Thanks again for all the follows and reviews - can't thank you guys enough. This will likely be the last installment for a couple of weeks as I'm away on holiday and won't have internet reception. I should hopefully by be able to get the rest of the story finished up and post it when I come back.

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Regina hadn't argued when Emma declared she was going to carry the woman upstairs. Having just emptied the two meager forkfuls of food she had managed into the blonde's lap, she wasn't saying anything. She wasn't looking at anything but her own trembling hands either. She had to give silent credit to the Emma, though, for her reaction. She hadn't been disgusted, but had merely cast Regina a sympathetic smile before moving to wipe her clothes as best she could. Returning to the embarrassed brunette, she had merely asked Regina not to fight her as she took her upstairs.

Snow and Charming watched from the kitchen as Emma lifted the mortified woman, who immediately hid her face in the blonde's shoulder as she was gently carried up the stairs. Neither made comment as to the act, nor its implications; Regina was clearly being taken to Emma's bed after her clean up. Yes, it would take time to get used to, but one look at their daughter's determined face told them that there would be no fighting it. If they ever forced her to chose, they would lose their daughter for a second time, and that was a fate neither was willing to risk.

Meanwhile, upstairs, Emma carried Regina to the bathroom, setting her down to rest on the closed lid of the toilet. Wordlessly, she placed a damp cloth to the woman's neck, before moving back to the sink, and preparing a warm towel, which she pressed into Regina's trembling hand. "I'll be right back."

Still trembling, Regina began to wipe her face and hands with the warm towel, wiping away any evidence of her recently resurfaced dinner. Tears gathered in her eyes as her anger at herself built. She was pathetic. It took fairy dust to wake her, and now she couldn't even do as much as hold down a few bites of food. She hated being so weak, so vulnerable. And what must Emma think of her?

"Hey."

She lifted her head at the soft voice to find Emma standing in the bathroom doorway, now dressed in a pair of plaid pajama pants and a clean tank top. In her hand, she held another set of similar apparel.

"I can run round to the mansion and pick up some of your stuff if you'd prefer?"

Despite everything, Regina felt a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. How could this woman continue to be so damn nice? She had just thrown up on her for Fate's sake! "Don't be stupid."

"I'm not. No more than usual, anyway" said Emma quietly, stepping forward and taking the now dirtied towel. "I just want to do whatever will make you most comfortable. If you want your fancy pants pjs I'll go and get them. Otherwise, I'm afraid these are the nicest I have. Unless you want me to get you a pair of Snow's?"

"Now you really are being stupid!" scoffed Regina. She reached for the soft clothes in Emma's hand. "These will be perfect."

Emma smiled, before shuffling awkwardly. "So, are you okay to get into them, or do you need a hand?"

Regina looked up at the blushing blonde. "I don't deserve this."

"Stuck here having to wear my ratty old pjs?" chuckled Emma. "Not exactly fit for a queen, I know."

The brunette shook her head, halting when the action brought a fresh wave of nausea. "I mean you, and doing all this."

Sighing, Emma sank to her knees beside the brunette. "Hey, I took the risk. You told me not to blame you when you puked on me, and I don't. Besides, I asked you to let me take care of you. I want to take care of you, so please, don't think of yourself as some burden I have to bear."

"Saviour by name, saviour by nature," said Regina with a weak smile.

Emma shook her head. "I hate being called that. But right now, I'll take it from you. I'll take whatever you want to call me, because at least you're awake to call me it." She flashed the brunette another smile before pushing herself to her feet. "I'll be back in five minutes, help you with whatever you can't manage."

Regina watched as Emma retreated from the bathroom, hearing her footsteps disappear down the stairs. She looked down at the pajamas in her hand; old and comfortably worn. She smiled at the thought of the blonde having worn them for years, the once bright colours faded and the material softened. Forcing herself to move, she began to shed her own soiled clothes, managing to change with a minimal amount of pained gasps and whimpers. She looked up when there was a soft knock on the bathroom door. Emma had returned, a glass of iced water in her hand.

"Thought you might want this." She held out the glass, saying nothing further as she collected Regina's clothes before disappearing once more.

