"¿Qué estás haciendo? ¿Estás intentando convertirte en bailarina?"
Hearing Spanish words being uttered as the first thing in the morning was fucking marvelous. Emma opened one eye and tried to focus on the blurry shape that was Regina. After a few attempts she succeeded, and the blurry shape turned into a crystal clear and rather lovely image. Regina naked as a jaybird. Dark hair fanning out on the pillow and hands cradling her swelling belly. Her fingers seemed to trace the bump, and she clearly hadn't noticed that Emma had woken up.
"¿Estás entrenando para los Juegos Olímpicos o algo así?" she asked as she gave her belly a light tap with her fingertip. Then she laughed heartedly.
"Goo' morning," Emma rasped sleepily and wiped the sleep from her eyes.
Regina turned her head. "Oh. Good morning, querida. Are you already awake?"
"Yep, and clearly missing out on the good stuff," Emma quipped as she slid closer to her girlfriend. "Whacha doin'?"
"Waking up?" Regina offered and swiped a lock of hair away from her pretty face.
"And having a conversation too," Emma chuckled and put a hand on top of the one of Regina's that were still resting on her belly. "What are you two talking about?"
"Just idle gossip," Regina joked. "I was asking if he or she is training to become a dancer."
Emma chuckled again. "Is that what it feels like?"
"No. But I have a feeling that it will."
"Oh." Emma moved her hand from Regina's so she could rub her belly slightly. "Is Blueberry kicking right now then?"
"Sí."
Emma shifted a bit in bed. "How does it feel?" she asked curiously.
"It feels like..." Regina turned around and gave Emma's bare stomach a light prod with her fingertip. "A bit like that. Only coming from inside of... well, me."
Emma laughed.
"It's actually pretty weird," Regina continued and wrinkled her nose. "I mean, when you're not used to it."
"I bet," Emma chuckled and pecked Regina's forehead.
"But I'm sure I'll get used to it soon," Regina said and stretched her legs.
"Yeah."
That little wrinkle appeared between Regina's eyes. "But I'm worried about something, though."
"Okay?" Emma almost sat up in bed at that. "What are you worried about? Does something hurt?"
"No," Regina snorted. "You are permanently concerned, you know that?"
"I'm only concerned when you're worried about something," Emma dismissed. "Now spill it. What is it that you're worried about?"
"Well..." Regina bit her lip slightly. "Maybe it's silly..."
"I doubt it. Come on. Tell me. Pleeeaaase?"
That had Regina laughing for a moment before going serious and slightly pink-cheeked. "I was just wondering... What's gonna happen when we both can feel the baby moving?"
"I'm actually looking forward to that," Emma replied, slightly confused. "I wanna be a part of the fun too."
"Sure, but what if-" Regina blushed harder than ever.
"What if what, sweetheart?"
Regina took a breath. "What if he or she starts moving while we're... you know."
"Oh," Emma chuckled. But only until she realized that Regina was not sharing her amusement. "Sorry," she amended, scolding her features into something more serious. "I didn't mean to poke fun at you, sweetheart."
"Then why does it feel like that's exactly what you did?" Regina pouted.
Emma wrapped her arms around her girlfriend. "I'm sorry, babe. I really am. Don't hate me, please?"
Regina laughed then. "Very funny, querida."
"And to answer your question," Emma continued, giving Regina a little squeeze. "If Blueberry was to move when we're doing *things*..." she waggled an eyebrow. "I'd kiss your belly and tell Blueberry that what's going on is between you and me and that he or she might just as well go to sleep."
Regina chuckled again. "Isn't it gonna be like... weird? Aren't you gonna get freaked out by it?"
"Nope," Emma said plainly and gave Regina's belly a fond rub. "Why? Have you been laying awake all night and wondering about it?"
"No. Not... all night."
Emma groaned. "Next time you poke me until I wake up and then you ask me, okay? I refuse to be the reason why my pregnant girlfriend lies awake half of the night."
"It wasn't because of you."
