Well this was supposed to be posted yesterday on Christmas but I have been sick. Better late than never, right? Enjoy the first chapter of the sequel to Alternate Endings, I hope it's been worth the wait :) xoxo
"Do you ever stop and take a break?" Emma Swan grinned as she sauntered into the Mayor's office, carrying two bags of Granny's takeout and earning a good humored eye roll, "Shouldn't you be home wrapping presents or something?"
"They're already wrapped," Regina chuckled, watching the sheriff drop the takeout bags and pull up a chair per their normal routine.
"Already?" Her mouth dropped at the Mayor playfully, "Geez I've got nothing done. You've converted to a total Charming on me, getting into the Christmas spirit and wrapping gifts and decorating," She smirked, raising an eyebrow at the craft Christmas tree on her desk.
"Violet made that for me in kindergarten," Regina's expression softened into a warm, proud smile as she glanced down towards it, "Sorry I don't have of your art to display, Miss Swan. I didn't mean to create any sibling rivalry," She smirked and looked down to the paper bag to open it.
"I'll let it slide for now," The sheriff played along, watching her open her takeout, "Cheese fries and a side salad," Emma nodded with an accomplished smile before seeing Regina's eyebrow perk up.
"Hmm, thank you. But hold the fries next time, I'll be a size of a house by summer," She sighed, moving her paperwork to the side with a smile.
"You told Dad yet?" The blonde asked with a smirk as the Mayor started to eat the cheese fries, finding it amusing to see a woman as slender and put together wolfing down fast food.
"I'm going to this weekend," Regina smiled before leveling with Emma's gaze, "You'd better not slip up and say something that gives me away."
"Hey, that's a lot of pressure," Emma said wideyed, "I can't help that I know. But when you're puking your guts up in my Volkswagen and turning green at the smell of food at Granny's and crying at animal shelter commercials instead of cracking a joke about Cruella, I'm going to make you take a pregnancy test. And aren't you glad I did?"
"I suppose," Regina rolled her eyes with a laugh, "Tell anyone about that commercial incident and I'll give you a hook to match your husbands."
"All right all right," Emma held her hands up and let out a laugh, "Are you excited, though? I know you and Dad decided not to have anymore when Whale said you may have some complications after Violet's birth. But did you want to?"
"I did want to have another," Regina averted her eyes as she normally did when discussing such a personal subject. "Mainly because there was so much going on when I was pregnant with Violet that I didn't get to truly experience it the way I wanted to with David."
"But now you're worried?" Her friend nodded knowingly.
"I think we'll be fine," Regina said to herself more than Emma, "There's always that worry no matter what. I am really happy...I'm not sure how happy Violet will be," She chuckled, eyes widening.
"Oh man, you may have your hands full. She's been your baby for five years. I was only the baby for five minutes until Neal stole my thunder."
"And you still aren't over it," Regina quipped with a grin, "What about you and the pirate? You going to have any more deck hands?"
"No," Emma laughed with wide eyes, "We've both agreed that Charlie is enough for us."
"Hm she does act like her father," Regina raised a brow playfully.
"Speaking of Hook, he's making his special spiced rum eggnog for Christmas Eve tomorrow," She smirked, "Think we can manage to put the kids to bed early and get sauced while we put the toys together?"
"You all can," She raised a brow before pouting a little at the fact she couldn't partake, "But I guess someone should be sober enough to supervise. God knows David and Killian don't stay intact very long around each other."
"That's true," Emma snorted as she opened the box with her burger in it and picked it up with both hands. "Anything you want me to bring or help with for Christmas dinner?"
It was Regina's turn to snort then, "What can you make? Cereal?"
"Hey! I make grilled cheese too," Emma defended herself, "And pancakes."
"You and Hook just stick with bringing the eggnog and I'll handle the rest."
Christmas Eve...
David grinned to himself, putting the finishing touches on his wrapping job after securing himself in the study. Regina would only roll her eyes and smile if she knew the amount of time he'd spent on it, but he knew deep down she appreciated it. Even after five years of marriage his wife still wasn't one to revel in attention but that surely didn't stop him.
