Summary: Seeing Henry off as he heads back to Harvard, Regina notices something odd about his other mother. Her probing leads down a very unforeseen path. For both of them!


The Swan-Jones House

It was almost September, and the Locksley family (minus Robin, who was currently in New York for a few days with Merlin's daughter), had gathered at Emma and Killian's home to see Henry off, as he prepared to leave for his Fall term at Harvard. While his mothers were sad to see him go, knowing it was unlikely he'd return till Thanksgiving, they'd at least got used to doing so over the last two years. The young boy they'd co-parented for the last eleven years of his life had now grown into a mature, confident young man who towered above them.

Robin had been living with his married lovers for over two months now. Although expecting many difficulties, which they certainly encountered initially as they adapted to their new dynamic, the relationship between all three of them only seemed to grow stronger. Their initial insecurities, mainly around personal roles within the triad, slowly disappeared. And they came to be replaced by understanding, acceptance and even more love. Regina had never felt happier or more secure.

"Just take care out there, Hen!" said Emma, as they stood around his car. "You may be even bigger than your grandpa, but we still worry!"

At over a foot taller than his blonde mother, it seemed odd when they lectured him. "I will ma. And you take care of my little sis, okay? She's growing as fast as a weed!"

"And no more postponing our weekly calls, you!" added Regina. "I hate it when I hear from Roland or your grandparents about what my own son has been up to. We need to know first!"

"I promise, mum. I said bye to Rolly this morning. And grandpa Gold, grandma and gramps. Give Robin my best, yeah, and…well, come here, both of you!" Without asking, his long arms wrapped around their backs, haulinging them both against his broad chest. It wasn't the first time he'd done it but, mindful of the fact Marian was standing directly behind them, Emma and Regina cautiously squeezed into him, while avoiding too much contact with one another. Regina remembered a similar moment, all those years ago in Neverland, when he was so small, when they enfolded him, resting their heads either side, on his little shoulders. This time, they both merely came up to his chest, as he cuddled them, rather than the other way around.

As their heads rested against him, either side and facing each other, he lowered his voice whispering. "You are the best mums I could ever wish for! I love you both so much, but when you're taking care of the rest of the family, don't forget to look after after each other too, yeah?"

Emma and Regina gave each other a puzzled, slightly embarrassed look, as he placed a small kiss on each brow.

"We'll be just fine, Hen," said Emma, "You may be big, but we're still the parents here, okay?"

He chuckled."Well, I'd best get going to avoid rush hour." Releasing them, he stepped back, moving over to Marian, gathering her and kissing her brow too. "You know, it's rather cool being the only guy I know with three mums! Take care, mamma. Look after the wild child, yeah?"

Marian sniggered, "Are you talking about Roland…or Robin?"

"Both!" he laughed back. "Anyway, look after yourselves and keep an eye on those two?" Without further ado, he said his goodbyes, gave a sleeping Hope a kiss on the cheek as she lay in her buggy, and got into the car. Minutes later, all three of them waved him off, as it finally left.

"Right then…" said Marian once the car was out of sight. "I'm on shift this morning, so I'll open the stables. Chester needs a decent stretch too, so, fancy joining me later?" she asked her wife.

"Maybe," said Regina cautiously as she looked at Emma, who seemed twitchy. Something was wrong. "I've a couple of errands to run first. You take the car and go on ahead, my love." She pecked her wife's lips. "I'll poof there later, okay?"


Once Marian had made her goodbyes and driven off, she turned to Emma, her face turning serious. "What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry?" said the Saviour.

"Your face is as white as a sheet, and you've been twitchy all morning! What's going on? Is there something wrong? Is it Hope?"

"What? No, it's…nothing."

"You'll have to do better than that, Swan! We don't lie to each other anymore, remember? Now…spill. Is it your parents? Hook?"

Emma rolled her eyes. "He's got two hands now, remember? No, nothing like that. It's just…" she lowered her voice, although by now they only had a sleeping Hope within earshot. "I'm late…"

"Late? For what?"

"No…late…as in my monthly!"

It took Regina a second to figure out what she'd meant. As she'd spent most of her adult life infertile from the curse, her experience of the menstrual cycle was limited to hushed, almost ashamed, references by her mother, to, more recently, a matter-of-fact dissertation on her own experience by Marian, who had no truck with ridiculous prudishness or ignorance of basic nature.

"You're pregnant?"

"Maybe," she huffed. "The signs are there but…I'm not sure."

