The heat pooling from the containers holding Regina's pizza were doing well of warming Emma though she continued to shiver where she stood on the doorstep. Nervousness had began to creep up on her the moment she stepped onto the stood of the mayoral mansion and, try as she might, Emma couldn't fight it. Talking to Regina about the baby-about Gwen-was an inevitable outcome of tonight especially considering that Emma had brought Gwen along with her. Emma knew how she felt about Regina, she had known even before the former mayor had stumbled through the street in the middle of the night in all her regal glory to berate Emma for making her have feelings. Because of that fateful night, Emma also knew how Regina felt about her but getting Regina to admit that again while not drunk and spiraling down from an orgasm would be more difficult than pulling shark teeth out of a live sharks maw. No matter how she went at it, her hand was going to get bit off in the process and she'd have to deal with the fallout all on her own. Being brave enough for something like that should have come naturally, being the daughter of the oh so great Prince Charming after all, but it didn't. Luckily, she had coconut cookies as a peace offering to distract Regina from murdering her when Emma went all Dr. Phil on her feelings. This could work, this would have to work because Emma was not about to pass up the chance of getting to watch Gwen develop within Regina.

"Psst, Mom!" Gwen nudged Emma's hip with the tip of the container holding Henry's cheese pizza and the sausage pepperoni pepper mess Gwen and Emma would share to get Emma's attention, "You gonna knock or are we gonna stand in the cold? Cause our yummies are getting cold too."

Emma smiled down at her child, shifting Regina's cookies under her arm to pat the girls shoulder affectionately, "I was just taking a moment to collect myself. Remember the ground rules?"

Gwen sighed in an agitated way and shifted from one foot to the other impatiently, "I'm not allowed to call Mommy, Mommy 'cause we have to keep it a secret unless we absolutely have to tell her. And Henry can't know either 'cause he'll tell Mommy."

"Right good. Let's do this." Sucking in one more calming breath, Emma stepped forward to knock the tip of her boot against the pristine door of the mansion. They didn't have to wait long before it was ripped open to reveal Regina in all of her glory with a curious Henry peeking around her profile at the strange girl standing beside his blond mother. And as always was the case, Emma's breath died in her lungs and her brain fried at the sight of Regina Mills.

The former mayor was dressed surprisingly casual in compassion to her usual power suits and tailored skirts that made her ass look like heaven itself. Surprisingly she was barefoot, her manicured nails painted a pretty blue color to match the blue of yoga pants she had on. More appropriately worded, the blue yoga pants painted onto the feminine curve of her hips, the toned slopes of her thighs running all the way down her slim calves to her bare ankles. Emma's mouth was at conflict, not sure if it wanted to water or go dry. But then she took in the loose fitting black shirt the brunette wore and the way it hung off one shoulder to bare the olive toned sternum and free a shoulder to be nipped at by the cold air getting in. Emma resisted the urge to step forward and press her lips to the exposed flesh. The brunettes short hair was clipped back, out of her face that happened to be free of makeup and obviously tired but in the best of ways. So this was a pregnant Regina, well, Emma liked. Emma liked a lot.

"Hey Emma!" Henry popped out from behind Regina and gave his mother a short wave that Emma returned.

"Hey Kid."

"Miss Swan," Regina's eyes dropped to the cookies tucked under Emma's arm and-fuck-she licked her lips and Emma nearly fainted, "Your not entirely useless it seems. Did you get the brand I told you too?"

"Ah…oh! The cookies, right, yeah. Here." Emma struggled to hand them over, shaking with nerves still and now shaking from her struggle to stop her body's desire to reach for the brunette only an arms length away. Regina raised an inquisitive brow at Emma but said nothing, taking the proffered package of cookies. Then her eyes caught sight a rainbow colored hat that, oddly, was attached to the head of a strange child. And it was like Regina melted before Emma's eyes. A beautiful smile bloomed on the former mayors face and the brunette woman dropped to a knee in front of Gwen, holding out a hand towards the girl.

"Why hello little one. Who might you be?"

