Thanks to GayLez for this idea! :)
Chapter 21
Walking down the hospital corridor, Cora glances across to her daughter while her 'daughter in law' and grandson follow behind. "Regina you really don't need to be here, its not like I am having surgery, its just my usual treatment"
Holding onto her mother's arm, the brunette shakes her head. "I want to be here. So stop trying to get me to leave"
Releasing his mother's hand, Henry toddles forward and takes hold of Cora's empty one. "Nanny, want to be here too..then..then I can give hugs and hugs make me better when poorly.."
Both Mills women look down to the boy with a smile while the older brunette rubs the back of his hand with her thumb. "Thank you dear" looking back to Regina, Cora frowns remembering. "Don't you two have work?"
"Not for another hour" the brunette responds before gently pushing on her mothers back to guide her into the treatment room.
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Sitting on the bed rather than the chair, knowing full well Henry will want to sit with her, Cora looks towards the door as the doctor enters with her medication. Emma and Regina share a look then casually step back so the man can do his job. Setting up the tap, the doctor smiles over at Cora. "You only need to be here for half an hour today instead of your usual hour as its a stronger treatment.."
Frowning in confusion, the older brunette peers over to see the medication drip that is about to be attached while the small boy beside her looks fascinated. "Thats not my medicine. I don't have..that, however you pronounce it"
Regina's eyes widen slightly as she nervously pushes a hand through her hair while the blonde stares up at the ceiling and around the room.
The doctor continues with inserting the drip while explaining. "This is yours Mrs Mills..its your new treatment that you registered for. Trust me, you do not want to say no to this stuff, it has a 99.9% sucess rate" hanging up the bag, the man then leaves the room.
Going to protest, Cora then trails her eyes over to the guilty pair with a glare. "Regina Mills!"
Finally looking back at her mother, the brunette pouts. "What?! I had to! Well she had to..." Pointing to Emma beside her, Regina looks apologetic when the blonde gives her a scared look.
Raising an eyebrow at the blonde, Cora sighs. "Your apartment..you did it anyway..."
Emma nods slowly staying quiet. The older brunette rolls her eyes. "I told you not to..but thank you Emma. You will of course be reimbursed.."
The blonde bites her lip and shakes her head before gazing over at Regina. "You already have Cora.."
Giving a coy smile, the brunette reaches for her hand which Emma immediately accepts. Cora smiles at the pair not being able to stay mad.
"Nanny?..."
Tilting her head across to Henry, the woman looks intrigued at his curious face as he continues to stare at the medicine while both his mothers also look in his direction. "Yes young man?"
Resting his head down against her shoulder, the boy points up to the bag then to the tap she has got. "I could put juice in that.."
All three adults laugh while Emma drops her head, trying to hide her face on Regina's shoulder, embarrassed.
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Leaving her mother at home after her treatment, Regina heads off to work with Henry in tow. Walking through to the set, Henry keeps a hold of the brunette's hand then looks up to Brad who approaches the pair. "Hi Brad! Got my chocolate?"
"Henry!"
Staring up at Regina, the boy frowns while Brad passes her a coffee then holds a smaller cup of hot chocolate for Henry. "Yes momma?"
Brad waves it off with a chuckle. "Regina its fine.."
"No its not, Henry, Brad is not your slave" turning back to Brad, the brunette smirks. "He's mine.."
Laughing, the guy high fives the boy then walks off.
Walking up to his chair, Henry places his cup on the side table and lifts himself up, allowing his legs to dangle as he is so small. Regina sits beside him in her own chair and pulls out the script. "Okay lets go over what you have to say, remember you've been in town for a while and there are a lot of people making comments regarding how evil your mother is.."
Quoting by heart, Henry nods along with each word then grins. "She is not evil now, she my mom. She took me in when no one..else wanted me and..and she loves me like a son"
Smiling back proudly, the brunette nods in agreement. "Then what do you do"
"Stamp on his foot!"
"You got it pumpkin" running a hand through his hair, Regina then hands over her phone for him to play with until they get called up.
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Standing beside his 'mother', Henry glares at the man in front of him, clearly not happy with what he had just been told. "She's not evil now, she's my mom!" Reaching for her hand, the boy grips onto it before continuing. "She took me in when..when.." Freezing, Henry bites his lip not being able to say it then glances around seeing all eyes on him.
Feeling the boy tense up beside her and his grip on her hand tighten, Regina looks down to him and mouths the rest of the line when he looks up. Beginning to well up, Henry shakes his head beginning to panick because he cannot do it. Letting his lip tremble, the boy starts breathing heavily. Ignoring the cameras and curious whispers, the brunette quickly crouches down to him and takes hold of his arms, making him look at her. Keeping her own voice quiet, Regina rubs his arms gently. "Its okay. Just breathe for me pumpkin, its okay"
Allowing a tear to drop down, Henry sniffles as he tries to keep it together and whispers back. "All...looking..."
"Just ignore them and focus on me. Its okay if you want to stop?"
Nodding, the boy has a few more tears fall prompting the woman to reach out and wipe them away. Wrapping her arms around him, Regina rises up, lifting him with her. Looking over to see them call cut, the brunette walks off the set as Henry buries himself into her neck, embarrassed.
Approaching the pair, their boss looks sympathetic. "Take him home Regina"
"Thanks.." Grabbing at their jackets, the brunette continues walking.
Henry tilts his head slightly to look at her sadly. "Momma...gotta work.."
