A/N: Hello everyone, I'm sorry I've disappeared. Thank you to those who left a review on the last chapter, I'm sorry I've been bad about responding but I do read and appreciate every comment! I hope you like the new update xx

Chapter 101

"You'll only have a few months to live? Montgomery really said that?" Emma asked quietly.

"If my condition doesn't improve, then yes." Regina replied, even more softly.

Emma looked troubled for a few moments before rearranging her expression. "It will improve." She said with conviction. "Better yet, you'll have had the transplant by then because I will be a match for you."

"Emma..." Regina whispered tiredly.

"What?" Emma asked in a hushed, but slightly annoyed voice. She had to be a match, they currently had no other sure way of saving Regina if she wasn't.

"I just… I don't want you to get your hopes up too high." Regina replied. "There's a good chance that you won't be."

"But… what else can we do if I'm not?" Emma asked in a small voice, not wanting to think about it.

"Hope for a miracle?" Regina attempted to force a smile but it didn't quite work. Her heart ached for Emma. She knew how hard Emma had been working to save her, and she knew how difficult it must be for the blonde to see that her efforts may still not have been enough. The look in Emma's eyes resembled that of a lost child and Regina had to force herself not to look away, even though it hurt to see her in so much emotional pain.

"Emma listen…" She said in a slightly broken voice, reaching for the woman's arm in sudden determination. "I want you to promise me something."

The blonde sniffled a bit. "Yeah of course, what is it?"

"Promise me that if the worst does happen – and let's really hope that it doesn't – but if it does… I want you to give me your word that you'll find someone once I'm gone." Regina said softly.

"What?"

"I don't want you to be alone. I want you to find someone who will love you. I know you will take care of Henry, but I want you to find someone who will take care of you. I want you to have someone to share your life with, and I want Henry to have two parents to look up to. Henry used to ask so much about his father, maybe now he can have one."

"Regina... I don't want anyone else. I don't want some random... guy to come–" Emma took in a shaky breath, "to come barging in thinking he can replace you..."

"Emma that's not–" Regina began softly.

"No one can replace you Regina. I need you. And Henry doesn't need a dad! He needs you. You have to get better. You just have too."

"Emma I've told you what the doctor said. If we can't do this transplant soon then I don't think I'll have much time left. You can beg me to stay as much as you want but it's not going to change what's happening to me. The dialysis just isn't working like it should. I waited too long, I let myself get too sick... there's not much more we can do except hope that either you are a match, or that I'll receive a donation before it's too late."

"I'll be a match Regina. I just know I will. I can feel it as sure as I've felt anything before, I'm the one who's going to save you."

"I hope so too." Regina gave her a small smile, wishing she could be as certain as Emma. She had one thing that was holding her back from getting her hopes up too high, and it was that she was well experienced in the way the universe liked to treat her. Ever since she was a child, she would be led into believing that everything was going to work out, or that she would finally find happiness and the place where she belonged, but every time she allowed herself to believe this was true, the future she thought she could have ended up shattering around her.

It was afternoon the next day and Emma had been able to get her appointment in earlier that morning. Because the hospital labs were taking care of it, Dr. Montgomery assured them both that they would have the results by the end of the day. Regina was currently sitting somewhat anxiously by herself in her room. Emma had gone back to the apartment to check on Henry, who seemed to be under the impression that if he made up for all of the lost time with his schoolwork, then the universe would thank him by healing his mother.

Regina tried to think about anything that would take her mind off of waiting for the results, but her mind kept wandering back to the conversation she'd had with Emma the day before. She wanted to believe as much as Emma did that receiving a transplant from her was the answer, but what if it wasn't? Regina had already agreed to accept the transplant if Emma turned out to be a match, but there was still a chance that it wouldn't work out.

There was a copy of a book Henry had left sitting on her bedside table, they had already finished it together but Regina considered picking it up and starting over from the beginning just to pass the time.

Before she was able to reach for it however, the brunette looked up when she heard frantic footsteps rushing down the hallway. She was surprised to find that the source of the noise was Emma. The other woman crashed into the room in a blur of blonde hair and red leather as she rushed to Regina's side.

"Emma… what–?" She barely managed to ask what was the matter when Emma wrapped her arms fiercely around Regina, holding onto her with everything she had.

"Emma..." Regina said in quiet shock as she realized Emma was crying. She wrapped her arms tightly around the blonde and she felt as if the blood in her veins had turned to ice. "What is it?"

Through her tears, Emma just barely managed to sputter out: "When… when I was downstairs just now... I passed by this family... they had just lost someone. I think she died of cancer." Emma shakily gasped for breath as tears continued to stream down her face. "Her kids were there, and her parents... and her husband... They were in so much pain Regina."

