Chapter 17

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Henry sat in the most uncomfortable plastic chair watching silently as Regina paced back and forth. The sound of her boot heels tapped melodically as she continued her route. She would walk from the end of the row of uncomfortable plastic chairs to the windowed area of Emma's exam room. There was a curtain pulled blocking everyone's view as Dr. Stanley, whom Henry had never met before but was supposed to be a powerful witch doctor, assessed Emma's condition.

Doctor Whale was treating Mary Margaret and the baby on the other end of the hallway. If Henry looked down the corridor he could see David pacing back and forth in the same fashion as his mother. Lined along the wall on either side of the hallway were various groups of people waiting to hear word on Mary Margaret and the baby. There were only a few really truly waiting to hear about how Emma's was doing. That annoyed Henry. It made him angry.

But a lot of things were making him angry. He had spent the first hour they arrived in the hospital in tears as Regina held onto him as if she were never going to let him go again. He lost count of how many times he apologized for hurting…for shooting his mom. Just thinking about having pulled the trigger made his body tense up as a lump formed in his throat.

He was happy that his mom was okay now. That there wasn't even a scar left from where she'd been shot—he'd asked to see because he didn't really believe that she was telling the truth. He'd touched the part of her stomach that he knew he'd shot her and felt nothing but smooth skin. With a sigh he'd accepted that there would at least be no physical reminded of his actions. Though the emotional and mental wounds it caused weren't even close to being considered scars. They were new and festering and would take time to get past.

"What is taking this bloke so long?" Hook stepped away from the wall where he'd been leaning. Of everyone he was just as impatient as Regina and Charming, but he wasn't pacing a floor into the linoleum floor.

"I don't know." Regina continued to pace, not even sparing Hook a glance.

"What happened back in that clearing? How is it that you're healed?" Hook had waited over an hour to ask the questions that had been burning his tongue since they'd all retreated to the hospital.

He had been about to interrogate Regina on what kind of magic had literally made Zelena disappear and healed everyone—including him a half an hour ago, but Blue Fairy's arrival had stopped him. The matron had demanded to see Emma immediately as she was the most qualified to help Emma. Now, even to Hook that had been fishy, and he was a pirate. He knew fishy characters when he saw them, and Blue Fairy stunk to high heaven of lies and deceit.

Regina had physically put herself in front of the door to Emma's exam room, blocking the woman's path. "You'll have to walk over my dead body before you see her."

Charming had finally left the hallway by Snow White to see what the commotion was all about. When Blue fairy explained that she wished to examine Emma for herself but was being stopped by the Evil Queen, everyone had expected Charming to side with the fairy. He surprised everyone by requesting that the Blue Fairy leave Dr. Stanley to his work and for her to return to the convent, where she would be safe from the newest threat.

"What threat? I thought the Wicked Witch had been defeated." Blue had become worried at the appearance of another evil so soon after the first had been vanquished.

Charming had sneered at Blue, showing his obvious dislike of the woman he had once trusted and called friend, "Me."

Hook recalled how Ruby gasped and stared open mouthed at Charming as he leaned threateningly into Blue's face. "You and yours stay away from my family." His teeth ground together as he glared menacingly at Blue. "Or you will find just how unsafe you can be when someone puts a target on YOUR back and those with power to help do nothing to defend you."

Blue sputtered, "We had no choice for the protection and the balance of the greater good…"

"Enough!" Regina cut Blue off before she could continue to spout her diatribe. "You make your own rules and claim to be good for ensuring the balance of good and evil. But all you really do is ensure the balance of power is always in your favor. You are nothing but a two faced conceited power hungry bitch."

"How dare you!"

"No, Blue! How dare you." Ruby chimed in. "How dare you label those you are afraid of and don't understand or fear as evil." Like herself. Blue had never liked her because of her werewolf nature and had warned Charming and Snow on several occasions that it was a mistake for them to trust her. She had yet to prove disloyal to Snow and Ruby had watched time after time as Blue orchestrated betrayals but as the puppeteer she created an excuse that clouded her involvement and responsibility to accept the consequences.

"I think it would be best if you left, love." Hook had put himself between Ruby and Blue when it looked like the fairy might actually attack the feisty werewolf.

Blue turned to Charming as if expecting him to have changed his mind. When he looked away from her, thus withdrawing his favor of her, she had no choice but to leave the hospital with her head bowed in shame.

Hook had given everyone time to relax from that confrontation. But he had waited long enough. There were answers that needed to be shared because what happened in that clearing was giving him a headache. They were losing. He recalled that and how he'd allowed Emma to beat him to a bloody pulp rather than defend her and hurt her. He remembered seeing Regina get shot and how she'd saved baby Charming—whom had yet to be named but he took to calling him Junior—even while wounded as she was. He remembered Emma sending those weapons towards Regina and helplessly watching as they were a centimeter away from piercing Regina's skin before he was blinded by an explosion of white magic. Magic that had healed everyone still alive inside the clearing, turned those poor souls who'd been transformed into flying monkeys back to humans, and sent the Wicked Witch to parts that were as of now unknown.

