October 2013
The tree tops were covered in a thick, heavy snow as the cold wind blew harshly; the smaller branches underneath cracked from the strain of the weight above, dropping snow onto the ground below. The night sky was pitch black, the moon nor a single star was visible from the ground. Wood smoke was steadily flowing out of fireplaces across Storybrooke, keeping those inside of the houses warm from the freezing winter elements. A few shops were still open to those who braved the cold, providing a warm atmosphere and something hot to eat while having a delicious drink on hand.
Inside of the two story white house on Mifflin, Ruby sat in front of the fireplace warming herself up, feeling the cold more than she usually did. Her large stomach moved as her unborn child kicked away happily, safe inside of her womb as her bladder and kidney copped a beating. Thirty eight weeks and two days; in twelve days Ruby and Regina would get to officially meet their daughter but that didn't stop the Braxton Hicks from making themselves known, possibly indicating it may be earlier than expected.
The sounds of cars accelerating and people screaming came from the television which caught her attention, turning slightly she watched as Henry played Midtown Madness on the Xbox. Watching as he controlled the car on the screen, Ruby smiled and shook her head softly as Henry narrowly missing a group of people on the sidewalk as he sharply turned a corner to stay on route, trying to beat the timer to complete the level. Ruby loved that game and she was glad she was able to share it with the boy she considered her son. Hearing the timer go off in the kitchen, the smell of food wafted through the room shortly after, making both of their stomaches rumble.
"Mum, is dinner ready yet? I'm hungry," Henry called out, his game paused.
"Dinner is ready, I'm just setting it down on the table," Regina responded loudly over the sounds of trays and bowls being placed on the table.
"We should probably head in there and take our seats, I'm famished," Ruby said, looking to Henry as she pulled herself into an upright position.
Heading into the kitchen, Ruby and Henry sat down at the table just as Regina finished placing the corn in the middle of the table. Looking at the display of food in front of her, Ruby saw some of her favourites; roast potato, roast pumpkin, roast sweet potato, roast carrot, corn on the cob, roast pork with crackling, and homemade apple sauce.
"This looks so good babe, you outdid yourself," Ruby said, feeling emotional, as she did not expecting anyone to cater to her every craving.
"For you I'll make anything, it's the least I can do since you're carrying our child," Regina responded, giving Ruby a soft kiss on the lips as Henry made a disgusted face from his seat.
"You two need to get a room, I don't need to see that, I'm impressionable at this age," Henry said, placing two slices of pork onto his plate.
"We have a room Henry, it's upstairs," Ruby replied, placing a hand on her stomach for a few seconds before placing some food on her plate; the baby very much liked what was being served.
"I know and I'm just grateful it's on the other side of the house to my room," Henry replied, stuffing a whole roast potato into his mouth.
"I could always swap your room with the nursery," Regina joked, serving herself up some roast pumpkin.
"Please don't, I like my bedroom where it is," Henry responded, looking to Ruby for backup.
"I think we'll leave it where it is for now," Ruby replied, her mouth full of sweet potato.
"Thank you," Henry said, placing a good sized spoonful of applesauce onto his pork.
"So, Henry, how's school going, have you done your homework?" Regina asked, cutting her food into smaller pieces.
"School is good and I finished my homework at the diner, Granny helped me with part of my math work," Henry answered, taking a large mouthful of food.
"What are you currently learning about in math?" Ruby replied, wondering what they were currently teaching.
"It's like money stuff, percentages, and next week we'll be starting algebra," Henry responding, swallowing his food.
"Granny is good at anything money related," Regina said, knowing that Granny had never once filed out any form of paperwork from the diner or bed and breakfast incorrectly.
"In history class we're currently learning about other countries and what the capital of each state and territory are. Did you know that Australia has a territory inside of a state and that that territory holds parliament house where the Prime Minister is," Henry replied, placing butter onto his corn on the cob.
"I've always wanted to go to Australia. Maybe when the baby is a bit older we could go there for a family vacation. I would really love to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge," Ruby responded, wanting to travel the world.
"You're not getting me to climb anything that high," Regina said, raising her eyebrow at her partner and son.
"Henry and I will climb it then and you and bub can find somewhere for us to have lunch," Ruby replied, smiling at the young boy.
