Part 2

The Forbidden Fruit

"So that's why we are down here." Emma explained. "Now why don't you cue me in on what is wrong with you?"

Regina pursed her lips in thought. Finally after a few long minutes she sighed. "Honestly I don't have any idea."

The blonde narrowed her eyes at her. "Oh Bull." The sheriff scoffed with a tiny shake from her head.

Regina edged forward with a glare. "And why prey tell would I make that up?"

Emma glared back ready to lock horns with the devil. "Because you are responsible, you and only you." She snapped back.

"I didn't tell you to take me down here." Regina protested icily.

"No, I guess you didn't." The sheriff said, green eyes pinning the dark ones across from hers. "Just like you can't tell us why this is all happening."

The Mayor gave a startled bark of laughter. "Just once I wanted to win." She snarled loudly.

"Win at all costs, no matter who you hurt!"

"STOP IT!" Henry yelled, and then slumped back against the cool wall. "I'm so sick of the fighting. Can't you guys just stop?" He uttered in a dire breathless voice.

Emma and Regina noticed his pale clammy features simultaneously and they moved together rushing to his side. "Henry," the brunette gasped wanting so badly to touch her son, but pulled back not wanting to add to his discomfort. She watched as Emma placed a hand to the side of his face then up to his forehead.

"Oh my god, "she murmured. "He's burning up."

Regina felt a spark of anger ride through her, she stood up and ran to the small bathroom and then came back with a bottle of Tylenol, and water. "Here baby, take these." She offered tenderly.

Emma smiled slightly as she watched the caring response from the mayor. She watched as Henry nodded and took the small pills chasing it down with the water. She was captivated at the loving tone in Regina's voice. She had never heard her sound so sweet.

"Miss Swan?" Emma was chased from those thoughts as soon as the grated voice blared her name. "Could you go get him a cool damp cloth?"

"Yeah, no problem." the blonde muttered.

"Henry?" Regina sighed; sadness filled her eyes for her son. "Are you cold?"

He nodded, and the mayor quickly pulled some of the blankets over him. "It will be okay." She murmured softly next to his ear. "I promise."

…..

A few hours went by as Emma kept the cool wash cloths pressed to Henrys head. "I think his fever broke." The blonde relayed to the other woman who was now bent over into her hands.

Regina slowly raised her head. "Good," she whispered hoarsely.

Emma noticed the ailing expression on the mayor. "It must be going around." She gently guessed, her frown giving her away.

Regina locked eyes with green. "Don't get too excited dear, I'm not dead yet." She said simply trying to keep her weary brown eyes at bay.

Emma sighed as she shook her head and then did what she thought she would never do. She gradually moved over to the brunette and slowly bent down so they were now eye to eye. As she moved in closer she felt her heart beat quicken and found it hard to breathe. God you are so beautiful, why haven't I noticed it before? Okay yes I always knew you were, but now you're seriously breath taking. You look like hell and yet still so beautiful.

Regina's eyes narrowed at the blonde that was now kneeling before her. She saw the gentle eyes just inches from her own, and found she was captivated by them. Stunning the word whispered in and drove in like a sharp knife. She had to force her eyes shut, and pulled slightly back, but when she did she felt a warm tender hand move smoothly against her cheek. She blinked her eyes open in surprise.

An unbidden smile creased Emma face from the shocked expression the mayor was giving her. "Yeah I know I just can't stop touching you." The sheriff joked softly, but deep down she knew she meant every word.

Regina swallowed but didn't say anything as she allowed the blonde to feel her cheek then forehead. "Whatever it is, I think you both have it." Emma said as calmly as she could.

The mayor slightly raised her eyebrow. "Yes I have come to that assessment too, my dear."

"What do you think it is?"

The mayor shook her head, "Ask Rumpelstiltskin, he is the one who did this curse."

"You really think this is all to do with the curse?" Emma asked in a disbelieving voice.