That had been a refreshing start to the afternoon. But now several hours later everyone was still without answers.

Regina finally looked at Hook and clenched her fists at her sides, "I don't know!" Her voice was raised as she glared daggers his way.

"You have to know! Or have some bloody idea!" Hook gestured around them. "How are you still alive?"

"I don't…" Regina faltered for a moment as her hand slipped unconsciously to her stomach where she'd been shot. "I don't know."

Henry cringed in his seat as he saw how Regina's hand remained over where the wound had been.

"Yes you do! You have to."

"Why? Because I know so much about white magic?" Regina asked with a sneer. "I know as much about white magic as you do about personal hygiene."

"He's not accusing you of anything, Regina." Ruby tried to diffuse the argument before it got any worse or drew more of a crowd.

"Stay out of this, wolf."

"Don't you threaten her!" Hook chimed up, finding himself protective of the she-wolf. She had been the only one besides Emma who trusted him and truly helped integrate him into the merry band of good guys. If he hadn't been so heartbroken over Emma back in the Enchanted Forest he might have taken her offer to stay with the group just to get to know her better.

"Aww, has the pirate found a new useless cause to chase after?" Regina mocked, trying not to notice how her comment injured Ruby more than it did Hook. That was not her intention.

Regina pinched the bridge of her nose as she closed her eyes and stared down at the ground. "I apologize. I did not mean…" Regina sighed, "I meant no disrespect, Ruby."

"Oh, only Ruby."

Ruby hit Hook to keep him from saying anything more and riling Regina up again.

"My only conclusion is that Emma…that when she was going to kill me she somehow channeled her magic through her heart and used that as a grenade in a way. The implosion of the magic had varying effects on everyone around her, but essentially she was erasing the actions done by dark magic and intentions. I've never." Regina shook her head as she looked at the three people around her. "I've never seen anything like this. Or heard of it. It's unprecedented. It should be impossible. She should have killed me."

"She could never hurt you, mom. She loves you." Henry's voice was as small as it had been three years ago. He was once again the little boy who needed his mother's help with his homework and a hug to make the tears and fears go away.

"Henry, I know Emma cares for me but,"

"No. Henry's right." Regina looked at Ruby with a raised brow, "Emma loves you. She's been falling for you since she arrived in Storybrooke. She just, after what happened with your mother," Ruby had the good graces to cringe over that whole issue, "She thought she didn't deserve you and she buried her feelings. But it didn't make them go away."

"You guys kissed and it broke Zelena's curse. True love's kiss doesn't work unless both parties love each other." Henry knew that from his book.

Regina sighed as she finally took a seat next to Henry. She tried to find a comfortable position but after a few moments gave up, realizing there was just no becoming comfortable on these chairs.

Emma loved her, Regina smiled softly.

"When you said her heart exploded…" Hook edged the conversation back towards the issue at hand. "…does that mean it's gone?" And if it was, how was Emma still alive?

Regina sighed, "I don't know. Until Dr. Stanley tells us what he's found. I have no idea what happened to Emma's heart."

Hook didn't press for anything more from Regina. Not now. They all needed a little while to calm down.

It was a few minutes later when Charming made his way over to the group. "Any word?" He asked, meeting everyone's eyes, except Henry's who was fast asleep, his head nestled upon Regina's lap.

"No." Ruby answered for everyone. "How's Snow?"

"Snow and the baby are fine." Charming looked to Regina as if he wanted to make it clear that his son and wife were fine because of Regina. His throat nearly closed as he fought with himself for a moment before throwing caution to the wind. "Thank you." He fought back the tears that were pricking against his eyes. "Thank you for…"

"You're welcome." Regina didn't know how to handle the sight of Charming's tears and was hoping he would walk away. She had to admit that a bit of the weight within her chest had lifted at the news that Snow and the baby were okay. Regina never thought that she would risk her life to save the child of Snow White and Prince Charming. Ever. And yet she'd also never thought she'd fall in love with their daughter and share a son with her. It seemed life truly was full of surprises.

"Any decisions on a name?" Ruby changed the subject to save everyone the awkwardness they'd all fallen into.

"Robert Lucas." As close as a namesake for Regina and Ruby as they could find.

Ruby was all smiles as she heard her nephew's name for the first time.

"Congratulations, mate." Hook stepped up and offered his hand to Charming. Charming took it and shook it firmly.

Just as the men dropped their hands away Emma's door opened and Dr. Stanley slowly peeked out into the hallway. Once he saw that the crowd was still around he stepped all the way out of the room with a calming smile.

The smile put everyone at ease. "How is she?" Regina asked from her seat, unwilling to move and wake Henry just yet.

"She's doing as well as can be expected. Her body is recovering from the shock. The amount of spells that poor girl has suffered through in the last few days alone is astounding." Regina cringed, knowing she was somewhat at fault for that. "She needs plenty of rest. Her body is in a bit of shock as is her mind. She needs a little while to catch up with herself. She suffered a decent concussion. I'd like to keep her here for a few days to just keep an eye on her and give her plenty of fluids. But she should make a full recovery."

