CHAPTER 26

"Daniel?!"

Regina just couldn't understand it. Where could he possibly be?

From their earlier conversations he had mentioned that he lived another life outside of the Nether. But he'd also let drop that he kept a special watchful out just for her.

She'd been here 3 times now and there was no sign of him anywhere. Even though she knew it was crazy, she couldn't help feeling a little rejected. As if he was purposefully avoiding her.

This thought sent her postpartum hormonal body into total chaos. She felt the tears that had been running down her cheeks drip onto her bare arms that she had wrapped around herself for warmth before she even realized she was crying.

She left the lake and walked quickly through the thick, dense fog back to her home. When she got there, she again found the place the same as the last time she'd been there. Empty.

She emitted a small strangled cry as she sank down onto the corner chair that she had shared with Daniel and Blue. She pulled her knees up to her chest as her tears started to stream down her face faster. She buried her head between them and cried harder than she could remember doing so for a long time.

She was crying so hard she missed the pop and the flash of light. It wasn't until her Mother was crouched down in front of her shaking her before it even got through to her that she was no longer alone.

"Regina! Regina! We have to go!" Cora cried urgently.

"Wha - ?!" she stared at her Mother dumbfounded.

"Blue's gone! We have to go!" Cora clamped her hand around her daughter's wrist. There was another flash of light then crimson colored smoke. Then they were back from the Nether.

Zelena was staring anxiously down at their still bodies. When they began to move she uttered, "Oh thank god!" She jumped on the bed and began to hug her sister tightly to her.

Regina used what little strength that hadn't been zapped by her trip to the Nether to push her away having no time for this. There was only one thing on her mind, "Blue?!"

"I know where she's gone," Zelena looked disgusted as she shook her head.

Regina stared at her a long minute and when she still offered up nothing she practically screamed, "Where!?"

Zelena looked taken aback before she squared off against her sister, "she has two mothers. And one of them decided to leave her while she went chasing after a dead guy."

Regina glared at her sister for her slight. Then when everything she said had set in she clenched her eyes shut before throwing her head back and groaning, "Oh no."

Blue was with Emma? She looked back and forth between her Mother's and sister's disapproving faces. God she'd never live this one down. She shook her head and started to call upon her magic but was stopped by her sister.

"I'm going with you!" Zelena told her before wrapping her arm around her waist.

Regina gave her a stiff nod then called upon her magic. With a pop and smoky purple magic, the two were gone.

SMF

They rematerialized in Emma's living room where Emma was cooing softly to her baby. Regina gave a deep sigh of relief that they had been right. Emma gaped at the two of them for a second before backing away with Blue, "No, no, no Regina. She wanted me," she shook her head vehemently as she tried to put as much space between Blue and herself and the two intruders.

Regina didn't hesitate for a second. She strode over to where Emma was trying her best to get away, "Give me my baby."

Zelena had been bent forward with her hands on her knees trying to push down the rising nausea. Poofing and pregnancy did not mix at all. When it became clear that there was no way around it, she wrapped an arm around her midsection and laid her hand across her mouth but not before a loud belch made its way through.

Regina stopped pursing Emma and looked over at her sister when she belched. Only then did she notice she was the same color as her namesake. Concerned, she took a step in her direction, "are you okay?"

"Bathroom," Zelena groaned before flying towards the open door. Thankfully she remembered to slam the door shut before the sounds of sickness hit all of their ears.

Regina wrinkled her nose at her sister's situation. She remembered the nausea all too well and was plenty thankful that part of her life was over. She turned back to Emma and held out her arms, "my baby."

CF

Henry couldn't believe it. He was so angry he could barely contain himself. He picked up a tennis ball and began to bounce it against the wall as hard as he could.

This was something he'd never be able to get away with doing at home. But nothing in this place was anything like his home.

Emma had stood before everyone in town and spoken against everything that he'd fought for and held sacred for the past year and a half. She'd told everyone that the Evil Queen had lost, the curse was broken, and the past was the past. It was time for everyone to move on.

She'd said that if they wanted to revert to their fairy tale characters then – whatever. But they were no longer in a fairy tale world. This was a new world and there were new rules. And laws that governed those rules. And anyone not following those rules or laws of society would be dealt with accordingly.

Then she'd handed out pamphlets that outlined some of the basic bullet points of the laws of this land. Things like no lynch mobs, no seeking revenge for believed slights, no stealing, murdering, or vigilante justice would be tolerated.