He heard his girls upstairs, heard Violet's giggling and knew that she and Regina were in their master bathroom getting ready. His entire family would be under one roof in just a couple of hours and he couldn't be happier. He was grateful that everyone had managed to get along and conform to their new family dynamic.
"The coast is clear Dad," Neal cracked the doors to the office and peeked his head in, giving him a toothless grin. His boy was shooting up in height, nearing eight years old and loosing baby teeth left and right. He ended up looking just like David, but with darker hair and a soft heart like his mother had.
"Good job, son," David grinned, picking up the boxes and carrying them out of the office as Neal opened the doors for him.
"When's Henry gonna get here?" His son asked with an impatient tone to his voice as he followed David into the living room.
"When's who getting here?" Henry smirked, standing just inside the door, dropping his duffle bag beside of his feet and brushing the snow off of his hair as Neal squealed his name and ran towards him, throwing himself against his long legs to hug them.
"Hey kid," David smiled warmly, setting the presents down beside the tree that was already piled with them, "How's NYU?" He asked, coming over to give him a tight hug when Neal had finally let him go.
"Pretty good," Henry gave a grin when his grandfather pulled back, "I aced my math final."
"That's my boy," David chuckled, "God, have you gotten taller?"
He nearly had to look up at Henry now, his grandson matching him in height. Henry was still slender, but had broader shoulders and a hint of scruff on his chin and jaws. David nearly laughed as he remembered the scrawny, awkward looking little boy who now stood in front of him as a confident, handsome college student.
"Henry, Henry! did you bring presents?" Neal jumped around him with the energy only a kid his age had, earning a good humored hair mussing from the taller young man.
"None for you," He teased with a grin.
"Henry!"
An exclamation captured all of their attention from the top of the stairs. Violet stood gripping the hand rail with wide eyes and a bright smile, her mother behind her with the same expression. Her black curls bounced as she started to make her way down the steps, Regina beside of her holding her free hand.
"Hey sis," Henry chuckled when the girl hopped down the last two steps much to her mother's chagrin, running towards her with outstretched arms as he swooped her up and bear hugged her. A giggle escaped her, causing all of them to chuckle.
"Hey, what about me?!" Regina smiled with a proud look in her eyes, "Henry I swear you've grown, David look how handsome he is!" She marveled like a true beaming mother.
"Takes after his gramps," David smirked, taking Violet from Henry's arms when he handed her over to hug his mom. It warmed him to see the bond that Henry and Regina still shared and the soft spot that his grandson had for his wife.
"Hey Mom," Henry smiled, leaning down so she could wrap her arms around his neck and giving her a tight hug.
"Come on you two, lets go find a good Christmas album to put on," David raised an eyebrow at Violet who nodded excitedly and Neal who clapped and chattered something about getting to choose this time.
Regina smiled at the way her husband ushered her younger children out and kept them occupied, for he knew she'd want some time with Henry alone, "Look at you, I've missed you!" She wrapped her arms around one of his, pulling him towards the kitchen, "Have you eaten? I just made some turnovers."
"You know I won't turn one of those down," He grinned and let her lead him into the kitchen, sitting down on one of the stools. She smiled to herself as she rounded the counter and thought of all of the years he'd sat in that exact same spot as she served him this same snack. There were plenty of happy moments and arguments alike had in this kitchen with her first baby boy.
"How is this semester going?" She smiled at him, noticing his sweater and the way his hair was trimmed and styled. If he'd inherited anything from her it was a sense of pride in his appearance, always looking put together. That was enough to make her proud.
"Good, I like most of my classes," He nodded and took the plate she passed him, "I do like getting out of the city though. I'm not sure the fast pace will be for me permanently."
Regina knew that all along; knew that Henry was an old soul and much too wise to get caught up in the rat race. But she'd wanted him to leave town for college and experience the outside world again, for he actually could, "I would hope not. I want you a little closer to us someday."
Later that night...
"You sure you don't want a drink?" David smiled that goofy smile he gave whenever he'd had a few as he sat down beside Regina in the floor with his spiked eggnog, wrapping an arm around her shoulder, "I'll make you one."