Gwen stepped forward to place her hand in her mothers after shooting Emma a hesitant glance. Brown eyes and ocean colored eyes locked in an intense way that made Emma think the two Mills were sharing a silent conversation though what they could be saying, Emma didn't know. She watched Regina's face for any kind of recognition, any flash of knowing but all she saw was the softest of smiles and the burning mixture of feelings hiding behind Regina's eyes, just out of Emma's reach of understanding, all directed towards the child.

"I'm Gwyneth Milan and it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance Miss Mills," Gwen glanced past Regina towards Henry and gave her brother a goofy smile, "Hey Henry."

Regina's face showed her surprise at Gwen's polite introduction and, partly, her knowledge of Henry's name. She gave Gwen's hand one last shake before standing back on her sore feet, reaching out to protectively lay a hand on her currently flat stomach. Something Emma didn't miss.

"Hi." Henry stared at the girl with his eyes narrowed. She sure looked a heck of a lot like both of his moms. The siblings shared a stare off until Gwen silently handed the pizzas to Regina with a kind smile and followed Henry into the mansion without a word being spoken between the two. Both woman watched the children go with a mixture of bewilderment and amusement that faded into equal parts adoration when giggled began floating from the place the kids had disappeared off too.

"So," Emma spoke, bringing Regina's intensely beautiful eyes back to her, and held out the Tupperware container she held with Regina's pizza in it, "I made you something."

Regina dropped her eyes to it, sniffing in a haughtily way, "I see that. What is it?"

Emma shuffled the tip of her boot along the welcome matt to distract herself from her own awkward shyness while also trying to hide the blush warming her cheeks, "It's, ah, pizza. Chicken spinach and feta on hand tossed crust. Don't worry. It's not poisoned or anything."

Emma grinned when Regina huffed and folded her arms at the jab, turning her head away. Emma instantly missed the attention of those eyes.

"Cute Miss Swan. Very cute. Just know that the only reason I'm not blasting you down my walk right now is because you brought me cookies and that adorable child you brought with you is still inside. So, if you'd please, come in. My feet are getting cold standing here." With the Regina turned and, with every bit of sass stored inside that small body, stormed away swaying her hips, leaving the door open behind her for Emma to come through. Emma tilted her head, grinning, to watch that ass in those yoga pants.

"Now Miss Swan!" Damn, caught staring. Like a scolded puppy, Emma scuttled inside with her head bowed, closing the door behind her, and followed the master of the house into the kitchen.

Regina had already taken the pizza out of the containers and put them on separate plates by the time Emma came in. All of Henry's cheese was set on a platter and Emma and Gwen's mess of a pizza on another. She smiled at it fondly, thinking back to their flour fight and the careless way they had decorated that pizza.

"Miss Swan, what are you smiling at?" Emma looked up from the pizza to Regina's curious face, tingling from the intensity of her gaze.

"Nothing. Here you go. I'll go get the kids," She held in the snigger at her own choice of wording, choosing the smirk instead which earned her another look from her brunette counterpart, "and make sure they are washed up."

Regina was slow to reach for the container being offered to her, eying Emma up and down instead. Because of her eyes being locked on Emma she didn't noticed what her hands were doing until her fingers brushed against Emma's. The two jumped at the contact, each feeling the buzz burning up their veins aimed straight for their quivering hearts. Emma was the first to step away, all but dumping the pizza onto Regina, and stumbled out of the kitchen in a hurry to escape the scorching feelings passing between them. Breathing became a hard task, each intake being molten and feeling like lead inside her lungs. God, the things Regina did to her and without even trying to boot! Sighing, Emma followed the sound of giggles straight to Henry's room and peeked through the cracked door.

The sight awaiting her on the other side of that door turned her already erratically beating heart to mush. Henry was leaned against the headboard of his bed with his beloved fairytale book splayed open in his lap, his hand pointing out a picture on the page for Gwen to look at while he read to her. Gwen sat snug against her brothers side with her little head rested on his shoulder, smiling and nodding along with everything he was saying like he was Jesus teaching his disciples. She lived on every word he breathed with an insurmountable amount of trust for the brunette she sat beside, her eyes wide with excitement and mouth smiling a small, little smile. Gwen adored her big brother, Emma could see that now. She almost felt guilty for breaking up their time together.