She'd also given them all basic traffic law guidebooks. She told them she expected every citizen of driving age to come in and pass the requisite driving tests before being out on the road. In the meantime, their cars would be booted.

She'd said she understood that Regina was the one who'd given everyone there their jobs and ID's. People had begun to shift around uncomfortably wondering if she was coming after them next. Even the Judge who he knew was one of his grandparents supporters started to look ill. She'd explained that she would be keeping an eye out for things that didn't look right. But if there were any problems with how they were behaving at their jobs then they would be dealt with. And that everyone who was of age to have an ID needed to make sure that theirs matched up with whatever identity they'd decided to go forward with in their lives.

She'd paced around as she'd angrily told them about having a baby with Regina. Everyone had shifted around uncomfortably and a few people gave him weird side glances after that one. His face had turned red and he'd pretended to be oblivious but he'd still heard some of the kids from school sniggering and making jokes about it. He was sure he'd have hell to pay when he went back to school the next day. And even his grandparents had gotten upset about this revelation.

Seemed Snow White was capable of keeping a secret when it was in her personal best interest. She had planned to take her daughter having a baby with her sworn enemy to the grave with her. Her parents had risen up and tried to say something but Emma wasn't allowing anyone else to have the floor. Under the strength of her glare, they both slowly sat back down and remained quiet throughout the remainder of the meeting.

She'd gotten emotional as she'd explained having to walk away from her baby. Not because she had wanted to. But because she'd had to protect all of them.

Then she'd made it clear that that was something she'd never do again. As far as she was concerned the Savior's job was done. From here on out they could address her as Sheriff or Emma. Because that's who she was.

When his grandparents had again tried to stand up and speak with her, she'd instead turned and jumped down from the elevated stage. She clamped her hand onto his shoulder. "Come on Henry. We're out of here," as she pushed him ahead of her to the apartment without another word or look back to anyone.

For the past few months, he'd done nothing but listen to her cry over her baby and Regina. Then this morning he'd thought they'd reached a new understanding when he began to see flickers of the Mom that he wanted her to be. And now this.

He was ready to scream and do something even more drastic than bouncing a tennis ball against the walls when he heard Emma cry out. He'd ignored it because he wanted her to know that he was ignoring her.

Then he heard something he hadn't heard in a long time. It made his chest tighten up and tears started to well up in his eyes. His breathing became ragged as he stood stock-still torn between hoping that it was true despite the fact that he knew he shouldn't be happy about it. Then he heard it again. He crept to the door and quietly opened it.

He gasped when it became clear that he hadn't been wrong. He slipped out through the crack in the door then rounded the corner. For the first time in months she was here. His Mom.

SMF

"Give me my baby!" Regina had to shout yet again.

Again Emma dodged her attempts to get at Blue, "she came here to me Regina. She wants me."

Regina shook her head in dismissal, "that's because she thought that I was gone."

Emma narrowed her eyes at her then looked curiously at Blue and back to Regina again, "why would a 3 week old baby think that her Mom was gone Regina?"

Her jaw clenched and she had to stop herself from grinding her teeth together, "what I do in my private life is none of your business!"

"It is if my baby thinks that you've deserted her Regina! I'm her Mom too. I have every right to know that my baby is being taken care of. And according to a 3 week old, you're not!" Emma shot right back at her.

Regina shook her head and walked around her. She looked up at Blue as she frowned over Emma's shoulder. She raised her thumb to wipe away the errant tears on her face, "I'm really sorry baby. Mummy just had to see our friend. But I wasn't gone. I would never leave you."

Emma snorted and brought Blue down to cradle her in the crook of her arm. She held her close to her chest while she bounced her, "it's okay baby. Mommy's here."

"Ugh!" Zelena came from the bathroom with her hand across her middle, "there's something wrong with the toothpaste here." She walked across the room and pulled out a stool at the kitchen counter to sit on, "The brat's snooping. As per his usual."

Henry had been standing in the doorway gaping at his Mother. It had been so long since he'd seen her. But hearing this woman – who he now knew was supposed to be his Aunt – refer to him as the brat who snoops caught him off guard. His cheeks turned bright red as he began to shuffle from foot to foot. He straightened out his clothes nervously as he waited for his Mother to acknowledge him.

Regina's body stiffened but Emma turned to glare at Zelena, "don't you dare talk to my son that way!"

Zelena scoffed and flicked her wrist at her.

Regina used the distraction to lean in and swoop her baby away from Emma before she could put up a protest. She cradled Blue to her chest as she dropped kisses on her temple, "Mummy's so sorry my love. I won't ever do that again. I promise."

