A/N: I am so sorry for the delay. Like... I won't make excuses. Just to make up for it I decided to do a double update. Chapt. !7 will be up shortly. This story is indeed my baby and I love it with my whole heart. Thank you for sticking around and being patient with me. I sincerely apologize for the wait. We're back in business!

Warnings for graphic depictions of violence. Blood and Gore. Like, I'm not kidding. It's graphic as hell. Overall, creepiness, language, and other things. Oh and sorry for mistakes, I couldn't go over another time lol. I own nothing.

BLAME THE BEAST! Enjoy!

Chapter Sixteen

Regina unlocked the front door and as soon as she turned the knob and the door flew open, the dogs ambushed them. Brutus and Brock went straight to Regina. Brock made a show of jumping up and down in front of his human mother while Brutus merely stood by wagging his tail with a smile on his face.

Daisy was standing on two legs with her front ones rested on the front of Monica's legs. She was wagging her tail and barking happily. Monica scratched behind her dog's ear and the dog's tail only sped up.

Brutus and Brock pushed passed Daisy and Monica and went up to Regina, wagging their tails and waiting for attention. They were kind of getting used to having to share Regina's affections with someone else. At first, they didn't take it so well. Emma was definitely a member of their pack and they loved her but Regina was theirs. Emma respected that and over time they came to a mutual understanding. Emma was Regina's mate, so in a way, she was like a second parent. The boys have come to see her as such long ago but every once in a while they would challenge her by doing things like wedging themselves between her and Regina in bed or lying on top of Regina so that Emma couldn't touch her. Emma would, of course, laugh it off and the dogs would bark happily, proud of themselves for amusing their friend.

But this time was different. They instantly realized that something was wrong with their Emma. They both began sniffing her trying to find out where she was hurt. Brutus nudged her side with his nose and whined. This, of course, caused his older brother to do the same. Brock was staring up at his humans with worried eyes.

"Okay," Regina said gently and she began stroking Brutus' head because she didn't want him to get worked up. "Emma is not feeling well so go on in the house so I can bring her in."

As if they understood her, both dogs ran inside of the house and sat in the foyer where they waited. Regina nodded in approval and that seemed to please them. Regina snorted then began pulling Emma inside. Monica followed them in with Daisy.

Emma was helped into the next room where Regina sat her on the couch and stood before her with her hands on her hips. She was wearing a worried frown and her eyes were glazed over with sympathy. She looked so tense as she regarded Emma carefully and Emma stared back at her girlfriend, unsure of what she should say.

"I'm okay, Gina." Emma tried to reassure her. Regina was still staring at her like an injured child. If Emma wasn't in so much pain she would have laughed and asked if she wanted to kiss her where it hurts. "Baby?"

Regina blinked then and looked up into her eyes. "Right." She said quickly. "Can I get you anything?"

"Uh..."

"Let me... um..." Regina looked around the room. Brutus and Brock had migrated to the living room and were watching Regina closely as if awaiting a command. Monica was in the doorway leaned up against the frame. "Monica!" Regina sighed when she saw her friend. "What should I do? How should I lay her down?"

Monica simply smirked and pushed off of the door frame. She walked into the room and up to the couch where Emma was seated. She grabbed a few of the pillows on the large black couch and began stacking them. "Get her boots off."

Emma went to bend and groaned at the tenderness in her side. Regina quickly leaped into action. She squatted in front of Emma and began undoing her boots. She carefully pulled them off and set them aside.

Monica put the last pillow into place. "Alright," she muttered. She laid a hand on Emma's shoulder and began pulling her back. Emma had no choice but to go with the flow. She was laid down sideways, against the pile of pillows and she let out a sigh of relief. That was really comfortable.

"You good?" Monica asked. Her calmness was a complete contrast from Regina's franticness. Emma simply nodded as she sank further into the pillows that kept her propped up. "Great." She looked up at Regina who was leaned over Emma a bit, rubbing her thigh. "She's good. Come on, I have to get my stuff out of your car."

Regina looked up from Emma then. She gave Monica a nod. She quietly leaned forward so that she was hovering above Emma's face, Emma accepted the offered kiss. "I'll be right back," Regina whispered. "The boys and Daisy will keep you company while I'm gone."

Emma chuckled softly as to not hurt herself. "Thanks."

Regina said nothing else but kissed Emma's cheek. She then pulled back and straightened up. Emma missed her instantly but then she was handed the remote and was momentarily distracted.