"How?" she whispered, though they were in no danger of being overheard. "Sorry, don't answer that. You know what I mean. How do you know?"

"The usual signs. I'm late this month, and my last one was much lighter than usual. My boobs are sore, and slightly swollen. I'm tired. Food tastes slightly funny, and I can't get comfortable. The smell of coffee makes me want to throw up, and you know how much I need coffee! To cap it all, I'm even bloody well constipated…"

"Oh." Regina had been living in Hyperion Heights under that third stupid curse when Emma was last pregnant and hadn't seen her. "It's not something I've any experience of. Are you quite sure?"

"No. It's just…familiar. I bought some test kits but, I'm nervous."

"Why? You've been pregnant before. What's to be nervous about?"

"Everything. I'm crap at motherhood! I gave birth to Henry in jail and gave him up, for god's sake! Hope was a bloody big surprise, and now, I…" she tailed off into silence.

"And now what?" her best friend persisted.

"A third kid, Gina? I'm in my forties! I'm not even sure how Killian would take it."

"Emma, he worships Hope. Guyliner was never my favourite person in the past but…even I have to admit, he's an excellent father. What makes you think he'd be anything less than delighted?"

"Because of what happened after Hope. You saw how I was last year. I was a wreck! He had to do absolutely everything!"

"You were suffering from depression! You were ill. But he coped, didn't he? No, you're worrying over nothing. Besides, you took the Nostos waters since, just like I did. You'll be fine."

Emma gave her a resigned look. "I wish I could be so sure."

Regina decided to take matters in hand. "Well I am! First, we're going to find out if you're really pregnant, or not. Then, you can make sensible decisions, based on facts. So, where are these 'kits'?"


Half an hour later, Emma emerged from her bathroom, a tissue-covered used home pregnancy test stick in her hand, to find Regina was already sitting on the edge of her bed, waiting for the result, with her phone in her hand looking at something. "I settled Hope down in her crib. So…are you?"

"It takes ten minutes. Quite honestly, I can't bear to look. They're reasonably accurate, but I bought several, just in case." Sitting beside her, she saw on the former mayor's phone that she'd been looking at something to do with pregnancy. "What's that you're reading?"

"Oh, just something on those kits. Describe your symptoms again? You haven't been feeling nauseous, have you?"

"No," she sat down next to her. "But I wasn't sick last time. Well, not until I was about four months gone, and that only lasted a week or two. Not everyone is. Why do you ask?"

"Just checking. You said your breasts were sore?"

"Tender. And slightly swollen. And I'm also getting cramps, and a weird taste in the mouth. I couldn't even stomach coffee this morning, and you know how much I live on that stuff! Other than that, it's a bit like a bad period, but without the bleeding. You know the sort of thing…"

"Not really. You seem to forget, dear, I don't have much experience of this 'sort of thing'. I made myself infertile when I was very young, to stop my mother getting her hands on any child of mine. My cycle only restarted again late last year, after Marian insisted I should take that water your husband gave me. They restarted, but I'm not sure I'm even fertile after all this time!"

"You're right, sorry I forgot. Well, if you're now having monthly bleeds, it's more likely than not you're ovulating too. I haven't really had a proper one myself since mid-July."

"I can't believe I'm asking you this but, are they usually pretty much the same every month? And regular?"

"Yep, regular as clockwork."

"My mother never talked to me about puberty or adolescence. She always assumed maids and servants would handle that sort of thing, if I asked them. Father was always very considerate but…well, it's not something he would cover now, is it?"

She said it so matter-of-factly, that it chilled Emma to think how cold and horrible Cora truly was. So lacking in basic motherly affection and care. So, unlike her own mother, who constantly fussed around her. "Well you can always talk to me about this sort of thing, if you want? You can ask me anything, you know that."

"I do have a question." She finally looked up from her phone. "You said you bought several kits?"

"Yeah, I guess I panic-bought more than one, just in case. Why?"

Regina breathed a long sigh, looking up at her. "I've been suffering some of the symptoms you described, but I dismissed it as a bug. Talking to you, I'm not so sure. Could I take one?"

Emma's jaw dropped and her eyes bulged. "You…you think you may be pregnant too?


Fifteen minutes later, as the pair once again sat side-by-side atop Emma's bed, the brunette tried to hand the pregnancy kit to her. "I can't bear to look. Could you check mine first, please?"

"Sure. Seems you're as scared as me! You take mine..." they swapped testers. Regina unravelled the tissue to read the result. "Two bars. Positive! Looks like your suspicions were correct, Sheriff. A bit too early to say congratulations?"