"I'm good with that; I can take photos of myself doing ninja moves and post them on Facebook if I'm allowed to make one," Henry responded, trying to subtly ask for social media in a roundabout way.
"You can get Facebook when you're older, you're only twelve and way too young. As you said, you are at an impressionable age," Regina replied, placing a forkful of food into her mouth as she softly smirked.
"Emma said if both of you agree I can get one," Henry tried, knowing that some of his friends were allowed social media.
"I think we should wait until you're at least a little older, maybe in a year or two when you start high school," Ruby replied, trying to keep the peace. Feeling a sharp pain, Ruby placed her hand on her baby bump, wincing slightly.
"Are you okay Ruby, what is it?" Regina asked, putting down her cutlery, concerned about her partner and their unborn child.
"I think she just kicked something really hard and my organ didn't appreciate it," Ruby replied, not wanting to worry her family.
"Are you sure it wasn't something else?" Henry asked, hoping that everything was okay.
"I'm sure, the bigger she gets the longer her legs are and when she kicks me she can hit my organs harder or reach new ones that she previously couldn't. I can feel her moving around happily at the moment, we're both okay, she's enjoying dinner very much," Ruby replied, feeling a sharp kick to her bladder.
"If you say so," Regina said, still not convinced that everything was alright but she knew that if something was actually wrong Ruby would tell her straight away.
"After dinner would I be able to go to the movies with James and Oliver?" Henry asked, changing the subject.
"It's a Tuesday night Henry; you have school in the morning and it's freezing out there. It's already eight and the only other time slot for the movies starts in an hour and ten minutes. You will be out past midnight and you need to get some sleep so no, you may not go out," Regina replied, not able to comprehend why her son wanted to go out on a school night, especially with a possible change of more snowfall.
"But Emma lets me go out when I stay with her," Henry tried, using his biological mother as his defence.
"I think we need to have a word to Emma," Ruby said, looking to Regina who nodded her head.
"Definitely, her parenting needs some refining," Regina commented, finishing her piece of pork.
"Emma lets me do fun stuff, why can't you be the fun parent?" Henry whined, getting up from the table and placing his plate in the sink.
"Because you need a parent who will discipline you and raise you to be a respectful young man," Regina replied, putting her foot down.
"I'll be in my bedroom, not having any fun," Henry said, storming off to his room. His door slamming shut moments later.
"He'll get over it in about an hour." Looking to Regina, Ruby winced as pain shot through her womb, feeling like it was contracting. "I think I need to go lay down for a little bit, she's doing some weird stuff to my organs."
"Are you sure you're okay my love?" Regina asked, getting up and gently massaging Ruby's shoulders, trying to keep the worry out of her voice.
"I am, I just need to rest for a little bit to calm the baby down," Ruby replied, feeling a kiss being pressed against her temple.
"Okay, I'm going to clean up in here. I'll put the rest of your dinner in the fridge for you to eat later when you feel hungry. I'll come up when I'm done," Regina responded, helping Ruby out of her seat before she headed upstairs to their bedroom.
Piling the leftover food into two different bowls, Regina covered them and placed them into the fridge, followed by the last of Ruby's dinner. Collecting the utensils and spare bowls left on the table, Regina placed them next to the sink and started to fill it. Adding lemon scented dishwashing liquid to the hot water Regina waiting for it to fill before washing the dishes. Placing the dishes into the other half of the sink, Regina washed the soap suds off them before putting them in the drying rack.
Cleaning the table, counters, and sink area, Regina double checked she had cleaned everything before she headed upstairs; sometimes she just enjoyed doing the simple task. Hearing the shower running, and seeing Henry's bedroom door open, she checked quickly to make sure he remembered his towel before she went into her bedroom to where Ruby was. "How are you feeling now?"
"I'm feeling a little better, she's still not calm yet but the pain has lessened," Ruby replied, putting her bookmark between the pages she was reading of her Skulduggery Pleasant book.
Sitting on the bed, Regina reached out and held Ruby's hand in her own, concern evident on her face. "Are you sure you're okay? I don't think that the pain you're feeling is normal."
"I think I'm okay for now, it just feels like a sharp shooting pain across my uterus, kind of like Braxton Hicks I think, it sounds like what Doctor Sanchez explained to us last time we were there," Ruby responded, rubbing her stomach as another pain shot through her uterus.
