A/N: I know how this story is going to end but I'm not sure how many chapters it's going to take to get there. I'm thinking about 45 … probably. And there will be an epilogue but I won't write it until after I finish Missed SwanQueen Moments Season 4 which I'll start after I complete this fic. I have to set rules for myself, you see, otherwise things don't get done.
Oh and thanks for forgiving me.
As soon as Regina saw David Nolan enter the staff room on Monday morning, she hurried over, eager to apologise for the disruption to the exam her Braxton Hicks contractions had caused. Emma watched her go, shaking her head in mild disbelief at her girlfriend's insistence that she even had something to apologise for.
"David," she greeted.
"Regina," he said, his face breaking into a wide smile. "How are you doing? I was so worried until Rose told me everything was ok."
"I'm fine, thank you," Regina assured. "The contractions stopped not long after we got to hospital."
"I'm just grateful Mary Margaret never suffered with Braxton Hicks," the man said as he began to make himself a cup of coffee. Regina accepted his offer of a tea as he dangled a herbal bag on a string before her.
"How is she doing?" Regina asked.
"Ready to pop," David replied. "She's due next weekend and she's just lying around the house waiting now. The fact that the English summertime has actually made an appearance means she's incredibly uncomfortable though. It's far too hot to be carrying around another person, apparently."
"I can imagine," Regina said. Her lower back was already starting to ache and she had noticed how the straps on her shoes were beginning to cut a little into her ankles. "David, I came over here to apologise actually."
"Apologise for what?" David frowned.
"For the disruption on Friday. Those kids were trying their best in that exam and I ruined the last fifteen minutes. If their grades are below what is expected, that's on me."
David placed a reassuring hand on Regina's shoulder. "Listen to me. No one blames you for what happened on Friday. Braxton Hicks can hurt like hell and none of those kids nor their teachers are going to hold anything against you for the fact that you, yes, disrupted the exam. Anyway, they only had fifteen minutes left so I doubt it made much of an impact."
"Henry said he couldn't concentrate afterwards," Regina said. "I'm worried … what if the results come back and he's done badly?"
"Henry's a bright kid," David assured. "I'm sure he'll have aced it. At least it was a Year 10 exam not Year 11. Honestly, Regina you have nothing to apologise for. If anything, I should say sorry to Henry for not allowing him to stay with you. He was clearly very worried."
"Yeah," Regina nodded. "Your name was mentioned in a surly tone a few times over the weekend."
"I was just doing my job," David said, slightly defensively.
"I know that, and so does Henry," Regina said. "But he still felt like he should have been allowed to stay with me, at least until Emma arrived."
"He's grown rather fond of you, hasn't he?"
"The feeling's mutual," Regina grinned. "He's a fantastic kid and he's been so wonderful with everything that's happened between me and Emma. Not many fifteen year old boys would be as accepting when your mother comes out as being interested in women and then announces she's dating your history teacher."
David laughed. "True. You got lucky there."
"I got lucky with both of them," Regina said, glancing back to where Emma was sat with Rose and Ruby. Their eyes met and they shared a brief, loving smile. Regina felt her baby stir inside her. Even at six months old, their baby could tell when her mothers were present. Regina placed a hand on her stomach and turned back to David who was finishing her cup of tea.
The final days of June slipped by. Between exams, invigilating, coursework, and the anticipation of six weeks of freedom ahead, the warm days passed Emma, Regina, and Henry by in the blink of an eye. By the time July arrived, Emma and Regina were more than ready for the end of the school year. The days were unseasonably warm, the sun beating through classroom windows and making both teachers and students restless. Lessons were stifling, the air muggy and content sluggish and poorly understood. There was little motivation from the students to learn anything new and teachers were plagued with exhaustion, dreaming of their exotic holidays looming only two weeks ahead.
Henry was getting a taste of being one of the oldest students in the school. Year 11s had departed in a rowdy shout, school shirts covered in messy scrawls of 'good luck', 'I'll miss you' and illegible signatures. The school field had been the site of a huge water fight. Caretakers had filled massive buckets of water for the event and two hundred teenagers had charged around brandishing water pistols. Naturally some of the less popular children ended up in the buckets and after Belle had been caught unawares emerging from the library, Mr Gold had called a halt to the proceedings, his dripping wet wife by his side.
The scolding had done nothing to dampen the Year 11s spirits however and Emma had enjoyed a final tutor group party with her class later that afternoon, the windows steaming up as the last of the water fight remnants evaporated from their bodies. Even Peter had presented her with a thank you card and a box of chocolates. When they drove home that night, the boot of the car was filled with scented candles, sweets and chocolates, biscuits and even a bottle of wine. Emma had let the fact that a sixteen year old had brought alcohol to class slide and accepted it with a thank you. She had promised Regina she would wait until after the baby was born to enjoy it. They were abstaining together, for the most part. Emma may or may not enjoy a beer or two on a Friday and Saturday night.
