A/N: I apologize for the long wait. Thanks to Laurathechef for the edit.


Regina held onto her slightly swollen belly. She looked at Henry, who is happiest that she has ever seen. He is innocent as he talked to his grandmother who she has barely ever mentioned to her son.

But she looked to the side and saw the frown on Emma's face. Her True Love does not feel comfortable at all having Cora in her home. And why should she, when Regina told her how her mother killed Daniel in cold-blood right in front of her.

Cora's eyes glistened hard as she looked at Regina, and requested where her chambers are at. The gall of the woman. How dare she just come into her home, attacked, even in jest, her lover. Then waltz in like she isn't the same woman that mentally and physically abused her?

All Regina wanted in her life was her mother's approval. A pat on the back. Kind words. She never received those, as she was all set on, colloquially speaking, pimping her daughter out to the king because she so desperately wanted her daughter to be queen. To be her own puppet. If Regina wasn't a stronger woman, if she didn't have love and just had the companion of loneliness, she would have jumped to have her mother in her life. She decided to test her.

"No, I don't have a place to keep you mother," she definitely stared at Cora, challenging her.

"Surely you have a room for your dear old mother, dear."

Rage fumed in Cora's eyes, which Regina caught and made her shiver inside, wanting her to cower in the corner like she did whenever her mother was having fit. From Cora's tone, it was starting to sound like a demand from the Queen of Hearts. The tension encompassed the dining room, now Henry wasn't so keen on eating his dinner.

Emma noticed the shift in the atmosphere as well. She can feel the slight trembles as she placed a hand on Regina's lower back, wanting to calm her. Regina was internally grateful for Emma's soothing touch. It made her feel powerful, and under her mother's hard gaze, she needed it.

"I don't think I do."

Cora quickly schooled her expression in blankness as the situation became awkward, she doesn't want to lose the little ground she gained with her daughter. She smiled as she took a drink of her cup.

"I…understand. It was rude of me to intrude in the first place. Can you forgive me?"

Regina couldn't trust this woman, and now she is expecting and has her own family, she won't jeopardize it for Cora's sake.

"This can be forgotten."

Cora nodded at Regina's compromise and rose delicately from the seat. She looked down at Henry. "It was a pleasure to meet you, my grandson. And the food was lovely. I will retire with some other accommodations."

She walked to Regina and Emma reflexively held Regina's body to her. Cora ignored Emma's move of protectiveness, and laid a palm on her daughter's cheek. "I hope we can meet again tomorrow, and relay things to each other. I have much to learn of this new place."

"That is more agreeable."

"Thank you. I'll take my leave now."

Regina led the way to escort her mother out of her home. Once Cora was outside the door, Regina laid her forehead on the door as she sighed in relief.

Emma slowly turned Regina's body towards her, and lifted her chin up slightly to her eyesight.

"I thought that you didn't mind her staying." Emma was eternally grateful that, for whatever Regina's train of thought on the matter, she didn't have her mother here in their home.

"That woman…I don't trust her, just yet."

"I don't blame you after what you told me. And I got weird vibes from her, on top of her breaking my balls," Emma quipped but Regina frowned and pulled away. She got lost in deep thought.

Henry looked at his mother. "Are you okay, Mom?"

Regina gave him a tight smile. "I am. How about you clear the table and go wash up for bed?"

"Yes ma'am," and Henry scurried away to put up the dishes.

Regina bit her bottom lip as she caressed her own arms with her hands while in deep thought. Emma didn't like to see Regina in such distress as her lover paced back and forth.

"Babe, tell me what can I do because right now, you don't look well."

Regina had so many things running through her mind. Is Cora being truthful that she wants a relationship? Does she have an ulterior motive? Should she even let her in their home in the first place.

"Make love to me."

"Huh? Emma said in confusion."

"You asked me what you can do, and I'm telling you."

"I understand what I said, but I don't think that-" but Regina interrupted her by crashing their lips together. Despite her hesitance, Emma pulled her flushed and placed her hands on Regina's lower back, pulling her body into her like a second skin.

Regina needed to feel something other than fear, other than uncertainty. And those are the two things she always felt in Emma's arms. She felt sure of her love for her. She felt safety in her embrace.

Wet tongues danced against each other as Emma stroke her hands slowly from Regina's inner thighs, up to the sides of her hips, and then to the swell of sensitive breasts. Regina jumped onto Emma which she was fortunate to catch.

"Take me," Regina breathed in Emma's ear. She felt herself harden in her tight pants, her dick twitched in the material.

"As you wish, baby," and Emma quickly, with Regina in her arms, made to their way to their bed. Emma wanted to argue, to talk and see what is troubling Regina's mind. But the brunette is not having it. With Regina's belly protruding just a little bit, Emma has been quite careful to not lay her body on Regina's stomach.

Clothes were torn and Emma groaned at the beautiful sight before her. She opened Regina's thighs and sees her glistened clit that is already dripping with her juices. Brown eyes pleaded into Emma's to take her, to make her forget her thoughts, her worries.