Emma frowned at her now empty arms before she reluctantly dropped them. She was still confused as to how and why a baby poofed herself to another country. I mean – she knew she had magic herself and all. But it was still just this weird tingle that ran underneath her skin. For the most part she ignored it.

But to know that her magic had mixed with Regina's and created this beautiful little being. Who in turn had her own magic was still overwhelming for her.

She turned to Henry and smiled, "come and meet your baby sister." Regina fixed her with a glare that she ignored. She held her arm out and beckoned Henry closer as Regina took the opportunity to settle down onto the sofa with Blue.

Henry licked his lips nervously before slowly making his way over to his Mother. His gaze alternated between her and at the baby lying nestled in her arms that she was whispering softly to in Spanish. He wasn't sure what else to do so he stared down at the little squirming body as he continued to wait for his Mother's attention to shift from her to him.

Emma stood just over his shoulder gazing down lovingly at her baby. It had only been a couple of days but she had still missed her baby more than words could ever say. She moved around him to sit beside Regina on the sofa, "she's beautiful isn't she?" she asked as she ran a finger lovingly across Blue's unruly head of thick blonde tufted hair.

Regina pulled down the strap of the silk pajama set that she had gone to bed in and pulled out her breast. She began to nurse her baby while continuing to apologize and coo softly down at her in Spanish.

Henry's cheeks reddened as he fidgeted nervously. He had of course seen his Mom naked before. And she'd explained that the human body is beautiful and not meant to be ashamed of. Still – it was his Mom. Seeing her breastfeed would never not be weird.

As Blue latched on – which she took as a sign of her forgiveness – the adrenaline that had been thrumming through her body after hearing that her daughter had disappeared began to wear off. She was now left with a weariness that seeped right down to her bones.

Before entering the Nether, she had already had a long day. Blue's every 3 hour feedings were definitely wearing on her. She spent what time she could in between Blue's naps and feedings to do some work from home. She had forgotten how hard it had been being a single Mom to an infant all those years ago. Now that the immediate worry over her daughter was gone, holding her almost 3.5 kg daughter in her arms was all she could manage as her head fell with a small thump to the back of the sofa and her eyes fell shut as she tried to conserve what energy she had left for her trip back home. Between caring for Blue, work, and the magic she'd used to get to the Nether and then to Storybrooke she was nearly wiped out.

"We need to go," she announced tiredly before switching Blue to the other side.

"No!" Emma cried out. She had already gone 3 days without her babygirl. Though she knew it was inevitable - right now was way too soon. "I haven't seen her for days Regina," she accused. "And Henry's only just met her."

Regina cracked an eye open and swiveled her neck to stare at her but didn't bother trying to lift her head, "Emma I'm exhausted. And I'm sure my sister is too."

Emma began to open her mouth to protest but then she took in the state of the woman before her. Though always beautiful no matter what the circumstance, Regina really did look like she was about to pass out. Her eyes were bloodshot. Her voice was scratchy and thick from impending sleep. Still - it was too soon. They'd only just got there.

She jumped up quickly and made her way to her room, "The two of you can sleep in my bed. That way I can go and get the princess some things while you take a nap." She entered her room and began to pick up as best she could before she turned to the bed and started to make it up.

As a foster, making the bed had been of utmost importance. What family wanted a messy kid? But as an adult she'd gotten in the habit of just blowing it off. She was going to do nothing but jump back into it at some point anyway.

Henry frowned as he listened to the conversation. It had been so long since he'd seen his Mother. And she still hadn't even said hello to him, "I thought we were going to have visitation now."

Startled, Regina's eyes flew open, "What?!" From across the room she heard Zelena snort.

"Visitation," Henry repeated as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Emma has visitation with the baby. And you and I can have visitation together."

"So - ," Emma strode out of the room slightly breathless from running around and picking it up. "I can take the little princess with me and you can get some much needed rest," she grinned and gave herself a mental pat on the back as she congratulated her genius completely unaware of the conversation she had just interrupted.

Regina's sleep muddled mind was moving into zombie territory. She understood what Emma and Henry were saying to her but for the life of her she couldn't fit all the pieces together properly. "What?"

As Blue detached, Emma swooped in and grabbed her quickly from Regina. She ignored Regina's glowering as she grabbed some kleenex to clean her nipple and readjusted her sleep top.

She went into the kitchen and grabbed a kitchen towel and began to burp her baby, "I said – you and your sister can have my bed while I take Blue with me shopping. I think it's a good idea for her to have her own things here anyway."