"Are you sure you're not actually having contractions my love?" Regina asked, trying her best to remain calm while she was screaming on the inside.
"I don't think they are, they're not spaced out evenly and I still haven't had my waters break. The baby also isn't due for another twelve days," Ruby replied, feeling pretty sure it was only just false labour.
"I think we should go to the hospital just for a check up to make sure the baby is still healthy and her heartbeat is strong," Regina tried, having a gut feeling that their daughter would be arriving before her due date.
"Regina, babe, I'm fine, really, you know I would let you know if anything was wrong," Ruby said, talking hold of her partner's hands, trying to reassure her.
"I would just feel a lot better if we went to the hospital just to get a check up. You've been in pain from the baby for the last two hours and even if it's just Braxton Hicks I'd like to be certain," Regina replied, attempting to convince Ruby to go to the hospital.
"It's cold outside, it's snowing, and it's not safe to drive, I'm sure they'll stop soon. I was thinking a hot shower might help," Ruby responded, giving Regina's hands a quick squeeze.
Hissing in pain, Ruby held onto her baby bump and breathed through the worst of it, ignoring the raised eyebrow that Regina was giving her. She knew her body and gave in, knowing that that last false contraction may not have been entirely false. Letting out the breath she didn't realise she was holding, she turned to look at her partner.
"So, we're going to the hospital," Regina stated matter-of-factly, getting up from the bed to help Ruby up.
"I guess," Ruby agreed, holding onto Regina as the sharp pain hit her once again. "Okay, I think it might be something more."
"Once we get downstairs I'm going to call Snow and ask if she can take Henry just until we know what is going on, I don't want to leave him home alone," Regina said, helping Ruby down the stairs and onto the couch. "I'll only be a minute."
Quickly heading into the kitchen Regina took her phone off charge and went through her contact list, calling Snow White.
"Hi Regina, is everything okay?" Snow asked, her voice coming through the phone with a hint of worry as the other woman usually never called this late at night.
"Hi, I think Ruby may have gone into labour and I was just wondering if you'd be able to take Henry for night," Regina replied, getting right to the point.
"I'm happy to watch my grandson, and please keep me updated on Ruby and the baby."
"Thank you, I'll drop him off relatively soon," Regina responded, ending the phone call as soon as she could.
Going through her phone contacts again, Regina pulled up the number for the hospital and called them, letting them know that they would be coming in soon. Heading up the stairs, she knocked on Henry's bedroom and waited for the boy to tell her it was okay to come in.
Letting her son know what was going on, she helped him to pack an overnight bag and his school bag, promising to inform him if the baby was born. Packing everything into their new car, Regina helped Ruby into the front passenger seat, noticing that the contractions were getting closer together.
Driving slowly down the icy roads, Regina had the heater on full blast trying to warm them all up. The snow was lightly falling making it harder to see where they were going even with the windscreen wipers on. The street lights gave off just enough illumination to mark out the sides of the road. Pulling up outside of Snow's home, the pixie haired woman was waiting for her grandson, dressed in multiple jackets and scarves. Quickly talking to the woman, they said their goodbyes and headed to the hospital.
"Oh God, they're getting more intense," Ruby said, starting to feel a little worried as her hands went to her bump as her uterus contracted once more.
"We're five minutes away from the hospital, they know we're coming in," Regina calmly replied, trying to not panic as she needed to keep Ruby as calm as she could.
"Five minutes is starting to feel like forever," Ruby replied, moving in her seat, trying to find a more comfortable position.
"I know my love, I'll get us there as quickly and as safely as I can," Regina responded, turning the corner slowly so the car wouldn't slide.
Driving the rest of the way to the hospital, Regina parked in the emergency parking and went inside, quickly retrieving a wheelchair for Ruby to sit in so she wouldn't have walk. Grabbing the birthing and baby bags out of the boot, Regina placed them over the wheelchair handles. Pushing the wheelchair inside of the entrance, Regina headed for the nurse who called them over.
Getting into the elevator another contraction started, Ruby sharply breathed in, trying to ride the pain out as she waited for her uterus to stop its latest spasm. "They're getting stronger. I was so sure it was Braxton Hicks to begin with."
