Author's Note: This is my Swan Queen Big Bang story for 2015. It is a sequel to my previous fic "Nine Months to Love" written for the SQBB 2014. It is kind of important to have read that story first to understand the origin of Emma and Regina's relationship dynamics for this story. The story is complete and will be posted in 8 parts.

This story has been in the works since I concluded "Nine Months to Love" in August of 2014. I had a lot of requests for a sequel to that story. In addition, many readers had specific requests for "no Hook," Emma and Regina's first date, first sex, and lots of Swan-Mills family feels.

I think I have delivered just such a story.

I hope you all enjoy "Sex and the Single Moms," aka the further adventures of Regina, Emma, Henry and baby Vivian. Featuring cameo appearances by Snow, David, Ruby, and Granny.

Let me know what you think in the comments. Thank you.

Summary: Following Emma's recovery from Vivian's birth, Emma and Regina both are ready to add sexual intimacy to their relationship but face the same problems of many new parents: lack of energy, lack of alone time, and doubts about their ability to be a good/right partner or parent.

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Sex and the Single Moms

Chapter 1: Sleepy but Happy (no, not the dwarfs)

Emma tiredly rubbed her face with the back of her fist, resting an elbow on the side of the rocker in the corner of her bedroom. She blinked in the low light, a soft-white nightlight, the faceplate a whimsical white unicorn, the only illumination in the bedroom. The digital numbers on the bedside clock revealed it was 4:53 in the morning. A soft snuffle and hard gums tugging at her left breast pulled her gaze down to her daughter's closed eyes. Vivian's brunette lashes fluttered against her alabaster cheeks as she nursed. Emma brushed a lock of brunette curl off the soft forehead. Stubbornly, it flopped back in place. She shook her head and chuckled deep and low in her throat. "Somehow I think that's gonna be a sign, sweetheart," she murmured.

There was a shift by the lump still under the covers on Emma's bed. "Hnngh. Wha?"

Lifting her eyes from her daughter, Emma's loving gaze traced up the shifting mass until an almost matching mass of brunette curls emerged from beneath the green army blanket. A long-fingered hand slipped away from the covers to pat the pillow and sheets where Emma had been sleeping. "I'm here, Regina." Despite the whisper, Emma's voice clearly carried in the utter stillness of the room.

Brown eyes blinked open and quickly found Emma. "Hm mmm?"

Emma quickly understood the unintelligible question. "We're fine. She got hungry a little early."

Regina rubbed her hands over her face and sat up, smoothing the covers over her waist. Emma couldn't stop smiling; she felt so lucky to see the brunette like this, bedhead and bedraggled, not quite coherent, every day. Finally, more awake, Regina studied Emma critically. "How long have you been up?"

"She's already on her second helping," Emma answered.

Regina slipped off the bed and Emma enjoyed an eyeful of the usually refinely dressed woman in one of Emma's New York Yankees baseball jerseys and a tiny pair of gray cotton shorts. It was a far cry from the woman's usual clothing choices of satin and silk. "About twenty minutes then."

"Yeah."

Regina nodded to herself then set about smoothing the covers on the bed.

"You don't have to do that," Emma said, repeating the same words she had said many mornings over the last five weeks.

"You won't have to do it later," Regina said, also repeating herself as she straightened from her task.

Emma leaned her head on her palm, resting her elbow on the rocker arm and looked up as Regina stepped over to the chair. "Hey," she murmured as Regina bent close.

"Good morning," Regina said, brushing one palm over Vivian's head before following her touch briefly with her lips. Immediately after, with the other hand, Regina cupped Emma's cheek. Gentle fingers spread wide and Regina pressed her lips to Emma's forehead.

"You know I don't mind morning breath," Emma teased.

"I do," Regina murmured, grimacing a small bit as she stepped back. "I'll check that Henry is getting ready for school. Anything in particular you want for breakfast today?"

The question had been issued remotely, as if Regina was no longer thinking about the breakfast tasks. Emma caught Regina's hand as she started to pull it away. "Hey?"

"Hmm?"

"Something's distracting you. What should I know about?"

Regina looked as if she conducted a brief battle with herself before she spoke gingerly. "I'm not sure, but…"

"Vivian and I can meet you for lunch?" Emma offered.

A soft smile of abashed wonder curved Regina's lips at that idea. "I'd like that."

Emma rubbed the tendons in the back of Regina's hand as she gradually let go. She watched Regina exhale and several lines of worry that had started to form melted away. She grinned as Regina's gaze met hers again.

"Whatever it is, we can handle it," Emma said.

"You're supposed to be taking it easy for a couple more weeks."

