Emma awoke to an overly loud pounding noise at the door, and loud inquisitive shouts of "Mom! Why is your door locked?"
She grumbled back in a dry voice that sounded whinier than she meant to, "Hang on Henry, I'll get up in a minute!"
Movement from the foot of the bed drew her attention and she sat straight up, blowing stray hair out of her mouth and quickly pulling it back behind her eyes. Regina was pulling on her slacks, and looking around for something.
"Does your room always look like your closet vomited?" Regina asked smiling far too brightly for whatever time of morning it was. Emma had so few chances to sleep in, and her body clock hadn't adjusted from the night shift.
"No, this is a special occasion as I knew I'd have company," Emma stuck out her tongue and Regina squinted at her, wiggling her nose playfully. "Can you let Henry in?"
Regina froze in place for a moment, and Emma realized she was still looking for her bra. "I'm not decent and I'm…what are we supposed to tell him?"
Her eyes widened and her mouth fell open when she heard Henry on the other side of the door calling her out.
"Regina?" Henry yelled in question. The little shit was listening at the door. "Regina! I know you're in mom's room! You stayed over!"
Henry was fidgeting with the door knob and knocking excitedly. Regina shot Emma a look like 'what had she gotten herself into?' and unlocked the door. Henry ran in and launched himself onto the bed, bouncing on his knees.
"Good morning! Mom, mom, mom!" Henry was repeating with every bounce as Emma flipped him over and tickled him while hugging him close, until he erupted in a fit of joyous giggles.
"I'll just be in the bathroom," Regina said laughing at the energetic display. Emma looked over Henry's shoulder and gave her the thumbs up when she saw Regina had recovered her bra.
"If you want to take a shower before breakfast there are clean towels in the linen closet…I think," Emma teased as Henry finally stilled and laid down breathless and laughing. "Why are you up so early, kid?"
Emma was awake now, there was no changing that. The digital display of her alarm clock on the nightstand told her it was Sunday morning at 7:43am. Henry had slept for almost twelve hours so it wasn't surprising he was awake, and this was normally the time that Emma would have been coming to visit him after work in the hospital. She herself felt surprisingly rested for getting so little sleep, and wondered if it had to do with the company she had shared her bed with.
"I can't believe Regina is still here!" Henry laughed excitedly. "She really likes us, doesn't she?"
"Yeah, I think she does," Emma agreed merrily. She didn't want Regina to be out of place or uncomfortable from spending the night, so she made sure to tell Henry to tell her how excited he was that she had stayed over. "Make sure she shows how cool it is that she's stayed so maybe she'll do it again sometime."
It may have been a bit manipulative on Emma's part to have her son ensure potential overnight visits from their new favorite wish granter, but she wasn't above using a little emotional manipulation in the form of a sweet kid, because if Regina found Emma irresistible in one way, she assuredly found Henry's charm irresistible too. That was probably why she'd willingly spend half her evening playing Wolverine and Spiderman with the kid.
….
"Let's get up and start breakfast," Emma said to Henry giving him another tickle. "You need to take your medicine."
Henry frowned, "Do I have to?"
"You know you do," Emma mocked his whiny tone. He crumbled back down into the sheets wearily.
"I just want to be done being sick," Henry sniffled back tears, and Emma rubbed his back trying to keep herself from crying too.
"I know, buddy. I want you to get better too, and you are. That's what the medicine is for to get you feeling better," Emma bit her lip as she gave Henry the dismal pep talk. She knew how tired his medication made him, and how hard it was for him to understand what was happening and look at the big picture over the day to day. Especially when Emma's own mantra was to take things one day at a time…sometimes one minute at a time when she was fighting exhaustion after working a double shift and trying to fight nausea when she was so tired.
It hit her all at once that the last thing she should be doing was starting to date. She took a long ragged breath and then Henry leapt off the bed upon hearing the bathroom door creak open.
"Regina!" He yelled as he rushed out of the bedroom.
"Henry, don't ambush her, she just woke up," Emma called from the bedroom where she flopped back down, and pulled the covers up to her chin. She heard Henry whisper something to Regina, but she couldn't make out what. Regina whispered back about something and Emma was pretty sure she heard Regina say 'ambush.' She sat up in bed, suddenly wide awake.
It was too late.