Regina sipped at the cool water, glad to remove the horrid taste from her mouth. She kept her eyes locked on the door, finding herself anxious for Emma's return. She breathed a sigh of relief when the blonde reappeared, a soft smile on her face.

"You think you'll make it to the bed?"

"I'm sorry."

Emma shook her head, reaching out for Regina's hands. Pulling her to her feet, she put an arm around her waist, waiting until the brunette had an arm around her shoulders for support before trying to walk. "Don't be. I've had worse, believe me," chuckled the blonde. She gently settled the former queen on the edge of the bed. "I know this can't be easy for you, but please, don't be embarrassed. I can't understand what this curse is doing to you, but I know none of it can be good. I just want to help, Regina, but I can't do that unless you let me."

Regina nodded. "I'll try."

"That's all I'm asking," smiled Emma, leaning forward to press a gentle kiss against Regina's clammy forehead.

Regina eyed Emma warily as she appeared in the bedroom doorway. She had been propped up among the pillows, a cold cloth over her forehead. Thankfully, she hadn't yet needed to use to use the basin Emma had tried to discretely place next to the bed, but the nausea was still coming and going. Her eyes fell to the bowl in the blonde's hands. "I'm not touching whatever is in that."

Emma smiled. "Relax. It's only some crackers." She moved to sit on the other side of the bed, facing Regina. "I am gonna ask you to at least try and eat one, though."

The brunette turned her face away.

"Please," pouted Emma. "For me?"

"Not going to work, Miss Swan."

Emma sighed. "Then I'm going to have to bring out the big guns. You have to eat one of these before I pass over the phone when Henry calls in…" She cast a brief glance at the clock. "About ten minutes."

Regina glared at the blonde, before snatching the bowl from her hands.

"Don't hate me, Regina," sighed Emma. "You it's better if you eat something, even if it is one measly cracker. I'll even sit right here and take the hit if it doesn't agree with you," she added with a grin.

Regina rolled her eyes at the blonde, nibbling dutifully at the cracker.

Emma smiled at the action, a flash of the old Regina. She almost jumped when the phone in her pocket rang. Fishing out the small device, she held it out to Regina, standing from the bed. "I'll let you have your Henry time." She turned to go, shocked when a hand closed around her wrist. Turning back to the brunette, she was met with pleading eyes. With a soft smile, she sank back down on the bed, threading their fingers together. "You better answer it before he thinks you're ignoring him."

Wearing a matching smile, Regina pressed the answer button, holding the phone to her ear. "Henry?"

Emma watched as Regina's smile grew as she spoke with her son. She let her thumb stroke over the side of the other woman's hand, shifting to lay more comfortably next to the former queen. Her love for Henry was evident on her face, and even more so in her tone, which had none of the usual coldness she directed at the rest of the world. Every so often Emma would catch snippets of Henry's excited side of the conversation, and considered asking Regina to put the kid on speaker phone. She refrained however, wanting mother and son to have some time just for them, even if she was right there.

She frowned when she saw tears gather in Regina's eyes. Shifting from where she had settled on the bed next to Regina, she knelt up, reaching out to brush the glistening drops from the other woman's cheeks. She would have thought she was in pain were it not for the watery smile on her lips.

"I love you too," smiled Regina. "And of course I'll tell Emma you love her too." She squeezed the hand in hers as she met the blonde's gaze. "I hope I see you soon. Goodnight, sweetheart." She pressed the button to end the call, dropping the phone on the bed. No longer trying to keep it together so as Henry wouldn't hear her cry, Regina let herself fall to pieces. Strong arms wrapped around her, the only thing holding her fractured parts together. "He sounds so relieved."

"He is," replied Emma, pressing a kiss to Regina's hair.

"But he asked me to take in that killing curse," sniffled Regina. "He knew what he was asking."

Emma pulled back so as she could look into the brunette's eyes. "He also views you as the woman who can do anything. You're his mom, Regina. You're wonder woman to him. The woman who can cure colds, curse millions, chases away nightmares and do a million more impossible things. There's not a single thing that boy doesn't think you can do if you really try." She pulled Regina to her once more, making sure not to hold her fragile frame too tightly. "He never wanted you to die when he asked you to do that, Regina. He wanted you to be Saviour that day."