It amazed Emma that they are at a point that they can communicate without speaking. Emma put Regina's legs over her shoulders, she scooted her body up against Regina's front and guided her big dick in Regina's wetness. In one easy, slow movement, she entered Regina fully. Regina gasped as she rubbed Emma's nipples as the blonde slowly thrust inside in her in an upfront motion. Emma grunted as Regina's tightness suck her in deeper into her. Regina's moans and calls out Emma's name as the blonde quickens her ministrations.

In a couple of minutes, they reached the apex of their ecstasy, and Emma collapsed beside Regina, and cuddled into her back as she palmed her stomach, her baby resting inside.

Sometimes their lovemaking was quick and easy, and she doesn't mind it at all. Her hunger for her lover was sated, and her mind calmed. She whispered softly into the quiet bedroom.

"Thank you."


Regina sat in her mayoral office. Her blouses and pants are becoming a little tighter with the little weight she has been gaining. It hasn't been much, but it's there.

Suddenly, a purple plume of smoke appeared, and then dissipated, revealing her mother in modern clothing right in front of her. Regina's heart dropped from the random appearance.

"Hello dear."

Regina dropped her pen and stood up at her desk, fuming at her mother.

"What are you doing here?" She saw her mother's hair down; she never saw it down before. It gave her a softer look. And she also sees her in a black pant suit that looks like something that came out of her wardrobe.

"I had to come see you." Cora had magicked up some clothing that looked like her daughters. If she was going to make her presence known in town, she figure to have some clothes that mirrors the fashions of this town.

"Usually you make an appointment."

Cora waved her hand, "nonsense. I had a lovely time at your home."

Regina cut her off. "Again, I ask, what are you doing here?"

Cora gestured to the couch so they can sit together. Regina reluctantly obliged as they sat on her intricate couch. Cora softly held Regina's hand in hers.

"I'm sorry for you making you marry the king. That was wrong of me."

Regina's heart broke a little; she closed her eyes as a single tear rolled down her cheek, her head down in thought. She has waited for years for her mother to acknowledge some wrongdoing she has done in her parenting. Even though it was common in their world, making your daughter marry a man three times older than her is still sickening.

"Thank you mother."

"My child, I have also came with a specific reason."

Regina snatched her hands from Cora's and shuffled away from her.

"Of course you always have an ulterior motive."

"But this is justified, dear," Cora quickly responded. Her eyes became very cold. "A little bird told me that the Dark One put you under the sleeping curse."

Regina shuddered at some phantom pains that roll around her, reminding her of the painful burning of the skin in the flaming room.

"Yes mother. He intentionally did that to break his curse."

"So this Emma is…"

"Very important to me." She doesn't want to confirm to her mother that Emma is her true love, she has already witnessed the destruction of Cora's hand in her romantic life.

"I see." Cora sat for a few moments, letting that information seep in.

Regina cannot take the silence any longer. "Is there anything you want to talk about?"

"Rumple needs to be punished. How dare he curse you in such a way? We don't know what else he plans to do, and we must strike first."

Regina snorted at Cora's gall, the nerve of her. Cora has done far worse to Regina. Regina sat back in her seat and leaned back looking at her mother.

"And how do you suppose we 'strike first'?"

"Simple, dear. We get his dagger."

Regina shook her head and stood up from the coach. It is obvious that Cora's first love is and will always be power.

"You didn't come to Storybrooke to make amends, you came so you can control the Dark One."

"Look around you, you created this town. We can have it all, we can have power, and the only one in our way is Rumple."

"The imp is none of my concern and I have bigger things to worry about." She subtly placed her right hand on her stomach

Cora looked at Regina like she had grown two heads. "Don't be so naïve. The Dark One always had an obsession with you. We need to eliminate him."

"I'm not going to go along with your plan. I'm not the same little girl that you can push around."

Regina gritted her teeth and stood up to tower over her mother with clenched fists. "You know, I always wondered how you always wanted me to be powerful, but never taught me magic. Now I do. You may wanted me to be queen but only in the context that allowed you to control me.

Well mother…you won't control me any longer. I don't need you or your approval or your love. I won't believe your lies that you care for me and I won't be dragged in some vendetta you have against Rumple, even in the guise of protecting me. Take your manipulations out of my office."

She trembled inside with the passion of standing up against her mother. Maybe if she was more isolated, and didn't have friends or people that cared about her, Cora's plan would have worked. She would have been able to seduce her to her side. But she has her children, her True Love, friends and allies. She didn't need Cora's strong hands. Today is not going to be her day.

Cora stood up with fire in her eyes and glared at her daughter's equally fiery stance. "You insolent child! How dare you talk to me this way? You will regret this." She tried to use the soft approach to lure Regina in her clutches, but now calls for a more subdued heavy hand. She disappeared in a plume of purple smoke.

Regina breathed hard, her palms are clammy as her heart raced. Cora is going to be on a rampage, and no one is safe.


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