Shattered

The Search

Snow

I yawned and awoke to the sounds of tiny feet on the other side of the hospital door, looking around to find the room empty except for a sleeping Regina in her hospital bed.

"Mama! I want to see mama!" I heard Roland whisper after Robin scolded him to lower his voice, along with the coos of Evelyn as the toddler jostled the door handle, making Regina stir.

"Mm, Snow? What's going on?" Regina groaned, wincing as she sat up. "Robin has Roland and Evie, I think they're coming in to visit." I groaned, clearing the sleep from my head as the door opened, Roland's excited feet rushing inside to his mother's bedside.

"Mama!" He managed to whisper, but the excitement in his voice radiated through the entire room. "Good morning baby." She replied tiredly, a smile shining through her cheeks as she reached out for him. However the small boy remained in his spot as she reached out to lead him towards the bed, his eyes turning nervous as he looked at me, taking in the details of his pale mother, void of all makeup that she almost always wore around her children, her reflection almost frightening to me.

"It's okay, go say hi to mama." I assured him, lifting the small boy into my arms to place him on the bed, but a swift shake of his head prevented me from setting him beside his mother. "What's wrong buddy? Mama wants to see you?" Robin asked as he set an eager Evelyn on his wife's thighs, kissing both of their heads as he stood up straight.

"Mama's sick." He whimpered, taking in the sight in front of him, putting the pieces together in his head, associating this hospital with sickness, death, and dying. "No, honey, she just had Auntie Emma's babies and she has to sleep here for a couple nights just to make sure that she stays healthy." I explained, pointing to his quiet mother who had an expression of defeat on her face.

"She's okay?" He asked in confirmation, looking over nervously. "She is, but she could really use your kisses right now." I said slowly setting him beside her, watching as the little boy clamored to his feet and peppered his mother's pale face with kisses, making her colorless lips turn up at the corners, her brown eyes now floating with touched tears.

Her son was helping, he had no idea, but I watched with Robin as that singular action began to fill her chest, overwhelming her with emotion. "Mama? Where's your tummy?" The small boy asked, quickly forgetting the conversation that I had with him. She chuckled in return and placed a bony hand on her deflating stomach which was now covered with her pink robe.

"It's still here, but it's not big anymore, Auntie Emma just has the babies now." Regina explained quietly, her voice heavier than before, lacking the warmth that she exaggerated with the small boy. "The babies aren't in there anymore? I can't talk to them now?" He asked sadly, his brown doe eyes now filled with shock and sadness.

"No, but baby, they're now outside of my tummy, and soon you will be able to play with them, but right now they're tiny, just like Evie was." She explained, her voice's softness returning as she offered a smile to her son.

"I missed you." He finally muttered, leaning into her side and pulling her arm around his shoulder, holding onto it carefully, trying to avoid the long tube that was connected to her hand. "I missed you too baby." Regina said softly, her voice now threatening tears as she looked down at her small son who was now rubbing her arm, just as I had witnessed her doing to him countless times.

"How was your night?" Regina asked as Evelyn crawled over her legs and laid her chubby cheek against her knee. "We had a sleepover with Teresa!" He cried, growing quite fond of the young paramedic who always had a way with the young boy.