18 Weeks

"Do you want my portion?"

Regina blinked and with a mouth full of food, came one muffled word. "What?"

Apparently her eyeing Emma's plate wasn't as stealthy as she had thought. Because her blond companion chuckled and offered up her plate to Regina. "Eat the food, your Majesty."

If she wasn't so damn hungry, she would have snapped at Emma, or her sister, Zelena, who also thought this was funny as hell as she was full on cackling. However, Regina didn't care. This baby was turning her into a ravenous beast that could give a tank or a crawler a run for their money with how much she was putting away. It was all going to her hips, and chest, with a now noticeable baby bump hanging over the waist over her pants. The desire and need to eat was becoming overwhelming and impossible to ignore. So before Emma even got the plate to her, Regina was already climbing into her lap to devour her food.

And she could heard her sister laugh, thoroughly enjoying this as she pointedly asked, "So, what pregnancy symptom is this exactly?"

Regina glared at her. Something that probably would have been more menacing if it wasn't for the mashed potatoes stuck to the corner of her mouth. "I hate you."

Zelena smirked and blew a kiss her way. "Love you too, baby sis."

"Ease up, Zelena," Emma said as she rubbed the small of Regina's back. "She's eating for two now. And sometimes she gets a little excited about food."

Her half-sister arched an eyebrow. "Are you sure it's just for two, sweetheart? Because it would seem she's eating enough food to field a small army."

Regina pointed her fork at her sister, menacingly. "Zelena," she threatened. "I will eat you food too. I swear to God!"

Zelena's eyebrow arched and her lips quirked with a knowing grin. "Is that Lesbian for 'I will drink your milkshake,' dear? Because that's disgusting, Regina. We are sisters. And also I am not a lesbian. (I mean, I've caught a finger or two. Who hasn't?) But mostly the first thing I said."

Regina went to stand but Emma wrapped her arms around her and she stopped in mid-motion. "Regina, calm down. You could literally explode if you're not careful."

She was too angry and too pregnant to correct Emma on her use of the word literally. Because with her ability, she could set a few things on fire on accident, which did tend to happen whenever she got too upset.

"But she—"

Emma sighed. "That's Zelena being Zelena and you know that."

"Listen to your better half, dear. She is speaking the trust."

Regina's "better half" snapped. "Not helping, bitch"

"Helping is not exactly what I do, sweetheart," Zelena replied, coyly.

"Noted," Emma replied, and then her arms relaxed but she didn't move away from Regina. "In 22 weeks you can kill Zelena. And I might even help. But not before then, okay?"

With a huff, Regina settled back down in Emma's lap and tried to eat her food in peace. But after only a few moments, she started to feel this fire burning in her chest. Or stomach. She wasn't exactly sure where it was coming from. All she knew was that she didn't like it. And then the heat spread traveling up her throat, and suddenly, the thought of food wasn't appealing in the least.

"Oh, whatever this is," Regina groaned as she doubled over. "It can die in a fire."

"What was that, sis?" Zelena asked, suddenly full of concern. "Because you look like you're in pain."

"Pain?" The panic was so clear in Emma's voice. "What's up, Regina? Talk to me."

"It's just acid reflux," a voice sounded. And although they were warm words, Regina supposed, it was like someone had dumped ice water down her back. She froze, her whole body seized up. And for a moment, just for a moment she was a little girl again, small and helpless to the whims of a tyrannical parent.

Regina glanced at her sister whose eyes were wide with surprise and asked the only question that came to mind. "Did you invited her to our table?"

Zelena shook her head. "No. No. I know how you feel about our mother. It's the only boundary I will respect, sis."

"'Gina…" When she turned her mother with a glare that could melt the polar ice cap, her mother quickly corrected herself. "Regina…"

"Do not say one word to me, Mother." Regina was even shocked by her icy cold tone. She burned so hot usually, sometimes she burned literally. But she couldn't — No, she wouldn't waste her energy on someone like her mother.

"I'm still your mother."

Regina shook as she fought against herself. She dreamed about what she would finally say to her mother if they ever crossed paths again. She wondered how she'd react, knowing how completely she had failed both of her daughters. But now as she was presented with the opportunity, she couldn't bring herself to stoop that low. Cora Mills just wasn't worth her time.

Wordlessly, she rose from Emma's lap and positioned herself until she was face to face with her mother for the first time in months.

"And that is something we will just both have to learn to live with, won't we?" she asked and without waiting for a response, turned and walk away.

Emma and her mother exchanged words. Nothing spoken angrily or with malice. But Regina only got bits and pieces of it. And it became harder to make out what they were saying the further away she got from table.

Regina kept walking until her mother was out of sight. Until she couldn't be haunted by the woman that had made her childhood so bittersweet. Tears welled in her eyes as her hands went to her stomach. "I don't want to be like her."

"You won't be."

At the sound of Emma's voice, Regina nearly jumped out of her skin. "Jesus fucking Christ, Swan, what the fuck is wrong with you?"

Emma smiled, sheepishly. "Sorry, Regina. Didn't mean to scare you or the kidlet."

Regina rolled her eyes as she quickly wiped away her tears. "You have to stop calling our baby, kidlet."

She didn't notice the slip up. Not until she looked at Emma and saw her lips curl and her eyes sparkle like Daniel's had when she told him she was pregnant. And with a shake of her head, Regina dismissed it as just a simple mistake. "I mean— Just stop it, Emma. The baby's not livestock. So you can just stop. And what do you want, anyway? If you came to talk about my mother, I'll save you the trouble of giving me some long-winded speech about forgiveness and just tell you I will never forgive that heartless bitch so long as I'm living, ok?"

Emma frowned. "I didn't say anything about your mom. I came to see if you wanted some gum. I think I read somewhere, probably in that book you never fucking read, that it helps with the acid re-whatever."

