Despite everything that had happened on Thanksgiving, with Regina's bout of jealousy and their little argument with Emma, she was still in for her evening with her sons at the blonde's apartment. In fact, she was looking forward to it. Yet, she didn't know what to expect. Would it be awkward between her and her ex-wife? Would their sons plan something to get them together? On that note, she really had to talk to them about their little operation. Not only would it make the former lovers, at some point, uncomfortable, but also it wasn't fair for Mal either. Mal was really trying to prove that she's worthy of her but whatever the boys were doing, they were undermining that progress. So, this evening with Emma was a perfect excuse for both mothers to talk to their little meddlers. With these thoughts in mind, Regina got up from the bed to start with her morning ritual.
It was Saturday morning which meant that Regina didn't have anything to do, other than wait for the evening. The hours were passing incredibly slow to the point that Regina started doing chores around the house in order to occupy herself. She also thought of baking something and take it with her to Emma's house since she was pretty sure that the boys were feeding on take-out. A healthy dish wouldn't be that bad. Texting Emma to let her know that she's bringing food with her, she started making a dough for a homemade pizza, cookies and of course her famous apple turnovers. She also thought of making bear claws, as it was Emma's favourite, and she was about to find the recipe at one of her old cookbooks when the doorbell rang. Frowning in confusion and dusting her hands clear of flour on her apron, she walked towards the front door. Upon opening it her face went from pure perplexion to realization; she and Mal had made plans for the weekend. Oh boy, she thought internally.
"Looking at this face, I'd say you forgot about today," Mal remarked as Regina let her enter the house.
"Don't be silly, I just thought you were coming later." Regina lied to her girlfriend, giving her a peck on the lips.
"Ah," Mal said before continuing. "How's your morning been beautiful?" She asked while following Regina to the kitchen.
"As you can see, busy," Regina replied with a laugh. "I didn't know what to do, so I started baking." She shrugged, going back to the task at hand.
"Are we feeding an army? Or were you that bored?" Mal joked once she saw the different baking pans that were sprawled over Regina's kitchen island.
"Well, you know my boys; they can devour all these in half an hour. It's good to be prepared." She shrugged, making Mal chuckle.
"You won't see them for another day, I'm sure you'll have time to bake tomorrow." Mal voiced while trying to get Regina out of her apron.
"Actually-" Regina began. "I may or may not have made plans with Emma for a family evening at her apartment," she revealed, avoiding to look the other woman in the eyes. She had screwed up and she knew it.
"When did you and Emma plan this?" She asked calmly.
"A few days before Thanksgiving. She had stopped by the clinic to invite me to her parents' house and we started talking about the boys. One thing led to another and she said it'd be nice if the boys spent some time with just the two of us, since we haven't done this in a very long time." Regina bit her lip. If Mal chose to lash out right now she'd be right to do so.
"So, you know about this for over a week now and you haven't told me anything," Mal concluded.
"I...yes." Regina agreed.
"Please say something." she implored when Mal didn't say anything.
"I don't know what to say, Regina," Mal admitted. "I don't know if I'm hurt, angry or jealous about this. I don't know if I should make a big deal out of this or act like a supportive girlfriend and tell you to have fun with the kids. But that's the issue; you won't only be with your sons.
"How many times do I have to tell you that nothing is going on between me and Emma?" Regina asked rhetorically. "Yes we share a past, yes, we are a united front when it comes to our sons but we can't do otherwise. You were there when I and Emma got a divorce. You've seen how much this had affected the boys. Mine and Emma's paths are gonna be intertwined forever or at least until the boys grow up and realize that they don't need us anymore. And you can't be jealous of her for that part, as I can't be jealous of your ex-wife." Regina reasoned.
"Me and Ursula are a whole different story," Mal defended.
"Well, she didn't cheat on you, so there wasn't any bad blood between you too. You stopped loving each other so that was it and you did get a divorce on good terms. So your history with your ex-wife is much better than mine's." Regina pointed out.
"You said it yourself, Regina. Me and Ursula stopped loving each other. You and Emma didn't. She still loves you and I'm sure that a part of you still and will always love her." Mal sighed.
"I.." Regina started but Mal cut her off. "No, I don't mean that you love her as a friend or as someone who you've been through so much with; you love her romantically. And I'm fine with it most of the times. But there are days, like today, that I do feel like I'm a rebound to you Regina, someone to help you get over Emma because you're afraid of getting hurt by her again." Mal confessed in a pained tone.
