The Most Precious Gift Of All

Summary:Ruby and Dorothy want to be a family, but there's something missing. Perhaps their best friends can help?


One week earlier - The Nolan Farm

Snow and David had invited Ruby and Dorothy Lucas-Gale for dinner at least two years earlier but, for so many reasons usually due to the diner shifts, it just kept getting postponed. Now, after Emma and Killian had agreed to look after Neal for the night, and Granny's chef taking over the diner for a week to let the old wolf have some time off after her recent illness, the two couples finally had a full weekend break together, bonding once more over good food and several bottles of very decent wine.

"David, this is delicious! I had no idea you were such a great cook?" Dorothy put down her fork to take another good slug of her wine. "The lamb's to die for…"

"I'm glad you like it, it came straight off the farm."

Snow smiled at her true love, resting a hand on his. "He's been taking cooking lessons online, haven't you?" she said proudly. "It's become David's secret obsession. Trouble is, he's starting to put my cooking to shame. Whenever we invite Emma over, first thing she asks is whether he's cooking!"

He leaned across, pecking her on the lips. "Don't be daft; it's just a hobby. And your cooking's absolutely fine!"

"It's wonderful us not having to do any of it ourselves for a change," said Ruby. "Thanks so much for inviting us over, Snow. With granny resting up, and Mike taking over this week, it's lovely knowing we get a decent lie in tomorrow. Normally we have to be up at five!"

"That's why we suggested you to stay the night," Snow started replenishing everyone's wine glass. "We get one too. Neal's out because Killian's taking him on the Jolly tomorrow morning, and Charlie's covering the lambing. So, we don't need to get up early. I'm planning a decent lie-in myself. Breakfast at ten?"

"Sounds perfect, but god, I don't wanna think about breakfast right now," Dorothy rubbed her stomach. "I'm stuffed!"

"You better not be," David grinned. "I've got a particularly rich Sachertorte with your name on it! And you don't want to go insulting the chef now, do you?"

"Sachertorte? That was my Aunt Em's favourite. How did you...?" she stopped, looking at Ruby. "She told you, didn't she?"

"Guilty. David asked what you like, babe, and I thought, well, after the sort of week we've had…"

"Oh, I forgot - the fertility clinic?" asked Snow. "How'd it go?"

"Not great. Rubes kinda got into an argument with that bloody old Milligan woman who runs it. We'll be way down the list, as some people have been waiting ages for artificial insemination. Probably even further back, after that!"

"Oh…I'm sorry."

"Yeah, you and me both!" added Ruby. "Doesn't help the fact the woman in charge of it is a complete homophobe!"

"We don't know that!" Dorothy protested. "There's plenty of people ahead of us wanting to get pregnant, and not many suitable donors around here."

"Mmph. Maybe. But I saw the way that old trout looked at us! She definitely doesn't like single-sex couples! She reckoned it could take us at least five years."

David placed a hand on their old friend's. "I'm so sorry, Rubes," "Have you thought of adopting? Like Regina did with Henry?"

"We considered it. We asked Belle to see if she could persuade Rumpelstiltskin to pull a few strings. But they've tightened things up a lot since he fixed it for Regina. We could go into the land without magic, but even then, without any records on us, it gets difficult. It's useless. Dot and I even thought about just going out and seducing someone!"

"Trouble with that is…" Snow pondered, "...do you really want the genes of someone you don't know? There could be health issues with them that the baby could inherit. I'm sure you could find someone nice and willing."

"Easy for you to say," Ruby rolled her eyes. "You're married to old Mr. Perfect here!"

"We both married our true loves, Rubes."

"Yeah, and I wouldn't change a thing! But Dot and I can't get each other pregnant now, can we? Sadly, most of the decent guys around here are either married, attached or gay. It's no good Snow, we've looked. I guess it just means we were never meant to be mums…"

"I don't believe that. There has to be a way."


Another hour passed, and the two couples, now comfortably replete, moved to the living room, draped out on opposite sofas. "Has it really been that long since we did this?" said Ruby, leaning over to drain her glass of port. Dorothy was stretched out over the long sofa, her head resting in her wife's lap, Ruby rubbing her fingers through the long dark locks. "There was once a time Snow, when we were always in each other's company."

