Chapter Two

"What do we got?"

Regina heard the unfamiliar voice from somewhere to the left, but she couldn't see anything, and her head was searing with pain like it had just been split right open.

"Car wreck. Female, mid-to-late thirties, slipping in and out of consciousness since we picked her up. Multiple contusions and lacerations to her head and face."

Regina fought to open her eyes but all she could make out was a blur around her. She could tell she was on her back, and moving, probably on a stretcher, she reasoned. She wasn't sure what was going on, but she was pretty sure the voices around her were talking about her.

"Oh God, it's Regina…"

That was Whale, Regina realized, starting to put the fragmented pieces of information together in her brain. She was at the hospital. Car wreck. Injured. But she didn't remember anything.

"Regina, can you hear me?"

Whale, again, but Regina couldn't seem to find her own voice as Whale's blurry face moved into her line of sight. She tried to nod her head, but soon realized she couldn't move it. Something had her immobilized, but she had no idea what.

"Get her into the OR," Whale said. "We gotta get this bleeding stopped, and then get her in for and MRI and a CT scan…"

Whale's voice trailed off as everything around Regina started to go dark, and she realized she was losing consciousness again.

Regina woke up in a cold sweat, her heart pounding and her breathing short, quick and shallow. She put a hand to her chest, her heart feeling like it might beat right out of her ribcage, and the other to her head, only to find the gauze was still there. It hurt to touch and she quickly realized that she'd gone to sleep and woken up and it still wasn't a dream. She sat up in bed and looked around. Emma's clothes still over the back of the chair, and the family portrait still on the wall.

But that dream, the thought, that wasn't just a dream. That had to have been a memory of what happened right after the crash. It didn't really provide any answers, but a memory coming back had to be significant. At least she hoped it was.

She sighed and got up, catching sight of herself in the mirror, and only then realizing that she was crying. She quickly wiped the tears with the back of her hands and headed to her closet to find a change of clothes, since she was now soaked with sweat.

Taking deep breaths to try to steady her nerves, Regina changed and smoothed out her hair again, trying to look somewhat presentable, in spite of everything, before heading back out into the hallway to go downstairs. There was still a knot in her stomach that she was sure wouldn't go away until she got some answers, but she hoped perhaps Henry was home by now.

Instead of Henry, however, she found Emma sitting on the couch in the living room, scrolling through her phone with her feet tucked up under her.

"Hey," Emma said, looking up with a small smile as Regina entered the room. "You sleep okay?"

Regina shrugged, not wanting to let on just how shaken she was feeling at the moment. "Alright, I suppose. Is Henry home?"

"He was, but he went over to see my parents. He'll be home soon. And Hailey's napping. Why don't you come sit down? You still look exhausted," Emma suggested.

Regina nodded. She still felt exhausted, and she took the seat next to Emma on the couch, unsure of how close she should sit. In a way she wanted Emma to hold her and let her cry, and though she was sure she would do just that, Regina still felt awkward and out of place so she decided to leave a little space for now.

"I, uh, I think I remembered something," Regina said.

"Yeah? What did you remember?" Emma asked, putting her phone down and looking at Regina excitedly.

"I had a dream that I was in the hospital, after my accident. But, it didn't feel so much like a dream, as a memory. Whale was there and he said to take me to the OR, and then get me an MRI and a CT scan," Regina recounted, her eyes searching Emma's for any indication that any of this sounded familiar to her, though she wasn't sure Emma hadn't actually been there when it happened, since they hadn't even known who she was at first.

"That sounds about right," Emma nodded. "They called me after they got the bleeding stopped. I was there when you had your MRI, but you were really out of it."

"Hailey said I was asleep for five days," Regina said. "I assumed that meant I'd been unconscious, but I was awake."

"I told her you were sleeping. You were in and out of consciousness for five days. It was your head injury combined with high doses of pain meds. You were barely coherent and I didn't want to scare her so I only let her see you when you were asleep. Whale said, if it weren't for your magic, you'd likely have been out for a lot longer. Maybe even in a coma."

