"Are you sure about this?" Emma asks, settling Regina in the wheelchair next to her hospital bed.
"Yes, Emma," Regina tries to straighten out her clothes. Emma helped her change into a pair of slacks and a button up as Regina insisted on going to Archie's office. "I want the privacy. This place is no better than a glass house."
"Do you want me to be with you?" Emma asks hopefully.
Regina keeps her eyes on her hands. "No, dear. I will be fine. Thank you." Ready, she folds her hands in her lap and looks straight ahead.
Emma sighs and starts pushing the wheel chair out of the room.
Outside, Henry and Grace are waiting in his car. Henry jumps out to help Emma put Regina in the car and the wheelchair in the trunk before they leave for Archie's.
"Mom," Henry starts. "Do you need me to come in with you?"
Regina smiles and shakes her head. "Thank you, sweetheart. I will be fine."
Emma leans over to her. "Is there something I need to know? Why are you keeping me in the dark?"
"Because maybe I'm in the dark too, Emma." Unwilling to look Emma in the eye, Regina keeps her eyes forward. "I can't tell you what I don't know. Please, let me talk to Dr. Hopper then I will discuss the matter with you when I better understand."
Emma studies her then nods. "Okay. I'm sorry for pressuring you. I trust you." She squeezes Regina's hand. "Just know that no matter what, I'll always love you."
Regina quickly turns her head to the window and clenches her eyes shut and nods, squeezing Emma's hand in return.
The three drop Regina off at the office so Henry and Grace can take Emma to retrieve Regina's car to keep at the hospital.
Archie tests his pen on his paper and sits across from Regina, noting how she looks at the chairs from her wheelchair, wishing she could move and sit how she feels comfortable.
He waits for her to turn her attention to him and smiles. "How are you, Regina?"
"I'm trapped in a wheel chair, my temporary housing is with Whale, and I'm here with you." She glares at him.
"Why don't you tell me why you're here then? Whale called last night and again early this morning." Archie crosses his legs and settles into his chair, ready to listen.
Regina stares at her hands and picks imaginary lint off her pants. "Is it normal to wake up… different?"
"From your coma? In what way do you feel different?"
She looks up at him. "Is it normal to wake up different?"
"Regina, you're dealing with a traumatic injury. Your body and brain have dealt with a lot this last week. You aren't even healed yet. Things are going to feel different for a while."
"I don't just mean my body. I feel different. My feelings have changed."
Archie studies her face. "Your feelings? In what way?"
Regina rubs her thighs. "I remember everything. Every detail. Every kiss. Every touch. Every inch of her."
"Her?"
"Miss Swan."
Archie's eyebrows rise. "Oh. So you don't have any memory loss, that's a positive."
"No, it's not," Regina argues. "Do you know what it's like to see all of these things playing out in your head? Remembering exactly what you said, but not having any idea what you meant by those words? She says she loves me, and I panic. I feel compelled to say it because I remember saying it, but now I can't. I'd be lying."
"Before the accident, you had feelings for Emma, and you're saying that now you don't?"
"Yes. Ever since I woke up. I look at her and see everything that I know I was once desperately in love with, but I don't feel anything." Tears start streaming down Regina's cheeks.
"Brain injuries can cause a lot of drastic changes. You're lucky you even woke up from your coma. You're already regaining your mobility. This will likely return too."
Regina wipes her tears. "But nothing seems to be different for other people. I still love Henry. I was oddly comforted to see Mary Margaret after a short wave of bitterness. And I still love Emma as my friend and as Henry's mother." She sighs and slouches.
"So it appears you have a problem with your romantic feelings. What about sexual feelings? Does your libido appear to be affected?"
Regina shakes her head. "I'm not interested in sex right now; however, I can still feel attraction."
"To Emma?"
Regina shakes her head again.
"Can I ask who?" Archie asks.
"It's not important. The problem isn't what my other feeling are. The problem is the feelings that I'm lacking."
Archie nods. "There are psychological effects from any TBI, and you need to allow yourself time to adjust to the changes. There is no reason to believe this is permanent. The romantic feelings you had for Emma were likely some of the strongest emotions on your mind which is why they were impacted. I imagine that many of your other emotions were impacted as well; however, you are so focused on this one that you aren't noticing."
Regina drops her head in her hand. "What am I supposed to do?"
"I recommend you tell your family what you're feeling."
Her head snaps up. "You want me to tell this woman who is supposed to be the love of my life that oh sorry, don't feel the same anymore?"
Archie lays down his pencil. "Would you rather lie to her and hope she doesn't notice?"
They stare at each other. Regina clears her throat. "It depends on which one would be easier."
"Regina, I'm not going to pretend like I can tell you what to do, but you're here for a reason. Take my advice. Emma knows something is wrong. I saw her face when you told her she could go after bringing you in here. Talk to her. Be honest with her."
"She's just going to blame herself."
"She's already blaming herself."
Regina sighs and folds her hands in her lap. They stare at each other again.
Half an hour later, Emma returns and knocks on the door to Archie's office. When Archie calls her in, she slowly opens the door and looks between them.
Regina nods for her to enter. "Sit by me."
Emma gulps when she notices the tear streaks down Regina's cheeks and slowly steps into the room, her hands in her back pockets.
Archie smiles at Regina. "Take your time." He gets up and leaves the office, closing the door behind him.
Emma stares at the door he left through then slowly turns to look at Regina. "Did, uh, did it go well?"
Regina rolls her eyes. "Just wonderful, Miss Swan."
"Emma," she corrects.
Regina's turns and looks at her. "Emma." She takes her time to run her eyes over Emma's body, studying her. "I know exactly what you look like."
Unsure how to respond, Emma shifts a bit on the couch, scooting closer to Regina.
"I like what you look like," Regina reasons.
"Um, thanks," Emma responds, trying to catch Regina's gaze, but she keeps her eyes roaming over Emma.
"But it means nothing to me right now." Regina finally looks at Emma.
Emma's breath catches. "What?"
"Emma, I know you love me, and I remember loving you-"
"What?" Emma scoots closer to Regina again and grips the side of the couch.
"Something changed. I woke up… different." Regina drops her eyes, unable to look at Emma anymore.
"Babe, I don't understand."
"My emotions have changed."
"What emotions?" Emma starts becoming desperate, wanting Regina to just tell her what's happening.
"The cricket says all of them. I've only noticed some." Regina rolls her head to the side and rests it on her own shoulder with her eyes shut.
"Okay, so we can work through this. It's okay. Emotions change all the time."
Regina nods. "I hope so."
Emma gets down on the ground in front of Regina and holds her hands. "We can get through anything together. Just remember that I love you and you love me and-"
Regina looks at Emma. A tear falls down her cheek. "I don't love you."
Emma's mouth hangs open and she releases Regina's hand. She drops back on her ass. "But… you do love me."
Regina shakes her head. "No. I only remember loving you."
They stare at each other and silently let tears falls.