"One more week," Regina said as she climbed somewhat awkwardly into the car on a Friday afternoon mid-way through July.
"Four days, technically," Henry piped up from the back seat.
"And then six weeks of freedom!" Emma said, mock cheering as she finished fastening her seatbelt.
"Can we really not go to visit Zelena?" Henry asked.
"Regina can't fly after the seventh month of the pregnancy," Emma explained as they pulled out of the staff carpark. "Not safely anyway. So no, Henry. I'm sorry but we're going to have to wait until next Easter to return to Sicily."
"We're going somewhere though, right? Even if we're just staying in England?"
Regina and Emma glanced sideways at each other before Emma's eyes snapped back to the road as she continued to drive.
"Actually," Regina began. "We thought we might take a little road trip."
"Where?" Henry asked.
"Belgium."
"Why?"
That was so often the reaction when the small, inoffensive country was mentioned and Emma chuckled.
"Because it's a highly underrated place," Emma explained. "There are actually some beautiful cities and amazing things to see. Bruges, for example, is a gorgeous town of cobbled streets and incredible architecture, built on the banks of a river and world famous for chocolates. And Antwerp is a quirky little city with lots of independent shops and an alternative art scene. I've been a couple of times but Regina never has. It's got some interesting links to World War One so I thought she'd like it."
"When are we going?" Henry asked.
"First week in August," Emma replied. "Would you like to join?"
"Would you let me stay here by myself?" Henry frowned.
"If you wanted to, yes," Emma nodded. "You're fifteen now and I trust you to be sensible and not throw massive house parties nor live off pot noodle and beer for the week. But of course we'd love for you to accompany us."
"Will you buy me as much chocolate as I want?"
"No," Emma laughed.
"Fine," Henry huffed. "But I'll still come."
The weekend disappeared into plans for their upcoming holidays as well as yet another shopping spree for the nursery. The baby's room was taking shape quickly; the crib, changing table and a chest of drawers already in place. Several storybooks were stacked on the floor, waiting for Emma to put up a shelf and a mobile was piled on top of the chest, a hook destined for the ceiling beside it.
Monday's final staff meeting held the usual pleas from the headteacher to end the year on a high note and not to lose focus when it came to discipline nor child safety. Lessons were suspended for the final four days and instead various activities were happening around the school. Emma and August were making volcanoes which would erupt on the final afternoon, complete with miniature houses, trees, people, and even sheep. Regina meanwhile had joined forces with the drama department and was running a workshop to create a play about Ancient Rome.
"I don't even like Ancient History," Regina grumbled as she tugged her toga more securely against her. The growing bump was at least hidden beneath swathes of white cotton for the week but the continuing heat meant she was permanently uncomfortable.
"I think you look gorgeous," Emma smiled, kissing her lightly on the lips before she held the door to her classroom open and waved Regina off down the corridor.
By the time the bell rang on Thursday afternoon, Emma was shattered. She smelt strongly of vinegar and her hands were covered in browns, greens, blues and varnish. As she said farewell her final class, she turned back to the playground which was covered in a frothy mess, puddles of 'lava' wherever she turned.
"We can leave it," August assured her.
"Won't it stain?"
"There's rain forecast tonight," August shrugged. "And there's a mega team of cleaners coming in next week to blitz the school. It'll be fine."
"Rain?" Emma frowned, glancing up at the cloudless blue sky.
"Of course," August nodded and the two of them began to walk back to their office. "We live in England, remember? The summer always decides to bugger off the moment schools close. These past few weeks of glorious heat we've observed from inside? That's your lot."
"Damn," Emma groaned. "I'm still pasty as hell. I wish I'd got a bit of sunbathing in last weekend. Regina just has to look at the sun and she goes this beautiful golden colour. I, on the other hand, look like a ghost."
August laughed as they entered their office and began to gather up their things. "You don't look dead to me. Quite the opposite in fact."
"What do you mean?"
"Ever since you and Regina got together, and even more so since she announced she was pregnant, you've been bubbling with life and contentment. I know I haven't known you long but you seem so blissfully happy, Emma, and I think it's your wonderfully tanned girlfriend who's responsible."
"Responsible for what?" asked a sultry voice from the doorway.
"My happiness, apparently," Emma said, waltzing over to the toga-clad teacher and hugging her tightly.
