Author's Note 1: A huge thank you to mooglesmuse for all of her help with this story and many many of my others which will make appearances soon enough. Without her constant support and conversation I probably wouldn't have gotten this chapter done. Sadly it's been sitting on my computer waiting to be posted and she hasn't pressed, which I'm grateful for. Though sad that I had to make you all wait. But it's here now and I hope that you'll enjoy it.

Part 10
'Telling Regina'

Emma was finally starting to feel better. The nurse had just brought in a bag of saltine crackers and seltzer to make her stomach settle down. She'd refused to be stuck with another needle. Not by Nurse Ratchet. Not by anyone, for at least the next few hours. If that meant she'd have to deal with her nausea then so be it.

Sitting up on the exam table she munched slowly on the crackers, her face pale and her hair sticking to her forehead. She hadn't taken the news of getting to know Henry very well.

Thankfully, egotistically, she was able to wave off the idea of meeting her son being so terrifying that it made her ill easily. After all, she'd just gone through several tests and had a lot of blood taken. There were any number of reasons why she had gotten sick. It hadn't been her fear. Nope. Not at all.

She wasn't fooling anyone and she knew it. Not that Dr. Whale said anything. He hadn't said much since he'd helped her take a seat on the exam table and had called for that nurse that just left.

The nurse had forgotten to close the curtain when she came in and Dr. Whale was too busy taking her pulse to close it. Not that she minded, she was dressed and although she looked like crap it was nice not to feel suffocated in the cold room. She could see out into the intensive care wing through the glass windows.

There were people sitting on the beds next to people they cared about. Some of the ones that were awake were talking with their loved ones even, and they all seemed…content.

Emma loved solitude. She lived alone and enjoyed it, but she loved knowing that she was surrounded by people at all times. Even as a child she had hated being surrounded by other kids in the system, never having a room to herself, most of the time. Then there were times where she was grateful that she wasn't alone, that there were other people around her. It made her think that she wasn't really alone…even when she knew she kind of was.

In crowds, big crowds, she never felt suffocated. It was why she lived in cities. She liked to people watch. It made her feel better because it was something she had always done. It was something she was good at. She noticed things that no one else did about a person just by looking at them. She liked to think that was how she'd developed her own super power.

She was a human lie detector. She knew when someone was lying to her just by looking at them. She utilized that ability like the weapon it was in her line of work. It certainly helped her catch one or two…or twelve plus bounties, putting all that extra cash in her account.

In the corner of her eye Emma noticed a familiar figure moving around the wing.

Ms. Blanchard.

The school teacher was carrying a small vase of flowers and wearing a kind smile. It looked like she was heading towards Emma's room for a few moments. It became clear a few pain staking seconds later that she was headed to the room next to Emma's. In those moments Emma couldn't help but watch her. Looking to the wall, which was just a glass barrier between her room and the next, Emma saw Ms. Blanchard put the vase of flowers down on the bedside table of an unconscious man. He had shaggy, dirty brown hair and a strong jaw line. The arm that was out from under the blanket let Emma see thick muscle tone which would have dissipated with time as he remained unconscious, making her believe he hadn't been unconscious for long. He was too 'well preserved' to have been in a coma for more than a few weeks.

Emma wondered what he did. His shoulders were broad, but in a sleek build. Emma imagined he was very strong, maybe a football player or athlete of some kind. Then again, he could very well have worked on a farm all his life…there had been a few farms in this area, hadn't there? Yes, thinking about it Emma remembered there being a bit of farm land outside of Storybrooke. Mostly cattle farms, not crops.

She had worked on a farm for two years after she got out of juvie it meant a lot of manual labor. She'd developed strong arm muscles from all the heavy lifting that still came in handy these days, especially when fighting guys twice her size. Moving around rural America between counties during harvest season was one of the ways she'd made a living for herself. There had been a lot of accidents though. A few too many happened for her liking, so she'd looked for other jobs closer to cities and more people.

Small town life wasn't exactly her 'dream come true' or even a distant apparition of what she wanted for herself. The smaller the population the easier it was to find someone. The harder it was to be unnoticed.

Snap out of it, Swan.

Thinking back on it now Emma smiled; she'd lost all of her baby weight quickly with her workload. Slackers weren't welcome and if she knew for sure anything about herself it was that she wasn't a slacker. She did the work she was given and didn't complain about it. Complaining didn't get you anywhere in life. She'd learned that right quick while in the system. Better to be grateful for what you had with the family you were with than complain about what you didn't.