Regina and Henry were clambering back in the bedroom from the hallway, making a beeline toward the bed. Emma tried to hide, but there was nowhere to go. She felt Henry pounce first and start to tickle her through the covers. She was twisting and laughing and trying to bat his hands away, when she felt the comforters unceremoniously ripped off of her body, and then Regina grabbed her ankle and tickled the bare unprotected bottom of her foot, while Henry held down her shoulders.
"Ahhhh! Help!" Emma was choking on her laughter, trying to plea for mercy while Regina's fingers tickled up the back of her calf and to the sensitive area behind her knee. Henry flopped down on top of her and hugged her tight, and Regina finally relented. "That wasn't fair," Emma tried to catch her breath. "Two on one is never fair."
Regina was smirking down at her, redressed in her outfit from the night before, complete with a bra, and looking as fresh as if she had showered and reapplied her makeup. The unworldly look left Emma wondering if she had used magic to look so perfect.
"Regina after a tickle war you have to hug to show that you are nice now," Henry informed Regina in a very serious tone, and opened his arm up motioning for her to join him and Emma in a full body embrace.
"Of course, that sounds like a very sportsmanlike rule," Regina pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear and bent over to hug both Emma and Henry sweetly, if not a bit of an awkward angle. Emma used her free arm to grip Regina's waist and hoist her off her feet just enough that she lost her balance and fell flush on top of Emma. She squealed in the most delightful way, and it gave Emma an evil idea. Regina's face was buried against Emma's shoulder. Emma lifted her head and winked at Henry, using the hand that was on Regina's back to mimic tickling.
Henry realized quickly what Emma was suggesting and he nodded vigorously, and at once both mother and son, started to tickle Regina's back and arms. She squealed again and laughed, trying to pull away from them, but Emma was strong and Henry had her feet trapped so she couldn't kick. She successfully untucked Regina's shirt and ran her cold fingers up her sides, tickling as she went. The action mimicked their carnal pursuits of the night before, but in the cold light of day and in the presence of Henry, there was something familiar and intimate in the action.
Regina finally called for mercy and they ceased fire allowing her to recover, boneless and exhilarated and still draped over Emma.
"Breakfast!" Henry yelled and sprang off the bed. His words came out in an over excited stutter, "I'm going to make pancakes!"
Emma was still chuckling beneath Regina; she called out from under her, "Don't start the stove yet. Just give us a minute, okay?"
"Yeah, mom, I know," Henry sassed back, his voice carrying through the apartment. Once that was settled, Emma turned her focus to Regina and the hands that were stroking her sides. Their breathing was in sync and their bodies were melded together sensually. Emma was still reeling from being tickled and now the comforting pressure of Regina's weight pressing her down in the mattress was making feelings flare up in her: hot and heavy.
"Why do you have to be so damned good?" Emma asked in mock frustration. She squeezed her eyes shut as she felt Regina planting a trail of feather light kisses up and down her neck. Regina chuckled and her body shook, Emma could feel her lips curl into a smile at the hollow of her throat.
The delicate touch was addicting and Emma lolled her neck back and hummed in pleasure, granting Regina's mouth full access. Her eyes were closed, and Regina had started to move against her sensually. "We can't start this again," Emma said dejected.
"I know," Regina said in a breathless whisper, her voice muffled by Emma's skin. The roaming hands that were rubbing up and down Emma's sides greedily covered her breasts. Regina squeezed them once and then pulled away while Emma groaned from the loss of contact.
"We have to make pancakes," she said in the air, more to herself as a reminder that Henry was waiting than to Regina, who had rolled away and was getting up.
"Let me cook you two breakfast," Regina offered, rubbing her hands together in anticipation. "I trust you have all the necessary ingredients?"
"For pancakes? Yeah, I'm pretty sure I have some powdered pancake mix that just mixes with water," Emma was trying to think about anything but the heat that was still coursing through her body. She made a mental promise that next time she found herself in a heated situation with Regina, she was going to see it through to the end.
Then she remembered her fears and Regina's worries about dating, and frowned as the sad reality crashed down around her, but she tried to shake it off as she finally got out of bed and went to join Regina and Henry in the kitchen.
Emma already knew it, but she was ever impressed with Regina's kitchen magic. She looked downright sexy with an apron tied around her waist; an apron Emma didn't even know she had. Henry was helping stir the batter that Regina had whipped up from scratch, scrounging flour and eggs from Emma's meager pantry offerings.