"You know, she told me how close you two were, once upon a time," said Dorothy with a wink, causing Snow to raise a brow at her old friend for revealing their past. "You don't have to worry, Snow, Rubes and I have no secrets. She told me your relationship was once romantic. It's not a problem for me; I'm just glad you're still friends. I lost mine..."

David sniggered. "Oh, those two have always been unbelievably close, Dot! When I first met Ruby, I knew early on they had something more going on between them than just friendship; even before Snow told me! I wasn't sure I even stood a chance."

"Now who's being daft?" sighed Ruby. "She was always your true love, David, and you know it! Always was, and always will be!" she looked lovingly at her best friend. "But she and I have been through so much together. I'll always love her, but-"

"You found your own true love in your own way!" Snow completed for her. "I always thought you and Dot were perfect for each other the moment you woke her from the sleeping curse. We're incredibly lucky, aren't we, finding our own perfect partners?"

"Yeah!" agreed Ruby, bending over to seal her lips on Dorothy's in a soft, warm kiss. "She's the girl for me." The two couples held their respective partners, treasuring their good fortune.

Dorothy turned her head to face them. "David, were you jealous or worried about Rubes and Snow? When you knew they were so close? Did it bother you?"

"Jealous? No, maybe envious initially. But Rubes and I got to know each other fairly well, and way before Snow became pregnant with Emma. I never felt threatened by it."

"Fairly well?" Snow interrupted. "I seem to recall you two being pretty close yourselves!" The moment she said it, sherealised she'd probably said too much! Had Ruby even told her about that?

"Whaaat?" Dorothy rose from her wife's lap. "So Ruby and David also once had a thing? They were...together?"

"Well…not really together, Dot!" Was that a blush on Ruby's cheeks? "We had sex, yes, but Snow was always David's girl, and he was her guy! But the three of us were just…close, I guess."

"The three of you?" Dorothy's mind worked through the implications. "Don't tell me - you were once some sort of threesome?"

"Not exactly…not like the Briars," Snow tried to reassure her. "Or the Locksleys for that matter. No, we were just…well, whatever we were, we all wound up with the right people in the end."

The three of them watched silently, as Dorothy considered what she'd just learned. Would she freak out? Finally she spoke. "So basically, as I understand it, in the past, the three of you have all been together, with each other, in every combination? Have I got that right?"

Snow, knowing she'd been responsible for the slip, and not wanting to cause problems for Ruby's marriage, sought to placate her friend. "Dorothy, I can assure you, that whatever we all meant to each other in the past, we're all with our rightful partners now! I'd never cheat on David; he'd never cheat on me, and I'm damn well certain Ruby would never cheat to you!"

"Yeah, I know that but, still, it's…odd. I knew about you and Rubes, but I didn't know about her and David! It's funny, considering I've never even been with anyone apart from Ruby, male or female. I've always been a bit naïve about that sort of thing…"

The wolf reached for her hand, entwining their fingers. "What do you mean, babe? Naïve?"

"I don't know. I guess I'm probably a little envious of all of you and your lives. I mean I fell in love with you, and have never regretted a moment. But I can't help wondering…what it would have been like."

"How do you mean?" Ruby was confused. "You mean…having sex with a guy?"

"Well, yeah, I guess. It's not that important, it's just…I was raised fairly strictly, and Aunt Em and Uncle Henry rarely allowed us visitors. When I left them, I went to live in the Emerald City with Ozma."

"Ozma? I've heard of her," said Snow. "I think she knew Blue. Isn't she a fairy?"

"Sort of. She's a hybrid, half-human and half-fairy. Funny enough, she's also both male and female. Tippetarius, or Tip, is her male side."

"So, you were in a relationship with her. Or him/her?"

"Nothing like that! As I said, Ruby was my first, and only," she squeezed the wolf's hand, "But I was attracted to Tip at the time. From then, I kinda just assumed after that I was gay. But I do find men attractive too, so I guess I'm probably bi, like you Rubes. I've never really thought about it. All completely irrelevant now, though, because I'm totally in love with this one!" she looked adoringly at Ruby, resting her head on her shoulder.

Snow smiled at David as they watched their friends snuggle together on their sofa, pleased her friend had found the sort of love she had.

