The town hall was filled to the brim with citizens, all yelling and bristling as Emma, Snow and Neal were dragged to the front. Granny and Belle were seated side by side atop their pedestal and standing next to it were Regina and Zelena. Henry was on the front row. He didn't take his eyes off his mother.
Granny picked up her crossbow and fired a bolt into the ceiling, silencing the crowd. "Emma Swan, Snow White and Neal Cassidy. Do you know why you're here?"
"For no reason." Emma hissed, breaking free from Ruby's guards. "Cora showed up on my doorstep, bleeding and barely conscious. What was I supposed to do? Let her die?"
"Yes!" Zelena said.
"You were supposed to notify someone or bring her to the precinct." Belle said gently. "Why didn't you? You knew there was a manhunt out for her."
Telling them that she had a deal with the Queen of Hearts would probably be a lifetime sentence with these people so she tried to come up with a lie that would best suit her. "Because." Emma lifted her chin defiantly. "I'm a hero and heroes don't kill. We help those in need. Besides, if I let her die then you two won't get any closure." She gestured to Regina and Zelena, both of whom were glaring at her. If looks could kill Emma would have burst into flames. "And Cora wouldn't get the punishment she deserves."
"You still failed to notify the rest of your squad about your find." Said Granny.
"You're right." Emma nodded. "But I didn't think about that." She looked at Snow and Neal. "They had nothing to do with this, I called them because there was a lot of blood and they were close at the time." She turned back to Granny and Belle. "Are you going to punish me for helping someone in need?" She challenged. "Even if it was a villain?" A long pause followed as she waited. Granny and Belle exchanged words softly while neither of the Mills Sisters seemed particularly happy.
"She's right." Henry suddenly stood up. "Heroes don't kill. She was just trying to help."
"No, Henry." Regina looked Emma straight in the eye, soft brown ones burning angrily. "The world would've been better off without Cora Mills in it. I don't need closure, I want her heart, her blood. I want to see her dead, I want to see her leave this world so she can never return. Not every life needs to be saved."
"But you knew that, didn't you?" Zelena asked.
"What are you going to do? Hate me for helping someone?"
"Silence." Granny said.
Belle stood up. "We'll dismiss charges against you. You're free to go." Lily growled as she stepped forward and unlocked their shackles. "But Cora remains a threat to this entire town. She is weakened at this moment and we shall seize this opportunity. Ruby, Lily, you two may have whatever you require at your disposal to hunt down this witch. Her sentence, for she will pay for all the damage she has done, will decided by those she hurt most." She gestured to Regina and Zelena. "If she is found she is to be brought to an authoritative figure. If anyone is found harboring the miller's daughter, then they will be punished. As for the nature of that punishment, try it and find out what it is. Is that clear?" There was collective agreement from the crowd and Granny called the meeting to a close.
Emma breathed a sigh of relief and rubbed her wrists. That was too close. She smiled as Henry ran over to give her a hug. "Want to come home with me, kid?"
"Sure, Mom." He ran back to Regina and said something to her. She smiled and nodded and he ran back to Emma. She put her arm around him and lead him triumphantly away.
Regina watched the blonde leave with a look of disgust on her face. Killian's hands on her shoulders made her turn around. He planted a soft kiss to her lips and motioned to the door. "I want to go for a walk. Alone." She said. Neither one of her men approved of her decision, but she needed time to herself right now. Not only that but her mother was sure to come when she found out Regina was alone. She teleported to the toll bridge and leaned against the side, eyes scanning the rippling dark water. She closed her eyes and placed a hand to her stomach, feeling the life within her stir. At over 5 months pregnant now she could feel them faintly. Her little ones. Her blessed little ones. "3 boys and 1 girl." She said aloud with a smile. "They're on their way." She looked over her shoulder at her mother, the dark mother, the heartless mother she had always known. "Hello Mother." Cora looked tired and her skin was paler than usual, but for the most part seemed to have healed herself of her injuries.
"I only wanted to talk to you tonight." Cora said, coming to stand next to her.
Regina scoffed. "I don't know what game you are playing, but entering the home that I deem safe, where my children are, is a death sentence for someone I don't trust. I don't want you anywhere near me, my children, my family, my friends. I want you gone. I tire of looking up and seeing my childhood tormentor." She didn't look at her mother, didn't even want to pretend to care that she was near. "Every time you always said you loved me, or cared for me, or was doing was what was best for me...it was all a lie or some charade to break me. What kind of mother wants a broken child?"
"Regina-"
"You don't get to speak." Regina silenced her harshly, still looking out over the water. She clenched her hands into fists. "I've given you too many chances. You don't deserve any more."