The other two women then left the room. Brutus and Brock sat there and Daisy laid out on the rug. All three dogs were staring at her. Brutus couldn't help himself and went up to her first. He began sniffing her and she just let him. He must have come to the conclusion that she was indeed hurt because he began licking her face. Emma snorted when the gargantuan beast's slobbery tongue made contact with her cheek.

"Gross, dude. Cut it out." The dog paused for only a second then went back in. "Dude!" She laughed out and pushed him away. He moved back and looked at her with his head tilted and began wagging his tail. "I get it, you love me and I love you, too but..." She wiped her cheek with her arm. "...Damn."

She saw movement out of the corner of her eye and looked over to see Brock's chubby, fluffy, backside rounding the couch, clearly going to follow Regina. Emma snorted. Of course. He was Regina's little shadow.

"You're fired." She muttered.

Brutus looked amused by her words then laid his head on her shoulder. She smiled at him. He was definitely her buddy. She turned back to the television and began flicking through the channels, hoping to find something good enough to distract her from the pain.

Regina popped the trunk to her car and she and Monica began gathering their bags. She quietly placed her things on the curb.

Monica observed her frazzled friend for a moment. She had enough of Regina worrying herself. "She's fine, Regina." She said gently as she grabbed her bags. "Stop worrying so much. You're making me nervous."

"I can't help thinking that it could have been worse than a bruised rib," Regina whispered despite it just being the two of them on the street. "What if he had broken her rib? I mean, you heard what Jason said about the humongous troglodyte."

"Trog-"

Regina didn't let her finish. "Or what if the gun wasn't fake?"

"Stop," Monica said firmly. "None of that. Emma is okay. She will be okay."

"I hope you're right."

The doctor scoffed. "I'm always right. Do you think I would have made it this far in medicine if I wasn't?" Regina gave her friend a side glance and slammed the trunk shut. Monica picked up her many bags and began carrying them to her car that was parked in front of Regina's house. "But seriously, take it easy. Order out tonight, cuddle up to Emma and shower her with kisses."

Regina watched her friend open her trunk and began putting her bags in. "Your clinging might come in handy for this," Monica added jokingly. Regina wrinkled her nose in response.

She glanced back towards the house where she saw movement in the doorway. She laughed when she saw Brock come running out the open door. He was so attached to her that he couldn't spend a moment away from her. He whines all day and scratches at the door when she goes out. He was a mama's boy all the way. The chubby dog ran across the porch and hopped down the stairs with his little stumpy legs. He clumsily landed on the path. She chuckled as he searched for her.

He whined as he ran this way and that. His little ears perked up, listening for her voice. She shook her head with a small smile at her needy little boy.

"Brock," she called gently. "Brock," she called again. He stopped on his way to round the house and looked up. "Brockie!" She called again.

He turned around then and when he saw her, his whole little face lit up. He came running across the grass to her. His tongue had fallen out of his mouth and was hanging from the side. He had the happiest little smile as he reached the gate and waited for her to open it.

"Hey." She said as she freed him. "You are a terrible nurse." She bent down to pet his head. "You left your patient inside." The dog actually looked ashamed for a minute but that passed given that he was so content to be with Regina. "It's okay because Brutus and Daisy are taking care of her."

"Daisy is the doctor. Emma's in good hands." Monica joked as she loaded the rest of her bags and shut the trunk. "Let's go see how they're getting along, shall we?"

Regina nodded and ushered Brock back into the yard. He ran ahead of them as they walked up to the porch. They entered the house and Regina could already hear the sound of a violent action movie playing.

Monica snorted as they walked into the living room and what they saw caused them both to chuckle. Emma was laid out on the couch with her eyes glued to the t.v. Brutus and Daisy were sitting in front of her staring at the screen as well. Regina set her bags down on the floor and put her hands on her hips.

"I leave you alone for five minutes and you're already exposing them to violent movies?" Regina asked in a playful tone. Emma glanced up and peeked over the back of the couch. She gave her girlfriend an apologetic smile.

"I mean..."

Regina rolled her eyes and stepped into the room. Monica called Daisy to her. She hooked her leash to her collar. The dog barked happily, excited that she was going outside.

"Hey. Emma, take it easy, alright? We don't need you injuring yourself further." Monica said firmly. "And don't let our little princess worry too much. You know how she is. Also, please call if you have any questions or something doesn't feel right. I got your back."