"It was because of a question directed at me," Emma said stubbornly. "So I'm indirectly responsible."
"You are n-"
"Shh," Emma said simply and put her finger over Regina's lips.
Regina got a certain twinkle in her eyes, and then she pursed her lips slightly so she could kiss Emma's finger.
"Aww," Emma cooed. "That was cute."
"I know," Regina joked. Then she scrunched up her nose again. "Blueberry keeps poking me."
Emma grinned. "Must be interesting waking up to."
"Very," Regina nodded. "But not as interesting as it was last night. You made him or her kick."
"You seriously think it was because of me?" Emma asked. Totally not feeling cocky because of it.
"Sí, I really do, querida," Regina said softly. "Of course it was because of you. What else could it be?"
"The moon's position on the sky?" Emma goofily suggested and earned herself an eyeroll.
"No, querida. I definitely think it was because of-" Regina interrupted herself and did something that could only be described as giggling, and it didn't take Emma long to figure out why. Regina's stomach was grumbling and rumbling like a little machine.
"Someone's hungry," Emma said warmly and patted Regina's belly.
"Mhmm. I worked hard last night," Regina teased. "We both did."
"Oh yeah," Emma agreed a tad dreamily as she allowed the memories of last night to fill her. God, that had been wonderful. Explosively wonderful. She was a bit sore in certain places, and she had a feeling that Regina was too. "You know," she said as she wrapped a strand of Regina's long hair around her finger. "You look really cute with sex-hair..."
"I do not have sex-hair," Regina protested and huffed.
"You totally do," Emma smirked. Seriously, the impressive bedhead Regina was showing off right now could only be described as post sex-hair.
Regina muttered something in Spanish. Emma didn't quite understand what it meant, but judging by the tone, it was at least mildly offending. "Be nice," she mock threatened.
"What if I don't want to be nice?" Regina asked rhetorically and sat up in bed. The covers slipped, and Emma was treated to somewhat of an eyeful when Regina stretched her arms above her head in a rather dramatic fashion that lifted certain things. Emma licked her lips, but Regina didn't seem to notice it. She was much too busy pondering. "Why is sex so good when you're pregnant?" she asked.
"I wouldn't know. I've never been pregnant," Emma quipped.
"I mean, of course it was fantastic before as well," Regina quickly amended. "But I still feel like certain things are more... intense."
"Your orgasms?" Emma slyly offered.
"Sí. Exactly."
Emma smirked. "It's all those delicious hormones, babe."
"It must be." Regina got out of bed and made a face. "Ouch. Stupid back."
"Oh no," Emma winced on her girlfriend's behalf. "Is it very sore?"
"Not very. But I think I've been laying in the same position for too long." Regina smirked at her.
"Yeah, that might be it," Emma chuckled. Oh yes, Regina had definitely been in the same position for quite a while last night. And it had been absolutely delicious. Regina trotted over to the door and grabbed Emma's robe. Slipped her arms through it and tied it around herself.
Emma chuckled. Couldn't help it. Regina's belly was literally poking out under the robe.
"What?" Regina scowled. She narrowed her eyes. "Are you laughing at my belly, querida?"
"No. Yes. Maybe. But only because it's cute," Emma defended.
Regina did her best to keep scowling at her, but she ended up laughing instead. She smoothened a hand over her belly and mumbled something in Spanish.
"Kicking again?" Emma guessed.
"More like popping popcorn," Regina corrected.
"Seriously? That's really how it feels?"
"Mmm. I can't wait for you to feel it too, querida." Regina snapped her fingers. "Oh! That reminds me that I have to text Alessandra and Sofía. They're gonna be so happy and excited."
"I bet," Emma said. "What are they up to this week?"
"I think mostly work," Regina replied as she brushed her hair away from her face. "But I know that they'll be busy planning a baby shower next weekend."
"A baby shower?" the question popped out of Emma's mouth before she could stop herself.
"Mhmm," Regina said lightly.
Emma tilted her head. "Are you going to be there for it?"