The curtain around her exam room was pulled closed, blocking Emma's sight of Mary Margaret and the comatose man. It was probably for the better. She didn't need anyone thinking she was some kind of stalker.

"Alright, I just need you to sign a few of these forms and once you're feeling up to it we can head back into my office."

"Yeah, sure." Emma grabbed the clipboard and skimmed through the legal jargon on the pages before scribbling her signature on the appropriate line.

Dr. Whale took the clipboard from Emma and held it flat against his chest. He stared at Emma for a few seconds longer than was comfortable.

"So…" Emma bit her bottom lip as she nodded twice and slapped the edge of her examination table. "What's next?"

"There are a few things I'd like to discuss with you and Mayor Mills when she picks you up."

"What things?" Emma asked, suspicious.

"Nothing to worry about at the moment." Dr. Whale forced a smile on his face.

"Has anyone ever told you how creepy you can be when you smile like that?" Emma crossed her arms as she watched Dr. Whale's eyes widen and his smile disappear. "No, huh? Just for further reference, it's creepy. It makes you look like a psychopath. And psychopath vibes and being a doctor don't usually tend to mix well."

"I, uh…no one's ever, I am a professional. My only concern in this matter is for you and Henry."

Emma tilted her head, wondering why he was lying. "That's not true, is it?"

Dr. Whale blinked, startled at how quickly Emma rose from the exam table and was standing in front of him. "What exactly are you insinuating?"

"I don't know, why don't you tell me? Why are Henry and I not your only concern during this?"

Dr. Whale swallowed nervously as Emma stared him down. Only a few moments before, she had seemed so vulnerable and fragile. Now she seemed as steady and strong as an ox and as determined as one as well. "I have no idea what you're…"

"Don't lie to me, doc. You won't get away with it. Who else are you concerned about in all of this?" Emma waited a moment. "Mayor Mills?"

Dr. Whale took a deep breath and squared his own shoulders. There was only one woman in this town that could get the best of him in his own hospital, and her name was not Emma Swan.

"I am concerned about all of you. This is not just about a surgery anymore, Ms. Swan. It is about so much more," he sighed. "So much more. I just want it to go smoothly. I want everyone to come out of it unscathed. Henry deserves more than what he's gotten in life. And to be honest? I think you deserve more as well."

Emma faltered, "You don't know anything about me."

"I know enough. Your medical history, your criminal record, all of it weaves a particularly lonely tale, Ms. Swan."

"You know nothing! You can't just read about my life before and think that you have the right to pity me." Emma exclaimed, her heart beginning to race against her chest as she remained within arm's length of Dr. Whale.

"I don't pity you. No. Nothing of the sort. I respect you, Ms. Swan." Dr. Whale watched Emma's eyes widen as she took a small step away from him. She was still closed off, her arms across her chest and her feet planted firmly upon the ground, but her eyes were softening, though wary. He took his chance to continue. "I cannot imagine what your life has been like. I could not even begin to fathom any of it. Any of the hardships you had to live through. I merely wish for you to have something that you haven't had before while you are here."

"Oh, and what's that?" Emma asked, her head turned away from Dr. Whale slightly, as if she were afraid of what he was going to say.

He smiled softly at her, and this time Emma didn't think it was creepy but genuine and made him look rather handsome. "Family. Support."

Dr. Whale watched as a lightness appeared around Emma, but it was gone as soon as it had come. Hope, he realized, that spark of lightness around Emma's person had been hope. But it was dashed as soon as it had come.

"I don't have family here. Henry's here, sure. But he's not mine." She frowned, a darkness covering her eyes as she turned away from him completely.

Dr. Whale twitched as if he wanted to say more. His knuckles turned white as he clenched his hand into a fist. He looked at Emma and then watched as Mary Margaret walked passed their exam room, her doe eyes looking up and meeting with Emma's for only a moment before she looked to him. Her raised brow was question enough and he offered only a short shake of his head as her answer. She nodded before offering Emma another smile, walking by on her way to finish collecting the dying flowers on certain tables and trading them for fresh ones.

Emma sighed heavily, her entire body appearing to fall in on itself. "I can't stay. Not after I've healed. Not after he's better. I can't stay here and be forced to watch from afar as he grows up," Emma admitted, her arms wrapping around herself; instead of seeming hostile, this time he thought of it as a form of protection, her arms keeping her safe and secure because no one else's arms were there to do it for her.