Regina had to smirk at the look on his face, leaning into him as she glanced back down at the assembly directions, "I'm okay, thank you." Her husband was usually pretty thoughtful, even more so after a few drinks when he wanted her to partake for their mutual benefit. He was so transparent, she mused.
"But I wanted to get you tipsy," David murmured down her ear with a whine before kissing her neck once quickly, causing her to laugh, "Its a good drink."
"Yer damn right it is," Hook smirked, raising a glass to cheers towards him in the air and causing Regina to roll her eyes.
"Regina has to put together Violet's doll house from Santa, she needs a clear mind," Emma attempted to help cover for her reason for not drinking, glancing over with an apologetic smile.
"And I don't do rum," Regina raised a brow with a smirk, feeling David cross his legs and pull her into his lap. She fit like a glove, bottom sinking down into the space his legs created, leaning her back against his chest.
They'd managed to get all of the kids down early that evening. Henry had helped with Neal, convincing him to go upstairs and show him his new video game system. Regina had checked on them after putting Violet and Charlie to sleep in Violet's room, seeing the boys slumbering with remote controls in their hands.
Killian had brought Charlie's toys from Santa in from the trunk of their car that he and Emma now attempted to put together. Regina and David did the same after getting their kids gifts out from the hiding place she'd procured with magic. With how close Charlie and Violet were, not to mention that David felt he had missed out on too many Christmas' with Emma, they'd all decided to spend Christmas Eve and day under one roof.
"I'm glad Neal's gifts are already put together," David chuckled, wrapping his arms around Regina's waist and resting his chin on her shoulder as she read over the instructions for the dollhouse.
"Aye, I wish we'd done that with Charlie's," The pirate frowned amidst the pile of toy parts he and Emma sat in across the room.
"Remember the kitchenette we got Violet one year?" Regina chuckled, turning her head to glance back at David, "The one that you smashed your thumb putting together?"
"That hurt and you're laughing about it?" His mouth dropped but his eyes crinkled in a smile as he gave his arms around her a squeeze and pecked at kiss on her jaw. "She was so happy about that one though. Remember how she used to pretend she was you baking turnovers?"
"Yes, she ruined my best silk blouse playing kitchen in it," She smiled warmly, shaking her head at the memory. "All because you'd fallen asleep when you were supposed to be watching her."
"Dad of the year," He mused, picking up a few pieces of the dollhouse to try to put together.
"Hey at least he didn't put her in a tree trunk," Emma quipped with a face flushed by rum, making them all laugh at the irony of it all.
Hours later...
"I'm exhausted, but come here," David murmured when she got into bed, pulling her over to him, "You know the kids will be in here too early in the morning for us to have our usual wake up."
She grinned knowingly, cuddling up against his body after stripping down to just her bra and panties. They'd been hours downstairs getting everything ready for the kids that they were too exhausted to go through their usual routine of a bath and putting on pajamas. "Do you want your gift tonight or tomorrow?"
"Hmm is it lacy?" He grinned, his hand running over her bottom and giving it a squeeze.
"Not quite," She laughed softly, propping herself up on his chest as she reached over him to pull out the drawer of the nightstand and get out an envelope. The bedroom lamp gave enough light for them both to see as she gave it to him, biting her lip in suspense as he opened it.
Regina watched his expression closely as he pulled out the white card, opening it up to where she'd mounted her first ultrasound photo, "Merry Christmas," She whispered, smiling unsurely.
His eyes widened as he looked at the black and white photo, "Are you serious? But I thought we were being careful."
"We were except...you know, your birthday when we got...a little carried away," She smiled sheepishly, anxiously awaiting him to process the news and see his reaction. Her heart beat harder in her chest, butterflies in her stomach.
"Oh..." A grin came over his face at his recollection of that night, "Oh," His eyes looked back at the photo as it begin to sank in. "Oh my god, Regina. We're having another baby?"
