Chapter 27 Just Stories

For the rest of the afternoon, Regina had been in and out of sleep. Emma hadn't left her side besides grabbing coffee or snacks from the cafeteria. Regina didn't seem to have an appetite, and despite her and Nurse Dana's best efforts, Regina refused to take more than a few bites of the breakfast or lunch that was provided. She did eat the apple and Emma was satisfied that she at least had something in her stomach. Soon Ruby arrived just in time before Regina was due for discharge. She was sitting by Regina's bed and filling out the last of the paperwork when the young woman came in bearing gifts. Regina was asleep as she gasped, a hand coming up to her mouth that had dropped open in shock. Emma understood how much of a shock it was to see her so bruised up and lying in a hospital bed with an oxygen mask on her face.

"She's a bit out of it," Emma said as Ruby stepped forward so she was standing by the bed and looking down at her professor. She held a teddy bear and a card in her hand, the surprise that she had hinted to Emma about.

"Is she well enough to go home?" Ruby asked worriedly, her eyes still sweeping over the bruises on Regina's face and then to the machines that she was hooked up to.

"As well as she can be," she shrugged. She wasn't exactly well enough. She was still in a lot of pain, but it would be easier for Emma to keep a look out for Leopold at the loft. She would be safer at home where he couldn't slip by the hospital staff and get to her when no one was around. She also knew he wouldn't dare try anything at the loft that would put his daughter at risk.

The sound of their voices must have stirred Regina awake because her eyes opened just a slit to see her student standing over her with teary blue eyes. She removed the oxygen mask and gave her a sleepy smile.

"How was class?" she asked, her voice hoarse.

"You're in the hospital with broken ribs and you're asking how class went?" Ruby chuckled through tears. Regina frowned at the emotion coming from her student as if she couldn't quite comprehend why she was so upset. Emma's heart broke as she realized maybe she wasn't used to people caring about her.

"It was ok," Ruby shrugged, wiping her eyes. "The sub's lecture wasn't as fantastic as yours of course." She handed over the teddy bear and card which Regina took with disbelief. "Everyone missed you. We all signed a get well card."

"Thank you," she whispered, opening the card and reading all the get well wishes from her students. Emma leaned forward to see that all of her classes had signed it. A lot of them had written how proud they were of her for standing up to him and some wrote she was strong and to have hope things will get better. They really cared when she believed she was one of the most hated teachers at the school. Regina's eyes grew glassy with tears, but she seemed to hold back her emotions. Emma frowned a bit at that but kept silent. Maybe she was just a bit out of it? Ruby leaned down to hug her and Regina accepted the gesture, looking a bit shocked at the kindness her students had shown her.

"You see, you may be one of the strictest teachers, but they know you care about them and they care too." When she pulled away, Regina placed the card on the nightstand by her phone and cuddled the teddy bear to her chest.

"I'm sorry you'll have to go through midterms without me," she said, her tone heavy with guilt as if somehow it was her fault she couldn't be with her students.

"I'd rather you rest and give yourself time to heal," Emma told her, meeting her eyes.

"You taught us well enough to fend for ourselves," Ruby added and Regina smirked at that.

"Is it time to get out of here yet?" she asked, clearly sick of being in this room.

"I got the papers all filled out," Emma said, holding them up.

"I can take them to the nurse's station," Ruby offered, taking the packet and then rushing out.

When they were alone, Emma got up from her chair and sat on the edge of the bed instead. She took her wrapped hand, wanting to comfort her as much as she could. She realized comfort was something Regina seemed to crave despite being so closed off. She couldn't help but think, despite the bruises, how beautiful she looked; How much she had opened up and let her see the woman behind the mask. She had gained Regina's trust, her friendship and she vowed to herself she would try her hardest to never break it.

"Emma," she whispered, looking at her with a confused look in her eyes and Emma realized she was staring.

"I'm sorry, I was just thinking how much you had opened up to me since I met you. I just never thought we'd be friends, especially since how we started."

A look of guilt flashed across her face and Emma mentally kicked herself because she hadn't meant to make her feel bad for the feud that they had been caught up in over Henry.

"I never meant to hurt him or you…" she whispered, her eyes downcasting and Emma gently reached out, raising her chin so she'd look at her.

