"This is the part where you say, 'Thank you Ally Cat! I love you!'" Alice teases with great enthusiasm. She shoves that smug look right in Regina's face, causing the brunette to inevitably blush.
"Alice, stop taunting her." Robin scolds with a pointed brow that instantly forces Alice to back down. The dom then flashes Regina a caring smile with shimmering blue eyes to add warmth to Regina's heart.
"Cheer up doll," Ivy coos and caresses Regina's cheek. "Everything will be fine."
"I haven't seen her in weeks," Regina mumbles, then takes a short pause. Maybe going mall shopping without Emma was a bad idea. Doing alot of things without Emma is a very bad idea as of late. "I think I should go–"
"No!" They all yell at once before Ivy adds.
"We all promised Emma we would distract you so you won't constantly fall in your little space, and above all else, continue to lock yourself in you room."
"Yeah! You don't want to ignore your daddy's orders do you?" Alice adds with playful pursed lips. The blonde easily gets distracted after that. There's a baby blue dress calling her name.
"Regina, things will get better. But right now you are a mother of two that needs some cheering up with people who understand."
Regina nods and thanks both Ivy and Robin for being there. She wouldn't know what to do without them and it's not like she can just go to her bestfriend about it. The thing that bothers her the most, is that Emma might just get locked in a cage for what she's about to do.
The Swan's have a lot to talk about during dinner except for Emma; only for today. She's nervous, beyond nervous and her mother could tell.
Ingrid has noticed a drastic change in her daughter lately. It's not a bad thing per say. She just knows that Emma has matured alot; most of it maybe her fault but it's different. Emma hasn't exactly been snappy or a bossy pants lately. She no longer fights her mother's wishes almost like she's trying to butter her up. Little does she know that today is the day that Emma would take her life into her own hands.
"So, once spring is officially here, I would like to go shopping but Daddy needs to find a new tux." Hope informs to the family as Ingrid sets out the spaghetti and garlic knots.
"I have plenty," David cheeses. "I'm really excited for this valentine's day dance."
"Please don't embarrass me though dad," Hope begs.
"I can be hip! Don't worry! I'm the coolest dad on the block." Hope smacks her forehead while both Emma and Ingrid laugh at the naive man.
"For starters...don't say hip," Emma wheezes .
"Honey, it's 2019. Nobody says that anymore."
"Whatever." David waves them off and focuses his attention to his eldest. He always feels like he has to make up for lost time. Emma is grateful for it. "And you Em? Anything interesting happening in your life?"
Emma tenses, her heart drops. Is this the moment she says it? Should she just throw it all on the table or should she just wait? She did promise Regina so there's no backing out; it must be done.
"Nothing...um. The pet shelter was cool and...I applied for more colleges and–"
"Alright," Ingrid interrupts with a narrow glare. She's sick of Emma's hiding and needs to know what's on her daughter's mind. "Spill it now Emma. What the hell are you hiding?"
"Mom!" Hope yells, jumping completely to Emma's defense as always. "Jeez!"
"It's fine Bean." Emma sighs. She begins to pick at her food, admiring the twirling silver as it gathers up all the noodles and sauce. "I'm not going to a University." She mumbles low.
David and Hope are slacked jawed while Ingrid is in denial. She glances between her husband and Emma before she finally asks, "Excuse me?"
"I said I'm going to community college mom."
"Oh boy," David sighs and drops his fork.
"That's a funny joke Emma." Ingrid grins. Emma rolls her eyes and adds on,
"And I want to live with Regina for the summer while I do summer school. And since the community college is closer to her, she said I can move in after I graduate." Now that statement pisses off Hope.
"Of course. You're always there anyways." She scoffs with an eye roll. How dare Emma always ditch her to be at the Mills' house. She feels alone sometimes and it sucks that Emma leaves her to deal with their parents by her lonesome.
"Yeah because I need to breathe," Emma points out. "I can't take it here sometimes."
"Like we're that bad. Stop talking nonsense Emma. You and your sister have no idea how lucky you are–"
"Mom, just stop. I lived with you too! It wasn't like you were struggling alone! You're not the only one who knows how it feels!" The stress is really taking a toll on Emma. If her mom doesn't allow her to move in with Regina she may actually lose her shit soon.
"Oh really? You know what it feels like to not sleep or to starve just so your kid could eat?!" Ingrid slams her fist. The table shakes, startling Hope and causes all of the dishes to jump off of the table just a tad.
"Yes mom. I know what it's like to hardly eat! I do remember that the best meals I had was crappy school food. Lily and I talk about it all the time. As of sleeping? I don't get any because of you! I'm not you so stop living through me!"
"You're going to a university and you will get your master's!" Ingrid finalizes by standing tall. Emma stands as well with her fists pressed into the table.
"I'm not! You can't make me!"
"Ingrid! Relax!" David yells above their argument. He heavily sighs with relief when the two blondes quiet their bickering. "You can't keep stressing Emma anymore."
