A/N: In this chapter, there's a flashback to start giving some insight into how Regina ended up in New York. We'll also see how Emma is after waking up from her coma, and get a better insight into what happened on the night of the accident from Regina's perspective.

Once again not a medical professional.

Also thank you for all the reviews and support. I'm loving reading people's theories as to what's happening. Let's see if this chapter helps to confirm anything.

Flashback to the Enchanted Forrest

Snow White paced aimlessly back and forth across the palace courtyard. She didn't know what she was going to do with the Evil Queen now that she had stopped her execution- it had been a spur of the moment decision. The young woman hadn't thought about what would happen next. However, Snow was certain that the woman she once knew was still in there; she just needed a way for Regina to allow herself to become that person again. She stopped at the sight of the wooden post the Evil Queen had been shackled to.

"My, my aren't we troubled, Dearie." Came the unmistakable brogue from behind the young queen, disrupting her contemplation.

"Rumpelstiltskin, what brings you here?" Snow asked suspiciously as she turn in his direction. The Dark One was sat across the courtyard in a throne.

"After today's events, I figured you may be in need of my assistance?" Rumple said with a smirk as he straightened his posture and flourished his hand. "Am I correct in presuming that all this pacing has something to do with the Evil Queen? You know, she really isn't worth those worry lines, Dearie." He finished with his distinctive cackle.

Snow let out a sigh, she didn't trust the man- if you could call him a man. But he had helped her in the past, and the rest of the council were unconvinced that Regina could ever change her ways. Maybe Rumpelstiltskin was her last option,"I just wish there was a way for Regina to prove she can be different; to give her a chance at redemption- a fresh start…" Snow trailed off, lost in thought.

"Well, wishing for it isn't going to help you, Dearie. But I can." That got Snow's attention.

She walked closer as she questioned him warily. "What do you mean you can help? What can you do?"

"It's quite simple really." Rumple vanished and reappeared directly in front of Snow White; pointing at her chest he said. "All I require is that compass around your neck and a hair of Regina's." He began to walk away. A few steps later, turning on the spot with a finger on his chin, he added. "On second thought, just to be certain, let's make it two …"

Snow eyed him with caution. It wasn't the first time he had asked her for hair, so she didn't question it too much. But why would he require her compass? It was a sentimental keepsake; Snow wore it as a way to symbolise that she and Charming would always find each other. She had won it in a bet with a rum soaked pirate during her time as a bandit. He had told her some tall tale about how the compass was guided by the heart. She hadn't believed a word of it- even a drunk wasn't foolish enough to give away something that powerful. However, the following day she had ambushed a carriage which happened to be the one that her Charming was travelling in with his betrothed. Snow was a romantic at heart and liked the story of it all. One day she would tell her children how it had led her to her Prince. "Why do you need my compass?" She asked as she subconsciously rested her hand where the object lay over her heart.

"Why do you ask so many questions? Just have the items I need by morning," Rumple snipped before sarcastically adding. "And I will see to it that Regina finds her happiness."

Seemingly as an afterthought, but with a decidedly more sinister inflection he said. "You will need to ask that fairy friend of yours for one of her precious magic beans too. I know she has a supply of them, despite what she claims." Snow considered this for a moment, magic beans were extremely hard to come by, but she was sure that if she asked Blue for one, the fairy would be only too happy to oblige. There was only one thing left to settle- the price of a deal with Rumpelstiltskin, and whether she would be willing to pay it.

"If I agree to go ahead with your plan; what is it going to cost me? With you, there is always a price." Snow said suspiciously.

"Why nothing, Dearie…Let's just say - I'm invested in both your futures." He stated with a calculating grin.

xxxxxxx

"Follow my finger…" Doctor White proceeded to move his hand from left to right, then up and down, which Emma mirrored with her eyes, "That's good." He shone his torch in front of each eye in turn before he spoke again. "I need to ask you a few questions."

"Okay, shoot."

"What's your name?

"Emma Swan."

"How old are you?"

"Just turned thirty." Emma's lip tugged up at the corner at the memory of her surprise party.

"What year is it?"

"Is this really necessary? I told you I feel fine Doc" Emma said with a huff, as she pushed herself up to sit on the edge of the bed.

"Just answer the question please, Emma."

"Fine, it's 2012," she said, unable to suppress the little eye roll of annoyance. She just wanted to see Henry right now.

"Okay good, what's the last thing you can remember?"

