CHAPTER 35
They left the doctor's office with grins on their faces. Of course both kids had passed their physicals with flying colors.
The pediatrician, Dr. Kelly Noyce, had been recommended to her from her ob/gyn. And the clinic was perfect for her because it was halfway between the school and their home. It was nice knowing that they had a regular doctor not far from home or work.
Regina appreciated that she was a nice woman but the doomsday scenarios she kept painting if the kids didn't take their vitamins or get enough exercise was a bit much for her. Still, it was a relief to know that they were in the hands of someone who obviously loved her job, knew it well, and took what she did seriously enough to care that the kids were at their best.
Blue had almost tripled her birth weight which was amazing given her preemie status. Fae was doing well physically but they all worried about his selective mutism. Regina explained to the pediatrician that she was working with him at home and that he was seeing a therapist but trauma was something that took a long time to work through. There was no magic pill to make him deal with losing 2 parents in his short life or being in an apartment for at least a week with a dead body quickly. They just had to be patient and drown him with much needed TLC. After stopping by the in-house pharmacy to stock up on vitamins they were on their way back out the door.
As they strapped the two kids into their carseats Regina looked over at Emma uncomfortably, "we need to talk."
Emma scowled as she straightened up, "o-kay."
"I thought we'd do so over lunch," the brunette suggested.
Emma gave her a lopsided grin, "I'm always up for food." She swept her arm forward, "lead the way."
Regina nodded and they both got back into the car. After making sure that Fae had all he needed in the back and that Blue was comfortable she put on her D&G sunglasses. Then she put the car into drive and took off.
They drive was a pleasantly silent one and it wasn't long before they were pulling up at the school. There was nothing to identify the school yet but Regina still glanced nervously at Emma as she waited for the gates to open up.
They drove down the main drive and continued down the road past the school proper. They kept driving as they passed the stables before pulling up at a small house that was back beyond them. "We're here," Regina announced before climbing out of the car.
Emma looked around not really caring one way or another. It had been hours since she'd last eaten and her stomach was starting to protest. She became grouchy when her blood sugar ran low.
"I thought we were going to eat," she whined.
"We will," Regina opened her door and began to extract Blue while motioning for Fae to get himself out of his safety harness. The boy unhooked the latches and climbed out of his car seat then scooted around Blue's carseat to leap from the car down to the ground. She ruffled his hair and grinned at him as she closed the door behind them.
Emma hurried out of the car and around it to swoop up Blue. She grabbed up her baby and heaved a deep sigh. Holding her baby always made everything else melt away into nothing. The baby seemed to exude a peaceful air that she was shamelessly addicted to.
"So this is the mudroom," Regina explained as she opened the door of the cottage. She turned on the lights as they walked further inside. "And here's the kitchen," she wept an arm around the large room. The floorplan included an open kitchen area that had a breakfast nook on one side of it that overlooked the lake out back. The open floorplan allowed you to see into the dining room which was a decent sized room that opened up onto the living/family room. Though it wasn't large, it was still cozy.
Emma looked around not really caring one way or another. She just really wanted to go ahead and get something into her belly. She bounced walked around with Blue not really feeling one way or another about any of it. She did think it was strange that there was what looked to be a washing machine in the friggin' kitchen. Other than that it really held little to no interest for her.
"And here's the stairs which lead up into the bedrooms," Regina ushered her forward. They walked up a narrow stairway that brought them out onto the landing. Regina pointed out the stairs that led from the 2nd floor down to the family room on the opposite end from where they stood.
"Here is the first bedroom," she opened the door that led to a good sized room. "Then you have the loo before coming to the 2nd bedroom which has its own en suite," she opened the doors of the rooms as she spoke and allowed Emma to poke her head inside. "And the master bath and bed are over here," she grinned as she opened the door with a flourish and allowed Emma to look around.
The house was already fully furnished though most of it seemed old and dated. Still, it was better than a lot of the homes she'd been in aside from Regina's old mansion of course.
"Awesome," she deadpanned, "can we eat now?"