Emma's jaw dropped for the second time, thinking of the implications for her small family. "Holy shit! Oh, doubly, doubly shit…" she groaned. "How the hell do I break it to him?"

"I think you'll find he'll be more than happy when you tell him," Regina looked nervously at the covered tester in Emma's now anxiety-clenched hands. "Now. Put me out of my misery before you break the damn thing. What's the result on mine?"

"What?" she was jolted out of her thoughts. "Oh sorry, yes of course…" Regina looked away as Emma slowly unravelled the stick from the tissue, like a patient avoiding the sight of an injection needle. A moment later she felt a soft warm hand close itself over her own.

"Looks like I'm not the only one going to be busy soon, mum!"

Regina jerked her head towards to face her, shocked in disbelief. "Please tell me you're kidding?"

Emma showed her the stick, showing the same result as her own. Two bars. "Positive. Looks like we're both going to be attending the maternity ball next year, Mrs. Locksley!"

Utterly stunned, her mouth ran dry as she took the little plastic stick from her, passing the other one back to its owner, staring hard at the two little blue bars. Pregnant? I'm actually pregnant? "I…I can't believe it!"

"Well…I've got two more kits. Let's say we use them, just to be sure?"


Another fifteen minutes and they again sat on the bed together, staring at four identical test results, Regina's hand over her mouth. "I still can't believe this is happening to me. I've been barren my entire adult life! I never imagined this was even possible!"

"Well, these aren't infallible. First, we need to make sure. Certainly I do, before I go talking to Killian. I'll call the surgery, and make myself an appointment. You want me to make one for you?"

"Won't word get out? Perhaps I should speak to Marian first. Then Robin, but he's not home till Friday."

"Suit yourself, but I need to know for certain first." She looked at her phone to find a number. "I'll call them now. You sure you don't want to join me? I don't want anyone else to know yet and…I could do with the support."


The Nolan Farm

It was just after one in the afternoon when Emma arrived outside her parents' farmhouse. Hearing the car pull up, Snow walked out of the front door, smiling as she saw her eldest opening the back door to retrieve her granddaughter from the car seat. "Hello, darling. How are my favourite girls?"

"Hi mum…" she gave her a one-sided hug, Hope in her other arm. "This one's fine, but I'm not feeling too good."

"Oh dear! Well, come on in. What's wrong?"

"I'm not sure," she lied. "It's probably just a bug, but I'm feeling pretty rough. I rang the clinic to check if they can see me, and they said Doctor Hilary's got a free slot at four, so I booked to go see her. So sorry, but I won't be able to stop for too long."

Snow knew her daughter well enough. Emma never voluntarily went to the doctor when she was ill, not unless she was on virtual death's door. She hated doctors! Whatever was wrong, it had to be seriously bothering her.

"Four? Well why don't you leave Hope with me for the rest of the day? I was only going to go shopping anyway. We could meet later, or your father and I can drop her home for you? Come on in and I'll put on a coffee…"

"That would be really helpful mum, if you don't mind? Killian gets home after six, but I should be back before then." They walked in together, popping Hope down in front of a small table while her mother pulled out a toy basket. "But no coffee for me, thanks. Just a water…"

The next hour was spent catching up as Hope played with the toys in front of her. Snow didn't push her on what was wrong, but did notice how her skin seemed to glow, even healthier than usual. She didn't probe, knowing how Emma would put up her walls if she did. However, at twenty to four, just after she left to go to the surgery, Snow picked up her phone to dial an old friend.

"Gillian? Hi, it's Snow. How are you?"


Storybrooke Hospital

"Come on through Mrs Swan-Jones," said Doctor Hilary Fletcher, seeing the Saviour waiting in the tiny waiting room at the top floor of the hospital. Seeing the brunette woman sitting next to her also stand when she called. "Oh, your Majesty? Are you joining her for this appointment?"

The doctor, who Regina vaguely recognised from somewhere, tried not to sound too severe, given the circumstances. "I prefer Mrs. Locksley these days, doctor. Yes, Emma asked me to accompany her." Hilary ushered them both in, Emma taking the seat nearest the desk and Regina to her left.

"Just call me Emma, doctor."

Before Hilary could start, Regina interrupted her. "I'm sorry doctor, but I don't think we've ever actually met? This is a very small town and I trust I know most people, especially the professional staff here. Where did you come from? Where were you trained?"