Regina shuddered at the thought. "Oh. Maybe, before Henry gets home, we could try looking at some photos? If I remembered one thing, maybe something else will come back?" Regina suggested.

Emma smiled and nodded, hopping up to grab an album from the bookshelf across the room. When she came back, she sat down close to Regina, opening the book on both of their laps.

"This is Henry's first day of highschool," Emma said, pointing to a picture of Henry looking about how Regina remembered him, though he looked thoroughly annoyed having his picture taken. "He looks pissed because we embarrassed him. Grace was coming to meet him to walk to school together. They dated on and off all through highschool."

Emma grinned and turned to see Regina's reaction. Not surprisingly, Regina's mouth dropped open in shock.

"Don't look at me like that. You were okay with it. Well, not at first, but you came around."

"Are they dating now?" Regina asked.

Emma nodded. "Yeah, but they go to different schools, so it's a long distance thing. Henry told me though that we inspire him, you know? He said if we can make it work despite every hurdle we've faced, then he believes true love really exists."

Regina drew in a deep breath at the mention of true love. She hadn't been sure true love was even a possibility for her again, after Daniel. Robin was supposed to be destined to be her soul mate, and even that didn't work. But true love with Emma Swan? She hadn't even considered the in the realm of possibilities…

And yet, here they were.

Regina watched as Emma showed her pictures of Henry and Grace at homecoming, and then a picture of herself and Emma with Henry, and then a picture of herself and Emma with Hailey, the same one that was framed in the little girl's room.

"That's the day we brought her home," Emma said, smiling at Regina again. "That was the day you told me that your life finally felt complete."

Regina sighed. "I wish I could remember that feeling," she said, before she realized she was saying it outloud.

"You will," Emma assured her, picking up her hand and squeezing it in her own.

"What if I don't?"

"Then we'll make new memories," Emma said, with a small shrug. "Your mind might not remember, but your heart will. You fell in love with me once, so it'll happen again. I'm just as endearing now as I was back then."

At that, Regina had to smile. "You're taking this better than I am."

"I had a few weeks of advance warning," Emma explained. "You did too, but you don't remember. And, even though you don't remember, you made me promise to act normal around you if you did forget, because you thought living our normal life would be the quickest way to make you remember. And I think you were right, so that's what I'm doing."

Regina nodded, and let out another sigh. "I wish you would tell me who the other driver was."

"I know. But I can't," Emma said, turning back to the photo album. "Look, this is the first time we got a picture of Hailey's smile."

"Emma," Regina said, more firmly, drawing the blonde's attention away from the photos again. "Why can't you tell me?"

"Because, I just… hey, Henry's back. I hear his car," Emma said, closing the book and getting up to put it away. "We can do this later."

Regina sighed, but nodded. She wanted to talk to Henry anyway. "I, um, can I have some time alone with Henry?" she asked.

"Yeah, of course," Emma replied, giving Regina a confused look as she wondered why the other woman would think she needed to ask for permission. "I'll go check on Hailey and then get started on dinner."

"You cook?" Regina asked, raising an eyebrow.

Emma shrugged, and gave a small grin. "A girl's gotta eat, right? And apparently, so do children… or so they keep telling me, anyway. Hailey says I'm not as good as you, but I've managed to keep her alive for three weeks, so how bad can I be?"

"I'm sure you do just fine. But maybe I'll feel up to cooking tomorrow," Regina said.

"Alright, you sit tight, I'll send Henry in here, okay?" Emma said, as she headed out to the entryway to greet their son at the door. Moments later, Henry was plopping himself down on the couch next to Regina.

"Hey, Mom. Mom said you wanted to talk to me?" Henry asked, giving her a concerned look that mirrored the one she kept seeing from Emma all day.

"Well yes, I miss you," Regina said, nodding. "I know it doesn't seem like it to you, but I feel like I just missed five years of your life. Emma tells me you have a girlfriend."