"Mal, I'm sorry that you feel that way, but it's not like that. I like you; I like the way you make me feel when I'm around you, how incredibly good you're with my sons, how sweet you can be and all these little gestures you do to make me feel appreciated. I like being with you because of who you are as a person not because you were in the right place the right time." Regina reassured. "And I don't want you to compare yourself and our relationship to Emma and to what I had with her. Yes, Emma means a lot to me, yes, I owe her a lot and yes, I'll always feel something about her. But she hurt me; intentionally or not, she did. And I'm still bitter about that."
"I'm sorry for acting like an insecure, jealous girlfriend, but I really do like you, Regina." She smiled sadly.
"I like you too, dear. And I'm sorry for lying to you or forgetting to tell you about this, for that matter." Regina apologized.
"It's okay, dear." Mal waved it off, hugging Regina in the process.
"So, how about helping me finish these cookies and then show you how much grateful I am to have you?" Regina said while winking at Mal, making her laugh.
After spending the rest of the morning with Mal, Regina was getting ready for her family evening with her sons and ex-wife. Her talk with Mal had been enlighting and made Regina understand how much she meant to the other woman. This, though, made her both happy and anxious at the same time; She didn't want to hurt the blonde but she was afraid that she'll do so. Mal had invested so much in their relationship, far more than Regina had and that made her feel guilty. However, Regina needed her time. There were times that Mal would be understanding and give Regina the time and space she needed. But there were also times, like today, when her girlfriend would feel insecure or even jealous of her ex-wife and Regina didn't really know how to deal with it. Sighing in resignation she grabbed one of her jeans from the closet. She opted for something casual; black jeans along with a woollen cream sweater and black combat boots. It wasn't something that she'd wear usually, but it was a relaxing evening in Emma's apartment so it would definitely do. Applying just a touch of mascara and her favourite red lipstick, she grabbed her purse and her phone and went downstairs. Her next stop was the kitchen; in an isothermic bag, she put the three containers with the food she had prepared earlier and after making sure that everything was okay, she grabbed her keys and left the house. Time to spend some time with my baby boys she thought to herself as she started the car and left the mansion.
Ten minutes later, Regina was in front of Emma's apartment. She was trying to balance the bag in one hand while knocking the door with the other. Thankfully, the Swans didn't take long to answer and moments after Regina knocked the door, it opened to reveal Colin dressed in a Star Wars onesie.
"Mom!" The boy squealed as he hugged his mother's waist tightly.
"Hello, my little prince." She said as she tried to hug him back. Watching her struggle though, Colin, as the gentleman he was, took the bag from her hands, relieving her from the extra weight.
"Thank you, baby" Regina kissed his head and followed him into Emma's apartment. By entering the house, she noticed Ezra and Henry, also dressed in Star Wars onesies, playing video games. Once they noticed her too, they paused the game and they quickly rushed to hug her.
"Hey, princes, looking good with your onesies." She complimented them teasingly earning a blush from both boys.
"Ma bought these for us a few days ago, as an early Christmas present. She bought one for herself too." Henry grinned making Regina chuckle.
"Of course she did. And speaking of your mother, where is she?" Regina asked curiously.
"She's in the study. A client called her, saying it was urgent, so she's been for a little less than an hour there." Henry informed her and Regina nodded.
"Maybe we should do this another time..." Regina began but she was cut off by Emma who emerged from the room, dressed in her onesie.
"No need, I heard you knocking so I told him that I had a very important business to attend and we hang up." Emma beamed as she lifted Ezra in her arms, giving him a kiss.
"And he believed you?" She teased.
"These onesies are very businesslike," Emma deadpanned making Regina laugh.
"I'd die to see you going to court wearing this." Regina joked while following Emma and the boys to the living room. Colin was already there munching popcorn.
"You're just jealous," Emma exclaimed earning a snort from Regina.
"You got me." She quipped as she sat next to her middle son. Ezra ran quickly claiming the seat between his two brothers, so Emma's only choice of a seat was next to her ex-wife.
Seeing Emma's hesitation to sit next to her, Regina teased her.
"I don't bite Miss Swan."
"I know, I..uhm, my usual spot is to where Colin is seating." Emma lied to hide her discomfort but Ezra blew the whistle.