Emma glared at her friend, but Hilary didn't seem at all put out. "Well that's understandable, I guess. I'm from the Enchanted Forest, like yourselves. I'm married to one of the forest men, Richard Fletcher, though I've acted as a nurse for a good ten years now…"

"But do you have a medical qualification? I take it Doctor Whale is still in charge?"

"He is. Although I've practised for some time, I recently received medical training from Professor Merlin. He used his magic to enhance my skills."

"Merlin? But he's not a doctor!" Emma was starting to get concerned.

"I assure you, he is! Amongst many other things. You're aware he's almost two thousand years old? He's acquired an extensive medical knowledge and training on the very latest medical practices and techniques in one of his other lives. I assure you I'm as qualified as any general practitioner you'll find in New York or elsewhere. His training techniques are astonishing! Now, to the matter in hand. How can I help you today? Gillian, my Registrar booking your appointment, didn't say…"

"Doctor...what I need to talk about is...confidential…"

"Most reasons we go to a doctor usually are, Emma. I have an oath of confidentiality, so whatever it is, my discretion is assured. So?"

"I think I may be pregnant. I used two testing kits, which came back positive. I need to be sure before I talk to my husband."

"Oh, well that's easy enough to confirm. The equipment here is far more accurate than those kits! We can do it by a urine sample but I recommend a blood test, so if you are pregnant, we can see how far along you may be. We're not too busy today, so I should have the test results back within twenty minutes. After that, you can be on your way, unless you have any more questions?"

Emma looked at Regina. She didn't want the result and then have to wait a further twenty minutes for Regina to start the whole process after that, so she nodded for her to speak.

"Doctor. Um…Hilary," Regina started, softening her tone a little and feeling awkward. "I'm not just here to support Emma. I also took a pregnancy test, which also came back positive. And like Emma, I would also like to run a blood test. And keep this strictly confidential!"

"Fine. I'll run one on you straight after I've done Emma's. I'll mark the samples 'Patient A' and "Patient B' so nobody in the hospital will see your names. Emma, you'll be 'A'." Although Hilary didn't know Regina personally, she knew enough about her to know that she was also married. But to another woman. News of their New York marriage had spread throughout the town. So her now being pregnant could be an issue with her wife? "Normally, I only have one patient with me at a time. I need to ask you both a couple of intimate questions before we proceed. Are you comfortable answering them in front of each other? Or should one of you wait outside?"

Emma looked at Regina, picking up her hand to squeeze it, giving her a little smile. "She's my best friend. I don't mind answering in front of her…" at that simple display of her trust, Regina's face morphed from serious into a smile. "That goes for me too."

"Excellent. Well first, were either of you actively trying to conceive recently?"

"No." Both women answered, as one.

"Second, have either of you had unprotected sexual intercourse over the last few months?"

Emma answered first. "I use protection since my daughter was born nearly two years ago..." her cheeks started to redden. "But we may have overlooked them a couple of times..." That was as much her fault as Killian's, as with her libido restored since her depression, she'd often jumped him at any opportune moment when he'd been unprepared. It was stupid but, it happened on occasion.

"I see. Well no form of contraception is ever perfect. How about you Regina?"

"Yes, I have…" she really didn't want to go into details. "I was infertile until a year ago. Magic was used to correct an issue I've had most of my life. I never had periods for a long time, so perhaps I wasn't as diligent regarding them as I should have been. But I have been using contraceptive for the last month or so."

"Well, that happens. You're also married, aren't you?" Hilary already knew the answer, but wanted to know whether there was a possibility of termination if she'd been unfaithful to her partner.

Regina also recognised the reason for the question. "Very happily married, thank you!" she said pointedly. "Though my wife and I are also now in a relationship with someone. A man."

"Oh, right." Hilary now recalled something from the local gossip. "Robin Hood?" She nodded. "Okay, shall we get started?"


After the doctor took their blood samples and had them analysed, they were called back from the little waiting room to hear the results.

"Well ladies, I can confirm that, from the samples provided, you are both indeed pregnant. 'Patient A's, or Emma's, sample, would indicate that she'd be about six to eight weeks pregnant. As for 'Patient B'. Regina, it would appear that you're a little further along. Somewhere between eight to ten weeks pregnant."

"Ten weeks?" Regina gasped. "But I've hardly felt any different! Apart from having a larger appetite, and my breasts being a little tender, I haven't felt sick or anything! You're quite sure?"

"Every woman reacts differently, and no two births are the same. I hope for your sake you both have a smooth pregnancy from here on in." she saw the worried looks on both faces. "Provided of course…that is what you want?"

