Short one, I know, but I just wanted to give you something after the long wait for another chapter (sorry for that). I'll be sure to write & post another one this week though.

You can all thank 》》》"AnonymouslyUnknowlyWriter"《《《 for the chapter. Your review made me want to hurry back to this story and write another chapter. Thanks for that :)

-enjoy, np

Regina woke up in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat and feeling slightly uneasy.

She had dozed of several times during the day and when she'd tried to get up earlier, she'd noticed that she wasn't able to without feeling a great deal of pain. The good thing though: Her magic was slowly creeping back into her body and started filling her veins with the usual slight tingle she felt whenever she'd used up almost all her magic.

She wasn't exactly the one who'd healed herself, but even in her comatose existence her magic had done its best in helping its vessel heal.

"No Regina, please don't", a panicked voice came from somewhere beside her and she turned around to see Snow trashing wildly in her sleep and finally hitting her with a flying hand. In the face.

"Ow!", Regina couldn't stop herself from hissing and brought her hand to her nose. Her fingers definitely touched something wet -blood - and her nose already felt like it was swelling.

"Great, just great", the witch mumbled to herself. "I'm gonna look like I got a sweet potato in my face come morning."

"Regina, please! Not my baby", she heard Snow talk in her sleep again, her beloved's voice filled with despair.

Her heart sank at those words. Snow was having a nightmare and it seemed like she was the actor who'd been cast for the number one villain.

She reached out to Snow and caressed her cheeks with her fingers, enjoying the feeling of the woman's skin and even more the calming effect she had on her.

Soon the only thing disrupting the silence of the night were the ticking of the clock and their quiet breathing.

Sleep didn't come back to Regina - too many thoughts were troubling her. For the first time she felt the horrible pang of guilt and regret for all the things she had done to people. It felt like she was falling into a never ending black hole. And the thing was: She also felt like she deserved it.

Making as little noise as she could - it hurt like hell and she just had to wince and groan - she slowly, carefully got out of bed.

She wasn't sure if she'd survive traveling in a puff of purple smoke but she thought, "who cares". Maybe this world would be better off without her, just like the Enchanted Forest would definitely have been.

Using all of her willpower and concentration the purple smoke finally engulfed her and took her away.

Snow was frantic when she didn't find Regina in the morning and assumed the worst: Had David come back and taken her away from her? Had Regina decided that after all, she didn't love her?

"Belle!", she cried out, tears already streaming down her face.

Seconds later the brunette barged into the room.

"Snow", she ran to Snow's side, worried about her friend's panicky state. "What happened? And where is Regina?"

"That's exactly what's wrong", the pixie haired woman said. "I woke up and she was gone!"

Now she had Belle worried as well. Where could her best friend have gone to as weakened and hurt as she still was?

"Did you check the bathroom?", Belle tried to stay calm and think logically.

"She was to weak to even get up on her own yesterday Belle", Snow just answered. "Still. I already checked."

There was a pause, both women thinking.

"Well, I guess she's not in the house, because no matter what, she would've been here shortly after your panicked scream", Belle loudly thought. "We should still check downstairs though in case she is unconscious."

"And if she isn't?", Snow dreaded the brunette's answer to this. "Do you think she left me? Or that David came back without us noticing?"

"I honestly don't know, Snow. I don't think she'd every leave you or Henry for that matter. I don't think that David even would've gotten inside without one of us noticing either..."

Heavy silence followed her statement.

"I wonder if Rumple remembers and has his powers back", Belle mumbled to herself. "I wanted to see him anyway and if he already remembers he could probably be a huge help. At least if he wants to."

Snow eagerly nodded to the brunette's words.

"Let's search the house first though", Snow said without believing in it at all. "Maybe we won't even need his help in finding her."