Regina's eyes saddened. "I can imagine." She said softly, there was a faraway look in her eyes. "But Emma, why are you so upset? I mean yes of course it's sad, but you didn't even know her."

"Because Regina... it felt like… it felt like…" Emma shook her head, not able to finish her thought. "It reminded me of what could happen. And I don't want that to be me and Henry a few weeks or months down the road. We need you to get better, we can't lose you like they did her. Please Regina."

Regina gave a disheartened sigh as she closed her eyes and leaned into Emma's embrace. "Emma you know I have no control over that."

"You have to promise." Emma sobbed, not listening.

"Emma, I can't." Regina replied. She was attempting to sound soothing but it was difficult to do when also being realistic.

Emma pulled away slightly, but was unable to look up into Regina's eyes. The blonde seemed to have a faraway expression on her face, and she also seemed very conflicted.

"Emma, is there something else?"

The other woman's shoulders were still heaving slightly, as her breathing had not yet returned to normal.

"Emma, tell me." Regina urged softly.

Slowly… rounded, tear-filled blue eyes found brown ones.

Regina's eyes searched Emma's, trying to decipher the turmoil that was burning within. The brunette didn't say anything more, she waited until Emma was ready to speak.

"Regina…" Emma began in a shaky voice. She swallowed back her emotions. "There's something…" The blonde took in a deep breath, blinking back tears and turning her gaze up towards the ceiling as she tried hard to gather her strength. "There's something that…" She cleared her throat. "There's something I've been wanting to tell you for a really long time."

Emma met Regina's gaze again, and another tear streamed down her cheek. Regina felt the tears springing to her own eyes as well, she didn't like to see Emma so distraught. The brunette remained quiet, she wouldn't have been able to find her voice even if she wanted to try to comfort Emma further.

"I didn't want to tell you…" Emma closed her eyes tightly as her words came out wrong. "I mean. I did want to tell you… and I've been wanting to tell you every day. But I just couldn't." She whispered.

Regina felt the breath leave her lungs as Emma's hands gently took hers.

"But… even if this ruins our friendship… I can't…" Emma took in another deep breath, blinking back more tears. "I can't wait any longer just in case…" Emma sighed quietly through the last words, "just in case."

Emma didn't need to specify. Regina knew what she meant: Just in case you die.

Regina closed her eyes for a few moments, feeling a tear fall down her own cheek as well.

"And I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something happened and I never got the chance to tell you. I just…" Emma swallowed nervously. "I just need you to know. I don't want to lose the chance to tell you, because you deserve to know. And you deserve to be told how amazing you are every day… and how perfect you are every day."

Regina's voice was still escaping her. She realized that her whole body was trembling, but it wasn't from cold, and it wasn't from fear. "Emma what are you trying to say?" She managed to whisper, hoping with her entire soul that what she suspected Emma was about to say was true.

Emma's eyes searched Regina's face. She looked away briefly and released a breath she had been holding as she tried to gather her remaining confidence. Finally, Emma forced her eyes to stay on the other woman's again. She raised a gentle hand to Regina's cheek, and then softly brushed her fingers through Regina's soft brown hair. "What I'm trying to say is that… I'm in love with you Regina."

Stunned, the brunette made a small, choked sound. She was sure that if she had been standing, her legs would have given way beneath her. Just like that, she had lost control of her emotions. Her heartbeat was thundering in her ears and she felt as if she couldn't breathe. Had she heard right? Yes, she knew she had…

"Emma…" Regina gazed at the other woman in wonder. She only realized there were tears streaming down her own face when her vision kept blurring. Regina breathed a shaky laugh as she covered her mouth with her finger tips. Suddenly her eyes were shining and she was smiling at Emma in a way the blonde had never seen before. Even despite all the tears, the smile made Regina look radiant, and it gave Emma the best feeling she had ever experienced in her life. "Emma I've been waiting so long for you to tell me that." Regina's voice trembled with emotion.

"Wh–what?!" Emma still couldn't believe what was happening. Could it really be true? "Regina do you–?"

Regina nodded, reaching for Emma who, in response, gathered the brunette into a tight embrace. She felt Regina's arms wrap desperately around her, and she felt as if a heavy weight that had been crushing her for the past half a year had finally been lifted.

"I love you too Emma." Regina's voice said into her ear.

Emma half gasped, half cried. She was smiling too, she realized. Regina loved her back. Regina, the most wonderful person Emma would ever meet, loved her back!

