AN: Hi, apologies again for the long wait. Hope you like this chapter. Look at the end of the chapter for more notes. Tell me what you think of this story.
Telling Snow and David about the pregnancy took a backseat in Emma and Regina's life ever since Anna and Rafael joined the family. Regina's spare time was consumed between spending time with her family and 30 minutes or so stolen every other night to craft Henry's costume. It will all be worth it when Melinda Watson will fume once Henry wins. Again. Just imagining it kept Regina going. Emma was quite understanding of it all. Sadly she will be 7 months pregnant by the time the con was on and Emma was unsure whether she could go for such a long drive. Their family was turning out to be so perfect: Henry shared Regina's nerdiness, Rafael loved kicking a ball, which delighted Emma to no end because finally she had someone who she could teach all the best tricks she knew in sports, and Anna just loved all things girly and Regina breathed a sigh of relief that she'll have a shopping partner very soon. Anna didn't mind playing dress up in stores and Regina never tired of doing it. They were the perfect fit in the family and there was no doubt in anyone's minds that Sofia will fit in perfectly as well.
Emma was starting to show a little bit, not much, just a bit of tummy, enough for those that paid close attention to think she would either be pregnant or gained weight. Emma was having lunch with Snow, at Granny's, and thankfully it wasn't one of those setups. Emma's order was a mixture of burgers and fries with onion rings and a chocolate milkshake and Snow was a bit apprehensive about her daughter's food choices.
"Emma, you should cut down on the grease and sugar."
"What?"
"I mean, you're over 30 now, your metabolism is different. Maybe you should watch what you eat."
"What?" Emma's brow furrowed in confusion. Was her mother saying what she thought she was saying?
"I mean honey, I'm married to your father, and I still take care of what I eat. You need to take care of your figure if you want to attract a man."
"Are you calling me fat?"
"No, I'm not calling you fat, I'm just saying you're starting to develop a bit of tummy, and at our age it's a bit harder to get rid of it."
"So you are calling me fat and sexually unattractive?" and yes Emma did fear that maybe when she'll be heavily pregnant Regina won't find her appealing, but the brunette was always quick to assure her that it was normal to gain weight while pregnant and that personally the brunette didn't care how Emma looked and always half serious half joke said that it would mean she had more of Emma to love.
"No, I am not saying that. You're misunderstanding."
"No, it's not a misunderstanding. You said that if I continue to eat this way I'll get fat and become sexually unappealing. You're saying I'm already fat."
"This is getting out of hand, Emma, calm down."
"No, I will not calm down. I'm not fat okay?" she managed to say through gritted teeth keeping her voice low.
Regina made it to the diner in time to see Emma rise from the table to stare at her mother. She realised something was wrong and decided to approach the table.
"Is everything okay here?"
Emma was still seething, so Regina wrapped an arm around Emma to ground her and give her support.
"She's calling me fat and sexually unattractive because I gained weight."
They were making a scene in the diner, Regina realised that much so she waved her hand discreetly to mask their presence so they will be left alone from prying eyes.
"Emma, you know that's not true," Regina tried to soothe Emma's fears.
"Stop coddling her, Regina."
"Coddling her? Stop trying to intervene in her life and dictate how your adult daughter should act, Snow. She's the same age as you, and has a family of her own now."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means that you should think before you speak and while you're at it you should also stop with your set-ups. Emma's mature enough to know what she wants," Emma instantly stiffens at that. So maybe Regina was bothered by the set-ups. Not maybe, definitely. Emma herself would be bothered if she knew someone tried to set up Regina with eligible bachelors. Of course Regina was bothered by all that.
"She told you about that? But yes, I'm just looking out for her, after all I'm her mother. And since we are at it, you should stay out of it Regina, Emma's not like you."
"Like me? What's that supposed to mean?"
Emma watched the discussion unfold into a horror scene. She noticed that the diner went about normal business while the two women were engaged in a verbal spat. Regina must have distracted them somehow.
"Stop it!" Snow and Regina look at Emma "Mom, I am not fat, I am pregnant. Regina's also right, I don't want to be set up, I'm an adult and I can make my own decisions regarding who I am involved with romantically."
"You're pregnant? Who's the father? Why did you keep it from me that you were seeing someone? Regina how could you hide this from me."
"Regina's the 'father' as you so put it."
"Emma, come on, we all know how biology works."
