A/N: someone reviewed asking if I got a kick out of evil cliffhangers. Confession time: I absolutely do! *evil laugh* … Please forgive me! This chapter is NSFW for good reasons to placate you all!
"Braxton Hicks?" Emma frowned. "Isn't that what Rachel gets in that Friends episode?"
Their doctor raised his eyebrows slightly at the blonde before turning back to his patient and ignoring the interruption.
"It's perfectly normal but it does seem you're experiencing them earlier and more intensely than we would expect. Am I correct in saying this is your first pregnancy?"
"Yes," Regina nodded.
"Well, they're nothing to worry about in terms of the baby's progress. They're considered a sort of warm-up act by your uterus in anticipation for the birth itself. Despite your body's enthusiasm, hopefully you won't suffer too regularly during the remainder of your pregnancy. Most women experience discomfort rather than pain. If you have them badly again, a warm bath, drinking herbal tea or warm milk, or moving around should alleviate the symptoms. Braxton Hicks can be caused by dehydration too so make sure you keep drinking lots of water."
"Thank you, Doctor," Regina said, sagging back into the hospital bed, a wave of relief coming over her body. "When can I go home?"
"We're just waiting on a couple more results and then you'll be discharged. It shouldn't be more than half an hour or so."
The doctor disappeared, leaving the couple alone for the first time in hours.
"Are you ok?" Emma asked, climbing up onto Regina's bed without even asking and pulling the woman into a tight hug.
"I'm fine now," Regina nodded. "The fake contractions or whatever they are called have stopped completely. I just feel a little tired."
"You scared me," Emma said. "And Henry."
"How is he?" Regina asked, remembering the whitened face she had seen before her in exam hall.
"He's ok," Emma nodded. She had phoned her son as soon as they had got to the hospital. The ultrasound in the ambulance had confirmed there was nothing wrong with the baby and the paramedic's preliminary assessment that Regina had been experiencing Braxton Hicks had turned out to be correct.
"How did his exam go?"
"Not great after you left apparently. David struggled to get the focus back to the paper but Henry said he was nearly done anyway. They had about fifteen minutes left and he was just reading back over his answers and trying to work out one question he didn't understand."
"I feel bad," Regina said. "All those kids trying their best and then I come along and start screaming in pain."
"You were literally in pain though," Emma pointed out. "It's hardly your fault."
"Did you get Braxton Hicks with Henry?"
"Not noticeably," Emma replied. "Most women don't feel them although I know from watching Friends that saying those words to someone suffering from them doesn't end well."
"I don't think I've seen the episode you're talking about," Regina chuckled. "Can we watch it tonight?"
"We can do anything you want, my love," Emma said, kissing Regina's lips lightly. "We can even get some food from that Thai place."
"But you don't like their curries," Regina frowned. "You always say they're too spicy. Henry hates them too. His face went so red last time I thought his head was going to explode."
"That's because they put about four billion chillies in each bowl," Emma said. "But if you want it, we'll get some food from there. I can always add some yoghurt or something to make it a little milder."
"Forcing you to eat something you aren't enjoying isn't going to make me feel better," Regina said.
"Then what will?" Emma asked.
"Being with you and Henry," Regina said simply. "I feel fine now anyway. Yes, we had a scare and at the time I've never been so worried about this baby but now we know everything is progressing well, I don't need special treatment. I'm happy just to snuggle up on the sofa, read this leaflet about Braxton Hicks and eat pizza."
"Pizza?" Emma asked, eyebrows raised. The Italian treat was by far one of Regina's least preferred take-away options.
"I feel in the need for cheesy, oily, unhealthy food," Regina said.
"And that is why I love you," Emma grinned. "I'm just going to nip out and call Henry. Doc will shout at me again if he catches me on my phone one more time."
"Well there is a sign right above my bed saying no phones."
"I had to tell Henry what was happening. His missed calls were literally making the handset burn up. And then Rose and Ruby too," Emma defended. "Anyway, I'll be five minutes. You'll be ok?"
