Everything She Wanted
(Baby)Fever:
Jonathan coos, and Regina looks up from her stacks of papers and shoots him a fond look.
She brought the baby with her to the Town Hall today. To give Maleficent a little break. The dragon is checking inventory in her store today. That sort of thing takes time, and Jonathan would probably just delay the process.
So Jonathan is accompanying Regina today. And he's been the very best of company. Has been completely contend with sitting in his bouncer whilst Regina works.
Regina smiles when she realizes what that cooing sound means. Jonathan has noticed his hands. Again. Lately, he has found looking at his hands mighty entertaining.
"I'm glad you're so contend, sweetheart," Regina mumbles and glances at the stack of papers in front of her. "Could you transfer a bit of that mood to mommy?"
Jonathan coos again.
"Yeah, is that a no?" Regina half-chuckles. Probably.
The brunette sighs a little. Paperwork is definitely no fun at all.
Fortunately enough, she's almost done. And then she and Jonathan can head home. To more work. Regina has a mission about cleaning out the closet today. It has been on her to do list for weeks, and today she finally has the option to do it. Emerald and Amelia are in daycare, Mal is picking them up on her way home, which gives Regina the perfect opportunity to clean the closet without interference. The little dragons finds it mighty fun to pull the clothes out of the closet and Maleficent… Well, she can't fold the clothes properly. Only Regina can. She has her own method, and no one can copy that. Except Henry.
A half hour later, Regina decides to call it a day. She stacks the papers neatly, stuffs them away in a drawer, locks the drawer and lifts Jonathan with bouncer and all and leaves the Town Hall.
The youngest little dragon decides to take a nap once they return home to the mansion. That suits Regina just fine. That way she has "free hands" to work.
She puts the baby down for a nap in the nursery. He doesn't wake when she places him in the crib, nor when she kisses his forehead lightly and wishes him a good nap. She switches the baby alarm on and brings the little monitor with her into the bedroom. Now she'll be able to hear him as soon as he wakes up.
The closet is a mess, Regina quickly realizes. A gigantic mess of clothes that has just been shoved in rather carelessly. There are a few of Regina's clothes lying here and there, but for the most it's Maleficent's clothes that have just been thrown into the closet.
Regina scowls as she begins taking everything out of the closet. She'll have to start from scratch here. Take everything out of the closet, fold it, and then put it back into the closet again.
Some day I'll learn that blastered dragon to clean up after herself, Regina vows to herself, knowing that it's never gonna happen. She'll most likely continue to be a patient wife and fix the mess.
Jonathan makes another cooing sound, and Regina stops with a pair of slacks dangling in her arms. Is he waking up? Already? She checks her watch and frowns a little. Hmm. That was definitely a very short nap. But looking at the bright side, maybe he'll actually sleep tonight if he wakes up now.
And waking up is exactly what the youngest little dragon is doing. He makes another sound, and Regina leaves the slacks lying on the bed and goes into the nursery to check up on her youngest son.
Jonathan is indeed wide awake, but by no means unhappy. He coos and grimaces, and Regina chooses to believe that he's trying to smile. She picks him up, snuggles him into her chest and rubs his little back while she whispers sweet nonsense into his ear. He coos again, and Regina is certain he's drooling on her blazer. Again.
"Mommy will need to wash that," she gently half-warns him.
That only seems to encourage him, and he coos again as he happily drools on her blazer. Oh well.
Regina carries Jonathan and the bouncer into the bedroom. Maybe he'll settle down and take another nap. Or maybe he'll be fine with watching her work. That seemed to be right up his alley at the Town Hall.
"Can you let mommy work? Hmm?" she asks and runs her fingers through his thick, dark hair.
He flashes her another drippily smile.
"Good boy," she praises and smiles.
Regina takes off her blazer, waves her hand and sends the garment downstairs and into the washing machine.
She then continues her mission about cleaning out the closet. She pulls everything out of the closet and begins re-folding it again. Now and then she drops a remark about whatever she's doing. Sometimes Jonathan coos in response, and sometimes he doesn't. He isn't nudging off, though. He's just being quiet.
"I think your Mama has too many ties," Regina says nonchalantly as she finds yet another one. A burgundy one.
Jonathan gurgles a little.
"You agree? Should we tell her, then? What do you think she'll say when we tell her?"
Jonathan "daah's" at her.
"Yes, you're right. Probably something rude," Regina agrees with her son. "She's very good at being rude, isn't she?"
Jonathan remains silent, and Regina takes that as a confirmation of her statement. She chuckles slightly as she folds the tie and puts it back into the closet.
And quite a few hats too, Regina notes as she finds one that matches the burgundy tie completely. She should probably complain about that, but honestly, Mal looks good in her ties and her hats. Very good. Like she has just stepped out of one of those Noir movies Regina likes so much.
