"Sheriff" Emma jumped and looked up to see Granny peering across the bar at her. "You're making a fine mess over here. Are you going to drink that?"

Emma looked down at the hot chocolate that she hadn't touched. The cinnamon dusted cream had melted significantly and dribbled down the sides of the mug making a sticky pool on the bar.

"Oh, damn" Emma said "I guess not" she said, picking it up. Granny wiped underneath and took it away. Emma sighed and went back to her notepad that she wasn't writing in. She felt someone watching her and looked up to see Ruby's narrowed eyes.

"What's up?" she asked, leaning on her side of the counter. Emma knew Ruby's intuition was usually a match for her own.

"I don't know yet" she replied truthfully. She thought about going into more detail but the ring of the diner door opening interrupted her.

Regina appeared at her side.

"Madam Mayor" Ruby said with a smile, tentatively pleased to see her back.

"Hey" Emma smiled "it's good to see you around again"

"Thank you, it's nice to be around" Regina said with a one sided smile

"Are you staying for lunch?" Emma asked

"Yes" Regina replied, "we are" she turned and Emma followed her gaze. Robin and Roland sat in one of the booths paying a game where Roland had to snap Robin's hands. Regina smiled widely at them as Roland's happy giggle filled the diner.

Emma watched her and the ache in her chest returned. She turned back to the bar and her mind wandered back to Regina lying in a sleep like death in the office. Her face like porcelain and Robin's kiss making no difference.

"Do you want another?" Ruby asked. Emma jolted back to reality.

"What?" she asked

"Hot chocolate?" Ruby asked, with a questioning look in her eye.

"Oh" Emma looked sideways at Regina who turned back to face the bar smiling.

"No, I have to go" Emma said. She swiped her notebook from the counter and swept out of the diner.

She stuffed her hands into her pockets and walked through the town to the Sheriff's office. She hoped the cold air would clear her head, but she couldn't shake the bad feeling in her chest.

She had been so happy to finally see Regina being loved and appreciated like she deserved, but now every time she saw Robin he made her skin crawl. She couldn't understand his motivation to keep this from Regina. If she had kissed her lips then maybe she'd understand, but the kiss she gave Regina was nothing like that.

3 days earlier

Regina had lain in a sleep for days, no one had any idea what to do. Robin was worried and useless, Rumple seemed to be actually enjoying it and Henry was beside himself, refusing to accept that there was no way to help his mother.

Emma had knelt by Regina's side as she came to terms with her complete inability to help. She took her hand and looked up at her face like a mask. Emma swallowed hard.

"Regina, I don't know what to do. We have tried everything. We need you to tell us how to fix this. We need you…" she trailed off.

She looked up at the people gathered near Regina's desk. Robin, Snow, David and Rumple stood talking, shaking their heads and Snow periodically looked over at Emma, sadness pouring from her eyes.

"I…need you" Emma continued, knowing no one was overhearing her. "If you can hear me, please come back. After everything you have been through, everything you have done, this can't be the end. You have put yourself in danger to help us so many times, you have given everything…this can't be the end"

Regina didn't move. Emma's eyes filled with tears but she would not let them go. She stayed there for a long time. She held her hand and watched for the slightest change in the woman before her. Even her breathing was barely perceptible.

Emma looked at the hand she held. She knew what they were capable off, she had seen them conjure fire from thin air but now they were cold, lifeless.

Robin appeared at her side.

"No change?" He asked quietly. Emma shook her head. For a moment they looked at each other. There was nothing more to say. They had had every conversation, every rousing pep talk, every "we can't give up on her", every "there must be something", but there wasn't. Both of them knew it and neither would say it.

He reached out and rubbed Emma's shoulder. She appreciated the gesture and smiled at him.

"What are we going to do?" He said aloud to no one in particular as he brushed Regina's hair back from her face.

The others had left. Emma and Robin were each other's only comfort, knowing neither of them would give up on Regina bonded them together.

Emma sighed and pressed her forehead to Regina's hand. Another day was ending and they were no closer to waking her.

"Please come back" she whispered. Robin set his jaw and looked away.

Emma pressed her lips to Regina's hand and felt deep and permeating warmth flood her entire body. She jumped at a slight gasp that could only have come from Regina.