"You're just going to ignore me?" Cora asked softly. For a moment Regina thought that she was genuinely upset by this, but eventually dismissed the feeling.
"No. I'm going to go home and take care of my family. I'm going to be with the mother who actually loves me-"
"That work of fiction? Figment of someone's imagination?!"
"Yes. She's been an excellent mother and grandmother so far." Regina blinked cooly and turned to face her mother. "As for you, I'll let Zelena decide your fate. You can run as long as you want, hide as long as you please, but you will be found. People in this town are annoyingly persistent. When you are found, don't expect any sympathy. This time, I won't shed a tear for you. Good bye, Mother." She stepped around her mother and started to walk away.
"Regina…" Cora called. "Regina!" she made a barrier rise in front of her daughter. Regina nearly didn't stop in time before running into into it. She whipped around angrily, one hand unconsciously going to protect her stomach and the other to conjure a fireball.
"Don't!" Regina snapped. "Don't you dare try to justify anything. Not after you killed Daniel. Not after you murdered Ruth. I'm tired of having this discussion."
Cora scowled and dropped her barrier. "I only meant what was best for you."
"In the sickest, most twisted way possible, yes." Regina replied.
"I can see my return was a waste." Her eyes fell to Regina's stomach. "You're still sleeping with those three fools?"
"Insult them again." Regina warned. "It'll be the last thing you do."
"You won't kill me." Her mother stated confidently. "Otherwise, I would be dead."
"Your life isn't mine to take. It belongs to Zelena." She smirked. Jefferson materialized in front of Cora and slid the black cuff on her wrist. He disappeared again, playing with the effects of the potion Regina gave him as a gift. Zelena appeared at her side and quickly turned to Regina's stomach.
"You alright? The kids okay?"
"They're fine." Regina flicked her wrist, throwing a now defenseless Cora sideways over the bridge wall and into the water. It was a little known fact that Cora Mills couldn't swim. Her mother instantly panicked as she hit the water and her dress, one from her queen of hearts days, only dragged her down. Regina and a smirking Zelena watched her struggle. Only when she stopped moving did they signal to the wolf pack hiding in the woods to pull her out where she started coughing up water and gasping.
"Lock her up next to Gold. We'll deal with her later." The redheaded witch commanded.
Regina teleported home and found her family waiting for her. "I said I wanted to go for a walk alone." She said, looking pointedly at Jefferson. Although she couldn't be mad. She hardly expected for them to comply, not while she was pregnant.
"What's going to happen to the evil Cora?" Grace asked.
Regina shrugged. "I don't care anymore, Gracie. I am starving however." she made puppy dog eyes at David, who laughed.
"Alright, I'll order some pizza."
"Thank you." she smiled sweetly.
/
In the days that followed, Regina ignored any talk and any mention of her evil mother. She didn't care what happened to her. The next phase of her pregnancy had begun. The mood swings, the cravings, and yes, the sex. She often thought how wonderful it was to have 3 men at her beck and call. She kept them sore and exhausted but neither one minded. Another 3 months passed by in quick succession and Regina was preparing for the arduous task that was giving birth. Technically she had another month left but she knew there was a possibility of the babies coming early and she wanted to be prepared. Nothing could go wrong. And then...everything did…
Regina tilted her head, watching David with little Neal. In all the past chaos the little boy had nearly been forgotten. It would seem Ruby's pack had done a lot of babysitting since the curse broke. Regina didn't quite understand how the little one had not been seen up until now and was suddenly a year old. Jefferson had a theory, that Snow had given birth during the missing year and the second curse breaking had disrupted the story, meaning Neal was simply gone, only to return rather suddenly as his story continued in the unobstructed timeline. Everything was so fucked up that she decided to just go with it. A smile touched her lips watching David with his son. He was such a good father and a wonderful grandfather to Henry. She made a mental note to burn Isaac's mansion to the ground later on.
"You want to meet Aunty Gina?" David asked, grinning as he walked over to where the queen was sitting on the couch.
"Gi." Neal grunted.
Regina smirked. "Close enough. Hi, Neal." She wiggled her fingers at him and he hid his face in David's shoulder, peeking at her. "You're not afraid of me, are you?" she smiled, tickling his neck and making him laugh. "Cute thing, you."
"Are we going to keep his name Neal?" David asked as he walked back over to Snow, standing near the doorway.
"What's wrong with Neal? He's our daughter's true love."
"He's the guy who happened to knock her up and abandoned her." David deadpanned, handing her back their son. "But I guess he'll bring the name more honor."
"So you're going to...help me?" Snow asked.