"I know, but Regina is the baby's other parent and you need to respect that."
"Emma, but…"
"No buts, Regina is as much this baby's parent as I am. We are raising this baby together, we are both her parents, just like we are with Henry and how we intent to raise Anna and Rafael. Together. As a family. And you need to stop meddling in my family, and try to set me up with random guys. My place is by Regina's side as her partner and as a mother to our children."
Emma poofs herself and Regina away to the mayor's office as she tries to calm herself down. It takes a few minutes of pacing, but she manages to settle down enough to go sit in Regina's arms. Her stomach starts to growl, she was quite hungry. Regina goes out to her secretary and asks him to go get Emma's lunch from Granny's in a takeaway bag and grab Regina's usual as well.
"Are you all right, Emma?"
"Yes. Hold me please?"
"Always."
She wraps her arms around Emma and cradles her head to her chest.
"You were very brave today, you did great and I'm incredibly proud of you, Emma."
"You don't think I'm fat or unattractive?" that was always a fear, a fear instilled in her by previous boyfriends. Boyfriends that made her feel less, that she was only a pretty blonde distraction, that she was good for nothing, just another women they bedded. Only with Regina she started to regain her confidence. Only Regina started to build her up once again.
"Non-sense. You look amazing. I could never find you unattractive, you know that."
Regina found out pretty soon after she started dating Emma that the blonde despite the brave façade she put on had a severe lack of self confidence and self esteem. No wonder Regina's pep talks always helped the blonde fight whatever foe they were facing. But Regina also learned that while it's easy to destroy someone it's an incredible hard task to help build someone's back up. The brunette knew all about not feeling good enough, and while she buried it all down under the Evil Queen persona, Emma buried hers under reckless heroic acts. It was incredibly hard for both of them. Somehow they ended up helping one another, Regina would help built Emma's confidence, while Emma was always there making sure Regina knew she was enough, that she was wanted and loved and needed.
She lifted Emma's head so they could look into each other's eyes.
"I love you, Emma Swan. I love all of you, inside and out."
Emma starts to cry, she's quite emotional and the past half hour was incredibly emotionally charged. "Oh, my darling," Regina says as she holds Emma close as the blonde continues to sob. By the time Regina's secretary was back Emma stopped crying and Regina made sure Emma ate all her food before she was allowed to return to the station.
Regina was in her office, busy working on the budget focusing specifically on the sheriff station budget. She knows Emma can't do the paperwork for this on her own and she's more than happy to help her. Emma will have to go on maternity leave in a few months and they needed a replacement so that David's not overworked in an early grave. Her buzzer breaks the silence.
"Madame Mayor, Mary Margaret Blanchard is here to see you."
"Thank you Jimmy. You can let her in."
She sighs a bit exasperated. She quickly glances at her computer screen to see if she's misread her appointment. No. Steve, the plumber was meant to meet with her, instead she gets Snow. She must have used her 'fairest of them all' card to get this meeting.
"Hello Regina."
"Hello Snow. Make this quick please, I have an appointment at 2."
"That will no longer be an issue." Her smile was sickly sweet. "I'm here to talk about Emma," she takes a seat in front of Regina's desk.
"What about her?"
"I want you to stay away from her," Snow says as she crosses her arms. Regina puts her pen down and leans back into the chair.
"I beg your pardon?"
"I've accepted that she lives in your house because it's easier for Henry. But she's far too focused on you and the kids to take care of her own needs."
"I can assure you Emma doesn't lack anything and she seems perfectly content with our current arrangement," Regina is furious. How dare Snow say she doesn't take care of Emma? If Snow only knew.
"She does have needs and you know it."
Regina didn't like one bit the use of the word needs from Snow. She knew what Snow was hinting at, but it wasn't as if she could just tell the woman No worries I'm taking good care of those needs as well and I can assure you Emma is very satisfied. Well, she could, but that would open a can of worms she's not happy to open without Emma's approval. And if Snow couldn't understand Emma's hints…
"I'm afraid I don't, so why don't you enlighten me?" Regina's gloves are starting to come off, but she decides to play the ignorance card.
"You may be content to not share your life with a significant other, but Emma's not like that."
Regina narrows her eyes at Snows statement.
"I know Emma. She's looking for love. She's just afraid to do so and she has one night stands that leave her pregnant by strangers she doesn't even know. You might be happy to grow old without having a romantic partner anymore, but Emma is not like that. She needs romance."
