Chapter notes: Emma attempts to stop Regina's plans. Jameson arrives with backup.

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Part 11

Persistent pain throbbed into her unconscious and woke Regina Mills gradually from her sleep. Having experienced it before, she knew the laudanum was wearing off. Even as she tried to gauge the time, the silence of the room was broken by the turning of the door's knob. She jerked toward the sound, letting out a cry as she twisted her injured arm into new sharp pain.

"Regina?" Vivian moved quickly into the room, not bothering to latch it shut. "Don't try to move," she said.

"You…" Regina inhaled and exhaled, somewhat calming the pain. "You startled me."

"I apologize. I was bringing up water," she held up the pitcher in her hands. "Do you want more laudanum?"

Regina had managed to make most of the pain subside through sheer force of will as she resettled herself against the pillows. She lifted her good arm and dropped it. "No. No, I think I would like to remain clear-headed for a while."

Vivian smiled at that. "Would you like a little soup, or tea?"

"How long has it been since I last ate?" Regina lifted her hand again, this time in entreaty. Vivian instantly settled to the edge of the bed, linking her hand with her friend's.

"If you had something to eat at Granny's while waiting for Grace to arrive, that was two days ago."

Regina closed her eyes. Two days? Emma had to be gone by now, if she wasn't killed by the same gunshots that still rang in Regina's ears. Two shots. She knew, from the pain in her arm, that she had taken one. The other… She looked up at Vivian, not sure how to ask.

"What is it? What do you need?"

"Emma?" Regina pushed the word past the lump in her throat.

"I'm here."

Regina winced as Vivian jumped up. "Learn to knock!" Regina strained to see around Vivian's body, which the woman had placed defiantly between Regina and the door.

"Door was open," Emma said, and the matter-of-fact tone was music to Regina's ears. "So?"

"Regina needs her rest." Vivian put her hands on her hips.

"Vivian, it's...I want to see Emma."

"But-"

Regina interrupted, "I'd like some tea. If you're still offering?"

Vivian's face contorted in conflict, but she finally nodded and withdrew. Regina's eyes tracked her exit only until they fell upon Emma Swan, who turned and quietly closed the door.

The familiar sight of Emma in her denims and the plaid shirt untucked, revealing the woman was healthy and whole brought tears of relief to Regina's eyes. Emma turned at the sob Regina didn't know she had uttered and bolted across the room. "Regina!"

Gingerly reaching out and taking Regina's hands, Emma searched her face, as Regina did the same, though the sight was blurred.

"Em...Emma?" A palm cupped her cheek, thumb brushing away loose tears.

The pale pink bottom lip rolled between fretting teeth. The fingers holding her own squeezed. Emma opened her mouth twice, apparently trying to speak. Regina was about to ask what was wrong when Emma leaned forward and pressed her lips to Regina's. The contact was tender and chaste.

Regina never wanted it to stop. When Emma started to pull away, Regina tried to lift her hands to pull her close, but her damaged left arm screamed in pain and she whimpered just as Emma fully separated their mouths.

"Damn it, fool woman, you could have been killed!"

That got Regina's back up. "I could have been killed?" she stressed. "Jameson was gunning for you!"

"Then you let me take the shot! I can handle it! You...you're...you…"

Lifting her good right arm, Regina slapped Emma's face, making the woman's hand leave her to cup her burning cheek. "Idiot! I snuck out so you wouldn't follow me."

"You thought I would just let you put Grace on some coach to go to California territory on her own? That girl is my responsibility."

"Vivian reminded me that girl was old enough to be married off, and thus old enough to make her own decisions."

"So you just went ahead?"

"I gave Grace the choices she had. She was willing to leave."

"She ain't leavin' now."

That made Regina stop. "Grace didn't get on the coach?"

"No." Emma sounded angry.

"Why are you angry? That's what you wanted, right?" Then Regina had a thought. "Jameson's not dead, is he?"

"My shot was true," Emma said. "He's being buried out at his ranch on Saturday."

"Then what the hell is wrong?" Regina put her hand to her head, staving off the throbbing headache returning to her temples.

"Some of Jameson's men want justice."

"So this is goodbye," Regina said with resignation.

"Regina, you..you almost...died. I... on that sidewalk, hold...holding your...you." Emma exhaled. "I realized that I...you... You're important to me."

"But when the circuit judge comes through, he'll…"

"I'll stand trial," Emma said. "Grace says she'll testify that her father was going to shoot me in the back."

"The word of a girl? What about the men?"

"Only one other was there. And Grace insists she can handle him."

"Whether she can or not, why put yourself through that?" Regina asked. "You usually run."

"I should. I still have someone I need to find," Emma said. "But you're here. And I find I can't leave you." As Emma pushed her hands through her hair, Regina noted how unruly it was, lank and unwashed; how drawn Emma's face was, patches of deep color under her eyes. She had to take care of herself.

Regina closed her eyes and rubbed at her temple ineffectually with one hand. "I'd rather know you were alive, out there, somewhere, than dead, either from a bullet in the back or the hanging the circuit judge will decree."

"You don't know that will happen."

"You don't know it won't happen," Regina snapped.

Emma put her hands in her own lap and looked away. "Do you want me to go?"

Regina's pain was manifold in that moment. The physical pain of her arm however was somehow less than the pain in her chest from the idea that Emma Swan would be departing her life. She bit her lip, but finally she whispered, "No."

Emma's gaze held hers. She nodded. "All right then." The broad work-calloused hand slipped over Regina's belly. Silence reigned as they stared at each other, rejoicing in reunion, and a tentative beginning. Then a knock at the door made Emma jump. She stood, fingers lingering on Regina's until they were too far apart to continue touching. "Get some sleep."

"I'll miss you," Regina said.

"I'll miss you more," Emma replied, her lips quirking up at the corners as she bent over again, claiming a soft kiss.

A throat cleared. Regina saw Vivian stood in the doorway as Emma straightened from their kiss. She kept hold of the fingers trying to slip free of her grasp. "Vivian, would you make sure Emma has what she needs?"

Vivian's eyes narrowed at Emma. "You leavin'?"

"No," Emma said.

Vivian came to the side of the bed, leveled her gaze at Emma and narrowed her eyes further. After several beats where Emma could feel herself beginning to squirm, Vivian huffed only one word, "Good." Then she looked away from Emma, as though dismissing her from her mind. She held the mug for Regina to sip. With her good hand steadying the other side, Regina drank slowly. The bedridden woman sighed and seemed to relax.

Vivian said, "I'll tell the others downstairs that you've gone back to sleep."

"Who's downstairs?"

"Ruby and her gran are with the other girls. Grace came over. A few of the men."

"I'd like to see Grace," Regina said.

Vivian's lips pursed but she smoothed them quickly. "Fine."

Emma withstood another glare as Vivian took the now empty mug and withdrew. "What are you going to talk to Grace about?" she asked.

"Her future as a rancher."

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