Regina was spending the day with her mother. "Are you sure that you want to walk to the diner?" Cora asked.
"Yes, mother," Regina said, "I'm fine."
"Well, you're eight months pregnant. I'm just worried."
"I know and I appreciate it." Regina gave her mother a kiss on the cheek, "let's go. I'm eating for two and we're both starving."
Cora and Regina walked to the diner and the mayor proved that she could walk that far. She wasn't very tired once they reached Granny's. They sat at a table instead of a booth because it was easier for Regina to sit and stand. Granny walked over to the table to take their order, "so, what can I get for the mother to be, today?"
"A cheeseburger and cheese fries," Regina said, "oh, and a strawberry shake." The mayor had been craving those three items throughout her pregnancy. It was strange serving her that when she usually had a salad or cold sandwich. Cora placed her order and Granny brought Regina's right away, "that was insanely fast. Do you have magic now?"
"Your mother sent me a message when you were almost here. Your order hasn't changed in weeks."
Regina smiled, "that's very sweet. Thank you."
"It's no trouble. I know what it's like to be eating for two."
"I can't imagine what it was like as a wolf."
"It wasn't pretty." Granny left and brought Cora's food a few minutes later.
"Regina, is everything alright?" Cora asked as her daughter finished her lunch.
"Don't laugh," Regina said.
"Why would I laugh?"
"I'm still hungry."
Cora smiled, "that's alright, dear."
Granny walked over, "that's why I have these." She sat a plate of cheese fries in front of Regina. "I saw you finishing and could tell you were still hungry."
"Thank you," she smiled.
Granny gave the mayor a gentle pat on the shoulder and walked away. Once the two women finished, Cora helped her daughter up from her chair and they left. "Do you want to stop at the station to see Emma for a bit?" Cora asked but didn't receive an answer. She heard a gasp and turned to find her daughter clutching her stomach. "Regina," she rushed to her side, placing one hand on the mayor's back and the other took her arm, "sweetheart, what's wrong?"
"It hurts," she whimpered.
Cora teleported them to the hospital. "Good news," Whale said, "it was just false labor."
"Thank God," Cora said.
"A little less walking and a little more resting."
The two women thanked the doctor and Cora teleported them home.
Everyone had been worried since Regina's hospital visit. She was still a few weeks away from her due date and even though the baby would be relatively safe if born at this point, they still wanted her to be carried to term. Regina listened to her doctor and rested as much as possible. Two days before her due date, her water broke. Emma stood by her wife's bed and held her hand as she gave birth. The couple welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the world. "You birthed her so you name her," Emma said.
"She's your daughter. You should name her."
Regina had a difficult time considering the baby her child as well. Emma had hoped that the pregnancy would have helped Regina bond with the baby. Since Regina found out about which baby died, she was different. "I really want you to name her," Emma said softly.
Regina looked at the blonde hair, blue eye, baby girl, "Odette Margaret," she said.
Four months later, Regina sat by Emma's bedside as she gave birth to another baby girl. "Faline Regina Mills," Emma announced.
"You don't have to do that," Regina said.
"I know, but I want to. Would you like to hold her?"
"Maybe later," Regina said as she backed away.
Emma felt disappointed, "okay, well, maybe you should go home and take a nap?"
"Yeah, okay," Regina left without kissing her wife or the baby.
Snow and David arrived to visit with Emma and Faline, "Emma, are you alright?" Snow asked.
"It's Regina," Emma said, "she wouldn't hold the baby. When she left, she didn't kiss either of us. She looks so depressed."
"I don't understand," David said, "I thought she wanted a child to be genetically linked to her?"
When the doctor walked in, Emma told him about the changes she had noticed in Regina lately. "To be honest, it sounds as if she's dealing with postpartum depression."
"Can you give her something for it?" Emma asked.
"Only if she consents. If someone else had power of attorney then I could at their direction."
"I'll talk to her," Emma said, "any advice?"
"Just be gentle and don't say you understand if you don't. It will anger her to hear you say that."
Cora was worried about her daughter. Regina would nurse, but that's all she did with the baby. The mayor would lay in bed all day long, silently. She was grateful that there was a way to help Regina and was confident that Emma would be able to convince her. Emma walked into the bedroom one day, "honey, our parents are taking the kids for the day. Why don't you come with me and sit outside?"
"I'm fine," Regina answered softly.
"Please," Emma looked desperate even though she tried to hide her emotions. Regina noticed and reluctantly stood. When Emma placed a hand on her wife's back, the woman flinched. Instead of sitting next to Emma, she sat across from her. They sat in silence for what felt like an hour.
"Are you going to give me your speech?" Regina asked.
"What speech?"
"Emma, I know what's going on here. I'm living it."
"If you know then why don't you call your doctor?"
"You have to understand something. My mother may be all maternal now, but when I was growing up, she would have called me weak for even considering getting help. It's hard to leave that behind once it's ingrained in your mind."
"I'm just worried about you. We all are," she said, "including your mom."
"I know and I'm sorry."
"You don't have to apologize. I just wish you could enjoy this time more."
"Emma, I want to get help." Regina began to cry, "I want to have another baby and in order to do that, I need to get help."
Regina called her doctor who put her on medication to help with her postpartum depression. Two months later, she was feeling better and was weaned off of the medication. Once she was given the all-clear, Regina was implanted with the other embryo of hers that was frozen. Emma was implanted five months later with one of her embryos. Regina would give birth to a son named Remy Robert Mills and Emma gave birth to another son named Oliver David Mills. A year after Remy was born, Regina gave birth to a daughter named Stella Cora Mills. The baby was biologically Emma's. Regina and Emma had both formed a strong bond with their children. After Odette and Faline, Regina was able to enjoy her pregnancies and life. She realized that being pregnant with Odette had helped her bond with her eldest daughter. It was the fear of losing her that made her pull away. Regina and Emma started off as enemies, but in the end, true love won.