"No." Regina fiddled with her hair. "It'll just be for Sofía and Alessandra."
Emma honestly didn't know what to say about that, so she ended up saying: "right."
Being the perceptive, smart young woman that she was, it did not take long before Regina caught what was going on in Emma's head. "I don't think it would have been appropriate for me to be there, querida. It's... It's not about me. It's about Sofía and Alessandra's baby."
Honest to god, that rubbed Emma the wrong way even though she knew she had no right to feel affronted by this. Having a baby shower was something that most soon-to-be-parents did. Of course that should not be any different for the parents who adopted. Of course they'd want to share a special day with friends and family where they received presents to prepare for the baby. But still... There would be no pregnant woman to be the center of attention at the baby shower... Emma told herself to stop being such an idiot about it. Of course Sofía and Alessandra should have a baby shower.
"I was invited," Regina said quietly and looked straight ahead at nothing in particular. "But I declined. Do you think that was rude of me?"
"Well..." Emma gently cupped Regina's elbows. "Do you want to go?"
"No," Regina said immediately. "I don't... I think that would have been... odd. I mean, I'm not the..." she trailed off. Cleared her throat. "As I said, it's not about me. It's about Alessandra and Sofía and their baby. They're the ones to receive the gifts and all. I'm just the-" she gestured oddly. "Horno."
"You're the what now?"
"Oven," Regina translated. "I'm the oven." Her dark eyes did that thing were they became sort of unfocused. She stared at nothing as her hands wandered up and cradled her belly.
"Hey," Emma said gently and tapped Regina's chin. "You're not 'just the horno'. You're a woman making an incredibly brave decision, okay? Don't call yourself just an oven. You are not less because you are doing this." she leaned in and kissed Regina gently on the mouth. "You're amazing. The strongest woman I've ever met. Please don't ever think anything else." She kissed Regina again.
Regina lifted her chin slightly, and her arms winded around Emma's neck. Which could have been very nice if it hadn't been for the way Emma could feel her chin tremble slightly. Was Regina upset? Oh, god no!
She broke the kiss, looked at her girlfriend. "Hey. What's going on in that magnificent head of yours?" she asked. Regina's gaze was still unfocused.
But then Regina seemed to snap out of whatever funk she was in. "Nada," she said quickly and flashed Emma a smile. "Nothing's going on, querida."
"Are you upset?" Emma asked. A simple question.
"No," Regina said immediately. "I'm not upset."
Emma tilted her head. Was she lying? Regina looked fairly calm now. No unfocused eyes. No trembling chin. Shit, Emma could not read the expression on her face at all. "Anyway," Regina said briskly. "Let's head downstairs and have some dinner, sí? I'm getting really hungry."
"Alright," Emma said, acknowledging that she had no choice but to let this go. "What do you want for breakfast, beautiful girl? You can have whatever you want."
"Bacon!" Regina said without skipping a beat. Then she chuckled sheepishly. "Lo siento. I'm just really hungry."
"Alright then. Let's head downstairs and make some bacon for you," Emma said...
Regina looked almost unreasonably happy when she ate the last piece of bacon. She wiped her lips with a napkin and then went 'mmm!'
"Good?" Emma asked goofily because she already knew the answer. She smirked: "That delightful reenactment of the sandwich scene from When Harry Met Sally certainly suggests so..."
Regina blushed a little. "Cállate..."
Emma mock-gasped. "So rude!"
Regina just winked at her. That sly little minx.
"But it was good though, right?" Emma asked. Just to check.
"Delicious," Regina assured and smiled. She licked her lips and stretched her arms above her head. "All of this is perfect. First, we had a great time celebrating your birthday, and then this delicious breakfast..."
Emma nodded. "Yeah, it was really fun being out last night wasn't it?"
"Indeed it was." Regina chuckled. "It was really nice being in a bar where I'm not the one who has to make the drinks..."
"And being flirted with by the customers," Emma teased lightly.
