"In labour?" Regina repeated. "I can't be, my waters haven't broken yet."
"Early stages of labour," Emma explained. "It starts with back ache, a tightening feeling. Sometimes your water doesn't break at the same time, it could be later on, but I think it's time to call for the doctor, just in case."
Emma shifted off the bed and started to make her way to the door to get the guards' attention to call for the doctor.
"Ugh!" The Queen gasped suddenly, making Emma backtrack and rush back over to the Queen.
"What is it?" Emma asked frantically, checking Regina's face.
"I don't think I can do this," the Queen cried. "I'm scared."
"Yes, you can," Emma promised her. She kissed Regina's forehead. "Let me get the doctor and make sure everything is going how it should be."
Regina was reluctant to let go of the blonde, but Emma managed to untangle herself from Regina's arms before quickly heading to the door.
"I think the Queen has gone into labour," she announced to the closest guard. Then there was a gasp, a cry and a shout of, "Emma!" and Emma glanced back at the Queen before turning back to the guard. "Scratch that, the Queen is in labour. Get the doctor!"
"Yes, your Highness!" The guard affirmed before nodding to the guard on the right who sprinted off to fetch the doctor who had been moved into the castle the week before Regina hit her due date just in case.
They had decided not to fetch Henry until after the baby had been born so that he wasn't sat waiting anxiously to know that both Regina and the baby were okay.
Emma thanked him before turning back to the Queen, shutting the door behind her. She rushed over to the bed. "What happened?"
"It feels like I've wet myself," the Queen revealed, lifting back the silk sheets and Emma saw the wet patch on the bed.
"Your waters have broken, honey," Emma replied softly, not wanting to freak out the Queen. She quickly waved her hand over the mess so that Regina wouldn't be sat in a wet patch in bed. They had already decided that she would give birth in their bed if she could so that she was somewhere familiar and comfortable. Emma would just use her magic to clear up any mess afterwards. There was a chamber down the hall that had been set up just in case Regina needed an emergency operation but that was only for the worst-case scenario that Emma was praying would be needed.
The situation was bringing back her memories of labour with Henry. Though for her, it had gone from naught to one hundred in the matter of minutes. She had no warning signs of back pain and had barely hit her due date. It just so happened that the canteen in prison had served a rather hot curry that evening and what she thought was indigestion was actually labour pains. Once she'd realised, she was half way to the medic to get checked when her waters broke and she screamed.
Then suddenly, she was surrounded by guards who helped her to the hospital and she was helped onto the bed. Twenty minutes later, she was pushing. It was after that that her memories were a bit hazy. She clearly remembered refusing to even look at the doctor holding baby Henry in his arms, telling her again that it wasn't too late to give him up, that she could do it, but she was adamant that she couldn't and kept looking away until she heard the door shut behind him, indicating that he was no longer in the room.
She also had the now slightly hazy memories of finally looking at her son in the doctor's arms and thinking, "I can't let him go, he's my baby!" and accepting him into her arms and holding him close to her. He was her baby, her Henry.
However, now was not to time to be remember Henry's birth; she had to concentrate on Regina and help her through this birth. She knew there was no such thing as an epidural nowadays and the doctor had already advised against the herbal remedies that were sometimes used as they sometimes did more damage than good. She had read about a few numbing spells, but she didn't know if she was up to casting them should something go terribly wrong and she somehow numbed the baby or made the Queen permanently numb.
As another contraction hit, Regina gasped out. "I can't do this. Em, I can't."
Emma leant down and the Queen's forehead. "Yes, you can," she assured her. "I'll be here the entire time to help you and support you." She kissed her softly. "I'm not going to lie to you, it's a whole load of pain but the end is so worth it. When you hold our baby for the first time, it's the best feeling in the world." Emma was speaking from false memories as she didn't know anyone apart from the doctor and nurses who had held baby Henry from the beginning, but if her fake memories were true, it was the most wonderful experience.
"You won't leave?" Regina repeated.
"Not for a second," Emma promised just as the doors opened and the doctor arrived.
"Are we ready?" He asked as he rushed over.