"You saying- what's the last thing you can remember?" Emma said petulantly.

"Before your accident," Doctor White clarified with a good-natured grin.

"Uhh, looking for some fake blood for my Halloween costume I think."

"When would that have been?

"Probably about an hour before we were due to go to the party"

"Okay, can you tell me the four words I asked you to remember earlier?"

"Cloud, book, clock, apple."

xxxxxxxx

"What's taking them so long?" Paul queried to no one in particular. He had rushed back to Emma as soon as he'd received a phone call from the hospital to inform him that his friend had woken up. He stood with Regina and Henry outside Emma's room whilst Doctor White concluded his tests. A minute or so later, the door opened and the Doctor emerged with a smile on his face.

"Everything is looking positive so far, but I will need to keep an eye on Emma over the next few days." Doctor White stated reassuringly.

"She doesn't have any deficits, or whatever you called them?" Paul asked, just wanting to clarify.

"No, she is doing well. She can't remember the few hours before the accident, but that isn't something I'm concerned about considering the amount of trauma that Emma went through."

"Thank you, Doctor White" Regina added. Although she was unsure what to make of the fact that Emma couldn't remember the time before the accident. She didn't know whether the emotion that nestled inside her was one of relief or disappointment.

"You may go in and see her now- I'm sure you'll have plenty to catch up on." The Doctor said as he patted Henry on the shoulder and left. Henry wasted no time as he sprinted through the door and jumped onto the bed next to his mother.

"Hey, Kid. What's the hurry?" Emma said, laughing as the boy crashed into her side. She put an arm around him and held him tight. Wrapping both his arms around her waist, the young boy hugged her and didn't say a word. Emma looked up to see Paul and Regina standing in the doorway, "You don't have to stand there staring, you can come in you know?"

"Sorry, Ems. It's still a bit of a shock to see you sitting up in bed." Paul responded with a smile, making his way to one of the chairs in the room.

"How are you feeling, Miss Swan?" Regina asked, still feeling a bit out of her depth in the situation. She remained standing near the door.

"I'm good. My leg's a little sore, and my head is feeling a bit fuzzy- but other than that I can't really complain. These are some good meds they're pumping me with." The blonde grinned as she gestured towards her IV drip. In actuality, her headache was blinding, and there was no chance of her being able to walk on her leg yet; but there was no need to cause any more worry to those around her than she already had.

"I've been talking to you," were the muffled words from Henry, who was still buried in his mother's side.

"Huh?" Was all Emma could say in response, she didn't know what he was referring to.

"While you were in your coma, I talked to you. Did you hear me?" Henry pulled his head away just enough to see his mother's face. Emma looked down at the boy with sympathetic eyes and a sad smile.

"I'm sorry Henry. I can't remember." He nodded in resignation. Seeing her son's crestfallen face she added, "I'm really glad you did, though. Just because I can't remember it, doesn't mean I didn't hear you. I know I would have felt so much better knowing that you were near me; I always feel better when you're around." Emma wrapped her son in a hug again.

Henry nodded into her chest," m'kay." After a few more seconds he let go of his Mother. Looking decidedly more cheerful he stated, "I have so much to tell you."

After a good thirty minutes of Henry detailing the events of the past five weeks while everyone listened quietly, he finally finished his retelling of events. "…and that's when you woke up." Emma nodded trying her best to take in as much of the information as possible. Henry had given her a thorough account of his visits, including Thanksgiving; she couldn't believe she had missed out on a home cooked dinner. He discussed his living arrangements for the previous weeks- Emma wouldn't be able to ever thank Paul enough for staying with her son. He even mentioned some of the evenings Regina had spent with him. She watched as the woman's face lit up when Henry spoke; it was evident that the other woman had developed a bond with her son already.

There was one thing that he hadn't explained to her, though. "What actually happened to me? I mean the Doctor told about my injuries and stuff, and that I was hit by a car. But I still don't know how it happened." Emma looked around the room at the three other faces as she waited for an answer.

"Regina was with you," Henry said, turning towards the woman who had now perched herself on the end of the bed next to the boy. "She can tell you what happened." Emma looked at the slightly startled brunette expectantly.

