A/N: I'm a day late and I'm sorry. I hope you guys have some residual Valentine's Day feelings left. I promise mostly fluff.
Ruby Lucas knew a lot about the people of Storybrooke. This wasn't only due to her overhearing conversations while serving food, Ruby had a number of heightened senses that told her a lot more than words could. This was especially true for her sense of smell. She often smelled a customer before they entered her establishment, and that wasn't just true for the occasional hard-working man or dwarf who came in. Everybody had their very distinct mix of smells - sweat, soap, shampoo, perfume, after shave. Ruby could smell it all. And more.
Something Ruby had never told anyone and hadn't even discussed with Granny was the embarrassing fact that she knew who people... liked. In a very intimate way. She could, for example, say that one of the dwarfs had an intimate relationship with the widowed mother of three down the street. Or that her best friend was a very satisfied woman, or that her daughter had a very serious crush. While most of these little stories, as embarrassing as they were at times for Ruby, were not very surprising, that last fact had thrown Ruby for a loop.
She had noticed Emma's erratic heartbeat just before Christmas. She had looked up from her place at the counter one late afternoon and Emma had been sitting in her usual booth talking to... the mayor. It had been about Henry, Regina had given Emma a list with things he liked to eat. Just a regular conversation but Emma's heart had been beating just a little faster than usual, and she had transpirated, too.
Ruby had thought that maybe Emma wasn't as cool as she always pretended and that maybe she was just a little afraid of the Evil Queen, too. She had dismissed it. Only, after Christmas, she had detected the same thing happening with the mayor. Erratic heartbeat, transpiration but it only happened on those days that sheriff and mayor were both at the diner. It was certainly curious and Ruby had started to pay special attention to the two women.
After New Year's things seemed to heat up for a while. Ruby noticed dilated pupils when they looked at each other and the fact that they did look at each other across the room. It actually made the waitress a little dizzy, the tension between the blonde and the brunette seemed so palpable she wondered why nobody else saw it, or felt it even. But not even Granny had noticed.
And Ruby wondered, and Ruby worried. Could the savior actually have feelings for the Evil Queen? Was that even possible? It certainly wasn't advisable. And what about Snow? She didn't seem aware of what was going on... and what was really going on? Sexual attraction? Certainly, from the way they stared at each other. But feelings? The erratic heartbeat could point to that but it could be mere... arousal.
But then things had cooled down in the last month. There was still the residual transpiration, some looks but by February these things were so normal for Ruby that she didn't even look up anymore. She just knew when the sheriff and the mayor were both in the room, just the way she knew when Charming was coming into the door and Snow had already been waiting for him.
And then came St. Valentine's Day...
"Sooo, what do you and dad have planned for tonight?" Emma asked her mother over a late breakfast at the diner. "And do Henry and I need to clear out of the apartment for that?" she added with a wink.
Snow laughed.
"No, you actually got the place to yourself today because... your father has planned a whole day - and night, of course - just for us. I don't know where he takes me but... don't wait up for us."
"Aw, that's so sweet," Emma cooed and then stopped herself just in time to save her reputation from Ruby overhearing her as she served the two women their pancakes.
"Thanks, Ruby. It looks good, as always," Emma told the dark-haired woman who smiled.
"I talked Granny into making these 'specially for Valentine's Day," Ruby answered pointing at the heart-shaped breakfast treats.
"Aww, that's so precious," Snow said and took a bite. "They taste like pure love, too," she then added and they all laughed.
"I'm gonna tell Granny," Ruby promised and was about to go back to pick up more breakfast orders when she smelled... a very agitated mayor and looked at the door where the woman just made her appearance.
"Uh-oh," was the extend of warning she could give her friends when Regina spotted Emma and stalked over.
"I need to talk to you. Outside!" It was clear that she could barely reign in her temper and several people looked around themselves for the best escape route should the mayor start throwing fireballs.
"Excuse me, but I am having breakfast with my daughter. You might wanna check that attitude at the door next time," Snow answered Regina with a meaningful look toward Emma. But Emma wasn't looking at her mother, neither was Regina. They stared at each other.
"Now, if you please," the dark-haired woman merely said to the sheriff and turned on her heel. She stalked out of the diner and people actually exhaled in relieve.
Emma, meanwhile, rose from her seat.
"Emma?"
"Sorry, mom. It's probably about Henry." But somehow Emma didn't really think that it was about him.