Emma smiled a bit despite the pain she was in. Monica was too kind and she's become somewhat of a mutual friend of theirs and Emma appreciated her. "Thank you and I will."

Monica nodded. "Good. Eat then take your meds."

Emma grinned. "Yes, doctor."

Monica chuckled. She looked between the couple then nodded. "I will see you two later. Come, Daisy."

She turned on her heels and began heading out of the room with the dog following behind her. Regina gave Emma a wink before following them out. Brock followed her as well but Brutus stayed put to keep a watchful eye on Emma.

In the foyer, Monica turned to her and Regina observed her friend with raised brows.

"Don't drive Emma crazy, alright?" Monica said with a sigh. "I know how you get and how you're a caretaker by nature but don't smother her."

Regina started to protest but her friend had a point. She was naturally nurturing and she did tend to smother. She sighed deeply and nodded. "Fine!"

Her best friend snorted then reached out for her. She grabbed her arm and yanked, pulling her into her arms so she could embrace her. Regina chuckled and hugged her back. "If you need me please do not hesitate to call."

That, of course, could have gone unsaid since Regina sees Monica as a lifeline but it wouldn't hurt to remind her.

As they pulled apart Regina nodded and gave her best friend a smile. "I know."

Monica kissed her cheek then pulled back and gave her a smile. "Great. I'll call you later to see how she is though."

"Alright."

Monica pulled the front door open and stepped out. Daisy ran out ahead of her. She turned and gave Regina a wave then she and the dog were on their way. Regina and Brock watched from the porch as the woman headed down the path and slipped out onto the sidewalk, she loaded her dog in the car before climbing into the driver's seat.

The car started and the horn honked before she pulled off. Regina stood there until they disappeared from sight then she stepped back inside and shut the door. She looked down to see Brock staring up at her. She gave him a small look then shrugged.

"Come on, let's go see Emma."

At the sound of that, the dog barked in agreement and began leading the way back to the living room.

"Okay, there we go," Regina whispered as she helped Emma lie down on a mountain of pillows on her bed.

"Thank you, baby," Emma said as she settled back. The dogs had followed them into the room and Brutus jumped up on to the bed. He laid on Regina's side as Regina helped Brock up on the bed. He then trotted across the spread and laid between them.

Regina chortled and Emma peeked over the dogs at her girlfriend. They shared a smile then Regina stepped away from the bed.

"Where are you going?" Emma groaned. She hissed in pain when she tried to shift and see where her girlfriend was headed.

"Right here," Regina said as she stopped in front of her closet where a bunch of bags laid at her feet. She bent over and Emma didn't exactly mind the view. She pulled something out of the bag. It was a beautiful dress that Emma already couldn't wait to see her in.

She grabbed the bags and stepped inside of the closet.

"What's the plan tonight, Regina?" Emma called towards the closet.

"What do you mean?" Regina asked.

"Like, what are we doing?"

"Want to watch a movie or binge a show?" Regina offered. "Want to order Chinese?"

Emma nodded. That did sound nice. They barely get any of that with Emma's schedule. They had barely been on a date in weeks and Emma felt extremely guilty for that. She planned to take her out soon.

"We can do that," Emma replied. "What are we watching?"

"Well, there's American Horror Story," Regina suggested. "Ever watched that?"

Honestly, no. Emma just assumed she wouldn't like it so she never tried it. "How is it?"

"It's good but every season is different."

Emma hummed thoughtfully. She marked that as a maybe. "What else?"

Regina chuckled. "Channel Zero?"

"I've heard of that. What's up with you and horror these days? Aren't you afraid of it?"

"You like it."

"But I don't want you to be scared." It took a moment and then it registered. "You want to be scared so I can hold you. Very slick, Regina."

Regina snickered. "You got me."

"You know all you have to do is climb into my arms, right? You don't have to plot."

"Where's the fun in that?"

Emma smirked. "It's plenty fun if you ask me."

Regina giggled. "How about we find a really good lesbian film?"

"Not tonight, Regina, please. My heart can't take it."

"They all aren't heartbreaking, Emma. Either way, there's a painful beauty to it."

"True." Emma had to agree there.

"What if there's a lot of sex?" Emma could hear the purr in her girlfriend's voice and that made her laugh. She held in a groan at the pain that the expansion of her lungs caused. She knew that Regina was only joking anyway.

