Regina kicks off the sheet, sighing in frustration as it flutters to the floor to join the blanket and two pillows she'd thrown away earlier.
"Please, just go to sleep," she murmurs, her hands moving to the soft curve of her belly that's growing by the day. "If you just go to sleep, I promise I'll have a steak tomorrow for dinner. Rare." The flutterings and odd movements in her abdomen continue and she groans. Another sleepless night, then.
At almost five months, Regina supposes she can't really complain about her pregnancy. The fact that she's pregnant at all is still something of a miracle, considering she purposefully made herself barren and the child's other parent is a woman. But Regina knows better than most that magic and love can combine to do the strangest of things. The life growing inside her is a precious and wondrous thing and she appreciates it every day. But there's no getting away from the fact that the baby reacts to the full moon. Last month it had been a more tolerable level; she'd only just begun to feel the baby's movements and each one was a new sensation. This month, however, is another story. She would swear the child was doing some sort of complicated olympic level gymnastics routine.
Glancing over at the unoccupied side of the bed, Regina frowns. This would happen on the nights when Ruby isn't here. After her initial shock at hearing about the pregnancy, Ruby has been an attentive and involved partner. Almost too attentive at times, and she's found herself on the end of Regina's sharp tongue more than once for fussing or being overprotective or just existing during one of Regina's more severe mood swings. Throwing her hand out to the side, Regina grasps Ruby's pillow and drags it closer, burying her face in the cool fabric and inhaling.
Another side-effect of a supernatural pregnancy is heightened senses. Which, at times, can be delightful. Like now, she can almost feel Ruby's spirit surround her, the scent of her is so strong on the pillow. But, at other times, can be downright horrific. Regina does not plan to visit the stables again any time soon. The baby is not calmed by the scent of her other mother and Regina throws the pillow across the room with a scream borne of exhaustion and frustration.
"Fine," she snaps. "You win." Shoving herself into a seated position, she turns and shuffles to the edge of the bed and gets to her feet. Without conscious thought, she crosses the room to the window and yanks open the curtains. The moon is large and bright, and floods the room with light. Regina's chest tightens in what feels like excitement or anticipation. The baby also seems to feel it, the fluttering increases in intensity. Like the celestial body is calling out for her, beckoning her to come and play.
"Is that it, little one?" she murmurs, cradling her belly. "Is the moon calling to you?" The squirming under her hand makes her smile. She sighs, casting a last glance at the sky before turning and grabbing her robe. She trudges down the stairs and moves through the darkened house; her newly improved sense of sight means she doesn't need to turn on any lights.
She opens the door and steps out onto the back porch, moving to stand at the top of the few steps leading to the yard. The effect is immediate. The moonlight is like a soothing balm on her skin, seeping into her pores and filling her with a feeling of contentment. She closes her eyes and lifts her face up to the moon, hands splayed across her stomach as the child's movements calm down to the tiny flutterings she is more used to. A smile crosses Regina's face and she shakes her head. "So does this mean I'm going to have to sleep outdoors three days a month?" she asks. "I don't do camping, pup, so we're going to have to find some compromise."
Before she can enter into any serious negotiations with her unborn child, her ears pick up on something moving through the woods at the bottom of her garden. "Your mother is coming," she says, stroking her bump, wincing at the snapping of branches. "With all the stealth of an elephant."
Regina opens her eyes just as an enormous wolf leaps over the back fence. The transformation happens in mid-air and when Ruby lands, it's on two human feet.
"Is everything okay?" Ruby asks, as she lopes up the garden. "Are you okay?"
Regina narrows her eyes at the approaching woman and lets out a huff as Ruby comes to a halt at the bottom of the steps.
"I'm exhausted," Regina snaps. "Remember last month when I couldn't sleep during the full moon and we put it down to-"
"To you missing me," Ruby says, her hands joining Regina's at her bump, stroking gently. "Yep, I remember."
"-to the bed being cold ," Regina corrects, her traitorous lips twitching at the edges.
"Sure, the bed being cold," Ruby agrees, with an easy grin, looking up at her partner with such undisguised adoration that Regina can hardly find it in her to keep up the stern act.
"Well, as it turns out, it's not the temperature of the bed or me missing you," Regina says, suddenly distracted by the way the moonlight catches the planes of Ruby's face. She lifts a hand to trace over Ruby's cheekbone, the softness of her skin sends a shock of arousal right through Regina.
"No?" Ruby asks, a sculpted, and sceptical, eyebrow creeping upwards.
"No. Your child simply refused to settle down until I came out here and stood under the moon."
"Really?" Ruby asks, her eyes dropping to the bump. "She wanted to be outside?"
"Very much so," Regina confirms, her hand slipping behind Ruby's neck, stroking the downy hairs there. "She was very demanding."
"She takes after you, huh?" Ruby says, flashing Regina a cheeky grin, earning a tug on her hair. She laughs before sobering. "I guess most werewolves are born to women who are werewolves themselves...and they'd already be out and running under the full moon." Ruby tilts her head apologetically. "You've really got the raw end of the deal here."
Briefly, she thinks about agreeing, but instead she leans in and presses her lips against Ruby's, the steps giving her an unusual height advantage. Ruby's hands slide under her robe, from her belly to her back and she moves up a couple of steps so that they're the same height. When they part, Regina keeps her close, their noses and foreheads touching.
