CHAPTER 7

"Geez Regina, you really are getting bigger right before our eyes," Ruby took a large bite out of her slice of the pizza they were all enjoying.

Regina had spent the past couple of weeks bedridden. Were it not for her friends stopping by and Emma being there every night she would be going stark raving mad by now.

She had never been one for tv much though she did enjoy watching movies. Especially with Emma. Emma's reactions to the movies they watched entertained her more than the movies themselves. So she had resorted to keeping herself occupied during the day by reading through her pregnancy and parenting books and dozing often.

Her Mother brought her meals up to her bedroom on a tray. They had installed a small refrigerator and a microwave next to her bed for quick snacks that didn't involve her moving around much. They'd also installed an intercom system through the house, gotten her a panic bracelet, and a bell just in case of emergency.

Once school was over, Emma would bring home her assignments for the day before she headed to Granny's for her shift or whatever extracurriculars she had planned. Then she'd come back with a treat for Regina before the two snuggled up in her large canopied bed.

They'd spend the rest of the night talking over Emma's day. Regina would pump her for every last detail as if lying in her bed all day left her with an unquenchable thirst for the outside. Then their voices would soften to whispers as they'd talk about their baby. They would lean their foreheads against one another's while Emma traced lazy patterns across Regina's ever expanding belly. Neither one of them knew who fell asleep first but they would always wake up still engulfed in one another's arms.

Their parents had let up on the supervised visitation only rule since Regina was bedridden. Emma giving them all the silent treatment over being left out of Regina's little emergency, as they tended to call it, also helped.

Cora and Henry had both apologized profusely. They swore that they would never leave her out of anything concerning her child. But Emma had always been one for wearing her emotions on her sleeves. She had been hurt being the last to know that her love and her child were in danger and no one thought to inform her until after it was all done and said.

So she'd taken up camp in Regina's room and refused to budge. Although her parents did make sure she sure understood that this was only allowed due to present circumstances. Once Regina was out of the woods she and Emma would still be held accountable to their parents like any other teenagers. Which meant that until they were officially on their own they were still subject to curfews, rules and regulations despite the fact that they were now going to soon be parents themselves.

Even though their parents were disappointed in their timing, they had always known that Emma and Regina would end up together. And that this day was inevitable. They just weren't yet willing to concede that their baby girls were no longer babies and were becoming their own little women right before their eyes.

"I am growing an entire human in here you know," Regina sassed at her.

Emma tossed a napkin at her best friend who lobbed it back at her with a laugh. It landed right in Belle's bosom. Ruby's face turned as red as her name implied as she licked her lips and tried not to be too obvious about watching her extract it.

Ruby, Belle, Kathryn, and Mulan had all come over for their usual girl's weekend jamboree. They had taken turns hosting them every weekend for as long as they all could remember. Regina always went out of her way to tell Zelena she wasn't invited but when she had free time away from Graham she tended to invite herself. She had however invited Ashley whom she had gotten closer to since they were both expecting their babies around the same time. The teen parent club was a small group in a town as small as Storybrooke. They knew they needed to stick together.

"I still don't know how you pulled that one off," Belle shook her head. "My Dad would kill me."

"It was an accident!" Regina insisted. It still amazed her that this could really happen. Then she'd feel a flutter and know that it was real.

"My baby is not an accident," Emma defended. "And we pulled it off because I put it on her like that," she smiled smugly at her friends before dodging Regina's smack.

"You two are so adorable it's sickening," Ruby turned up her nose at the couple.

"At least you two have each other," Ashley looked down at her belly. "I have no idea what I'm going to do without Sean."

A hush fell over the room. Everyone knew that Ashley had a stepmother and 2 stepsisters who all mistreated her. And then she fell in love with a guy who left her and their unborn child to fend for themselves because he had been scared of his Father. She was currently staying with Ruby and Granny and worked part time in the diner to make ends meet. It made Emma and Regina both thankful for their families.

Regina reached across the bed to grab her hand. She gave it a squeeze, "He'll come around. You'll see," she nodded and smiled at her new friend.

"Yeah," Emma agreed nodding. "True love can't be beat. That's how my parents made me. And that's what Regina and I have. You'll see," she nodded enthusiastically. "As soon as he realizes what he's missing out on he'll be back."

"Have you guys thought of a name?" Kathryn wanted to keep the time they spent together upbeat. There was enough going on in all their lives to weigh them down. Girls' weekend jamboree was supposed to be about female bonding and good times.

"We don't even know the sex yet. The doctor said we'd be able to tell at our next appointment though. I really want a little girl," Regina smiled at the thought. A little princess that would be a mini her sounded awesome. She didn't think she could handle a mini-Emma. Her big Emma wore her out sometimes.

"You want a boy don't you Emma?" Mulan looked at her friend quizzically. Emma had already talked to her about wanting to have a little boy that she could turn into her cool little dude. She was planning to dress him really cool and cut his hair into a Mohawk. She'd teach him sports and help him with girls. She saw the two of them as hangout buddies. Regina could have her little princess later.