"Yes," She smiled then and let out a pent up breath of relief when she saw the excitement on his face. Deep down she knew he'd be happy, David had wanted more children, but still she'd been a little nervous. "I've been feeling sick during the days at work and erm...Even in Emma's car, so she made me take a test. I was so shocked I went to the doctor to be sure and..." She nodded towards the ultrasound photo.
"I'm so excited," He let out a laugh, putting the picture on the nightstand before wrapping his arms around her and flipping her onto her back making her yelp at the sudden movement before giggling. "I love you so much, Regina Nolan."
"Technically it's Mills-Nolan," She grinned up at him as he pinned her hands against the bed above her head, spreading her legs and drawing them up against his sides.
"I don't care, you're mine," David smiled before leaning down to kiss her slowly for a long moment, "Merry Christmas, my love."
"Hmm," She smiled back against his lips, running her hands up his bare back, "I love you too," She murmured as they cocooned themselves under the covers with the heat of their bodies and sound of their languid kisses.
He grinned, lifting his head just enough to stare at her for a moment before he slipped a hand under her back to undo her bra, "Are these as sensitive as they were last time yet?" He asked as he pulled her bra down her arms.
"Mm yes," She smirked and bit her lip, running a hand into his hair when he grinned and leaned down to start pressing kisses around her slightly bigger breasts. His stubble grazed the sensitive skin, his soft lips kissing and sucking gently before they found one of her nipples, "Mmm like that," She gasped and gripped his hair tighter.
"I love you pregnant," David murmured at how extra sensitive her body was to his touch, "I can almost make you cum doing this," He grinned before teasing at her nipple with his tongue again, "You know I thought you finished rather quickly the other night in the shower, now I know why."
"Hmm I hope you're prepared for it again because the hormones are just as bad with this one," She smirked as she watched him before moaning again when his lips switched to her other breast.
"I'm always prepared to please you," He grinned as his hands came down the sides of her thigh, finding the band of her panties, "Do you want to come on my tongue Regina?" His voice was gravelly now, lips hovering over the valley over her breasts before he glanced up at her for her response.
She whimpered and gave an impatient nod, nudging his head down with the hand she had splayed in his hair. He grinned and usually she'd call him a smug bastard at his confidence but she was too eager to care right now, splaying her legs a little wider under his torso.
"God," He groaned when he pulled her lace down her thighs, seeing the way it glistened from her arousal, "You're so sexy," His eyes were hungry when he spread her legs in front of him, the heat in his eyes making her belly stir and coil with anticipation.
"Don't tease," She requested in a needy, pleading tone and he stiffened instantly at how turned on she already was. His tongue dipped into her folds as his arms wrapped around her thighs, eliciting groans from both of them.
Regina let her head fall back as he flicked his tongue over her bundle of nerves, letting moans come out freely. It was something he did to her that she'd never get tired of, something she'd only let a few do to her, the pleasure of his mouth so sweet and intimate and satisfying. He'd learned what she liked most over the years and could make her tremble within a matter of a few minutes.
Both of her hands came down to grip his hair but he didn't look up, instead he pressed his hands to the back of her thighs and spread her wider as he lapped at her, "You taste so good, Regina. I could do this all night," He groaned against her swollen sex, hearing her whimper and shudder in response.
She begged him to keep going in a string of sweet pleas, the only time she'd ever plead with him for anything. He could always tell when she was almost there by the way she'd begin to grind herself against his mouth, getting greedy for his tongue. David flicked it more firmly over her clit, eventually flattening it out when she began to ride his face in earnest.
"David!" She gasped and pulled at his hair with both hands, bodily rolling underneath him as her hips jerked and twitched when the orgasm flooded her.
"Mm, you're soaked," David groaned as he stood on his knees, pushing down his boxers and managing to get himself out of them as he watched her trying to recover. She trembled, chest heaving with deep breaths as she covered her face with her hands. "Can you take me, my love?" He asked as he crawled over her, settling between her thighs.
"Yes," She replied automatically, even knowing she was over sensitive. He was so good to her, so selfless, that she wanted to please him the same way, wanted him to share in the pleasure he'd given her, "Come here," Regina pulled him up over her, locking her legs around his back.
