An OutlawQueen/Regina/Snow family centric story with tons of Hood-Mills family moments and yes this includes Peanut. If this isn't what your looking for please move along. Flamers get fed to one of The Evil Queen's fireballs.
[Premise: This is very much an AU starting after season 3. There is no Hook in this story, he was taken by Pan's Shadow during their attempt to capture it and presumed dead. Zelena died because of Rumple as he tried to use her to harness her magic for his own to try and save his heart just after Peanut was born and nearly took her too. Emma became the dark one in a bid to protect a pregnant Regina when the darkness broke free of it's tether to the apprentice and used it to put an end to Rumple before Regina sacrificed her own magic as the price to protect her family from it and destroy the darkness or so they thought. Robin vanished in the fight and was believed dead though his body was never found. Bare with me, Robin will not be here at first but hang on OutlawQueen, I'm not Adam and Eddy.]
Connected Wires (Inspired by the song Wires from Athlete)
-Chapter 1-
"It's time to sleep now, sweetheart."Regina whispered softly to the drowsy child as she covered the girl with her favorite blanket, the pattern of stars and moons having been hand stitched by Granny for the diminutive redhead. Gripping the crib rail as the tightening of her uterus caught her off guard, Regina rode it out with a long, deep breath. More Braxton Hicks, she thought as it finally subsided again with a dull ache and a limb pressing against her bladder. This one was more intense then before but a warm bath was calling to her sore muscles and back. "I know, we are both uncomfortable but just eight more weeks my love." She soothed, rubbing the side of her belly she could feel the most movement. She was sure that was an elbow this time while making her way to the bathroom for roughly the twentieth time that day to relieve herself and soak in the bathtub while Charlotte slept.
While waiting for the bath to fill, she selected a loose dress instead of the black yoga pants from earlier and set it on the counter by the sink. Undoing the belt on her robe, it was hung on the hook by the towel rack. Regina carefully lowered her body into the warm, scented water awkwardly, one hand under her swollen abdomen to help balance herself. Leaning her head back against the edge of the antique tub, she closed her eyes with a grateful sigh.
-
She expected her stepmother to gripe at her for letting herself in but said woman had not answered her phone in some time either so she would brave her hormone-fueled temper to see if everything was alright. Looking around, Regina was nowhere to be found so perhaps she was resting as she should be this late into her pregnancy; however, something didn't sit right. "Regina.. Regina?" Snow called as she stuck her head into the kitchen, then her study until a dull noise caught the former bandit's attention. Was that yelling? From the sound of it, it might be coming from above her which spurred the woman onward, taking the stairs two at a time when a cry of distress became more audible now from the second floor. A basket of clothes was turned on it's side, spilling out onto the landing as her feet made contact with the top step before stepping over it as another pointed her towards the bathroom.
Panting, Regina gripped the edge of the toilet seat with white knuckles before leaning forward and pushing strongly to alleviate the intense pressure as the overwhelming urge goaded her on. She had no way of knowing if she was doing the right thing but her body made the decision for her as she could not stop if she tried. Snow's wide eyes fell on the figure by the commode as she hurried in to kneel by her stepmother's side on the plush bathroom rug. Denim clad knees made contact with the stained surface, dark with blood and fluid from previously broken waters though she cared little in her haste to help. The younger woman took the hand she was bracing herself with on the expensive tiles and held it, moving sweaty locks of dark hair from Regina's face as the same hand clamped onto the pale digits, desperate for relief from the pain. Something did not feel right to the older woman at all. She could not say what but her mind screamed something was wrong.
"How long have you been like this?" Snow asked in a rushed tone as the former queen released the breath she had been holding with the end of the paralyzing pain of rippling muscle that swiftly moved her child downward. "A.. A.. An hour. I couldn't get to my cell phone, I dropped it in the ba.. bath. I started having contractions several hours ago... I thought they were just Braxton Hicks like before but my water broke after I put Charlotte do.. down. Ahh!" Regina uttered breathlessly as the pain peaked and, a tear escaping the corner of one doe brown eye to roll down her crimson colored cheeks. "He can't come, it's too soon!" Regina managed, her voice pitching upwards and her watery eyes shut with the effort needed to bare down. At 32 weeks, she knew this wasn't right but there was nothing they could do to stop it now. "Everything will be just fine, I promise. Breathe Regina, follow my breathing." Snow encouraged, taking a breath and letting it out as the older woman tried to follow along shakily until the contraction ended. Snow used her free hand to rub soothing circles slowly into her back to comfort her against the contraction until it had abated. A firm pressure gliding along the tense muscles first up and down then in a circular motion before starting over.
