Disclaimer: I do not own these characters and no copy wright infringement is intended. Any medical information is mostly fiction with bits of personal experience sprinkled in. Enjoy.

Those first days back home were the hardest. Staying up on Regina's pain management was Emma's first and constant concern, then there was the upkeep of daily life that now fell nearly solely to her shoulders, at least for the time being.

They converted the downstairs guest room into Regina's temporary bedroom and at-home office, moving the arm chair into the living room to leave space to move with minimal hazards. It also made room for a wheeled desk that the doctor could pull over the bed if her hip was acting up from sitting in the swivel chair. Regina quickly grew to hate the bulky wheelchair that she was constantly ramming into door jams and getting it caught on a corner when she cut the turn too tight. Then there was the walker. A walker! She could not stomach being only 38 and using the geriatric contraption. So that left crutches. While the design of the assists had improved over the years to be more comfortable for long term use, they were not conducive to carrying anything from one place to another with ease. When I get back to the office, we are starting a project to develop something better than this. Regina resorted to using an over-shoulder messenger bag to tote non-food items with her which worked fine for the most part. It only took three days home from the hospital for the family to find their new "normal".

Monday through Friday, Emma would get Henry up at 6:45 to get dressed and washed up while she made him breakfast. Regina would already be awake, having taken medication around 6:30 am, and likely checking emails or voice mails. Emma would bring her a plate of whatever she made for Henry so the opioids didn't wreck her stomach. At 7:30, Katherine would ring up and Henry would run in to give his mom a kiss before heading down the elevator with Emma to meet the car, Katherine dropping him off at school by 7:50 for the bell to ring at 8 am.

Emma would then make her way back upstairs to help Regina into the downstairs bathroom that was now adorned with a plastic chair with height-adjustable legs in the walk in shower. After the first few days home, Regina would bathe alone, slowly washing around the still raw stitches and cuts marring the left side of her torso and leg. When the blonde heard the water shut off, she would knock respectfully before going into the bathroom and helping pat Regina dry as the brunette braced herself against the counter top and balancing on her good leg. The pair would make their way back to the bedroom and Regina would slip into loose fitting clothing after rubbing lotion over her body and a cream advised by her doctor on the healing wounds. Emma would leave for a half shift at 8:15 while Regina spent the rest of the morning working from her temporary room.

By 1:30, Emma would come in with arms loaded with bags from a local take out place. Regina would usually come hobbling out groggily, having just taken a dose of Tylenol with Codeine, and join the paramedic on the couch to enjoy some lunch and whatever trash TV Emma could find that day. After eating, both women often fell asleep reclined on the couch for about an hour only to be awoken by the doorbell ringing. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday saw a pretty redhead with bright green eyes and a thick British accent named Zelena on their doorstep. Emma would excuse herself for a shower while Zelena unpacked her portable table and helped Regina up on to it. The two women would spend the next 50 minutes throwing sarcastic barbs at each other as Zelena manipulated Regina's lower body to bend and flex and exert energy in ways the healing and taunt muscles were not pleased with but were becoming more used to. Emma would emerge from where she was staying in the master room upstairs only once she could no longer hear Regina's "I'm in pain but it's coming out as anger" voice. Zelena would have helped her back to her current room and into bed to rest off the day's exercises for a bit, giving her homework to complete before their next session. Emma then walked Zelena out, thanking her- as always- for leaving her with a pissy girlfriend, and Zelena would just laugh and pat Emma's cheek patronizingly before disappearing in a fiery flash of sass just in time for Kathrine to roll up with Henry in tow.

"Hi, Emma! How's Mom?" Henry asked that day as he waved to the physical therapist slipping into the elevator he and Kathrine had just stepped out of.

"She's in bed, you know the drill. I'll bet seeing you will cheer her up though, kid," she ruffled his hair as he all but ran past her into the apartment.

"No running in the house!" could be heard muffled through the walls. Emma didn't hear Henry's response as he had made it into Regina's room by then but she was sure Regina's likely scowl had melted at seeing her son. The blonde ushered the other woman into the apartment that was beginning to feel more like home than her own hole-in-the-wall with August. Shit, I need to swing by there tonight and get more clothes and uniforms.

