A/N-This is the last chapter before the BIG one! Hope you guys all like it! Let me know your thoughts and hopes and ideas! Reviews are the best! Thank you everyone who has favorited, followed and reviewed this story! And as always, I'm often looking for motivation! Currently I am working on a one shot for Gunner4life that I will have up (hopefully) tomorrow, but always feel free to send me prompts, or find me on tumblr and send them there!

Friday and Saturday passed with unease, the two mothers not seeing Henry until late Saturday afternoon, since Thursday before school. When he finally arrived home, both women were sitting at the dining table waiting and he knew he was in trouble.

"Henry, come in here," Regina called.

"Uh, yeah?" he feigned his innocence as he walked into the entryway of the dining room, noticing one of his mothers on each side of the table, leaving the head of the table open.

"Sit, now."

"What…uh…what's up?"

"Where have you been? We have called you several times since Thursday, David has called you, I tried to pick you up from school yesterday and you weren't there, but you attended all day except your final period. You're not an adult, Henry; you don't get to make decisions about your whereabouts on your own. We are your mothers, you check with us before you're gone for nearly three full days!"

"I've been staying with the Tillman's."

"Why are you lying to us?"

"I'm not!"

"Yeah, kid, you are. Superpower, remember?" Emma interjected. "Now, try again."

"I was just staying at Grace's house."

"Henry!" both women scolded.

"What business do you have spending the night at a girl's house? You're too young for that!" Regina finished.

"Mom, I wasn't doing anything like that. I mean…we kissed a few times," Henry reasoned, a scarlet blush covering his cheeks. "But…I just, um…I didn't want to be here."

Regina's expression softened. "Why, sweetheart?"

"You guys are just…its not like it used to be anymore. It's cold and uncomfortable. Neither of you is happy and even when grandpa comes over, he's so sad about grandma that even though you all talk like adults when he's here, you're all sad and its just really depressing to be around."

Regina looked at Emma. "Can you…would you mind giving us a minute, Emma?" Emma nodded and left the room. After Regina heard heavy footsteps on the stairs, she looked back at Henry, frowning. "Sweetheart, I'm very sorry. I know I've been terrible the past few weeks. I…since Neal came around I've been having a very hard time."

"I know mom, I get it. But…I didn't do anything wrong and it feels like you're picking at everything I do." She reached her hand over to cover his.

"Oh, Henry, I'm very sorry. I…I was wrong, and you don't deserve that. But please, do not scare me like that again, ok? Just come talk to me if you're upset. I'm always here for you. I'm sorry I haven't been putting you first lately."

"You…I need you to make a decision about Emma, mom."

"I know. I have."

"You have?"

"Yes."

"Have you told her?"

"No."

"Well, why not?" Henry's response was followed by a frown and a look of hurt.

"Archie told me to think about it this weekend and we would all three discuss it on Tuesday at our next appointment, and I think maybe that's for the best."

"Are we breaking up with her?"

Regina gave a short chuckle. "Henry…even if my decision is to leave Emma, or make her leave, it doesn't mean you're not going to see her."

"I don't see Neal."

"No, but if you wanted to, you could. Emma is your mother as much as I am. We've talked about this before. I'm not going to be mad at you for wanting to be with her."

"Will you tell me what your decision is?"

"Now?" Henry nodded. She signaled him closer and whispered into his ear. When he pulled away, she spoke again at a normal volume, "But don't say anything, Henry. I want to see how this weekend goes. I want to try to enjoy some time with her."

"Ok. I'm sorry I was gone so much."

"It's alright, dear, just don't do it anymore. Did you get your homework done Thursday before school Friday?" He nodded. "Good boy. Go do your homework for Monday, I'm going to start dinner, your grandfather should be here soon."

David and Regina finished making dinner while Emma ran out to the store, claiming she needed to grab some feminine necessities.

"Have you heard from Snow…David?" Regina asked tentatively.

"I haven't. I go see her sometimes, but mostly I've heard from Ruby that she sticks to the apartment and mopes around."

"I'm sorry, dear. I would offer to help if I believed it would be of any assistance."

"Yeah. So…when are you going to tell Emma she's forgiven?"

"Whatever do you mean?"

"Well, we both know you're going to forgive her, that you probably already have. It's just a matter of when you tell her."

"Why do you say you know it, like it's a fact?"

"Because it's why I keep trying with Snow…you don't give up on True Love unless there is no possible way back. You and Emma…you have a way back."

"Yes, I suppose we do." Regina started crying; unable to contain the pain she was feeling any longer. She had been trying to hold it all in for so long, even when she did cry a little in front of Emma, in front of Archie, sometimes even in front of Henry, she wasn't able to let it all go. None of them understood. Somehow…somehow she knew that David got it. He was going through similar issues with his wife and that made them even more of kindred spirits than they already were. David, at her breakdown, pulled her into his arms and stroked the back of her head.