Regina looked down at her usually almost-flat stomach, noticing only for the first time, a slight roundness. Her left hand instinctively cupped it. "I spent most of my life wishing for a child, until my Henry…" she spotted Emma's look. "Our Henry, came into my life. I never imagined it was possible…" she saw the doctor still waiting for an answer. "Yes of course I want it!"

Hilary smiled back at her, before looking at a less-certain blonde. "And you, Emma?"

"I'm still in shock, to be honest! I think I'll answer that after I've spoken to my husband."

"Very well. Let me give you some leaflets to take. I'll file the records under Jane Doe 1, that's Emma, and Jane Doe 2., until you're ready to decide how to proceed. I'll prescribe various vitamins and supplements I recommend you both take, and I recommend each of you take scans at around eleven weeks, to accurately assess your due dates. Given the confidential nature of this, I'll leave you to agree a date if you want to come together, or with your respective partners?" As she was about to bid them good luck and see them out, she remembered something from Merlin's medical induction. "Oh, one thing I nearly forgot! You both have magical powers, don't you?" Both women nodded. "I seem to recall him saying that you should not use powers like that for the duration of any pregnancy. It can induce very strong dizziness and nausea, apparently. Just thought you should be aware. So, ladies, until we see you again?"


Once she'd seen the two of them out of her office, the young doctor walked across to her registrar to pick up details on her next patient.

"Doctor Fletcher? Those two blood tests you asked to be prioritised earlier? Which patients should I assign them to for cost?"

"I've written them on the notes, Gillian." Hilary placed a sheaf of paper in front of her. "You'll see what I've done here. We'll assign their proper names later."

Unknown to Hilary, as she'd walked from the bathroom back to her desk, Nurse Gillian had already seen the Saviour and the Queen leave the floor via the staircase, and had also seen them walk into Hilary Fletcher's office earlier. Reading through the two files to put the information onto the system, she held back a surprised gasp at the information in front of her, putting two and two together. Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2, both positive pregnancy tests. Could they be Emma Jones and the Queen? Pregnant? Both of them?" Her old friend Snow White had already called her earlier that afternoon, asking her to keep an eye out for her daughter, who was apparently coming into the hospital. She knew Snow well, having been the young princess's maid for several years. The rightful Queen of Misthaven was persistent, and would no doubt call again and press her for information. How could she tell her something so confidential?


Sure enough, toward the end of her shift, she got the call.

"Hi Gillian. Any news on Emma? I'm worried. She said she was unwell. Is she okay?"

"I did see her come in, Snow. But I'm not sure what was wrong. You need to call her yourself."

"Gilly, you know what Emma's like. If I ask her up front, she'll clam up like she always does! There's something wrong, I can sense it. I know her. You can tell what she came in for just by looking it up on the system, probably in front of you right now."

"Snow, don't test our friendship like this; I could lose my job over giving you something like that! Imagine you were the patient and I told other people about your medical file? How would you feel?"

"Okay, I get it. But she's my little girl, Gilly! Just…answer me one question…please? She was with me earlier, and she seemed washed out, but her skin was glowing. She had a hand on her stomach most of the time and she hates coffee right now, which for her is unusual. Is she pregnant?"

"SNOW, I can't give an answer like that! It's strictly confidential between her and Doctor Fletcher! I can't confirm or deny anything, you know that! All I can say is she and Regina Locksley came in, met Doctor Hilary, and left again forty five minutes later. The rest you'll have to find out for yourself."

"Regina went in with her? But I thought…" Why the hell was her stepmother with her?

"Shit..." said Gillian, under her breath. She'd already said too much. "Snow, I've got to go. I've got patients. Speak to you soon, okay?" she cut the call, leaving a pensive Snow on the other end.

She wouldn't confirm or deny she was pregnant , Snow ruminated. If she wasn't, she would have said something, wouldn't she? So if she is, why the hell was Regina with her? Why would she ask her along and not her own mother? She felt more jealous than annoyed, knowing she confided more in Regina than her. The pair were annoying close these days. Then a dark thought occurred to her as she recalled the months, the horrible year of depression, after Hope was born. What if she is pregnant, and doesn't want to keep it? Would she be thinking of a termination? Oh, god, no! It would break her heart to think of a potential grandson or granddaughter being taken from her! Could she do something like that without even telling Killian?

She opened up the Favourites list in the contacts list, calling the first one. The most important one.

"David," she spoke the moment he answered. "I think Emma may have a problem!"