"We have a lot of sex. We don't need to watch them. Besides, there is no point in turning ourselves on if we can't do anything about it." She teased back.

"Who says we can't do anything about it?" Regina asked as she emerged from the closet.

Emma furrowed her brows and frowned. "You did. Earlier."

"I said we can't have sex... like rigorous sex where you have to move around a lot. I think I can get you off without you having to do much but enjoy it."

Emma's lips and mouth went completely dry. "Yeah?" She croaked.

Regina nodded with a little smirk. "You have no idea what I'm capable of."

Emma cleared her throat. She wasn't sure if they were joking anymore. "That so?"

Regina giggled at receiving the reaction from Emma she wanted. She picked up the last bag and headed for the bed. She ushered the dogs to the end of the bed then climbed in. Emma made a grabby motion with her hands for her.

"Come here."

Regina smiled wide and mischievously. "I got you something today." She held out the bag. Emma gave her girlfriend a suspicious side glance.

"What have I told you about buying me things?" She asked as she accepted the bag.

Regina pouted. "But I wanted to because I love you and I missed you."

"So if I was there you wouldn't have done it?"

Regina smirked. "I wouldn't go that far."

Emma snorted and peered into the bag. She pulled out the two glasses cases. One was a soft brown color and the other was black. She sat them in her lap and Regina moved the bag and sat it behind her.

Emma looked at the cases and read, 'Tom Ford'. Her eyes widened and she looked up at Regina. "Baby, what the hell?"

Regina frowned. "You don't like them?"

Emma felt a bit guilty about her reaction. It wasn't that she didn't like them but that was an extravagant gift. "These are way too expensive."

"But..." Regina poked out her bottom lip. "I thought they would look so sexy on you."

"They better for ten grand."

Regina laughed. "They were hardly ten grand."

Emma sighed deeply. She opened the first one, revealing a pair rose gold aviator shades. She chuckled. They were nice but she couldn't help but think that she didn't deserve gifts from Regina because she hadn't been completely honest with her. She picked them up out of the case. "How much?"

"You aren't supposed to ask someone how much a gift was." Regina scolded.

Emma's brows rose in surprise at that. That was true but she really wanted to know how much she spent. "Excuse me."

"You're excused. Now... put them on so I can swoon."

Emma grinned at Regina's words and picked the glasses up. She slid them on and judging by the mesmerized look on Regina's face, they looked good. She chuckled. "I'm assuming they look good."

"So sexy." Was Regina's response as she gave her that look.

Emma smirked. "Yeah?"

"Mhmm" Regina nodded. "Now, let's see the other ones."

Emma smirked and pulled off the glasses and proceeded to try on the other pair.

Regina snuggled closer to Emma's side, being mindful of her injured ribs. She kissed her cheek and Emma hummed before turning to her so their lips could meet. Regina laid her head back down on Emma's shoulder. Her arm tightened around her waist.

Emma gently pressed her lips to Regina's forehead. Brutus had his head rested on Regina's side and Brock had managed to wedge himself between them and his head was on her hip. The sight was adorable and that's what she's always wanted. A family and now here she was cuddling with them while watching a film about man-eating dinosaurs.

"Do you think this could actually happen?" Emma asked as her arm tightened around Regina's shoulder.

Regina looked up at Emma. "It's possible."

"How fucked would we be?"

"A Tyrannosaurus could reach about twenty feet in height and around forty feet in length..." Regina whispered. "So quite."

Emma looked down at her and grinned. "Well then..."

"But they would bring back mammoths before something like a t-rex."

Emma fought down a giggle but couldn't help herself when she asked, "How do you know this stuff?"

"I read." Regina laughed.

Emma chuckled. "Fair enough." She smiled. "Would you go there though?"

Regina laughed. "Oh definitely."

Emma snorted. "Me too."

"People are odd."

Emma chuckled. "Totally."

Emma jumped a bit when Regina placed the cold ice pack to her flesh. She laid there with her shirt pulled up to her chest and nothing else but her boxer briefs. Regina was in her underwear as well.

"Too cold?" Regina asked.

"No. It just surprised me." Emma said with a smile. It actually felt good against the nasty bruises on her side.

Regina hummed thoughtfully. "Can I get you anything else?"

"I'm full," Emma said gently. "I'm drugged and you're here taking care of me. What more could I need?"

Regina looked up into Emma's face. "You are so charming but you know that."