"I didn't mean to bring our past up. I'm not trying to make you feel guilty. I'm just grateful that you trust me enough to help you."

The guilt in her eyes faded and turned into some other kind of emotion Emma couldn't quite decipher. Her eyes were shining and a small smile lingered on the corner of her lips. She was looking at her like she did the night they went out to the bar, her gaze full of trust and something else. Emma suddenly had the urge to kiss her, but held herself back. She didn't want to scare her with her stupid emotions that she was having more and more trouble ignoring.

Thankfully Ruby and Nurse Dana had walked in, forcing her to look away from those dark eyes that she seemed to be getting lost in more and more. Each day she tried to convince herself that pursuing any kind of relationship other than friendship couldn't happen, but as each day passed, she felt her heart falling deeper and deeper for the woman who was only supposed to be her best friend.

Regina was sagging heavily in the passenger seat as they drove back to the loft. The car ride from the hospital was painfully jostling her injured ribs, sending bolts of pain through her and making it hard to breathe. Emma could see it in the way she was clutching her side and in the small short breaths she was taking in. She parked the yellow bug in front of the building and was over on Regina's side in an instant. She opened the door and helped the injured woman out, not liking how pale she had become. They needed to get her inside so she could rest as quickly as possible, but there was one problem with that.

The damn staircase.

"Do you need a minute before going in?" Emma asked, helping to steady her on her feet.

"Here, let me help," Ruby offered, exiting the backseat and went to support Regina's other side.

"No, let's just get this over with," the shorter woman grimaced. They moved to the building, not seeing the Mercedes Benz parked down the street.

It had been rough. Getting Regina up the steps had been painful. Emma wanted to just pick her up into her arms, but the stubborn brunette absolutely refused. So after many breaks and instances where Emma for sure thought she was going to pass out, they finally made it to the top.

The moment they reached the loft, Emma felt Regina tense in her arms, her grip tightening on her arm in a death grip before she could even register the fact that Leopold was standing right outside the door. The brunette froze, not moving a step forward when they came face to face with the man that had hurt her. Unrelenting rage rose inside her, her eyes blazing and if Emma weren't holding Regina up she would have flown forward and given him a second black eye to match the first. Regina shook in her and Ruby's arms, her eyes averted and the blood from her face draining out of raw fear. His cruel eyes fixated on her, a ghost of a smirk on his lips as if he got off on her fear.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Emma growled, her green eyes flashed dangerously for the man who had the audacity to show his face around here.

"I just want to talk," Leopold said with a sickening fake sincerity in his voice. His eyes barely even looked at Emma, they were fixated on his trembling fearful wife. She wouldn't look at him as he sought out her gaze. He took a step forward and Regina took two uncoordinated panicked steps back. Emma steadied her as Ruby furiously rushed forward, facing him and stopping him in his tracks.

"How dare you show your pathetic face here! Get out!"

"I will as soon as I talk to my wife," he sneered with a hard glance at the younger woman and then looked over at Regina again. "Come home, Regina. We could work things out. We both know the abuse and rape accusations are false." Emma felt her shrinking further into her. She was terrified, frozen in her fear and couldn't say a word. She's never seen her this fearful in front of her husband before.

He took a step forward but Ruby was quick to block him from getting closer. He nearly growled in frustration, but kept his composure.

"Regina," he spoke with a tone of finality, looking at her once more. "Come with me."

Emma lost it. She couldn't just stand here and listen to him try and coax her back to his arms, to those abusive fists and cold relenting anger.

"She is not going anywhere with you! Look at her face!" she yelled, and she felt Regina jump. "Does that look false to you! Did she just fall down the stairs and break her ribs? Did she consent each time you forced her into bed with you? Rape is still rape even if you're married!"

Ruby looked back at Emma and then at Regina in shock, her eyes softening with heartbreak. Emma hadn't meant to to reveal the sexual abuse but Leopold had already brought it up, denying the truth and claiming false accusations. The very thought of it made Emma's blood boil. Regina's cheeks flushed, with shame possibly and Emma whispered apologies into her ear.

"You're ok, I'm sorry," she said so only she could hear.

