Regina had only been able to make it to Rocinante's stall, collapsing in next to the beast before finally letting out the sob that tore at her lungs. Burying her head between her knees she let the emotion flow free, unaware to the darkness that began to encase her.
It must have been hours later when she awoke, the stable was dark aside from the single lantern that's soft yellow glow originated from over the main entrance. It was silent within the confines of the barn save for the shuffling and occasional nicker of it's occupants. Rocinante munched his food, looking back every once in a while to check on her before returning to his duties. Regina stood stowly, her limbs ached from the lack of movement and uncomfortable venue she had left them in.
Trudging through the dark walkway she debated what to do next. She seemed to be on autopilot making her way up the incline to her home. Instead of turning right onto the porch, she continued on to the garage. Getting in her car she pulled the keys out of the cup holder and the engine was soon ignited.
Regina drove through familiar streets, empty as she expected them to be at this unholy hour, she didn't bother with traffic laws. Coming to a stop in the hospital parking lot she stepped into the cool summer night once more. Sliding glass doors sensed a new presence and glide to the either side allowing her entrance. During her time as mayor she'd become almost annoyingly familiar with these corridors and made her way to the nurse's station with ease.
"Madame Mayor." A blonde nurse, Paisley greeted. "What're you doing here?" She asked surprise evident when she laid eyes on the former mayor.
"It's just Miss Mills now, Paisley." Regina informed, her voice tired. "I'm looking for Henry Swan." She answered.
The girl hesitated, the woman before her look like hell and she was almost unrecognizable to the young nurse who'd normally expect nothing less than immaculacy from the public figure. She knew not to comment on this though, and instead averted her eyes to the list of patients that lay to her right. "Of course, Miss Mills, Uh Henry Swan is in the ICU, room 302." Paisley informed.
Regina nodded. "Thank you." She replied and followed the floors to where the elevator awaited. Punching the 'three' emblem on the metal walls, she waited as the box hummed to life and rose to it's foretold floor. She stepped out and strode to the room she knew Henry to be, and likely Emma.
Arriving at room 302 she peaked in the doorway, the boy looked incredibly small on the medical bed, tubes and wires attached him to various machines to keep him stable. Regina bit her lip before moving to a chair to the right of the bed. Once seated she took Henry's hand in hers, it was so cold and small that she almost let go of the limp limb. Closing her eyes as a tear slipped through overused ducts, she squeezed the small hand as if it were any consolation.
"I wish I could tell you that I'm sorry, and it would make a difference, but I'm afraid I can't." She confided in a small voice that was nearly inaudible. "I hadn't meant to push you so hard, I was blinded by my goal, so much so that I forgot to put you being just a child into consideration. I'm sorry, Henry, I hope you can forgive me."
The small room was filled by the sounds of machinery and the nearly silent suffering of Regina, who clung to the small boy. She'd been unable to take her eyes off of Henry from the moment she'd walked in the door, so she never noticed the body wrapped in a blue wool blanket in the floor.
Emma stirred under the fabric that tickeled her exposed flesh, the floor was not the most comfortable place to pitch her tent but there wasn't much choice as the hospital was conviniently short of extra cots. Besides, she'd slept far sketchier and not to mention dirty places in the past, so she could pull through without complaints.
A voice came through the metronome of the monitors and from her place on the floor Emma had woke as soon as it sounded, but stayed glued to her place as she slowly came to terms with where she was and what she was doing there. Dread passed over as she was soon reminded of Henry and his accident. The voice died down and the room was enveloped in the relative silence again, this time Emma sat up and peered over the edge of the bed. Raven hair splayed out over the sheets as the head it originated from rest atop the left hand of her son.
"Regina?" She whispered. The brunette in question slowly looked up and locked eyes with the woman on the other side of the bed. Instantly her throat closed, careful not to burst into a new fit of tears she broke their gaze.
"I'm sorry, Emma, this is all my fault." Regina confessed. Emma's confused and hurt look went unnoticed by the older woman as she refused to look at her still.
"What?" Emma asked.
"Before he fell, Henry was afraid and he told me he couldn't do it. I thought he could face his fears and grow from that, but I was wrong. He begged me to listen to him, but I wasn't concerned with his childish fear at the time." Regina held her breath to fight the emotion threatening to take over. "If only I'd listened to him, he'd be okay."
Emma was taken back, she didn't blame Regina, not even for a second. "Regina," Emma stood and walked the short distance to sit beside her, she sat and took one of Regina's hand in hers. "I don't blame you. You were only trying to do your job, you couldn't have prevented this." Emma squeezed the hand in hers before looking up to Regina. "Sometimes things happen that you can't control." Her voice broke as she turned to face Henry.
Regina nodded and gripped Emma's hand tighter afraid that if she let go she would lose her. "Will he wake up?" Regina asked finally.
Emma shook her head slightly. "I don't know. His spinal cord severed with the break in his neck." She scoffed bitterly. "No one around here will give me a fucking straight answer, it's nothing but 'what-if's' and general statistics." Her face wore a bitter scowl before she continued. "The nurses don't think I can hear them when they walk by, saying he'll need a miracle, but even if he pulls through he'll be stuck living half the life he could have before." Emma's voice broke. "I'm losing hope, Regina, I-I can't lose Henry, he's all I have. If he's gone, I will truly become dust." Emma cried for the first time that night. Regina encircled her within her arms, moving to the floor and pulling the blonde onto her lap. She rubbed circles in her back as sobs wracked her small body, placing her head atop blonde curls that still smelled like coconut.
"I'm sorry Emma, and I can't lie to you and say things will be better, that would be wrong of me. I want to do right by you, I want you to know that you will never have to be alone because for as long as you still want me, I will be here for you." Regina finsished, pulling the blondes chin up so she could lock eyes with her.
Emma swallowed before a warm smile took her over. "Of course I still want you, I fucking love you, Regina." Emma confided, shocked by her confession, it was true that she had fallen in love with Regina, but she could only hope the guarded woman would embrace the new information by feeling the same or at least not running.
Regina pulled Emma into her chest and placed her chin back atop her head. "Oh, Miss Swan, I love you too." She whispered pressing a kiss onto the crown.
Aww! Short update but to the point. More of our two favorite ladies to come. :)