Regina poked out her bottom lip. "The customers do not flirt with me, querida."
Emma raised an eyebrow in polite disagreement. "Riiiiight..."
"At least they haven't recently," Regina amended and rolled her dark eyes. "One look at this-" she patted her growing belly a little. "And they suddenly thank me for the drink instead of asking me if I'm on the menu too..."
Emma spluttered. "They seriously say that to you?!"
"Some on of them." Regina shrugged, patted her belly again. "Some of them are more... impolite, shall we say. Depends on how drunk they are... But anyway," she gave her belly a little rub now. "Blueberry is an excellent flirt-repellant."
"Me being the exception, right?"
"Sí, mi amor. You being the exception. In fact Blueberry prefers if you flirt with me." She wrinkled her nose. "Wait... that sounded weird, didn't it?"
"Nope, not at all," Emma smiled, satisfied with that. She took a sip of her coffee while Regina helped herself to some orange juice. She had to take her prenatal vitamins with something, and right now she had a thing for orange juice. Emma suspected that was the latest craving.
"What do you wanna do today, querida?" Regina asked once she had gobbled down the pill and the orange juice.
"Hmm, I don't know, I feel kinda lazy," Emma admitted. And a bit boneless after last night, but she did not tell Regina that. "Maybe we could have a chill day or something?"
"That sounds nice. I might fall asleep, but..."
"Then fall asleep, beautiful girl. I don't mind," Emma assured.
"I mind," Regina scowled, bottom lip jutting out again. "I came here to spend time with you. Not sleep."
Emma reached out and put a hand over her girlfriend's. "We're still together when you sleep. Because I'm not planning on leaving the room, so..."
"You're gonna watch me sleep?"
"Yup..."
"That's creepy, mi amor."
"It is not," Emma dismissed. "But I was thinking tomorrow..."
"Sí?"
"If the weather isn't too bad, we could have a picnic in the park?" Emma suggested. "We could whip up some sandwiches and find a blanket..."
"That sounds really nice," Regina said warmly. "I'd love that. But you also have to prepare for New York."
"New York?" Emma was confused for a second, but then she remembered. "Oh, right. Yeah. The meeting with the gallerist."
"Sí," Regina chuckled. "Don't tell me you forgot?"
"No, of course not," Emma protested. Lies. She had completely and utterly forgotten. She still wanted to go. Though not as much as she had wanted to. Because of Regina. Emma's original plan had been that Regina would go with her to New York, but after having met up with her, seen her size and realize how quickly she got tired, Emma wasn't so sure dragging Regina to New York was such a good idea. Regina needed rest. Not running around in some big city. Traveling was stressful. Emma didn't want to add more stress in Regina's life. She'd had plenty of that already. But she didn't want to suggest Regina that she stayed home. Not quite yet. Because Emma wasn't quite sure how to break the idea to her. Regina would get so disappointed. Emma hated disappointed her.
"I have an idea, querida," Regina said and pulled Emma out of her thoughts.
"Okay?" Emma said. "Something you wanna share with the class?"
"Funny." Regina rolled her dark eyes. "I was just thinking... there's a really big bathtub upstairs."
"So there is," Emma confirmed and smirked. She already liked where this was going.
"And there isn't one in my apartment," Regina continued. "I can't remember the last time I could soak in a tub..."
"I see," Emma chuckled. "A soak in the tub it is then. Suits me fine. I could use some downtime in the tub. I have a bit of a headache after last night..."
"It's all those shots," Regina teased lightly.
"Probably, yeah."
"Sometimes I miss that."
"What? Getting a headache because you've had too many shots?"
Regina chortled. "No. I meant... drinking."
"And smoking?" Emma guessed.
"No." Regina pulled a face. "I've decided that I won't start smoking again once I've given birth. My dad is right. It's bad for me. But speaking of birth..." she rubbed her belly again. "I should probably look into those Lamaze classes soon."
"We should look into those Lamaze classes soon," Emma corrected.