"You know, babe, we could still just go and seduce someone, to help one of us get pregnant! That way you could satisfy your curiosity, and who knows, it could even be fun! It's only sex, after all."

Dorothy sniggered, kissing her nose. "Possible. Trouble is, finding the right single guy who we'd be comfortable with, and who wouldn't get too serious or attached."

David frowned. "Would you tell him your intentions? That you only wanted him to get you pregnant? That you wouldn't want him to play any part in his child's life?"

Ruby looked up at him, a frown of her own appearing. "When you put it like that, Dave, you make it sound quite callous!"

"Sorry, I didn't mean to offend Rubes but, believe it or not, most men have feelings too! All I know is that if I were the single guy, and I knew you became pregnant, I'd still want that child to know about me, and be allowed to know me, even if I wasn't legally responsible for them. Just saying…"

"Another thing to bear in mind," Snow couldn't stop herself, really getting into the subject. "Is that it could well take a lot more than a one-night stand to get pregnant. You really want to take those sort of health risks? Perhaps a checked sperm donor might be the best way, even if it does take a while…"

The young women looked at each other. "Gee, thanks for killing the mood, guys!" huffed Ruby.

"Don't take it like that!" David tried lifting them from their thoughts as he pulled Snow into him. "For the record, I think the pair of you would make wonderful mothers! If I were single, I'd be proud to have you raising my child. Seeing the way you've helped us with Neal on occasion. I think you'd be perfect; second only to my darling Snow here, of course…"

Dorothy was touched. "Thanks David, that's nice of you to say. And for the record, I think you're just about the perfect donor type. You're kind, loving, generous, strong, supportive. And handsome, of course. In fact, all the attributes I'd like passed on to my child! No wonder you latched onto him as soon as you saw him, Snow! You've got just about the most perfect man there..."

He blushed and Snow grinned, cupping his face in her hands. "I have, haven't I? I'm a very lucky girl. Very lucky."


An hour later, after the two couples had finishing off their postprandial drinks and Snow had shown the guests to the spare bedroom, they settled in their own bed for the night, David picking up his book to read, as Snow sat beside him at the bedhead, rubbing moisturiser into her arms and hands.

"It's such a terrible shame, isn't it?"

"I'm sorry?" David lifted his eyes from the page. "What's a shame?"

"Ruby and Dorothy. The fact they desperately want a baby and can't have one without going through…well, all that! It's a shame, considering where we come from, that two women can't magically have a baby together, if they want to."

"I suppose. What on earth made you think of 'magic babies'?"

"Well, Emma and Regina. The thought crossed my mind, when Emma went to the hospital once she found out she was pregnant. She took Regina, not Killian. So, I wondered…"

"Snow," he sighed, rolling his eyes. "We've been through this so often. They're close friends - not lovers! Emma's happily married; so's Regina. You got yourself into a whole load of grief the last time you hinted something like that, didn't you?"

"I know. But it just got me thinking about Rubes and Dot. Two such lovely women wanting something we all want eventually. A baby of their own!"

"I guess. It's a pity there's no adoption agency here anymore. Poor old Gwynn had to retire on ill health. But perhaps they could put their feelers out…"

"It's not the same, though! There's something inside us, most women, though not all, that pulls us towards wanting our own child. If I could give them one, I would."

"You wouldn't, Snow! You're the original mamma bear when it comes to Neal. And you know you'd have been the same with Emma! Why are you saying all this? Do you want another child of our own?"

"No, not really. Though I do love having Hope over. I adore my grandgirl, but it's also nice to hand her back to her parents after she's been here all day. It's lovely to have all the love, cuddles and kisses but without the responsibility. I just want to give that to Ruby and Dot!"

David let out a loud sigh. "I'm with you there. But there's not much we can do about it is there? Perhaps they'll find a suitable donor in the end…"

Snow gave him a sad nod, considering the other couple's dilemma. Then an idea came. "You could do it?"

"Sorry?"

"You could be their donor."

"Me? Snow, I'm a married man! Married to you, unless you've forgotten?"

"They need a donor, not a man in their life! You could help them. We could help them."

"Whaaat? Snow, have you lost your mind? If I did that, I'd be fathering another child! Another child living here, among us. Didn't you hear what I said earlier?"

"You'd be involved as a friend," she carried on as though he hadn't spoken. "They can have a child of their own, and we can be around to help them, as and when they need us!"