"No Henry, no more work today. I'm coming with you"
Biting on his lip, the boy looks away. "..I..sorry..."
Pressing a kiss to his head, Regina rubs his back. "You don't need to be sorry Henry. It was too much for you its okay and I would much rather be with my pumpkin anyway" giving a smile to reassure him, the woman heads out the studios in the direction of her car.
"Hey, can I get the kids autograph?"
Looking over to a guy who is approaching the pair, Regina looks wary after last time. "I'm sorry he's not feeling well maybe another time"
"Oh, is he okay?"
Frowning, the brunette keeps the boy guarded in her arms. "..yes...escuse me"
Helping Henry into the car, Regina walks around to the drivers seat.
"Hope you feel better bud!"
Pausing, the brunette holds onto the car door and glances over the car roof at the guy. Watching intently, Regina wonders if its pure coincidence that the guy has just called her son 'bud' as the only person to ever call him that is Emma. Ducking her head into the car, she smiles at Henry. "Stay in your seat baby, I will be right back" seeing the boy nod, the brunette closes the car door and walks back in the direction of the strange guy.
Looking around briefly wondering why she is returning, the guy notices he is the only one there. "Hi?"
Stopping in front of him, Regina crosses her arms. "Why did you just call him that?"
"What?..bud? Well its his nickname?"
Scoffing at his attitude, the brunette glares. "And how exactly do you know that is his nickname?"
Smirking, the guy shoves his hands into his pockets. "Why wouldn't I? I know everything about my son.."
Looking slightly shocked, Regina also appears angry. "He's not your son" turning to leave, she pauses again at his outburst.
"He is and I am making sure that I get my rights given to me! Emma may not have been so hospitable but my lawyer certainly is!"
Fisting her hands, the brunette takes a deep breath ignoring the need to give a comeback and returns to the car to drive home.
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Watching as her son runs through, bursting into tears at seeing her, Emma looks worried and scoops him up into a hug. "Hey bud? What's happened?"
Hiccuping, Henry sobs. "I..I..messed up.."
Kissing his face and head, the blonde looks sad herself before noticing Regina walk through the door clearly angry. "Its okay baby..you did your best..hey how about you go and get your pajamas out then we'll have ice cream before bath?"
Henry nods slowly, sniffling, then toddles to the stairs and up. Glancing back to the brunette who is now pacing and extremely agitated, Emma frowns. "Okay Regina you don't need to be mad, he's just a kid who tried-"
"Its not Henry, I know he did his best but I am mad..I...I just want to rip his head off!" Gritting her teeth, the brunette fumes as she continues pacing.
"Oh..okay..whose head and you're kinda scary when your mad.." The blonde gulps as the woman looks across at her with anger in her eyes.
Taking a deep breath, Regina stops and turns towards Emma. "Henry's father.."
Approaching the woman slowly, Emma's eyes widen at the mention of the man. "Henry's..you mean he.." Not being able to finish her sentance getting mad herself, the blonde lets out a shaky breath.
"He tried to talk to Henry but I refused because Henry was upset and I didn't know the guy, I thought he was a fan and then he said about knowing Henry's nickname and how he knows everything on his son..that..that he knows his rights and so does his lawyers"
"What?! No! There is no way that he is ever taking Henry from me!"
Seeing the obvious panic, Regina takes hold of Emma's hands as the blonde gets teary while looking back at her. "Hey.."
"He can't can he..can he really take him from me?" Biting on her lip, the blonde drops her head to the woman's shoulder as the brunette pulls her into a hug.
"No. He can't and he won't. Henry is ours and no one is going to change that..he has a stable and loving home here, there is no way they would give him to that man"
"But..but legally..he could because we are his biological parents..and to a court, you..you're just..my partner. There is no link.." Pulling back to look at her sadly, Emma pouts.
"I know..but..I mean it shouldn't be determined because of that..we will work it out and we will be okay. Trust me, no one is breaking up my family" Regina responds seriously then kisses the blonde's forehead before wiping her face.
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Sat up on a stool, Henry shoves a spoonful of ice cream intobhis mouth then grins as Emma does the same. "Its yummy.."
Nodding in agreement, the blonde looks across to Regina who strokes Emma's back then sits beside her. Winking at the boy opposite, the brunette smiles as she takes her spoon and steals a mouthful from the pot placed in the middle of the counter.
"Momma like it?" Henry asks curiously and screws his nose.
Reaching across for his hand, the brunette nods. "Yes pumpkin, momma likes it"
Looking over at the woman, Emma slowly smiles to herself. Feeling eyes on her, Regina tilts her head and raises an eyebrow at the blonde. "..what?..you have that face..when you figure something out.."
"That's because I have. That right there..its so obvious.."
Looking more confused, the brunette finishes her mouthful before questioning. "What is dear?"
Giving a brief glance towards their son, Emma replies. "You. You are his other parent. You're his momma. He's our son..so why not put it on paper?"
Surprised, Regina realizes where the blonde is going with her speech. "You mean..I should.."
"Yes. Why not? I mean, I'm serious about us otherwise I wouldn't have uprooted to here and I am in this for the long haul which I hope you are too. I love you, he loves you. We're a family already. Lets make it official?"
Slowly smiling, the brunette leans across and kisses her straight on the lips. Smiling back, Emma cups her face then breaks away at the small voice across the counter.
"Oh! Don't want ice cream now.." Pushing the pot away, Henry pulls a face at the pair causing both women to laugh.
A/N: Neal is a pain in the butt! But will he win? ;)