A/N: and onwards

Despite the crashes of thunder high overhead, Regina slept peacefully that night. It was the first time in a month that the bedroom air was pleasantly cool. Raindrops splattering against the window had lulled her to sleep, a soft smile on her lips as she remembered Emma was moving in with her the following day.

It took several rings of her cell phone before her mind began to drift up from its deep slumber. It sounded far away, muffled, and by the time she was fully awake, the caller was about to give up hope.

"Hello?" she mumbled, voice thick with tiredness.

"Regina?"

"Speaking. Who is this?" brunette asked, unable to register to whom the familiar voice belonged.

"It's Ruby, Emma's friend from the restaurant. There's been an accident."

Regina sat bolt upright in bed. "Emma?"

"Yeah. I'm on my way to the hospital now. I figured you'd want to come too."

"Which hospital?" Regina asked, already swinging her legs out of bed, adrenaline coursing through her veins and waking her body which had been asleep less than a minute earlier.

"Mercy Hospital, Portland."

"I know it. I'm twenty minutes away," she said, already rummaging through her closet for some clothes.

"I'll be there in five. Call when you get there."

"I will," Regina said, hanging up the phone and using both hands to pull some sweat pants on before throwing a hoodie over her pyjama top. Grabbing her cell, she rushed from the room and down the hallway.

Henry lay peacefully in his bed, his face relaxed and unworried. He had no idea that one of his favourite people in the world was lying in a hospital somewhere, hurt, injured. She tried her best not to wake him as she got him ready to leave the house but was unsuccessful.

"Mom, where are we going?" he asked, rubbing his eyes as Regina put his dressing gown onto his limp body.

"We're just taking a little trip," Regina said, trying to keep the terror out of her voice. She didn't think she was convincing and her hands were trembling as she pulled his arms through the soft sleeves.

"It's night," Henry yawned. "Can't we go in the morning?"

"No, my little prince. We have to go now. You can sleep in the car."

Henry mumbled something as she lifted him into her arms and was already asleep when she lowered him into his car seat. The rain was still coming down heavily and Regina was cursing her omission to put on a rain coat. But as soon as she was inside the car, her mind focused solely on her girlfriend. What had happened? Was Emma badly hurt? She must be otherwise Ruby wouldn't have called her. It must be bad otherwise Emma would have called herself. Did that mean Emma was unconscious? Or worse?

White knuckles gripped the wheel as she drove through the rain, taking the most direct route to the hospital down the deserted streets. The clock on the car dashboard told her it was just after one in the morning. In the dark of the night, Mercy Hospital was lit up like a beacon. Bright lights shone from every window as Regina pulled into the parking lot. The rain had lessened slightly but Henry still grumbled when he was carried across the asphalt, his hair plastered to his scalp by the time they reached the entrance.

She bypassed the reception and instead placed Henry down on two soft chairs in a small waiting area and pulled out her phone. Before she could even dial Ruby, however, her son interrupted.

"Mom, why are we at the hospital?" he asked. A quick scan of his surroundings and somehow the six-year-old had recognised their location as a medical facility.

"Um, hang on, sweetheart. I just have to make a quick call." Regina didn't want to tell Henry anything until she herself had more information.

"Am I sick?"

"No," Regina said, her phone now pressed to her ear.

"Are you sick?"

"No," Regina said again. "I'm just – Oh Ruby, hi. We're here. Where are you?"

"Who's Ruby?" Henry asked.

Regina ignored her son as Ruby gave the brunette instructions on where she was. As soon as she knew where to find Emma's best friend, Regina hung up. "Come on, Henry. We have to go over here."

"Over where?" Henry asked, now wide awake and standing beside his mother.

Regina didn't say anything but held out her hand for her son. He took it and together they hurried across the waiting area and down a corridor. Turning left at the end, Regina spotted the signs which Ruby had mentioned. At the end of the hallway, she stopped in front of the elevator and instructed Henry to press the up button.

"Where are we going?" he asked again.

"To, um, to see Emma," Regina said.

"Emma? Why is Emma here?"

"I'm not quite sure," Regina admitted.

"Is she sick?" Henry asked.

"No."

Before Henry could ask yet another question his mother had no answers for, the elevator arrived and the duo rode it up to the third floor. Regina stared at the digital number, willing it to change faster. As soon as the three glinted back at her, she stepped towards the doors, practically squeezing through them before they had even fully opened.

"Mom," Henry whined. "Slow down."

"Come on Henry," Regina said. "It's just a bit further."

She took the second right, just as Ruby had told her and hurried down the corridor. It was quiet. Eerily quiet. She heard Henry sigh in exasperation, his socked feet sliding a little on the floor as he was tugged after his mother. In her rush to get out of the house, Regina had forgotten to pick up some shoes for him.