"You're perfect," He told her, voice raspy with need as he pressed his forehead to hers and leaned down on his elbows. She slipped a hand between them, pumping his cock a couple of times with her hand before positioning the tip of it against her throbbing sex.
"Take me," She moaned as she leaned up to kiss him and he sank into her fully, eliciting a hiss from her, "You're so hard," She whimpered with the overwhelming sensitivity, part of her body wanting to ride him wantonly and the other part wanting to push him back for a moment.
He began to pull his hips back and rock into her slowly, repeating the movement as he whispered words of encouragement and love into her ear. Her body welcomed him, tight and hot and ready to be pushed over the edge again as she began to move her hips with his.
David rolled them onto their sides, pulling her thigh up over his hip as he started to drive into her harder. Regina moaned out loud, arm wrapping around his waist to help push herself up to him, the hot clutching in her stomach growing in intensity, beckoning her to curl her hips harder.
"Let me on top," She moaned and he flipped onto his back and she sank fully onto his cock again with a hiss. "You feel so good, Charming," She let her eyes close for a minute as she dug her nails into his chest where her hands pressed against him. He was hard and thick and throbbing inside of her and she was already on the brink of coming again.
"Hm," He smiled up at her adoringly, running his hands up her thighs and over her bottom as he watched her sit still on him with her eyes closed for a moment. The way she furrowed her brows and bit on her bottom lip told him she was close to the edge and trying not to explode again so soon. It turned him on like nothing else that he could still bring her to this point after six years.
"Let go," He coaxed her with a groan as he gripped her ass and started to grind her on his cock, causing her to gasp and moan, "I can last."
She opened her eyes and smirked down at him, biting her bottom lip as she gripped his chest and started to rock her hips with more force. Her toned arms pressed her breasts together, taut stomach flexing with every movement. Her lips parted with a whimper as he started to push his own hips up, jarring his member inside of her and adding to the friction.
"I'm gonna," She gasped, riding him shamelessly now and causing him to groan at how slick she'd made them both. He felt her nails dig into his skin, felt her hips bear down on him firmly as her wet heat clenched around him violently. Her back arched, breasts thrust forward and head fell back and she cried out and tensed for a few long moments before starting to tremble.
"God, Regina," David groaned as he sat up, pressing a hand on her lower back to keep himself inside of her as he pulled her legs to outstretch past his sides, "You're dripping," He murmured as he pressed his lips to her neck and kissed slowly. "Relax," He whispered, feeling her body still wanting to tense from the sensitivity as she sat on his cock. She whimpered near his ear, arms wrapped around his neck as she pressed her face into his hair.
"David, oh! I can't," She whimpered at the overwhelming feeling when his hips started to undulate underneath hers, feeling his hands gripping her ass and moving her on his stiffness. "Mmmm!"
They were both sticky with sweat now as they sat in the middle of the bed, David clutching her to him as he started to rock her hips against his. "Yes you can," He groaned into his neck encouragingly, "Let go Queen, let me feel you come again."
She cried out into his hair when he rutted his cock inside her more suddenly, sending jolts of pleasure through her abdomen and down her thighs. Her stomach was wound tight, arms running down his back to grip it tightly as she began to babble half words, half noises as he drove her closer and closer.
He groaned out loud when she clenched on him again suddenly, her thighs clamping around his sides and her nails digging into his back. She muffled a scream into the side of his neck as she clung to him, body tensing almost violently as he rocked them harder, grunting with each movement through her orgasm before he spilled into her with his own, "Regina," He groaned breathlessly with the release.
He fell onto his back in the bed, Regina coming with him as she laid on top of him with her face buried in his neck. She sighed contentedly, her body dead weight on top of him. "We should get dressed baby, you know the kids will be in here by sunrise," He chuckled softly as he ran a hand over her back, feeling the way sleep was claiming her body. Pregnancy was hard on her, that much he knew, and she was undoubtedly exhausted.
"Hmm, I know," She whispered as he moved her onto the bed beside of him, giving a heavy lidded smile.
