Storybrooke, our new home…
Emma Swan, 1 year of age, blonde hair, fair skin, blush red chubby cheeks, and blue eyes that steal your breath away.
Regina inhales gently, blinking her eyes in disbelief.
"Emma Mills…" she whispers to the baby in her arms.
"Will you be my baby?" She asks sweetly, not expecting an answer from the barely year old child.
"Gahhhh," Emma lets out a loud gurgling sound, almost as if she was responding.
Regina's eyes instantly go wide, her eyes slightly getting watery in the process. She lets out an audible giggle, something she hasn't done in a very long time. Her ears ring with the sound of her own laughter, as she slowly leans closer to her beautiful rosy cheeked child.
"I'm Regina, I'm your momma." She presses a gentle finger on Emma's soft chubby cheeks.
The baby does what she did so naturally when Regina first held her in her arms, she reaches outward towards her, asking to be held, accepting her for who she was… her new mother.
"Oh Emma… my sweet Emma, Momma is here." She lifts her up kissing her cheeks gently and placing her on her hollow chest, a hollow chest that no longer feels quite as empty.
(A few weeks later)
She was ready to show baby Emma her new town. She's been slightly dreading this… having to introduce her child to those annoying townspeople, having to explain that the Mayor was now a mother too.
On the other hand, she was ecstatic… getting to experience going out with her child, having breakfast at Granny's, just the two of them, taking Emma to her most private and pivotal places… like her vault. No more loneliness, it was her and Emma now.
Granny's Diner, they were here. She unbuckles her daughter from the car seat, and gently lifts her to her arms, kissing her cheek lovingly.
"Mayor Mills?'' Ugh, it was her.
"Ms. Blanchard." Regina nods her head her way, holding her daughter a slight bit tighter, like it was her new secret to be kept.
"Who is this beautiful baby girl?" Snow smiles as big as when she was in the enchanted forest, with her memories intact.
She hated that grin… but at least it was a grin for her daughter. Emma deserved that.
Whoever her parents were, she could kill them now… leaving the poor baby, abandoning her. Emma deserved all the love this town had to offer… Although she selfishly wished it was from her alone.
But she couldn't do that.
That is what Corra did… locked her up, controlled her, never letting her live her life, never letting anyone love her back.
"This is Emma… my baby." Snows eyes instantly shoot out of her face.
"Mayor Mills… you're a mother?! When, how?" She sounded like a flapping pigeon.
Regina visibly rolls her eyes.
"If you must know, I adopted her a few days back… but I would appreciate it if we all call her my own. I don't want her ever knowing she isn't mine."
Regina states almost demanding.
"Off course Regina, I would never!" Snow states loudly.
"Well she is beautiful…" She reaches a hand out longingly towards Emma.
"Yes Ms, Blanchard, indeed she is." Regina swiftly moves past snow.
"Good day Ms. Blanchard." Snow shakes her head… dispelling her momentary trance towards the child.
"How strange." Mary Margaret states quietly.
She almost felt as if it were a dream… like a long lost memory.
(Inside of Granny's Diner)
As soon as Regina entered the diner silence surrounded her.
All eyes were on her and her teeny tiny in her arms.
She hated this part… the nosy stares from everyone who treated her like a damn monster.
Having to explain…
Emma chose the perfect time to cry… oh that cry. It made her chest ache and anticipate the moment when she would be the one to comfort her.
She quickly made her way to her favorite table, it was always unoccupied, thanks to the people who feared her… some of the perks.
She instantly pulled a warm bottle out of her purse, breastfeeding was not an option.
She gently presses the bottle into Emma's crying mouth… instantly silencing her and receiving a helping little hand grasping the bottle as well.
This was their first breakfast at Granny's.
Breastfeeding…
She lets her mouth form a wide smile… if she paid any attention to her surroundings; she'd see a couple of people surprised at her careless and loving expression.
Breastfeeding was no option, she obviously never conceived a child… there was nothing there for her to give Emma. That didn't stop Emma last night from nibbling on Regina's left nipple, right through her blouse.
It was a pleasant surprise and very endearing.
Her child wanted milk, and as she held her for sleep, Emma decided she was hungry instead.
This time Regina let out an audible giggle at the memory.
"Mayor Mills, how nice to see you smiling." It was the wolf girl, always trying to but in.
"Yes, dear… well I have a child now and there is no sense in frowning all day now is there?"
Regina replies frowning in the process.
"Haha, ok Mayor Mills, gotcha! But either way, congrats… you look happy."
Ruby grabs her pen and nods pridefully.
"Now what would you like today?" She asks sweetly.
"The usual dear." Regina nods, taking in the wolf girls words.
The change was already happening, even they could see it.
She looks down at Emma in her arms and instantly smiles once again.
You really are my happy ending she thinks.