Regina and Emma had come to an agreement about raising their son together. They had signed a joined custody agreement and were now parenting the boy alternating weeks at a time. It was working. While they rarely spoke and never shared a moment just like the ones on Christmas and New Year's, they remained amiable and friendly. Except at those times when Emma was watching those legs, or the blazing heat from Regina's eyes, the soft curves inside the confines of a power suit. To say, there was nothing going on between them would be a lie, to say, that there was anything actually going on, would be just as wrong.
Emma didn't know what this renewed aggression on Regina's side was about but she wasn't aware of any kind of lack in parental care she could have made so she just assumed that this was about their 'something-and-nothing-thing.' And she really didn't want anyone inside that diner to know about that, especially not her mother. That was why she followed Regina outside and was facing her a few short moments later in front of Granny's.
Regina had her back toward her, her breathing was coming in bursts and she was bent over slightly, her hands on her hips.
"Are you okay?" Emma asked concerned but Regina threw her such a scolding look over her shoulder that she didn't dare come near.
"No, I'm not okay," Regina answered and now that Emma had a better look at her she could see that Regina's skin had a greenish tint to it.
"Maybe you should..."
"Don't tell me what to do, this is all your fault!" Regina yelled at her and Emma took a step back. She looked back at the diner and saw several curious faces looking out at them. Regina seemed to become aware of them at the same time as she waved her hand over her head and all sound was sucked from their surrounding. Emma put her hands to her ears, the complete silence seemed to hurt them somehow.
"What did you do? Was that magic?"
"I gave us some privacy. I don't want anyone to hear this." Regina turned fully to Emma now and Emma expected a full-blown attack this time. She took another step back.
But nothing happened - no fireballs, no thunderbolts, not even a harsh word. Regina just looked at her for a long moment.
"What is wrong?" Emma asked.
"I'm... I'm pregnant." It came forth like a confession but from the look on the mayor's face it might have been a curse. She didn't look happy and Emma didn't feel very happy at this moment either. It had actually hit her like a kick in the stomach.
Pregnant... Regina was... pregnant. And there went all the silly romantic notions she had tried so hard to suppress since they had shared that kiss on New Year's. There went all the lusty dreams she hadn't been able to suppress, either. Regina had a man - and he had obviously given Regina something Emma could never give her.
"Did you hear what I said?" Regina's voice interrupted her inner thoughts and it sounded impatient.
"Yes, I... congratulations," Emma answered and tried a smile that wasn't convincing.
"Is that all you got to say?"
"What do you expect me to say? I mean... Henry's gonna have a sibling, that's great, right?"
"No," Regina said. "That's a disaster! And... what were you thinking?"
"What was I thinking? Regina, you're the one with..."
"What were you thinking that night, New Year's?" Regina specified her question but Emma looked back at her confused.
"I don't... what?"
"When we... when you kissed me, what exactly were you thinking?"
Emma found this a rather odd question but then she thought back and... blushed furiously.
"Emma!" Regina ground out in a threatening tone. "WHAT have you done?"
"I... nothing. I... just," the sheriff stammered.
"Tell me!" It was clear from her stance, from her voice that she wouldn't accept Emma refusing to answer.
The blonde shuffled her feet, looking down at them with a slight pout.
"I... I may have thought... I mean, it wasn't my fault, okay? It was just so nice... having dinner, being together as a family and... you looked... hot!" Emma took a deep breath before she blurted out:
"When we kissed I thought about making another baby with you."
For the longest moment there was no answer, just silence, and Emma dared looking up again.
Regina looked puzzled.
"Let me get this straight... so to speak," she finally said. "You thought about having sex with me?"
"Well... yeah," Emma said guiltily and blushed again.
"But you... thought about it... in those terms, that we were... making a baby?"
Emma nodded.
"It was so nice... kinda being a family and... I thought it would be amazing if we could... make another child between the two of us. But... I mean, that was just... idle thought. It doesn't mean any..."
"I can't believe this!" Regina exclaimed. "Are you actually this stupid, Miss Swan?!"
"I'm not..."
"New Year's kiss, two people with considerate magical powers and you wishing to make a baby with me?! What does that SPELL to you, sheriff?! Regina yelled at Emma again.
"Spell?" the blonde repeated the word that had been practically spat at her. "You mean, we... you mean, I... we... I knocked you up?! With magic?"
The wonder on Emma's face was almost endearing but then she frowned.
"Are you sure... it was me?" she asked.
"Am I sure? For your information, the last time I had sex with a man was with sheriff Graham, and as you very well know, he hasn't been around for a while," Regina answered cooly.