"But–"
"No buts. I, for one, support Emma's decisions. Our job is to be her parents not dictate her life." David gives his daughter a genuine smile and gestures for her to sit. Emma does so, slowly, hoping this would end on a good note. "Now Emma is way more a responsible than any teen in town. We have you to thank for that. There for she is responsible enough to make her own decisions however..."
Emma 's heart drops at that. There's always a catch when one of her parents support her approve of something. Knowing the look on her father's face, it definitely is about Regina.
"I don't think its a good idea to move in withe Regina." He concludes confidently knowing that Emma will quickly defend herself.
"Oh come on Dad? Like Hope said, I'm always there anyways so what's the harm?"
"The harm is that you are our responsibility Emma, not Regina's. She has enough on her plate."
"She's okay with it though!" Ingrid cringes at her daughter's sudden loud tone and scolds Emma yet again.
"Enough Emma! You aren't staying with Regina and that's final." That pisses Emma off of course. She spent the rest of dinner hating her life and not saying a word to contribute towards the awkward conversation between her family. Eventually she retreated to her room where she soaked in her depression while thinking about her Angel who probably is missing her so much.
Three weeks now and Regina is an emotional wreck, concerning everyone around her including her daughters. They both try to understand the best they could, but they can't. So, the two agreed, that maybe their father could help. Daniel is no softy all the time but he will do what needs to be done to weasel back into Regina's life. So when he got the call from his eldest daughter, who already asked Ingrid for help, he took the next flight in a quick hurry.
Ingrid visits almost every night, trying to figure out what's wrong and came to the conclusion that Regina must've broken up with her secret boy toy. It's hard to go through so many lovers but it's the opposite. Regina is lonely, she misses Emma so much and she's too scared to even admit that out loud.
"So...has she eaten yet?" Daniel questions seriously towards Mary and Lily. They both shake their heads with saddened expressions forcing a sigh out of their father as he closes the door. "Alright. Everything will be okay. Your mom just gets like this sometimes."
"Yeah! But she's never like this all the time." Mary fumes. Daniel smirks at his adorable princess, reassuring her the best he can before making his way upstairs.
Once he makes it to Regina's bedroom door, he slowly knocks and calls her name so he doesn't startle her. As suspected, he enters to darkness. The only source of light is the moon forcing its way through the curtains on the windows. Mary wasn't being dramatic at all...this is pretty bad.
"Regina?" Daniel coos gently as he places himself on the edge of the bed. Slowly the vulnerable woman turns to meets his gaze with glassy brown eyes and pursed lips.
"Ugh! It's you." She whines like a child.
"Yeah," he laughs. "It's me. The girls are worried and I have to say that I'm concerned too."
"I'm fine. They're old enough to take care of themselves for a few days." Regina shrugs and turns back away but Daniel is quick to grab her shoulder, forcing her back.
"That's the thing. They need their mother or–"
"Daniel just take them with you then! I just don't feel good right now okay?" Daniel sighs. Shaking his head.
He doesn't want to take them because they will miss school. He knows he was a jack ass for abandoning Regina all those years ago after he got her pregnant when they were 16, but he was young and scared. Ever since Mary was born, he tries to make it up to Lily and make sure he's in Mary's life as much as he can be even if it looks like he doesn't give a damn sometimes.
Speaking of teenagers, another one comes to mind. The one that always comes to Regina's rescue. Where the hell is she now?
"Is this..." He chokes at first because the thought if Regina falling for anyone else other than him still makes him sick. "Is this about...Emma? Where is she?"
"No!" With that Regina sits up with a flared nose and cheeks swollen with anger. "Why are you always so worried about her!?"
"Because!" Daniel quickly jumps to defense. "She's just...I don't know you're obsessed with her!"
"I am not!" Regina yells almost throwing a tantrum and on the verge of tears. She's scared that Daniel might ruin everything.
"Regina, you are. It's been plainly obvious ever since...I don't know it's like she's your bestfriend. Which I find absolutely weird."
"Shut up!"
"Come on–"
"Not everything is about you or Emma!" She cries. "I just..." then Regina forces out a lie. Well it isn't exactly a lie but it will save her relationship. "I don't know what to do with this baby and abortions make me sick to my stomach."
"What?!" Daniel gasps with shock that quickly turns to jealousy. "Who's is it?"
"Is that all that matters to you?!"
"No...I–you're right and I apologize." He quickly sighs with dread. They go silent from there with Regina hugging her knees into her chest and Daniel lost in thought.
Regina isnt at all concerned about the abortion she has coming up next week. She already talked to Emma and they decided that it was best; they have to do what they have to. Since Lily and Mary are older, things are easier, but she and Emma's relationship grants absolutely no other room for a baby when Regina is the biggest baby of them all; correction, she feels like she's three right now.
But on the other side of that closed door, Lily heard everything. She just hoped that her mom would admit the source of her depression; thankfully her dad coaxed it out. But when he brung up Emma, he had a point; he's right. Emma probably is the only thing that could make her mom feel better. Since she hasn't been around for a month, it's worth a shot.