"Go or I'll give you a taste of your own medicine," the young college student threatened, her blue eyes flashing dangerously; And if she really were the wolf from Henry's stories, he'd be torn to shreds by now. He leveled her dangerous gaze with one of his own, daring her to try something. After a long second, he smirked and looked over at Regina again.

"This isn't the last you'll be hearing from me, Regina," he sneered. "In case you've forgotten, we're still married and we share a son." He walked away then, closely passing Regina purposely. She had shrunk further into Emma if it were even possible.

Once he was gone, she took a shaky breath as if she had been underwater and was coming up for air. She was panicking and Emma held her tightly in her embrace, pulling her into her arms and holding her.

"You're ok," she whispered, not liking her short quick breaths or the way her body trembled. "Just breathe, you're ok."

"He's going to take Henry!" she cried into her shoulder.

"No he's not," she assured her. There was no way that bastard was getting his hands on their son. "Not if I have any say in it."

Emma held her for a few moments, whispering comforting words in her ear until she had finally calmed down. When her breaths seemed to have regulated and she wasn't trembling as hard, Emma and Ruby helped her inside.

They helped her to the couch, where Regina immediately sat down, a hand on her injured ribs and her breaths labored from the exertion. She was far too pale from the pain, and Emma couldn't help but worry. Ruby immediately brought a towel wrapped ice pack from the freezer and handed it to Emma.

She knelt before her, lifting her shirt just a bit to place the pack on the worst of the bruising, right where the fractures were. Regina hissed from the cold and the pain, and Emma was quick to comfort her, placing a hand on her cheek.

"I'm sorry, I know it hurts," she said softly.

"I wasn't expecting him," Regina whispered, still reeling from seeing her husband so soon. Her hands shook and Emma took both of them in her hands to help steady them.

"Will you two be ok here?" Ruby asked, sounding a bit anxious. Emma turned to see her eyes shining with intense sympathy and her body slightly trembling. She could see she was a bit overwhelmed from the revelation out in the hall. She hadn't been aware of the rape. "I should probably get back to the diner."

Emma stood and hugged her, feeling her tightening her arms around her as if desperately trying to gain control of the emotions she must be feeling. She knew it couldn't be easy seeing someone that she looked up to going through something as horrific as domestic violence.

"Thank you for all your help," she whispered before pulling away to see Ruby's eyes had become a bit red and teary. She nodded and then after saying goodbye to Regina, she headed out, leaving the two of them alone with the offer to call if anything was needed.

Exhaustion washed over her so she plopped right down beside Regina whose breathing had finally slowed. Her color was looking better, and by the look of her glazed eyes, Emma could see how exhausted she was.

"Mary Margaret will be here in an hour with Henry," she said. "I'll go pick up your prescription when they come home so you're not alone. That sounds ok?" To Emma's complete shock, Regina cuddled up beside her and laid her head on her shoulder. Her body relaxed against her as if she were seeking comfort. Emma wrapped her arm around her, holding her close and feeling her heart swell with affection for her friend.

"It does, thank you, Emma," she whispered, nuzzling her face on her chest and closing her eyes. Now that the anxiety and fear from seeing Leopold wore off, she was more than exhausted and Emma was fully ok with her cuddling against her for a nap even if it was dangerous for her falling heart.

"I know there's a lot to do now," she said, thinking of Leopold's impending trial, getting the divorce papers started, gaining full custody of Henry and even reopening Regina's own case. "But once you're up for it, we'll call Katherine and set up a meeting."

"I'm still not free of him," she whispered, her voice sounding heavy as sleep threatened to pull her under.

"You will be," Emma answered, her voice cracking with emotion as Regina's weight became heavier and more relaxed with each minute until she finally fell asleep. Friends didn't cuddle like this. Friends didn't fight the urge to kiss the other on the cheek as she slept. Friends didn't run their fingers through dark locks of hair. Emma told herself it was just under special circumstances. That Regina just wanted to feel safe and comforted.

She was so lost in her thoughts, thinking about how their friendship had evolved. How Regina seemed to gravitate towards her now, no longer the closed off woman she had first met. She was afraid of admitting to herself her true feelings, that she might just be falling for the woman behind the evil queen persona. She hadn't even realized an hour had gone by until Mary Margaret and Henry were entering the loft, shaking her from her thoughts.