Regina cocked her head to the side. "Miss Swan, are you telling me you still don't believe?"

Emma took a breath. "If you are saying you are sick because Mr. Gold did this with the curse, I can get that I guess. But tell me then your highness, why is Henry sick?"

Regina grimaced. "That my dear…." She faded out she really didn't know why he would be sick as well, unless Rumple did do something. But then why wasn't Emma feeling it too? Or maybe it was still the affects from the apple. Or maybe her own sickness was entirely different from Henry; maybe he just had a small fit of the flu. All she knew right now was that she felt as if she was having a mini melt down. She felt pain in all parts of her head, her heart ached for her son, and yet she was now drawn to this beautiful woman who at this instant had her hand carefully cradled in her own. Wow you have the softest hand. Yep she said to herself this is either a bad nightmare or definitely part of this messed up curse…..But didn't the curse break? So much was running through her head, and she knew deep down that she needed to get a grip, but feeling the blonde's hand in hers was making everything thing else just disappear.

Emma didn't know how her hand ended up gently squeezing the mayor's hand. But now that it was she sure didn't want to remove it. The sheriff did know she was shocked by how great it felt, and even more shocked that Regina didn't flinch back or remove it and say a snide comment about her touching her yet again.

Finally Emma thought she better move and check on Henry. She leisurely unfolded her fingers from those of the mayor's. She smiled when she stood. "Better see if our son is sleeping." She said motioning to where the boy slept.

Regina nodded trying to hide her frown away, yet was wondering if now her hearing was going as well. Did she just say our son? She watched Emma whisper something to Henry as her hand cascaded across his brow. She exhaled slowly, and continued to watch as she leaned back against the hard wall. Her eyes felt heavy she tried to fight them from closing. She felt her temples aching, yet the sight of the blonde taking care of her son was having a calming effect on her. Why did I seriously think Emma couldn't take care of him? She blinked back the tears in her eyes. Because everyone I love leaves me, she was going to take him away from me. I just couldn't let her….but he loves her and why wouldn't he? Her eyes fluttered shut. Maybe if I would have stopped being so afraid of her, I could have seen what he sees, but what's the point I'm damaged….I'm broken….and damn it I'm the Evil Queen! Fight first ask questions later. And why do I feel so cold?

She was vaguely aware of a soft gentle hand helping to lay her head on a pillow. She then felt even more exhausted as she drifted deeper to sleep, but not before feeling a caring hand caressing her cheek. Then leisurely tucked a strand of her hair back. She thought she heard a faint sleep well; feel better, before the blackness descended.

Emma bent her head, brows lowered as she watched the mayor breathe a nice steady rhythm. She whispered for her to sleep well and feel better as she traced a few of her fingers down the side of her face. She had this strange feeling inside her, and it made it hard for her to fight this woman, the same woman she battled with for months. It was like as soon as she woke Henry up a veil was lifted and she now could see things clearer. Every time she touched her it awoke something inside her. It was like she was the forbidden fruit and she wasn't suppose to touch her, but the more she did the more she wanted. She knew she needed to resist, because if the book was true then all roads would lead to a dark scary path, and perched at the end of that path was the formidable all powerful Evil Queen. And if that were true then that person were none other than this beautiful woman lying next to her.

As she moved to get up she noticed the brunette start to shake, her teeth slightly bared and her lips began to quiver. She then heard her mumble out. "So cold," as she clutched the blanket close to her.

For some reason the thought of Regina freezing made Emma lose all previous thoughts of the so called Evil Queen, and she did the only thing she could think of. She stretched out next to the mayor and gently pulled the shivering woman into her arms. She felt the tiny moan from Regina's lips as she snuggled into her chest. It almost crippled her, the feel of the mayor's embrace made her own body start to shiver and she wasn't even cold. Emma didn't move one inch, she merely just basked in the way her body felt holding the brunette close to her, and the small flutters of breath on her neck. She inhaled slowly trying hard to fight off her eyes from closing. She wanted to stay awake in case Henry needed her. After awhile, she found herself nodding off, and eventually gave in and fell asleep.