"Mom, it's too late to lecture me now, you already did," Henry said, in mock defense. "And you like Grace."

"I'm just teasing, Henry," Regina said, smiling. "But, I have a serious question I want to ask you while we're alone."

"Okay, yeah, sure. What is it?"

"If… if Emma were lying to me, you would tell me, right?" Regina asked, tentatively.

"Yeah, of course I would. Why? Do you think she's lying to you?" Henry asked, the concern washing over his face again.

"No… not lying… but maybe not telling me everything?"

"Like what?"

"Well, for one, she won't tell me who the other driver was."

"She can't," Henry said, simply.

"That's what she said, but Henry, why not?"

Henry shrugged. "She just can't. What did Dr. Whale say?"

"He wasn't helpful at all," Regina sighed. "I thought he might give me a CT scan or something, but he just looked in my eyes and told me to rest."

"Have you ever had a CT scan before?" Henry asked.

"No… well, yes, I guess, but not that I remember," Regina said, shaking her head in confusion. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Nothing, I guess. I should go wake up Hailey from her nap so she's not groggy for dinner," Henry said, standing to leave the room.

"Wait, Henry… do you hear that?" Regina asked, as the ticking sound started to come back for the first time since her nap. This time, however, it was almost starting to sound like a rhythmic beeping.

"What?"

Regina sighed. "Nothing. It's probably nothing. Nevermind. Yes, go wake up your sister. Everything is fine."

Even as she said it, Regina couldn't help but think everything was anything but fine. Nothing was adding up and she was pretty sure Emma wasn't acting anything but normal right now.

Something was very, very wrong. And Regina was determined to figure out what the hell was going on.

Once Hailey came bounding down the stairs again, wide awake from her nap, Regina decided against broaching the subject of… well, anything…. with Emma and Henry while the little one was awake. She put on a smile as the little girl hopped up onto the couch with her.

"Did you sleep well?" Regina asked, suddenly wondering if she had any pet names for this girl. She made a mental note to ask Emma later.

"Uh huh. Did you? You were asleep when I got home!" Hailey said, grinning.

"I did," Regina lied.

"When your head stops hurting, are you gonna stop sleeping so much? I miss you," Hailey said, looking at Regina with solemn eyes.

"Hey," Emma said, popping her head into the room and interrupting the conversation before Regina could answer. "Dinner's ready."

Regina nodded, and stood, as Hailey jumped up and grabbed onto her hand to head into the dining room. Whatever was going on, Regina suddenly hoped that the idea that perhaps Emma was lying or holding something back was just all in her head, because as she entered her dining room to see Henry and Emma at the table, with this little girl holding onto her hand, she realized that this was as close to perfect as she could have ever imagined her life would be.

And with a sinking feeling, she realized that that was also probably the biggest reason she should believe that something was amiss, because nothing was ever perfect for Regina Mills.

Yet, the family sat and ate dinner and made small talk just like any family would. Though Regina was mostly listening, as she didn't really have much to add, she couldn't help but think how perfectly normal all of this felt. Not a forced marriage to a King, and not a boyfriend who had a baby on the way with her sister… no, just a normal family comprised of people who loved her. She was sure she could get used to this, even if she never actually remembered getting to this point.

After dinner, once the dishes had been done and Hailey had been bathed - by Emma, though she had requested Regina - and they had watched just one more episode of the little girl's favourite show, it was finally time to put her to bed.

"I want Mommy to read me a story!" Hailey insisted, when Emma had attempted to follow her into her room.

"Mommy doesn't feel good, remember Hailey? She'll read to you again when she feels better," Emma informed her.

"No Momma! I don't want anymore Harry Potter!" Hailey said, pouting defiantly. "I want Mommy's story! Mommy, please!"

Regina looked at Emma and gave a little smile, and Emma nodded. "Fine, get in bed, Mommy will be there in a second," Emma sighed, as she stepped up to Regina and leaned in close to her ear. "You've been reading her Black Beauty. It's on her nightstand and it's bookmarked where you left off. One chapter a night, and she'll probably ask you to sing to her. Lavenders Blue, do you remember that one?"