"Henry it's time to take your medicine," Emma dumped out his pills and got him a large glass of juice. It was still hard to for him to swallow the big ones, but he was well practiced as long as he took the handful of pills one at a time.
Henry was staring at Regina with affection and awe and Emma realized in embarrassment that it was probably the exact same look she had plastered on her face when she was staring at Regina. Emma realized she was staring at Regina from the kitchen table. "Do you need help with anything? I mean really I should be making you breakfast. You're a guest here."
"Nonsense," Regina sing-songed, brushing Emma's offer off as she used the electric can opener to open a can of peaches.
"I'm helping with breakfast," Henry reminded her, turning to look at Emma and then glare with disdain at his pills. Emma gave him a stern look in return and he dutifully abandoned his stirring joining Emma at the table to take his meds.
Regina found a proper frying pan and was heating up oil. Despite having every ingredient and appliance Emma owned out on the counter, everything was tidy and measured out like Regina could host her own cooking show on Food Network. Emma would happily watch that, probably giggling at all of the double entendre that Regina would inevitably make talking about whipping cream and beating eggs.
That would be very entertaining, and just thinking about Regina talking dirty made Emma shift in her seat in discomfort and need. She didn't know how she was even functioning after sleeping with Regina, and conversely, not actually sleeping with her. It was like a special form of torture to be so close and not have her fully.
As Emma's eyes glazed over and she chewed on her lip replaying the last night's events, she must have zoned out completely. She didn't come to until she was startled by a hot plate of peach pancakes with powdered sugar being set down in front of her. Regina patted her back and leaned over her, pulling away slowly. She kissed Emma's cheek and hovered at her ear, "I hope you like peaches, I put a little of the peach syrup in the mix to make the pancakes extra sweet."
Emma shivered in the best way and turned her head in reaction only thinking about a woman who knew the way to heart via her stomach just like the old adage that was very true in Emma's case. She kissed Regina's still parted lips, lifting her hand up to cup her strong jawline and holding her in place.
"Ewwww gross!" Henry shrieked, wrinkling his nose at the display. "Mom! You're kissing Regina?"
Emma pulled away and Regina straightened up as if she had been slapped. Emma looked up at her in apology. She looked off kilter, and she nervously brushed flour off of the front of her apron. She was running one hand through her hair and gazing off at the clock on the wall nervously.
"What?" Emma asked in challenge. She hadn't meant to kiss Regina in front of Henry, the kid had to know something was up considering Regina had slept over, but he seemed quite flabbergasted at seeing the two women kiss.
"You kissed Regina," Henry stammered, pancake falling off his fork forgotten.
"Yeah, well, she kissed me first," Emma decided to take the defensive route and place the blame squarely on Regina. She shifted her eyes to gauge Regina's reaction. She had hurried across the room back to the safety and comfort of the stove and seemed to be manically making more pancakes.
"She kissed your cheek, you kissed her…mouth!" Henry narrowed his eyes and looked her over, he looked confused and suspicious. Emma grunted in reply, stuffing her mouth full of pancake.
"These are really good pancakes Regina. I was just trying to say 'thank you' with my mouth," Emma spoke as she chewed. The pancakes really were delicious, even better than the ones at the diner."Emma, may I use your phone?" Regina appeared lost in thought. "I think my battery is dead."
"Sure, it's in the living room," Emma continued to eat her pancakes, as Henry regarded his mom with suspicion.
When Regina left the room, Henry started to ask a question but shook his head and put it down in hesitation.
"What?" Emma whispered to him craning her head across the table to catch his eye.
"Are you—?" Henry started, but then they both heard Regina on the phone and naturally eavesdropped. "Who is she calling?"
"I don't know," Emma focused on listening to Regina even though it made her feel a bit guilty. "Sshh."
"No, Leroy, I'm fine…yes, my phone died," Regina was in conversation with someone on the other end of the line. "Yes, the same location as last night…."
Another pause, "Leroy, that is highly inappropriate and none of your business. Please come pick me up," Regina finished talking while Emma and Henry pretended to eat and act like they hadn't been listening.
When Regina re-entered the kitchen Henry started firing questions to her in stream, "Are you leaving? But I thought we were going to play after breakfast. Where are you going?"