"They're less work," Emma talked with her mouth full.

Regina turned up her nose at her, "a baby is work period. What makes you think just because it's a boy that things will be easier?"

Emma began listing off the value of a boy over a girl on her fingers, "They don't have hormones that make them go crazy like girls. We won't have to buy like tons of makeup and clothes. And best of all we won't have to worry about them getting pregnant. That'll be someone else's problem," she flicked her wrist at her.

"As long as it's healthy guys. That's the most important thing," Kathryn threw in. "When are going to be able to get off of house arrest?" she turned to her best friend.

Regina wiped her mouth with her napkin before answering, "Monday. Hopefully life will go back to normal after that," she frowned. She had really had it with bed rest. Being in bed all day just wasn't for her.

"Hey girls," Zelena stormed into the room. She pushed her sister aside as she climbed onto the bed and reached for a slice of pizza. "What are we talking about?"

The room had mixed feelings when it came to Zelena. As children, she was called the Wicked Witch. She tormented pretty much everyone. It wasn't until she started getting into boys that she put aside her agenda of purposely trying to make their lives hell. Still she was like a big annoying sister to all of them. She had started to give them respect as they got older. But some of the group still held grudges against her.

"Your new niece or nephew," Mulan answered for the group. Though she had been small and usually quiet there was a core of strength that radiated from Mulan. Since both girls were active, she had always been Emma's number one pick as a teammate. Their fierce loyalty and sense of duty in protecting their loved ones at all personal costs were part of the bonds that the two girls shared. She was also the only one that Zelena respected enough not to bully as she had the others.

Zelena just rolled her eyes as she bit into her pizza.

"Guys," Belle refocused the group quietly. "Do you realize we aren't going to have too many more of these nights left? I mean, Zelena's going to college in a few months. And with all of these new babies coming, everything's about to be different."

A hush fell over the room as everyone looked around at one another. They all knew to some degree that it was true. But were still wishing desperately that it wasn't.

"We'll always be best friends though," Regina immediately assured her. "I mean, we grew up together. Between phones, computers, planes, trains, and automobiles we can always keep in touch. There's nothing that can change who we are and what we mean to one another."

Emma, who'd always been the most sentimental of them all and the one who was most afraid of change began to get upset. Regina reached out and gave her a kiss knowing how difficult hearing what they'd all been thinking about in one way or another was for her girlfriend to hear. She wrapped her arm around her while Emma dropped her head onto her shoulder and wrapped an arm around as much of her waist as she could.

"Always and forever," she whispered to her before dropping a kiss onto her lover's lips.

Emma grinned back. Regina had always had an elevating effect on her moods. "Always and forever," she agreed as she interlaced their fingers.

SMF

Emma and Regina cuddled closer to one another as they listened to the sounds of everyone else around them breathing evenly.

Though the room was dark, the moonlight streaming in through the windows gave them enough light to still be able to make one another out. Emma smiled into Regina's eyes, "tomorrow we get to find out what the little booger is."

The girls weekend had passed uneventfully. There was the usual talk about boys, school gossip, movie watching, mani, pedi, and hair braiding that went on when girls got together. They'd discussed current events in everyone's lives and homes. Aside from that it had been the same good time with good friends as ever.

Regina swatted at the hand that was running across her belly, "don't call my baby a booger or a what."

"I'm just saying. It's finally here. It's finally like a real -," Emma struggled for the right word before giving up and shrugging, "person."

Regina understood what she meant. After tomorrow things would get real. She was carrying around a little bean that would sprout into either a boy or a girl. And the two of them would be responsible for him or her 24/7. Their parents had already made it clear that though they'd help as much as possible, this was their baby and their mess. They would not be raising their grandchild.

In abstract the thought of having a baby was amazing. But the reality of being responsible for every aspect of someone else's life who literally needed them in order to survive was so overwhelming that both girls had done their best to keep it out of their minds. Though they still had 41/2 more months ahead of them they knew that once they'd learned the baby's sex things would be real.

Regina had been feeling flutters for weeks in her belly. It felt like someone was tickling her from the inside. But for Emma the baby was still an abstract concept. She understood it on one level. She was going to be someone's Mom. She wasn't completely confident with that role yet. She still slept with a stuffed bear that Regina had given her years ago.

"It's a good thing you've been reading all those books," she tried to lighten the heavy mood that had been bearing down on both of them since Belle's earlier announcement.

Regina gave her a weak smile. As the two girls settled in to sleep, they both wrapped their arms a little tighter around the other.

SMF

Emma went to school with the rest of the girls as usual. But she spent the morning being anxious. Today it would be official. She and Regina were going to be Moms of – well something.

