Summary: With their son growing older, Ruby and Dorothy's thoughts turn to expanding their little family and not leaving it too late. So who did they turn to last time?


The Nolan Farm – the same evening

Dorothy Lucas bustled through the farmhouse door, her cheeks flushed, having raced back from the Sheriff's office as soon as she could. "Hi babe," she pecked her wife's lips as she helped her off with her coat. "Thanks for waiting for me."

Ruby took it to hang. "We could hardly have him blowing out his candles, without both his mums being here now, could we?" said Snow, looking from the kitchen door. "C'mon through. Everyone's here and we're ready to go."

The three women walked into the dining room, where David, Emma and Neal were already at the table, with Emma's youngest, Elizabeth, currently sat on the floor nearby playing with her Wendy house. "Honour and Killian are still stuck out on the Jolly, unfortunately, but he sends his best," said Emma, as David stood to bring in the cake.

It was Nathaniel Lucas's fourth birthday, and, at Snow's suggestion, his mothers had decided to celebrate it at the Nolan Farm, with his biological father and extended family. Over the last four years David had, as he'd always promised, left the women to raise Nathaniel as their own, with no undue influence unless they asked for it. But Ruby and Dorothy had both insisted their son should know about and be involved with, his father, and that he was created with love. Nathaniel, or 'Nat' as most of the town knew him, was an affable, good-natured boy who, although loving the outdoors like all three of his parents, was forever trying to build things with his toys. He had soon bonded with his half-siblings Emma and Neal, so much so that the Saviour and Killian would sometimes offer to babysit for them, Emma's reservations at his birth now gone completely. As she looked around the table, the Saviour smiled to herself, realizing her father had been right all along. This really just felt like one family.

"You're running late. Problems at work?" she asked Dorothy, as the woman kissed her son, settling into the reserved space beside the birthday boy.

"Not really. Just a bit of extra late paperwork. Mulan and I had to go over and arrest and charge three boys from the high school. Hasn't Snow told you?"

"Told me what?" Emma looked up at her mother. "What's happened?"

"I didn't say anything to Emma yet, as we have little ones present…" Snow shared a glance with her daughter as she put an empty plate in front of her. "But there's been a little…incident…at school. Three boys picking on a younger boy. It's all been dealt with."

"Little incident?" Dorothy arched a brow at her. "Snow, he was badly beaten up. He had to go to hospital! He could have easily lost an eye!"

"What?" That got Emma's full attention. Her daughter was about to go to that school! "Who are we talking about?"

"Roland Locksley. Three of the older boys were stealing his money, with threats. Then they badly beat him up yesterday. We've got all the proof and they confessed. Mulan's taking it really seriously. you know what she's like about Robin's boy! Although they're only sixteen, they've still been charged with theft and assault, and are being kept in the cells overnight. They're up before Judge Jeff tomorrow morning."

"They beat up Roland?" her jaw dropped. "Are they mad, or just plain stupid? Can you imagine what Regina'll do to them if she gets to them?"

"It's one of the reasons Robin handled it. Marian's livid! She's-"

"Can we all talk about this later and focus on this special boy now?" Snow interrupted them, winking at Nat and spotting her true love in the doorway, holding a silver tray with a birthday cake and four lit candles, ready to come in. "Now then. Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Natty…" she sang, the rest of them soon joining in, as David lowered the cake in front of the delighted, albeit blushing, four-year-old. "…happy birthday to you!"


Later that evening, after the birthday party, Emma left for home, taking her brother Neal with her to stay at her place, as they'd planned for a day out with Killian tomorrow. At the last minute, she'd offered to include Nathaniel on the sailing trip too. As Ruby carried in a bottle of wine and glasses, David put another log on the fire, the two couples settling in around the coffee table.

The wolf poured out the wine, passing the glasses around. "Wasn't it lovely of Emma to take Nat along with them? As Mike's managing the diner tomorrow, and you're not on shift Kansas, it means we get a decent lie-in for a change…"

"Yeah…" Dorothy took a large sip of the chilled wine. "I'm looking forward to it. Thanks again Snow, for throwing him a party like that. He loved it! And you David, that cake was awesome."

"I enjoyed making it. You know, I'm starting to find baking seriously therapeutic these days. You could drop Nat off here sometime, and we could do it together. He seems to like herding the sheep after all. And Flossie. He loves Flossie…"

Ruby nodded. "He's obsessed with that dog! But I think he just loves being here; with you guys, quite frankly."