Regina simply laughed and pushed Emma lightly so she climbed off the bed. "Yes, Emma, I think I can manage five minutes without your company."
Emma, Regina and Henry all sat on the same sofa that night. If asked, they would probably justify the close proximity by citing ease of access to the pizza boxes lying open on the coffee table. In reality, the three all wanted, no, needed the physical contact. Regina was sat in the middle, Emma's arm around her shoulders and Henry on her other side, turned towards the brunette, his toes tucked slightly underneath her thigh. It wasn't much but it was something. An assurance, a promise that Regina was still there, her warm flesh pressed softly against his feet.
Emma hadn't left Regina's side since the brief phone call to Henry. They had driven back to the school together to pick up Henry. They were rather late and the playground was empty, all students and most staff members having disappeared home as soon as the final Friday bell rang. Regina hadn't stepped out of the car so instead Henry opened the door, leaning in and giving her a hug before he opened his own door and climbed in. Emma smiled at her son, then her girlfriend before they headed off towards their favourite pizza take-away restaurant.
As nine o'clock approached that evening, Emma glanced towards Regina and saw the older woman stifling a yawn.
"Bed?" she asked.
"It's early."
"You've had a long day," Emma reminded her. "We can go up now if you like."
"Stay down and finish the film," Regina suggested. "I'll see you in a bit."
She leaned over to kiss Emma softly, turned around and placed a light kiss to Henry's temple, and stood up. Henry wished her goodnight as his legs unfolded, his toes now poking his mother's thigh as they continued to watch the film.
"I don't think I've ever been more scared."
It was so quiet Emma almost missed the whisper from her son but when she turned away from the screen, she saw his earnest gaze upon her.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Emma asked.
Henry shrugged. "I just … I panicked, I think. I could tell Regina was in pain and I just acted. Mr Nolan gave me such a bollocking afterwards but what was I supposed to do? Stay sat in my seat like a good little boy and watch as the woman who is effectively my second mother curls up in agony? I don't care if I fucked up that exam for myself on anyone else. Regina's baby is more important than a stupid GCSE."
"Hey," Emma said, reaching over and patting Henry's leg. "You didn't fuck anything up for anyone. The exam was almost over and most kids would have finished, I'm sure. The fact that you tried to help proves you're not a good little boy but a kind, honourable man. I'm so proud of the way you handled things today and both me and Regina are really sorry you had such a horrible scare."
"She's really going to be fine? She and the baby?"
"Yes," Emma nodded. "Braxton Hicks contractions are completely normal and they don't hurt the baby. Here," she said, reaching over to pick up the leaflet from the coffee table, "read this. It'll tell you everything you need to know."
"Couldn't I just google this?" Henry asked, opening the leaflet and scanning the page inside.
"Yes, but a tree died to make that. Don't let his sacrifice be in vain."
Henry laughed and nodded. "Ok, I'll read it."
"Good," Emma said. "Any questions, about this or anything else to do with the pregnancy, you can always as me or Regina, ok?"
"Thanks, Mum."
"You're welcome, kid."
By the time Emma quietly opened the bedroom door an hour later, Regina was sleeping soundly. Emma tip-toed around, trying to be as quiet as possible as she got ready for bed. She succeeded, in fact, but as she got into bed, the movement and familiar presence, caused Regina to stir. As Emma settled her head on her pillow, an arm snaked around her waist, a naked body pressed hotly against her side. Through the gloom of the bedroom, she could tell Regina was still asleep so she simply kissed the smooth skin of her forehead and closed her eyes. The day's events raced through her mind as she tried to fall asleep. Images of Regina in pain, the ambulance, the ultrasound. Those few moments when the paramedic was searching for the baby and the audible sighs of relief both Regina and herself exhaled when the image of their child appeared, a strong heartbeat unmistakably heard over the monitor. In that moment, Emma had realised something. Despite what she had said, or admitted, to Regina months before, she no longer would be relieved if something happened to their baby. The link to the child's father had finally been severed. All that mattered now was that Regina was healthy and the remainder of the pregnancy went as smoothly as possible. And Emma couldn't wait to meet the baby whose bump was now pressed against her side. As sleep finally claimed her, an image of Regina holding a tiny, dark haired child danced into her mind.