"Emma why didn't you tell me sooner?" Regina asked tearfully, pulling back ever so slightly to look up into Emma's eyes. Her own eyes were filled with a million questions.

Emma couldn't help herself, she slowly kissed the top of Regina's head, and then her temple, and then she held her close again. "I was afraid of losing you." She admitted defeatedly.

"Losing me?" Regina asked softly, her eyes rounding in concern.

Emma nodded, swallowing back her emotions once again. "You know, if you didn't feel the same way as I did. I didn't want my feelings to get in the way of our friendship. I couldn't risk losing what we already had. I'm sorry."

Regina's eyes softened as she placed a palm to the blonde's tear-stained cheek. "Emma… I was afraid of exactly the same thing."

Emma felt more tears fill her eyes. "You were?" She asked in soft adoration.

Regina nodded. She reached up to run her fingers through Emma's beautiful blonde hair, and then Emma saw the way Regina's gaze drifted to her mouth, silently asking. Emma was sure Regina could hear her fiercely beating heart as she drew her lips nearer to Regina's, and closed the distance between them. Regina closed her eyes as Emma Swan finally kissed her. She wrapped her arms gently around the back of Emma's neck to bring her closer, cherishing every moment.

"I love you." Emma murmured against Regina's lips before kissing her again. "I love you." She whispered, kissing her cheek. "I love you," she said again, kissing Regina's temple. Emma had waited so long to say this to Regina, that she found it difficult to stop now that it was finally out in the open.

Regina couldn't remember a time when she had felt as happy as she did now. She pulled Emma closer, drawing her down so that she would lie on the bed beside her. Regina nestled herself into Emma's side, hiding her face in the crook of her neck. She could feel the heat radiating from Emma's skin and could smell her shampoo as Emma's hair caressed the side of her face. The tears continued to flow but Regina didn't care. She had wanted this for so long, she couldn't believe Emma had felt the same all this time. She had certainly hoped, but she couldn't bring herself to believe.

Regina held on to Emma as tightly as she dared. She could feel that Emma was trying to be gentle with her, but she tried to convey to her using her own strength that it was okay for Emma to hold her more tightly. "Emma…" She murmured affectionately. Her lips found Emma's again and they shared another magical kiss. Since childhood, Regina had heard the tales which claimed that a first kiss from a true love was supposed to feel like fireworks in your heart. Regina didn't feel fireworks. What she felt was something much, much stronger. Neither she nor Emma ever wanted this moment to end.

Later That Day:

Dr. Montgomery was walking down the corridor towards Regina's hospital room. Clutched in her hand was a file containing Emma's initial blood test results, which she had just collected from the hospital lab.

When she reached the open doorway to her patient's room, she was momentarily frozen by the sight before her, until she gave a small smile. "I knew it." She said to herself. Emma and Regina were curled up in each other's arms, Emma was sitting a little higher than Regina and was leaning down, speaking quietly into her ear. The brunette breathed a laugh before turning her head up to meet Emma's lips in a loving kiss.

Dr. Montgomery felt a pang in her heart. She did not want to intrude, but she also had other patients she needed to visit with and she didn't want to put this off; she knew Emma and Regina were both eager to know the results. Feeling a little guilty for interrupting the moment, she knocked softly on the door. The two women broke apart almost like caught teenagers, before they both looked at each other a little sheepishly and then settled back down together again, both laughing softly to each other.

"Good evening. I'm so sorry to interrupt," Montgomery said, stepping into the room. "But Emma's blood typing results are ready and I didn't want you to have to wait any longer."

"They're done already?" Emma replied in excitement, sitting up a little straighter. "Wow that was fast. If you wanted to give them to us so quickly it must be good news right?" She said all of this rather quickly.

Regina didn't react quite the same way as Emma. She was studying Dr. Montgomery's face and she seemed to realize what Emma did not. She reached for Emma's hand, trying to slow the other woman's enthusiasm.

Dr. Montgomery came to stand closer to them both. She handed Emma a few pieces of stapled paper from the file, but the blonde did not look at them. Instead she waited to see what the doctor would say.

"Unfortunately – and I say this was the deepest of sympathies – the results came back negative." Montgomery said to them both.

Regina felt as if her chest was constricting, she dropped her gaze from the doctor without comment and turned her body a little further towards Emma's.

"I'm very sorry. I know how disappointing this must be, but please don't be too let down. We still have several options to consider."

"What do you mean I'm not a match?" Emma was angry. "I have to be!"

"I'm sorry but the test was conclusive."

"Can you run it again? Or do different types of tests? It was just one test! It could be wrong!"