Regina scoffs. If only Snow knew. Having a secret relationship with Emma has really put Regina into a corner. She once again gives herself the pep talk that she can't come out to Snow on Emma's behalf, she won't betray the blonde like that. But she also won't take any more shit from Snow on this issue.
"Have you talked to Emma about this or did you just come to yell at me? And before you forget, Emma lives with the kids and I. And once the baby is born, she will live there too, and Emma and I will raise her together. As a family. I remember Emma making it quite clear to you that the baby is also my baby."
"Listen to me, Regina. You will not deprive my daughter of the life she's meant to live. She's a princess. She'll find someone suitable to be with and together they'll raise the baby. I have a few people in mind left and I would really love your cooperation on this."
"My cooperation on what? Finding Emma a boyfriend?"
"Yes."
"You know she's more than capable herself to decide who she wants to date. And there's more than Henry and the baby now into this equation."
Snow looks at her incredulous and almost fights the urge to roll her eyes. Regina for her part is fuming.
"I want what's best for my daughter. I want her to have what David and I do. What every other princess does. I want her to have a fairytale happy ending. With a man and their children. You will not stay in the way of all this, unless you haven't really changed and you still want to keep people away from their happy endings. She's messed that up, big time, but that doesn't mean she can't get a decent man again."
All Regina saw in front of her eyes was red. Only she knew the hard work she put in to help Emma recover and gain her self worth and self respect and confidence again. And how dare Snow accuse her of trying to make Emma unhappy? Her. She's given everything she has to Emma, she almost died to save Emma. How dare Snow say she doesn't care for Emma? And how dare Snow intervene in her small family?
"Are we referring to the monkey or the man who sent her to jail while she was pregnant? Oh wait, you're referring to the one who tried to kill all of us multiple times? I have a really hard time keeping track of all the great men she's dated." She takes a deep breath trying to calm herself. "Do you actually pay attention to what your daughter wants or is it that you're too focused on what you want and you project on her? Have you stopped to consider her wishes?"
"I have. She's a princess, she needs a prince, not one night stands where she gets pregnant. This is really not how I want Emma's life to turn out."
"This is Emma's life, not yours. You don't get to decide for her. I would also suggest you don't assume how Emma got pregnant, or whether or not she's happy. She told you she's happy. Why don't you believe her? Have you actually paused to think that this is what Emma wants? What she has now? And maybe she's just looking for acceptance?"
"I'm her mother and I know what's best for my daughter and this thing she has going on now with you needs to stop. You need to stay away from Emma, Regina. That baby needs a father. I don't care what you'll do with the twins, you and Emma can reach an understanding, like with Henry if you want, but you will not keep Emma away from her baby's father."
"Get out!"
"What?" Snow was confused. Regina's demeanor changed instantly.
"I said get out. We are over. This conversation is over."
"No. It's his baby isn't it? That's why you're trying to poison Emma's mind."
"What?"
"I know you always hated him, but to go as far as…" but Snow doesn't manage to finish because Regina is standing from her desk and leans in a menacing way towards Snow.
"This is my baby, my child, that I conceived with Emma. And if you ever suggest that the man who emotionally abused Emma, that had her cower in fear at the thought of him being angry for fear he would lash out and kill us all, if you ever again mention or suggest he should be around my family or Emma herself, I will kill you."
Snow stared in shock. No this wasn't true, Regina was making stuff up. She had to talk to David, they had to intervene.
Regina was fuming. She felt like she wanted to punch a wall or throw something. She was so angry at Snow. No wonder Emma went through hell. No wonder her lover was in so much pain. No wonder she wanted to keep things secret and she was afraid of how people will react. Regina decided then and there that she will support Emma's decision in regards to their relationship no matter what. Emma didn't deserve this heartache. Emma Swan deserved so much better.
Regina tried to get back to work but that quickly proved to be an issue as she could not focus on her work. She decided to call it a day and make her way home after asking her assistant to reschedule her meetings.
She thought she'll bake a cake, the old fashion way with no mixer so she could let out some pent up anger. That way she'll not only calm down but give something delicious to her family. The thought of making Emma and the kids happy brightened her mood.
As she got home she was surprised to see Emma's shoes by the entrance door. Her first instinct was to call out Emma's name, but then decided against it thinking that maybe Emma came over for a nap.