"Hey you kids, dinner is ready. Let's go get those grubby hands clean or your Mom will murder me for getting any speck of dirt on her shiny cutlery." Both children snapped their heads up at Emma's voice, sporting impish grins that didn't bode with Emma. She narrowed her eyes at them, watching them through the eyes of a suspicious mother as they hopped off the bed and moved past her into the bathroom. She could hear their loud whispers over the top of the water running.

"Gwen…" Emma stood in the doorway of the bathroom, still giving her children her best motherly look. Gwen didn't look up from the soup Henry was helping her lather onto her hands, just a little twitch of her nose told Emma she even heard her. And Henry, he was glancing at Emma from beneath his eyelashes every two seconds. Something was definitely up.

"Gwyneth, did you break our ground rules?"

Gwen and Henry shared a look but neither said anything. That practically confirmed Emma's wanting question.

"Gwen! You said you wouldn't do that!"

Gwen finally looked at Emma and the woman wished she hadn't. Her little lip was poked out in the cutest pout, her big eyes looking like shimmering seas swirling from the aftermath of a monstrous storm. Oh that pout. Who ever taught her that pout was going to pay for it dearly later.

"But Mom it's not my fault! Henry figured it out and kept asking me questions until I accidentally said something. He tricked me!"

Henry gasped and shook his head, giving his little sister his best version of their brunette mothers patent glare, "That's not true at all Mom. I asked if she was related to you and she told me the whole story! She also said-"

Gwen squeaked and rushed to cover Henry's mouth, staring deeply into his eyes to convey something she couldn't say out loud, "That part is our secret Henry! You can't tell Mom!"

Henry's brows dipped in confusion, and he pulled Gwen's hand from his mouth by her wrist, "But you said-"

"Yeah but we have to wait until the time is right. It's not right yet."

The siblings nodded to one another then shifted their gazes to their shared blond mother staring at both of them with that look that made them believe they were in serious trouble. Being children of Regina Mills made them nearly impervious to any kind of threat or fear so they merely shrugged her and moved past her hips to hurry downstairs to the dinning room, leaving Emma confused and slightly upset for being left out of the loop. Kids these days. She gave a huff and a roll of her eyes, stomping down the steps to join her family in the dinning room.

Gwen was being helped into a chair by Henry who was smirking at his sisters little legs. They were practically the same age in this time era, Henry only a few years ahead, and yet Gwen had the height of a toddler. Once she was in the chair, she shot Henry a glare like she knew he had been disrespecting her height even if he didn't say it aloud. Regina sat at the head of the table with her eyes closed, her mouth moving slightly from chewing on a mouthful of the pizza she held between her hands. Emma could see crumbles of coconut cookie atop the already lavished pizza and, judging from the pleased sounds vibrating in Regina's throat, she was enjoying the seemingly disgusting combination. Emma took the seat on Regina's left, watching her counterpart eat her pregnancy craving modified pizza through a thin layer of obvious disgust.

"Mmm, Miss Swan this is probably the best pizza I have had the privilege of eating in such a long while," Regina cracked her eyes open, flicking her russet eyes over Emma's face like she was trying to memorize Emma's reaction to the small compliment, "Which restaurant to you buy it from? I'd like to know for future trips."

Gwen's giggling from her seat attracted Regina's attention, which the girl smiled at once she realized she had it. She nibbled at her pizza, not taking her eyes off her mother, who continued to stare at the girl.

"What is so funny Gwyneth?"

"Call me Gwen ma'am. Please." Gwen smiled and Henry hid his smirk behind his pizza, or so he thought, Emma caught it and sent the boy a warning glare.

Unconsciously, a smile crept onto Regina's face at the girls sweetness and she gave the girl a little nod of acquiescence, "Okay Gwen, what do you find so funny?"

Gwen set her pizza on the plate and reached for a napkin to wipe her lips with, Henry had to help her for her arms to were to short to make the reach alone, "Thank you Henry." She gave her brother a warm smile that she turned on Regina, "Well, Emma didn't buy these pizzas. That's what I thought was funny. Me and Emma-"

"Emma and I." Regina corrected out of habit. Gwen nodded but pouted for being interrupted.

"Emma and I made them ourselves! 'Cause we're the coolest, right Emma?"

"Your dang right we are, First Mate! The world isn't even ready for us."