She awoke slowly, a fuzzy tingle at the edges of her consciousness. Her body was hot, a tension of some sort flowing through her veins. As her brain began to register things, she realised what was happening. Cracking an eye open, Emma peered blearily through the early morning light to where a brunette head was nestled between her legs. Her thighs fell a little wider as she reached down to tap Regina's head.
The licking stopped at once.
"Morning," Regina said, alarmingly brightly for the early hour as she raised her head to smile at Emma now she was awake.
"Morning," Emma said, her voice throaty. "What are you doing?"
"I was horny," Regina replied simply. "May I continue?"
"Please do," Emma said, allowing her head to fall back against the pillow as Regina tongue's returned to her centre.
She moaned as she felt Regina's mouth suckle against her clit, her sex covered by a hot, insistent mouth. A tongue laved her sensitive bundle, teeth grazing teasingly over it as Regina's hands gently pushed Emma's thighs further apart as she moved closer to her lover's core. Emma's fingers gripped Regina's hair as she felt the tips of two fingers probe her entrance, pressing further and further in until they curled and pressed on that spot. She shuddered through her release, Regina's tongue relentless in its movement in an attempt to draw the pleasure out for as long as possible. When Emma's body relaxed limply onto the mattress, Regina looked up, her chin and lips shining with Emma's essence. The blonde's green eyes were closed, a serene smile on her face. Regina crawled up the bed and collapsed besides Emma.
"That's the best way to wake up," Emma croaked as she turned towards Regina and blindly sought out her mouth. The kiss was tender, lazy, and delicious. Emma's essence was shared between their mouths, tongues exploring their heady mix of flavours.
"How are you feeling this morning?" Emma asked when they finally broke apart.
"Great," Regina smiled.
"No pains?"
"None."
"Good."
Regina squealed in delight as Emma rolled her carefully onto her back and straddled her waist, the rise of her stomach framed by Emma's thighs. Reverent fingers caressed the stretching skin before soft lips brushed against the spot just above her belly button. Regina closed her eyes, trying not to beg for what she knew was coming. Luckily, Emma didn't have much patience that morning either and hips bucked from the bed as fingers parted folds and slid through her heat.
Emma coated her fingers in Regina's wetness, enjoying the way they slid slickly over the flesh, occasional moans falling from plump lips as she circled Regina's clit. Leaning down, Emma kissed Regina, their mouths melding together as the first finger slipped inside.
Emma had always been cautious of any intrusion into Regina's body. Even after the night when the brunette had first asked for and permitted penetration, Emma was still wary of pushing Regina too far. This morning was just the same so when Regina's hand snaked down and covered Emma's the younger woman broke the kiss and looked questioningly at the brunette, finger stilled inside her channel.
"Are you ok?"
"I need more," Regina said. "I want to feel more of you inside me."
Emma hesitated before she nodded, moving her single digit once again as Regina's hand slid away from her own. She curled her second finger into her palm and then straightened it, allowing it to enter Regina alongside the first. The brunette closed her eyes as she felt her walls stretch slightly to accommodate Emma. Watching carefully, Emma moved slowly until Regina's brown orbs, dark with lust and arousal, opened once more and told her, wordlessly, that she was ok. The thrusts were slow, measured, the heel of Emma's hand hitting her clit with every push. Emma's free hand came up to palm Regina's breast, the nipples swollen and sensitive from the pregnancy. Gentle tweaks and the occasional dip of the head and lave of the tongue had Regina dancing along the edge of bliss.
"More."
"What?" Emma asked, raising her head from where she had been suckling on the edge of Regina's areola.
"I need more of you, Emma. Please."
She hesitated. Even though Regina was asking her explicitly, she paused, unsure whether the brunette was really aware of what she was asking. When Regina's hips rocked upwards to encourage Emma to move again however, the blonde saw the determined look in her girlfriend's eyes.