"I'm sorry, it's just so... that is actually my child in there?" Emma was pointing at the other woman's abdomen.
"Stop pointing, those idiots watching us might actually be able to read sign language."
Emma pushed her hand into her pockets but kept staring at Regina's middle.
"You're not gonna see anything yet, either, so stop staring," the dark-haired woman snapped.
Emma looked up into the angry dark eyes of the mayor.
"You don't want the baby?" she asked suddenly afraid that this miracle would come to a sudden halt.
"It's not a question of wanting, Emma... I was told... when I was married to Leopold, I was told that I wouldn't even be able to have children... to bear a child. And now... I'm pregnant!" she burst out and Emma could now plainly see that Regina was afraid, in panic actually.
"I'm gonna help... I mean, we're gonna raise it together - just like Henry," she heard herself say.
"Just like Henry? No... this is not gonna be like it is with Henry... this little girl... she's mine. She will live in my house and I'm gonna raise her. You're not gonna take her away from me!" Regina put her arms around her middle, looking at Emma defiantly.
"Calm down, please. We can talk about this..."
"No. I'm not gonna let you take her, not this time." Regina waved her hand again and the noises from around them penetrated their bubble again. Regina picked up her purse and walked away.
"Regina," Emma called after her but without any delusion that she could stop her. And maybe it was better this way, maybe they both needed to calm down a little, think about things. She was gonna be a... baby daddy.
"Oh, God. How am I supposed to pull that off?" she wondered aloud and then she slowly walked away from the diner, forgetting that her mother was inside waiting for her, forgetting about everthing but... the joyful news.
Emma had returned to the apartment but on finding a note there from Henry that he would be over at Hansel and Gretel's, she left again. And then she walked, thinking and walking. It was all so fantastical - but what hadn't been since she arrived in Storybrooke? It was a magical place, indeed... and then there was the fact - fact! - that she had made a baby with Regina... with a kiss. A kiss!
It had been a nice kiss, full of promise, full of... wishing for more. And that was probably exactly what she shouldn't have done - wishing. And Regina was right, it had been stupid of her. She should have known better. But then, nobody ever taught her anything about magic, she was on her own. If she could just ask someone...
Emma quickened her steps. She knew a person who knew everything about magic, maybe he could explain to her... how two women were able to make a baby.
She entered Mr. Gold's shop.
"Ah, good morning, sheriff. What can I do for you today? Are you looking for a token for a lover perhaps?"
"No, thank you. I'm here... I have some questions," Emma told the man.
"Questions? Is this about an investigation, deary? Do I have to call my lawyer?" Mr. Gold gave back with a comical smile.
"No investigation. I have some questions about... magic and I think you're the expert in this town."
"That I am," Gold said with a flourish of his hands. "I had actually thought you would visit me about this earlier. I could teach you, you know. I might have a couple of books..."
"No books," Emma interrupted the Dark One's ramblings. "I have some... specific questions about... something."
"Specific questions about... something? That doesn't sound very specific at all but... I guess. Ask your questions." He looked at her expectantly and she was about to do what he had asked of her when she remembered something.
"Are these questions for free or will I have to give you my first-born? Because I'm not giving up Henry, you know that."
"Ah, you learned. Very good. You seem... agitated, Emma, confused. I don't want to take advantage of you and I would really like to help you with your... understanding of magic. Let's say, today's price - just because it is St. Valentine's Day - is... one favor, a small one. How does that sound?"
Emma looked at Gold thoughtfully.
"You better not try to screw with me today, Gold. I'm really not in the mood," she warned him.
"No, I'm just trying to be... a mentor. Do we have a deal?"
"I guess," Emma said and stuck her hand out. Gold took it and they shook on it.
"Now, what is it you would like to know, savior?"
"Wishing. I would like to know... about wishing."
"Hmmm, well, that is easy. You find a well with magical powers and it gives you what you ask for. Next question," Gold said.
"It's a little different. What if... two people... on a night like, for example, New Year's... or on Christmas under the mistletoe... what if two people kissed, two people who... had magic..."
"That could certainly create a... magical moment," Gold agreed.
"And one of them was wishing for something... but only part of that came true..."
Emma was shaking her head. It didn't make a lot of sense, did it? Her wishing they'd make a baby and suddenly Regina was pregnant... it seemed wrong somehow but how could Regina be wrong about this?
"Only ONE of them wished for something?" Gold asked and Emma nodded.
