This chapter probably isn't what you were expecting considering the ending of the last chapter, but I promise that what you were hoping for won't be too far away. I have a something planned for those little texts between our mayor and sheriff.
A month had passed by seemingly fast and life in the mansion had changed drastically. Henry was no longer on an IV line and he had begun chemotherapy. At first he hadn't taken to the new drug all too well. He was up late screaming and vomiting and needed constant cuddles from both mother and cat, but by his third dose, he had become immune and could be left to slumber peacefully on his own. Emma had begun to lessen her shifts to a few a week to stay at home and take care of her ill child and now, ill wife.
A week previous, morning sickness had started. Regina would make a dash every now and then from bed to the bathroom, but after she realized it was draining what little energy she had left, she ended up making home on the floor on pillows and blankets. She was constantly curled up on the floor throwing up the contents of her diet into the porcelain bowl. She wasn't too sure if it was the baby being the cause or if it were the stress she was putting herself under for being too ill and physically incompetent of going in to work. However, today there had been a break through. She didn't wake up with the instant urge to empty the contents of her stomach into the bowl so she sat up and slowly made her way downstairs.
"Come on baby, we can do this," she whispered as she rubbed her little bump through her silken gown.
"Mama!" Henry jumped down from his bar stool and ran over to the brunette, crashing into her legs and clinging on tightly. It had been a few days since he had been able to hug her without her being confined to the tiled walls of the en suit.
She gently picked him up and kissed his temple, "good morning my darling," he wrapped his arms gently around her neck, keeping in mind Emma's words from earlier in regards to being gentle with mama.
"Regina?" Emma dropped the plate on the bench, shocked by the change in events. For the past week, Emma would make Regina a small light meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner and helped her consume the food at a slow pace in case any sudden movement trigged an upbringing of bile.
"Our little one has decided to behave today, so I thought I'd make my way down and eat a breakfast with my family," she shrugged and walked over to the dining room table, setting Henry down in his seat.
Emma flustered about, setting an extra seat and plating the food. Her cheeks were flushed a deep crimson as she worked as fast as she could, anxious that if she took too long she'd be the reason Regina faulted and needed to race to the bathroom.
"Em," Regina rested her hand on a shaking wrist, "its okay, I'm okay."
"I-I-I'm just, I didn't think I'd see you back to your normal self so soon."
"Me either," Regina leant in and placed a needed kiss to the blonde's lips. Due to bile continuously making its way out of her mouth, she hadn't wanted to kiss Emma in fear the taste lingered.
"Let's eat and then we can plan something little for our day, okay? I don't want you over working yourself," Emma said concerned.
"Sounds perfect," she smiled and took Henry's plate out to him.
"Don't run too much darling, you'll wear yourself out," Regina called concerned after the toddler who was running off to the swings.
"He'll be alright Gina, I'll keep an eye on him," Emma leant down and kissed Regina's temple as they sat themselves on a bench under a blossom tree. "But I'll also keep an eye on you," she took the brunette's hand in her own.
"I'm fine, dear. If I feel any inkling or urge that our little one doesn't agree with what I consumed this morning, I'll let you know."
"I'm just worried," she furrowed her eyebrow and sighed.
"I know you are darling, and I thank you for that, but I truly am quite alright," Regina smile and kissed the blonde's cheek.
The couple sat in a comfortable silence watching their son make his way around the playground course.
"What are you doing tomorrow?"
The sudden question took Emma by surprise.
"Uh, I have work tomorrow evening. Why's that?"
"I have an ultrasound tomorrow," Regina cooed as she dropped her head onto the younger woman's shoulder.
"Can I come?" Emma bounded back in excitement, "please Gina?" she pleaded.
"That was the plan dear," Regina chuckled at the enthusiasm.
"I can call dad and see if he can fill in my shift, I ca-"Regina silenced her with a kiss.
"We can organize it when we get home darling, no need to stress now," she smiled and rested her forehead against the paler one of the blonde. "Speaking of tonight, I have something to ask you," she pulled back and fixed her crinkled pencil skirt.
"And what would that be?" the blonde hummed as she cuddled up to the mayor's side.
"What are your thoughts on a dinner party?"
"A what?" Emma looked at the older woman startled. The list time they threw a dinner party was for Regina's birthday last year, and it ended with a fiery brunette glaring coldly at the school teacher who had spilt her favorite bottle of wine.
"A dinner party," she continued, "to celebrate the beginnings of our new family, and our son being a little trouper."
"Regina, are you sure about this? You hate people coming over and invading your space."
"I'm know, but this is something I oddly feel good about," she smiled.
"Okay, we can do it, but only if you're sure," Emma was still a little unconvinced at the sudden plan for their evening.
"I'm one hundred percent certain my love," she placed a sweet kiss to the younger woman's cheek, but moaned in shock when Emma turned her mouth and pulled her lips against her own.
"I love you Madame Swan-Mills," Emma said between kisses.
"Darling, I'm afraid if we continue this I'll end up ravishing those irresistible lips of yours in front of our son and his fellow friends, and that's not something for children of his age to witness."