"We," Regina agreed. "Do you really still want to go with me? I don't think hearing about how I'm supposed to breathe is all that interesting."
"I actually happen to find it REALLY interesting."
"What about the other stuff?" Regina asked, making a face again.
"What other stuff, sweetheart?"
"You know, the... labor stuff. Pain handling. Pain relief. Breathing techniques. Which position I should be in during the birth. You know... that kind of stuff. That's not interesting for you to hear about."
"Actually, it is," Emma said softly. "I am VERY interested in knowing exactly where and how I should massage you when it hurts."
Regina tilted her head. "You'll do that?"
"Of course I will, yeah. Totally. Unless you tell me to stay the fuck away from you, of course," Emma laughed and had expected the same reaction from Regina, so she was surprised and immediately concerned when she saw Regina's dark eyes well up with tears. As quickly as she could, Emma outstretched a hand and put it over Regina's. "Hey. It's alright."
"Lo siento. Hormones," Regina groaned. "Happens all the time. You remember that cat commercial I told you about."
Emma chuckled softly. "Indeed I do." She patted Regina's hand. "Do you need a tissue or something?"
"No," Regina grumbled. "I do not need a tissue."
"Alright. Is there anything else I can do for you?"
"No, I'm fine."
"You're sure?"
"Absolutely."
"Alright. Shall we clear the table then?" Emma suggested and winked. "So we can go upstairs and get in that bath?"
That elicited a smile from Regina. "Sí. The faster the better."
Emma fully shared that mindset, and for once, she did not complain at the speed her pregnant girlfriend was moving in...
"I vote we kick off every morning like this," Emma said firmly twenty minutes later. She and Regina were laying in the bath. Emma was resting her head and back against the tub, and Regina was leaning back against Emma.
"Mmm, good idea, mi amor," Regina hummed. "Although this might not be my most flattering angle..."
"All your angles are flattering," Emma brushed her off and rubbed the side of Regina's belly. It looked so cute all covered in bubbles and belly button poking out like that.
"Here we go again," Regina muttered and did a little wiggle in the water.
"Blueberry kicking again?" Emma guessed.
"Sí. It's every time you touch my belly," Regina said.
"Don't you think it's just a coincidence?" Emma suggested.
"Of course not, querida. I can literally feel the baby move right underneath your hand."
"Really?" Emma said softly. "That's... wow." Maybe Regina was the 'hormonal' one, but Emma felt her throat tighten dangerously. The baby inside Regina moved every time Emma touched her belly. That was really... something.
"Me gusta estar embarazada."
"Sorry?" Emma was immediately brought back to reality.
"I said... I like being pregnant," Regina quietly translated. "Which probably sounds weird, doesn't it?"
"No, I don't think it does. Not at all."
"I like that it has made me... more mature, I guess," Regina mused. "And I like that is has made me closer with my dad. And it certainly has shown me who's really in my corner." Her voice darkened, and even though she never said Cora Mills' name out loud, Emma knew that she was who Regina was thinking about.
"And let's be honest," Regina continued, voice light now. "It is interesting to feel a teeny tiny human being move about inside you."
"I bet it is," Emma chuckled and gave Regina's shoulders a gentle rub.
"Oh, that feels nice. Do it again, please?"
Emma did it again, and Regina almost cooed. "That's really, really nice!"
"Your shoulders are all tight," Emma commented. "Guess you really DID sleep funny last night, huh?"
"Sí, I guess I did. Or perhaps I'm simply not as flexible as I once was."
"That is so not true. The way you danced at the Rabbit Hole last night... That was exactly like meeting you for the first time in Spain."
Regina chuckled. "I was blatantly flirting with you."
"Yes, you were. And I appreciated it."
"And I appreciate this too," Regina assured and wiggled a little, sending the water splashing over the edges of the tub. "Oops."
"Don't worry about it. I'll wipe it up later. Just make yourself comfortable, beautiful girl."
"I don't think it's possible to be more comfortable than I am right now," Regina joked.