"Ruby, a little discomfort three nights a month is nothing compared to the joy I feel at sharing this with you," she mumbles. "That's not to say I'm not going to complain about it, because I am, but just remember that I wouldn't change it for the world." She pauses, eyes roaming over Ruby's face. "And maybe I bitch at you for fussing over me, but I love knowing that you want to keep me safe. My big, bad wolf."
Ruby's eyes glow golden and Regina feels a corresponding tingle between her legs. Her nostrils flare as Ruby's scent grows musky and heavy on the air. Regina's lips stretch into a predatory grin and her breathing speeds up. She threads her hands into Ruby's hair and drags her into a rough kiss; all teeth and power. Ruby's hand slide down, over her ass, to the back of her thighs, lifting her up. They start moving back towards the house, but Regina wrenches her mouth away, panting.
"No," she says when Ruby looks up at her in question. "Out here."
"Out here ?" Ruby squeaks. She looks around like she expects half of Storybrooke to appear over the fence. "Out side ?"
"Yes," Regina confirms with a nod. "Out here, under the moon." Just saying the words makes her shiver. "Since I stepped out here I felt...something ...power...strength…" Ruby gently sets her back on her feet, but keeps her in her arms. "I know you feel it too. I just want to keep that feeling while w-"
Ruby's lips are on hers again and Regina knows she doesn't have to do any further convincing. She's propelled backwards until her back makes contact with one of the wooden posts supporting the porch roof. Ruby pulls away from the kiss, looking around for a suitable location, but Regina doesn't allow her time to come to a decision. She grabs her chin and pulls her around so they are eye to eye.
"Here is fine," she says.
"But you-" Ruby hesitates, her eyes straying to the wooden post Regina is leaning against. "I don't want to hurt you."
"Ruby," Regina begins, starting to grow impatient. "I'm pregnant, not made of porcelain." She lifts both hands to Ruby's cheeks. "I want you to fuck me, right here, right now."
"Christ," Ruby murmurs, her eyes flashing from green to yellow erratically now. She winds an arm around Regina's back in an attempt to cushion her, even as her left hand slips beneath the waistband of silk pyjamas.
Regina's hips strain forward, desperate for Ruby's touch. Long, slender fingers make contact with hot, wet flesh and Regina cries out as she's filled up. Ruby's familiar caresses seem driven by the moon; everything's that much sharper, that much deeper, that much stronger. Regina lifts her leg and hooks it around Ruby's knee, trying to pull her in closer.
"Yes," she gasps. "Faster."
Ruby obliges, turning to press open mouthed kisses along Regina's jawline until their mouths meet in a hungry tussle. Regina knows she's not going to last long and she doesn't care; she needs that release. "Harder," she begs. Ruby's hand moves to the back of her head, cradling it as her thrusts grow rougher, the way she knows Regina likes.
"Open your eyes," Ruby whispers, kissing her cheek. Regina obliges and Ruby's gasp tells her that they are not their usual colour. "Fuck," the wolf grunts, her final thrust sending Regina over the edge. Pitching forward, her face ends up buried in Ruby's neck and she can't resist the urge to bite down on the pliant flesh. The shudder that runs through her partner makes her smile and she lifts her head when Ruby nuzzles at her cheek, meeting her lips for a sweet kiss.
"I didn't realise exhibitionism was a side-effect of the moon," Ruby mutters against her lips.
Regina scoffs. "It's not like I took you on the counter at Granny's. You would have heard anyone approaching."
"Usually, yeah," Ruby agrees, tugging Regina closer. "But I get kinda lost in you when we do that. King George and his entire army could've been at the door and I wouldn't have noticed."
"I doubt they'd ring the doorbell, dear," Regina says, smothering a yawn against Ruby's shoulder and snuggling closer to her. She sighs. "I'm tired, but as soon as I go back inside your child is going to start doing somersaults again."
"I may have an idea," Ruby says, gently guiding Regina away from the wooden post and letting her go. She drops a quick kiss on Regina's cheek. "I'll be back in a sec. Wait here."
Regina watches her go with an affectionate smile. Shaking her head at Ruby's constant exuberance, she moves once more to the top of the steps and lets the moonlight wash over her, that same sense of serenity washing over her. The door opens and she turns to see Ruby beckoning her in. She frowns.
"I just told y-"
"Trust me," Ruby says, making her eyes large and round in the way Regina can't resist. Regina huffs and stomps into the house. As soon as she closes the door, the activity in her abdomen starts up once more.
"I-" Before she can get a word out, Ruby moves behind her and drapes something heavy over her shoulders. A tingle of magic moves through her and once more the baby calms instantly. Regina reaches up to grip the fabric, turning her head to catch Ruby's eyes. The flash of red confirms exactly what she's wearing; Ruby's cloak. Her eyes fill with tears of relief and love as she realises she's going to be able to sleep peacefully. She turns in Ruby's arms and accepts the warmth and comfort that her partner's arms provide.
"Thank you," she whispers.
"No, thank you ," Ruby says. "This cloak used to be a reminder of how different I was. I always thought I didn't fit in and I'd never find anyone who would love me." Regina is about to protest, but Ruby continues. "But you do. You love me enough that we, somehow, managed to create a magic baby." Ruby pulls back enough that Regina can see her face. "And seeing you in this cloak, carrying my child-" Ruby looks down and laughs. "I guess it just shows how things can work out."
"For the best," Regina confirms, kissing Ruby's chin.
"For the very best," Ruby says, squeezing Regina against her. "Now, what do you say we get some rest in case you're in the mood for some al fresco sex again tomorrow night, huh?"
Regina's laugh echoes around the dark kitchen.