"It's just lunch with my girlfriend," Emma said pointedly. "And the only thing I'm supposed to be taking easy is.. well…" She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

As planned, Emma's word choice made Regina blush. The brunette's fingers fidgeted together in front of her waist.

Their moment was interrupted when Vivian detached from Emma's breast with a pop, smacking her gums together noisily.

Without taking her eyes from Regina, Emma lifted her daughter to her shoulder already covered with a small towel and began rubbing and patting the squirming girl's back. She spoke a bit louder over Vivian's gurgles in her ear. "You better go wake Henry. I'll finish with kidlet here. See you in the kitchen in a few, okay?"

"All right." Regina opened the door but then paused abruptly lifting her head. A moment later she stepped quickly into the hallway and closed the door behind her. From her position, Emma couldn't see the space beyond, but assumed from Regina's actions that Henry had been moving down the hall from his bedroom, catching his mother emerging from Emma's room.

Emma heard only vaguely murmured words as Henry and Regina exchanged morning greetings. The teen had expressed pleasure at the news his mothers had begun a relationship, but Regina still had wanted to keep their sleeping arrangements less obvious.

Sighing, Emma pushed to her feet, continuing to pat Vivian's back. She had no idea why the secrecy was necessary. It wasn't like she and Regina had yet had the chance to consummate their statements of love made the day Regina brought Emma and Vivian home from the hospital. They couldn't, not so long as Emma had still been using the postpartum pads provided by the hospital. But, she was hopeful. She hadn't needed one the day before.

A hearty squirm, and a scrunched up face as Vivian tried to decide if the discomfort warranted a cry, preceded a vaguely displeasing smell.

"Time for a diaper change," Emma murmured. She kissed Vivian's temple and set her down on her back on the changing table next to the window. Making quick work of the already habitual process, Emma eased her daughter's now powdered and freshly rediapered bottom into a blue onesie. She played briefly with tiny fingers, counting them aloud as she had seen and heard Regina do, kissing each tiny fingertip. One caught her lip and she winced. "Looks like you need a trim." Gently she curled Vivian's fingers back together and tucked the fists into the jumper's arms.

Supporting Vivian's head Emma lifted the girl toward her shoulder. What she believed to be a real smile - Regina would insist it was just gas - pulled at Vivian's features.

"Let's go see Regina," Emma said, nuzzling the button nose. Arms flailed, batting at the sides of Emma's head. "Yep, kidlet. That's right. Regina's pretty exciting." Emma chuckled and removed herself and her daughter from the bedroom.


Two brunette heads leaned close together at the counter near the refrigerator. Henry was pouring milk from the carton onto a bowl of cereal; Emma could hear the telltale crackling of the sugary flakes being splashed.

"Are you sure you don't want something else?" Regina said. Emma noticed her hand, fist really, pressed against the corner of the counter, preventing herself from encroaching on their son. Even though Emma knew she wanted to.

"I'm good. This is fine. You get Emma's breakfast," Henry said, putting down the milk and lifting the bowl as he turned away from the counter. "Oh, hey, Ma."

Regina turned quickly. "Emma."

Emma walked quickly forward, putting Vivian in Regina's hands when the woman reached out automatically. "Good morning," she said, then kissed Regina's cheek before patting Henry's shoulder. "Hey, Kid."

Henry settled at the small kitchen table, leaving Emma with Regina and Vivian by the counter. "So? breakfast?" Emma asked.

"I -" Regina looked at Vivian as Emma moved to the refrigerator and pulled out eggs and shredded cheese.

"Sit. I've got this," Emma said.

Regina looked from Emma to Vivian and then back to Emma. "But, I-" Vivian's fingers batted at Regina's face, interrupting. "If you're sure?" Regina asked Emma.

"Yeah." Emma smiled widely. "Sit, relax. Did you start the coffee?"

Regina nodded toward the drip machine at the same time Emma spotted it on the counter.

Reaching into the cupboard, Emma pulled down two mugs, filled one, then began the process of cooking a three-egg cheese omelet for the two of them to share. Bringing one full mug to Regina and leaving with a gentle caress of the woman's shoulder, Emma returned to the stove just as the butter began to sizzle.

She began whistling a little tune around a sip of her coffee while monitoring the eggs.

Bringing two plates to the table, she went back for apple juice and three small glasses. Filling them, she put one in front of Henry. "Drink up," she told him then nudged another glass toward Regina, who lifted her hand from Vivian's tummy and downed the contents in a couple quick gulps.

Regina picked up her fork and speared a sizable portion of egg.