At last they arrived outside the correct room number. Regina peered through the window on the door before she knocked. Ruby turned around and the sight of the woman's tear streaked face made Regina's heart skip a beat. She suddenly wondered whether bringing Henry had been a terrible mistake. Maybe she should have called Kathryn to come and stay with him.

The moment Ruby opened the door to the small, private waiting room, Regina felt herself break down. No words were spoken as she stepped inside, Henry following. He was silent now. As if he could sense that something bad had happened. Ruby wrapped her arms around Regina without question as the older woman's walls, or whatever had been holding her together since the phone call, crumbled. She clung to Ruby, her body shaking as she let out the grief and worry she felt.

Distantly, she was aware of another voice as Belle, who had been sat in the corner, introduced herself to Henry and tried to distract him from the two women crying in one another's arms. It didn't work.

"Mom?" Henry said, tugging on his mother's sweater. "Mom, what's wrong?"

Regina pulled back from Ruby and wiped her face on her sleeve before looking at her son's worried face. "I'm sorry, Henry. I didn't mean to scare you."

"What's wrong with Emma?" he asked.

Regina turned to Ruby and raised her eyebrow when it occurred to her that she didn't know the answer to that question.

"Emma had an accident," Ruby said, her own voice hoarse.

"Is she ok?"

"The doctors are doing their job right now and trying to make her better," Ruby said. "Henry, why don't you go and play with Belle for a bit while I talk to your mom. Look, there's a box of toys in the corner."

Belle was already on her feet. She was close friends with Emma too and was worried about the blonde but she also recognised the need for Regina and Ruby to talk without the small child. Henry looked like he was about to be stubborn and insist that he stay with his mother but something made him realise he ought not to push. So he walked over to where the new woman, Belle, was now crouched, rummaging through a toy chest.

The room was small and Regina knew anything they said, even whispered, Henry would hear. She silently led Ruby out into the corridor and closed the door before asking the question: "What happened?"

"Motorbike accident," Ruby said, her lips set in a thin line. "Right outside our old apartment. The landlord found her. Then called me."

"Found her?"

"Looks like a hit and run, he said. He heard something outside and went to look. There was a car wrapped around and lamp post and … and Emma."

Regina felt her throat tighten. "Is … is she ok?"

"Don't know," Ruby said. "She's in surgery. I haven't managed to get much information out of anyone. I'm not family. The woman at the nurse's station just said they were operating on her and that we could wait in here."

"Surgery," Regina repeated. "So … so she's not dead."

"I guess not," Ruby said. "They really won't tell me much. She arrived about half an hour before I did. Our landlord called 911 and waited with her till they arrived then he called me. All he said was that she was unconscious and pretty banged up."

"Oh my God," Regina said, leaning heavily against the wall, her legs suddenly feeling too weak to hold her up.

"Hey, she's strong, ok? Emma's a fighter. She's not going anywhere."

"She got hit. She got hit, Ruby. On a bike. I told her I hated her riding that thing. I knew something was going to happen. She got hit by a car."

"Yeah and then the dick who did it ran off and left her to die." At Regina's sharp intake of breath, Ruby realised she'd made a poor choice of words. "Shit, I shouldn't have said that. She's not going to die. The doctors are going to do their job and she'll be fine."

"You don't know that," Regina whispered. "What … what if she's not fine? What if she -?"

"Come on," Ruby said, a little sharply. "We can't think like that. We have to be positive. Why don't you go back in there and talk to Henry? I'm sure he has questions. And I'll go down to the nurse's station and see if I can find out more about what's going on."

"Will they tell you anything? You're not family."

"I know but Emma doesn't exactly have family. I mean, her foster parents raised her but they never adopted her so they're not technically family. I'm pretty sure I'm her emergency contact on our health insurance we get through work. I reckon I can use that to get them to talk. When I first got here, I wasn't really thinking straight to get information. I just needed to know she was alive."

"Have you called her foster parents? Maybe they will be able to find out more."

"Yeah, I called them after I spoke to you. They're flying out tomorrow morning."

Regina nodded, trying not to think about the circumstances under which she was going to be meeting Emma's family for the first time.

"Ok, well, see if you can find out some information, I suppose. If she's in surgery they must be doing something, or treating something specific, right?"

Ruby shrugged. "I'll find out what I can and then come back. Do you want a coffee or something to eat? There's a canteen downstairs."

Regina shook her head. She didn't feel like eating. She didn't think she'd ever feel hungry again. Ruby reached out and patted her shoulder, some vague attempt at comfort. Wordlessly, the women parted ways; Ruby down the corridor to the nurse's station and Regina back to her son.

The moment she stepped into the room, Henry looked up from the toys he and Belle had pulled from the chest, his face expectant for news.

"Where's Emma?"