"Shh…shh, I didn't mean to make you cry, Regina. Shh." he soothed. "It's going to be alright. Everything is going to be ok."

"You don't…th-think it m-makes m-me we-weak to f-f-forgive her?" Regina stuttered between sobs. David braced her arms and pushed her gently away from him so he could look into her eyes. He lifted her chin with the crook of his finger.

"Regina…I think it makes you anything but weak. It makes you a very strong person, and a very loyal and loving person. You're giving someone that hurt you very badly another chance, that's a big risk and even though I know Emma won't ever do something stupid like that again, it makes you strong that you're willing to put your heart on the line again like that. Don't think that it makes you weak."

"But…I can't live without her. That's the real reason behind it. I…I just cannot live without her, David."

"I know. I know how you feel." Her crying fit was over, and she pulled away, wiping her tears from her face.

"I'm sorry…I got your shirt wet."

"I don't really care. Its just flannel," he assured, bumping her arm with his while they continued to prepare dinner. "So?"

"So?"

"When are you going to tell her?"

"Tuesday. I just…I need to know that her behavior isn't going to change, and I want to enjoy the next two days before I confirm it for her. She started leaving me notes again and I missed them. I don't care about the flowers and the treats and all that. I mean, it's all sweet, but I just…I care about the notes."

"Yeah, she talked to me about that after your last appointment. I don't think she realized how the timing correlated for you. She's smart, but sometimes she is too hardheaded to realize how things correspond with each other."

"Yeah…those charming genes she has, I'm sure," Regina teased.

"Hey!"

"Hey yourself!" Emma walked into the kitchen in the middle of their banter, though having missed their conversation about her.

"How's it going, guys?"

Regina smiled at her before answering, "should be ready in 10 minutes or so, its just simmering."

"Smells good. Regina," she started, pulling a bag from behind her back and handing it to her wife. "I…got you something."

Regina looked inside the bag and pulled out a name plaque for her desk that said Regina Swan-Mills, and Emma's that read Emma Swan-Mills. She looked at Emma with a quizzical look.

"I ordered them a while ago…before the wedding, actually, but I kept forgetting to pick them up with everything that was going on. I went into the store to get you these," she said, handing a box of Regina's favorite dark chocolates to her. "And Tom asked if I was picking up my package. He said it's been there since shortly after we got back from our honeymoon."

"Wow. It's…thank you, Emma. And thank you for the chocolates. They're my favorite."

"I know."

"Would you two mind setting the table?" Regina asked, and the two blondes took the plates and silverware into the dining room. Regina turned over the box of chocolates to find a cardstock note.

Hey Regina,

I know I've been kind of weird lately. Sorry I was so quiet yesterday when Henry was gone. I don't want to upset you, and I wasn't sure what to say that would be fine. I miss you and I love you. I think you look beautiful pregnant. I think that every woman who was ever pregnant wishes they could look as glowing and tiny as you do. Every time I see you I think how impossible it is that such a petite woman can seems so much larger than life, and I just want you to know that I think you're amazing.

Love you,

Emma

Regina smiled at the awkwardness of the note. It wouldn't be Emma if there wasn't awkwardness. Emma walked in to see her smiling at the notecard. Their eyes met and Emma smiled at her wife.

"Would you tell me?" Regina asked. Her question was vague, but Emma knew what she wanted.

"You look very beautiful, Regina, especially pregnant. It suits you very well."

"Thank you, Emma."

"Of course. I mean it, so you know. I've never seen someone hold pregnancy as well as you do."

"Thank you."

"Do you…uh, do you like your hair long like that?" Emma asked gently.

"Do you not?"

"I think it looks very nice. You're gorgeous no matter what your hair looks like, Regina. I was just asking if you were trying to grow it out or if you just didn't have time to get a haircut."

"Oh. I don't know. I had it long when I was young, when I was the Evil Queen. I always thought I would never grow it back, but, I think I like it."

"Cool."

Dinner was comfortable. It was the first time all four of them were together for a meal since Thursday's breakfast. Henry was chattering non-stop about his couple of days of freedom, and David scolded him on not informing his mothers of where he had been. Emma and Regina spoke to each other, growing more comfortable in their conversation as the meal went on. Henry was beaming at his moms for actually talking to each other instead of around each other. When conversation died out for dessert, Regina brought up the topic she thought was necessary.

"I think…I think maybe I should talk to Snow," she said, quietly.

"What? No!" Emma argued.

"Why do you think so, Regina?" David asked gently.