Emma shook her head slightly and ate her own breakfast in small bites, looking from Henry to Regina and Vivian, feeling the pull of contentment on her lips. Her family.

A beeping sound interrupted the calm and relative quiet of utensils and glasses impacting plates and tabletops. Henry sheepishly pulled out his cellphone and shut off the alarm.

"Time to get you to school," Emma questioned. "Already?"

"I set it earlier," Henry said. "I'm meeting Grace at Granny's before the bus. We've got a project."

"Henry?" Regina started to her feet.

"You guys stay. I got this."

"Sure, kid."

"Are you certain?" Regina questioned.

"Yeah." He kissed Regina's cheek then bent further and kissed Vivian's head. "Granny's or city hall after school?"

"Granny's."

"I should be there, too. Viv and I are joining your mom for lunch. Getting out for the afternoon."

"Okay." Henry shouldered his backpack from beside the couch and was out and gone in a flurry of movement through the front door of the apartment moments later.

Emma stared at the door and blinked. "He just took himself off to school, didn't he?"

"Yes," Regina said, sounding a bit lost.

Reaching across the table, Emma grasped her hand. "Hey, at least we're both here to see it."

Regina blinked at her, then nodded. "Yes." She squeezed Emma's fingers back. "Well, I seem to have a few minutes extra this morning."

Emma wiggled her eyebrows at the same time Vivian yawned wide, her head tipping back and her eyes, which were slowly changing from the newborn blue to a green-hazel, disappeared behind tightly closed lids. "Looks like I can put someone back down already for her morning nap."

Regina stood, and Emma followed her back to the bedroom. Settling on the edge of the bed, Emma watched Regina put down Vivian in the bassinet, smoothing the dark hairs on her head and kissing her forehead.

Emma reached out for Regina's hand while the brunette watched Vivian sleep for a few moments. "Hey," she called. Regina reached back and their fingers tangled. "Can you stay for a minute?" She offered her best come hither look and patted the sheets, invitation clear.

Regina gave a longing look at the bed.

To up her chances of a snuggle, Emma offered up a steamy perusal of Regina's figure, top to bottom, conveying her desire.

Regina bit her lip; Emma felt her hope raise.

But then Regina shook her head. "I can't. I have a morning meeting, and I still need to shower and change."

Emma stood, already pulling off her top. "I'll join you."

However, when Emma tried to take her hand, Regina shook her head again. "Emma, I have to go home first. I can't go to work in anything I have here."

"Regina, plea-"

"Emma. I can't." Regina released her hand, not touching Emma again before turning her back.

Emma sank to the bed; stiffly she swallowed back what she knew were unreasonable feelings of rejection, but which she felt all the same.

But she couldn't keep the sense of abandonment out of her voice. "Yeah," she managed around the lump in her throat as she watched Regina collect several items off the back of the bedroom door before stepping out to the hallway.

Before she could make her muscles move, Emma heard the front door settle in the frame with an ominous finality. Regina was gone.

Vivian snuffled, and Emma turned her head to glance into the bassinet. The motion dislodged a tear from her cheek to her lips, and she realized she was crying. Angry with herself for wanting something she clearly was not going to have, Emma swiped at her face and stood, checking on Vivian before she went to take a shower. She might as well start her day.


As Regina slid behind the wheel for the second time that morning, about an hour after leaving Emma's apartment and now finished with her preparations for the day in her own bathroom, she caught her reflection in the rear view mirror and could have kicked herself. The smile she'd had on her face upon waking and seeing Emma nursing Vivian was long gone; her lips had pulled into a tight line and her brow was furrowed. She tried futilely to smooth it, pushing away the thought of the annoyingly early zoning request meeting. Instead, she tried to return to the peaceful memory of waking in the shadowed bedroom with the sounds of Vivian's sucking filling the silence.

Emma's face and tight "yeah" just before she left suddenly plagued Regina's mind. Damn it. She had hurt Emma with her quick departure. But if she had touched Emma as she wanted she wouldn't have been able to leave. She had nothing clean at the apartment after another week of spending most of her time there when not at city hall. She lifted her phone and stared at it a long moment.

Finally she thumbed it on and selected Emma's number, tapping out a quick text: Lunch at 11:30? She followed it with I'll get grilled cheese from Granny's. We can eat by the lake.

She inhaled and exhaled, waiting a moment for a text reply. When it didn't come, Regina put the phone down and turned on the car. The CD deck came on, and the sound of "Potential Lifes" by Barbara Lahr played through the speakers. Busy backing the car out of her drive, she didn't see the screen light up then fade out again (it was still on vibrate from being on the bedside table in Emma's room) with a message reply: You don't have to.

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