"But I'd be the father! Snow-"

"You would be; it'd have your DNA, but they'd be responsible! David, how many divorced couples do we know where the parents live separately? But most go on to support their children after the split, don't they? Look at Lydia and Andy at the grocery stall. They separated when young Anna was only two and Paul was four, but they go on to happily share even now Lydia's living with Dougal! She and Andy are still friends, despite the split!"

"It's hardly the same thing, Snow!" He was getting increasingly frustrated. "You're talking about a married couple having children, then splitting up! This is different. This is producing a baby for another couple. A baby we'd have no say over!"

"So? David, I would be perfectly willing to carry a child myself for those poor girls, if it meant they could finally have one of their own to cherish! She's my best and closest friend, David! It's not like I'm asking you to move in with them; just donate sperm so they can have one!"

" Just donate sperm? You…you're really serious, aren't you?"

"Very."

"We need to think this through. If it worked, I wouldn't want to deny the child's true origins! If he, or she, wanted me to be in their life, I would have to be! Especially after what we went through with Emma. We'd owe him, or her, that! And it could have serious ramifications for our marriage."

"Why? It's not like you'd have gotten someone pregnant without my knowledge, is it? David, I love you and you're a wonderful father. If this worked, I would be proud to tell anybody who asked me, that you were also a donor father to our best friends' baby, with my blessing!"

"Snow, you've come out with some pretty wacky ideas in the past, and I've gone along with most of them; some of which I regret! I need some time to think about this!"


The Locksley Arms – the following Saturday

It was just gone noon when Robin cut the ribbon draped across the front door of the newly-built inn, to celebrate its opening. He'd just made a small speech thanking everyone who had helped them complete the new hamlet, and invited everyone to join him inside.

Snow, David and Neal stood watching the little ceremony, along with at least a hundred friends and well-wishers. "This is astonishing!" whispered an awestruck Charming, as he admired the view before him. Where once there was only scrubland, and a small derelict cottage on the edge of the forest, there now stood around thirty large detached buildings, all timber framed with whitewashed plaster walls. And the largest of these was the pub, in the middle of a horseshoe-shaped line, a lush green lawn directly in front of them. On the front of the inn hung a large, painted sign swinging in the gentle breeze bearing the flag of a long-forgotten town, with its title, 'The Locksley Arms', in gold lettering below. The whole scene looked like something out of a movie.

"This was all created by magic?"

"The buildings were," Snow stood, open-mouthed, beside him. "Belle told me the Merry Men and the dwarves did quite a bit too. A good number of them are going to be living here instead of at the convent, or tents. Apparently, they wanted to call it 'The Earl of Locksley' after Robin, but he wouldn't have it."

The hubbub of the crowd hushed, as Robin invited the two women standing either side of him, Marian and Regina, to lead the way in. As they all walked inside, there were gasps of astonishment from many as they took in the splendour of the oak carvings and fabrics draped on the walls, and how the interior was so much bigger than the exterior.

"This is unbelievable," Snow gasped.

"It's rather impressive, isn't it?" said a figure now appearing on David's left. "It took a bit of planning. I learnt the magical basics from a time-traveller I met several times over the centuries. Odd chap. Called himself The Doctor. Came from a place called Gallifrey."

"Merlin? You're back. But the size of this place! Is it...real ?"

"Perfectly real," said the Sorcerer. "Mr. Locksley was very specific on the detail. I just helped with the logistics. And a bit of magic, of course!"

As they looked at the intricate wood carvings that festooned the place, from the corner of her eye Snow spotted Emma and Killian walk in through the front door, accompanied by Hope, who seemed half-asleep in her father's backpack.

"Emma!" she called, attracting her attention and starting to walk over. "Hello darling! And hello to you too, Killian. Isn't this fantastic? Come over and sit with us? I'm afraid you missed the ribbon cutting ceremony and the speeches…"


Over the next hour, they'd learnt that not only were Snow's suspicions been right about Emma being pregnant, but it appeared Regina was pregnant too! Her stepmother, who she'd always thought barren from a curse, was having a baby! They'd gone on to spend a lovely Saturday lunchtime together and toasted the respective mothers-to-be. And Snow was pleased to find that Marian seemed just as thrilled as Regina at the future addition to their odd little family. However, seeing an awkward looking Dorothy and Ruby now standing and having to listen to all the talk of future motherhood, she decided she needed to tell them of her and David's decision at the earliest opportunity. Which came just after they waved off their daughter and family.