"Well, I'll have you know that I'M pretty comfortable too..."
"You're sure? I'm not like... crushing you?"
"No," Emma huffed as she kneed a particular hard muscle in Regina's shoulder. "Right now I have my naked girlfriend covered in bubbles. Damn right, I'm comfortable!"
"Eres tan tonta..."
"I'm not sure what that means, but sure."
Regina laughed, and Emma was immediately suspicious. "Wait, did you just say something rude to me?"
"No, of course not," Regina said so innocently Emma only grew more suspicious. "You're sure? For some reason I don't believe you..."
Regina mock-gasped. "The baby is kicking again!"
"Cute. Real cute. You're trying to distract me. And it's working." Emma abandoned Regina's shoulders to gently touch her belly instead. "I so wish that I could feel it too."
"You'll be able to soon," Regina soothed. "And I can't wait for you to feel it too. It's quite the experience."
"But I still have to wait a couple of weeks or something, right?" Emma complained.
"Sí, that's right," Regina confirmed. "But then you'll be able to feel it. And Alessandra and Sofía, of course. They'll be able to feel it too..." her voice trailed off, and Emma squeezed her shoulders again. "Are you thinking about that baby shower again?" she asked softly.
"No," Regina said firmly. "Because there's nothing to think about. Of course they want a baby shower. It's only natural."
"It is, but if you're upset about it-"
"I'm not. I've... I've made my choice, Emma. And I chose Alessandra and Sofía. And I'm glad I did. They're going to be wonderful mothers, both of them."
Emma held her tongue and did not say what she was thinking. That Regina too would have been a wonderful mother.
"I guess it's just... getting closer, you know? The birth and everything," Regina said after a moment of silence. "I'm getting nervous about it and Sofía and Alessandra has been texting me so many times and asked if I've felt any movement yet, and every time I said no, it felt like I was disappointing them or something. And I was afraid that there was something wrong with Blueberry."
"You haven't told me any of this," Emma said softly and stroked Regina's hair. "Do you feel pressured by Sofía and Alessandra?"
"No," Regina said immediately. "No, of course not. They've just been excited and curious, that's all."
"And they're totally allowed to," Emma agreed. "But not in a way that stresses you out. That's definitely not good for you nor Blueberry."
"We're fine," Regina assured. "I texted them and told them that I've felt Blueberry kick, so it's all good."
"Okay." Emma dropped the subject. And hoped that Regina was being truthful.
"Also, speaking of things I haven't told you..." Regina said sheepishly.
"Yeah?"
"I've... I've noticed a red car holding parked while I'm at work," Regina said.
Emma growled. "If I find out it's that bitch Marian again, I swear I'm gonna-"
"I don't know if it's her," Regina interrupted. "The car always disappear when my father arrives to pick me up. So it might not be her. Maybe it's just a coincidence. That's why I haven't mentioned it to you."
"Coincidence or not, there are so many reasons why you should stay in Storybrooke forever instead of going back to Spain," Emma grumbled and decided right then and there that she would go back to Spain with Regina. And if she spotted that red car and furthermore found out that Marian was the one driving, well, then-
"Please don't get yourself all worked up now," Regina begged as she turned around, so they were face to face. "I'm right here. And I'm absolutely fine. And I really, desperately need to kiss you."
"I thought you didn't want me to get worked up?" Emma joked as she skated her fingertips up and down Regina's naked back.
"Besame, Em-ma..."
And of course Emma could only obey the not so subtle order. She kissed Regina, and right now that was the only thing that mattered. Everything else, even concerns would have to wait a little while longer...
To Be Continued...
Spanish translations:
¿Qué estás haciendo? ¿Estás intentando convertirte en bailarina?= What are you doing? Are you trying to become a dancer?
¿Estás entrenando para los Juegos Olímpicos o algo así?= Are you training for the Olympics or something?
Cállate= Shut up.
Lo siento= I'm sorry.
Eres tan tonta= You're so silly.
Besame, Em-ma= Kiss me, Emma.