"Some other time, Henry," Regina nodded politely, but something was off. Her whole demeanor had changed and she seemed distant. "Something has come up and I called for my driver to come pick me up."
Henry nodded as if he understood, but he rubbed a hand over his smooth scalp and his lips plumped into a pout.
"Henry, it's cool. Regina can't stay here all the time, she's really busy and stuff," Emma said softly, glancing at Regina who pursed her own lips and looked away. Emma sighed softly and sat back in her chair. Her fork clanked against her plate, her appetite had evaporated. "Hey, Henry, why don't you go grab your video game to show Regina before she leaves?"
"Okay!" He pushed his chair back and left the room, giving the two women a moment alone to talk.
"So," Emma started, unsure exactly what to ask. Regina seemed hard to approach. "Are you upset about me kissing you in front of Henry?"
"Yes," Regina answered in solemn honesty. "I'm…afraid that…" Regina swallowed hard, her eyes taking on a shine. Clearly it was hard for her to speak about it.
"You're afraid it's too much too soon?" Emma understood.
"Most dating experts recommend partners date for upwards of six months before introducing a romantic interest to the child…otherwise it's confusing….for everyone," Regina stated while crossing her arms and shrugging in discomfort.
"Yeah, but…you already met Henry before we realized we had like…a thing, and…" Emma scrunched her face, the words she was using sounding inadequate and bitter.
"A thing?" Regina questioned, eyes shining in fear. "I told you last night that I had a thing that went sour fast and I lost…" she paused, her chin quivering with emotion as she searched to put her feelings into words. "A lot."
Emma stood up and crossed the room, forcing Regina to look at her. She placed a hand on Regina's arm in comfort. "Hey, I'm not like that guy. I promise I wouldn't hurt you like that, but I understand if you're not ready for overnights and family breakfasts."
Regina looked at Emma's hand on her arm and placed her own on top, giving a reassuring squeeze. "It's too much too soon, and Henry doesn't seem to be accepting of us anyway…Perhaps we could keep things on a professional level?"
"No, come on, don't say that…" Emma was at a loss. On one hand she was right, and Emma couldn't imagine how she felt. Emma didn't know if she was ready for a relationship with everything she had going on, but naked hugs with Regina felt so right. It felt so natural to be together, and she was so good with Henry and so understanding with Emma. Not to mention the mind blowing chemistry.
"Please don't shut me out," Emma tried again, but a horn honked from outside on the street and Regina grabbed her purse. Henry returned and showed her his video game, but Regina was trying not to draw out the goodbye.
She gave Henry a hug, and promised she'd be in touch, and then with a nod to Emma, Regina opened the door and left.
The apartment had never felt so empty.
….
Emma decided to give Regina her space. She didn't want to bother her, especially when she had been clear that she needed time, but it was hard that night when Emma's sheets and pillows still smelled faintly of Regina's mesmerizing perfume.
The next few weeks were harder than ever. Henry returned to school. His energy was still low, but he was getting through it and his doctor's appointments were going well. He was stable, and that was a win as far as Emma was concerned.
For herself, she felt lonely, like she'd had a taste of something wonderful and then lost it. Work shifts seemed longer and more tiring. It was like she was just getting by instead of living. Life seemed exhausting, and as fall turned to winter, the world lost its color and seemed grey everywhere Emma looked.
Regina texted a few times, setting the date for Henry's wish to happen. He was looking forward to it, but kept asking when Regina would visit again. Emma didn't know. She was working too much, time was going too fast and her heart was aching in a new unexpected way, like she was always holding her hand in a fire. The weather had been cold every day, which also hadn't proved well for Henry's health.
The trip was drawing closer, but Henry seemed weaker and he hadn't been interested in his normal activities. Emma was worried. Financial responsibilities were mounting, and with the college students leaving for the holidays, the diner didn't have the usual flow of customers, which meant Emma had to make up the slack in tips by working longer hours and taking double shifts.
On days Emma stayed to work the breakfast shift, Ruby would come over and help Henry get ready and drop him off at school. Emma hired a trusted neighbor to spend her work nights sleeping on her couch to be there in case something happened to Henry. He was still too young to be left alone, and if he had a health problem, someone had to be there to check in on him and take him to the hospital.