"Yes, one of them wished... something... or thought of... something," she added not very helpfully.
"I'm not to know what that something was, am I?"
Emma shook her head in a vehement no.
"Hmmmm... tricky but my answer would be... that is impossible," Gold said.
"What? But..."
He lifted his hand to silence her. There was something in Emma Swan that day, he couldn't say what it was but her emotions seemed to just lie under the surface. She now looked at him with desperate, sad eyes. She obviously wanted for him to take back what he had said, she wanted it to not be true - and he wasn't sure what that something even was.
"It is impossible," he clarified. "for that wish to come true, even part of it, if only one of you... of the two people wished for it. You see, the kind of situation you described could only work its magic if the two people wished for the same thing at the same time."
Emma blinked her eyes rapidly, the sadness gone, the desperation gone. Incredulity there.
"Both of us had to... but... that little minx! She..." Emma became aware of Gold's presence just in time and blushed.
He smiled.
"Well, let's see... Miss Swan has kissed another woman with magical faculties on New Year's... it could have been a fairy, of course, but... as I recall that night you arrived at the library to watch the fireworks with... Henry and... the Evil Queen!" Gold giggled at the heightened color that rose to Emma's cheeks. Her jawmuscles worked and her green eyes were blazing at him.
"You. Will. Not. Repeat. Any of this. Do you hear me?"
He was still giggling in that unnerving high pitch.
"Oh, but this is too good to be kept secret. But wait... what could you have wished for?" he then asked.
"Forget it! It's not gonna happen. If you excuse me now, I think I have to have a word with the mayor." Emma turned and left the shop to Gold's renewed laughter.
Oh, this was bad, it was so bad. Regina would kill her... that was if Emma didn't kill her first!
Emma hammered at the door to the mansion. She didn't think ringing the bell would quite suffice for the energy she had or the anger she felt.
And then the door swung open and only just seeing the other woman dissipated some of that anger.
"What the... Miss Swan!" Regina said in an impossibly dignified voice that set Emma on edge.
"You lied!" Emma growled pointing at the other woman. "You said it was just me..."
"Come in here," Regina interrupted and grabbed Emma's jacket collar. She pulled her into the house and Emma flailed her arms in surprise.
"Careful," she barked but Regina had already let go of her and was closing the door.
"I don't think the neighbors should hear this, do you?"
"You lied!"
"You already said that, dear. And I'm not even going to give you an answer because I didn't. You did this!" And she was laying both her hands on her abdomen.
"Not about that. About it's all being my fault. It takes two to tango!" Emma accused and saw Regina flush. "You wished for this, too."
Her words hung in the air like an unpleasant smell. They looked at each other, stubbornly staring into each other's eyes.
"Who told you?" Regina finally asked.
"Gold."
"Of course, the imp. He was right, I wished for... something like this, too, even if my wish wasn't quite as... crude as yours."
She was trying for a superior air but Emma saw through the act - she was embarrassed about this.
"Tell me." the blonde gave the same command as Regina earlier but her voice was softer than the other woman's.
"I guess... I was just as nostalgic as you that evening. And possibly... lonely. I thought of... havng a family, another baby, a girl."
"That's why you know the gender? You wished for it?"
Regina nodded.
"You wanted a family? With me?"
"It was just... sentimentality. You said it, it already felt like family and I.. thought about completing the perfect family picture. Not necessarily with you."
"But you were kissing me," Emma argued.
"As I recall, you were the one who held on tight," Regina gave back lifting her chin in an attempt to save at least some of her dignity.
Emma shook her head.
"You could have just said so, you know? How long would you have had me believe it was all my doing?"
"Forever."
Regina was nothing if not brutally honest - sometimes. Emma shook her head.
"I can't believe this. How is this even possible?"
"It's magic, Emma. It happens when stupid people dabble in something they know nothing about and go around wishing... things."
"And we both made the same stupid mistake, Regina!" Emma yelled at the other woman who looked hurt. "I... I didn't mean that. I mean..."
Emma looked down at Regina's middle, to the place where right now their daughter was growing inside her. Could this really be a mistake?
"I think you better go," Regina said cooly.
"I didn't mean that she's a mistake, Regina."
"I want you to go, Emma."
And that was that. Emma left the mansion to a door slamming. And she would have liked to still be angry with Regina, to be indignant about Regina lying but she couldn't. Regina was carrying her baby and as much as that fact still freaked her out, it also made her incredibly happy. They had created a life, a tiny thing that was growing and would soon be a baby, a girl.