"Not at all!" Regain replied. "It hurts!"
The doctor smiled knowingly. "I know, my Queen, but the pain is worth it in the end. I promise."
He then set about checking over the Queen to make sure she wasn't at risk before the labour, but she passed all of the tests. Emma was now sat on her side of the bed with Regina's hand in hers. The Queen squeezed tightly whenever a contraction hit. They had started strengthening and growing closer together since her waters had broken, but they were no where near close or strong enough to indicated that she was going to need to push soon.
"I'm afraid you're going to have to wait a while," the doctor revealed once he finished his checks. "It doesn't look the baby is quite ready to come out yet."
"What!?" Regina snapped. "But it already hurts so much."
"You're only four centimetres dilated so far," the doctor said. "If I were you, I'd probably get up and walk around for a bit. The pressure might help." He turned to Emma. "Or you can massage her back to relax her." He turned back to the Queen. "A hot bath might also help." He paused before he revealed his next sentence, not sure how the Queen would take it. "It wouldn't surprise me if the new prince or princess didn't arrive until the morning."
Regina then burst into tears. "It's barely ten, I can't deal with this until the morning!"
"It's not his fault, Gin," Emma murmured softly, trying to calm the situation. The doctor looked grateful for her interference, but Regina still looked upset. "All this pain will be worth it," Emma repeated before learning forward and pressing her lips against Regina's sweaty forehead.
"As you're only in the early stages of labour, it would probably be best for the two of you to be alone," the doctor said slowly. "This will be the last time you two will be alone before the baby is born. Spend this time together. Emma, can I talk to you for a second?"
Emma looked a little worried but rose from the bed to meet the doctor.
"What's wrong?" She asked cautiously.
The doctor smiled reassuringly. "Nothing, everything is going well. We both know the Queen…" They both looked over to her as she gasped out as another contraction hit before turning back to each other and smiling nervously. "It's important to keep her calm and stress free. Make sure she's up and moving because that will help. I would recommend the bath and get in with her, massage her back, show her that you're there. It also sometimes helps to massage her breasts as that's been known to strengthen the contractions." Emma blushed at the ease that the doctor stated that, but he continued as if he hadn't noticed her embarrassment. "Don't continue when her contractions are really close and only do one at a time. It's a first birth, they never go as quickly as we want."
The blonde nodded. "I'll do whatever is needed."
"Perfect."
The two then broke apart before returning to the Queen.
"You can do this, your Majesty," he promised her with a squeeze of her hand. "I'll be back in a few hours to check on you. If you need me, just get the guard to call me."
Regina nodded. "Okay," she said quietly.
The doctor bid them goodbye before leaving. He left his medicine bag as there was no point taking away to just bring it back again.
"I'm just going to get you something to wear," Emma murmured before pressing another kiss to Regina's head.
Emma brought out a light cotton night dress for Regina to wear. She then helped the Queen out of bed and slipped the gown over her head. It was soft and warm, and she felt comfortable wearing it. Once she was dressed, she slowly started to pace by the end of the bed. She hissed and gripped the bedframe whenever a contraction hit. Emma would rush forward and rub her back through the pain before allowing her to start walking again.
"Why don't we take a bath?" Emma suggested after a while. "I'll make it nice and hot and massage your back for you to ease some of the pain. What do you think?"
Regina nodded. "I'll do anything to get this over with. It hurts so bad."
Emma led the Queen to the washroom and waved her hand over the bathtub, immediately filling it with hot soapy water, steam rising from the water temptingly. She helped the Queen out of her night gown before assisting her into the bathtub. Quickly, she took off her own clothes and slipped into the bath behind her, her legs sliding either side of the Queen who automatically leant back into the blonde's embrace.
"I can't massage your back if you lean like this," Emma murmured into her ear before kissing her temple.
"This is good for now," Regina assured her.
The two stayed like that for a while in silence which was only broken by Regina's gasp or whimper as a contraction hit. They were now getting stronger and more regular. Emma hoped that the baby would arrive before the morning but even she could tell they were in for a long night. Despite the increase and strength of the contractions, they still weren't anywhere near close to what she experienced while giving birth to Henry. Of course, she didn't tell Regina any of that.