"Rubes, Dorothy - could we have a word? David, could you come join us?" Snow led them to the farthest table, away from the other guests.

"Something wrong?" Ruby was still holding a plate of apple pie she'd been handed by one of the students, munching happily when her best friend pulled them to one side.

"Nothing's wrong exactly. But I wanted you to know," she looked around to make sure they weren't being overheard. "David and I talked quite a bit this week…about your current…dilemma. Your sperm donor dilemma. I think we may have a solution…"

Rubes exchanged a look with Dorothy. "Snow, it's sweet of you to worry about us, but…it's our problem, right? We'll find a way. Perhaps we need to get ourselves on the adoption waiting lists too while we're looking. Maybe something will turn up. I don't think-"

"David would be your donor, if you wanted!"

"What?" Dorothy looked up at Charming, whose cheeks had reddened slightly. "David? But…he's your husband! David, surely she's not being serious?"

"Yup, actually she is. I thought she'd lost her senses at first but…like she always does, she managed to make me see things differently. It's not a bad idea. And it could help you both."

"But, but…we know you! You're friends."

"All the more reason it makes sense," said Snow. "He's a friend; we're friends, and we know you'll be great parents. I read this week about a famous gay couple in England. One of them got her brother to be a sperm donor to get her wife pregnant. Nearest thing she could get to the baby having her own genes I suppose. So, we thought if they could do it, why couldn't we help our best friends?"

"David…" As Ruby's mouth dropped in realisation of what she was offering, Dorothy looked at him earnestly. "David, Snow's been doing all the talking so far; but what do you really think about all this? If it worked, you'd be a father again. Have you considered what that could mean to you?"

Snow was about to jump in and answer for him, but Charming quickly, but lightly, pressed his finger to her lips to stop her. "Well…to be honest, once Snow suggested it I've thought of little else since! I read up on it and…the process seems straightforward enough. Yes, I would be its father, but I would be happy for you to have all legal rights and responsibilities. And while it doesn't worry me if I'm not mentioned on any birth certificate, I'd hope you'd be completely honest and open with them about who I am, and how they came to be born. Also, if they wanted to get to know me, I hope neither of you would ever try to stop them. Snow, this is something you need to seriously think about too! If they went for it, I'd have another child living around us. Emma and Neal's half-brother or half-sister. Could you handle that?"

The Queen of Misthaven looked lovingly into his eyes. The eyes of the man who physically shared her heart. "Like you, I've thought about little else. Ruby has been my best friend for even longer than I've known you, David. And we know Dorothy now too. Hell, I even saw her get woken up with true love's kiss, just like you did to me! It's your body, my love, and your decision. But if you're willing to help give these two wonderful people the greatest gift anyone can receive, I'll support you one hundred percent."

Ruby and Dorothy silently watched the royal pair embrace, Charming sealing a small kiss on her lips, as they took in what was being offered. A real chance of motherhood, by using the seed of one of the most honourable, brave men they'd ever met. "You'd really do that? For us?" whispered Ruby. '

As David silently nodded, Dorothy charged into his chest, wrapping her arms tightly around him and stifling a tear. "Thank you. You have no idea how much this means to us, David!" she sniffled against his shoulder . "And if it works, I'll proudly tell my son, or my daughter, from day one, that their father is King David, the most noble and lovely man we ever met! And that Queen Snow, the fairest of them all, helped make it all possible!"

"Come here, you?" said Ruby, red-eyed, as she pulled Snow into a bone-crushing hug, kissing the top of her head. "Thanks for giving us a chance."

"You're welcome. Mind you, if David's the father, I hope you'll at least make me godmother?"

"You'll always be a damn sight more than that to any child of mine, Snow White!"

As the two couples swapped and shared hugs, on the other side of the room near the bar, another queen looked over at the little group, slightly perplexed.

"What got into them? Can't tell whether that wretched woman's laughing or crying?"

"Oh, leave her be, Gina! It's not every day you find out your daughter's pregnant now, is it? They're just excited, I guess…"