AN: I know this is a really short chapter but I just wanted to post it because I had it written and I have a busy week ahead. My next update will definitely not be as quick as this one. Sorry! I hope this is worth it :D Happy reading!
Chapter 4:
Regina grabs her files as per usual to start her rounds. She notices a familiar name on the list. It peaks her attention so she heads to that patient first.
"His fever is high, I read online that it could be a symptom of a hospital-acquired infection."
"Right of course Miss Swan." Regina reaches into her clinic kit and takes out an ear thermometer. She places the technology into Henry's ear. The young boy giggles at the ticklish feeling of the plastic in his ear. After a couple seconds the thermometer beeps and reads 98°F. "Well it appears that his temperature is well within normal range now so he should be just fine."
"You're just going to believe the machine? What if it's reading wrong? Maybe you should run some tests just to make sure."
Henry giggles beside her. Emma moves he'd body in between Regina and her son so she can't see him.
"Of course. I was unaware that the machine were beginning their rebellion."
"It's been all over the news lately you really ought to' keep up to date on that kind of thing."
"Right. My apologies, Miss Swan. I'll check it out right away." Regina grabs a thermometer from the series of white drawers on the wall. She gives Henry a smile and asks him to open his mouth. He complies. Regina tries to hide her smile when she reads the same temperature she had gotten before. She raises it and mocking asks "Are the chemicals still on our side?"
Emma shrugs.
"Well it appears to read the same temperature. So I can hardly justify any other test, Henry looks like a perfectly healthy young man."
Henry tries to contain his laugh. He squirms a little and Emma notices, she gives him a look that says kid you better not blow it. Regina sees the exchange between the two of them and questions with an easy smile, "What is really going on here?"
With this Henry can no longer contain it. He erupts in a fit of giggles and Emma places her palm to her face. When Henry finishes giggling he blurts out, "My mom wanted an excuse to come back so she could ask you out."
Emma's eyes grow wide. She looks at her son in annoyance, he should have known not to expose the operation, and she would definitely need to have a stern talk with him later. Regina's eyes are also wide and her cheeks are reddening. When she turns to look at Emma the blonde reverts her gaze to the ground.
"Did she now?" Regina question is meant for Henry but her complete attention is focused on Emma.
At that moment there was a knock on the door and a man's voice is heard behind the door, "Dr. Mills, do you have a moment?"
"Come in," Regina begrudgingly answers letting out a deep breath.
Robin opens the door. He just has the worst timing, Regina thought to herself.
"Dr. Mills are you busy? I guess I should have paged you first..." Robin looked down at the ground. Right as Regina was about to snap at Robin for his poor timing and unprofessionalism she saw a small figure emerge from behind his leg. The small child with curly brown hair waves at Regina and in an adorably sweet voice he said, "Hi 'Gina!"
Regina's scowl immediately softened. She broke out into a soft smile, "Hello Roland." She turned back to face Emma, "I can assure you, Miss Swan that Henry is in fine condition and he's clear to go back home."
Emma just stared back her blankly. It takes a moment for her to assess the situation and realize she's being asked to leave. "Right...ummm," Emma nervously scratches the back of her neck, "Common Henry." She walks to his side and places her hand on his back ushering him out the door. He frowns at her but obliges. Once they've left the room Robin closes the door behind Emma, leaving Roland alone with Regina in the examination room. There's a window in the room and when he takes one step to the right. He can see the two of them smiling and talking inside. Emma looks over her shoulder and she catches the same view Robin is looking at.
Her gaze is broken when Henry tugs on her sleeve. "Mom, can I go to use the washroom before we go."
"Okay kid. I'll wait right here." Henry scampers off toward the washroom. After a few steps he turns back to his mother and whispers to her, "What about operation wombat?"
"I think we may have to abort mission." Emma looked down at her son with a sad smile, "We'll find a better suitor and we can call that operation something even cooler."
Henry's face fell for a moment but lite up immediately at the prospect of a new operation. His mind began to wander.
"How about you take some time to think about it? Okay kiddo?" Emma ruffles his hair and shuffles Henry back on his course to the washroom.
Emma was left to awkwardly stand next to this man she had never met before. IT dawn on her how little she knew about Regina. She had no idea how she could be so drawn to someone she knew almost nothing about...
She finally decides to break the silence.
"Is that your son?" Emma tries to make the question sound casual, but she's way too invested for it to be.
Robin doesn't seem to notice, "Yeah, he's my little rascal."
Emma's spirits sink. She pretends to not be affected by his answer at all. In a fake happy way she asks, "So how long have you two been married?" She hadn't noticed a wedding ring on Regina, but it seemed totally reasonable that she would take it off at work being that her work involved putting her hand into children's bodies.
"Oh no, we're not.. she's not..." Robin fumbles with the right way to explain their situation to this woman he only just met. He decides to just tell her, "Roland's mother passed away a few years ago."
"Oh. I'm so sorry for your loss." Emma is stunned by his answer. She doesn't quite know what else to say.
"Thank you." He smiles at her. He'd heard all the sentimental words, but it seemed to hurt less each time.
Her former question was still bugging her. She felt insensitive bringing it up so the two of them stood in silence for a moment watching Roland and Regina together. Roland was
"Regina's kind of been like an aunt to Roland."
"Makes sense," Emma allows herself a glance towards Regina who is laughing along with the little boy, "she's great with kids."
"I wonder why she's in pediatrics." Robin and Emma share a kind laugh. The two of them continue with their small talk whilst still watching Regina and Roland.
Finally the little boy comes scampering out of the examination room followed by a smiling Regina. She walks over to Robin and Roland informs Robin of all the things he had just spoken to Regina about. Emma feels a tad awkward standing so close to this somewhat intimate moment. She begins to turn around and head towards the washroom where Henry should be exiting soon. She takes a couple of steps when she notices that Regina it catching up behind her.
"Miss Swan about your earlier question." At the mention of her name Emma immediately turns around, but the embarrassment hits her right after.
"I'm sorry I should've have done that, gotten the kid involved, and..." Emma trails off, not sure how to finish what she's trying to say.
"Look Emma as much as I appreciate your request... I can't... you see, I just got out of a serious relationship and it would not be wise to be jumping into a new one right now."
"Right, yeah, Robin told me about that."
"He did. That man doesn't know how to keep his mouth shut," this eases the tension, "I suppose I'll have to give him a stern talking to like the one you'll be giving Henry." Regina motions her head towards the young boy who has just emerged in the corridor and is headed towards the pair of them.
"Right! I should get right on that."
"It was good to see you again Miss Swan."
"You too Regina." Emma and Regina exchange a smile as Henry pulls at his mother's arm signaling that it is time to leave. As she exits the hospital, Emma chances a look back to see Regina one last time, but the brunette is out of sight.