"Fine, I'll take the gum," Regina grumbled with her hand out.

Emma tore a piece of gum in half and gave a piece to her. "That's my girl."

"Bite me, Swan."

20 Weeks

"Oh!... Oh! Oh, my god, yes! Just… Just like that! Don't you dare fucking stop, Emma!" The rumble of the blonde's chuckle made her lift her head up with a frown. "What?"

"Nothing," Emma said, with a knowing grin. "Just not the reaction I was expecting from a foot massage, your Majesty."

Regina rolled her eyes, despite the heat that crept up her neck and bloomed on her cheeks. "I don't know what you're referring to, Swan."

"Really, Mills?" Emma replied, her touch, sliding up Regina's calf as she kneaded the muscles with her hands. "Is that how you want to play it? Because, I know what kind of sounds you make, Regina. If you recall, I had a very up close and personal view of that show once."

Her cheeks flushed a deep scarlet. Regina did recall. She recalled that day very vividly. Before Regina knew that Daniel had made it through the initial outbreak, just after she, herself had survived what was supposed to be a fatal bite. Emma had kept her from doing a stupid thing in the only way that worked for them both. It was just the one time as Emma had done the honorable thing when Daniel found Regina and stepped aside. But that experience wasn't something either of them could erase from memory. Not that either of them ever wanted to.

Under Emma's ministrations, Regina's head lolled back and she groaned. "Emma…"

"Always loved how you said my name, your Majesty," her companion husked. Her touch was innocent but her words were far from that. "Did I ever tell you that?"

Regina shook her head and breathed out, "No… No, you haven't."

Emma continued, rubbing the flesh underneath her fingertips as she spoke. "Your voice is the second sexist thing about you, Regina. I've always thought so."

"What's the first?" Regina asked.

"Your intelligence," Emma replied.

Most people might have mentioned one of her physical attributes. Her full lips, her slender curves, her ass if they wanted to be crude, but not Emma. For Emma it was more than just good looks. It was something deeper.

"Lair," Regina breathed, biting back a moan as Emma went on with the massage.

"Never to you, Regina," came Emma's confession. "I promise. I'll never lie to you. And I'll always be here. For you and for Emma Jr."

"Emma for the last time—" The retort was left unfinished as Emma added just a little pressure, working on one of the knots in Regina's leg. And the dark haired mother-to-be let out what could only be described as an obscene moan. And when she heard Emma laugh, Regina flipped her off. "Bite me, Swan."

"You're welcome, Regina."

22 Weeks

"What about Madison?" Ruby suggested

"I always liked the name Brooklyn," Katheryn threw out.

Regina frowned "Brooklyn's a place not a name."

"Was a place," Aurora told the group.

"Right…" Kat replied before she lit up with an idea. "Oh, what about something nature related? Like Winter or Apple?"

Zelena shot her a look. "Apple?"

Kat stood her ground. "It's cute."

This was great. Just a relaxing evening with the girls. They were in the walls of the compound. And it was a rare night that no one had night sentry duty. So they could just enjoy a somewhat calm evening with her friends. Most of them had been Daniel's friends. And for the most part they had seen Daniel as a brother figure. They had loved him like family. He had been one of theirs. So by their logic, it made this child, one of theirs too. Like Mary, one of Daniel's closest friends, once told her, "Whatever's in there is half Danny Boy, so she's one of us, Regina. Like it or not, we're your family now."

"Why are you all only coming up with girl names?" Regina finally asked. She knew why Emma always referred to the baby as Emma Jr. And now she was wondering if her blonde companion had put the idea of a baby girl in everyone's heads.

"Because we cursed Daniel to have nothing but daughters years ago," Ruby revealed.

Mary nodded. "That's true. Besides we all know the first baby born into our gang is going to be a girl."

Aurora laughed. "We only said that because that was because we thought it would be you and Charming."

"Yeah," Ruby agreed. "I lost 20 fucking bucks to Billy when we started Senior year and you still weren't pregnant."

At the mention of the fallen everyone got quiet. It hadn't even been six months since they buried so many. Daniel, Elsa, and Billy; all dead. Lance had disappeared. People Regina could have counted as friends, they were just gone now. And they weren't coming back.

"What about Susan?"

Everyone's heads turn to one of the youngest of their group. Joanna. Daniel's half-sister.

"It was her gran's name," Joanna said. "And she was an amazing lady."

Regina already liked the sound of it. And somehow she knew that Daniel would have too. But as always her gaze found Emma's who shrugged, offering a, "It doesn't have the same ring to it as Emma Jr. does. But I like it. We could call her, Suzie. Or Suze. Little Sue."

Regina's affectionate expression turned into an annoyed one. "Stop it. You're ruining it."

"Did I ruin it?" Emma asked, with a teasing smirk. "Or did I make it better?"

She rolled her eyes. "You're an idiot."

"You love it."

Before Regina could say anything in response, Zelena cut into the conversation.

"You're all wrong," she began. "She should be named, Princess Consuela Bananahammock." Adding with a shrug, "Mills, I guess."

The whole dorm roared with laughter for ten whole minutes until Regina felt what could only be described as a tiny flutter in her stomach. No one noticed the awestruck look in her eyes except for Emma.

"What is it?"

Regina smiled. "I think… I think I just felt the baby move."

Emma was already halfway to her before she finished her sentence, seconds before the others followed suit. Some of them asked questions, others cracked jokes. A few even worked up the nerve to try and feel the baby move. They couldn't. The baby wasn't quite big enough, Regina supposed. But she could feel it, rolling around in there, like the baby was trying to settle.

"What does it feel like?" Emma asked, in quiet awe; her hand on Regina's stomach.

Her hand slipped over Emma's as she smiled. "Like butterflies."