Emma smiled as she walked home. She was going to be a parent again, and this time she would be there to see her child grow up. And Henry would be a big brother. And Regina... would be the other mother. But what else would she be?
Emma sat at the kitchen table. She had a note pad lying before her and a pen in her hand. A million things were running through her mind right now. Baby names, telling her parents, not telling her parents, getting into the bug and away from here - stupidest idea ever! - telling Henry, calling a hotline for teen dads, calling a hotline for teen moms, calling someone she didn't even know just to tell them that she was going to be a baby daddy...
It was all nonsense - or most of it, anyway. She had to start at the beginning and maybe writing it down would make sense out of nonsense.
- I kissed Regina and magic happened (Xmas)
- I kissed her again and magic happened again. Then there was a pop. (New Year's)
- I thought about making a baby while I kissed her. She thought about having a baby, too.
- Regina is pregnant!
"Regina is pregnant," Emma said as if she needed to say it to make it more real or plausible. It wasn't plausible but it was very real.
- I want to help raise this baby, our baby.
- I want to be there for Regina. I have to help her. Not just after the baby is born but before.
- I have to apologize to Regina for being an ass!
She underlined this last item several times. It was the first thing she needed to do. She had to make sure, Regina knew that she wanted this baby, that she was going to be there for her. It was the most important thing right now. Emma got up from her seat and ran to the door. Then she thought better of it and ran back to the table. She took the note pad and stuffed it into her jacket pocket as she slipped into it. No need in having this kind of loaded gun lying around.
The door bell rang and Regina had the strong suspicion that it would once again be the sheriff... Emma. She felt tired and she didn't want to fight anymore. She thought about just not answering but knowing Emma the way she did, the sheriff would probably just keep ringing or kick down the door - or something equally obnoxious.
Regina walked to the door and opened it. She looked at... a giant bouquet of flowers.
"What...?"
The flowers lowered and the sheriff's face appeared above it. She looked contrite.
"Forgive me?"
Regina closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them again she was shaking her head.
"Emma..."
"Please, Regina. We will have to talk about this at some point. Why not get a headstart and have me make all the stupid mistakes now instead of when the baby is there?"
Regina sighed. She really didn't want to fight anymore, so maybe talking would actually be an alternative.
"Come in," she told the blonde.
They settled down in the kitchen, that was, Emma sat down on one of the stools while Regina arranged the flowers in a vase.
"I haven't seen Henry yet today? Don't tell me your parents are babysitting on Valentine's Day?"
"No, he's at Hansel and Gretel's," Emma answered which earned her a raised eyebrow from Regina.
"Those juvenile delinquents? Wonderful... and a second child on the way..."
"Regina," Emma said as she felt her patience stretch at the other woman's criticism.
"You can't just let Henry run wild like this. What if something happens...," but she didn't get any farther, she was hyperventilating.
Emma slipped from her stool and came over to the other woman but the mayor held her arm out to fend her off.
"Don't," she breathed but Emma took her arm and stepped closer. She started rubbing Regina's back, then pulled her closer until she held her.
"It's okay. Just breathe, concentrate on breathing."
They both had their eyes closed as they stood, Regina still fighting to relax into Emma's arms but finally giving in. She slipped her hands around Emma's waist, burying her face in Emma's neck.
"It's okay, Regina. You can let go, I'm here for you."
"I'm scared," the mayor confessed and Emma nodded.
"Me too, but we got this. We can do it," Emma tried to reassure where she still wasn't all that confident. They stood like this for a while.
"How about I make us some cocoa and we can sit in the living room and talk about this?" the blonde then suggested and Regina nodded.
"I'll have tea," she said and was about to pull away from the sheriff to get busy in her kitchen but Emma held her and they looked into each other's eyes.
Emma's hand rose to Regina's face as if pulled by an invisible string. She just held the other woman's chin for a moment as their eye contact held.
"I'm gonna make the tea. Why don't you go sit down, try to... not overthink it all. I'll be right with you," she said and for once Regina nodded. She left the kitchen to Emma and the blonde made sure that the mayor was gone before she leaned heavily agains the kitchen counter. She took several deep breaths.
'I don't even know what I'm doing,' she thought and it was the truth. But Regina needed her and she would be there for the other woman, would be her rock. There was always time to fall apart later.
They were sitting in the living room, for a change next to each other on one of the sofas. Emma was casually holding Regina's hand in one of her own while her head rested in the other one.