"No, it's not." And Emma glared at him while mumbling "Remind me to tell our sons to keep their mouths shut when their parents are lying."
"Well, you shouldn't lie in the first place, Swan," Regina smirked.
"You're unbelievable" Emma huffed and then continued. "Anyway, what do you guys want to watch?" And apparently, it was the wrong thing to ask as she heard all three of them talking simultaneously with one option each. Ezra, of course, wanted a Captain America movie, Colin said that they could watch the "A Nightmare Before Christmas" movie while Henry suggested one of Disney's classic movies.
"Captain America or at least the Avengers," Ezra said in an authoritative tone and both Emma and Regina tried so hard not to laugh.
"Bubbah.." Colin rolled his eyes in a true Regina style. "It's practically Christmas, we must watch a Christmas movie" Colin tried to reason but Ezra was having none of it.
"Your turn," Colin said to Henry, as the older boy had a lot more chances to convince the younger boy.
"Ez-" Henry began but Ezra was quicker.
"No." He dismissed him quickly. Emma couldn't keep it any longer and burst into laughter.
"Do you wanna try?" Henry growled and Emma raised her arms in surrender. Regina, however, who also watching the scene unfolding in front of her, decided to take matters into her own hands as she knew that if she let the boys decide about the movie, it would take them all day.
"Bubbah, come here." She said while patting her lap, for the boy to sit. Complying with his mother request, Ezra sat on her lap as he looked at his mother expectingly.
"Okay, what about watching a Christmas movie-" She began but Ezra interrupted her.
"Are you siding with Col?" He narrowed his eyes at his mother and Emma was 100% sure that this boy would be a nightmare once he'd hit puberty.
"You didn't let me finish," Regina said in a serious tone and the boy nodded embarrassingly.
"We'll watch the Christmas movie, which is also a Disney one, so we can both please Henry and Colin and after that, we'll watch a superhero movie, how about that?" She suggested. Ezra looked at his brothers, then at Emma, who nodded at him and replied.
"Fine" he huffed in defeat, before leaving Regina's lap and going to sit next to his brothers.
"Excellent. And since you all have been very good this week, I brought you some cookies, apple turnovers and a pizza for tonight's family dinner." She announced, getting as a response four yey's from her boys and Emma. Laughing at their silliness, Regina left the room for a minute and returned with the snacks she had made. Once everything was set, Emma pressed the play button and the movie started.
"I can't believe you actually managed to convince Bubbah. This kid is as stubborn as a mule." Emma said bemusedly.
"He learned that from you," Regina smirked. "You can be stubborn as an ox." She added.
"Like you aren't." Emma shot back.
"I guess he took after both of us."Regina smiled at her ex-wife.
"Look at you, using your Mills charm." Emma teased, as she tried not to think of how close they were so as not to disturb the boys.
"It was my charm that won you over Swan." Regina grinned, earning a low chuckle from Emma.
"It wasn't only your charm Regina. It was how you fell in love with Henry, the moment you met him." Emma replied sincerely.
"So, did we have to thank Henry for bringing us together?" Regina asked.
"You thanked him and me enough, by making us a family. Surely, me and Hen would have managed on our own somehow, but to be honest Regina, I don't know if I could have done this without you."
"Truth be told, I wouldn't have done it alone either," Regina admitted. "Before Henry, I wasn't really sure that I wanted a kid, let alone three. But this boy won me over the moment I laid my eyes on him," Regina said, tears gathering in her eyes.
"I've never quite asked you, but what was the first thing you thought when you saw him?" Emma asked curiously.
"That this is how you know you want a kid of your own. He wasn't even mine, hell I didn't even know his name, but I knew that I'd kill for this boy to call me, mom.." Regina said and both women were now in tears.
"Henry's future wife will be so lucky to have you as a mother-in-law." Emma joked in an attempt to break this little emotional moment for the boys' sake.
"Well, first of all, none of my boys will get married until they're twenty-eight. I made a deal with each one of them when they were four." Regina admitted jokingly.
"Sneaky move." Emma laughed.
"I also made a deal with Ezra not to grow up. It didn't work that much as you can see."
"You should have made a deal with time, not Ezra," Emma said playfully.
"Υou should've told me earlier," Regina whined and Emma's heart swelled with love.
"I'm sorry it won't happen again." Emma teased, earning a slap on her arm from Regina.