Paying for someone to sleep didn't help her budget, but she tried to tell herself she was getting by.
She had a support system in place, but she was feeling as though it wasn't enough, especially as she started to feel like she was digging a hole and getting buried deeper and deeper. It was a week before the big trip and Emma had started daydreaming about the warm Florida weather constantly. She was looking forward to a break from the monotony of winter, and the trip would be taking place just after Thanksgiving.
There was a snow advisory and all the weather reports were showing a huge storm front coming in. School hadn't been canceled yet, so Emma dropped him off, then went home to sleep. She set her alarm for 3pm, which was just enough time for her to get up and get to Henry's school to pick him up.
She could barely stay awake as she drove home. Her feet were aching along with her back from a punishing shift carrying trays on a particularly busy night at work. She made it inside, pulled off her work shirt and kicked off her shoes. She crawled into bed and fell asleep almost instantly.
She awoke in the dark of her room sometime later to the sound of wind and someone pounding incessantly and loudly on the front door.
Groggy and disoriented, she got up from bed, her heart started to race as she realized that something wasn't right. For one, she didn't feel good. Her head was pounding and her sinuses were congested along with a scratchy throat.
The light drifting in from the window wasn't nearly as bright as it should be, and she could hear horrendous wind howling outside. She had no idea what time it was or who was at the door.
She pushed her knotted hair out of her face and flung the front door open to reveal a very cold and tired looking Henry, and Regina standing behind him in a winter coat with her hands on his shoulders. She was frowning and both of them were covered in snowflakes.
"Regina?" Emma questioned, her voice coming out hoarse and partially confused bordering on hysterical. Henry sniffed and ran into her arms, holding on to her tank top and burying his face against her chest. Emma felt his body shake and realized he was crying. "What's going on?"
"Mommy you didn't come," Henry said, and Emma knew something bad had happened. He never called her that unless something was really wrong and he was very frightened.
"School was dismissed early due to the storm and neither Henry nor the school could reach you, Ms. Swan," Regina was still standing uncertain and almost meek looking in the doorway. She was biting her lip and her eyes were wide with concern.
"Come inside, I'm sorry," Emma sprang into action, pulling Henry along and helping him out of his coat and boots to bring him over to the couch.
"I'm not feeling good," he muttered as she felt his forehead and couldn't tell if he had a fever or he was just warm from being bundled up in his coat and hat.
"I was asleep…I didn't hear my phone," Emma explained frantically. Regina was standing just inside the door of the apartment looking around nervously; she hadn't taken off her coat. "I don't know what happened…"
"The storm knocked the power out, we were at school in the dark and it was snowing so hard," Henry managed to explain as he lay down on the couch as Emma covered him with a blanket. "Can I have some soup? We have soup when it snows…"
"Yes, of course. I think I have some Campbell's," Emma told him, trying to soothe him as he curled up with his knees to his chest. Emma ran to her room and checked her phone; it was plugged into the wall charger and completely dead. No wonder she hadn't gotten any calls, she likely wouldn't have woken in time to pick him up on his normal schedule without her alarm.
When she came back to the living room, Regina was heading into the kitchen like she owned the place, and rummaging through Emma's pantry for noodles and chicken broth.
"How did you end up picking him up?" Emma asked as she watched Regina grab a pot and then pull half wilted celery and carrots out of the fridge. Then she looked in the freezer for chicken breasts and got those out. "And what are you doing?"
"Henry called me," Regina said with a shrug of her shoulders. She had removed her coat and accessories and was putting on an apron, and adjusting the strings around her waist.
"I was happy to pick him up, and bring him home. The weather is atrocious. I'm making soup, and he shouldn't have canned. If he's not feeling well, he needs something fresh and flavorful."
Emma felt equal parts grateful along with a bit flabbergasted and slightly insulted. Her thoughts were running, she wondered how Henry would even think to call Regina of all people.
"Thank you," Emma blurted, she crossed the kitchen and grabbed Regina's wrist,
Tears were in her eyes; both women froze in place and stared at one another for a long emotional moment. Emma bit her lip as Regina looked down and tried to downplay the situation. "It was nothing…Ms. Swan."
"No, thank you, I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't picked him up. I feel awful, and it's just me…this last month has been so hard and Regina, I-Henry's missed you," Emma stammered.