Katherine took a seat at the breakfast bar, peeling off her coat and laying it over her purse sat on the stool next to her. "So, how is she really?"

Emma poured them both glasses of water before leaning her elbows on the edge of the sink and sighing. "Frustrated, I think, more than anything. She snapped at me earlier when I caught her elbow after almost falling while trying to get to the living room. Stubborn woman, she's getting stronger but she's not Super Woman no matter how much she likes to think so," she murmured, chuckling sardonically.

"Mmm," the other blonde agreed, nodding her head. "She is stubborn. But it's only been four weeks, not even. Give it a bit more time, once she's more stable and feels more independent I'm sure she'll settle down," Katherine reassured, giving her limp hand a squeeze. "Now, make yourself something to eat for tonight and get going. Zelena's services don't come for free!" she joked, shooing Emma away to get ready for the second half of her shift.

OoOo

"So, Em, how is she?"

"Same since you asked this morning, Trev," Emma laughed lightly. "Though she's making more progress with PT, Zelena said she's never seen someone so thick-headed and determined to walk again without assistance."

Trevor looked his partner over as they checked through their gear. He took note of her ashen complexion, limp and messy curls, and the way she slouched over the drawer she was looking through.

"That's good news, right?"

Emma nodded offhandedly.

"The why do you not seem thrilled?" He asked casually, ensuring to not look over at the other woman as he asked.

Deft fingers slowed to a stop. Emma looked up at the ceiling of the rig, releasing a huge sigh. "It is great, really, and I'm happy Regina is able to do more independently and getting stronger."

"Then what's with the face?" He questioned, finally turning towards his partner and giving her all of his attention.

The blonde chewed on her bottom lip contemplatively before shoving the drawer shut in front of her and turning to sit on the back bumper. "It's just, with this progress and independence, I know she's going to want to go back to work soon. I mean, she's been working almost from day one but she's getting restless in the house, I can see it with every frown she wears and short word she throws at me or the doctors. She's going to want to go into the office soon."

The Asian man sat next to his friend, honestly confused. "Well, if her doctors say she can, isn't it a good thing for her to get back to life? Back to her daily routine?"

"Normally, sure, with any other patient I'd agree whole heartedly. But Regina isn't one to let someone or something hold her back once she's got an idea in her head. I'm worried that if someone says she's not ready, she'll do it anyway and hurt herself more! What happens when she can't navigate the busy city streets on her crutches, hmm? What if someone bumps into her and she falls, aggravating her injuries? And I still won't be there to save her."

Dark eyes widen in understanding. He grabs her hand and forces her to meet his eyes. "I'm about to drop some truths on you so listen up, Rookie. You didn't cause the accident, Em. There was literally nothing humanly possible you could have done to prevent that from happening. You couldn't predict Regina and Henry would be at that intersection at just the time that Juan slammed on his brakes. Things happen, Em; bad shit happens and sometimes there's nothing you can do to stop it. But keeping Regina locked up in her house is only going to lead to resentment and frustration, and ultimately, you'll be worried about her no matter when she goes back to work be it tomorrow or two years from now. It's what happens when you love someone."

Emma blinks hard several times, trying to force the tears back. Once she was sure her voice wouldn't quiver she gave a shaky smile. "I know I didn't cause it but, fuck, Trev, how do I keep them safe? How do I keep my family safe?"

Trevor gave her hand a squeeze before getting up and wiping off the seat of his pants. "By trusting they are taken care of. By trusting in something bigger than all of this. And by being there for them every way you can. There's not much more you can do. You trusted Henry would be safe going back to school, it's the same for Regina only she's an adult and can make her own decisions. Now, let's get this inventory done and grab a bite before we get called out."

Emma got up, too, and turned back to the drawers she was working on. After a few minutes of working in companionable silence, Emma broke it, keeping her eyes on the task at hand. "Thanks for keeping me grounded, Trevor."