"It wasn't wrong Emma. I know it's difficult to hear, but Regina's body won't be able to handle an organ from yours. It wouldn't be able to recognize the new kidney and the antibodies in her blood would attack it. If we were to do a transplant with your kidney we would be taking an extreme risk. Again, I'm very sorry. I know how badly you wanted to help Regina." Montgomery gave them both sad smiles.

"What do we do now then?" Regina asked in a small voice. She suddenly looked so defeated.

"Well… in the mean time we will keep you on the waiting list, but there is also the possibility of finding another live donor, or perhaps a donor/recipient pair to match you both with through our pairing program."

"What's that?" Emma asked, she had her arms protectively around Regina. It couldn't be possible that she wasn't a match. She had been so sure.

"Well think of it this way, Emma, you would like to donate your kidney to Regina, but you are not a match. The chances are, there is someone else who also wants to donate a kidney to someone they care for, but who isn't a match to the person they know either. It's possible we can find a donor who matches Regina's blood type, whose recipient also matches your blood type Emma. And if we find another pair that is compatible, Emma you would give your kidney to that other recipient, and that other recipient's donor would give their kidney to Regina. I know it must sound a little confusing at first, but does that make sense?"

"I think so… do you think it's really possible to find a pair who would match us both?" Emma asked.

"Yes it is absolutely possible. I see pairings made quite often. I can put you both into the program if it's something you would be interested in doing?"

Emma looked down at Regina who was nodding absently. "We'll try anything." The brunette mumbled, seemingly in a slight daze.

Emma nodded at Montgomery too, "yes please. Do whatever you can."

The doctor gave a kind smile. "Great. I will make sure that gets done as soon as possible. Again, I am very sorry about the results." Montgomery gave a small sigh as she observed the disappointed couple. "However, I do have some slightly better news." She said with optimism. They both looked up at her expectantly.

"How would you like to go home tomorrow?" Montgomery asked Regina.

"Tomorrow?" Regina repeated in confusion. Her thoughts briefly went to Storybrooke before she realized the doctor simply meant to discharge her. "Am I healthy enough to leave?"

"Yes I believe so. We will still have you come in several times a week for your treatments but I think leaving the hospital may do wonders for your recovery. As I mentioned before, your condition is not improving as quickly as I would like. I'm hoping some time in a place that is a little more comfortable will help with that. What do you think?"

Regina frowned. She had never lived in Emma's apartment before. She had only ever been there briefly to gather Henry's things when they were moving him back to Storybrooke. She would have get used to a new place all over again and all she really wanted was to go back to her own house. Still, leaving the hospital did sound tempting. "If you think I'm ready… why not." She gave the doctor a small smile.

"Thank you!" Emma replied, clearly excited to bring Regina home.

"My pleasure. I'll come by to see you before you leave tomorrow so that we can go over a few things. I hope you both have a good rest of the evening." The doctor gave them both a final nod before leaving the room and closing the door softly behind her.

Emma stared at the closed door for a few moments, thinking. The room remained silent until she felt Regina moving in her arms.

"Emma…" Regina whispered, meeting the other woman's gaze with a distraught look in her eyes.

"What is it?" Emma asked, taken aback. "You don't want to leave the hospital? Why didn't you tell her?"

"No it's not that… it's just… the transplant." She said simply.

Emma's shoulders drooped a little as she understood. "Oh… yeah I know… I'm really sorry Regina." She drew the brunette closer into her embrace. Regina must have been holding her emotions in until Montgomery left.

"It's not your fault." Regina rested her head against Emma's shoulder. "But…." she breathed a heavy sigh, "what are we going to do now?"

Emma was silent for a few moments, she could feel Regina shaking slightly as the other woman began to cry. Emma breathed a soft sigh. "Wait for a miracle." She mumbled, repeating Regina's words from earlier that day. "I still can't believe I'm not a match. It doesn't seem real." She rubbed Regina's back comfortingly.

Regina still looked crestfallen. "Do you think they'll find another pair to match with us?" She asked quietly.

Emma nodded as she absently brushed her fingers through Regina's hair. "Yeah. They have to." Emma pressed a kiss to the top of Regina's head before resting her cheek on that same spot. "Look, I know this wasn't what we were hoping for… but Regina, just know that whatever happens next, I'll never leave your side."

Emma heard a quiet sniffle from below, followed by Regina turning fully around into Emma's embrace. Regina was clutching Emma desperately close, and Emma knew that there was nothing more she could do right now but to hold the woman she loved, and let her know that she wasn't alone.

...

A/N: Thank you so much for reading. Please review, and take care xx