"Yes well, I suppose I can recount the accident if you think it will help, Miss Swan," Regina said, her mind now whirring with the events of the night; she was uncertain how much of it she should reveal. Emma agreed, urging her to begin her retelling of the accident. Regina made a split second decision and opted to pick up the story just a moment before the car hit the blonde. The details of what had occurred prior to it were irrelevant at this point in time. "We were heading home from the party and you were rather intoxicated…"

xxxxxxx

"Miss Swan, I-" Regina was cut off by the sound of tires squealing and the sickening thud of flesh and bones hitting metal. "Emma!" It all happened so quickly. Out of nowhere a taxi sharply turned the corner and plowed straight into Emma. Regina ran to the other woman, who was lying on the floor in front of the car. Her eyes were closed, and blood was trickling from her forehead and nose. "Emma! Emma! Can you hear me?" Regina shouted in a panic; the blonde didn't murmur.

The door of the taxi flew open and a short, balding man stepped out - his face drained of its colour. "I tried to stop…I tried…She came out of nowhere." Regina could feel her fear for the blonde morph into a more recognisable emotion- anger. She allowed it to course through her veins as she raised her right hand in an automatic reflex. She willed her magic forwards; a well-placed fireball was just what was required. Caught up in her fury, it took a few seconds for Regina to remember that was no longer a possibility. This was an annoyance; but it wouldn't hinder her, she didn't need magic to dispatch with the man.

"How dare you try and justify your incompetence to me you snivelling, inconsequential Oaf." Regina snarled. "You will pay for this."

"L-listen Lady, I'm sorry… b-but she just stepped out in front of me. I-I couldn't slow down in time." The man stuttered as he slowly backed away from the furious woman.

"You imbecile," She sneered, stalking closer toward the wide-eyed driver. "Do you have any idea who I am? Do you know what I am capable of? I could destroy you and everything you care about before you manage to string a coherent sentence together."

Before she could say or do anything further, she was interrupted by a young woman dressed in a torn yellow ball gown. "I've called 911 and an ambulance is on its way. It'll be here in a couple of minutes. The person on the phone said not to move her, just to wait for the paramedics to arrive." Regina had no idea what an ambulance was, or who was on their way. But the assured tone with which the girl spoke and reassuring smile she gave managed to bring Regina out of her rage; someone was coming with assistance. Although Regina couldn't see how the lifeless blonde could be healed without some sort of magical intervention; these wounds couldn't be treated with a poultice or herbs alone. Hopefully, this land had other forms of healing.

Forgetting about the spluttering taxi driver, she walked back over to where Emma still lay motionless. The brunette leant down to get a better look at the woman. She was still breathing, that was a good sign. Gently, she tucked the golden waves that were hanging limply over her face behind Emma's ear. She wished now more than at any point since arriving in this land that she still had her magic. Regina knew she was by no means an accomplished healer- she generally inflicted harm rather than repair it back in the Enchanted Forest. However, she could have done something. Instead, Emma's fate was out of her control; Regina felt of little use. All she could do was to stay with the woman while they waited for assistance. "Hold on, Emma. Help is on its way." Regina said in a soft but firm tone "You just need to hold on. Henry needs you, and Paul needs you…" She paused for a brief moment before adding in a whisper, "and I'm beginning to think that perhaps I need you too."

After what felt to Regina like an eternity, but, in reality, was only two minutes, the ambulance arrived. The flashing lights and siren startled her from her whispered reassurances. Once the white vehicle came to a stop, the door opened and a man approached her wearing a navy uniform. "Ma'am I will need you to step back for a moment so I can assess the patient," Regina stood and moved away wordlessly, allowing the paramedic to kneel next to Emma. He placed the bag he carried on the floor next to him and begun to pull out various items. Regina couldn't see what he was doing, but she was comforted somewhat by his confident presence nonetheless.

"Hello, my name's Michael, I'm a paramedic. You have been in an accident, can you tell me you name?" He said to the woman laying on the floor- there wasn't an answer. Another man exited the vehicle in a matching uniform and proceeded to open its back doors. "The patient is unresponsive," he stated, which caused Regina's fear for the blonde to rise again. She knew Emma hadn't been responding before but had thought that these men would have done something more to heal her.

"Her name's Emma Swan, can you help her? Please." Regina said, unable to hide the panic she could feel.

"We will do everything we can Ma'am" was the Paramedics reply.

xxxxxxx

"So, let me get this straight. We were heading home after the party. I was drunk- fell into the road and got hit by a taxi. Nothing else happened. Is that right?" She could tell that the brunette was holding something back, but she didn't know what.