"I just think that maybe she's still hiding away because she thinks no one is going to forgive her. If she knows, for certain, that you guys will forgive her, after she tries to make it up to you, maybe she'll try."

"Why should it be you, though?" Emma reasoned.

"Because who else here has tried to destroy peoples' happiness and earned redemption? There isn't anyone else who may be able to convince her otherwise."

"I don't know," Emma offered hesitantly.

"Maybe…maybe you're right," David gave.

"What if she tries to hurt you?" Henry asked.

"She's not going to hurt me, Henry. I'm pregnant with her grandchild and no matter how much she may hate me, she isn't going to hurt me."

"It just doesn't seem like a good idea to me," Emma refuted, again. "But, I suppose if you're certain…then you'll do it either way, so…fine."

"You're sure?"

"If I tell you no, you would listen?"

"I would."

"Fine. You can talk to her. I know we promised Henry no magic, but if it seems like she's even coming close to look at you the wrong way, you transport out of there, do you understand? I don't want anything to harm you."

Regina nodded. "Henry? Is that ok with you?"

"Of course. You know…the no magic promise was pretty much exclusive to causing harm or pain."

"You didn't say that."

"But I meant it."

"Oh…you're in trouble kid!" Regina got up from the table and started to chase her son, leaving David and Emma laughing at the two brunettes.

That night felt colder than most had been lately to Regina. She was snuggled into her bed, Emma's pillow in her arms where it had been every night for weeks. She was trying to understand Emma's side of things, and in some ways she could really see it, in other ways, it still just caused her pain. She was happy that David was getting closer to Henry, being around so often. Maybe they could convince him to go over the sex talk with Henry, since Emma had given it to him, but maybe he needed a man to. It was occasionally convenient to have your father-in-law be your age.

She thought about how to approach Snow. Obviously in public wasn't an option, since the younger woman wouldn't leave her apartment. She really didn't want to be on the other woman's ground when she did it though. She decided to stress about it another time. She could feel a strange amount of unease in her stomach, probably from Emma, and she decided to try to sleep the feeling away.

As Emma lay in the guest room bed, she thought over what had been happening since Thursday. It seemed she wasn't capable of not making things awkward, even with the woman who had once been hated by the majority of the town. Emma loved Regina more than her own life, needed Regina, and yet she had been making so many stupid mistakes. But, she knew that even if Regina expected awkwardness from her, because leave it to the truth, Emma was just kind of that way naturally, it wasn't in the way it used to be. She used to do things, clumsy things, or laugh when something was sad, or make obnoxious noises when everyone was being quiet, but that was stuff that Regina would laugh at, and tease her about; they were things the brunette loved about her.

The awkwardness of the past few days, she knew, was her trying too hard not to mess up. She didn't know how to not mess up without thinking about it, though, and that was exactly what was making it uncomfortable. She knew that if she kept acting different, it wasn't going to help her case. She was thinking that Regina was leaning toward forgiving her, but she had no proof. But, she was really glad that her wife enjoyed that days presents.

Her last thoughts before falling to sleep that night were that she wanted so badly to hold her wife's pregnant stomach and talk to the baby. She wanted to be a part of this baby's life, in the womb and out of it. And she wanted to tuck her children into bed and lay down with her wife at the end of every night. She was tired of sleeping alone, and she would show it, she would do her best to make Regina understand that they could still be in this together.

When David dropped by Sunday morning to eat breakfast, he and Regina decided to go see Snow that morning once they were finished with their meal. Emma protested, saying that Regina didn't need anymore stress on her shoulders and she didn't want the situation with her mother to cause harm to the baby, but finally let up once David reassured her that he would stay the whole time and if things got to heated he would pull Regina out of there.

The car ride was fairly silent, Regina was mentally checking off all of the things she wanted to say to her former stepdaughter turned mother-in-law. She wouldn't bring up Emma today, not outside of saying that Emma deserved support from her family, anyway. This was going to be about redemption and how to earn it. Regina knew better than anyone else in town what such a thing required.

David was thinking about the consequences he would have to pay by Snow from bringing Regina to see her himself. His estranged wife was completely against him spending time with Regina, personally or with the rest of the family. She still didn't know, as far as his knowledge went, that he was there for two meals everyday. In the time that he had been living in the Inn, which was around 5 weeks now, he had strayed from ever bringing up conversation of his daughter, her wife and their son. Occasionally Snow would bring Emma up, or Henry, and ask how they were doing and all he would do is ask her how she thought they were. This wasn't going to be a fun day.

As they pulled up to the apartment, David reached a hand over and squeezed Regina's arm reassuringly.

"I meant what I said to Emma. If things get intense, if you look even a little overstressed, I'm taking you back home, even if I have to drag you out like a cave man by your hair. Are we clear?" David stated, he wasn't really asking, more demanding and Regina nodded her response.