Emma grinned at her before leaning in for a kiss. Their lips met for a brief yet meaningful kiss. Regina then pulled away and Emma's hand found it's way to her cheek. She stroked her flesh gently with her thumb. "Thank you for taking care of me."

Regina smiled. "It's my pleasure, seriously."

"Is it?"

"Yes, that doctor from earlier is not the only person who likes taking care of you."

Emma snorted. "Oh, shut up." She muttered before she claimed Regina's lips again with her own. Regina gasped in surprise but melted into the kiss.

She knew that Regina knew deep down that Emma had eyes for no one else. Regina was her everything and she didn't need anything else.

After managing to make it to the last film in the series and venture into the spin-off, Regina drifted off to sleep before Emma as she usually does. Emma wasn't in immense pain due to the meds and the fact that Regina had been icing her on and off before they went to sleep. The room has been completely still with Brutus at the foot of the bed and Brock snuggled in Regina's arms.

Emma felt a sudden chill to her very soul that led into a terrible discomfort. An eeriness came over her and her eyes sprang open. She groaned and stared up at the black ceiling for a moment. She had a terrifying feeling in her chest and she really needed to speak to Regina. She wouldn't mind her waking her.

She shifted a bit so that she could put a hand on her girlfriend's shoulder. The woman didn't stir which was odd because Regina was a feather-light sleeper.

"Baby," she whispered as to not startle her. She got no response so she shook her a bit. Her hand moved up and she went to turn her over but she felt something warm and squishy on her hand. She brought her palm to her face and in the glow of the moonlight, she could see the dark red dripping from her fingers.

Her heart stopped and she felt like she was going to be sick. She just knew but she didn't want to believe it.

She reached over and began turning Regina over. She couldn't help the scream that ripped from her at the sight that greeted her.

Regina laid there, on the bed with her eyes wide open and a look of horror on her face. There was an open, bloody, gash on her throat from one side to the other.

Emma pulled herself up, discovering that not only her hand but that entire side of her body was covered in blood as well. The bed was soaked in the woman's blood, meaning she must have bled out and suffered horribly. Emma couldn't imagine what her last moments were like. Dread and a numbing pain sunk into her chest at the loss of the love of her life in such a horrific way.

She died at her hands. She just knew. She gathered her body into her arms as a last effort to protect and comfort her.

"Fuck, baby." She whispered and held onto her girlfriend's lifeless body. "Shit." Tears sprang to her eyes and when she saw the knife on the opposite side of Regina, that was the confirmation of what she had thought. She now knew what she had done. "I'm so sorry." She whispered as she rocked her. "I'm sorry."

She shut her eyes and buried her face in the woman's dark, blood-soaked hair and just held onto her. She was beginning to get cold so she has been dead a while. Emma couldn't imagine what Regina must have been thinking as her life left her. She was probably terrified and the one person that was supposed to be protecting her was causing her harm. Murdering her.

Emma squeezed her eyes shut but the tears fell anyway. She sobbed, each shaking her entire body. This was something she couldn't bear. The other deaths, yes. She got rid of the bodies and went about her life. Even though it burdened her, she could still carry that but Regina was and still is her whole world. This is crushing her. She can't live in a world without her.

When she opened her eyes for the first time, she noticed Brock. He was lying there, unmoving. That was odd. He would have been in a panic nor would he have let anyone, Emma or otherwise harm Regina. This just didn't feel right.

With a shaking hand, she reached over and touched his head but it wasn't his at all. It rolled away from the nudge and she realized that it was Brutus' head. Her heart stopped and her stomach lurched. She could feel the bile rising up in her throat. The only sound in the room was her panicked shallow breathing. She laid Regina across her lap. Then slowly turned to the foot of the bed where the big dog slept. Her mouth opened in horror at the sight. All that remained was a bloody stump where his head should be. She had no idea where Brock's head was.

She looked around with wild eyes in the darkness of the room. Her eyes caught a shape that was familiar, hanging off one of the posts on the bed. She narrowed eyes and that's when she couldn't hold down the nausea anymore. She turned away and was sick right there on the bedspread. The sight and the smell of blood and death finally getting to her. Brock's head was stuck on the post.

The brutality of the murders was too much and she knew this was personal. The Beast was sending a message.

She couldn't even look at the three bodies any longer. She squeezed her eyes shut again, wishing it all away.