She made her way to their bedroom and when she opened the door her heart broke in tiny million pieces. Emma was on their bed, hugging Regina's pillow and she was obviously crying.
"Emma?" Fear started to grip Regina's heart. Did something happen to the baby? Was Emma all right? Emma looked up at her startled at first, but then her bottom lip started to tremble and she buried her head into the pillow as freshest new tears marred her face.
"Emma, my love what's the matter? Are you OK? Is …" and Regina fears to even voice the next question "is the baby ok?" Emma nods yes and Regina knew the baby was OK but clearly Emma wasn't. Something upset Emma. She hoped it was just hormones.
"Emma, my darling, what happened?" Regina took Emma into her arms and as soon as Emma felt the contact she let go of the pillow and buried her face in Regina's shoulder.
"I'm sorry." Emma mumbled in Regina's shoulders at the same time as she tightened her grip on the brunette as if she was scared her girlfriend might leave her.
"Sorry? For what?"
"For everything."
"What happened?"
"I told my parents about us. They didn't take it well at all. Snow said that it was a spell and she'll get to the bottom of it and will talk to the Blue Fairy. Dad said that they'll even talk to Gold. Dad started blabbering about how this is all your ploy to keep me away from... " she started to sob "so I erased their memory of me telling them we are together. I've also altered their memories so now they think I'm carrying your baby since you can't get pregnant. I'm so sorry I've done this and you have every right to be angry at me, but I simply couldn't deal with them or their assumptions any longer. Or them thinking he's a victim and you're he bad guy who tries to keep us apart."
"Oh, Emma. I'm so sorry." Emma was traumatized and she didn't need reminders of her life post New York up until a few months ago. Regina briefly considered putting Snow and David under a spell to feel what Emma feels for the man they worship so much. Maybe then they'll stop bringing him up. She will talk to her sister to see if something like that could be done. Their attitude was harming Emma so much, it actually pained the brunette to see it.
"I'll never be able to show people here we are together. I'm sorry."
"Shhh," Regina tries to calm Emma down, her heart breaking in a million tiny pieces for the blonde "We are not the first nor will we be the last couple to have to hide our relationship. We will manage."
"You deserve so much better than me, Regina. You deserve someone who will be out with you in the open, for all to see."
"There is no one else I want by my side, Emma."
Emma continued to sniff in Regina's shirt, but she was finally calming down. It then dawned on her that Regina was home awfully early.
"How come you're home so early?"
Regina grimaced. Telling Emma will upset the blonde even more, but she also couldn't keep this a secret.
"Your mother paid me a visit. She managed to make me quite angry and so I decided to let out some steam by baking a cake."
Emma buried her head in Regina's shoulder and started to cry. It must have been quite bad if Regina was essentially stress baking. Usually the queen would only stress bake if she felt particularly frustrated. She explained once that baking when she was angry or frustrated allowed her to let out some steam and helped her focus on something positive.
"What did she say?"
"It doesn't matter," she really didn't want to upset Emma further.
"Please," whatever Snow said it really angered Regina, and Emma didn't want her to keep it all bottled up.
"She asked me to stay away from you and that she wants you to build a home with Sofia's father. She also hinted at you know. Did you just meet with her?"
"Yes."
"Then you did the right thing to alter her memories considering what you made them believe. This way they'll leave us alone when it comes to Sofia," she leaned in and kissed Emma's lips.
"You really think so?" Emma felt unsure. Was Regina just soothing her fears or did she mean it?
"Yes, I do," she kissed Emma's lips again, humming in delight. "I'll go pick up the kids from school. You should get some rest. I'll wake you up when it's time for dinner."
"No need, I can go pick up the kids. Then maybe you can let me help?"
Regina saw the quiet plea in Emma's request. She wanted to be near her family, near Regina.
"All right, it's a plan," Regina kissed Emma's lips and the blonde melted against her lover.
AN: So, I know what you're thinking: Snow is a bitch and there's no way she doesn't accept Emma. I usually think along those lines but for this fic I'm taking a different approach. One that goes along the lines of "Snow has a certain idea of what Emma's life should be like and she would not be so happy with Emma's current choices." Is there a reconciliation planned between mother and daughter? Will they forever keep the relationship a secret? I'll pull and Adam and say 'keep reading' or as more applicable for my scarce updates is 'watch this space'