After a while, they switched positions so that Emma could massage Regina's lower spine. It was clearly helping by the sounds the Queen was making.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd think I was making love to you, my love," Emma teased, trying to lighten the mood.
Regina laughed. "I'd would much prefer that," she replied, "but it was that that got us in this situation in the first place."
"And boy was it good," Emma reminded her, casting her mind back to the first time they had slept together all those months ago. It still baffled her that she was in a loving relationship with the Queen, who not only was her True Love, but who was now in labour with their child. "I love you."
"I love you too," Regina gasped out as another contraction hit. Emma massaged her back a fraction harder.
She then thought back to what the doctor had said and slowly lifted her right hand to the front of Regina's body and started gently massaging her right nipple. She trailed her fingers gently around it before rolling the nipple before her thumb and forefinger.
"What are you doing?" Regina asked. She couldn't think of having sex right now with all the pain she was going through.
"Following the doctor's order," Emma replied before explaining what he said earlier. "Apparently this will help speed things up."
After that, Regina allowed herself to relax and enjoy Emma's attention on her breast. Before long, the blonde switched breasts as to not overstimulate the first one.
About ten minutes later, she stopped. "Shall we get you up and walking again?"
Regina nodded. "Okay."
Emma helped the Queen out of the bath and dried her down before slipping her night gown over her head. They returned to their bedroom and Regina started her slow walks once more.
The next few hours passed much the same with Regina alternating between sitting, lying down and walking. Emma kept massaging her back every now and then and gave her reassuring kisses and pep talks. The doctor returned as promised and revealed that everything was still going smoothly, Regina was dilating slowly but she was progressing. She was now six centimetres.
After the doctor's second visit, Emma suggested they lay in bed together. She dimmed the candles in the room, and turned the fire down before opening her arms and allowing Regina to snuggle in. Despite the immense pain she was in, Regina could always fall asleep in Emma's arms. After a few minutes, the Queen's breathing evened out. Emma looked down at her and smiled. She pressed a soft kiss on her temple and allowed herself to sleep too.
They slept for a couple of hours on and off, only waking up when Regina had a particularly strong contraction before falling back to sleep.
The doctor returned after another couple of hours and checked the Queen over again.
"You're around eight centimetres now, your Majesty," he revealed. "You're almost there."
Regina simply groaned. "I'm so done with this pregnancy and labour." She turned to Emma and glared slightly. "I swear, if we want more children in the future, you're having them."
Emma nodded and laughed. She didn't know if Regina meant the future to this point or way in the future when Emma was back in Storybrooke. She didn't mind either way; she was more than happy to provide the Queen with as many children as she wanted.
Not so deep down, she wanted another chance of pregnancy and having someone dote on her hand and foot like she had on Regina during the pregnancy, and to have someone holding her hand and be there for her during the labour. More than that, she wanted the opportunity to share the first moments of her child's life with someone. Her fake memories gave her the experience of all the firsts with Henry but even in those, she'd found herself looking for someone to share those moments with. She was unsure if they were Regina's true memories and hadn't dared ask.
"I'll have as many as you like, my love," Emma replied, bringing herself back into the moment. "Well, no more than five. I don't want my you know what looking misshapen." She chuckled at her own joke.
Regina even managed to crack a smile before gasping out in pain again. Emma ran to her side in seconds.
"Is there anything I can do?" She asked. "Any spell you know that I could cast to help?"
The Queen shook her head adamantly. "I don't want any more magic to influence them," she replied quickly. "Magic made her, I don't want it to accidentally destroy her." Emma nodded and swallowed. "I'm not saying your magic would do that," Regina added quickly as she took in Emma's reaction to her words. "I'm just saying–"
"I know," Emma said quickly, cutting off the Queen. She reached forward and brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "It's okay."
Regina nodded before gasping out again. The contractions really were coming in thick and fast now. Emma turned and pleaded with the doctor, silently asking him if there was anything she could do. He shook his head before walking forward to test to Queen once more.