She had woken up in their bed with her murdered girlfriend and two decapitated dogs. She was covered in blood and so was the entire bed and wall behind them. She knew exactly what happened.

She was at fault. She did this just as much as the beast had. The woman she loved's blood was on her hands.

"I'm sorry, Regina." She whispered softly.

There was a distorted laugh from behind her that caused Emma to jump and whirl around. What she found resulted in her feeling a rush of pure rage.

There stood the beast smirking over her. Its black coal like eyes fixed on her.

"What have you done!" Emma screamed. "I loved her!"

The beast tilted its head and its pitch black eyes stayed locked on her. She frowned. Its smirk turned into a sinister grin. Then its hand rose, the blade of a knife reflected the moonlight and Emma gasped. She barely had time to react as the knife came down.

Emma's eyes flew open. She was pleased to find that she was safely in her bed. She sighed in relief and her eyes slipped closed. It was just a nightmare. She felt a presence hovering above her and she peeked an eye open cautiously. There was nothing but a shadow in a black hood leaning over her. She tried to sit up but to her dismay, she couldn't move.

The shadow said nothing and the chill it brought along with it, followed it as it rounded the bed to Regina's side. Emma watched it as it reached out and wrapped its hand around Regina's throat. That, of course, startled the woman awake and she gasped as its grip tightened. It lifted her from the bed. The sounds that Regina was making in her attempts to fight for her life and the ability to breathe was heartbreaking. She gagged and gasped as she fought desperately. Her nails dug into her attacker's gray scaly flesh which only caused it to let out an animalistic growl.

"Emma." She managed to choke out and she looked over at her for help. Emma tried to move but it felt like all of her limbs were being weighed down as well as her chest.

She whimpered softly as Regina's movements slowed down. She was beginning to weaken. The hooded figure squeezed a bit more then there was a snap. Regina's hands fell to her sides as her body slumped over, lifelessly. The figure then threw Regina on the bed like she was nothing. Her head turned and her dead eyes stared directly at Emma.

Emma was suddenly overcome with agony. She had never felt so helpless. A tear ran down Emma's cheek and on to the pillow. She couldn't even speak or sob the way she needed to. The figure returned to her side and stood over her. She couldn't see anything but she had a feeling that she knew exactly what it was.

It was the darkest part of her. Her inner monster.

She felt its hands wrap around her throat and her eyes closed. She heard the snap before she felt it and then nothing.

Emma's eyes sprung open and she gasped. She was unable to move for a few moments but before she could panic, she was freed. She exhaled and sat straight up, ignoring the pain in her chest. She rubbed her hand over her face and through her hair. She was sweating through her shirt and her heart was pounding in her chest. Her eyes darted around the room.

"You're too weak to fight me off. Just give in." A gravelly voice whispered into her ear and Emma shook it off.

She knew what she needed to do.

She leaned over to Regina and shook her gently. She received a soft grunt of protest which was a relief after her dreams.

"Gina, I need to talk to you." She whispered softly. Regina was her tether and she needed her.

That seemed to grab Regina's attention because she rolled onto her back before rolling onto her side. She propped herself up on her elbow. She still looked half asleep but Emma's well-being was far more important than rest. "What's wrong?" She asked softly as she placed her hand on Emma's thigh. Emma laid back and turned to face Regina.

"I had a nightmare." She confessed.

"You were injured in a traumatic way so that makes sense," Regina muttered. She moved her hand up to Emma's face. Her fingertips traced over her lips and Emma kissed them softly. "Would you like to talk about it?"

Emma shook her head. "I want to forget it."

Regina sighed and gave Emma a sympathetic look. "Alright. So what do you want to do? Want to put on a movie? Do you want to talk about something else until you fall back asleep? Want to... play cards?" She asked the last part with a small smile.

Emma shook her head and shifted a bit. She tried not to wince too much as she rolled over to be face to face with Regina. She placed her hand on her cheek and stroked her soft flesh gently with her thumb. She looked into her eyes and she saw a flash of the woman's lifeless eyes from the dream. It startled her and her eyes widened. She could never let that happen to her. She had to protect her.

"Emma..." Regina muttered.

"Shhh..." was Emma's reply before kissing her deeply.

Regina hummed in pleasant surprise. It's not every night that Emma wakes up with so much energy.

Emma began coaxing her to lie down on her back. Regina chuckled as she settled back against the pillow.

"That must have been some nightmare." She muttered as Emma pulled away for a moment.