His heart swelled with love for her and the sleepy, sated mess she was. She was beautiful and all he wanted to do was take care of her like no one had before, "I'll get us some pajamas, you stay here."
Christmas morning...
"Mommy! Daddy!" Violet's squeal startled them awake as she burst in their bedroom door and sailed onto their bed, all elbows and knees as she landed in between them.
"Good morning," David grunted, nudging her knee from his side with a pained laugh, "What has you up so early?"
Regina rolled over tiredly with a smile, feeling the little bundle of energy between them, "Good morning sweetheart."
"Santa came! We have to go see what he brought!" She bounced on her knees in between them, vibrant blue eyes wide with excitement. "Daddy get up," She put her small hands on his arm and gave him a shake, causing him to chuckle even though his eyes were closed.
"I'm awake," He wrapped his arms around her playfully and brought her onto his chest with a squeeze, causing her to giggle.
"Come on get up," Neal ran into the room then, coming around to Regina's side of the bed, "Mom! Here," He anxiously brought her her robe that she usually wore in the mornings, making her laugh.
"Okay okay, what about Henry or Charlie and her parents?" Regina sat up with a tired smile, shrugging on her robe as she stood and pulled Neal into a hug.
"She's waking them up now," He nodded with a smile, side of his head pressed against her abdomen as he gave her waist a hug, "Now come on let's go!"
Violet jumped on Davids back when he sat up, wrapping her arms around his neck, "Giddy up horsey!" She giggled as he picked her up, holding her on his back, "Henry! It's time for Santa!" She squealed when she saw her older brother standing tiredly in the doorway.
He gave them all a tired smile before looking at Regina with an expression she understood. It used to be just him running into her room and jumping into her bed, just the two of them going down to open presents and cook breakfast. Now their house was full of love and family, something they hadn't lacked before but always wanted more of. Henry smiled at his mother in happy acknowledgement of this and Regina smiled back.
Christmas Day...
"David, look," Regina whispered nudging him in the side from their spot huddled on the couch. They were cuddled up under a blanket enjoying the afternoon watching the rest of them play with their new things. Emma and Killian and Henry laughed and jested each other over a new board game in the dining room, Neal entertained himself with his new virtual reality as he wandered around the house...but Violet and Charlie were having their own kind of fun.
"What?" He smiled, hands playing in her hair mindlessly as he followed her gaze over to where his daughter and granddaughter were.
They sat in front of Violet's giant doll house, where anyone would assume they'd play as little girls did with their dolls, pretending to be families and creating domestic scenes. Instead, the mini Regina and Emma were playing out their own unique perspective.
"Charlie lookout!" They heard Violet mimic through her doll, her tiny hands turned up and glowing purple as she made one of her dolls hover over the house and Charlie's doll.
"Help me!" Charlie mimicked with her own doll, both of the girls giggling as the blonde tried to make her own doll fly, but hadn't learned as much control with her own magic.
"Don't worry, Charlie," Violet giggled, "You save me, I save you," She nodded, causing David and Regina to exchange a glance of amusement at how similar the girls were to Regina and Emma's own relationship.
"Get him!" Charlie cheered her on as Violet procured a small fireball in her palm and pelted the doll in the air, causing it to drop suddenly in a fiery bundle of plastic on the floor.
"Whoa!" Emma's eyes caught sight of it from the dining room as she came running, Regina and David jumping from the couch in shock as well.
"Charlie what have I told you about magic in the house?!" Emma scooped her up as Regina put out the fire with a flick of her wrist, looking down at her own daughter with wide eyes. Regina and David exchanged a glance, neither one of them knowing how to respond for they hadn't even realized Violet was capable of such magic yet.
Violet gazed up from her spot on the floor, seeing everyone standing around after the commotion had drawn them, her bottom lip puckering, "I'm sorry Mommy, I didn't mean to," Her voice was small and wobbly, melting Regina's heart.
"It's okay baby," She cooed, picking her up from the floor and feeling her cling to her as she cupped the back of her head. Regina knew all too well what it felt like to be startled by your own power, to have potentially caused harm to someone because you didn't know how to control it. "Everyone's fine."