Regina smiled and nodded. "Yes, I know the song," she said. She had always loved it, and had sang it to Henry nearly every night when he was little.

"Okay. She'll probably try to con you into more chapters, and several glasses of water, snacks, whatever. She's stubborn, just like… well, both of us, I guess," Emma said, with a small laugh. "So be firm. You're always the tougher one. And you always kiss her forehead and tell her 'goodnight, baby love' before you turn off her lamp."

Regina smiled and she looked at Emma and nodded. "I got it," she said, as she walked into Hailey's room and found the book on the nightstand, before sitting down on the bed next to her. Hailey seemed to cling to her every word as she made her way through the chapter, and, just as Emma had said, the second it was over, she was asking for another one.

"One chapter, you know that," Regina reminded her, as she put the book back down. "You may have the next one tomorrow night, unless you feel like some more Harry Potter."

Hailey groaned, and shook her head. "I had so much Harry Potter! I like when Momma reads, but I missed you."

Regina smiled down at her, taking in her big blue eyes that sparkled with such innocence, and her heart skipped a beat when the realization really hit her that this little girl was her daughter. This little girl who looked at her with the same kind of love and admiration that Henry had at her age was hers to love and raise, with Emma, happy and safe.

"Mommy, are you gonna sing to me?" Hailey asked, drawing Regina out of her thoughts.

"Of course I am," Regina nodded, as she snuggled in a little closer to Hailey, and began to sing.

"Lavenders Blue, dilly dilly
Lavenders Green,
When you are King, dilly dilly,
I shall be Queen.
Who told you so, dilly dilly,
Who told you so?
'Twas my own heart, dilly dilly,
That told me so."

Regina continued to the end of the song, as she watched Hailey's eyelids start to fall.

"Sleepy, little one?" Regina asked, noting that the pet name slipped out without any conscious thought. Hailey just nodded, and Regina smiled, wondering if perhaps she had called her that before.

Regina stood up, and had to laugh to herself when the moment she did, Hailey began asking for a snack, just as Emma had said she would.

"You just had popcorn not even half an hour ago," Regina reminded her.

"My tummy wants more popcorn," Hailey said, looking at Regina seriously.

"Your brother used to do the same thing, you know," Regina replied, raising an eyebrow. "Your tummy is fine. Maybe you can have more popcorn tomorrow."

"Promise?"

Regina smiled and nodded, before leaning in to give Hailey a kiss on the forehead. "Goodnight, baby love."

"Goodnight Mommy. I'm glad you're back," Hailey said, yawning as she finally closed her eyes.

"Me too."

After spending a little more time with Henry, catching up about his life at school, and Grace, Regina finally headed back to her room, where she found Emma in her pajamas, grabbing some spare blankets from the closet.

"What are you doing?" Regina asked.

"Oh, um, I figured I should probably go sleep downstairs on the sofa bed, because, you know…" Emma said, biting her lip.

"Oh... well," Regina started, looking at her bed and suddenly realizing she didn't really want to be alone with her thoughts tonight. And maybe it wasn't really fair to kick Emma out when she hadn't done anything wrong. "Maybe… you should just sleep here."

Emma looked at her, surprised. "Are you sure? Regina, I know this isn't easy, and I'm not going to be offended or anything if you need some space. I've slept in worse places than on a sofa bed, I'll be fine."

"Right. But maybe I won't be," Regina said, quietly.

"What do you mean?"

"I just.. .maybe I shouldn't be alone. Maybe I don't want to be alone," Regina explained.

"Okay," Emma said, with a smile, as she started putting the blankets back. "But if it feels weird or you change your mind, just kick me out. I promise my feelings won't be hurt."

"I'll keep that in mind," Regina said, with a smirk, as she headed to her dresser to find a pair of pajamas. Without being asked, Emma stepped out to give her some privacy to change.