Another cry sounded but this time it was more shrill, childlike in quality which lifted Regina's head as she struggled to rise whilst breathing heavily when a brutal contraction struck her."Woah Regina, easy." Snow admonished, a hand on her back and against her belly to support her as she jumped up to stop her and keep her from falling with her tenous hold on gravity. She could feel the muscles harden beneath her hand as the tightening began to subside again."Charlotte, please, I need to see about her." Snow moved to protest at first but the mother in her could never leave a child to cry either so with no other option she helped Regina back to the floor and told her wait there before she left to check on the toddler who was standing up in her crib, teary eyed and reaching out to the familiar person with one pajama clad arm."Shhh, I'm here sweetie. Your mommy needs my help too. Shhh, it's alright." Snow bent over to scoop her up, holding her close and bouncing the child softly to soothe her while smoothing tousled ginger curls back down.
"You heard your mommy didn't you? It's alright, your little brother is coming so I need you to be as brave as she is. Can you do that?" Charlotte rubbed her face into the material of her blouse and sniffled before looking up and nodding."Mommy cwy, no Mommy cwy." The little girl tried to say, still afraid of the harsh noises that woke her. "I know baby but it takes a lot of work for your brother to come out so she couldn't help it, Mommy will be alright, I promise. Your Mommy is the bravest woman there is." Hugging her little step-sister to her, Snow reached for her cell phone in her pocket with the free arm not bouncing the unhappy toddler to call Charming but was met by five rings and a voicemail which she left hurriedly, explaining what was going on. She then decided to call Emma. "Emma, I know it's your night off but I came over to check on Regina and she's in labor. We need to get her to the hospital soon."
"What? She's not due yet! What is he doing coming now!?" Snow moved the phone away from her ear as her daughter started freaking out on her. A muffled moan filtered through the open door as the woman covered the whimpering girl's head to lessen the noise. "Emma! Calm down and meet me here, I need you to come help me, please. Charlotte is awake and she doesn't need to see this." Snow ended the call, grateful Roland was with Little John and Will for the afternoon or she would have her hands well past full. "Breathe Regina, just breathe for him." She called out down as she swayed gently with the tiny child clutched to her. She gave up after the third ring and still no answer from Charming yet again as she pocketed her cell phone, bouncing Charlotte once more.
"Here Emma, take Charlotte for me so I can help Regina. I don't think we can move her yet, I tried but she isn't doing well. We need to get her to the hospital as soon as he's born." Snow handed the toddler off to the blonde before running back down the hall, not giving her daughter time to do anything other then try to comfort the sleepy girl. "My Em Em." Charlotte said, still waking up fully from her nap while Emma nodded, cheek pressed to the crown of her head."That's right kidlet, just relax while I try to get ahold of help for your mom alright?" She tried to call her father this time and finally got him to answer as she moved the phone away from demanding little fingers, difficult with a fussy 18 month old. "Dad, can you come over to Regina's, we got a problem..."
Picking the overturned basket of laundry up and setting it to the side, Snow took several of the washcloths and towels from it before nudging the door back open with her foot. Setting her armload of towels down haphazardly, Snow wet one of the washcloths and knelt beside her stepmother. Pressing the cold, dripping cloth to Regina's temple she worked it down her face and then her neck. "Charlotte's fine, Emma is with her. " She answered the older woman before the words left her lips. "You won't do this alone Regina, we'll make sure he is alright." Pain lanced down her lower back to join white hot bands seizing her belly cruelly but something else didn't feel right. Gritting her teeth, she pushed against the pain, torn between wanting her son to stay where he was to keep him safe and come out so it would stop. She couldn't lose this piece of Robin, not now. Not her little boy... She would meet fate head-to-head if they took someone else from her.