He stepped up to her and placed his hand gently on her shoulder. "There's time to decide that. But maybe you wouldn't have to be on the sidelines."

She shot around to look at him. He shrugged. "I don't think I'm as crazy as your facial expression it making me think I am. After all is said and done, things change. Sometimes people change. Maybe she'll change her mind. I mean," he paused, knowing this was stepping over a line he wasn't supposed to cross, but he felt he owed it to Emma to at least do this small thing, "Especially if you get a contract signed before the surgery. After all, you'll have to retract the closed adoption now that you're going to be here saving his life. And in my opinion, though this is off the record, I don't think asking for visitation rights would be asking for enough."

"You don't?" Emma met his eyes for a second before her gaze fell to his hand, which was still on her shoulder. She raised her eyebrow.

He dropped his hand off her shoulder and shook his head. "No, I don't think it is."

Nodding, Emma turned back towards the glass wall where she watched as Ms. Blanchard spoke animatedly with a nurse on the other side of the wing. Seeing the flowers that now decorated the otherwise dreary ICU wing, Emma smirked.

"I don't have a lawyer," Emma stated as she stared at her reflection.

Dr. Whale reached into his pocket and handed her a white business card with black century gothic print. Emma looked down at the small card and internally cringed at the name on it. "Mr. Gold…the man with the cane?"

"He's the best lawyer we've got in town. Well, besides Regina."

Emma laughed, "Of course she's a lawyer. Woman certainly knows how to argue a point to the death." She shook her head as she pocketed the card. "Should've known." Fingering the edge of the card as it sat in her pocket Emma chewed on the inside of her cheek. "What time did you say she was going to get here?"

"I haven't called her yet. Though, knowing her, she'll be here within the hour."

"Great." That would give her enough time, wouldn't it? "You have a phone I can use?"

Dr. Whale smiled. "Of course. Just follow me back to my office."

Emma nodded as Dr. Whale led the way down the eastern hallway towards his office. As they walked by she noticed that the nurse and Ms. Blanchard stared after them.

Emma shook off the feeling of being stared at. "I hate small towns," she mumbled under her breath.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Mayor Mills seemed almost normal as she sat in Dr. Whale's office with them. She had returned to pick Emma up, just as she promised she would. Emma had wanted to call a cab, but one pleading look from Dr. Whale had stopped her before she could dial 411 to get the information. She didn't want the guilt of letting the Mayor loose on the doctor to weigh on her conscience. Not after he'd been so helpful. Besides, Emma was already going along with the doctor's plan to manipulate the woman, in a way. The least she could do was let him bear witness to how it all played out.

It wasn't until Regina arrived in a flourish, because she didn't seem to know how to enter a room without one that Emma wondered if 411 would even have the number to a cab company in this town. 'Hick' town came to mind; it made her grin, but she'd be damned if she ever said it aloud, especially in front of the Mayor of said 'hick' town.

They were both listening to the results of the tests that Dr. Whale had run on her even though she'd already heard these results. The good Mayor didn't even complain much when she found out that the blood tests hadn't come back yet. Dr. Whale assured her highness, because Emma had to resort to making up nick names for Regina to keep herself entertained, that the results would be ready by the next morning. He'd put a rush put on them since Henry's case was so important, not only to her majesty but to everyone in the hospital.

Emma knew before Dr. Whale started talking about his obligations to make sure this transplant did not adversely affect Henry or Emma that Regina, her royal stick in the mud, wasn't going to take the news well. She should have put money on it, because the moment the issues arose of any concerns Dr. Whale had for Emma's recovery, the hackles popped up, as did the attitude.

Whatever good mood Regina had been in when she'd returned vanished at the minute detail of whether or not Emma would be properly taken care of after the surgery.

It didn't surprise Emma. Not really. She had known what her part in this deal was. She was here to give her liver to the kid. End of story. What happened after that? Well, her royal heartlessness didn't much care about that.

Emma thought, for the briefest of moments, that maybe it hadn't even crossed her mind, but that was quickly dashed when Mary Margaret's recovery process was brought up.

"Mary Margaret's case was different."

"Why? How was it different? Mary Margaret did not have anyone living with her. No spouse to take care of her during her recovery, or nurses!"

"Yes, you're right." Dr. Whale nodded duly.

"Mary Margaret also didn't have family taking care of her either, so I do not see why Ms. Swan's status as a single individual with no family matters at all in this process. She has agreed to the procedure. She knows the risks."

"Be that as it may—"

"You know the risks, do you not, Ms. Swan?" Regina asked, completely ignoring Dr. Whale.

