Author's note: Thank you for reading and the feedback :)


Chapter Twelve

When Regina woke up, it was still dark, save for the lamppost outside the window. Something heavy was pinning her outstretched arm to the bed. She turned her head to look and found Emma lying on it. Emma was facing Regina and hugging the pillow in the middle of the bed. Regina had a feeling that she would have woken up to them cuddling if not for the pillow.

Regina bent her trapped arm so she was caressing Emma's hair. She savored the chance of seeing Emma sleep and look so peaceful. When Regina began to feel guilty for gazing at her, she lifted Emma's head gently and removed her hand. Then she turned her back to Emma and went back to sleep.

#

When Emma woke up, she was greeted by Regina's back. She had hoped to wake up seeing Regina's face instead. Emma shifted to lie on her back, then huffed and reprimanded herself. No, Emma. She rubbed her eyes and stretched. Her eyes found Henry, who was already awake and was smiling at her. Emma smiled back and stood up.

"Good morning, Henry," she whispered, not wanting to wake Regina. Emma picked him up and found that he needed a change of diaper. She worked quietly, while Henry, thankfully, remained calm and quiet the whole time. Then she changed into a long skirt and blouse before making her way downstairs with Henry to prepare breakfast.

There were two boys already awake when Emma went into the kitchen. They immediately put down the glasses they were holding and stood up, chairs brushing noisily on the floor, and looked at Emma wide-eyed, reminding her of deer caught in headlights.

"We—we just wanted a glass of water, ma'am," the boy of eight or nine stammered. He looked to his younger companion for help.

Emma chuckled. She motioned for them to sit again before putting down Henry in his crib. The two boys sat and watched her. When Henry was secure and happily playing with his toy, Emma turned back to her guests.

"It's fine. Relax," Emma said with a smile. The two boys audibly sighed and leaned back on their chairs. "What are your names?"

"I'm Robin, ma'am," the older one said then motioned to his companion, "and this is Little John."

"I'm Emma and this is Henry. We're both very glad to meet you both, Robin and Little John."

The two boys smiled shyly at her before finishing their glass of water. Emma knew how the boys felt. Not every child meets kindness and charity from other people. She would know, growing up feeling very insecure in her environment. Deciding to do something special for the boys, she put on her apron and grinned. "So, what do you two want for breakfast?"

#

Emma was sipping coffee and talking while the two kids eat their pancakes when Regina arrived in the kitchen. Regina had changed into dark jeans and blouse.

"Coffee?" Emma asked.

Regina approached Henry first, tickled him under his chin and then whispered, "Good morning, Henry." Then she turned to answer Emma.

"I'll get it." But before she could move away, Emma lightly touched her arm.

"No. Why don't you sit down and meet our guests?" Emma stood and pulled Regina to her usual seat on the other side of Henry. Then she pointed to Robin then to Little John saying, "That's Robin and Little John."

Regina smiled and greeted them. "Good morning, Robin. Little John. I'm Regina."

Emma placed a cup of steaming coffee in front of Regina. "Thanks, dear," Regina said.

Emma smiled at her before turning her attention back to her young guests. They were whispering to each other and, seemingly as if in a debate, both bowed, with the table almost hiding their faces.

Emma looked to Regina and found the other woman also looking at the boys as well, with an amused smile. Little John chanced a glance at them and when he found them looking, quickly bowed again and tugged on Robin's arm.

Her curiosity won out, and Emma finally asked, "Problem, boys?"

The whispering ceased but it took a moment for both boys to resurface, both furiously blushing. Emma wondered if perhaps one of them had an accident but then they were too old to have a potty accident. She sniffed just in case but finding none amiss, she asked again, her voice now laced with concern.

"Is everything alright?"

Robin opened his mouth to speak but Little John tugged on his arm again. Robin pulled his arm free and blurted out, "Little John said you're very pretty Miss Emma!"

Little John's face turned a darker shade of red and he looked as if he was about to cry but then he shouted, "Robin said Miss Regina is pretty too!"

"Oh." Emma was stumped but Regina started laughing. She wiped away a stray tear and took deep breaths.

Regina turned to Robin. "Thank you, Robin. That's very kind of you. And I agree with Little John: Miss Emma is very pretty. I believe, much prettier than I am, in fact." When Regina looked to Emma, she had a smile that warmed Emma. She would not be surprised if she was blushing as well.

Robin and Little John beamed at Regina, happy that their secret was out with no negative consequences, and then went back to eating with gusto. Emma tried to calm her racing heart and focused on Henry, handing him milk. Meanwhile Regina continued to drink her coffee, tickle or brush Henry's hair, and chatted with their guests.

Finally, the pancakes were gone and their juices finished. Robin and Little John wiped their faces with the sleeve of their shirt, stood up, and approached Emma and Regina.

"Thank you Miss Emma for the breakfast. Little John said it is the best pancake he ever had, and I agree," Robin said shyly. Both boys looked to Henry who was now cradled in Regina's arm. Little John whispered to Robin, who nodded. "And Little John said, and I think so too, that Henry is very lucky to have two mommies."

With that, Robin and Little John turned on their heels and ran out of the kitchen, leaving two dumbfounded women in their wake.


To be continued...