"Some labours do start out with what expectant mothers think are Braxton Hicks. In the beginning sometimes the timing between contractions feels erratic which makes them think that. Have your waters broken yet?" the nurse asked, looking at his watch to time the contractions.
"Not yet," Ruby replied, feeling Regina's hand on her shoulder. "My mucus plug came out about five days ago but I thought that was normal being so close to my due date."
"It is normal to lose it in the last few weeks before delivery, how's the pain currently feeling?" the nurse asked, needing to know.
"It's tolerable right now. Maybe a six out of ten with every contraction but without contractions it doesn't really hurt at all but then I have a very high pain threshold," Ruby responded, being honest with the nurse.
Hearing the elevator ding, they exited the small space and walked down the short corridor heading into the maternity ward. Walking to room five, the nurse stopped next to the bed.
"A private room, excellent," Ruby said, silently thankful she didn't need to share it with anyone else.
"Only the best for you my love," Regina replied taking the bags off the wheelchair and placing them next to the bed.
"This is our best birthing unit; the doctor will be here shortly and has asked that I help get you ready. We have the theatre prepared just in case the baby turns into breach position. Do you have any pain plan sorted out?" Handing Ruby a hospital gown, he picked up the chart next to the bed and starting to write things down.
"I don't want an epidural, Doctor Walker told me I can use something else instead but I don't remember the name of it," Ruby replied, suddenly feeling more panicked then before.
"I'll go check her notes, it will be okay, if you want to go get changed I'll be back in a few minutes," the nurse said, smiling kindly as he left the room.
Helping Ruby up from the wheelchair, Regina held onto the gown with one hand and assisted Ruby with the other. Making it into the private bathroom, Ruby pulled her pants down and sat on the toilet, feeling a sudden urge like something was about to drop. A gush of water broke free from her body, splashing into the bowl below.
"My waters just broke Regina, I'm really going to give birth tonight, oh God, oh God, oh God," Ruby said, her voice full of panic.
"It's okay Ruby, you're going to be fine," Regina calmly replied, soothing her partner. "Just think, by morning we will get to hold our daughter. We get to meet a brand new person who has never been in this world before. We get to see what our true love has given us."
"I just want to cuddle her and stroke her little baby cheeks and smell her little head," Ruby replied, grabbing a wad of toilet paper and cleaning herself up.
"I do too," Regina responded, helping Ruby to take off her clothing, folding it into a small pile.
Helping Ruby up off the toilet, Regina held the gown out so she could slip into it. Tying it up at back, making sure it was loose enough to be comfortable; they made their way back into the room, Ruby lying down on the bed, feeling slightly cold as Regina helped her to put on her fluffy socks.
"Come on Ruby, one big push," Doctor Walker encouraged, looking up at the sweat covered woman.
Screaming while another contraction hit, Ruby gripped tightly onto Regina's hand as she pushed as hard as she could, feeling the pressure of the baby pushing against her lower back.
"The head is out, another big push and the shoulders should come through, you can do it Ruby," Doctor Walker said, supporting the baby's head with her hand as she encouraged Ruby to continue to push.
Bearing down, Ruby pushed as hard as she could. She felt the contraction throughout her body and soon after the room filled with the cries of a newborn. Releasing Regina's hand from her tight grip, she looked down and saw the doctor holding her daughter up for her look at.
"Congratulations Ruby and Regina, she's a beautiful baby girl, born at 2:04am on October ninth," Doctor Walker said, as the midwife handed Regina a pair of surgical scissors and instructing her where to cut the cord. "We'll do our quick check up and clean her up a little then let you cuddle her for a while."
Turning to face Regina, Ruby had tears in her eyes as she looked at her partner. "She's beautiful Regina, she truly is."
"She definitely is one beautiful baby and we made her," Regina replied, leaning in and softly kissing Ruby on the lips, lingering for a few seconds before wiping her partner's tears away.
"Here we go, she's perfectly healthy and passed every test with flying colours," Doctor Walker said, handing Ruby her daughter wrapped in a light pink blanket.
"She's got so much hair," Regina commented, gently touching the long dark brown locks atop of the baby's head.
"She does, she's perfect," Ruby replied, feeling Regina place a kiss on her temple.