"Oh really?" Regina asked, pulling a retreating Emma back in for a short kiss before continuing. "And what makes you think that, August?"
"Because you two are adorably doe-eyed and gooey around each other all the time," August said, gesturing to the couple as Emma held her swivel chair still so Regina could sink into it. "You're the most perfectly matched couple I've ever seen. You just … fit."
"I don't fit into much any more," Regina grumbled, plucking at the material wrapped around her. "I've literally been reduced to wearing a sheet."
"We're going shopping for more maternity clothes tomorrow," Emma said, placing a kiss to the crown of Regina's head before turning to her almost empty desk and shoving a final few things into her bag. "Are you all packed up?"
Since Regina wasn't going to be returning for the next school year, she had had to clear out her classroom and her office in its entirety. Most of it had been boxed up for days, stacked by the door because Emma and Henry hadn't managed to get around to moving them to the car and of course Regina lugging great historical tomes across the forecourt had been forbidden by both Swans as soon as the idea was even mentioned.
"I've already set Henry to work carrying them over to the car," Regina nodded.
"He came to see you before me?" Emma asked, feigning offence.
"He was passing and popped his head in. I gave him the car keys and he's getting started. Why? Are you complaining that you don't have to carry as much?"
"Well I know how much you like my biceps," Emma smirked. August blushed and suddenly became very interested in some discarded exercise books, piling them neatly under his desk. "But it was more that he came to offer you help without my prompting him. It's very un-teenager-esque."
"He's a rare one, I'll grant you," Regina laughed. "But I'm not complaining. My ankles, on the other hand, are."
"Hint for me to give you a foot massage tonight?"
"I'll repay the favour," Regina said, her voice lowering slightly.
"Bye ladies!" August all but shouted, standing from his chair. "Have a good summer. Good luck with the pregnancy, Regina, and I'll see you in September, Emma."
As soon as the door shut behind the scarlet-faced man, both women burst out laughing.
Later that night, Emma let out a low groan as firm fingers slid up the oil slicked skin of her back. She breathed out as the palms pressed flat, working against the tense muscles before sliding down the ridge of her spine, feeling for knots and mapping the contours of her body.
"Is the pressure ok?" Regina murmured.
"Perfect," Emma nodded, turning her head slightly and smiling back at her girlfriend.
Emma was lying on her front on their bed, nude. Candles had been lit and placed on every surface in the bedroom, the warm, flickering light dancing off the walls and rippling bodies. Regina was also naked, sitting astride Emma's bare butt as she massaged the strained back. Her fingers worked methodically, kneading and pressing down on each muscle, her hands slipping through the oil as she massaged. She loved giving massages. She had gone on a course when she was at Cambridge but hadn't used the amateur skills she had picked up for years. Not until Emma found out the magical powers her fingers held. Earlier in the evening, Emma had sat on the floor in front of the sofa, tenderly rubbing her sore and swollen feet. To show her appreciation, Regina had dug out the coconut oil they kept beside the bed and gestured for Emma to lie down. That had been half an hour ago and Emma's body was now well and truly relaxed.
"Thank you," Emma whispered into the dimly lit room when Regina's hands slowed and finally stopped, resting in the dip of her lower spine.
"My pleasure," Regina replied, lifting herself up onto her knees so Emma could roll over onto her back.
Both ignored the fact that the sheets were now covered in oil and instead Regina leaned down over Emma, the pregnancy bump pressed between them as their lips met. Emma's hands ran up and down Regina's sides, stroking over the smooth flesh before she rubbed the bump softly.
Their love-making that night was slow and gentle, neither woman needing anything more than the reassuring touch of the other. Their lips caressed every inch of their skin, fingers trailing in their wake, goosebumps forming despite the warm night air, breezing in through the open window. Their orgasms were powerful but hushed, their ecstasies reached with a gasp, a moan, and a kiss. When they were finally satisfied, their limbs tangled together, sweat drying on their bodies and the lingering smell of coconut sending them off to sleep where they would dream of tropical beaches, turquoise oceans, and cool, iced cocktails.
"I hate Devon."
"Why?" Emma asked Henry who had stomped into the kitchen the following morning and wrenched open the fridge to find something for breakfast.
"It tricked me."
"How so?" Emma said.
"The sun," Henry replied. "It's been out for weeks. Literally weeks. I think I've seen more sunshine over the past month than I ever did up in Northumberland in my life and now, when school is finally finished, it pisses down."
Both Swans looked out of the kitchen window where rain lashed against the glass, the garden beyond barely visible through the downpour. The storm had broken in the early hours, the clap of thunder waking Emma and Regina up. Seconds later, the sound of huge raindrops hitting glass sounded and Emma leapt from their bed to slam the window shut before the windowsill and radiator beneath were soaked.