Trevor smiled without looking up, "Always, Swan."

OoOo

Regina hummed softly as she stirred the sauce simmering on the stove. She lifted the lid on the pot next to her, nodding in satisfaction at the noodles boiling, before going back to the sauce.

"I haven't heard you hum in ages, you must be feeling pretty good today."

The breathy voice startled Regina slightly, she put a hand to her chest lightly before turning around carefully. "Christ, Kat, I nearly forgot you were here, you'd been so quiet. And I am, Zelena finally said I'm strong enough that I can use only one crutch around the house which leaves a hand free for somany other things."

"I'm just observing my friend. With what Emma said earlier, I expected today to be a rough one for you but I seem to be mistaken, hmm?" Katherine teased, taking a sip of the Merlot she'd poured for herself.

Regina hobbled with her one crutch to the breakfast bar, sitting down with a relieved sigh. "Oh really, and what did my dear lover have to say this time?" She snarked.

"Oh come off it, Regina. You know Emma is just worried about you. She mentioned you'd been pushing yourself more recently and had been snappy when you needed help. God knows you are the worst patient when hurt or sick, and you're not even a medical doctor so you don't have an excuse! Emma is a saint for putting up with all your crap the last few weeks."

Regina grabbed the wine bottle and poured herself a generous helping, taking a long sip. She glanced at the skeptical look being directed her way. "Relax, I didn't take any medication this evening and one glass won't kill me." She sighed into another sip then ran her poorly maintained fingernail along the stem of her glass. I really need a manicure, actually just a full day at the spa, she thought after letting her gaze drift down her body. "Emma has been amazing, I know this, but it doesn't help the fact that I feel like an infant that needs caring for every day that she helps me into and out of the shower. This is only the third meal I've cooked in almost a month, Kat. A month!"

"And it smells drool-worthy," the blonde cut in, breaking the brunette's momentum and stopping her from getting worked up.

Regina laughed a little at her friend. "Thank you. But you know me, cooking is how I release stress—"

"At least, when you can't be engaging in other 'stress-relieving' activities," Katherine broke in again, wiggling her eyebrows salaciously.

The doctor groans, letting her forehead fall into her hands. "Exactly! That's the other thing that is so frustrating. I feel like Emma is disgusted by me now. She hardly looks at my body anymore and besides chaste kisses, the intimacy is gone. Zelena has okay-ed sharing a bed again for over a week now but still she stays upstairs. I don't know how to take that, how to talk to her about it. What if she isn't attracted to me now, what with all these scars? After all that we've been through, could this be the last straw?"

"Hey now," Kathrine shushes, resting a comforting hand on her friend's arm. "Emma is as devoted and smitten with you now as she was when you met a year ago. Considering her past and own experiences with injury, do you honestly believe she'd be so shallow as to let yours sway her opinion of you?"

"Well, no, but what else could it be?" Regina concedes, but remains at a loss.

"I don't know, Re, I'm not her. Have you tried talking to her about it, any of this?"

Dark eyes look away, her silence speaking volumes.

"Thought not. No relationship can survive without communication. This is where you nearly lost her last time, don't let it happen again, Regina."

The doctor nodded resolutely, "It won't."

"Good," Katherine smiled brightly, "Now hurry up and finish dinner, I'm starving over here."

"Geez, you're more demanding than Zelena," Regina bit back with no venom in her voice. She pushed herself gently off of the stool and made her way back towards the stove. "Make yourself useful and tell Henry to set the table, you can mix a salad."

"Yes ma'am!" Kathrine mock saluted her friend's back before heading down the hallway in search of the youngest Mills.

AN: Sorry for the late update, everyone; my computer died on me around Christmas and it took me til last month to afford a new one. Thankfully all my work is on the drive but with some personal things going on, writing fell to the way side. I have a few more chapters planned (mostly them getting back into the swing of things) but if you have suggestions or things you'd like to see our girls go through or do, let me know! I promise not to abandon this story, but like I've always said, updates are irregular. Thanks for sticking with me!

Xox B