Regina nodded, unable to respond, she tried to turn back to the counter to defrost chicken and chop celery. Emma recognized it as one of the other woman's defense mechanisms, but she wouldn't let go of her wrist. Instead, she pulled her back to face her and squared her up. She slid both hands around her waist and pushed her gently against the counter, stepping in close between her legs and pulling her into a heartfelt and genuine hug. "I missed you so much," Emma admitted, unable to conceal her emotions.
She didn't care if Regina pushed back, or walked out the door, she needed to tell her because it was true. Both Henry and Emma needed Regina. She was beautiful and caring and had a way about her that hooked into Emma's heart. Nothing had been the same in her life since meeting the Wish Granter, and now that she was finally here, Emma didn't want to let her go.
Perhaps Regina had been scared of getting too close because everything could change on a whim and she'd get hurt again. That was always a risk and a possibility, but the feelings of longing and loneliness Emma had experienced without her there, not to mention, the seething and simmering twist of lonely nights spent in unbearable sexual frustration thanks to Regina, were real and humbling.
Henry was a very sick boy with a life threatening illness and he managed to get through, day by day. If anything, Emma had learned it was that life was precious and too important to let the people who really matter slip past unrecognized. She had been guilty of sleepwalking through life, beaten down by circumstance and lack of opportunity.
This was a new opportunity, the chance for something real and something good to happen. So Emma kept hugging Regina until her limp hands wrapped around Emma's waist and pulled her close, her slim body shaking as she cried with emotional release.
"I missed you too," Regina murmured as she nuzzled Emma's neck, her chin resting on her shoulder, her nose buried in blonde sleep mussed hair. "I've thought about you and Henry every day since…since."
"It's okay," Emma reassured her, pulling her in close. "I understand the need for distance, I understand everything and it's all okay, and I'm so thankful that you were there for my son when I wasn't."
"Emma, you're a good mom. You work too hard, and you have so much on your plate," Regina took her turn comforting her. "I admire so many of your skills and your approach to life."
When they finally parted, wiping at each other's eyes, Emma went to check on Henry and Regina stayed in the kitchen where she seemed most comfortable, filling the apartment with the mouthwatering scent of fresh, homemade chicken noodle soup.
Emma looked out the window at the rapidly darkening sky and frowned. There was no way she was going to be able to make it into her shift at work that night. The snow was gleaming, fluffy and continuing to fall, blanketing the street and covering everything in a thick icy layer of sheer driving hell. Regina wasn't going to leave either; Emma didn't care if she had a driver. They were all going to stay in and be sick and eat chicken noodle soup that was not from a can labeled condensed.
"Mommy," Henry rasped from the couch. "I need to go to sleep, but I can't, my chest hurts."
"Okay, I know, let me get you some medicine and eat a little soup and then we'll let you go to bed," Emma promised. She sat down with him and rubbed his back. They watched cartoons together and he looked up at her with sleepy eyes and pouted. The storm was raging, Regina was cooking and Henry didn't look well.
After a while, Regina dished up the soup and they all ate on the living room couch, slurping a bit, as Emma helped Henry eat a few small bites. He made a 'mmm' noise after each spoonful, ever showing his appreciation for Regina's cooking and presence. Emma ate her soup quickly. Regina was magic, there was no doubt about that. Her cooking was delicious and Emma had no idea she even had the ingredients on hand to make chicken noodle soup.
Everything seemed peaceful, and Henry took his medicine, but the troubling thing was that Emma felt ill too and Henry could barely keep his eyes open. She tried to help him up to go to the bathroom and get ready for bed, but he coughed hard and spat blood into his hand. Then his nose started to bleed and Emma tried not to worry him, especially with the weather, but she knew enough about the warning signs of his disease to know that Henry needed to go to the hospital.
He was deteriorating rapidly, but she didn't have money to call an ambulance, and with the raging storm, by the time it came it would take twice as long as if she had just driven him herself.
She pulled Regina aside as she was cleaning up, they hadn't been able to speak much, the concern and overhanging prevailing worry for Henry was tantamount. "He needs to go to the hospital."
"I'll get my driver, he dropped us off," Regina nodded and offered softly.
"No, we can take my bug… will you come with us?" Emma pleaded hopefully. She didn't want Regina to leave her side, and Henry would definitely benefit from having her there.