"You can do it, spread your hips a little more so he has room, it will make it easier."Had this been any other time she would have met her stepdaughter's instruction with some sort of witty retort but now was not one of them as Regina let go of Snow's hand to grip her shoulders to gain better leverage and a more solid support to hold herself up. "I know, it's almost over. You are doing so well, Regina." The woman in question was too breathless for words as her cheeks puffed up with each quick release of air.
No longer bothering to apologize, Snow hitched the front of her dress up and panic seeped into her pores as she fought to control the fear clearly showing in her eyes. "Listen to me Regina, he looks like he wants to come out running. His little foot is coming out first." She told her while reaching for the towels tossed in a pile on the counter above her head and pulling them into her arm. The former queen's eyes shared that same glint of fear and panic as her stepdaughter's but Snow held fast to Regina's hand with her own aching digits as she had refused to let go as another contraction brought the child closer to the outside world. Snow could see the abject terror in the other woman's dark eyes. "He'll be fine, I won't let anything happen to him Regina." As quick as the panic had settled in, that stubborn determination worked its way into Snow's gut as her jaw set firmly with a nod of finality to punctuate her declaration. There was a moment between the pair, a glimpse of that tattered familial bond no matter how damaged re-ignited in the throes of Regina's drive for redemption. Very few had ever fought for the woman once known as The Evil Queen but Snow White had never truly given up. Regina saw it now in one of her hardest times.
There was no pain, no old grudges, no feud.
There was family and family fought for one another, dysfunctional as they may be.
Following her body's demands she threw all of her focus into another hard push less then a minute later, tears mingling with the sweat coating bright red cheeks. "He's coming out, just a few more, his legs are out, just a little more."She told her with a bright smile, hoping to further encourage her weary efforts all the while mopping her burning skin. Snow's own heart was pounding away anxiously beneath her rib cage like a startled mare's throughout the ordeal. Clenching her jaw as the vein in her forehead stuck out in exertion, Regina began to push with everything she had, a piercing scream worked it's way free when the searing pain increased. The more open position was helping but by all things magical did it hurt just as badly.
The sound of more feet on the stairs and sounds of Emma talking rather loudly to someone drew Snow's attention from Regina to whomever was coming until the voice announced his presence. "Mom! Mom is that you!? Are you alright!?" Henry.. "Henry sweetie wait, don't come up yet.." Snow called back to him but was interrupted by the boy stepping through the doorway and standing there with wide, dark eyes. "Mom!? Mom what's wrong!?" Henry asked quickly, panic stamped across his face at the sight in front of him. He rushed over to his mother who was trying to push her way through the clutches of the most recent contraction, but it was all of the blood that alarmed him. "Ba.. Baby is coming sweetheart." She ground out in quick breaths as hands bunched into the material of Snow's jacket, signalling a new wave of pain.
"He isn't supposed to come yet!" The teenager blinked, clearly unsure what to do with his mother in pain."Go downstairs with Charlotte, you.. you don't need to be here for this Henry." Regina told him, her voice cracking beneath the strain of labor as she was unable to catch her breath. She wished now more then ever that Robin was here... never thought this would even be possible. "I want to help too, Grandpa's here with Emma and Charlotte, we can work together like a family is supposed to. I can help my little brother too." Henry demanded, that stubborn streak of his so like the woman beside him rearing it's noble head. He was both Mills and Charming through and through.
Henry was afraid, afraid of what was happening but afraid to leave his mother too as he knelt down next to her to hug her against him much like she always did for him when he was scared. "No way Mom, I can help too, you always help us." Regina opened her mouth to further scold her son and send him back downstairs but that look stopped her finally as Henry took the cloth from Snow to help keep her cool this time, trying to be brave too despite the fear in his eyes. "My br.. brave little prince."She panted, her head resting to the side on his shoulder momentarily and grunting loudly with the effort expended.
"You're doing so well, his legs are free and so is his chest, just a few more so he can slide right out. It's almost over Regina." Snow threw any lingering semblance of decorum to the wind and reached between Regina's legs with a grey, fluffy towel to cradle the delicate legs and and soon more and more of a tiny chest to help him fall safely into the world. "Give me a moment, I can't." Regina mumbled tiredly, throat hoarse from screaming but Henry shook his head, holding her up with growing limbs and muscles. "Of course you can Mom, you are the toughest person I know! He's almost here and he's all gross looking but he'll be so cool too, I know it."
