Being a mother this time around was more difficult for Regina. Odette had begun crawling and Regina couldn't chase after her very well. One day, Emma came home from the store and found her wife lying on the floor with Odette and Faline was in her baby swing. "What are you doing?"
Regina looked up at the woman, "I fell trying to chase her while she was crawling."
"Are you hurt?"
"I don't think so."
Emma picked up Odette and placed her in the playpen before going to help Regina to her feet. "What's wrong?" she asked when she saw tears in the woman's eyes.
"I can't do this."
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm too damaged physically to properly care for our daughters."
Emma guided her wife to the couch and the two sat. "Let's take my mom up on her offer."
Regina sighed, "I guess that's the right decision. I so badly wanted to be able to do this."
"I know, but it's okay. You're still a great mom."
Emma called Snow and asked her to stay with them while they got used to having two infants. Snow and David arrived a few hours later and Emma got them settled. Emma and Snow were in the kitchen preparing dinner while Regina rested in the living room. David and Henry took the babies outside to play so Regina could have a break. David walked into the living room at one point, "Emma said dinner is almost ready."
"Okay," Regina said softly. The woman's body shook as she slowly stood. David rushed to her side knowing she would need support. "Thank you," she said.
David placed an arm around Regina and took her hand in one of his. "Are you alright?"
"I don't know anymore."
David helped the woman to the dining table and got her settled. Regina didn't eat dinner that night. David and Henry decided to clear the table and clean up since Snow and Emma cooked. The two women took the babies to get cleaned up. Regina tried to stand but she couldn't. Snow handed Odette to David when she saw Regina still sitting at the table. "Hey," she said softly, "what are you still doing in here?"
"I need some help," Regina answered with her head down.
"Sure, but answer one question. Why didn't you eat?"
"My hands are too shaky and I wasn't comfortable eating with you all around." Snow looked at the plate in front of Regina and noticed it was empty. Regina ate once everyone had left the room. Snow walked over to the woman and helped her to stand. Regina's body was still recovering from her pregnancy and delivery. The doctor said it would take a while given what her body was already going through.
The following day was much easier for Regina. Snow was able to chase after a crawling Odette and help Regina learn new ways to care for her daughters. Emma had invited her in-laws over to meet Faline. Something she had yet to tell her wife. The blonde rushed into the living room just minutes before the couple was scheduled to arrive. "We need to talk," she told Regina.
"Now what's wrong?"
"Nothing, but I think we should invite your parents over to meet Faline. Maybe that will begin the healing process."
"I don't know, Emma."
The doorbell rang, "okay, but they're here."
"What?"
"I'm sorry, but I figured I would have had the courage to tell you before today."
"How long have you known they were coming?"
"Two, maybe three...okay five days."
"We can talk about this later. You should probably get the door."
Emma went to let her in-laws inside while Regina watched over their babies. They were growing so quickly. Emma returned with Regina's parents in tow. She told them to make themselves comfortable before picking up Faline and handing her to Cora. "She's gorgeous, Emma."
"A real beauty," Henry Sr. added.
"Thank you," Emma smiled with pride.
Odette had crawled over to Regina and tugged on her pant leg. The brunette bent down and lifted her daughter onto her lap. "Whatcha got there," Emma was rubbing off on her. Odette dragged over a little book for Regina to read to her. Cora and Henry Sr. smiled at the sight of Regina with Odette. Henry Sr. was now holding Faline. Cora got up and walked over to her daughter.
"I'm sorry for leaving."
Regina looked up, "it's okay. I gave you plenty of reasons to leave."
"It's not okay and I really regret it. I haven't been back because I felt that you would never be able to forgive me for leaving like that."
"I do forgive you. Do you forgive me?"
"Of course I do." Cora smiled at her daughter, "I'm proud of you. You've come so far these past six months. You're a natural now. I know that Snow was helping you and I'm glad."
"I can't walk around with her, but we get by. Do you think you'll be around more?"
"Would you like to have me around more?" Cora smiled when Regina nodded.
"Hey, why don't you two move back in?" Emma suggested.
"We couldn't impose," Cora said.
"You could stay temporarily to catch up on time with Odette and get to know Faline," Emma said.
Cora looked at her husband who said, "it's your decision. I'm okay either way."
"Well, maybe just for a couple of weeks." Cora turned to her daughter, "I know that you're capable of holding your baby, but you had better give Odette to me soon." Regina smiled and handed her daughter to her mother. "Oh, I've missed you so much," she said softly to her granddaughter. The girl cooed as if she remembered the woman. "I could just take you home with me. You and your sister." She noticed the look on her daughter's face, "don't worry," she said, "I won't, but I could." Cora handed Odette to her husband and took Faline. Cora and Henry Sr. stayed at the mayor's for a year before moving to their own townhouse. Snow, David, Cora, and Henry Sr. still spent a great deal of time at the Mills home. They saw their family practically every day. Emma would go to the station with David and the others took turns staying with Regina while Emma was working. They were an actual, functioning family and they couldn't be happier.