…..

Regina woke in lovely warmth, a tenderness spread through her, she felt so safe, and she really couldn't remember ever feeling this way. She drew in a deep breath stretching just a little before turning and finding the source of her blissfulness. Now she had to draw in another breath, and this one was much deeper and tattered than her last. She slowly pulled herself up and she peered down at the quiet sleeping expression of her bed companion. What the? She shook her head and drew all the energy she had and pushed the blonde hard on to the floor.

Emma fell to the solid floor in a loud smack. "Fuck!" Emma groaned, and rubbed her head. "Shit Regina what was that for?"

The mayor glared. "I wake up, and find you in bed next to me?" She shot out in a raged breath, and began to slowly get up. "Just because I'm sick doesn't give you the right to maul me Miss Swan!"

The blonde got to her feet. "You were freezing!" She exclaimed. "I was merely trying to help." She shook her head at the other woman and went to her son to see how he was, and muttered lightly. "Should have just let you I guess."

Regina cringed, she felt weak yet deep inside she knew Emma was trying to help her, and it did feel wonderful waking up in her arms. But it also scared the shit right out of her, and there was no way in hell she would ever admit that. "Miss Swan," she tried to speak clearly but came out in a raspy croak. She cleared her throat. "I'm sorry; I shouldn't have thrown you to the floor like that. I know you were just trying to help." Oh she thought that was really hard to apologize to the woman who was gradually taking her son from her, and now broke the curse, and now was forced to be stuck in this basement sick and now had to rely on just that person.

Emma glanced in her direction. "Yeah, ok." She didn't want to give in to the fact that she was actually upset, and yet once again she was being hurt by the mayor of Storybrooke. Yes she should have known it, and yes she should be used to it, so why did it torment her now? She wanted to look over at her, and ask her how she was feeling, but instead she clenched her jaw tight, and kept her eyes fixed to her sleeping son. She wasn't going to give her the satisfaction.

…..

Regina still felt tired, but she managed to get to her feet to use the restroom. She also felt dehydrated and was on her way to get some water, but when she opened the door Emma was standing with a bottle of water waiting for her. "Here," she said. "You need to keep hydrated." The blonde shrugged then gently handed the bottle to the other woman.

Regina sighed. "Thanks," she was going to say more, but the sheriff moved away before she could and curled up on the squishy bean bag Regina had thrown down here a long time ago. She had the two cots for her and Henry for emergencies, she didn't feel the need to have more than that down here, and the only reason the old bean bag was here was because Henry loved it and she didn't have the heart to throw it away. She also noticed all Emma was using as a blanket was her red leather jacket.

She closed her eyes knowing she was being an ass once again, as she sipped on the cool water trying to gather her thoughts. She actually was starting to feel a little better as the water washed its way through her. Then her eyes ran across the room to her son, she slowly moved and peered down and watched him breathe for a few moments. She gradually found herself kneeling beside him. She felt his skin and knew Emma was right about how he did seem to feel a lot cooler. She struggled to stand back up when she heard her voice.

"You should eat."

"I'm…" She was going to say fine, but she wasn't she knew she needed some nourishment to get her strength back so she could get them out of here. "Yes you're right." She responded quietly, and took a cleansing breath as she began to move to the small room with the food.

The blonde immediately got up and rushed ahead of the mayor, turning to look at her with eyes dark and full of concern.

"Sit down, I will get it."

Regina gazed at her a moment and could feel the caring green eyes lock with her own. She hadn't seen anyone look at her like that in years. "Uhh…" She muttered, and only could give the sheriff a tiny smile. Crap she wondered to herself…..What the hell happened to my snarky malicious wicked self? Wasn't it just days ago I wanted her gone! She couldn't even say a single word, and when Emma smiled back at her all that drivel seemed to just fade out.

*Next update soon…