"You can come back in," Regina called to her, once she was changed, and sliding into her side of the bed. Emma stepped back into the room and flicked off the light, before climbing, slightly ungracefully, into the other side in the dark.

"If you need anything in the night, just wake me up, kay?" Emma said, as she laid down on her pillow.

"Okay," Regina agreed. "And, Emma… thanks, for being so patient with me. I know this can't be easy for you."

"Stop worrying about me, okay? It's way harder for you. I just wish I could make everything better for you."

"It will get better," Regina said, with a small smile.

"Yeah. It will. Goodnight, m… Regina."

All Regina could see was headlights. It was dark and they were nearly blinding her, as they seemed to be coming right for her.

And that's when she realized, they were coming right for her.

She braced herself for impact even as she cranked the wheel hard to the right, in an attempt to avoid the collision at the last second.

And then: blackness.

Regina woke up, again, in a cold sweat, and sat straight up in bed, gasping for breath as her heart raced and hot tears streamed down her cheeks. She was aware of the small whimpering sounds she was making, as she clutched her head in her hands. It suddenly hurt so much.

"Babe?"

Regina jumped slightly at the sound of Emma's voice, having momentarily forgotten she wasn't alone in her bed. She turned to face the blonde, quickly wiping the tears from her cheeks as she caught sight of Emma's terrified expression in the dim glow of the streetlights that streamed in through the window.

"Regina… what's wrong?"

"I… had a dream… about the crash," Regina managed to tell her, between broken breaths.

"Oh, Regina," Emma said, cocking her head to the side with a sympathetic little pout, and tentatively reaching out to touch Regina's shoulder. "Are you okay?"

Regina tried to nod, even though nodding would have been lie and she knew anyone, even without Emma's built-in lie detector, would be able to tell. But she couldn't even bring herself to do that. "No… my head hurts," she admitted, her voice cracking as more tears started to fall.

"Oh, honey," Emma said, holding out her arms to Regina. Regina hesitated for just a moment, but ultimately decided that between the dream - and apparent memory of the crash - and her aching head, she'd rather be comforted by Emma than try to face it all alone, even if the situation still felt a little bit awkward to her.

Regina let herself fall into Emma's arms, who settled back down onto the pillow as Regina rested her head against her chest. Regina closed her eyes and let out a long sigh, listening to Emma's rhythmic heartbeat as Emma began to stroke her hair.

"Does that feel better?" Emma whispered, after a few moments of running her fingers through Regina's hair.

Regina opened her eyes again, realizing the pain had almost completely subsided, almost instantly. "Actually, yes," she said, confusion evident in her voice.

"You know, I know you don't remember, but you actually like cuddling with me at night," Emma said, with a slightly playful lilt to her voice. "I never would have pegged you for a cuddler. I know you don't remember, but I told you your heart would. Believe me now?"

Regina though for a moment. It had only been this morning that she'd woken up in this brand new life that she had no recollection of, and yet, it felt so oddly familiar, and even comforting. Maybe Emma was right. Maybe her heart did remember what her mind couldn't.

"Who doesn't like to be held?" Regina asked, before realizing that it sounded a little more defensive than she would have liked. "I may come off as cold sometimes, but that's just a defense mechanism."

"I know," Emma said, as she continued to stroke Regina's hair - which, if Regina was being honest, was likely to lull her to sleep again before long. "Trust me, I know you're a softy at heart."

"Don't tease me," Regina said, though she couldn't help but smile, realizing that maybe Emma really did know her, after all.

"I won't. I know you don't like that. Now, you should try to go back to sleep, and I'll keep holding you. If you have another bad dream, I'll be right here."

"Keep stroking my hair like that, and I will fall asleep," Regina said, trying to stifle a yawn.

"I know," Emma said, and though Regina couldn't see her, she could tell she was grinning by the sound of her voice. "I know all your weaknesses."

"And this is my biggest one," Regina acknowledged, as her eyes fell closed again. She was nearly asleep when she heard Emma's voice again.

"Good night, my love," Emma whispered, and Regina felt her heart flutter.