ago, she had been cradling her son as he lay dying in her arms. She briefly opened her mouth as if to say something else, but she couldn't seem to find her voice. Emma watched as she raised a shaking hand to the place where her neck met her collarbone. It was like she was imagining the crushing hands that had been trying such a short time ago, to slowly and painfully extinguish what was left of her fragile life.

Emma cautiously moved towards her. "Regina, it's okay. You're okay."

Regina was shaking her head softly now. Emma could see the tears in her eyes as she took another small step back, nearly closing the gap between herself and the wall. She was nearly as pale as she'd been when she had collapsed under Henry's weight after he had sacrificed himself to protect her.

"Regina no one's out here." Emma assured her. "I promise no one is going to hurt you."

Regina moved a few steps towards the inside of the house. When she was in the open doorway, she reached her arms behind herself again to hold onto the right-hand side of the doorframe as she leaned back against it. She turned her head to the right, looking back into the house before wordlessly glancing out towards the street again. It was as if she wanted to go back inside but couldn't force herself to move any further. Regina's hands were mostly hidden behind her back but Emma could imagine that her knuckles were turning white from the grip she had on the wooden frame.

"Regina just try to relax okay?" Emma said, still in a soothing voice as she too stepped into the doorway to stand in front of the brunette. She could see that Regina was panicking and the doctor had said that stress would only make her health fail even faster.

"Regina no one is going to hurt you."

Regina's gaze remained cast downwards. Currently it looked like she could be staring at Emma's jacket, but Emma knew she wasn't really seeing what she was looking at.

Very gently so as not to startle her, Emma placed a hand on Regina's shoulder. "Come on, let's just go back inside okay? Do you want to do that?"

Regina looked as if she were about to faint. Her breathing was coming more staggeringly, and her brow was creased in torment from the memory of the event that she was clearly reliving in her mind.

Since Regina hadn't flinched when Emma had touched her, Emma reached out for Regina's other arm to try to coax her to move back into the front hallway.

"It's okay, let's just go back into the house alright? You're safe, I promise."

Emma was able to get her to let go of the frame and move back inside, however as soon as she had crossed the threshold, rather than going up the steps to the main floor, Regina moved towards the wall beside the foot of the staircase. Facing the wall, she pressed her palms against it and bowed her head in what Emma assumed was an attempt to regain her composure.

Watching her in worry, Emma quickly closed the front door.

"Look, see? The door is locked. I'm here with you, you're in the house. You're safe."

Regina placed an arm on her abdomen as if she were about to be sick. She turned around and leaned back against the wall, but she still wouldn't, or couldn't look up at Emma.

"Regina!" Emma worriedly reached out for the brunette as she began to let herself slide down the wall so she could sit down.

Knowing that the action was probably painful, Emma tried to get her to lean her weight forwards against her rather than back against the wall. Emma wasn't even sure if Regina was currently aware of the pain, but she helped her safely to the floor nonetheless, and then kneeled in front of her. Emma sat back on her heels as she studied Regina's composure. The brunette's gaze was fixed on some point on the ground. She still seemed to be in a state of shock and it was really beginning to scare Emma.

Emma could feel a chill run down her spine as she realized how similar Regina's current behaviour was to when she and Mary Margaret had to practically drag her back into the house to get her away from the angry mob, and then again just last night when she had been hallucinating.

"Regina? Hey, are you alright?" Emma gently took the other woman's face in her hands in an attempt to prompt her to look at her, but she still wouldn't.

"Regina? Are you alright?"

The bottoms of the Queen's feet were flat against the floor and her knees were pulled up in front of her, however rather than wrapping her arms around them she had her arms tucked defensively around her waist.

Emma dropped her hands from Regina's face and instead rubbed her arm comfortingly. She rested her other hand on Regina's knee.

"Hey," Emma whispered, "listen to me. No one is going to hurt you again, not while I'm here alright? I promised I would protect you and I will."

Emma waited for a few moments, hoping for a reply that wouldn't come.

"Regina? Please say something." Emma's eyes sadly watched Regina's for the minute or two it took for the brunette to regain control of her body.

As Regina's breathing evened out, her eyes finally began to move again. They slowly searched the ground for a few moments as she allowed herself to calm down, until they finally raised to meet Emma's worried blue ones.

"Hey," Emma practically laughed as she blinked back the tears of relief that she hadn't realized were forming. "Are you alright?"

"Emma what's happening to me?" Regina whispered.

Emma gave a small, sympathetic smile.

Regina desperately searched Emma's expression for answers. "This never used to happen to me before." She said in a broken voice.

Emma nodded softly. "I know..."

"What's wrong with me?"