"What are you so scared of, Regina? We already are parents, and you did a good job with Henry. He's a happy boy, smart, outgoing."
"I wasn't prepared for this, Emma. And don't even pretend that you were."
"I'm not. I would never have... I mean, I guess I thought that there may be another child in my future but..." Emma shook her head.
"Not with me," Regina said.
"Well, maybe if I'd known that it was possible," Emma answered with a smirk.
"Be serious, please."
"I think that you're a great mother and any child of mine is lucky to have a mom like you."
Emma let her eyes linger on Regina's face and finally the dark-haired beauty turned her head.
"To make up for your recklessness, no doubt," she then said, her caramel-colored eyes not quite serious.
"No doubt... I was going to say, though, that I haven't had any definite thoughts about having another baby. But... one isn't always prepared for it to happen."
"I just feel... like I have no control at all. We talked about this on Christmas, my magic just reacts with yours and... I can't..."
"Don't overthink this, Regina."
Emma's hand massaged the one she was holding with her thumb and Regina sighed.
"I hate to not be in control," she confessed as if it was news.
"I can tell," Emma said. "But it's gonna be alright. I'm here for you, Henry will be here for you. We're gonna be as much of a family as we can be."
"Does that include the two idiots, too?" Regina asked with a roll of her eyes.
"If you're referring to my parents, yes, they'll have their part in this, too. If they want it," Emma added with a frown.
"You think they won't?" There was surprise in Regina's voice and she looked at Emma with something akin to worry.
"I don't even know how to tell them about this. I... I don't know if they'll understand."
"That you kissed me? Or that you hoped for more to happen? That we made a baby by wishing for... something perfect and permanent?"
"All of the above."
Emma sat looking at their combined hands for a while. It felt strange but also strangely comfortable to her sitting with Regina like this, talking to her. If they had stopped and tried to do this earlier who knew the kind of things they could have accomplished. But they were here now and they were talking. It felt good and almost natural to be doing this.
"Your parents will come around. This is your baby, after all," Regina now reassured Emma and the blonde looked up at her. Regina's eyes were serious and confident.
"Yeah, I guess..."
"Your parents consider themselves good people, Emma. They would never not love a child just because they... hate me. They love you more than they hate me. We'll not be sitting around one table at Turkey day anytime soon but... this child will always be welcome at your parents' table."
Emma looked at Regina's middle again where Regina's other hand lay as if already protecting the baby that was growing inside her. Emma disentangled her own hand from the other woman's and lay her hand on the mayor's as of yet flat tummy.
"What are you doing?" Regina asked and Emma could tell that the gesture made her uncomfortable.
"I used to do that... when I was pregnant, even this early. I... somehow I thought that the baby could feel the warmth of my hand. I know it's silly but..."
"It's a maternal instinct," Regina said and Emma nodded.
"Yeah, I guess."
Emma concentrated on the feel beneath her hand. It was far too early to feel anything, it was probably too early to feel an attachment, too, and still Emma felt it.
"She's gonna be remarkable."
"Of course, she will be. Look at who her parents are," Regina agreed and they laughed together.
"So we're gonna do this together." There was only the hint of a question in her voice and she looked up at Regina. The dark-haired woman nodded.
"Yes," she confirmed.
"Good," Emma said. She took her hand from Regina's abdomen and took her hand again. Her expression was thoughtful. "I think we should start dating," she then blurted out.
"Excuse me!" Regina demanded, obviously confused by Emma's train of thought and how she jumped from caring for a child together to dating.
"I'm sorry, I... I should have asked. Regina, do you wanna go on a date with me?" Her hopeful eyes looked up at the mayor and Regina was tempted to just say yes and think about the consequences later. But this wasn't just about two very enchanting green eyes, a sweet smile and - from what she could tell - very competent lips when it came to kissing with them. This was about much more than wanting to indulge in some frivilous and possibly naked activities, it was about responsibility and consequences. They had already made a baby through mere kissing. Who could tell what would happen if they... did more than that?
"No," she answered Emma's question and saw the hopeful expression fall.
Emma opened her mouth to protest but then closed it again. She looked down at their combined hands before she spoke:
"I thought... we should," she said. There may have been more words to follow these but Emma felt unable to form them.
"We absolutely shouldn't, Emma. We're just not meant to be, we're too different."
"Different is good," Emma argued with a pout.
"Not when it's the difference between good and evil. We would only hurt each other - and our children," Regina gave back.
Emma shook her head. She didn't believe that but she knew that she wouldn't be able to convince Regina that they could be happy together. Not now, at least.