Snow rested her feet on the little table, leaning back, comfortable. "And he'll always be welcome here. Neal likes having his little brother over; and as for Emma, did you see her with him? Considering what she was like when she first found out he was David's?"

"She's a brilliant big sister," Dorothy gripped her wife's hand. "So, we shouldn't be surprised. She's great with kids, just like her mum. Snow, did you ever think about having any more?"

The fairest of them all smiled across at her husband. "We did…but we decided we're happy with our two and would just enjoy our grandchildren instead." Ever observant, as she spoke, she spotted the two wives sharing a knowing glance. Like they were hiding something? "What about you two? You want any more?"

"Er…" Ruby now looked a little shy, as though she was embarrassed about something. Dorothy gave her a look. The smallest nod. As though giving her permission to say something. "Well…yes, it would be nice if Natty had a brother or sister. But I suppose he does have Neal and Emma…"

Snow immediately picked up on it. "Not quite the same though, is it, as raising a baby in your own home?"

"True…" Dorothy nodded, agreeing. "Yeah, we've been talking about it recently. Remember all the problems we had the first time around? It was only thanks to you and David. David, obviously."

As all three women's eyes looked at him, David took a gulp of wine. "Well it was a fairly easy decision for me, wasn't it? And you've proved to be brilliant mothers, just as we thought." He saw Snow's smirk. "Am I assuming you'd like us to do it again? Help one of you get pregnant? Because if you do, you only need to ask."

"David and I thought this might happen; and let's face it..." Snow grinned at the other mothers. "We all enjoyed getting you pregnant, didn't we?"

It was their biggest shared secret, unknown to anyone outside the room (apart from Henry Mills, via his story book, but they didn't know that!). Everyone who knew David Nolan was Nathaniel's biological father, just assumed he acted as a sperm donor. However, he was a lot more than that. And on those rare occasions, usually once or twice a year since the boy was born, the two couples came together to enjoy some fiery foursomes in their bed upstairs! Instigated usually by Snow and Ruby, all participated equally enthusiastically, so the two women knew there'd be no hesitation from either of their spouses.

Dorothy looked across at Charming, who was starting to chuckle. "David, do you get the feeling we're being set up? Again?"

"Dot, you're reading my mind again. I suspected something, when Snow made up the bed earlier this evening, despite making it up already this morning!"

"Yeah?" she smirked. "How strange? And I noticed that Rubes packed a change of clothes in the trunk!"

"What a coincidence!" David now frowned at his true love. "While I've always enjoyed our evenings together, I trust you two didn't go planning something behind our backs, Snow?"

"Certainly not!" she saw that he clearly didn't believe her. "That is…I'll confess, I had hoped we could all have some fun together this evening. After all, that's why I suggested Emma take the children. And…I earlier suggested Rubes bring a change for clothes for both of them in case they decided to stay the night. But I had no idea they were thinking about having another child!"

"That's true, David!" Ruby gulped the last of her wine, quickly grabbing the bottle to pour more. "She didn't, honestly."

He rolled his eyes, still unsure they weren't being played. "I don't know. What do you think, Dot? Think they're telling the truth?"

"I'm not sure. Perhaps we should punish them for setting things up behind our backs? What say you and I go upstairs…Perhaps a fifteen minute head start?"

"Hey, that's not fair!" Snow protested, now feeling a little less confident the way things were heading. "We always agreed! All four of us together, or not at all!"

"Oh, I didn't say you shouldn't be there. Just that, perhaps, you should be made to sit and wait. And watch. While David and I make ourselves…comfortable?"

David raised his glass, leaning across and chinking it against Dorothy's. "Mrs. Lucas, I like your thinking…"


Mifflin Street

"He's fine now, Emma. It was quite a traumatic day, but he's sound asleep. Hopefully those swine will be punished accordingly. I'm surprised you called at this hour? I thought you weren't working today? Who told you?"

"Dorothy mentioned it when she came off shift. They had Nathaniel's birthday party over at the farm. Him and Neal are staying at my place tonight. I'm glad Roland's okay, that's a relief. Listen, we're all going out on the Jolly Roger tomorrow, and having some sort of Caribbean party Killian's organized. He said Marian's going to be there, so do you wanna come and bring Honour? I'm sure Lizzy would love to have her along. What do you say; make it a family outing?"