"Of course. I'm not going to abandon my son just because Regina is pregnant." He turned to look at her and smiled. "And due any day now." Regina smirked, curling back up in the corner of the couch, one hand instinctively going to cradle her stomach. She closed her eyes, sighing contently.
"How is she?" She heard Snow ask.
"Perfect. Couldn't be better. Just waiting for the day." Even though Regina couldn't see David, she knew he was smiling. She heard it in everything her men did nowadays.
"Regina, you alright?" Killian and Jefferson came downstairs to check on her.
"Yes." She replied without opening her eyes.
"Not hungry?"
"I would like to cuddle." She peeked out of one eye and smirked when she saw Jefferson and Killian doing rock paper scissors for who got the honor of cuddling the soon to be mother.
"Me!" Grace raced into the room and quickly snuggled up with Regina.
Jefferson crossed his arms. "I don't know how I feel fighting my daughter for the right to lay with my woman."
His woman. Regina frowned at the word. The sound of it suddenly made her sick. She quickly pushed herself to her feet and walked into the kitchen, the men and Snow right behind her.
"Are you okay, Regina?" Snow asked.
"Regina?" Killian touched her shoulders in worry.
"I don't want to be your woman." Regina hissed. "It doesn't feel...right."
"So you just want to be Regina?" All four looked confused until Grace ran into the room. Regina dropped to one knee to take something from her arms and she pushed Snow and Neal out the door.
"Regina, is something wrong? What is this?" David asked.
Regina held up the three black boxes. "This is me...asking you all to marry me. This isn't the way I planned it, mind you. There isn't much one can do while carrying four children. I don't want to be your woman. I want to be your wife." A long pause followed after as Regina handed them each a box. In it, were rings she had Maleficent make just for them. They were broad and silver with diamonds going around the bands. An extra gem was added. An amethyst for Killian, a ruby for David and an amber topaz for Jefferson. Each ring was made to be unique but still possessed some of the same features because all four of them loved each other, truly, and she wanted the rings to reflect that. "Well? What do you think?"
"Hell yes!" Killian exclaimed. He burst into a grin and Regina smiled.
"Of course, Regina." Jefferson said, pretending to wipe away teary eyes. "You've made me the happiest man alive."
David said nothing, just picked her up and kissed her.
Regina couldn't help grinning as Grace ran back into the room and started screaming and jumping up and down excitedly when she found out the news. "When is the wedding?" The men froze.
"As soon as possible." Killian said.
"Tomorrow." Jefferson smirked.
"Right now." David grinned.
Regina rolled her eyes, but just couldn't stop smiling and laughing as they peppered her face with kisses. She was so happy that she couldn't believe this was happening! Then she felt something wet on her legs. David slipped almost immediately and landed on his back.
"Boys." She called, gaining their attention. "My water just broke."
David was back on his feet in an instant, him and Jefferson racing upstairs to get her things. "Breathe, Love. Just breathe." Killian instructed. "Try to hold it in until we get to the hospital." Regina glared at him. The contractions were beginning. It was beginning.
"Are you sure it's time? They're a little early."
"Tell them that!" She hissed. Everything was a blur as they rushed her to the hospital. She kept her eyes squeezed shut most of the time, trying her best to alleviate some of the pain, but nothing would stop it. It was excruciating, driving her insane with it. She barely registered being taken out of the car and placed into a wheelchair, almost flying as David and Jefferson pushed as quickly as they dared. Killian had apparently called Whale because he was already on stand by. He leaped into action, timing Regina's contractions as she was wheeled away from her men by nurses. "Is it time?" She gasped.
"Looks like it, your majesty." He started prepping her for the birth and had her lifted onto a bed and her legs pried apart. Regina had been clenching them to try and stop the pain, to no avail.
"Is it gonna be a cesarian?" She asked.
"Possibly. I'm sure you're strong enough to handle it." Whale replied. Nurses were running this way and that to gather everything he needed. Finally, he crouched between Regina's legs. "The first one is already crowning. Man, they're ready to get up out of there." He chuckled. Regina resisted the urge to kick him in the face.
"We're here, Regina." Her men came to her side, dressed in footies, protective wear that looked like teal raincoats and shower caps. "Here we go, Mama."
Regina drew in a deep breath. "Alright, Regina. Push!" Then she heard the beeping, like the machines going haywire, flashing red and hurting her ears with the loud noises. "Regina!" They were all screaming her name but she couldn't respond. She felt like she couldn't breathe but wanted to hyperventilate anyway. Everything just got darker and darker, as though all the energy was slowly draining out of her body. Then everything went black.
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