"It was..." Emma mumbled as she tried to get on top of Regina but a sharp pain on her side stopped her and caused her to hiss in pain.

Regina chuckled. "Oh, poor baby. Were you trying to..." She wagged her brows.

Emma snorted. "I wanted to feel you. I needed to feel you."

Regina's brows rose in surprise. "Emma, what happened? Did something happen to me in your nightmare?"

Emma gave her a guilty look. "Yes. You died," she admitted.

Regina nodded. "Okay. " She bit her lip. She was curious as to how but she knew that Emma was in no state to answer that. "It's not real though. I'm right here and alive. See?"

Emma squeezed her eyes shut. She laid back against the pillows. "I know. Fuck. It scared me."

Regina smiled and rolled over so that she was half on top of Emma but avoiding her side. "Don't be scared. I'm right here. Nothing is going to happen to me."

She kissed Emma soundly before resting her head on her chest. Emma nodded and kissed her hair. "I know. I love you."

Regina looked up at her and smiled. "I love you, too."

Emma smiled as their lips met again. "Good."

"Are you sure you don't want to talk about it more?" Regina asked. Brock's head popped up and he gave Emma a dirty look for stealing Regina from him. He then stood and headed to the foot of the bed and curled up with his brother.

"Not really," Emma muttered.

Regina hummed and kissed Emma's shoulder. "Fine. We don't have to talk about that." She reached for Emma's hand and held it, interlocking their fingers. "We can just lie here."

Emma hummed and tightened her grip around Regina's waist, protectively. Regina snuggled closer to her side, seeming safe in Emma's strong arms.

Emma, however, knew better.

She was right. The injury weakened her. The beast knew this now. It would be coming harder now than ever.

It was already starting, trying to intimidate her with the dreams. It was sinking further into her subconscious and it was scary. Soon it will consume her. Then what?

She couldn't imagine Regina having to face it when Emma was no longer home.

She could feel it clawing away inside her head, trying to break free from where it had been trapped. She closed her eyes and tensed a bit. Regina looked up at her.

"Am I hurting you?" She asked quietly. She went to pull away. "Should I move?"

Emma's arm tightened around her. "No, please. It's not you. It's okay."

Regina nodded and laid back down. She looked up at her and her hand let go of hers for a moment and moved up to where her fingers began tracing the cleft in Emma's chin.

"What's up with you and my chin?" Emma asked in an attempt at teasing.

Regina grinned. "It's cute and so are your dimples." She poked Emma's cheek to emphasize this.

Emma chuckled and took Regina's hand into her own. She kissed it before bringing it back down to her stomach. She interlaced their fingers again. Regina smiled wide at her.

"Feeling better?" She asked.

No. "Yes." That was a lie. She was still panicking.

"Good," Regina said brightly and sighed as she relaxed against her again. "It was a dream. Perhaps there's something your brain needs to work out."

"What do you mean?" Emma asked softly.

Regina hesitated as if trying to think of how to explain it. "Sometimes the human brain uses dreaming as a way to process things that one would choose to ignore in their waking moments. For example, your injury and how it happened. I think you got scared which is understandable but you would never admit that. Your mind knows this. That fear manifested in a dream."

Emma knew that wasn't the case. "Why you though and not me?"

Regina shrugged. "Your fear of losing me?"

Emma looked at Regina with wide eyes.

"But I'm safe with you," Regina said gently. "You won't let anything happen to me."

Emma nodded. well, anything she could control. "Yeah, I will always keep you safe."

Regina hummed and snuggled impossibly closer. "You better."

That made Emma chuckle, alleviating a bit of the tension in the room. She gave Regina a squeeze. "I can't fall back asleep."

Regina yawned and stretched the best she could in that position. "That's fine. We'll stay up."

"No." Emma protested. "Sleep. It's okay."

"I don't want to." Regina pouted. "You can't make me."

Emma snorted. "You are so stubborn." She mumbled. "Fine, stay up."

She reached onto the nightstand and grabbed the remote. She flicked the tv on. She began flicking through the channels looking for something to watch. Regina sighed against her. She looked down and caught her staring up at her. Emma raised her brows in question.

Regina shook her head and laid her head back on Emma's chest. Emma could feel Regina's heartbeat and that began to calm her a bit. It didn't silence but it quieted down the evil in her head once again.

For now.

Sorry?

Thanks for reading. The next update should be up in a few hours or less. This one was just ready, I think.