"Ah, uh...yeah I know the risks."

With a nod, Regina turned back to Dr. Whale as if that stuttered response solved everything. "See, there is no need for…"

"Regina!" Emma stared, slack jawed, as Dr. Whale took a deep breath and calmed himself. His outburst, albeit warranted, was unexpected. It had stopped her royal snootiness instantly. Emma watched as Regina sat back, her arms folded regally across her chest as she waited Dr. Whale out. Emma wondered if anyone ever raised their voices while speaking to her. Ever.

Emma expected the good doctor to crumble under her intense gaze, so it was a surprise when he didn't.

"There is a need. Mary Margaret may not have had blood relatives to take care of her, or a spouse, or even home care. But she might as well have. I visited Mary Margaret every day after my shift here at the hospital. Ruby and Mrs. Wolf were always at her apartment when they weren't at the diner. Leroy was even present for some evenings to look after her to see if she needed anything. She had full time care. You know this. You were even there on your lunch breaks when you didn't go home to visit Henry."

Well look at that, the heartless has a heart after all, Emma thought as she watched Regina shift uncomfortably in her seat at being 'found out.' But seriously? What was this woman's problem? She was complaining about helping Emma get home care when she herself had played nurse maid to Ms. Blanchard and knew firsthand the trauma and stress of recovery? Was it just her that the Mayor didn't like?

"Fine," Regina relented, refusing to look at Ms. Swan or Dr. Whale. "I shall ask Katherine if she knows of any other home care nurses who would be willing to look after Ms. Swan. Unless you know of someone?" Regina asked, challenging Dr. Whale as she finally met his eyes again. If he knew of someone off the top of his head Regina would know just how planned this entire 'meeting' was.

"No. I think it would be best if you asked Katherine. I can't spare any of my nurses as it is," Dr. Whale was quick to answer. Emma and Regina both noticed how the vein in his neck was pulsing. The poor man was probably minutes away from having a heart attack by the slightly shaky look of his hands and the sweat appearing on his brow.

"Is that all for today, Dr. Whale?"

"Ye—" He cleared his throat, "yes, that's all."

"Wonderful. Now, Ms. Swan, if you would kindly follow me I will bring you back to the Wolf Lodge Inn." Regina stood from her seat and made her way to the door.

Emma stood up slowly and winked at Dr. Whale as she followed the woman out of the office. "See you tomorrow, doc."

"Good evening, Ms. Swan."

Emma shook her head at the formal tone. She didn't have long to dwell on it. Not when Regina was already halfway down the hallway. Picking up her pace Emma caught up to the Mayor just as the doors to the elevators opened. They both stepped inside and stood practically shoulder to shoulder. In the corner of her eye Emma noticed Regina begin to smirk.

"Not afraid I'll drug you this time, dear?"

Emma smiled as she chuckled to herself. She had been ridiculous. But she had to remind herself, stranger things had happened. "Not anymore."

"Oh, and why's that?" Regina stared straight ahead at the doors of the elevator though her head itched to turn to stare at the blonde beside her. She could practically feel the heat of the other woman she was so close.

Emma gave in and turned to look directly at the Mayor. "Too many witnesses saw us leaving together. I go missing people will start asking questions."

"Who will ask questions about you dear? You'd just be a woman who passed through."

Emma knew an insult when she heard one; she also knew a challenging smile when one was given. "You don't know me, Ms. Mills. You think I'm alone. That I don't have fri…people who would come looking for me." Regina turned to look at Emma, surprised. "You're wrong."

"Am I?"

"Yes. And my friends…aren't very nice." She almost choked on the word friends, but it was said, it was out there, and she wasn't about to take it back. Seeing the shock upon the Mayor's face, Emma couldn't help but smile. Sure the Mayor now thought she associated with criminals and scoundrels, but Emma would rather the Mayor think she would have someone come look for her instead of no one at all.

The elevator bell dinged and Emma stepped out first; this time the Mayor had to catch up with her.

The ride through town was quiet. Emma made sure to put on her seatbelt the second she was inside the car and kept an eye open for kids playing on the sidewalks that they were passing by. The names of the streets were different this time and the numbers headed down rather than up. Emma wondered if Regina took different routes back and forth from the hospital on purpose or if it was just a habit for the Mayor.

"Thanks for the ride." Emma was happy to see the Inn. She couldn't wait to take a shower, fall into bed, and sleep this day away.