Gwen shook her head solemnly as if this was a serious topic, giving a little sad sigh towards her slice of pizza, "It's true. They just don't know how to handle all of our awesomeness."

Mother and daughter shared smiles that, after watching for a moment, Henry joined in on, throwing a protective arm around his little sisters shoulders. Regina watched on curiously from her place at the table, nibbling daintily at her pizza that she couldn't tear her self away from no matter she tried. She had already eaten three pieces.

"Well Miss Swan, I must say I'm surprised you had the capability to create anything without messing it up."

Emma ignored the sting she felt from Regina's jibe, choosing instead to bite into a piece of pizza and speak around it, "I made Henry and he didn't come out to bad I think."

Regina waved a dismissive hand, "That is obviously all my doing. I am, after all, the one who raised him. You were merely the means." Henry cleared his throat to interrupt his mothers banter before it turned into a serious fight, gathering both of their gazes, "Ah, Emma you got some flour, right next to your ear."

Emma gasped and dropped her pizza onto her plate, immediately reaching up to rub away the offending particles. In her haste to rub it away she caught sound of Gwen's melodious giggling and saw the girl trying to stifle them behind her hands from the corner of her eye. She narrowed her eyes and pointed an accusing finger towards Gwen.

"You said I got it all off! Did you lie to me?"

Gwen shook her head, giggles still pouring from her parted lips, then switched thoughts and nodded, "Yup."

Emma narrowed her eyes, "Oh you are so dead."

Gwen screamed a delightful scream and hopped down from her stool to speed away. Emma had already lunched from her chair and had intercepted the girl before she could even get out of the room, picking her up and throwing her over her shoulders. Slowly she began spinning, making sure she stayed away from walls to prevent Gwen from hitting any extremities on, and was rewarded by loud giggling. Gwen tried to swat at her mothers back but it proved as useless as trying to knock a dam down with a stick.

"Henry! Help! Quick, help me!"

Henry grabbed a fork from the table and stood on his chair, pointing it towards Emma as if the fork were actually a sword, "Unhand her you fiend! I am Henry the Coolest and Bravest of all the realms and you have to listen to me!"

Emma stopped spinning to eye her sons daunting pose and the smirk on his face, so very like Regina's smirk. She stuck her tongue out at the boy and gripped Gwen a little tighter to her, making it obvious no child was going to be unhanded.

"Bring it on kid!"

"Henry Mills!" All eyes switched to Regina's blazing brown ones. The former queen sat primly at the table, leg thrown over the other, with a coconut cookie in one hand which she used to point at her son. She managed to command her son with just that look, as only a mother could, and watched his every step as he slowly replaced his feet with his butt on the chair. He sulked instantly, shooting glances at his blond mother still holding his baby sister captive.

Emma gloated with a smile, giving Gwen a pat on the back, before letting the girl down onto her feet. The little brunette swayed a little from dizziness, trying to walk and ended tripping over the tip of her other shoe and falling directly in Regina's lap. The woman startled, jumping just a small inch off the chair, and looked down at the girl draped over her thighs. Slowly, Gwen lolled her head to the side to smile up at Regina, sea green eyes twinkling. Regina placed a warm palm in the middle of Gwen's back, feeling the steady rise and fall of her breathing and the pounding of her little heartbeat. A heartbeat that seemed so familiar already.

"Are you alright dear?"

"Yes ma'am. It was a lotta fun, don't be mad at Emma just 'cause it was dangerous."

Regina's brows shot up from surprise at Gwen's knowing of what Regina was already thinking. Gwen smiled knowingly at her mother, wiggling a little to free her arm from underneath her so she could grab for Regina's free hand. Once she had it encased between her two hands, Gwen hugged it against her chest, just above her beating heart. Then she stared up into Regina's russet eyes, willing her mother to understand what Gwen was trying to tell her without words. When Regina just stared down at Gwen hugging her hand against her with that same perplexed look, Gwen moved one of her hands to splay it gently across Regina's abdomen. Finally, Regina understood. A gasp tore from the former queens red lips, tears filling her eyes, an all consuming feeling filling her up from the tips of her toes to the crown of her head. She moved her hand from Gwen's back to lightly pull her fingers through Gwen's soft hair, scratching at the scalp with her blunt nails lightly the way she use to do with Henry.