"Nothing's wrong with you Regina. You've just been through way too much. I think it's only to be expected after all the trauma you've been put through."

Regina's arms tightened around her waist and she seemed to withdraw into herself. She looked almost ashamed, which Emma couldn't understand.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Emma asked, taking a seat on the bottom step to save her knees from the marble floor.

Regina pressed her lips together as she tried to hold her tears back. She shook her head gently, avoiding Emma's gaze.

Emma felt her cell phone vibrating so she pulled it from her pocket to check who was texting. She saw Regina glance at the screen before dropping her gaze again. Emma sighed inwardly as she saw David's name flash across the screen before it went dark again.

Emma placed her hand on Regina's shoulder. "I know how difficult today is. Would you prefer it if I stayed here with you this afternoon?"

Regina shook her head once, closing her eyes as a tear escaped her lashes. "It's okay, David needs your help." She practically whispered.

"David's fine, he's just making sure everything's alright since I haven't shown up yet. I'll stay if you want me to. Just say the word."

Sniffling and blinking back a few more tears, Regina looked over at her, holding Emma's gaze for a few moments. Finally Regina nodded. Her lips twitched into what Emma wondered was meant to be a thankful smile, but Regina's expression quickly fell again.

"Okay," Emma said softly. "I'll let David know I'm not coming."

Regina swallowed back a soft sob. "Thank you," She answered in a tiny whisper as she watched Emma send a quick text.

Emma leaned forward and placed a comforting hand on Regina's knee. "Don't worry, everything is going to be fine. Are you ready to get up?" She offered Regina her hand.

Regina looked down at Emma's outstretched hand before giving the tiniest of head shakes. She wiped a tear away from her eyes but then curled in on herself some more. Her shoulders were hunched and she wrapped her arms even further around herself. She gently rubbed her own arms, trying to warm herself up after catching a chill from being outside.

Emma nodded in understanding. Instead of just waiting it out on the staircase, she slid off of the step and moved to sit leaning back against the wall beside Regina. Regina turned her head slightly to look at her but then resumed her previous position.

"Take as much time as you need." She heard Emma say. "I'm not going anywhere."

Regina swallowed emotionally. "Emma how am I going to be able leave Storybrooke tonight when I can barely step out of the house?"

"Because me, David and Mary Margaret will be with you every step of the way. We'll keep you safe."

Regina nodded gently in agreement, but still didn't feel quite so sure.

"I promise Regina. I've said this before, you're not going to have to do any of this alone."

Regina turned to meet Emma's gaze again, giving the ghost of a smile in response. Only a few hours ago she would have fully believed that.

After a few minutes of silence, Regina had been about to ask for Emma's help to stand up but Emma unknowingly cut her off before she could do so.

"Look... I'm sorry for rushing off like that just now..." Emma said softly. "It was pretty shitty of me."

Regina breathed a sharp, bitter laugh. "Yes it was." She replied quietly, closing her eyes as she folded her arms on top of her knees and rested her forehead against them.

Emma bit her lip, feeling guilty as she mulled over the fact that Regina could have really hurt herself trying to keep up with her.

After another few, long, quiet moments, Regina was looking over at Emma again. There was a slightly worried, slightly curious look on her face.

"What is it?" Emma asked gently.

"Do you want to explain to me why these legal documents are bothering you so much?" Regina asked.

Emma gave a soft sigh, meeting Regina's saddened gaze as the brunette looked up at her.

When Emma failed to respond, Regina nodded gently in disappointment. She pressed her lips together, trying to ignore the wave of hurt she felt over the fact that Emma didn't seem to want to help her should things go badly at the hospital; given they even made it that far. She knew that if she were ever unable to make her own healthcare decisions, the doctors themselves would be more than capable of choosing the treatments they saw best, but she had hoped Emma would be able to speak for her as well, should the need arise.

It didn't bother her so much that Emma was reluctant to do so, it was quite a responsibility after all, but the part that bothered Regina the most was that Emma didn't want to tell her the reason why. Emma kept telling her that she would be there for her, that Regina wouldn't have to anything alone, but maybe there were limits to that after all.

Regina couldn't believe how far she had fallen lately. She no longer had the determination or the fire of the Evil Queen; she no longer had the vigor of the mayor; she just felt broken. If Emma hadn't been there to help her she wondered if she would have just crumbled into nothingness by now.

The Queen was aware of how dependent she had become of the Savior, but it wasn't until today that Regina worried about whether she had let her need of Emma grow too strong. It wasn't something she had regretted until she had been given reason to doubt that Emma was truly prepared to help her under any circumstance.

xXxXxXxXxXx

A/N: Thank you for reading, please review xx