Emma hated to see how much pain Regina was in after Cora's death. She had skipped several appointments since Cora's return. Emma had finally convinced her to go to one. "Madam Mayor, would you like to know the gender?"
"Yes!" Emma said quickly and Regina nodded.
"You have a healthy baby girl on the way. Actually, you're having two baby girls. Fraternal twins," that last part shocked the couple but things quickly changed.
Regina and Emma smiled at the thought of their little girls. They had two boys and now would have two girls. They went to tell Emma's parents and the boys. All four were thrilled. "I wish I hadn't skipped those appointments," Regina said, "now I only have two months to get the nursery ready."
"We can help," David offered.
"Really?"
"Well, Snow can help with choosing the décor but I can help put it together."
"We can help grandpa," Henry said in reference to him and his brother.
"Mama can probably help put things together. She's the husband," Remy joked.
"Oh you're just hysterical," Emma said sarcastically.
"I get it from you," Remy threw back.
"I appreciate and will take all the help I can get," Regina said.
Snow had gone to get some catalogs and paint samples for the nursery. "Why can't I find something I like?" Regina complained.
"Do you have an idea of what you would like?" Snow asked.
"No, I..." Regina gasped and placed a hand on her stomach.
"Regina," Snow tried to get her attention, "Regina, what's wrong?"
"Pain," she breathed out as she shut her eyes tightly.
"Let's go to the doctor and make sure everything is okay." Snow helped Regina up and to the car. At the hospital, they were told that it was false labor but Regina needed to relax more.
"Thank you," Regina said once they had arrived home. The two were now sitting in the living room.
"There's no need to thank me."
"I want the nursery to be magical and royal. Something fit for a princess. Well, two princesses." Regina handed Snow the paint colors she wanted and showed her the furniture set she picked out. "You and Emma do the rest."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes," Regina answered, "Emma is the mother too and I trust both of you."
The nursery turned out to be everything Regina had wanted and more. The best part was that Emma, Snow, David, Henry, and Remy put the entire thing together. They finished the nursery a week before Regina's due date.
Emma was finishing up work one day when Regina called her phone, "I'm getting ready to leave," she said when she answered.
"My water broke."
"I'm leaving now. Call my mom to go over and stay with the boys." Emma rushed home and helped Regina to the car. Once the woman was checked in, Emma called to check on the boys.
"I forgot how painful this was," Regina said.
"Really? How?"
"It's been almost eleven years since I last gave birth."
Six hours after her water broke, Regina began pushing. An hour later a cry filled the room. The baby was placed on Regina's chest. "Do we have a name?" the nurse asked.
"Yeah, are you going to finally tell me?" Emma asked Regina.
"Odette Margaret Mills," Regina announced. The nurse took Odette in preparation for the next baby. She pushed for a half-hour before the doctor saw the head. Emma noticed the doctor's expression changed when the baby's head was out. "Regina, one more push, and I should be able to get the baby out," the doctor said.
Regina pushed with all her might and felt the baby leave her body. It was silent. "What's going on?" she asked as she began to panic. "Emma, what's happening? Why isn't she crying? Where are they taking her?"
Emma put her arm around Regina, "shh, honey, calm down. They're taking care of her." The doctor took the baby to the table on the other side of the room. After twenty minutes, he walked back over to the couple.
"I'm so sorry," he said, "we did everything we could."
Regina broke down. "What happened?" Emma asked.
"The umbilical cord wrapped itself around her neck. Probably when she was in the birth canal."
"I want to hold her," Regina cried out, "I need to hold her." Emma nodded and the doctor signaled for the nurse to bring the stillborn over. Regina clutched her daughter to her chest and cried.