The two fingers emerged from Regina's core, sticky and slick with her juices, before a third was placed alongside them. The tips rimmed the entrance, teasing it wider and giving Regina time to back out. But there was nothing but wanton desire burning in the brilliantly brown eyes before Emma and slowly, carefully, she edged her fingers deeper. Regina let out a shuddering moan as she felt her body stretch wider. It wasn't a new sensation but it was one she had not experienced in a while and certainly not one which had ever felt so good. Emma's fingers curled, stroking Regina's inner walls before pulling out, a slight squelching sound coming from the movement but neither woman acknowledged it. They were too wrapped up in each other's expressions.
Emma stared down at Regina with all the love and respect in the world. Regina smiled up, her pupils blown black with her heightened arousal and her lips slightly parted, moans and gasps drawn from deep within her every time Emma's fingers grazed sensitive parts of her.
It didn't take long for Emma to realise what Regina needed. She pumped her hand faster, the three fingers reaching deep inside the brunette as walls rippled around them. With her palm hitting the sensitive bundle of nerves, Regina drew closer and closer to the edge. Eventually, Emma pressed her hand firmly to Regina's clit, wiggling it back and forth as her fingers, buried deep within, stroked the rough patch of flesh inside the woman.
She came hard, a cry filling the room before a pillow smothered it, the cotton and stuffing swallowing the following sounds of ecstasies as her orgasm rushed through her body. Emma's palm released its pressure on her clit but the fingers remained inside, a warm flow of juices coating them. She only removed them when Regina's hand lightly brushed her forearm, indicating she was too sensitive for the continued, gentle movement.
"Are you ok?" Emma asked when she had pulled her hand out.
"I won't break," Regina said, her voice soft and relaxed. "I like the feeling of being filled, just, only when I want it."
"I'm sorry," Emma replied, not wanting Regina to think she wasn't ok with what they had just done. Because she very much was. "I just feel like I need to check sometimes."
"And I appreciate that," Regina said, smiling down at Emma and beckoning her to come and lie beside her. "But if I ask you to do something, it's because I want it and I know I can take it."
"Ok," Emma said, kissing Regina soundly.
"Plus if I have to give birth in a few months time, I guess I ought to start preparing."
Emma swallowed. "You mean -,"
"I know we can't imitate birth exactly but I can get my cervix used to being stretched."
"This just went from sexy to gross in about two seconds," Emma said flatly.
Regina laughed. "Come on, you can't tell me you and Neal didn't do anything to prepare for Henry's arrival."
Emma blushed.
"See! What's the difference this time?"
"I've … I've never done it to someone before," Emma explained. "And I'd worry I was going to hurt you."
"I'd stop you if you really hurt me," Regina shrugged. "But childbirth isn't exactly comfortable and getting ready for it is bound to be slightly painful too. Better than getting into the room and your body feeling like it's going to be split in half though, right?"
"True," Emma nodded. "Ok, if you want to try some things then I'm happy to lend a hand." She couldn't help but smirk at her own joke. Regina just rolled her eyes.
"Probably better to wait until Henry is out of the house though," Regina remarked as they settled down on the bed, arms and legs wrapped around both bodies.
Emma laughed. "Indeed. He's been so understanding and accepting of our relationship so far but I'm not sure the sounds which you might make when I'm trying to get my hand inside you would be anything he'd want to hear."
Regina bit her lip as Emma spoke, her core clenching slightly in anticipation. Emma noticed, naturally.
"Seriously? It turns you on when I just talk about fisting you?"
Regina blushed. "I've never done it before but I've always been intrigued," she admitted. "And there's no one I trust more than you to push the boundaries of my sexual experiences."
"I'll go to the shops to buy some lube today," Emma said. "And then I'll try and persuade Henry to go to a friend's house."
Regina grinned, her bottom lip trapped between her pearly white teeth. Emma's heart beat faster as she slid herself back down the bed and climbed between Regina's thighs.
"In the meantime -,"
Emma didn't finish her sentence. Instead, she ran her tongue up the length of Regina's sweet, glistening sex.
A/N: am I forgiven for the cliffhanger?