"She's asleep," Emma whispered, and just before Henry could rush over, Mary Margaret stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.

"Easy Henry, she's in a lot of pain. Try not to wake her." He nodded and stepped over to both of his moms.

"How are you doing kid?" Emma asked as he reached out and squeezed Regina's hand. Her heart warmed at the sight of him being so concerned for her. Maybe there was hope for their relationship after all.

"I couldn't stop thinking about her and my dad," he admitted.

"She's ok now," Emma reassured him. "And your dad isn't going to hurt her again." She looked up at Mary Margaret, not wanting to tell her Leopold was here waiting for them in front of Henry. "Can you help me move her to a bed?" she asked, not wanting Regina to become too sore from sitting up against her.

"Let's put her in mine," Mary Margaret suggested. "I don't want her to have to climb the ladder to the loft." Emma agreed, and once Mary Margaret changed out the sheets with Henry's help, they were ready to move her.

"Regina," Emma said softly, placing a hand on her cheek in an attempt to wake her. She gently shook her arm, rousing her until her eyes opened. She frowned in confusion and Emma could see the pain in her face as she became more aware.

"Emma…" she murmured, wincing and bringing her injured hand to her ribs.

"I know it hurts," Emma answered softly. "But we need to get you into bed."

"Here, let me help," Mary Margaret was approaching them and Regina immediately stiffened at her voice. Emma frowned in confusion but then realized she probably wasn't comfortable after breaking down in her arms last night. Especially since they weren't exactly on good terms. Regina seemed to be in too much pain to protest because she let Mary Margaret support her as Emma gently slid out from under her. Regina cried out the moment they had her on her feet.

"I know… Breathe," Emma said, holding her up against her side. She gave her a moment to catch her bearings before she and Mary Margaret led her to the bed. She lit up despite the pain when she saw Henry waiting for her. He had wanted to cuddle with her and had quickly changed into his pajamas when they had been waking her. They gently helped her lie down and she immediately cuddled against Henry, kissing his forehead and then looking up at Emma so tenderly she felt like her heart might just burst.

"Thank you," she whispered, a small smile on her lips despite the pain she was in. Her breaths were labored and she was a bit flushed from moving. Henry hugged her and was burying his face into her chest as he closed his eyes to sleep. Poor kid was probably up all night sick with worry. Emma returned the smile, and then reached out to push some strands of dark hair away from her face.

"I'll be back," she assured her. "I'm going to go pick up your meds. Get some sleep." Regina nodded and then buried her face into the pillow and closed her eyes. She nodded at Mary Margaret to follow her and led her over to the front door where mother and son couldn't overhear them. She could see the heavy rise and fall of Regina's chest from here.

"I didn't want to tell you in front of Henry, but your father was waiting for us at the door when we got back," she informed her as she slid on her jacket.

"What!" she angrily hissed, her eyes glancing over at Regina and Henry for a moment before meeting Emma's gaze.

"He tried convincing her to go home with him and then he threatened her about taking Henry."

"Do you think he'll go through with it?"

"Honestly I wouldn't put it past him," Emma shook her head in disgust. "Once Regina is up for it, we'll have a meeting with Katherine and see what the next steps are."

Regina woke up to the sounds of Mary Margaret cooking in the kitchen. Emma was nowhere around and she could feel her anxiety creeping up. She tried pushing it down, not wanting to become dependent on the blonde. However, as she calmed her breathing, she couldn't stop her hands from shaking. Her ribs were throbbing, and she hoped Emma would be back with those pain medications soon. She buried her face into the pillow trying to breathe and reminding herself she's had worse injuries before and got through it without any medical attention.

Henry was curled up, his back against her, and she kissed his forehead, breathing in the scent of his hair and letting it comfort her. She had been so worried about him. She remembered Emma had said he'd fallen out of his beliefs, something that Archie was very careful about. As much as she wanted him to snap out of it in the past, now she felt a bit disheartened at the fact that he no longer believed. This wasn't how she wanted it to happen.