Regina shook her head and rolled her eyes as she resigned herself to dealing with Emma's stomach problem knowing she'd get nowhere with the blonde until she was fed. "Fine," she grabbed for Fae's hand, "let's go."
She drove them back up to the school where she pointed out various things that she considered to be of interest as she led them inside and to the kitchen. She pointed out the high chair where Emma could sit Blue down and helped Fae into his booster seat before she started to lay out the lunch she'd already prepared for them.
Emma graciously waited for their host to rejoin them at the table before digging into the spread before her. Apparently, her stomach hadn't gotten the message that they were in a new time zone because according to it she was past starving. Once Regina brought over and set down the vin brule for herself and Emma and mulled cranberry punch for Fae, she didn't need to be told twice to help herself.
She'd begun to load up her bowl of chili with Mexican chocolate as Regina helped the boy with his meal. It still shook her to the core that she'd abandoned one child then went out and adopted another. She wasn't even completely sure how that was even legal.
But she noted the way the boy's face seemed to light up and sparkle around his new Mum. And that he seemed eager and gracious to being a big brother to Blue. He kept trying to grab her interest and doing little silly things to make her gurgle and smile up at him. She wasn't yet old enough to laugh yet but she seemed to glow at the boy and delight in his antics.
They ate quietly and were almost done with their meal when Abby walked (waddled) in.
Emma's eyes went wide as she took in the other blonde's waistline, "You're huge," she exclaimed. Then her cheeks went red from her outburst.
Regina laughed aloud as Abby threw her a mock glare, "yes well. I am growing a human being you know."
Abby joined the small group as they moved on from the main meal to sweets and tres leches hot chocolate. Before Regina had a chance to explain to her she hadn't gotten there yet she turned to Emma, "I hope you liked the cottage. The architect should be along shortly. And you can talk to her about any changes you wanted to make."
Emma was midchew with her cookie (which Regina informed her were called biscuits here) and in her surprise something happened to go down the wrong way. She thumped at her chest and coughed before gulping at her drink. "What?"
Regina expelled a deep breath and dropped her head, "we hadn't gotten there yet."
Abby scrunched her forehead, "sorry."
The brunette rolled her eyes and waved her hand dismissively before turning to Emma, "If you're really serious about moving here in the long term for Blue," she glanced at her daughter before licking her lips, "then you're going to need a visa to stay here for longer than a few months. And trust me work visas aren't easy to get."
Abby nodded her head, "just filing the paperwork for citizenship here has been murder for all of us. We had to fudge the dates to even get started on the process."
Emma was still confused as to what any of this had to do with her but she knew it was best for her to wait patiently to find out.
"I brought Abby and Fred over to help me with getting the work my sister tasked me with done. But it is a huge endeavor. And as you can see," she pointed to Abby's distended belly, "one that I'm going to soon end up handling alone. So - ," she took a deep breath before finally getting to the point, "we thought that since you were insistent on moving over here, the job will serve to help you get the official paperwork started. And the cottage is just the right size for you and your son with room for Blue when you take her for a few hours."
Emma shrugged. This was basically a no-brainer. A place to live and a job already lined up? And on top of that she'd be able to be with her Swan Princess everyday, "'kay."
"Well," Abby beamed. "Let's get you started on the paperwork," she excused the two of them after nabbing a few biscuits.
Regina watched them leave with mixed emotions. She didn't want Emma here. But she had to admit that she could be of help here in the long term. She turned to her son, "what do you think? Do you think having Emma and Henry here will be a good idea?"
True to form her son merely grinned and shrugged.
"You're no help at all," she nudged him slightly with her elbow. "You'd better be glad you're so cute."
The boy's smile grew even bigger as he reached out and grabbed an extra biscuit for himself. He bit into it with a chuckle.
Regina knew she shouldn't spoil him but hey … the kid had already had a hard life. She just wanted to make sure he knew to keep smiling and that his happiness with her wasn't a betrayal to either of his parents. She pulled him into her arms and sat on him on her lap as she kissed the top of his head while putting her finger into Blue's palm and smiling as she fisted it, "I think we'll be okay here."