Emma chuckled at the brunette's comments and stole another quick kiss before running over to Henry who had been calling for her to push him on the swing.
Regina smiled as she looked on at her wife and son giggling and enjoying one another's company, and in that moment, she felt a little flutter in her abdomen.
"Hello baby," she whispered, placing a hand on her stomach.
The couple had called the Gold's, Charming's, Lucas' and Kathryn and invited them to dinner, thankfully, they all said yes. After a long debate with Granny, it was settled that she'd be catering and supplying all the food for their night. They returned to their mansion on Mifflin and set Henry down for his afternoon nap, before going around setting up their house for their soon to arrive guests. Finishing with an hour to spear, Regina decided to take the opportunity to go upstairs and shower.
Emma had just sat down on the sofa after a busy afternoon working around the house, when she heard a whimper through the baby monitor. She shot up the stairs faster than she had run to Henry at the park and into his room, to find he was trying to climb over the railing of his crib to get out.
"What are you doing munchkin?" she giggled and shook her head as she picked him from his crib and sat him on her hip.
He rested his head in the crook of her neck and gently sucked his thumb.
"Gram's coming over to see you soon," she cooed as she carried him out.
"Papa?" he looked up hopeful. She confirmed his question with a nod.
"And Aunt Kathryn," she continued.
He smiled at her name, he adored his Aunt Kat.
"Mama?" he asked casting his head around to look for her.
"She's in the shower munchkin, she'll come out soon," she ran her hand through his light brown locks.
"No," he said sadly, "mama meant too hower wiv Henry," he pouted.
"Would you like to go see if she's still in? If she is, you can jump in with her, alright?" he nodded and cuddled into her side.
She carried him down the short distance of the hallway and into the room. She knocked gently at the door and called her name, warning Regina of their presence before opening the door.
"Emma?" Regina opened the fogy glass door confused, she didn't usually interrupt her shower time.
"Sorry baby, little munchkin here wanted to see if he could jump in with you, but I wasn't too sure if you were about to finish up or not."
"No, I'm almost done but not quite. He can jump in if he wants," she smiled and bit her lip.
"I'll go undress him and send him in," she looked at their happy toddler and chuckled, "we'll be back." They excited the bathroom and went over to the bed where she stripped him of his clothes. He had two tubes on the front of his chest where he got his chemotherapy and small bruises dotted about his skin from the treatment. As she had done since he was first diagnosed, she placed a gentle kiss to them all.
"Dat tickles mommy!" he giggled and pushed her away.
"Oh does it?" she grinned and gently pinned him down, blowing raspberries all over his little belly as he cried out with laughter.
"Come on munchkin, let's get you in the shower," she picked him up and gently held him against her front as she re-entered the bathroom.
"Gina, our little monkey's ready," she bounced him up and down, smiling at his light laugh.
Regina pushed open the fogy door and held out her arms, "come on darling, let's get you showered before Gram and Aunt Kat come over."
He smiled and leapt from his mommy's embrace to his mama's open arms.
Regina let out an oomph as she quickly caught her son against her slippery wet chest, "careful Henry," she set him down on the shower floor to play with his toys.
"Granny and Ruby should be here in ten, I'll wait downstairs for them and come up and give you a little hurry up if you're taking too long," Emma joked as she began to turn away.
"Thank you dear," Regina chuckled and closed the shower door before beginning to clean her son.
"Emma sweetheart, where's Regina?" Mary Margaret looked around the living room. Belle, Gold, Kathryn, Granny, Ruby, David and baby Neal were present, but there was no Regina or Henry.
"I'll go check upstairs," she frowned and made her way to the staircase. She had gone upstairs 10 minutes earlier to give Regina a hurry up and she agreed she'd only be two minutes.
"Regina?" she gently knocked on the door, not wanting to startle the brunette.
Regina was sitting on the edge of the bed facing the middle, her hand was resting on a small figure slumbering.
"Regina? Is everything alright?"
"Sorry, he wanted cuddles and ended up falling asleep, I'll wake him when it's time to eat," she stood from the bed and approached the blonde. It was only as she got closer to the blonde that she was able to see the blonde's attire for the evening. "My oh my, doesn't someone look delicious tonight," Regina smirked, bathing in the glow of the younger woman. She was in a white dress that ended just below the knee, it had a tight top and a flowing bottom from the abdomen down. Her hair was fixed in lose curls and her feet were contained in a pair of low black heels.
"So I'm dressed to your standards huh?" Emma winked and wrapped her arms around the brunette. "I must say, you look hot tonight Madame Mayor," she looked down at Regina's dress. She was in a tight fitted dark blue dress with black pumps.
"Mmmmm, you like it do you?" Regina purred in her ear as she bit her earlobe.
"As much as I'd like to ravish you on the spot, we have a house full of guests and a son to our left, but if you're lucky, I may treat you. But only if you're good."
"I'll be holding you to that," Regina smirked and stepped back, curling her hand around that of the younger woman as they made their way downstairs.