"And her heart?" Hook asked, shocking Charming, who hadn't been around for their conversation a half hour before.

"Right where it is meant to be." Dr. Stanley assured them all and watched as a visible weight came off their shoulders at that fact. "She's asking for you, Regina."

"I'll watch after him." Ruby promised as she helped Regina lift Henry up so that Regina could stand and Ruby take her place. Henry was so exhausted that he slept right on through the shift in pillows.

"Tell her we love her." David requested as Regina made her way into Emma's room, the door closing behind her.

Emma was hooked up to a heart monitor and had a an IV in her arm with two fluids being administered.

"I thought he'd never leave." Emma complained immediately as she turned her head to see Regina walking slowly towards her. There was a chair right by the bed that she hoped Regina would take. But it seemed Regina preferred to stand, as she made herself comfortable at the end of the bed. Practically as far away from Emma as she could be.

"He may have very well saved your life. I think you should show a little more respect."

"Yes, dear." Emma's sarcastic response did not elicit a smile or even an eye roll from Regina. "Regina, are you alright?"

"Am I alright?" What kind of idiotic question was that. Of course she wasn't alright! She'd nearly lost both Henry and Emma in the last few hours alone. She'd been shot. Her sister was most likely dead. She'd finally been chosen over Blue Fairy. Charming had given his nod of approval to her. Her son shot her. Emma almost died. Emma almost killed her only to save her and almost die herself. So no! No. She was not alright.

"I'm fine." She lied.

"Fucked up, Insecure, Neurotic, and Emotional sounds just about right."

"This isn't the time for games, Ms. Swan."

"No. This is the perfect time for games, Regina. We all almost died. I almost killed you! Hell, Henry shot you! You saved my my…"

"Brother. She had a boy." Regina supplied, realizing Emma didn't even know if it had been a boy or a girl. "His name is Robert Lucas."

"That's…" Emma felt a lump grow in her throat, "…a fine name for a Prince. Don't you think?"

"Yes, a fine name for a Prince." Regina nodded her head, realizing Emma wasn't as secure about this new sibling as she was trying to make everyone believe.

Emma cleared her throat and blinked away the tears in her eyes. "How is Henry?"

"He's…" Regina sighed, "…doing as well as can be expected. He had a moment to speak with Dr. Hopper but he didn't seem willing to talk to anyone about what happened just yet. He's currently sleeping just outside with Ruby watching over him."

"He'll need help after all of this. Professional help." The kind of help Emma wasn't sure Archie could give him. But Henry trusted Archie so really only time would tell how things would pan out.

"Yes, I've already spoken to Archie about a session a day for the next two weeks just to help ground him."

"That sounds like a good idea." Though that meant they would be staying in Storybrooke.

Regina bowed her head, glad that Emma agreed with her.

An uncomfortable silence fell over the two women. "Emma I…"

"I love you." Emma blurted out. Not waiting to see what kind of rejection Regina was going to try and give her. She knew the signs of Regina pulling away. If she had learned anything from those fake memories it was how to read Regina better than Regina could herself. She'd already been decent at it. But now she knew Regina like the back of her hand and could anticipate what she'd do in an effort to protect herself.

Emma wasn't going to let Regina protect herself from her. "I should have said it to you two years ago. I should have defended you better against everyone. I should have helped you escape your mother's clutches instead of using Henry as a weapon to hurt you. I can't take all of that back. I wish I could. But what I can do is promise that I will never let anyone hurt you if I can stop it. I will keep your heart safe and I will love you with the type of passion and fire, devotion, and adoration that you deserve."

Regina was shocked silent. She swallowed twice in an effort to make her throat and mouth less dry. "I…Emma it's."

"Complicated. I know. Everything is complicated. It's never not going to be complicated. I don't care, Regina. I don't. I just need to know that you'll give us a try. That you'll give us a chance and we'll handle all the complicated messes that come our way, together."

Emma felt her heart halt in her chest as she waited for Regina to answer her. "Please…" She whispered, desperate. "Give us a chance. Please don't run away from me because you think I'm going to hurt you." Emma didn't think she was physically capable of hurting Regina. She'd broken free of a spell no one had ever broken free of because she had been so terrified to lose Regina, period. Then to add onto it that Regina would have died by her own hand? She would rather die herself than have let any one of those weapons touch Regina's skin.

Regina shook her head from side to side, making Emma's heart fall into the pit of her stomach.

"You foolish, stupid, stubborn, woman." Regina muttered, with each insult she took one large step towards Emma until she was at the head of the bed and leaning over just above Emma's face. "I love you, too." Regina whispered the declaration against Emma's lips as she kissed the blonde softly. "You're going to have to learn to let me speak. Or I'll simply have to sew your lips shut."

Emma laughed, even as she shivered at the threat lacing Regina's words. "I can do that."

"Good." Regina cupped Emma's cheek and brushed her thumb slowly across the unmarred skin. "Let's give this a try."

Emma's smile was brilliant and it warmed Regina's heart and gave her hope. Hope that this wasn't a mistake and that she and Emma really could make it; together. For real this time.

THE END