"I'm sorry, kid," Emma said as she turned back to the eggs she was cooking and Henry headed to the table with a spoon and a yoghurt pot. "But you do realise Devon is still in England, just a little further south."
"At least Northumberland was honest about having crappy weather," Henry said. "Devon lulled me into a false sense of security and now my plans are ruined."
"What plans?"
"Ava and I were going to have a picnic in the park," Henry explained. "But that's not going to happen now, is it?"
"Not today, no," Emma conceded. "But this rain won't last for six weeks so you've got plenty of time to reschedule."
"Ava and Nick leave on Monday for a four week holiday in Australia," Henry grumbled. "So if we don't do this today or at the weekend, I won't see her until the end of August."
"Why don't you invite her over here and you could have an inside picnic?" Emma suggested. "Regina and I are going shopping so we'll be out most of the day and you'll have the place to yourselves. Only, don't … you know … take advantage of that."
"Mum," Henry said, wrinkling his nose. "I'm fifteen."
"Exactly."
Regina used to love shopping but the hours in the dressing rooms of various Exeter shops had made her despise it almost as much as Emma did. Everything she tried on made her look huge. And yes, she knew it was the baby inside her but she still struggled to make decisions about buying things which she felt unattractive in. She loved clothes, she loved the way they made her feel and how a well-fitted dress could make her so confident when she knew how great she looked in it. Even with Emma assuring her that she was beautiful every time she emerged from a fitting room in a frumpy smock, Regina took a lot of persuading to buy anything at all.
"I really liked that last blue dress," Emma said as she and Regina took their seats in Bill's. It was a restaurant tucked down a side street she had discovered a few weeks before Christmas and was looking forward to introducing Regina to their delicious menu.
"It made me look like a blueberry," Regina huffed.
"Babe, there's nothing that's going to hide the bump completely. And anyway, I think you're positively glowing right now. I don't want you to feel like you have to hide your pregnancy."
"Don't call me babe," Regina glowered.
Emma sighed and turned to the menu. She knew there was nothing she could say to Regina which would make the brunette believe her so perhaps it was best to stay quiet. Emma remembered feeling a similar way when she was pregnant with Henry. Eighteen and waddling around a shopping centre trying to find vaguely fashionable clothes had not been fun and Neal had been far less helpful than she knew she was being to Regina.
"I'm sorry."
"What for?" Emma asked, looking up at her girlfriend who seemed to be on the verge of tears.
"For being a complete bitch to you. I know you're just trying to help and I'm not making it any easier. I … I really appreciate it, Emma. Thank you."
"It's my job," Emma said, reaching over the table and grasping one of Regina's hands. "I can see how beautiful you are and I want you to see it too."
"It's hard to believe you're beautiful when you feel fat and sluggish all the time," Regina replied, wiping a tear from her cheek.
Emma smiled softly. "You're not fat, you're pregnant. And even if you were fat, I'd still love you."
"You're just saying that," Regina said.
"I'm not," Emma assured her. "I love you for who you are. How you look is just a bonus. Because yeah, you are smoking hot and your body is just incredible, but I'm in love with the person inside, not the external appearance."
"Robin always used to say I had to go on a diet after Christmas," Regina said after a pause. "He used to stop me from eating anything remotely unhealthy until he deemed me 'attractive' again. I always worried that he'd leave me if I got fat because he'd think I was ugly."
"You could never be ugly, Regina," Emma assured. "And Robin was wrong to make you think your weight had any bearing on why he was with you. Not that he was with you for good reasons in the end … Look, I don't want to think or talk about him today. Have you decided what you want?"
Regina shook her head and glanced down at the menu.
"What would you recommend?"
"The hummus and halloumi burger is amazing but swap out the regular fries for sweet potato," Emma suggested.
"Sounds perfect."
"Just like you."
It was cheesy but Emma didn't care because Regina smiled brightly at her for the first time since they had arrived in Exeter and she felt her heart burst with love for the woman before her.
Emma and Regina crept into the house later that afternoon, not wanting to alert Henry and Ava to their presence. The sound of the television directed them to the living room and slowly both women poked their heads around the doorframe, Emma's hovering just above Regina's. Henry and Ava were sat on the couch, his arm around her shoulders and her body curled into his side. They were watching a movie, although neither woman recognised which one. Emma glanced down at Regina and smiled at her before she turned away and placed her bag and car keys down much louder than necessary.
"We're back!" she called.
"In here," Henry replied.
Neither teenager had moved from the position in which their teachers had spied them in and they turned and smiled in unison as Regina and Emma entered the room.
