While they waited for her parents to arrive, Emma lifted Lettie out of the crib and sat on the sofa, cradling her in her arms. Regina was in the kitchen with Henry, putting the kettle on and laying out a few biscuits for their guests. She adjusted the position of Lettie's head on her arm and softly stroked the fine hairs. Lettie's eyes opened and she blinked up at her mother.

"Hi there." Emma greeted her in a whisper.

Lettie yawned, her tiny mouth making the cutest little 'o' shape she had ever seen. Emma watched her wave her fists around in the air, putting her own hand out and watching in amazement as one of her fingers was captured. Lettie pulled it down towards her, with a strong grip that was surprising.

There was a knock at the front door. Emma heard Henry call out that it was open and heard him meet their visitors as they entered. She looked up as Henry brought her parents into the room, closely followed by Regina.

At first they stared at her, not knowing what to say, then they turned back to look at Regina.

"Who…?" David spoke first.

"She's my daughter." Regina told them, wanting to make that clear.

Emma gave them a moment to let it sink in before adding: "Mine too."

"Tea anyone?" Henry asked, looking into the room. "Water's ready mom."

"Thank you Henry. Snow, Charming? Tea or coffee?"

Finally they spoke, this time in unison. "Baby?"

"It's a long story..." Emma began.

"But not that complicated. I'm sure they understand where babies come from." Regina reminded her.

"Wait a minute, are you saying you're both the biological parents or are you… what are you…?" David stuttered.

Emma waved Regina away. "Go make drinks, let me explain it to them."

"Do you think coffee will be strong enough?"

"Just go." Emma turned back to her parents. "This is Lettie. Valentina, really."

Regina hobbled out of the room, only slightly needing to lean on the walking stick. It was probably best to leave them with Emma. She wasn't up to dealing with their stupid questions. Still, she kept her ears open in case Lettie started to cry and her eyes kept darting back to the door.

She had told Henry he was still too young to pour the drinks, she didn't want him to burn himself with the hot water. Instead, she gave him the plate of biscuits and placed the hot drinks on a tray. She figured she could just about manage that, especially now her leg was feeling better. It was all a matter of balance.

Returning to the room, she could hear raised voices. Lifting her chin, Regina entered to face them and calmly placed the tray down. Snow and David turned to her, preparing goodness only knew what to say. Ignoring them, Regina turned to Emma, lifted Lettie from her and headed out of the room. This was not something she wanted her child to hear. Either of her children, in fact.

"Henry, would you mind watching your sister for a little while. I'm going to take her upstairs." She called out.

Emma exited the room just behind her. "I'll carry her. You haven't had much practice on the stairs yet."

"I can manage."

"Look, you take diaper bag and I'll take Lettie. She's heavy and if she wriggles you might lose your balance."

Henry came out of the kitchen. "Need any help?"

"No, thank you. Just tell your mother that I can carry my own daughter up one flight of stairs."

"Uh…" Henry looked at Emma for help.

"Don't put Henry in the middle of this." She told Regina.

"You see," David told Snow as they followed their daughter out of the room. "They can't even go five minutes without arguing…"

"Stay out of this." Regina cut him off.

Emma went to stand beside her, to show her parents they were wrong. "Yeah, we're going to be fine."

"Really? So you've discussed all the little details involved in raising a child? You know who's going to be responsible for…"

"We're going to share taking care of her. Regina's had experience with Henry and I'm going to learn."

David put an arm around his wife. "And when you find something you don't agree on? Like how old she'll have to be before you let her have chocolate? Or Regina carrying her up the stairs? You still haven't explained how she was injured…. What are you going to do then? Stand around arguing all day?"

"We brought you here to tell you about Lettie." Emma folded her arms as she spoke. "I thought… we thought, you might want to know about her, maybe be part of her life. But you need to remember that Regina is her mother too and we're in this together. We might make mistakes, and obviously there will be times we clash over decisions. The important thing is that we are going to try because we both want to be there for our daughter."

Regina had been looking at Emma as she spoke. She smiled when Emma glanced in her direction, a warm feeling spread through her body. She couldn't believe Emma was standing up to her parents like this. The Charming's looked at each other, then back at Emma.

"I think we all need to take some time to let this sink in." Snow apologised.

"I still have to come over to collect a few of mine and Henry's things."

"You're moving out tonight?"

"I think that's best."

"Come on, Snow." David put a hand under her elbow and led her to the door.

She turned back one last time, looking at Emma. "We love you. It's just…"

David escorted her out before she could finish, leaving Emma looking after them with a hurt expression on her face. When she turned around, Henry had gone back into the kitchen and Regina was watching her.

"I'll get the bag." Emma told her.

"Perhaps you should take Lettie up."

"What?"

"Just up the stairs. I'll take her back off you at the top."

"You don't have to…"

"You were right, I need to practice carrying other thing up and down the stairs first. I can start with the diaper bag."

"Regina…"

"No, let's save our arguments for the important things."

Emma smiled. "How old was Henry when you first let him eat chocolate?"

"Bring Lettie upstairs and I'll tell you the story."

"Uh oh, that doesn't sound good."

"It depends whether you find the story funny or looking after a child's first stomach-ache from cramming in so much chocolate."

Emma laughed. "I definitely want to hear that story."