"Of course," Regina smiled. "I don't know if I'll be much use, but I need to make sure Henry is okay, and you're okay."
The trio bundled up, Emma didn't do much except wrap henry in his coat and comforter, she packed a few belongings into the bag she already had on standby in case such an occasion arose and headed out the door of the apartment down the stairs and fought the cold, snow, wind and ice to get to Emma's bug that was covered in eight inches of frozen ice.
She had carried Henry down, he was acting delirious from his fever, her adrenaline was spiking as she went. Regina was carrying the bags. Emma shifted Henry to stand against the car and he almost fainted. He murmured that he was scared and afraid he'd throw up. Regina soothed him by rubbing his back and distracting him by talking about all the comic book things that they had missed out on in their time apart.
Emma got her bug started, barely, and started the long defrosting and de-icing process, scraping at the windows and brushing off the snow. They piled Henry into the back seat, he was so weak and tired he had to lie down. Even he knew they had to go to the hospital. Usually when it was a routine doctor's visit he protested, but this time he knew he was really sick and needed treatment.
The drive to the hospital was treacherous and horrible. Emma was practically crying and tense; Regina helped her navigate the road as they slipped and slid in the near white out, while she held Henry's hand and flawlessly supported both mother and son as they all faced their own battles.
It took an extra 30 minutes to get into the hospital and they narrowly avoided going into the steep ditch off of the interstate where traffic was not advised. They rushed Henry into the ER where the doctors and nurses started helping him right away. They undressed him from his pajamas and put him in a gown. He was having a lot of trouble breathing so they started him on oxygen and a nebulizer while hooking up his picc line to a saline drip to get him some hydration.
After a while, of Emma staring too closely at Henry's pale face as he struggled to breathe, one of the Emergency room nurses pulled her to the side and tried to get her to step out of the trauma room. Emma had a cold she was wearing a thin tank with pajama pants and no bra and Regina was already standing outside. She was pacing nervously, and when Emma got kicked out, she fell into Regina's arm, letting the brunette hold her up.
"They think he has pneumonia," Emma said wearily, her tears flowing freely as Regina held her solidly and smoothed her flyaway curls down. "It's serious, I should have noticed him getting sick again, struggling to breathe…"
"Hey, it's not your fault, you have done the best you can. Please don't think that's it's your fault. You're such a good mom," Regina whispered over and over and let Emma cry, she teared up herself when the doctor finally came out of the room to talk to Henry's mother, Emma refused to let go of Regina's hand.
"He's stable, and we're doing some tests…it's possible he's having a relapse," The Doctor confirmed Emma's worst fear. More treatments, more chemo and more chances that her son would die. "We're going to admit him to Pediatric intensive care unit so he can be monitored and get the care he needs. You can go in and be with him and we'll have his room upstairs ready in just a few minutes.
When Emma and Regina entered Henry's ER room, the sight was frightening: he was intubated and under sedation. His tiny arms had IVs running out of them and leads on his chest; his skin looked clammy and cold.
"It happened so fast," Emma said, "I am so glad you picked him up. I can't even imagine what would have happened otherwise…where I'd be, and where Henry would be. I didn't realize he even had your number."
"We've been texting for a while…just about fairytales and his make a wish," Regina admitted, her cheeks pinking with guilt.
"I'm worried about his trip; if he's this sick, we're not going to be able to go to Disney World next week."
"It's okay, we can reschedule. It's awful since he's been looking forward to going so much, but his health has to be the priority, and he won't have any fun if he's feeling ill," Regina comforted Emma, assuring her that these things happen often with the children she granted wishes for.
"Maybe we can reschedule for the spring?"
So Regina stayed in the room that night, huddled and cuddled up with Emma on the uncomfortable recliner. They found a way that was as comfortable as possible, clinging to each other as the storm raged on outside with Henry in his bed, machines beeping and nurses checking on him. Emma left Regina's side every 30 minutes all night to check on Henry. She just needed to make sure he was still breathing and that his heart was still beating solidly. She had to feel it for herself.
Regina went to the cafeteria and brought Emma coffee and for warmth and comfort, rubbing her back, and she realized how much easier it was to go through the crisis with another supportive person by her side. It relieved some of her worries and helped calm her fears, having someone as capable and strong as Regina with her all night to weather out the storm.
…..