"Hmm. Marian mentioned you were planning something. I'll have a chat with them and text you back in a minute. If Robin can persuade Roland it could be a nice day out after everything…"

"Okay, I'll…" that's when she felt a set of keys in her jacket pocket that shouldn't be there. "Dammit, I forgot to drop off dad's truck keys! He's not on duty tomorrow so I'd better just go over there and pop them back. Let me know, yeah?"

"I will. And thanks for the invite. Good night, Emma."

"G'night, Gina." As she ended the call with her best friend, Emma silently cursed herself for taking her father's keys back home with her when they swapped cars earlier that day. It was now gone eleven at night, and she didn't want to wake her parents by calling. So she drew down her magic and teleported herself back to the farm.


As she apparated just inside the farmhouse door, she was relieved to find neither Snow nor David up late, remembering how she'd once scared the life out of her mother by suddenly appearing out of the mist. As she crept silently towards the unlit kitchen, past the stairs, she clicked her tiny key torch on, and was just about to drop the keys on the table, when she heard noises. Or moans!

"Oh shit!" She remembered the numerous times when she used to live with them, coming home late only to hear the disturbing sounds from their bedroom. Nobody, but nobody, wants to think of their parents having sex, let along hearing it! Rolling her eyes in the darkness, she carefully put the keys, as silently as she could, on the nearest side table. But as she was about to disapparate and get the hell out of there, she heard some new sounds coming from the room above:

"Oh fuck! That's good! Rubes, not so fast! Not so fast!" That was her father's voice! Rubes?

A deep guttural groan followed, then a woman's voice, "Ignore him, he loves it!"

That was her mother! She'd bet her life on it. What the hell?

"Go on David, make her pay! Give her a good spanking!" Now that definitely wasn't Snow! Dorothy?

The next thing she heard was something that sounded like a hard slap on bare flesh. "Ow, you bastard! That stung!"

That was definitely Ruby! The resulting laughter, her mothers distinctive higher pitch among the others, confirmed her worst suspicions.

Cringing in acute embarrassment at the realization of what was probably happening up there, Emma tried to focus, drawing down her magic, disapparating, to get back home as fast as she could!


The Swan-Jones Home

"You okay Swan?" said her husband as he lay in bed, book in hand. "You look flushed!"

"Yeah, I'm, um, fine…" she moved across to the wardrobe, quickly shedding her clothes before putting on one of his t-shirts and some bed shorts. "I just, er…it's not important."

He moved his book to one side, sitting up against the headboard. "If something's bothering you, it's important to me! So, spit it out. What's got you so rattled?"

She fidgeted. "Really, its…er, look, I'd rather not talk about it, okay? It's nothing to do with us. But I could do with a cuddle."

"You never need to ask," he gave her a warm smile, pulling the quilt back. "C'mere," as she climbed in between the sheets, he pulled her against his bare chest. "You can tell me when you're ready."

It was then she spotted the cover of the book he'd been reading. "What's this? Wuthering Heights? Emily Brontë? I've never seen you read this sort of stuff before! You discovering your inner woman?"

He sighed, rolling his eyes. "Not quite, love. It's my forfeit."

"Forfeit?"

"Aye. I played a round of chess last week against Marian. Unusually, she beat me."

"She beat you? You never lose at chess! At least, not since Henry went to university."

"Everyone loses on occasion, Swan. It sharpens the mind for the next time."

She smiled, forgetting her earlier concerns. Pulling herself in tighter against him, she kissed his chest. "So, reading romantic fiction's your forfeit?"

"Just this one. I obtained a copy this morning, and as my forfeit I'm to recount the tale to her on board the Jolly tomorrow, when we sail. She's punishing me for her own forfeit last week."

"That's brilliant! What forfeit did you make her do?"

"Reading a Haynes manual on British sailing vessels, and reciting the key points to me from memory. Thought it'd improve her knowledge of the business. The week before that, she had to swab the decks…"

That made her laugh. "You utter sod! Sounds like you deserve your punishment. Perhaps I should listen in when she tests you? So, it's probably best I leave you to your chick lit!"

"You'll do no such thing. You asked for a cuddle, Swan, and a cuddle you shall have! Now, why don't you turn off the light and get in? Preferably, without the underwear."