CHAPTER 7
Emma was a little surprised as she caught sight of herself reflected in the window pane. She had a big goofy grin on her face.
She was doing the dishes after a meal that she had scraped together of some of Regina's leftovers. The three of them had felt so natural chatting and just enjoying one another's company as they discussed their day.
This is what Emma had spent her entire life looking for. She had been invited to dinner with Henry and Regina before but those were always awkward affairs. Dinner tonight with little Regina though had given Emma a taste of family that other people took for granted.
She finished the dishes and went into the living room. She sat with Henry and Regina as Henry patiently tried teaching her about video games. Emma couldn't remember the last time she had laughed so much.
Her phone beeped and she noticed an incoming text from Mary Margaret. She wanted to know where Emma was and why she hadn't called her back.
Emma took the phone out of earshot of the kids and called her Mom back.
"Hello?" Mary Margaret answered.
Emma rolled her eyes. She knew she had caller ID on her phone. "It's me. Emma."
"Oh Emma! I've been so worried. Where have you been? What's going on?"
Emma held the phone away from her ear at hearing her mother's excited screech. "Nothing. I mean, I've been busy. Sorry I didn't call you back earlier."
"Well, when are you coming home?"
Emma bit her lip. She really didn't want to tell her Mom about what was going on. For some odd reason, she felt like it would be a betrayal to Regina. But, she had to be honest, "I'm not sure. It won't be tonight, that's for sure."
"What? Why not tonight? You've been gone for two days. Where are you? What are you doing? David can help with whatever you need."
"No, Mary Margaret. I'm fine. I'm at Regina's with Henry. She's – I'll be staying here and taking care of him for a while."
"Where's Regina? Why is she not taking care of him? Just bring him home with you. He's better off with us anyway."
Emma hated to hear her Mother talk about things she knew nothing about. She counted to ten in her head and waited for her anger to abate. She took a deep breath, "Regina's not here right now," she wasn't lying as she thought about little Regina. "So, I'm taking care of our son while she's away. And I'm not taking him from her. Henry has two mothers."
"But, Emma – "
"No Mary Margaret. There is no but. That's the way things are. Henry has two mothers and you are not one of them. Regina and I will make the decisions for him. I've already told you that taking him from his Mother was never going to happen. Now, I have to go. I'll talk to you later," Emma disconnected the call before it got anymore heated.
She walked back into the living room with her family. She could tell Little Regina was beginning to get tired. "It's bedtime Henry. Come on queenie," Emma declared as she picked up little Regina and held her hand out to Henry. He shut down the game and held on as they headed towards the stairs.
Henry ran off to shower while Emma took Regina into the master bath for a bath. Regina had been getting used to indoor plumbing but still thought it was funny to flush the toilet repeatedly. And Emma left the water running for her to play with while she shampooed and bathed her.
She got her out of the bathtub and into a nightgown. Then, she put her in the bed while she went and checked on Henry.
Henry was almost already asleep when she came in to say goodnight. "Emma?"
Emma turned away from the door she was about to close," Yeah?"
"I liked tonight. But, I still want my Mom home."
Emma nodded, "I know kid. I want her home too." She turned out the light and turned at the door, "Good night kid." She walked back into the master bedroom.
When she entered the room, Little Regina was already tucked under the blankets. She was even snoring a little. Emma got dressed and got into bed beside her. She kissed her on her head and put an arm around her.
Before she fell asleep, she thought about this day. She had never had more fun in her life.
She had been aware of her attraction to Regina for a long time. The woman was beautiful. There always seemed to be some sexual tension during their arguments.
But, today had her thinking about Regina in terms of family. She saw her as a woman, mother, friend, and a lover. She wondered what it would be like to lie in bed here with her and tell her all about her day. She'd hoped they'd have a little girl who looked just like a mini-Regina.
Emma was used to living a vagabond existence. Her thoughts were never farther than wherever the wind took her. But, now Emma was thinking of long-term. She was thinking of family dinner with the kids, picnics, bbq's, first days of schools, birthdays and maybe they could even have family dance contests.
It stunned Emma that she wanted any of these things. And she was left speechless at the thought that Regina was beside her in all of these fantasies.
Her last thought before she slept with a smile on her face, was of curling up with adult Regina lying in her arms as they fell asleep.