"How was the picnic?" Emma asked as she glanced over the rug on the floor and the empty pots and plates.
"Pretty good," Henry nodded. "Considering it was inside and everything."
"I liked it," Ava piped up. "Thanks for cooking us that pasta, Ms Swan."
"I've told you, it's Emma when we're at home and that was actually Regina."
"Oh then thank you, Regina," Ava said, turning to smile at her tutor.
It was still a little awkward for the four of them to interact outside of school but they were getting used to it. Just as Emma and Regina were heading out of the room, the hall phone rang. The handset had been replaced with another retro model by Emma and the number changed but both women looked a little apprehensively at it. In this day and age, few people phoned landlines.
"Hello?" Emma said, picking up the handset at last.
"Hey, Emma?"
"Yes, who's this?" she asked, knowing she knew the voice on the far end of the call but couldn't work out where from.
"It's Zelena."
"Oh hey!" Emma said, recognising the familiar voice at last. "How are you?"
"Excellent, thanks. How are you doing?"
"Everything is great here too," Emma said, beckoning Regina towards the phone to stop her stepping into the kitchen. "Did you want to speak to Regina?"
"Please," Zelena nodded. "Although I'm sure the news I'm about to tell her will get to you pretty quickly."
"I'm intrigued," Emma said. "Nice to hear from you."
"You too," Zelena said as Emma handed the phone to Regina and made her way into the kitchen to start thinking about what she was going to cook everyone for dinner.
The words from the hallway faded slightly but she could hear the excitement in Regina's voice, a little squeal of joy, even. Ten minutes later, as Emma was chopping carrots, Regina wrapped her arms around Emma's waist and kissed the back of her neck.
"What was that about?"
"How much longer do the tenants in your house have left on their contract?" Regina asked.
"Erm, I think until the end of August, why?" Emma frowned, turning around and leaning against the counter with Regina pulled as close to her as the baby bump would allow.
Emma had decided not to sell her house in Plymouth and instead rented it out to cover the mortgage and leave her with a little extra each month.
"Because my cousin has once again surprised me."
"How so?"
"Well I don't know if she ever mentioned to you when we were in Sicily that she's a qualified history teacher."
"No, she didn't."
"She is," Regina said. "She was actually the reason I got into history in the first place. She was the cool, older cousin who went off to university to study history and had this amazing life. She met her first husband at work not long after her PGCE and they got married. It didn't work out, of course, but by the time she met her third husband who moved her out to Sicily to live a life of luxury, she had already been out of the teaching game for years."
"So … what are you trying to tell me?"
"Unbeknownst to me, my darling cousin applied for the position of history teaching at Storybrooke Secondary School."
"Your job?" Emma asked.
"Yes," Regina nodded. "And she got confirmation yesterday that she was successful. She's moving to England next month."
"Wow, that's so exciting!" Emma grinned. "And she wants to live in my old house?"
"If it's available, yes," Regina nodded. "I said I'd check with you but it'll be great to have her nearby. She can help out with babysitting if we ever need a night to ourselves for example. And an extra pair of hands when it comes to a baby is always welcome, right?"
"Right," Emma grinned. "She's not selling the villa though, is she?"
"God no!" Regina laughed. "Don't worry, our Easter break is secure. She'll be renting it out as a holiday place for the year but I suspect she'll disappear back there permanently after my sabbatical ends. Zelena has never been one to hold a steady job, or relationship come to that."
"Henry will be thrilled. He loved her."
"Loved who?" Henry asked as he entered the room, two empty glasses in his hands.
"Zelena is going to be my replacement at Storybrooke," Regina said. "She's moving here."
"Seriously? Cool!" Henry exclaimed.
"I'm so outnumbered here, aren't I," Emma frowned. "What about Ava? Does she like history more than geography?"
"No, actually," Henry said. "She loves geography, always going on about your lessons. It's embarrassing sometimes."
Emma beamed. "Excellent. At least I have someone in my corner against the three history geeks."
"I resent that term," Regina said. "I prefer 'enthusiasts'."
"If you say so," Emma laughed, kissing Regina lightly. "Now is everyone enthusiastic about the idea of a stir fry tonight?"
"Yes please," Henry nodded. "Ava and I are just going upstairs to use my laptop. Can you call us when it's ready?"
"Door open," Emma reminded him.
"Mum, you left us alone for six hours today. If we'd have wanted to have sex, we would have done it then, not when you got back."
Emma dropped the carrot she was holding as she stared open mouthed at her son who stalked from the room.
"He wouldn't … would he?"
Regina just laughed and moved to the fridge to find some vegetables to help Emma prepare for their dinner.