"Very archaic of you, dear."

"I know you don't need protecting, so don't think that's what I'm doing. I'm protecting myself, if you need to think of it that way, because Emma will surely kill me if I let you get overstressed." She nodded again. "Alright, let's go."

They walked the stairs up to the apartment door and Regina was surprised when he knocked instead of letting himself in, but she didn't let him see it. When Snow opened the door, she didn't noticed Regina, who was standing behind David's tall and broad frame.

"David," Snow breathed. "It's good to see you."

"Yeah, Snow, you too. Um, can…" he trailed off, nodding his head toward the inside of the apartment.

"Oh, of course." She stepped to the side and motioned him in, and he stepped to his side as well, letting Regina walk past him, leading her with his hand between her shoulders. When Snow saw her she gasped and looked at him angrily. "What is she doing here?"

"Regina is here to talk to you, about how you can redeem yourself."

"I don't want to talk to her. She's the reason our family fell apart as it is. She's the reason we aren't together!"

"Her name is Regina! Stop using pronouns to name her! Regina is your daughter-in-law for Gods' sake, Snow! Stop! She's here to help you. Were it up to Emma and me, you would be considered beyond it, but Regina, who has been through atoning for her behavior, is here wanting to help you. So take it. Please. Before Emma and I give up!" He was yelling, passionately yelling. Regina hadn't ever seen him yell like this. Not at her, not when he was trying to kill her or stop her from giving Snow the poisoned apple, never.

Snow seemed admonished. She nodded at sat at the dining table. "Very well. Regina, what do you have to offer?" Regina and David sat down with her.

"Snow…I'm here because, as David said, I've had to atone for my behavior and I've been through a lot to change and to be forgiven and accepted. And whether or not you believe it, you owe a lot of people a lot of apologies. Starting with your daughter, your husband and your grandson."

"Oh? You aren't going to say I owe you anything?" Snow smarmed defiantly.

"I wouldn't dare. Though all I want is to destroy you for the lies you tried to tell about my parenting abilities and my private life with my wife. I hate more what you have done to your daughter and our son. You owe them so much; you've caused them much pain. For being so self-righteous, Snow, you've certainly dug yourself into a hole this time."

"Regina…" David warned. She nodded.

"Alas, I did not come here to argue or to provoke you. I am here because, as I've already said, you need to work your way towards earning forgiveness, and as I am the only person I know who has worked through bringing my heart back from black, I thought I would offer help. If you choose to take it."

"Well, I don't," Snow replied.

"Very well, then I am of no use here. You know my number, call me if you change your mind. By the way, we're having a girl. I'm sorry you won't be able to be a grandparent to mine and Emma's children. Do have a good day." Regina stood and walked to the door, stepping outside to wait for David.

"Snow…its time. You need to get past this and start trying to earn a place back in Emma's life. They are halfway through this pregnancy…this baby, she is literally some sort of miracle, why would you want to miss that? Why would you want to miss any more of Henry's life when we missed the first ten years? Furthermore, why would you want to miss anymore of Emma's when we missed the first 28 years? You're making a huge mistake, and I'm telling you, I love you, but I'm not coming home unless you can fix it. I'm sorry." He didn't wait for her to respond, he just left her sitting at the table, pulled the door behind him and walked with Regina to his truck.

"I'm sorry I couldn't get her to listen," Regina said, honestly.

"Yeah. Me too."

When Monday night came, Henry went to bed early and David left early from dinner, even though he had taken to hanging around a few hours after their meal was over most days. Emma and Regina both took to the study, sitting next to each other on the couch. Emma tentatively took Regina's hand in hers.

"We're…friends, right?" Emma asked.

"Friends? Dear, considering we are married I would figure we are more than friends."

"But, I mean…if anything happens, if you choose that we can't stay married, will we still be friends?"

"Emma, I…I don't think we should talk about this."

"What do you want to talk about, then?"

"I don't want to talk."

"You don't?"

Regina shook her head. "No. I just miss you, Emma, I miss touching you." She stood from her spot on the couch and walked to Emma, straddling her wife's legs and taking her face into her hands. "Kiss me, Emma." And Emma did, once, lightly on her wife's full, red lips. But she pulled away too quickly.

"Are you sure, Regina? Shouldn't we wait? I mean, until you've told me your decision?"

"Emma, tonight I just want to kiss you. Please, give me that? I don't want to wait until tomorrow, until after we've spoken to Archie. This is what I want in this moment." Emma nodded and once Regina's hands moved to her shoulders, Emma's hands cupped her wife's face and pulled it back down so their lips met softly and slowly. She kissed her both like it was goodbye and like it was a habit she would forever be able to repeat, because she wasn't sure which one it was going to be.