She paced in front of the school after her 4th period class as she waited for her Aunt to show up. She, Regina, Cora, and Snow were all anxious about Regina's and the baby's health. Today the doctor would let them know the sex of the baby and whether or not Regina would remain on bedrest.

When she climbed into the car everyone was silent. Regina leaned over and gave her a peck on the cheek. Emma gave her a small smile as she reached for her hand. She clasped her fingers tightly between hers. Aside from that, the car ride was a tense yet quiet affair.

After signing in and waiting for almost 10 minutes they were finally called to the back. The admitting nurse took the usual weight, height, temperature, blood pressure, and other basic health stats. Then she handed Regina a dressing gown before leaving the family alone. Emma, Snow and Cora all sat with pale, drawn faces as they waited for Regina to change. After she put on the dressing gown and folded up her clothes she handed them to her Mother to hold. Then she hopped up on the examining table while they all continued to wait for the doctor. She chewed her thumb nervously as she waited for news of her fate.

"Well, I see we have a full house today," Papa Pope smiled around at the women as he walked into the room. "Good morning ladies," he nodded his head at them before turning his attention to Regina. "How are you today Mom?"

"I'm good," Regina's voice came out in a nervous squeal. She coughed into her arm to clear her throat, "Sorry. I'm well. There haven't been any problems since I've been on bedrest. And the nurse said my stats all looked well."

The doctor had turned to his computer screen while she spoke and he looked up and smiled at her. "Your blood pressure's down and that's a great start. It's exactly what we were hoping for with the bedrest. Now lie back and I'll have a look to make sure everything else is fine. Then we can get to the fun part and you can see your baby."

Regina did as asked. The doctor placed a sheet over the lower half of her body before commencing with the basic abdominal exam. Regina assured him she was feeling no pain or pressure of any kind.

Then came the gross part. He had her place her feet in the stirrups as he put on a set of gloves before he began doing a pelvic exam. Regina held her breath and shut her eyes tight as his hands played over her lower body. She opened them again as she felt a hand slip into hers. When she opened her eyes, Emma was smiling down at her.

"Well then," Papa Pope said as he began to wash his hands thoroughly. "Everything seems fine. Your blood pressure is back down to normal," all of the women in the room let out a collective breath. "I do however want you to continue to monitor your blood pressure daily."

Regina and her Mother both nodded. Regina was determined to have a healthy baby. And Cora was determined to make sure that both her baby and grandbaby were fine.

"Now Mom – s," he pluralized as he looked between she and Emma. He gave them a wink, "let's see that baby of yours."

Cora and Snow both crowded around the monitor as Papa Pope spread the ultrasound gel across her belly. Then he moved the wand around as he tried to get a perfect view.

Emma gasped as she heard her baby's heartbeat for the first time. Tears began to sting the backs of her eyes as her throat became choked up. Regina grinned into her eyes knowing exactly how she was feeling. It's how she'd felt since the day she realized there was a human being inside of her. She squeezed her hand tighter before they both turned back toward the monitor.

"There we go," Papa Pope smiled at the two girls. "Your son. He's definitely not shy," he pointed out the way his legs were completely splayed out for the camera.

"Oh my god!" Snow breathed out excitedly as she clapped her hands. "A boy. We've been a little short of boys in this family. Your Dad's going to be happy to hear about that," she told Emma before she gave her a hug.

Cora laughed before leaning over and kissing her daughter's cheek, "He's beautiful," Cora breathed out with tears in her eyes.

Regina had only been nervous before. But now seeing her child and her family's reactions she was becoming flooded with different emotions. She began to laugh as tears began to fall down her cheeks.

Emma leaned over and gave her a kiss as Papa Pope began to print off pictures for all of them. "Thank you, thank you, thank you," she punctuated each thank you with a kiss that she pressed to Regina's lips. "Thank you for giving me a boy."

"Our son," Regina corrected.

"Always and forever baby," Emma wiped away at the tears that had managed to make their way down her cheeks. She stared down at her copy of the ultrasound mesmerized by how absolutely perfect he was already.

Regina had already cleaned herself with the wet nap that Papa Pope had given her and sat up. The women all listened carefully as Papa Pope gave them instructions to follow until Regina's next appointment. Regina was taken off of strict bedrest and instead put onto reduced activity bedrest provided her blood pressure readings continued to stay low. She gave a big whoop of relief. Being bored in bed all day almost killed her. He left the group to themselves with a smile and a congratulations.

With Emma's help she slid down off of the examining table and began to get dressed. While Snow and Cora chatted away about the ramifications of having a boy in the family and the preparations they all still needed to take care of Emma stared at her son. She didn't think she'd ever get used to saying that word. But she swore with everything in her that taking care of Regina and her family would always come first.

"I love you," she whispered before dropping a kiss on the photograph. She wiped away at the tears that were insisting on falling and clouding her vision.

Regina had just finished dressing when she heard her girlfriend. The two locked gazes as they continued to grin at one another.

"Always and forever," she nodded at her.