"I'm not letting you take my baby anywhere," Regina started to try and sit up but her body refused to cooperate with her. Instead the weak plea and no follow through fell on deaf ears.

Emma chuckled at the sound of her baby's belch as she wiped at her milk mustache. It never stopped surprising her that a noise so big could come from something so tiny. She again walked into her room only to return a moment later with her blanket. She fanned out the blanket on the empty space beside Regina then began to swaddle her little princess just as she'd learned to do in the hospital.

Regina dug deep and managed to force herself upright, "I am NOT allowing you to take my baby anywhere! I wouldn't trust you any farther than I could throw you with her."

Emma startled at the tone of her voice then bristled at her words. She opened her mouth as she looked up from Blue into fierce brown eyes and a fire lit in her belly before her eyes registered Blue's arms waving around seemingly erratically. She slipped her index finger into Blue's palm to try and calm her. As her Swan princess' hand closed tightly around her finger, the comeback she had been about to fling at Regina died on her tongue.

She stared down at her baby entranced as a calm flooded her system. Her breath caught in her throat as her confusion over the situation grew. She knew she should be angry but instead all she felt was an overwhelming tranquility.

Regina watched a slew of emotions flitter across Emma's face before one of her weird yet endearing lopsided grins took over.

"I just need to spend time with her," she pleaded softly. "It's been three days already. You don't understand how it kills me not to have her," her words broke near the end as the words got stuck in her choked up throat but she still managed to get them out. She looked up at Regina with eyes filled with pure anguish over the situation they were in. "Please. I'm her Mom too. And she needs me."

Regina's eyes dropped down and locked onto the matching set of her daughter's. She reached out and grabbed ahold of Blue's free hand. She didn't want to stay in this place for a minute longer than absolutely necessary. But Emma did have a point. After Emma took Henry from her, a minute without him had felt like an eternity in hell. She held no ill feelings against Emma and honestly wasn't trying to hold Blue over her head. But on this night, her body really had no more to give. She was no superwoman. And she really did need rest.

But the longer she stared into her daughter's eyes that were so much like her own, the more she felt something inside her began to melt, "I get that. But it's late. My sister and I have already had a full day," she tried to reason with her.

Zelena stared in horror at the scene before her. To say she was disgruntled would be saying the least. She had her own reasons for disliking the un-Charming clan. The least of which involved having to nurse her Mother back from the brink of death when Snow White used her own daughter to kill her. She felt uneasy watching the obvious tension displayed between the two, "If it'll stop your whining I can keep an eye on her while you rest."

Two heads swiveled her way in complete shock. Emma was caught off guard yet grateful at the offer since the woman had done nothing since they'd met but go out of her way to make sure she knew she wasn't liked or wanted. Though she took umbrage at the assertion that she wasn't allowed to be with her baby unsupervised; seeing that Regina was mulling over the idea made it palatable to her.

"Are you sure?" Regina didn't want to put her sister out of the way anymore than she already had. It seemed she was always asking something from her and that was a position that she had never been comfortable with. But the promise of even a couple of hours of rest to recharge before trying to get back home sounded like heaven to her.

Zelena rolled her eyes, "I wouldn't have interrupted your little love fest if I wasn't. I don't fancy the thought of becoming mincemeat because you didn't have enough naptime when I have a baby on the way. Since I'm not tired and this," she patted her small belly bump, "little one obviously isn't either I think a walk would be just the thing to settle us both before we go to bed." She rose and looked down at herself pointedly. She was still wearing nothing except the nightgown she'd gone to bed in, "Obviously I'll need clothes. And your phone."

Emma lifted her hip and retrieved her phone from her back pocket happily. She picked up her baby and held out a hand to help Regina to her feet. Reluctantly Regina accepted before following Emma back into her bedroom.

Henry looked over at the redhead who was still sitting on one of the stools that lined the kitchen bar not knowing what to do. He watched as she dialed a number then held the phone up to her ear as she waited for the call to connect.

She stared back at him with annoyance written across her face, "do you ever do anything except snoop?"

Henry took a small step back still confused as to why the woman was so hostile to him. As far as he knew – he'd never done anything to her. He'd only just 'met' her – if it could be called that – the night she forced him into his grandparent's apartment. He turned on his socked heels and followed his Moms into Emma's bedroom. He stood in the doorway watching the scene unfold before him.