"I'll be asking you again, you know," she said as a way of fair warning and Regina laughed.
"Just don't get your hopes up, I'm said to be very stubborn."
"We'll see," Emma said with a small smile. "Have you thought about a name yet?" she then changed the topic.
Regina raised an eyebrow but then shook her head.
"I've only been at the doctor's this morning. There wasn't really any time."
"Have you never thought about possible baby-names for a girl... is it sure that it will be a girl? I mean... I didn't think of... having a girl when we... kissed," Emma stammered.
"No, you were busy imagining other details, I'm sure," Regina said with a smirk and saw the blonde blush furiously.
"Don't blame me. Have you ever seen yourself?" Emma countered with a smirk of her own.
To both their surprise, Regina blushed at the compliment. She tried to come up with an answer but couldn't quite overcome how sexy Emma looked at that moment with the heightened color on her cheeks but a cocky smirk on her delicious lips. She licked her own and swallowed at the overwhelming emotions and the desire to kiss those lips again. She had dreamed of a moment like this, she had remembered and desired for them to be alone. And then she felt Emma's hand on her cheek, pulling her closer, her breath on her face before her lips closed around her own. And she let it happen because she couldn't resist.
The kiss build slowly, their lips taking the time to get reacquainted. And for once, there was no magic, for once there was just lips touching, breaths mingling, minds jumbling out of line with coherent thoughts. And then their tongues touched briefly and a stab of desire pierced Regina so violently that she moaned loudly. Hearing herself, the abandon, the loss of control in her voice brought her to her senses and she pushed at Emma and they parted.
They were both breathing erratically, not able to look at each other but still sitting closely. Emma took her hands from Regina's neck, Regina hers from Emma's upper body missing the supple softness under her hands immediately. But there was no rethinking this, Regina knew it was ridiculous to want something that was potentially destructive to her son's happiness - and to her daughter's happiness.
"We shouldn't be doing this," she said.
"You're hard to resist," Emma confessed.
"As are you," Regina gave back and they still weren't looking at each other.
Emma leaned back into the sofa cushions, Regina's nearness made her dizzy and wanting. They didn't touch anymore but still the residue of heat hung in the air. They both simply breathed for a while.
"I like Charlotte," Emma then said and Regina had to laugh in relieve. There would be no more drama that day, they would just gloss over the rocky parts in their conversation, their... relationship.
"Charlotte Mills. It does have a nice ring to it," she agreed.
"Charlotte Swan-Mills," Emma corrected and Regina looked at her questioningly.
"She's our baby, she's going to have both our names," Emma simply said and waited for Regina to agree.
"Charlotte Swan-Mills... Henry Swan-Mills... I guess, there are worse names a person could have. I'm actually glad you didn't suggest to call her Snow White."
Emma grinned.
"It has crossed my mind but I knew you would never approve. Just as I would never let you call her Cora," Emma made clear.
"I guess if I'm wrong and it'll be a boy... you're gonna insist on David... or James?"
"Possibly," Emma said. "Probably James."
"James Swan-Mills? There are a whole lot of s-es in that one. David Swan-Mills sound better."
"We could always call him Rumplestiltskin," the sheriff suggested and found herself pierced by an incredulous look.
"That's not even funny," Regina said, even though Emma was already laughing.
"You're just against it because it wasn't your idea," the blonde teased.
"I swear..."
"I would never call any of our children Rumplestiltskin, don't worry."
Any of our children. It seemed they became aware of the phrase at the same time and looked at each other in silent question.
"So Charlotte for a girl, and David for a boy?" Regina quickly said before either of them could contemplate a possible answer.
"I think we should think about it some more... I like Charlotte but maybe we'll find a better name yet," Emma argued.
"She would probably be called Charlie all the time."
"Is that a bad thing?" Emma countered.
"I'm not sure. Maybe we should make it Charlotte and Charles."
They were rambling at this point, or sparring, not thinking anymore just talking.
"You have the same problem with Charles that you have with James," Emma pointed out.
"True," Regina acknowledged and then stopped. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back into the couch.
Emma watched Regina, admired the wide plains of her face, the strong jawline, the defiant chin, those lips... her scar. She swallowed.
In the last few weeks since New Year's her feelings for this woman had been so conflicting, so close under the surface. It had been an emotional turmoil, torn between physical attraction and the sheer want for this woman, her former aggravation and hatred for her and then... tender feelings... which may turn out to be love. There had never been any hope. But suddenly, everything's changed. She was sitting next to her now, close enough to touch. But not letting her. It was a different kind of torture and there were other people to consider.