"That's correct, Miss Swan." Emma eyed her sceptically. Her lie detector was pinging, but she decided she wouldn't press the issue just yet. "Then an ambulance arrived and brought us here."

"Us?" Emma was surprised that Regina had stayed with her. She thought that most people would have waited for an ambulance and left.

"Yes, I accompanied you to the Emergency Room," Regina said as if it were obvious.

"Oh right, uh thanks. Um…that was nice of you," the blonde mumbled, taken aback by the admission. She wasn't quite sure how to respond; instead, she decided to listen to the rest of the story. "So what happened when we got to the hospital?"

xxxxxxx

Regina trailed after the paramedics and a lifeless Emma as the blonde was wheeled from the ambulance into the hospital. A team of people in white coats were there to greet them. Michael, the paramedic informed them of the information he knew. "This is Emma Swan, a 30-year-old female. She was a pedestrian in a road traffic collision. She has sustained damage to her head and left leg. Her vitals are low and there are signs of internal bleeding. She has been in and out of consciousness since our arrival at the scene; seems to be aware when conscious but is unresponsive." During the ambulance ride, he had questioned Regina to try and gather information on the unconscious woman. But the brunette could give little more than Emma's age and details of the accident.

Now they were inside the building, Regina could see that Emma's eyes were open and rapidly scanning the scene around her. This lifted her spirits slightly, perhaps the other woman wasn't as hurt as she had feared. The eyes grew wider and more panicked as the blonde tried to lift her head. The restraints in place were preventing her from doing so. A woman with long dark hair who seemed to be in charge spoke to her patient, "Emma, you need to try not to move okay; you've been in an accident. You are in the ER at New York-Presbyterian. I'm Dr. Cooper. I'll be looking after you." The doctor proceeded to instruct those around her on what they should do next and Emma was quickly wheeled away through a set of doors. Regina stood and stared around her. She was in the middle of a large bustling area with people in various degrees of distress and illness. Some sat in chairs coughing while others were laid out in beds bleeding or wincing in pain. Heading in the direction Emma had been taken, she was promptly stopped from entering a closed off room. "I'm sorry, but you can't go into the trauma room. You will need to wait out here." Regina considered arguing and demanding to stay at Emma's side, but the older man gave her a gentle smile and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. His calming presence caused Regina to instantly forgot any scathing remark which had been close to falling from her lips. "Come on, I'll get you something hot to drink while you wait."

Regina followed the man, whose badge read Steven Andrews -senior nurse, to the waiting area. He handed her a paper cup with a light brown liquid inside. "I've got you some tea; the coffee from the machine is awful and you've been through enough trauma for one night." He let out a chuckle at his attempt to lighten the mood. Regina eyed the cup sceptically. She was accustomed to drinking tea- that was not the issue. It was the flimsy container it came in that baffled the woman. It hardly seemed like a suitable material to place a hot liquid in. Thanking the nurse she took a sip- she supposed it would have to do for now. The older man took a seat opposite Regina and drank from his own cup. "Do you know Emma well?" He asked.

"Not particularly, we met just over a week ago," Regina replied. It was the truth; she barely knew the other woman. This made it all the more disconcerting to her that it felt like her world was now being torn apart- she shouldn't care this much about the welfare of someone she had just met.

"Does Emma have any relatives you know of that we could contact?"

"Only her son who is twelve. Our Landlady is looking after him."

"Do you have her contact information?"

"I know her name and address if that's of use."

"How about a phone number?" She responded in the negative. Regina didn't have one of those talking devices yet. So, she hadn't felt the need to retain phone numbers. "No problem, let me check to see if Emma has her phone with her. I'll see if the number is on there."

xxxxxxx

"Nurse Andrews tried to call Mable, but there was no answer. So I suggested that he try and contact Paul." Regina raised an eyebrow and smirked at him. For his part, Paul had the decency to look a little sheepish. Emma observed the exchange of looks between the two and determined there was more to the story.

"I headed straight over once I knew," Paul confirmed. He failed to mention the cringeworthy drunken phone call with the nurse who had contacted him off Emma's cell. It had included several pirate-themed sexual innuendos, and Paul had taken a fair amount of convincing that it all wasn't some sort of practical joke. Of course, once he realised the seriousness of the situation he felt terrible and left to be with his friend immediately. However, he decided Emma didn't need to be privy to that knowledge.

xxxxxxx

It had been several hours since Paul had arrived at the hospital and Emma was still in surgery. Himself and Regina were sat waiting anxiously for any news about how she was doing. He sat sipping a disgusting coffee while Regina paced across the waiting room.