"Gwen…" Regina whispered lovingly, cradling the back of her child's head with her palm. She gently prided her hand from Gwen's hold but still held it close to the girls heart, tapping her fingertip against Gwen's sternum to the echo of each beat.

Emma watched the entire interaction from where she still stood, emotions running wild inside her. That was her child and that was her child's mother, loving one another in a strange embrace. Sharing a beautiful moment that she was blessed to see. Regina had never looked so beautiful to Emma than in that moment, completely unguarded by her high walls and just simply loving Gwen with her eyes and the soft way she held her daughter. A little contented sigh was growing in her chest but she held it down, afraid it would disturb this moment.

"Henry, dear, why don't you and Gwen go get dessert in the fridge? I need to speak with Emma." Regina helped Gwen to her feet, smoothing her hair down lovingly, before pushing her gently towards Henry.

"Sure Mom," Henry took Gwen's hand, tugging her into the kitchen, "C'mon Gwen. Mom made apple pie."

"Oh! That's my favorite!"

Once both children were out of sight, Regina whirled on Emma, eyes blazing with a terrifying fury. Slowly Emma began stepping away from Regina's wrath but the brunette followed her until Emma's back came in contact with a wall and she had no where else to go. Like the predator she was, Regina stalked towards Emma, all sass with hips swaying and lips pulled tight into a snarl. Her finger came up to jab Emma's chest roughly, knocking the air from the blond.

"Miss Swan! You will kindly explain to me what the hell is going on and how that girl," Regina gestured towards where Gwen had just left with Henry, "Is here. Now. And as old as she is."

Emma opened and closed her mouth a few times, trying to come up with a good response but ended up saying something she didn't plan on saying at all. Stupid as ever Emma threw up the words and immediately wished she hadn't the moment they tumbled out.

"Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant with my child Regina?"

Regina's eyes widened and she stepped back, both of her hands coming to rest on her stomach housing their child. Housing Gwen. Seeing the look on Regina's face set a fire in Emma's eyes and the tables were instantly turned. She began stalking Regina as the brunette slowly backed from her.

"I mean, you came over, kissed me, let me love you and whispered that you loved me in my ear-"

"I did no such thing!" Regina snarled but Emma could tell, she was lashing out because of the fear burning behind her eyes.

" And then in the morning you just left. Now your pregnant, some fucking how, and its mine. And you don't even have the decency to tell me. What? Did you plan on keeping me out of the loop? Plan on raising our child without my ever knowing? Were you planning on telling me at all!? God damn it Regina, stop looking at me like that and tell me!" Emma's chest was heaving, shameful tears were burning her eyes and making the bridge of her nose sting. She didn't even bother to wipe them away when they began to roll down her cheeks, to focused on Regina's face. The brunette watched the tears and flinched when they dripped from her chin to hit the floor below.

"Regina." Russet eyes lifted and locked with Emma's, the both of them trying to force the other to see something but they were trying to force different things for compatibility to work.

"I…Miss Swan…Emma, can this wait?"

"No. Now."

"Emma please," Regina reached out to touch her fingertips lightly against the back of Emma's hand, looking at into Emma's face with a pleading look, "Please. Just until after Henry and Gwen have gone to sleep. Please."

Emma let out a shuttering breath, relenting instantly the moment she felt Regina's touch, "Fine," She whispered gently, turning her hand around the grip Regina's fingers, "But I want answers Regina. I want to know how its possible, if you were going to tell me, I want you to tell me everything."

"And I will. I promise. But you have to tell me about Gwen too and how its possible that she is here."

"You have yourself a deal Miss Mills."

Holy crap. You guys are so fucking awesome. I mean, all the attention for just this one story? I do declare. The shout out on tumblr, thank you ma'am! And all your awesome reviews. You guys are gonna make me blush, shoot! Also, many of you seem to be worried about the health of you teeth due to the sugary goodness of this fic. Never fear! We have house dentists so if you'll just step over there and get yourself checked out, it would be much appreciated! Have a good day Swan Queeners and best of luck to everyone when Lacey comes on Sunday! *crosses fingers*