Chapter 10

A/N: I really hope you guys like this chapter. I'm already writing the next one. Also, I will be updating my other story "Looking back, walking forward". Thank you for your patience.

It was bright…

So very bright.

'Am I dead?' Emmett thought as he groaned. His body ached all over and his skin felt sticky with sweat. He squinted to get used to the light, and when his gaze finally cleared, he realized that he was in his and Regina's bedchamber. He felt hair tickling his neck and a small weight on top of him. He looked down and realized Regina was asleep, half snuggling against his side as to not hurt him.

He smiled at her and kissed her forehead. Regina scrunched up her nose as she slowly woke up, looking up at her husband, waiting to find him still unconscious and gasping loudly when bright green eyes stared back at her. "Emmett! Oh my god, you're awake!" she exclaimed, sitting up and cupping his cheeks, to make sure he really was there with her. "How…when…?" she stuttered.

Emmett chuckled and leaned up to kiss her sinfully soft lips, sighing happily. "It's all thanks to you, my love. You reminded me of what's important and why I couldn't give up. You brought me back," he said softly, one of his hands pressing against her belly. "Was I dreaming or are you really…?" he trailed off, nervous and excited about the answer.

Regina beamed. "You didn't dream it, dear. I'm really pregnant with your child. Our baby…" She murmured against his lips, kissing him over and over, worried that if she stopped, he would be gone again.

They stayed like that for a while, basking in each other's presence before Regina regretfully pulled away. "I have to tell the others. We all have been very worried about you, Emmett. I thought we had lost you" she said with tears in her eyes.

He sat up with a small groan, wrapping his strong arms around her. "Never. You will never lose me. No matter what, I'll always come back to you" he vowed, kissing her neck.

Regina smiled and slowly untangled herself from him, standing up from the bed. She opened the door and asked one of the guards to fetch the other royals. Then she went back to bed and to her husband's arms, where she belonged.

After a moment, a small commotion was heard just outside the door before it was thrown open and three and a half royals burst inside the room. Snow was the first to react, running to the bed and throwing herself at her brother, hugging him tightly. "Em! You're awake! I missed you so much!" she sobbed, clinging to him like a lifeline. Emmett just hugged her and let her hug him as much as she needed to.

He smiled as his father and Regina's parents walked over to the bed, all happy to see him finally awake. A strong hand clapped him on the shoulder, his gaze lifting to meet that of his father. "I'm glad to see you, boy. You gave us quite a scare" he said, happy but his eyes misting over nonetheless. He thought he would lose his son.

Henry and Cora watched with a smile, happy that their son-in-law was okay and their daughter wouldn't suffer anymore. Regina's smile was the most radiant in the room, making her look even more beautiful than usual.

Emmett finally looked down at Snow and bounced her a little. "Hey, I'm ok, Snow. I'm not leaving you, ok? I'm sorry I had you worried" He said, kissing the top of her head. He chuckled. "But you know, I'm all gross and sweaty. I need a bath, don't you think?" he asked. Snow giggled and nodded, finally letting him go. "Yeah, you kind of smell a little. Is it ok if I come back later?" she asked shyly.

Emmett nodded. "It's more than okay. I love you, Snow" he said with a warm smile. She pressed a kiss to his cheek. "I love you too, Em" she responded before leaving the bed and skipping over to her father. He took her hand and looked back at his son. "We'll leave you to get cleaned up and rest. Do not leave that bed, boy. You need to recover your strength" he said sternly.

"Yes, sir" Emmett said with a nod. Henry and Cora started to leave the room as well. "We're glad you're okay, Emmett. Get some rest" Henry said with a smile before him and Cora walked out.

Finally alone, Emmett turned to Regina, grinning. "Bath?" He asked cheekily. She narrowed her eyes at him. "No funny business, Emmett. You just woke up and need to rest. Come on" she said, taking his hand and guiding him to the adjoining bathroom, where she let go of his hand to get everything ready.

She spotted him trying to undress himself and gently pushed his hands away, undressing him herself. She never got tired of looking at his sculpted body, her eyes taking in everything as she slowly took off his sweaty clothes. When he was standing naked before her, she blushed. As many times as they had been together since they got married, the sight of him still made her blush. She quickly undressed as well and together they got into the warm water, a moan escaping him as his sore muscles loosened.

They spent longer than usual in the bath, taking turns washing each other, placing small kisses here and there, not meant to arouse, just to let each other know that they were there, together again, in love, happy and eager to meet the small bundle of joy that would make their world more bright.

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Meanwhile, in the Dark One's castle, Rumpelstiltskin sat at his table, unhappy that Maleficent's plan had failed. They had underestimated the strength of their bond. They would have to design a better plan, something that would not fail and that not even true love would be able to revert.

The problem was that Regina was no longer the one that had to enact his curse. The love she felt for the prince was beyond true love; he was her soulmate and would never sacrifice him nor their child, not matter what he tried.

Suddenly he got it. There was someone else; someone powerful enough, and they wouldn't even need to sacrifice another human being. It seemed that his curse would need a few adjustments. He grinned maliciously.

They say a bond between a mother and her child is unbreakable; that a mother is capable of sacrificing everything for the sake and happiness of her child. He would test that theory. And who better to be his test subject than the woman who had betrayed him in the first place? She had changed for the woman he first knew, that he couldn't deny, but she still needed one more lesson: that sometimes you can't have it all.

He would leave the royals have their happiness; let Emmett and Regina bask in their mutual love and that of their family for now. In the meantime, he would make it his life mission to search for a way to have his curse enacted. No matter what the price, he would get his son back, if it was the last thing he would do.

To be continued…

There you have it! We are getting closer to the next challenge for our lovebirds, will they prevail? Or will evil win this time? Stay tuned and find out.

As always, read and review!