"We're gonna have a baby," she said. Such a simple sentence, such a grand responsibility.
Regina looked at her.
"Yes, we're gonna have a baby."
It was later than Emma would have liked it to be when she climbed the stairs inside the apartment. She had noticed the light on the upper level when she'd entered the apartment and was glad that Henry was still awake. She walked to the entrance between two curtains they had hung as a way to give them some semblance of privacy and asked:
"May I come in?"
"Yeah, sure," came the prompt answer. "You're late," Henry added as she pulled the curtains apart.
"I know, I'm sorry. I had... things to discuss with Regina."
"You didn't fight again, did you? I heard that you were fighting this morning at the diner?" Henry didn't seem happy about this piece of news, he frowned.
"We did but... well, we'll probably be fighting again at some point but... we talked about it."
"What were you fighting about?" Henry asked the question she had known and feared would come.
They had talked about this, Regina and Emma. They knew Henry had to know, that he had to be the first to know about the new baby. They had talked about talking to him together or individually. Emma had suggested that she would tell him as soon as possible, that night. She felt they both owed him that kind of truthfulness. Regina had agreed, maybe she was even relieved that this part fell to Emma, that she had chosen it.
Emma sat down on the bed, as close to a cross-legged Henry as she could.
"There're some news... big news and we... had to talk about it. It concerns you, too, in a way and we... thought it best that you knew as soon as possible."
"You're not going to die, are you?" Henry guessed and there was panic in his eyes.
"No," Emma quickly said. "I'm not gonna die, and neither is your mom. We... that is, she... your mother is pregnant," she stammered.
"Pregnant?" Henry asked wide-eyed. "But... how?"
"Well, erm...," Emma started.
"Forget that, I know how but who?" Henry corrected himself. "Who's the father?"
"I am," Emma answered.
"When did the two of you have sex? And.. how... that's not even possible!" he protested and Emma grinned.
"Calm down for a second, kid," she told him and she took one of his hands, much like she'd done with Regina. She messaged it with both her own. "You were actually present when it happened," she told him and he looked at her bewildered.
"New Year's, remember? We... kissed - on your insistence, I might add - and... magic happened. And that magic created what will be... your sister."
"You made a baby with magic?"
Emma nodded.
"We were both thinking about how nice it is to... have a family and that let to the thought of having another baby. We must have thought it at the same time and... it reacted as a wish. Our combined magic, the traditional setting... and we made a life."
"Wow," Henry exclaimed and Emma could only agree. "That is... wow."
"I know, it's big. And, for the time being, Regina and I would like for it to remain a secret between the three of us," she said.
Henry looked up at her.
"You're not gonna tell grandma and granddad?"
"Eventually... but... not right now. I need some time to... think about what to say, how to explain."
"Just explain it as you explained it to me," he said.
"They won't be happy about this, Henry."
"Why not?"
"You know why," Emma told him and he nodded.
"Because they hate mom," he said clenching his jaw.
"You know why, you know the story."
"She changed, she's trying to change," he argued.
"I know... and maybe they'll come around and... see it but... they'll need some time."
"You're not gonna be able to keep this a secret for long. I mean, mom's gonna... get big," he said.
Emma smiled.
"Yeah, she will. She's gonna be...," but she stopped herself when she saw Henry's questioning face. "I will tell them before she's gonna show. Are you gonna keep the secret?"
"Sure," he agreed. "Does this mean... does it mean that you and mom... are we gonna be a real family?" His face was hopeful and it seemed younger and more vulnerable than she's ever seen it. He wanted this... and, in truth, she wanted it, too. For him, for herself, for Regina... and their baby.
"Regina and I are not couple, Henry. Not in the traditional sense of the word. We will raise you both together but... we're not gonna get married, or something."
"Don't you love her?" he asked another hard question and this time she felt the need to - maybe - lie.
"Not like a lover, not like she needs to be loved."
Henry's face fell. He leaned back into his cushions, an adorable pout on his face.
"But...," Emma heard herself say and he looked up at her. "... we'll still be a family. We may not be living together but... I'll be there for you and Regina and the baby. Always," she vowed.
This seemed to perk him up a little and he smiled. He leaned forward and hugged Emma and she held onto him for a long while.
"I love you, kiddo," she said.
"I love you, too," he answered.
"It'll be great, you see. You're gonna be a big brother."
