Work Text:
Regina (POV)
I heard the sound of the pencil hitting the floor, but in that moment, I didn’t care much. The only things occupying my mind were fear and guilt. I looked at the table and saw the letter I had struggled so much to write, faint traces of tears I had unknowingly shed marking its surface. In that instant, a small smile escaped my lips. All week, I had barely smiled, thinking you would surely laugh at me if you saw me like this.
I picked up the pencil from the floor and glanced at the clock: midnight. I should go to bed, or I wouldn’t stay awake tomorrow. But I didn’t want to. For a week, I’ve been haunted by nightmares, reliving the moment over and over, powerless to do anything but watch you fall to the ground after that fireball meant for me hit you. I remember how “my sister” laughed, saying that for a savior, you weren’t much.
When we finally defeated her, the one-handed pirate and Snow took you to the hospital before I could even react.
I still haven’t visited you. I can’t. I don’t want to see you like that—so fragile, so different from the stubborn woman who enjoys driving me crazy. Seeing you like that would destroy me. I miss our arguments, our clashes, your typical “good Charming” lines, and your stubbornness with me. Because you’re the only one who’s ever seen me simply as Regina and not as the Queen.
Maybe tomorrow I’ll gather the courage to visit you. It’s time to face my fears. After all, you saved my life. I feel anger. Why did you step in front of me? Why did you save me? Why did you leave me alone?
I’ve decided—I’ll visit you tomorrow and ask you why. It may seem crazy, but it doesn’t matter, because I know you would listen to me in your own way, like you always do. And when I reach your hospital room, I’ll ask you everything, every day, as many times as it takes. Because I know you’ll wake up. So, when I leave your room tomorrow and return the next day, I’ll walk away saying, “Until you wake up.”
And with that thought in mind, I fell asleep, just like you used to, but with the certainty that I’d wake up in the morning.
I got up from the table, feeling the weight of the decision I had made the night before. The drive to the hospital felt eternal, my mind swirling with questions as I drove through Storybrooke’s empty streets. What would I say to Emma when I saw her? How would she be? Could she recover? And most importantly, why had she done it?
When I arrived at the hospital, I parked the car and sat there for a moment, taking deep breaths to calm the nerves that threatened to overwhelm me. Finally, I decided there was no turning back. I entered the building with determined steps, ready to face my fears and confront the woman who had risked her life for me.
I climbed the stairs until I reached Emma’s room. Before entering, I stopped for a moment, observing through the glass the peaceful figure of the blonde sleeping in the bed. A lump formed in my throat as I remembered the moment Emma stepped between me and danger, sacrificing herself without hesitation.
Finally, I stepped into the room. I approached the bed and took Emma’s hand in mine, feeling the comforting warmth of her skin. For a moment, I remained silent, simply observing the serene face of the woman in front of me.
“Emma...” I murmured at last, my voice barely a whisper in the stillness of the room. “Why did you do it? Why did you sacrifice yourself for me?”
I didn’t expect an answer, but I needed to voice the questions that had haunted me for days. I sat on the edge of the bed, refusing to let go of Emma’s hand, as if afraid she would disappear if I did.
“I need you, Emma,” I continued, my voice trembling slightly. “I don’t know how to face all of this without you. You’re... more important to me than I ever imagined.”
The silence of the room seemed to wrap around my words, but it felt as though Emma was listening to me, even in her deep sleep.
“I promise I’ll be here when you wake up,” I whispered, feeling tears threatening to spill over. “Until then... until you wake up.”
With those words, I stayed by her side, clinging to the hope that soon I would see her green eyes looking back at me once more.
Emma
I was trapped in a deep sleep, where images blurred and voices echoed distantly. I felt a sense of peace and calm, as if I were floating in a sea of tranquility. But suddenly, a familiar voice broke the silence, piercing through my mind and pulling me from my stupor.
“Emma... Why did you do it? Why did you sacrifice yourself for me?”
Her voice was clear and full of emotion in my head. I fought to open my eyes, to return to consciousness and face reality. I could feel the gentle pressure of a hand holding mine and the sound of a heartbeat close to me.
I tried to move, to respond to the questions she had asked, but my body felt heavy, as though anchored in a place between sleep and wakefulness. I wanted to tell Regina that I had done it because I loved her, because I couldn’t bear the thought of losing her. I wanted to tell her that I would always be there for her, no matter what.
But the words refused to come out, and I felt frustrated by my own helplessness. I could sense the anguish in Regina’s voice, the fear and uncertainty tormenting her. I wanted to comfort her, to tell her that everything would be okay, but I was trapped in my own world of dreams and shadows.
Then, a surge of determination took over me. I forced myself to open my eyes, to break the chains keeping me imprisoned in my own subconscious. With a titanic effort, I finally managed to blink slowly, letting the light of the real world seep through my closed eyelids.
Regina was there, by my side, her eyes filled with tears and her heart in her throat. I looked back at her, finding in her gaze the love and hope I so desperately needed. With a faint smile, I squeezed her hand with mine, conveying all the love and gratitude I felt in that moment.
“Hey, Regina,” I whispered hoarsely to catch her attention, fighting against the weight of fatigue that still enveloped me. “I did it because I love you.”