"She's having an operation," Regina said, walking on wobbly legs over to sit beside her son.

"Why?"

"Emma had an accident on her motorbike."

"Did she fall off?"

"Yeah," Regina nodded. There was no need to tell the boy a car had been involved even though Regina was seething at the idea of someone causing an accident and then running off and leaving her girlfriend unconscious without trying to help.

"Is she ok?"

"We have to wait to talk to the doctor but I hope so. We're going to wait in here for a while. Are you hungry? Ruby can go and get you some food."

Henry shook his head, stood up and climbed onto Regina's lap. "No, I don't want food. I only like food Emma makes for me."

The brunette's heart clenched not only at the look on her son's face but also, in a deep recess of her mind, with worry. What if Emma wasn't ok? What would that mean for Henry and his recovery? Without the blonde to cook with him and to encourage him to eat new things, would Henry regress? She had known there was a risk of this; of Henry's recovery being linked primarily to Emma. But as long as Emma was there, in their lives, that was ok. What now? What if Emma didn't make it?

"What are you playing?" Regina asked, forcing her mind away from those thoughts and concentrating on the toys in front of her scattered across the carpet.

"Nothing," Henry said, not even looking at the discarded game he and Belle, who was now sat a few chairs away, had begun. "I want to see Emma."

Regina just wrapped her arms around her son, pulling him tight against her body. "Me too, sweetheart. Me too."

By the time Ruby returned, half an hour later, Henry was sleeping peacefully in Regina's arms. The two dark-haired women were sat in silence, both lost in their own thoughts but looked expectantly at Ruby when she entered.

"Did you find anything out?" Belle asked, gesturing for her new fiancée to come and sit beside her.

"Not much," Ruby admitted, handing over a coffee to Belle and sipping her own. "They are still refusing to release any information to anyone who isn't family. I told them you were here, Regina, and they said that unless you're married, they can't tell you anything either. We're going to have to wait for Mary Margaret and David to arrive and see if they can get access to her records or for Emma to get out of surgery."

"Do you know when that will be?" Regina asked. "The surgery, I mean."

"No. All the nurses told me Emma was still in surgery but wouldn't tell me why or what the surgery was for. They also have no idea how long the surgery will take. They just said that Emma's medical insurance means we have use of this room for as long as we need. God, I hate not knowing what's going on."

Belle wrapped an arm around Ruby and pulled her close. "She'll get through this, I know she will."

Ruby said nothing, just took another sip of coffee and leaned into Belle's embrace. Regina's own arms wrapped a little more tightly around her son. All three women exchanged silent glances. There was nothing more to say. Until they knew what was going on, there was nothing any of them could do.

The next thing Regina remembered was waking up to hear Henry giggle. She opened her eyes, trying to work out how long she had been asleep. Although the room was unfamiliar, she knew exactly where she was and why she was there. The narrow window in the private waiting room showed a pale, watery dawn breaking. The storm from the previous night had blown itself out and wisps of clouds were now tinged with a light yellow as the sun began its ascent.

She yawned, stretched and glanced at her cell. It was just after five in the morning. It had been close to one thirty when she had arrived. Where was Emma? She looked around and saw Ruby lying across four chairs, sleeping. Belle was sat on the floor beside Henry, playing quietly with him.

"Hey," Regina said, crossing the room and sitting down behind her son, legs spread either side of his narrow hips. "Good morning."

"Morning," Henry said, ignoring the kiss that was planted on the top of his head or the arms which wrapped around him for a hug.

"Hi," Belle said. "Did you sleep ok?"

"I don't even know how I slept," Regina admitted.

"You were out for a couple of hours," Belle said. "It would have done you good. Ruby too. You're no use to Emma if you're tired when she gets back from surgery."

Regina's eyes flashed with hope. "Have you heard anything?"

Belle shook her head. "Just being optimistic, sorry."

The disappointment was evident on Regina's face. "Right, well, I guess I'll go and see what I can find out."

"Do you think they'll tell you anything?" Belle asked the woman who was already getting to her feet.

Regina shrugged. "I can try. Henry, I'll be back in a bit. Do you want some breakfast?"

"I want Emma's pancakes," Henry said, turning to look up at his mother. "Can Emma help me make pancakes?"

The lump returned to her throat. "Maybe later. For now, how about I get you some toast and jam?"

"Strawberry?"

"Of course."

Henry nodded his agreement to that before going back to his game with Belle, whom he seemed to have taken quite a liking to. Regina picked up her handbag and headed out into the sterile corridor beyond. She and Henry had passed the nurse's station on the way up so she made her way back towards it, reading the signs as she passed. It didn't take her long to realise they were on the operating floor. Emma must have been brought here straight from the emergency room.

Only one nurse was sat at the station, sipping a coffee and typing on the computer.