Emma was in her closet moving around. Regina was on the bed with her knees raised and Blue balanced on her thighs, "I love you so much mi princesa. And I'm so sorry I worried you. I'm sorry if you were scared but I would never let anything hurt you. And even if I'm not around – I will still never leave you," she bent down and nuzzled her baby's nose before planting butterfly kisses on her cheeks and a full one on her lips.

Henry's eyes began to sting with unshed tears and his chest constricted as he watched the love that his Mom had once heaped on him be given to another. He started wringing his hands as he blinked rapidly to hold back his grief.

"Okay," Emma said as she carried some clothes thrown over one arm and a pair of boots in her hand. "We're going to head out now." She stopped next to the bed and waited for Regina to give Blue one last goodbye kiss and hug before settling her back into Emma's arms.

As Emma turned off the main light in the room, leaving the bedside table lamp lit, she noticed him in the doorway. "Oh, hey kid. You want to go out with us and get your little sister some things?" she held up her harm that cradled her daughter slightly with a grin as she stared down at her.

Henry dropped his head before shaking it, "No. I'm going to stay with Mom."

Emma looked behind her at the now practically hidden lump beneath the covers. From what she could tell – Regina had pretty much gone out as soon as her head hit the pillow. She really had looked pale and exhausted and obviously needed a few hours of uninterrupted sleep. She frowned at her son, "I think she's out of it kid. Go get your shoes on and let's go. We'll stop by Granny's and pick something up for dinner too," she said as she remembered neither of them had eaten yet.

'I'm not hungry," Henry insisted. "I'm just going to stay here," he looked past her to where his Mom was bundled underneath the blankets.

Emma didn't want to argue with him and she knew trying to force him to do anything was always a losing battle. Henry had managed to somehow inherit Regina's stubbornness. "Fine kid," she walked past him into the living room. "I'll bring us something back for dinner. Make sure you don't wake her up. She really does need to rest."

Henry nodded before entering the room and sitting down on the edge of the bed. He folded his hands between his knees and sat staring at the way the part of the blanket that was half covering his Moms face rose and fell with her deep and even breaths.

Emma wasn't happy about leaving him there. This could be disastrous since Regina had made it clear that Henry was no longer a priority of hers. And in that regard leaving her to find Henry when she woke up could backfire in their faces. But if anyone could break down walls she'd built up to keep them out – Henry was definitely the right guy for the job. "Don't forget to call or text me if something comes up. Bye kid," she called softly before shutting the door behind her.

She strode over to the redhead and held out the clothes she'd brought with her, "I went with stretch pants instead of jeans since I like mine tight." She gave her a cheeky grin, "Helps show off my best assets."

Zelena rolled her eyes as she exchanged Emma's phone for her clothes. She pulled off her nightgown and began to get dressed. "Let's go," she said once the deed was done.

MF

Henry couldn't take his eyes off his Mom's sleeping form. She was actually here.

He was saddened and confused. She'd barely acknowledged his presence. He'd waited so long to see her and yet she didn't seem too thrilled about seeing him.

His heart had been breaking a thousand times over since the night he left the hospital with Emma and gone to his Grandparents loft knowing that he was leaving the only home he'd ever known forever. He'd only wanted to bring back happy endings. And thought that if he followed the storybook exactly that everyone would end up happy. But that wasn't how life had unfolded. Not for him and from the looks of it – not for Emma either.

He wasn't happy. All he wanted was for things to go back to the way they were before his storybook ruined everything. In that moment, he wasn't even sure if he wanted Emma in his life or not. But if it meant he and his Mom could be happy again – that's a price he'd be willing to pay.

Tears began to run down his eyes as he processed through the changes in his life. No Mom. No home. Emma was miserable. His grandparents were only concerned with themselves. And his Dad spent almost every minute they were together counting down the minutes until he could go back to his precious life in New York.

His small frame shook as his tears continued to run down his face, "Mom," he croaked as he stared at the woman he'd lost. Her hair was longer. Longer than he'd ever seen it before. And she seemed lighter – happier than he could ever remember seeing her before. That just made him want to curl up and die. She was fine without him. Happy even. And it was all his fault.

He knew he shouldn't but he just couldn't help himself. He began to scoot his way up to the top of the bed. He carefully pressed his body as close to his Mother's as he could desperately seeking that familiar comfort that had always just been a part of who she was.

He breathed in deep that familiar scent that was all hers. It hadn't changed at all. It brought with it the memories of home, holidays, laughs, comfort, and love. It was just Mom. His Mom. The same as it had always been. Until his storybook that is.

He bit his lip to choke back his sobs as he continued to cry. Somewhere in the midst of crying he thankfully managed to fall asleep.