He pulled back smiling. "The baby will be here in the next couple of hours," he announced. "You're at ten centimetres."
Finally, Regina beamed. "Really?"
"Really," the doctor affirmed. "Now, let's get you in a better position to push."
The Queen was currently on her side as she found it the most comfortable position, but it wasn't great to push in. Therefore, Emma helped her lean forward and the doctor rearranged many pillows behind her so that she could sit almost fully up. He also set up some pillows for her to rest her feet up so she could have her legs open wide for delivery. Just looking at the set up made Emma glad that she had given birth in the future with all the modern equipment.
"Are you ready?" The doctor asked.
"No," Regina replied, biting her lip in fear. She could feel the sensation to push, but she was too scared.
"Ginny, honey, it's time," Emma said, knowing the thoughts of doubt going through her heard. She kissed her forehead before pecking her lips. "You can do this. You are going to push like the trooper you are and we're going to meet our baby."
"Your Majesty, it's time to push," the doctor announced.
Emma quickly jumped onto the bed and took Regina's hand in hers so that she could hold onto something as she pushed for the first time.
It seemed to take hours. Push after push, gasp after gasp, until finally, just as the dawn was breaking, a quiet, high pitched cry was heard. It echoed brilliantly around the room, announcing that the baby had been born. At the sound, the guards outside rushed to inform Henry of the birth and to bring him up.
"Congratulations, your Majesty, your Highness, on your new princess!" The doctor announced. He quickly wrapped her up in the blanket beside him, wiping off the excess blood as quickly as possible as he knew he couldn't delay returning the baby to the Queen.
Within minutes, he placed her on Regina's chest.
"Hello, my beautiful Princess," Regina cooed as she opened her arms and accepted her daughter. "You are so beautiful."
Emma's hand was throbbing in pain with Regina's squeezing but right at that moment, she didn't care. She wrapped one arm around Regina's shoulders and brought the other one up to gently cup the baby's head. She leant forward and kissed the baby's forehead before kissing Regina's.
"I'm so proud of you," she murmured quietly. "Hello, beautiful," she whispered to the baby, she felt herself tear up and felt one fall, unable to keep them back as she stared extatically down at her daughter.
"What's her name?" The doctor asked.
"Alexandra," Regina replied, not looking away from her daughter. "Alexandra Charlotte."
"That's a beautiful name," the doctor said but Regina wasn't listening anymore as Alexandra had finally opened her eyes and Regina took everything in.
Alexandra had the same chocolate brown eyes that Regina had and the same shape. Her nose was all Emma and the same as Henry, not that she knew that yet. The baby's lips were full like Regina's, but pale like Emma's. Her skin was a mix of theirs, a fraction lighter than Regina's but a few shades darker than Emma's. The little hair she had was a slightly tawny colour, so far a mix of Emma and Regina's but that would become clearer when she was older.
"I can't believe how much I love her already," Regina muttered quietly. "She's absolutely perfect."
Emma finally looked up from the baby and met Regina's eyes which were watering in happiness. "Just like you, my love," Emma said. "I am so proud of you." She leant forward and Regina met her half way for a soft kiss. "I love you so much."
"I love you too," Regina replied. "Would you like to hold her?"
"You don't have to ask me twice," Emma said, grinning brightly.
Slowly, Emma shifted her position and held her arms ready for Regina to place Alexandra in them and for the first time, Emma experienced holding her child in her arms as a true, real memory. Ally was light but also heavier than expected. Emma felt her heart sore with love for her. Sure, she'd loved her from the moment she found out Regina was pregnant, but now she couldn't imagine loving anything more.
She looked over and saw that Regina had fallen asleep. Slightly panicked, she looked up at the doctor.
"She'll be exhausted, let her sleep," he said softly. "I just need to clean myself up and then I'll be back to run all the checks on the Princess."
Emma nodded and watched him leave. Once the door was shut behind him, she glanced back at her daughter lying in her arms. She then leant down and pressed her lips softly to Alexandra's forehead and quietly whispered, "welcome to the world, Alexandra Charlotte Swan-Mills."