"Idiot." She mumbled as Emma grinned at her. Neither of them had noticed the three pair of eyes which were looking at them.
"Operation Panther: phase one is a success." Henry beamed while fist pumping his brothers.
None of them realized how quickly the movie ended as none of them was paying attention to it. Emma and Regina, when they were not talking, they'd steal a glance at each other. The boys, on the other hand, would whisper about what they should do next, in order to keep their mothers together a little more. So when Colin noticed that the movie ended, he rushed to put another one. Their plan though, to observe their mothers failed, as thirty minutes through the second movie, both Colin and Henry had passed out on the couch, with Ezra being completely engrossed in the movie. Regina, however, had noticed that the boy was fighting to keep his eyes open, something that made her smile.
"Baby boy, I think it's about time you went to bed." She whispered so as not to wake the other two boys."
"No." He said stubbornly, without looking at Regina.
"Tell you what; You'll go now to sleep and you'll continue this movie tomorrow okay?" The boy must have been really tired because not only did he not fight Regina but he also raised his arms for her to carry him to bed. Regina complied, lifting the boy into her arms and taking him to his bedroom. Before doing so, though, she asked Emma if she could put Colin to bed too. Emma nodded before standing up and raising Colin in her arms, taking him to his and Ezra's room. When she entered the room, Regina had finished tucking Ezra as she also gave him a goodnight kiss. Once she noticed Emma though, she chided her.
"Emma! I said bring him there not carry him!."
"Hey, relax this is not the first time they fell asleep on the couch. I got this." She reassured before, getting him into bed and tucking him. When she finished too, both women left the room and went back to the living room where Henry was now awake.
"You should go to bed too," Emma suggested.
"I will in a few," Henry said.
"And I should go," Regina stated. It was well past ten and the day was getting to her.
"Mom it's late, you shouldn't drive all alone," Henry said concerned yet with a mischief in his voice, that neither woman noticed.
"He's right, Gina, I can drive you home if you want." Emma offered.
"Or.," Henry interjected. "Mom could stay here."
"Yeah, I don't mind," Emma added. "You can take my bed."
"I don't know Emma." Regina bit her lip.
"Come on mom, think of how happy the boys will be when they wake up in the morning and find you here." Henry tried to persuade his mother. Thankfully, the -Ezra and Colin will be happy- card worked and Regina relented.
"Fine." She sighed in defeat. To be honest, she also didn't mind waking up there and cooking for her sons and Emma.
"Also, since ma has a problem with her back and well, it's not right for guests to sleep on the couch, you both have to sleep in ma's bed." Henry grinned mischievously and Emma narrowed her eyes at him. He was good, she could give him that.
"I suppose you're right. We're also adults and we can handle ourselves." Regina reasoned and Emma nodded.
"It's just sleeping, moms." Henry pointed out. "Anyway, I'm going to bed. Love you moms." He said as he pecked his mothers' cheeks.
Emma and Regina stayed up for a little while to clean the mess their sons had made. They were also pretty nervous to go to Emma's bedroom and they were trying to delay it as much as possible. However, it was a little after midnight and they could barely keep their eyes open. So, Emma made the first move and went towards her bedroom. Mere seconds later Regina followed.
"So.." Emma began "I usually sleep on the right side of the bed unless you want to sleep there. I mean you were always sleeping on the left side when we were together, so I don't know if that changed now..." Emma rambled.
"No, dear, the left side is okay."
"Perfect. Let me get you some PJs." She said and left the room. After a while, she was back with a pair of satin pyjamas, clean towels and a toothbrush. She handed them to Regina who accepted them gratefully.
"Do you want me to turn around or leave the room?" She asked once she saw that Regina had removed her sweater and she was now in a black camisole.
"It's not like you haven't seen me in my underwear before Emma." Regina teased and continue stripping in front of her ex-wife. Emma, though, still wanted to give to the brunette some privacy so she averted her eyes towards the window. Once Regina was ready, she lied next to Emma, keeping a safe distance between them.
"You have a nice bedroom," Regina commented after minutes of silence.
"Yeah, Rubes, helped me decorate it," Emma admitted.
"Well, tell her she did a good job."
"Will do" Emma smiled.
Silence prevailed once more and both women didn't know how to break it. It was Emma, though, who spoke first.
"Goodnight Regina." She said
"Goodnight Ems."
Both, however, knew that it was going to be a long night.