Jonathan "daah's" again.
"Alright, alright. I'll stop thinking of your mother while you're present," Regina says and half-chuckles. My son, the mind reader.
Somewhere between folding clothes and dusting off the shelves, Jonathan begins fussing, and Regina takes a quick break. She picks him up and bounces him in her arms. Walks up and down the floor and hums soothingly until he settles down once more and goes back to cooing softly in her arms.
She continues her work. And she feels ridiculously satisfied. She's cleaning up. She's fulfilling a task she should have done weeks ago.
"And you're such a good little helper, sweetheart," she praises the baby who once again watches her from the bouncer.
She has just hauled another pair of Mal's slacks out of the closet when she finds something in the very back of the closet. More clothes? Just perfect. Regina quickly drags whatever clothes left out of the closet to take a closer look at it. If it's something in the back of the closet, it's possible it's something they can donate.
But she quickly finds out it isn't. Not at all. These clothes are definitely not something to donate.
It's her old maternity clothes. That's what it is. Regina freezes with one of the sweaters in her hands. The sweater is huge, but so was she. She unfolds and then re-folds the maternity clothes. She remembers how much the maternity clothes had bothered her in the beginning, but of course she had adjusted to it. Being pregnant had been one of the best experiences in her life. Feeling the twins kick inside her. The labors had been every bit unpleasant, but they had been worth it. Seeing Amelia and Emerald for the first time had been an amazing experience.
And suddenly, Regina finds herself yearning for all that again. She finds herself yearning after being pregnant again. Another little dragon? What would be the harm in that? The house is certainly big enough for one more. And I could cut down on my hours as Mayor and be at home with Jonathan while I was pregnant. Amelia and Emerald wouldn't have to go to daycare. They could be here with me instead. I could handle that. Of course, I could.
Get out of here. Have you lost your mind? Jonathan is five months old. And no, you definitely cannot handle three children and be pregnant at the same time. That's ridiculous. You're ridiculous. You have bloody baby fever. And for what reason? Jonathan is right here.
Regina scoffs irritated over herself. She has no business having baby fever now. It doesn't make sense. She vaguely remembers a comment from Snow about "wanting more immediately"
But that had been when she was expecting Amelia and Emerald. It made no sense to feel like this now.
It's just because you've been around a pregnant Maleficent.
Regina sighs a little as she folds the enormous sweater and puts it back into the closet. Into the back of the closet.
Jonathan makes another sleepy sound from the bouncer, and Regina nods in agreement with his statement.
"Mommy's silly," she says to the baby. Very, very silly, that is.
Jonathan gurgles a little. He agrees with that, too. Yes, mommy. You're silly. Out of your mind.
"Mommy's not silly," says a voice behind her.
The brunette turns around and scowls at Maleficent. "Is not nice to eavesdrop or spy for that matter."
Maleficent ignores that. She comes closer and her arms loops around Regina's waist from behind. "You're not silly, darling."
Regina scoffs. "Unhand me, dragon. I'm trying to work."
Obviously, Maleficent doesn't unhand her. If anything, her grip becomes tighter. "If you want another baby…."
"Stop." Regina says firmly. "Yes, I do want another baby. But not right now. We have enough on our plate as it is. Jonathan is not even six months old. The twins are still in daycare."
"That sounds like excuses to me."
"It's not. It's reasonable facts," Regina states. "The maternity clothes just made me crazy for five seconds, okay?"
"I don't want you to be unhappy."
"I'm not unhappy. You know that."
"Then I don't want to deny you anything. And I certainly don't want you to deny yourself anything, either."
"I'm not denying myself anything," Regina says reassuringly. "I'm fine."
"Hmm."
"I mean it, Mal. I'm fine. I couldn't be happier with you and the little ones."
Maleficent's grasp becomes looser around her. "Alright," the dragon says slowly and turns Regina around to face her. "But you know you just have to say the word, right? Say the word and we'll have another baby. I am more than up for that."
Regina leans in and gives her a soft peck on the lips. "And eventually, I would love to have another baby."
Maleficent flashes her a beaming smile at that.
"This was just a case of unspecified baby fever," Regina assures.
Mal chuckles a little at that.
"Speaking of babies, where are the girls?" Regina inquires.
CRASH!
"Downstairs," Mal says quite unnecessary.
"Really?" Regina says with feigned surprise.
"Ooops, sowry, Mama!" Amelia yells up the stairs. Jonathan is startled at the loud noise and begins wailing.
"What happened?" Regina calls back as Maleficent picks up Jonathan to comfort him.
"'Melia smashed a glass!"
Oh god, glass. "Don't step in it!" Regina warns. "Mama will be right there. Stay where you are, both of you!"
She rushes downstairs to save her daughters from the sharp danger.
To Be Continued…