David looked at Regina questioningly before she nodded to let him know she had it, carrying their daughter down the hall and to the office, shutting the door behind them for a private moment.
"I didn't mean to, Mommy," Violet whimpered in her neck as she made her way over to sit down in one of the chairs, letting the girl straddle her lap.
"Hey, I know you didn't," Regina said softly, running a hand over the girls dark hair as she slowly lifted her teary eyes to look at her, "You have nothing to be sorry or ashamed of. That's just who we are and I'll help you learn to control it and how to use it for good, okay?"
"I could've hurt Charlie," Her daughters lip quivered and Regina nearly cried herself at how tender hearted her little girl was. She was so much like she herself had been before Cora had corrupted her, before pain had drawn her to the dark side. If she did anything else in her life it would be to ensure her own daughter stayed on the right path.
"You didn't, Emma and I are always going to keep an eye on the two of you, we wouldn't let that happen," She ran her thumb over Violet's cheek, "Don't ever be sorry for your magic, sweetheart. Mommy will teach you."
"Okay," Violet nodded with a hiccup, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.
"Don't cry," Regina smiled warmly and hugged her to her chest comfortingly, "I love you."
"I love you," Her daughter chirped in a small voice, keeping her face hidden in her neck.
"What are my girls doing in here?" David smiled as he slipped in the office, seeing Regina look at him and nod as if to tell him it was all right. Violet's head lifted from her mother's chest with a half smile and his heart nearly exploded at the sight of them. Regina was such a good mother.
Henry and Neal appeared behind David too, concerned looks on their faces for their little sister who had been so upset.
"We were just talking about magic and how I'm going to teach Violet how to use hers," Regina nodded and gave her daughter a squeeze and an encouraging smile. It was important that the girl not be ashamed of the power she wielded and everyone in the room seemed to understand that.
"I wish I had magic," Henry nodded as they made their way in. David sat down beside Regina in the large chair, wrapping an arm around her as Neal and Henry fell down on the sofa facing them. Violet gave Henry an unsure look, as if she wasn't sure she believed him before he continued. "I used to beg Mom to teach me."
"I want magic so I can fight dragons!" Neal shot out his hand, making a sound with his mouth as if he were throwing fireballs at imaginary creatures, causing them all to laugh.
"I think it's best your brothers don't have magic, hm?" David grinned playfully at Violet as she snuggled against her mother and she giggled.
"Don't worry Violet, Mom is the best sorcerer in town, she'll teach you all that you need to know," Henry smiled at his baby sister, earning a warm hearted gaze from his mother at how caring he was.
"Will you show me how to cook the apple turnovers by snapping your fingers like you do, Mommy?!" Violet's eyes widened at her mother in newfound excitement and the rest of the family's mouth dropped at Regina.
"You cheat on the turnovers?" David grinned mischeviously, "Oh you're never living this one down!"
"It doesn't stop you all from scarfing them down!" Regina said defensively with a chuckle of her own, tickling Violet's sides playfully for ratting her out, "I suppose I'll teach you how. And you can help Charlie with her magic."
"And maybe somebody else that comes along," David smiled at his wife knowingly as they exchanged a glance.
"What do you mean?" Henry asked, his eyebrow raising in interest.
"We're having another baby," Regina admitted with a smile, biting her lip and glancing around at her children for their reactions.
"Another one?" Neal's mouth dropped, "I hope it's a boy!"
"Really?" Henry smiled and shook his head, "Congratulations."
"A baby?" Violet looked down at her mother's stomach before back up at her mother and father with eyes full of wonderment, "You have a baby in your tummy?"
"Yes, she does," David smiled and gave Regina's shoulders a squeeze.
Violet raised an eyebrow curiously as she'd seen her mother do before, "How'd it get in there?"
Regina and David looked at each other and she felt herself blanch in the presence of Henry who was old enough to understand. She watched her husband bite down on his lower lip to suppress a smile before they both erupted into laughter.
The Mayor scrambled to dodge the question as her husband chuckled, "Who wants a turnover?!"