"Henry," she whispered when he started to stir awake. He turned to face her with sleepy eyes. "I'm sorry." It was all she could say for making him feel like his beliefs were crazy. For hurting him to get rid of Emma. For losing herself when he needed her.

"I didn't know," he whispered as he sat up and grabbed his fairytale book that he had left on the edge of the bed. He opened it until he came to an illustration of the Evil Queen. "I thought you were the Evil Queen and I couldn't see he was the evil one. I thought you didn't love me, but I was wrong."

"I should have been honest about your adoption. I was just afraid that you wouldn't love me anymore if you knew I wasn't your biological mother. I was afraid of losing you."

"I was just confused," he said softly, his eyes full of guilt and hurt and her heart broke at the turmoil he was in. She held him close so he was cuddled into her side. It's been so long since he's let her hold him.

"Do you know why Mary Margaret gave you this book?"

"To defeat you," he said sullenly. "At least that's what I used to believe. Now, I don't know."

"She wanted to give you hope," she whispered shakily and Henry looked up at her with tears in his eyes. He looked at the bruises on her face and reached up, lightly ghosting his fingers over her bruised eye.

"I started noticing you were hurt. I saw how much you were afraid of him. I just thought you were on his side when he yelled at me."

"I wanted to protect you from seeing it," she explained.

"I'm sorry mom," he cried, hugging her tightly. Her ribs ached painfully but she ignored it and hugged him back, placing a sweet kiss on top of his head.

"It's ok my little prince," she whispered.

They sat there for a while, holding each other until the pain in her ribs started to become unbearable. She pulled away and he leaned into her side.

"The curse isn't real," he admitted. "You're not the Evil Queen and Emma isn't the savior. They're just stories."

"Oh honey," she said softly. "But she did help save us."

"She saved us from dad…" he mumbled, as if he were unable to understand why his adoptive father hurt his mother. Leopold never made a connection with him, even as a small child. He grew up watching him dote on his adoptive older sister, never on him, his own son."Why didn't he love us?"

She didn't know how to explain the past events that led to her being married to Leopold. She knew Henry wasn't a little kid anymore and deserved to know the truth. She just wasn't sure if she knew how to tell him. She couldn't.

"It's a long story, honey," she sighed. "Someday I'll tell you, but for now just know it was nothing you did." Henry looked at her with curious hazel eyes and for a moment she thought he was going to push. Thankfully he gave her an accepting nod.

Wanting to get off the subject of Leopold, she reached out, ghosting her fingers over the illustration and seeing why Henry believed it was her. She and Mary Margaret always pretended Regina was the Evil Queen and the younger girl was Snow White. It did resemble them a bit. The dark hair, and the broken dark eyes in the Queen. The loneliness and grief in which she suffered behind the walls of the castle. The love and riches in which the King spoiled his kind-hearted daughter Snow White.

"Did you know this book once belonged to me?" she asked and he looked up at her in shock.

"Re… really?" he asked, not believing what he just heard.

"My father gave it to me without my mother knowing. She was hard on me and believed young ladies did not play with toys and read silly fairy tales. So it was our little secret."

"Wow," he sighed, looking at the illustrations in a whole new light. Now, she hoped he could look at these as stories that his mother once read when she was a little girl and not a belief that was broken. That's just what they were… stories.

"And then when Mary Margaret's mother passed away, I gave it to her," she continued with a heavy heart. "To give her hope."

He closed the book and passed it to her. She took it in her hands, the weight of it heavy in her hands and in her heart. It brought back so many emotions and memories. It made her remember how much she once loved her stepdaughter, but it also reminded her of how much she took from her.

"I think you need this more than I do," he said.

Tears suddenly streamed down her cheeks as she remembered a little girl that read them under her covers with a flashlight just like Henry did. Just like him, she used these stories to hide from her strict mother.

"Mom?" Henry asked, his hazel eyes full of so much concern.

"I'm sorry Henry," she said, wiping her tears. "This book was everything to me back then, and holding it now just reminds me of how much has happened since I first held it in my hands."

He looked at her differently for the first time since their relationship crumbled. He looked at her with so much admiration and love and he leaned in, hugging her tightly once more. At first she had been surprised, almost afraid of accepting his embrace, but then she felt herself melting into him.