"Excuse me," Regina said, leaning on the ledge of the desk. "I was wondering if I can get some information about a patient?"

"Name?"

"Emma Swan.

"Are you family?" the nurse asked as she typed the name into the database.

"I'm her girlfriend."

The nurse paused and looked up at Regina. "I can only give information to her family. Unless you're married, there's not much I can do."

"We're not married but Emma doesn't have any family," Regina said. "I mean … I am her family, I suppose. Just, not legally. Her foster parents are flying in this morning but we can't wait."

"Foster parents?" the nurse asked. "Our records say Emma is 27."

"Yeah, she is," Regina said.

"Then we can't release her records to foster parents. They're no longer her legal guardian," the nurse explained.

"So who can you tell? She has no one. She's lying on an operating table and no one can tell the people who love her why or what's happening or what's wrong just because her family aren't blood and I don't have a marriage license to prove our love."

"She's not on the table any more," the nurse said quickly, picking up on Regina's reference to surgery.

Regina took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "She's not? So where is she?"

"Recovery," the nurse said. "That's all I can tell you. She's been in recovery for two hours already so I expect she'll be moved down here in another couple of hours. Once she's in her room, you guys can go in and see her. The doctor still won't be able to tell you much but once Emma is able to speak and give the doctor permission to share her medical history, we can tell you everything."

"So, she's alive?"

"Yes."

A great wave of relief swept over Regina and she let out a shaky breath.

"Oh, thank goodness."

The nurse offered the woman a small smile. "I'll come and get you all when Emma's settled and ready for visitors. You're in waiting room 310, right?"

"Yes," Regina nodded. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. I wish I could tell you more but, you know, hospital policy."

"I understand. As long as Emma's ok, that's all I need right now."

"She's in recovery, according to this record. With regards to the surgery, you'll have to wait for more information."

"Thank you," Regina said. "Thank you very much."

The sunlight hitting the window of the waiting room was making the space hot and stuffy. Even at nine in the morning, the heat which had wrapped itself around Maine for a month was returning after its short respite. Henry had shed his dressing gown and was sat in Belle's lap reading a book. Ruby was still in her work clothes from the evening before, the shirt crumbled after her long night. Regina was silently wishing she had changed out of her pyjama top and put on a bra before leaving the house. She was clammy and uncomfortable and wished she could remove her hoodie. Her discomfort was forgotten, however, the moment the nurse knocked on the door and entered.

"Emma Swan's group, right?" she asked, nodding at Regina in recognition.

"Yes," Regina said, herself and Ruby standing up at once. "Is she ok?"

"She's just being settled in the room down the corridor. She's still unconscious but you can go and sit with her." With a glance at Henry, she added; "keep the kid off the bed; the surgery has been quite invasive."

Regina forced her mind away from what invasive surgery might mean and picked up the various possessions which were scattered around the room. Within thirty seconds they were all ready and followed the nurse, in silence, down the corridor.

"In here," she said, stopping outside a room after only a minute of walking.

The nurse pushed the door open and stood back, allowing the little group to enter first. Regina, however, found herself rooted to the spot at the sight that met her. Emma's pale face peaked out from above crisp blue sheets. If she didn't know any better, she'd think the blonde was just sleeping. But the rest of the scene told a different story. A white bandage was wrapped around Emma's scalp, her arms which lay above the sheets were also heavily bandaged. And a neck brace was securely in place, making it impossible for the blonde to move. There were several machines on either side of the bed, flashing and pulsing information regularly.

A light pressure on the base of her spine spurred Regina into action. With Ruby's gentle reassurance, the duo walked into the room, Belle and Henry following. Four chairs had been set up beside the bed and, without speaking, Regina sank into one, Henry climbing up next to her and looking at the blonde in the bed.

"Emma's hurt," he said quietly. "What happened to her?"

"She fell off her motorbike, remember?" Belle said, knowing neither Ruby nor Regina were going to answer. Both women's eyes were swimming with tears.

"The doctor will be along in a bit," the nurse said. "Don't expect her to wake up for a few hours yet. Patients who have undergone brain surgery are kept under for a little longer; it's standard procedure." She left without another word, the bombshell that Emma had had brain surgery lingering in the air.

Regina leaned forwards, reaching out and brushing the back of her hand tenderly against Emma's cheek. Her skin was warm, a reassurance that the woman really was still alive.

"Emma," she murmured. "Emma, can you hear me? It's Regina. I'm here. I'm here and so are Ruby and Belle and Henry. You're going to be alright, Emma. I love you. We all love you."

Belle and Ruby took the chairs opposite Regina and Henry. All four of them lapsed into silence, waiting.

A/N: Still no real answers for you but Emma is alive! Also, I think this is going to end up be 45 chapters long, any complaints?