"Why haven't they told us anything?" Regina said in exasperation. She had refused to leave when Paul arrived despite him telling her she could. She was still wearing her black leather ensemble; although once her hair was let down and the dark makeup was removed, she looked more approachable than an Evil Queen should.

Paul got up and added some more sugar to his coffee, "I'm taking it as a good sign. It means they are still operating on her." When the confused brunette looked at him, he clarified his logic. "That means that she's still alive." He'd seen Grey's Anatomy so he knew how these things worked. The amount of trauma his friend had sustained meant that the surgeons were fighting to keep her alive. "Regina, come and sit down. Your pacing is making me feel angsty."

xxxxxxx

"So there is one good thing that came out of all this," Paul said to Regina to try and add some levity to the tension.

"What good could have possibly come out of this situation, Mr Peters?" Regina asked incredulously.

"You're here instead of with that cheating scumbag, Charles."

The two had differing interpretations of the statement. Paul had figured that Emma must have told Regina how she felt about her, and the brunette had chosen her over the asshole. Regina had quite a different thought process. Between the accident itself and the events that followed, she hadn't had much chance to contemplate what had happened earlier. Emma had defended her, she had helped her, but Regina did what she always does and pushed her away. Then there was the kiss which had come out of nowhere but had felt like it was inevitable. Instead of grabbing Emma and kissing her back like her insides were screaming for her to do, Regina did nothing. She had let the blonde walk away feeling horrified at her actions. A realisation hit Regina and her heart sank - it was entirely her fault that Emma was in this state.

A door bursting open and a gowned Doctor approaching disrupted Regina's spiralling thoughts. "Emma's through here if you want to come with me." The doctor said as they followed her to a small room where Emma lay motionless. Her head was wrapped in a white gauze and tubes were coming from her arms, nose and mouth. There were machines beeping and pumping, and an endless number of wires coming from the bed and its occupant. Regina and Paul looked on silently as they took in the sight. "The accident had caused a brain bleed, which resulted in some significant swelling. Doctor White performed emergency surgery to relieve the pressure on her brain. Emma also had some internal bleeding which required us to carry out a partial splenectomy. She has several fractures in her left leg which will require further surgery, but she needs a chance to recover a little first." The doctor reeled off the information to the pair who were having a hard time grasping everything that was being said.

"When will she wake up?" Paul asked, the first to snap back to reality.

"Emma's currently in a coma. Sometimes this happens in patients who experience a traumatic brain injury in order fo the brain to protect itself from further damage, and allow her time to recover." The pair looked on shell-shocked at the doctor's blunt delivery of the information. With a forced smile, she added, "She will wake up when she's ready." With a nod, the Doctor shuffled out of the room leaving Paul and Regina to mull over the information. Paul shook his head, trying to come to terms with what was happening. He walked over to Emma and took one of her hands; sitting down next to her without saying a word.

Regina looked on with a neutral expression which was at odds with what she felt inside. She didn't dare go any closer to the bed. Even in this new land, a path of destruction followed Regina whenever her heart was involved. She decided it would be best if she kept her distance before she could do any more harm. Struggling to come to terms with the sight of blonde Regina said, "Mr Peters, I think I will head home now and inform Mable and Henry of what has happened." Swiftly she departed the room and let out a shuddery breath, trying her best to keep her torrent of emotions in check.

xxxxxxx

"We stayed at the hospital the rest of the night. Regina went to tell Henry and Gran what had happened once you were out of surgery." Paul stated.

"You stayed with me? Really? Both of you?" Emma inquired in awe as she looked between the other two. She had assumed that once she'd been brought to the hospital, Regina would have left; she was under no obligation to stay. Paul had even come especially to be with her.

Paul furrowed his brow in confusion at Emma's astonishment. "Of course, we did, Ems. Why wouldn't we?"

"I guess I'm not used having people in my life who would." She smiled warmly as she looked at the people sitting at her bedside. Her son, who was still glued to her side. Paul, who she was fortunate to have back in her life; she didn't know how she would be able to repay him and his grandmother for looking after her son. And Regina- this mysterious brunette, who slotted into their lives like the piece of a puzzle she hadn't realised was missing.

"Well, you have got people now, Miss Swan," Regina said with a smile.

"Yes. Yes, I have."