Regina rolled down her window and called out after the retreating blonde. She hadn't had any time at all to speak with the woman about their plans for tomorrow. "I'll pick you up in the morning."

Emma turned so her back was to the entrance of the Inn. "No need. I can drive myself." She stuck her hands into the pockets of her leather jacket as she rocked back and forth on the heel of her shoes.

Regina scowled. "You would just need to leave your car at the hospital if they need to draw more blood."

"Is that concern I hear in your voice Madame Mayor?" Emma teased, enjoying how Regina's scowl deepened. She sighed; she'd let the Mayor off easy tonight. "They don't have to draw more blood. Tomorrow's just about getting the results. I can drive myself. But thank you for the offer."

Emma watched the Mayor's mouth snap shut at the polite refusal. The brunette blinked several times "Very well." She seemed to digest what Emma was telling her and began to roll up her window.

Emma stood frozen for a moment before she walked back towards the car. She didn't say anything, not wanting to warn the Mayor she was coming closer. The Mayor noticed her approach and once again lowered her window. "Yes?" Her bored tone had a bit of hidden curiosity in it.

"Henry…ah, how was he?"

Regina's eyes widened as she watched Emma nervously push her tongue against the side of her cheek. She focused on the nervous tick. She had noticed that Emma also bit the inside of her cheek when she was nervous as well. Something that she shared in common with Henry. Or, rather, since she had liked comics since she was Henry's age, he shared that affinity with her. It was disquieting. They had never met before. Was she to believe that merely through DNA they shared the same quirks? That…was a frightening thought.

"He was feeling well during the morning. He had some trouble during the afternoon. He…I informed him that you were here. Apparently he knows who you are to him." Regina was slightly amused at the shock that appeared on Emma's face. Surely the girl did not think she would keep her a secret did she? Then again, the poor woman looked like she was about to faint, she even stumbled two steps back, putting her in the center of the sidewalk. "Are you alright?" Regina was truly concerned at the loss of color to Emma's cheeks and the show of effort it was taking her to even blink.

Turning off the car and stepping out she pocketed the keys and stood directly in front of Ms. Swan. She was still, her eyes glazed and practically unseeing as she continued to stare at her left shoulder. "My eyes are up here, Ms. Swan." Regina cracked a smirk, hoping the jibe would get the blonde to look up at her. When she merely blinked once Regina rolled her eyes. Placing her hand on Emma's cheek she helped lift the woman's gaze up so their eyes could meet. There was a swirl of emotions raging against each other inside Emma's blue eyes. It startled Regina. There was an anxious vulnerability lurking just beneath the surface of Emma. Her body quivered with it. Of all the emotions battling within the young woman, Regina noticed this most acutely. She battled the same sense of vulnerability, the fear of inadequacy and rejection, every day.

"He is…he wishes to meet with you." Regina didn't understand why she felt so compelled to ease Emma's fears. "He wishes to speak with you. He thinks you might be interested in comic books. Like him, since I abhorred them before he became so fascinated with them."

Emma's eyes cleared, if only just a bit. "He…he does?"

"Yes. He does."

As Emma rolled her shoulders and took a step away from Regina, it was then that she realized she had still been cupping the younger woman's cheek. Clearing her throat and dropping her hand to her side quickly, she too stepped away. "Tomorrow. After the results. You will join us for lunch."

"Okay, yeah, great." Emma nodded, dropping her head to hide her blush even though Regina had turned back to her car and was having a bit of trouble getting the key into the lock. "I uhm…I'll bring my comic book collection."

Regina dropped her keys, her head shooting back to watch as Emma walked into the Inn, a bit of a hop in her step. Bending over to pick up the keys, she shook off whatever it was she was feeling and opened the car door. As she moved to get in, a long ring sounded throughout the town. Everyone that was on the street looked around and then listened as another ding sounded through the evening air. Regina looked at the clock tower above the library as it sounded once more, signaling it was 6 o'clock.

Her eyes narrowed at the clock. When had that begun to move again?

Looking around Regina climbed into her car and drove away quickly.

Something was happening to the curse.

Time…time was back. Time in Storybrooke was moving again.

End Part Ten

Author's Note: So I mentioned in Bounty a few months ago that I was affected by Superstorm Sandy. My home was destroyed I am still displaced. So I haven't had time to write, the desire or inspiration to do so either. I can't promise any quick updates but I wanted to post this chapter and another for Bounty (coming soon) so you all know I will finish these stories. It is just going to take time because I have other commitments that I hope you can understand.