Lily: can you sneak out? Code black.
Emma: code black? What the hell is that?
Lily: dammit Emma! You know what code black is. Remember when we were little and one of our moms would have like an episode or something?
Emma: ohhhh...
Wait! Shit how long has she been like that?! Why are you just telling me?
Lily: I thought your mom would have told you! It's been almost two weeks.
Emma: I'll try and if I can't then I'll just call her. I've been really busy lately so I'm sorry for blaming you.
Lily: i know...and good because I think bringing my dad here was a mistake. They're just yelling at each other now and I think mom is crying.
Emma: that's all i needed to hear
Not even 15 minutes later, Emma managed to sneak out and race across town to Regina's house. When Lily answers, Emma looks drained, pissed, and completely serious all at once. She doesn't even have to say anything to know that Emma means business. She just follows Emma up the stairs where yelling could be clearly heard from Regina's room.
"Think about how the girls would feel!" Daniel snaps.
"They don't need to know! Why the hell would you even put me in a situation like that!"
"You can't keep this from them!"
"Yes the hell I can!"
Emma turns to Lily with question. The brunette shrugs and says, "Apparently mom is getting an abortion."
Emma sighs, pretending that she knows nothing which is the hardest thing to do in front of her bestfriend. Thankfully Lily doesn't seem to care about the abortion; she doesn't want anymore siblings anyways. She just wants her mom to be her old sassy, bratty self again. That's it, that's all.
"Okay," Emma mumbles breathlessly as she reaches for the door. "Here I go. Wish me luck."
"I doubt you need it." Lily chuckles, earning a smile from Emma. She slips in, closes the door behind her, and tucks her fists in her hood pockets as she watches Daniel and Regina argue over a baby that's not even his.
"You're absolutely annoying. I can't believe I have children with you," Regina huffs and hugs her chest. Just the angered pout on her face makes Emma smile for some odd reason.
"Boo hoo, get over it Regina. Look, all I'm saying is that you and I we can try this again. Whatever but abortions are wrong!"
"I don't think that's your decision to make," Emma finally speaks, startling both adults towards her direction. The conversation went left real fast and Emma just had to end it there.
Daniel inwardly fumes at the blonde's presence. Here she is, ruining everything for the dozenth time. But Regina, with all her little heart, is trying not to jump off the bed and into Emma's arms. Her heart is racing and, just like that, she feels alive.
"Emma," Daniel starts as kindly as he can. "This is a conversation between two adults."
Emma nods and takes that confident step forwards. "I'm well aware. When are you going to realize that Regina doesn't want you anymore?"
"That's none of your–"
"Except it is Daniel. It became my business when Lily asked me to come here." Emma states sharply while losing her patience. Daniel sighs, backing down before he ends up fighting with Emma again.
"Daniel," Regina begs almost immediately. "Can you please just take the girls back to the hotel with you just for tonight."
The both their surprise, Daniel nods and doesn't say a word as he leaves the two secret lovers behind. Emma then takes the moment to get comfortable in bed beside Regina, pulling the shy girl over her lap.
Regina presses her forehead against Emma's with ease, allowing a big happy smile to press into her cheeks. Soon it slowly fades after realizing that Emma is here and she must be dreaming. "Em?"
"Yes my love," Emma purrs, trailing her fingers up smooth thighs. Just touching her baby girl brings so much relief to her soul. All of her stresses are washes away.
"Are you going to get in trouble for being here?" Regina questions ever so innocently. Emma dismisses the subject instantly.
"Don't worry about that. Just know that I kept my promise. And I need you to get a grip for me baby. You can't keep scaring everybody." Regina shrivels under Emma scolding despite how gentle it truly was.
"But, I misses you like ALOT!" Emma laughs and pins Regina down to her back then plants kisses on the exposed area of her chest. Regina squeals happily and squirms under Emma's playful touch.
"Yesss, but I need you to be a big girl for a little longer." Regina sits up, forcing Emma to sit back on her heals and cups her cheek gently. "I know you need me baby, I get it. It's so hard to get by every day without your cuddles and baby talk and cute little pout. I crave taking care of you just as much as you crave my attention but we knew this would get complicated didnt we?"
"Uh huh," Regina slowly nods with seriousness that Emma finds hard to take seriously with how adorable the woman is. "Luna helps sometimes..."
"Does she? How about Alice and Robin?"
"Them too..."Regina admits with a soft coo that melts Emma's insides. "But I like you better daddy. Nobody beats my daddy!"
"I know," Emma kisses away her pout ever so gently. "I'm working on it like I promised. So just hang in there okay?"
"Uh huh!" Gi gi enthuses and then tackles Emma to the ground. "Can we have cuddle time now?"
"Of course we can babe."
They've never felt happier, holding each other, soaking in love. It doesn't matter how long they will be able to do this, they decide that it's better to take this moment for granted.