"Her eyes appear to be green just like yours my love," Regina responded, watching as her daughter open and closed her eyes, the light reflecting off them just enough to see the colour.
"She has your face shape and smile," Ruby noted, looking at the perfect features of her daughter as she ran her hand over her daughter's head, feeling the softness of her hair.
"You did so well Ruby, I love you," Regina said, wrapping an arm around Ruby's shoulders as they lovingly looked at their bundle of joy swaddled up tightly in her blanket.
"I love you too, Regina," Ruby replied, resting her head against Regina's side.
"Does she have a name yet?" Doctor Walker asked, looking at the two doting parents staring at their newborn.
"She does," Regina replied, looking to Ruby who nodded her head. "Her name is Jade Isabel Lucas-Mills
"She's so cute, she just smiled and winked me Mum," Henry excitedly said, holding his two day old baby sister.
"She likes you Henry, you are her big brother," Regina replied, sitting next to her two children on the couch, making sure that Jade's head was being supported.
"When she's a bit older can I teach her how to clap and play peek-a-boo?" Henry asked, watching as Jade yawned, thinking it was the cutest thing he had seen.
"As her big brother you get to teach her almost everything, she will be looking up to you as a role model and will learn from you," Ruby said, entering the room and sitting down in the recliner.
"When does she get to eat real food?" Henry asked again, full of questions.
"She can have solids when she's around five to six months old, at the moment the only thing she is allowed to have is milk," Regina replied, noticing Jade starting to fuss.
Gently patting his baby sister Henry tried to calm her down, seeing how both his mother and Ruby had done it since she was allowed home from the hospital. Placing a soft kiss on his sister's head, he tried his best to make sure she was okay. A loud wail filled the room as Jade started to cry, throwing her arms wherever they would go.
Getting up from her seat, Ruby gently moved Jade into her arms, rocking back and forth, calming her daughter down. Green eyes met green and Jade started to calm down, smiling up at her mother. "I think she's both hungry and tired," Ruby said, gently stroking her daughter's face as the infant tried to suck on her fingertips.
"I put the central heating for the top floor of the house onto warm about an hour ago so Jade's nursery should be perfect for her. If you want to go and feed her, I'll be up in about ten minutes," Regina replied, helping Henry remove the baby support pillow from his lap.
"When you come up can you grab one of Jade's pacifiers from the steriliser, thank you," Ruby responded, heading up the stairs and into the nursery.
Feeding Jade until she was full, Ruby placed a burping blanket over her shoulder and held her daughter against her, gently burping the infant to make sure she wouldn't get an upset stomach. Hearing the door creak open, Regina stepped into the room and smiled just as her daughter burped loudly.
"How is it that she hasn't managed to throw up on you yet?" Regina asked, taking the baby so Ruby could get up.
"Give it until the end of the week, and she probably would have by then," Ruby replied, walking over to the crib and making sure that everything was arranged perfectly for Jade to go down for a nap.
Rocking the baby from side to side while gently patting her diapered backside, Regina watched as her daughter grew more tired than she already was. Jade was struggling to keep her eyes open; yawning, she poked her little tongue out before closing her mouth, sleep trying to take over.
Placing a small kiss on her daughter's forehead, Regina placed the baby down in her crib and swaddled her, making sure the side was locked securely once she was done. "She looks so much like you my love," Regina quietly spoke, looking at her partner.
"I still think she has your face shape, smile, and mouth, even if the smiling is only caused by wind. She's like a perfect mix of both of us," Ruby replied, just as quietly as she looked down at her daughter.
"She has your eyes, beautifully green and big, she's going to get away with so much when she learns how to pout," Regina responded, watching as Jade's eyes finally closed as she went to sleep.
"Her name is also very fitting to her eye colour, I think we created the perfect human," Ruby replied, taking one last look at her daughter before she crossed the room to turn on the humidifier and baby monitor.
"We did. We have two perfect children and I couldn't be happier," Regina said, pulling Ruby close to her. Resting her forehead against her partner's Regina gently held the back of Ruby's neck as she placed a soft yet passionate kiss on her true love's lips.
"I love you Regina," Ruby whispered, kissing her partner once more.
"I love you too, Ruby," Regina replied, smiling at her true love. Holding hands they walked out the nursery, gently closing the door behind them as they ventured into new territory of raising their little family.