Memories [OUAT/Helsa]

Not Alone

Storybrooke
Present Day

Beep. Beep. Beep.

He did not know how long he had been engulfed in total darkness, but as he struggled to open his eyes, lids heavy as if they had been tightly shut, the bright white light had almost blinded him.

"You're awake."

The image of a blonde haired woman was a blur at first, but as he blinked his eyes back into focus, he was partly disappointed that it wasn't who he thought it was.

"About time, too." Emma continued as she stood by the Hospital bed, arms crossed over her chest as she looked at the auburn haired man. "You got everyone on the tips of their toes."

It took him quite a while to recall what had happened. But when all was clear, he could tell why he had ended in the Hospital... Again. "How's Roland?"

"Not the first person I thought you'd ask," the Sheriff admitted as she pulled a chair and sat down. "But he's fine, a little shaken up but fine."

He sighed in relief at that as he closed his eyes, fingers massaging the bridge of his nose. "And Elsa?"

"She's there." Emma said, making the auburn haired man opened his eyes just in time to see her nodding to the left side of the room, where indeed the platinum blonde haired woman was sleeping on a couch. "She never left." The blonde said in a hushed whisper as her eyes stayed looking at her friend. "Not even once."

Even without looking up close, Hans could tell that the Queen of Arendelle was exhausted, he knew her well to notice her furrowed eyebrows and tensed shoulders from the distance. And with one hand craddling her growing stomach, his only wish at the moment was to scoop her up and laid her somewhere more comfortable.

"Why didn't you ask her to go home?"

"I did. Believe me, I did, numerous times. But she's just so stubborn." Emma shook her head, her loose blonde hair swaying with the movement. "All she did when she was not asleep is sitting here, by your side. Don't worry, I made sure she eats though."

Her description on Elsa's actions reminded Hans of the Elsa that he always knew, the one that would be so dedicated upon something she sometimes forgot to care for herself. And he almost slapped himself for thinking such a thing. She's the same Elsa, always the same. She just didn't remember it yet.

"I need to go and fill in the reports." The Sheriff said as she stood up from the chair, pulling her red leather jacket closer to herself. "Do you want me to call Whale?"

Hans shook his head on the offer. He may not be from this realm, but he learned about some of their technology, he knew which button to press if he needed help. "I'll be fine. Thank you, Emma."

Emma nodded and left the room, leaving only him and Elsa alone.

He wasn't sure if Elsa would mind if he watched her sleep. Back then, she would smile and pulled him into a kiss, sometimes even inviting him back to sleep on lazy mornings. Now, with their relationship's constant changes of ups and downs, he did not know. She could either let it slide or started another argument with him. His fingers crossed that it would not be the latter.

"You're staring."

Her sleepy and tired tone were the exact tone that he had almost assumed that she had recovered her memories back, almost. "I'm sorry."

He had turned his head away then to avoid getting Elsa on her not so pleasant mood. But instead he felt her hand slipped into his, interwining their fingers together as she sat on the chair previously occupied by the Sheriff. "It's alright."

Her calm and gentle voice felt like a soft breeze blowing against both his face and heart as he turned her attention, thumb absent-mindedly starting to stroke the back of her small hand in circle. "How's the baby?"

"The baby's fine." She sighed, eyes were so clear he could have sworn he could see his own reflection on her blue irises. "Whale said the pain must have come from stress."

"Is it me or does Whale really is able to handle everything about medical?" He chuckled, "He helped you with the pregnancy and also treated other patients in general."

His question thankfully amused her as the platinum blonde haired woman smiled. "Perhaps he is." She answered. Oh how he really enjoyed and cherish this lighter mood of hers. "He was apparently supposed to be Doctor Frankenstein, though I'm not sure what that means."

"The name itself does sound a bit odd."

They ended up in a comfortable silence. Elsa enjoyed silence, it cleared her mind and she could relax in her own little world; as for Hans, well he openly admitted that watching her gave some sort of calmness he couldn't replace with anything else.

"Hey, Elsa?"

"Hmm?"

"... Emma told me you never left. Why?"

She was quiet then, eyes moving in small movements as she traced his face features. "You saved Roland, Henry... And though not directly, me and my child. How could I leave?"

Well she didn't exactly told him that she loved him, even if he tried to compare it he felt like it was almost too forced, but at least this was another improvement from the first day they met again in this small town.

"Besides, waking up in Hospital alone is not the most pleasant, don't you think?"

A small smile formed on his lips as he kept his hand clutched hers. "Fortunately, I'm not."