Is It Too Late? - Swan Queen AU

Chapter 17

A/N:

So, I had some free time today, so you get two chapters for the price of one. The end to this story is near! I'm not sure exactly how many chapters left, but I will shoot for finishing on chapter 20. This has honestly been such a great time to have shared with you guys. I love writing, and I hope you at least tolerate my writing skills. I started a small One Shot book, and I will definitely be adding to that soon! SO, without further ado... We will address the shit show that happened in the last chapter.

"Oh my god, Regina?" "Mom?"

Blood poured from Regina's swollen nose and her busted cheek bone. She dropped to her knees and took the brunette's hand in her own. "Oh, baby... Gina, it's me, Emma. I'm going to take you to the ER, okay?" Her eyes ghosted over the crumpled body, fear and rage filling her veins.

"No! No! No. Stay. No ER." Regina cried with her eyes swollen almost shut.

"Please, Regina, you need medical attention!" Emma was trying to keep her emotions from getting the best of her, but seeing this woman, her Regina, like this? It was devastating.

"NO NO NO." She yelled back at the blonde, her head shaking back and forth as tears fell.

Emma took the woman into her arms and noticed the path the tears had paved in the smears of blood. "Henry, honey, call Ella. Tell her to meet me at my house ASAP. It's Regina."

"No... no." Regina sobbed into the now bloodied grey tee Emma wore.

"I'm done, Gina. We aren't letting this happen anymore. I'm taking you home." Emma's own voice was rather level for the amount of panic that was currently running over her body. The weight of Regina in her arms grounded her, kept her focused. Soon, they were in the yellow bug, Regina and Henry in the back seat, and on their way to the cabin. There, Emma planned to clean up the woman, allow Ella to help Regina in any way she could, and file an official police report, gathering each beating that Regina had kept close documentation of. Loud cried fell from the mother's lips as Henry ran soothing hands through her matted hair, and a soft melody rang out from his lips, "Lavender's Blue - dilly dilly..."

Emma wiped the tears threatening to fall from her eyes as she pulled in her own driveway, spotting a silver car already waiting for them. The blonde scooped the injured woman up and ran into her house, taking her to the living room. Ella came in close behind, "holy shit!"

"Yes, holy shit, now help her!" Emma commanded, her voice growing deeper as she looked at the groaning woman. "Henry, love, you should go to your room."

He shook his head and planted himself next to his mother's head, and continued the melody from the car. "Lavender's Green - Dilly, Dilly, when I am King - Dilly Dilly, you shall be Queen."

"I'm giving her something to help with the pain. Regina, I have to set your nose and stitch you up, and wow! Is that a burn? Oh my god." The sobbing woman shook her head as her free hand clutched at Emma, finding claim on the blonde's hand. Emma stood in front of Regina, but just enough to the side to be out of the way.

"Who told you so? Dilly, Dilly? Who told you so?"

Once Ella began checking all of the injuries, she spoke, "Regina will definitely need washed. Nothing else appears broken aside from her nose... Maybe a fracture in her cheekbone, but it is tiny. She does have severe bruising on her stomach and left side along with her arms and legs. The burn should heal fine, it isn't a bad one. Just put this cream on it every morning and evening. I would rather not leave. I want to stay here, if that is okay, to be sure nothing gets worse in the night. I can help you wash her off with some rags and change her so she doesn't have to do it herself."

"I'm right here. I'm in pain, but not dead, you fools." Regina tried to laugh but clutched at her stomach. Emma laughed and carefully slipped an arm beneath Regina's head and knees.

"There's my girl." The blonde spoke as she carried the woman up the stairs and to the master bedroom where they cleaned her arms, legs, neck, and face with warm washcloths. Emma helped the nurse change Regina into an old band shirt of Emma's and some soft cotton sleep shorts. The amount of bruises over the span of olive toned skin sent guilt firing through Emma. Once Ella left the room, Emma discarded of her bloodied clothes and changed into an outfit much like Regina's. This wasn't fair. None of this was fair. Regina was covered in bruises, and she never once would let Emma see them. She constantly told Emma of the fights and took to the blonde as a comfort, but refused to reveal the marks. The sheriff guess she could understand, but Regina never allowed Emma to file a report on the abuse, worried of the Leopold supporters in town. Constantly, Emma had tried to convince her, but the stubborn brunette refused.

"Please, Em, sleep in here. I won't be able to sleep." A soft but scratchy voice rang out in the darkening room.

"Of course." She hesitated, "I will go check on Henry first..." Walking down the hall, Emma heard Henry and Ella.

"Is she going to be okay? Will Leo go away to prison? He should... What if he shows up here?" A worried eleven year old boy fired questions at the nurse.

"Henry, you have nothing to worry about. Your mom has you and Emma, she will be just fine. Ideally, yes, your father would go to prison. Do you really think Emma would let that man anywhere near you two? She won't let him hurt either of you any more. I know it. Plus she's the sheriff. She can just arrest him if he shows up." She smiled at the boy and took a deep breath as he laid back against the headboard. "I'll stay here tonight just in case, okay? I will be in the guest room, so you have nothing to worry about, Henry. Your momma is a strong woman."

Emma finally made her presence known and she walked in to sit on the other side of Henry. "My Little Prince, I promise you I will protect you with my life. You are so, so strong, and your mom and I are so very proud of you. Just know that it's okay to be scared or upset. You can come to us, okay? We are just down the hall, and so is Ella. I love you so much, Henry Daniel." The small boy hugged her tight and she wrapped her arms around his midsection, placing a kiss to the top of his head. "Goodnight, Little Prince."

"Goodnight, Emma, tell my mom I said goodnight too, unless she is asleep. Thank you, and I love you too." He smiled and looked at her, honesty showing in his features.

"You are so very welcome. Now, rest up." Emma nodded to the nurse and walked out of his door and downstairs to check all of the doors. She made sure each one was locked and the alarm system was active before returning to her - well, maybe their - room. A sleeping figure filled one half of her bed, and she couldn't fight the smile on her face. Sure, the circumstances were literal shit, but having this beautiful woman trust Emma was good.

She laid down on her back and felt the bed shift as a warmth pressed into her side, and an arm wrapped over her midsection, gripping the hem of her shirt in a balled fist. Regina's head was lying on Emma's chest and the blonde smiled even wider, her left hand slipping beneath the woman's head and playing with those dark strands of hair.

"I remember this band. Our band. It was our first concert..." the room grew quiet aside from their breathing. "I am surprised you still have this." With as deep of an inhale as she could handle, Regina smelled the scent that was so exclusively Emma. The scent was calming. It was safe. It was home.

"Of course I did, Gina." She felt the woman tighten her hold, "you're safe here, with me. I won't let him hurt you ever again. I'm so sorry that I didn't step in before this..."

"Don't apologize, Em... I-I wasn't ready to leave." She closed her eyes and nudged her head into the crook of Emma's neck. "I trust you, Emma Swan. I know I'm safe, and I know you won't let him hurt Henry or I." Emma pressed a kiss onto Regina's head and laid back into the blankets, pulling them up over them. The brunette noticed the deepening of Emma's breaths. She assumed she was asleep when she whispered, "I love you Emma Swan. I never stopped loving you." Emma was her one. The one. Her safe haven. Her knight in shining armor. Her first love. Her true love. Her soul mate.

Her home.

A/N:

Shorter than the last one, and I apologize for that, but hey, it's another one. Let me know if you liked it or not, and don't forget to vote! Thank you so much!

lyn. x