"One more push, please, he needs you too." Snow pleaded softly, trying to coax her stepmother into one final effort but Regina moaned and was unable to push the child free. Sucking in a breath, the pixie-haired brunette hooked three fingers around the other shoulder still wedged in the birth canal and gave a gentle pull, supporting the baby's bottom and back with one hand and the other so very carefully helping the second shoulder free as she worked. Regina felt like her insides were going to split open as muscles stretched to accommodate her son's emerging body, tiny though it may be the shoulders and head were the most difficult part. Now she understood why they called it the ring of fire and she was doing it in reverse. She bit her tongue until it bled to stifle another cry of pain when she felt the burning pressure take her breath away and she gave what she had left. Henry had taken over with the washcloth and dabbed at scarlet skin as he continued to cheer his mother on.
Working together, the trio watched the incredibly small body finally slip into the waiting towel and would have breathed a collective sigh of relief were it not for the blue tinge of his skin. He was silent as Snow suctioned his airways out once, twice and thrice with the bulb syringe taken from the new nursery. Henry peered down at the form of his newest brother in the bloody towel anxiously. "How come he doesn't cry yet?"
"Just give him a minute sweetheart, he's had a hard trip." She attempted a smile for his sake before gazing down at the bloody infant in her arms."Come on little buddy, your mommy, brother and I just want to hear a cry." Snow uttered in a soft voice as she began to rub his skin down once more with the gentlest touch to help keep him stimulated, determination and concentration etched into her brow. She would not let Regina lose someone else, not again. Heartbreakingly small limbs flailed as a weak cry reached their collective ears after several long minutes of fearful silence. It lacked the healthy wail of other newborns but it was still one of the most beautiful sounds she would hear. The infant was placed in Regina's waiting arms, tucked against her chest as if she wished to hide him from the world as she breathed a quivering sob of relief from the difficult delivery. With trembling hands, she held the tiny body to her while Snow helped her clean the baby further with washcloths dipped in a waiting sink of warm water. Henry was grinning like a bandit as he peeked at his little brother laying against his mother, his features nearly her copy save for a stunning pair of dimples and a beautiful glimpse of sky blue eyes before they vanished beneath pale lids again. He was proud he was able to help him get here safely, even if it was kind of gross.
Snow made sure a clean towel was secure against mother and child as the baby rattled out a gasping breath, trying for all his immature lungs to cry for the comforts of the womb again as he laid against his mother. "They're coming, I promise my little one, just keep crying for us." Regina pleaded softly with the newborn whose chest heaved mightily with each effort to breathe, not the calm rasps or healthy cry of most but almost a wheezing effort. "No, keep breathing sweetie, keep trying." Snow said quickly, rubbing his back through the material. Regina blinked through a haze of tears as her unsteady fingers traced silken skin, lips touching the crown of thick, downy black hair tucked close to her racing heart. Henry's smile faded as he gingerly touched the tiny fist balled up in frustration. "You have to be tough like Mom little brother because you have a ton of family here who is excited about you."
A siren outside alerted them to the arrival of the ambulance's approach as a team of paramedics soon ascended the stairs with a stretcher between them when Emma let them in, a cranky Charlotte in her arms who cried for her mama too. "Give us some room please, we need to get to mother and baby." The lead medic instructed as he motioned them out. Snow and Henry were reluctantly forced to exit, both unwilling to let go of the woman who raised them but time was of the essence.
The team set to work, one paramedic asked to see the baby while another fitted an oxygen mask over Regina's face as her breathing was still uneven. Regina was terrified of letting go of her newborn son as if her horrible karma would appear to snatch him away but she couldn't fix this herself, magic couldn't do everything even if she had hers again. Her own body was unable to even keep him safe as it should have. It was with difficulty and still-shaking hands that she handed him to the waiting pair of arms while the umbilical cord was cut, her heart giving a wistful tug at the lost connection between them. "She's still bleeding and her blood pressure is too low. The baby's Apgar is poor, we need to get them to the hospital. We can deliver the placenta there." That was all she remembered as darkness began to creep up on her with grasping fingers to embrace her weary body.