Reset

David looked up at her while he held onto Emma’s arm and guided her up the path, Emma didn’t seem to register her presence nor the sudden light. Regina regarded Emma curiously and then looked at David, “did you find him?”

David shook his head, “no, I think Emma needs to get some rest..”

Regina nodded and stepped out onto the porch in her bare feet and assisted Emma on the other side of David to get her into the house.

Once they were inside Regina looked at her and then at David, “how long has she been like this?”

“I’m fine,” Emma whispered but her distant eyes didn’t move from their gaze on the floor.

“Gradually getting worse for the last fifteen minutes,” David told her.

Regina nodded, “go home and get some rest, David,” she instructed him, “I’ll take it from here.”

David hesitated a moment but then he saw the way Regina looked at Emma and he leaned forward and kissed Emma’s forehead before stepping out onto the porch and closing the door behind him again.

Chapter 65

Regina took a moment to look at the woman in front of her and take everything in. Her knee high boots were caked with mud, presumably where she had been walking through the woods looking for the boy. Her skin tight jeans and what little she could see of her sweater were also grimy and the large and unflattering town hall issued Sheriff’s jacket was draped over slumped shoulders. Her expression was distant and there were still residual tears streaking her cheeks. She stood awkwardly, using the crutch more than she usually did.

Regina sighed and locked the front door before walked to stand in front of Emma, she dipped her head so she could make eye contact with the blonde, “Emma?”

She could see a flash of recognition but not much so she took Emma’s chin in her hand and gently but firmly lifted her head until Emma’s eyes flicked up to meet hers. She smiled, relieved that Emma was reacting, “it’s time to rest.”

“He’s still out there,” Emma asserted.

“Yes,” Regina agreed, “but you can only help him if you look after yourself.”

Emma’s eyes flicked back down to the ground and Regina removed the coat from her shoulders and placed it in the closet before standing in front of Emma and placing her hands on the blonde’s shoulders.

“I’m going to use magic to transport us to your room, is that okay?” Regina asked delicately.

Emma nodded slowly and a moment later they were standing in the dark of Emma’s bedroom.

Regina switched on the nightlight and then looked at Emma thoughtfully, “I’d like to use magic to get you changed for bed, will you let me do that?”

Emma was clearly lost in her own thoughts and continued to stare at the floor.

Regina stood in front of her again and cupped the blonde’s face in both her hands, “Emma?”

With a small start Emma looked up at Regina and her eyes began to focus, “yes?”

“I’d like to help you get changed for bed, using magic..” Regina repeated.

“Oh..” Emma moved her head to look down at herself and Regina let go of her face. Emma frowned at the mess she was in, “okay,” she said hesitantly.

Regina waved her hand a suddenly Emma was in the softest plaid long-sleeved pyjamas that ever existed. Emma briefly wondered where they came from as she certainly didn’t own any actual sleepwear, just clothes that were no longer suitable for use outside the house.

Emma stumbled towards the bed and Regina quickly removed the crutch and took Emma’s arm to help her into bed. The brunette balanced the crutch against the bedside cabinet so Emma could easily access it in the morning before reaching down and pulling up the blankets on Emma’s unmade bed.

“Will you.. help me.. to sleep?” Emma looked up at Regina with imploring eyes.

Regina nodded and waved her hand over Emma’s face.

Emma looked at Regina and frowned, “it didn’t work..”

“You don’t want to sleep,” Regina said kindly as she sat on the edge of the bed and looked down at Emma.

“I do,” Emma maintained.

“But you also want to be out there looking,” Regina said, “I can’t help you sleep unless you want to sleep..”

“It’s my fault,” Emma whispered.

“You mustn’t think that way,” Regina told her gently.

“It is..” Emma reasoned, “I went on a rampage about the graffiti. If I’d just let it go this wouldn’t have happened. He was scared of getting in trouble with his father..”

“He committed a crime,” Regina said, “even if it was a minor infraction, you were doing your job.”

“He’s a kid,” Emma muttered so softly Regina had trouble hearing her.

“You can’t blame yourself for his unfortunate situation,” Regina continued, “you have done everything you can, you have wrecked yourself in pursuit of him,” she brushed the hair away from Emma’s face, “you simply have to look after yourself, Emma.”

“I went to see the father,” Emma said quietly, “Sean thinks he had something to do with Joshua’s disappearance.”

“What do you think?” Regina asked as she soothingly ran her fingers through Emma’s hair.

“He seemed worried about him, they fight for sure but I don’t think he’s responsible for this disappearance,” Emma breathed.