Okay, so I'm not really sure what to do in between Mal's pregnancy, so this chapter happened. It is largely Mal and Lily. If you have requests/reviews, they help me a lot. I hope you enjoy!

To clarify: this is two months after Lily's abduction, so Mal's about five and a half months along.

"Mommy, what's the baby's name," a curious Lily asked from across the table, doing her "homework."

"I don't know, it's Regina's choice. It's her baby, remember?"

"Yeah, but because you love her, she's gonna be yours too, right?" Mal ruffled the girl's hair sweetly. Lily swept it back into place and coloured her homework.

"I'm not sure, baby, we haven't thought that far ahead yet." Mal panicked internally while Lily worked. Regina was at work and Mal was having a bad day. Her pregnancy was mediocre, except for those odd days where she felt like she was hit by a bus, had her stomach filled with bleach, fell from a building, and took a hammer to the head repeatedly, all at the same time.

"Are the animals dying without you being there," Lily questioned. Mal laughed.

"I'm not the only pet doctor in town, there are a few others who are working for me." Lily nodded and looked back down to her drawing, sticking her tongue out when colouring near the lines. Mal grinned and grabbed another cup of tea.

For her age, Lily was very smart. She loved asking questions, she knew her alphabet before some of her peers do, and coloured in the lines decently. Mal couldn't be any more proud, especially to the way she's been adjusting to her new environment. She even made a few friends in her preschool; Emma, Graham, August, Ruby, and Neal.

A proud Lily held up a coloured picture of a knight in shining armour. Mal grinned.

"That's beautiful, honey. Can you draw me?" Lily grinned triumphantly and pulled out a small book of blank paper to colour her mom. Mal transferred herself to the much more comfortable couch, and Lily followed steadfastly.

The older woman closed her eyes to nap and Lily situated herself on the coffee table, pulling out a navy blue crayon. She held up a quick drawing of Mal and 5e older woman smiled happily.

She couldn't fall asleep so instead sufficed by watching cartoons and eyed Lily flipping through picture books, laughing at the funny pictures and failing to understand what happened.

When Mal awoke later, Regina was sitting at her feet. She sat up.

"Hi," she muttered, rubbing her eyes. Regina laughed and leaned over to press her forehead against Mal's.

"Hey," she whispered back. Lily was still beside her, looking at the pictures in a picture book, piles of colouring books and picture books beside her on the carpet. Mal kisses her head and leaned back into Regina. Mal pecked Regina's nose fleetingly. Lily giggled and stood up.

"Supper, Weeeee!" She yelled ecstaticlly. The two women laughed and Regina went to the kitchen to bring out a plate of chicken nuggets and French fries.

"I'm sorry, I didn't want to cook anything…complex." Mal nodded and accepted greatfully.

"No, this is perfect, thank you. I'm sorry I didn't help you, I've just been a dead weight."

"No, you haven't. You're carrying my child, I can't be more thankful for you here." Mal nodded mildly and began eating minuscule bites silently.

Regina had noticed Mal was a little distant since Lily's father took Lily, but she hoped the other woman couldn't tell her distance. Like she thought, they were exactly the same; they built walls around themselves. They just needed to break them down, together.

Lily fell asleep between the two women on the couch, leaning on Regina's shoulder, breathing softly. They smiled meekly, like when they first met, unsure and perturbed. Together, they carried Lily to her bedroom. Regina began slipping off her heels.

"What's bothering you?" Mal was about to protest when Regina interrupted her, "I know something's been bothering you, you can't hide it. Please?" Mal nodded and almost broke.

"Knowing someone can take Lily as easily as her father, she's never safe." Regina ran from her bathroom to embrace her in a tight hug, trying to squeeze her stress into a puddle onto the floor to disappear forever. Mal gasped.

"The…baby," she muttered. Regina didn't back down, only loosened her arms, and heard the other woman exhale.

"Like I said, I won't let anyone hurt my family, ever. You and Lily will always be safe on my watch."

"We're your family?"

"The only one I've got," she affirmed. A light pause between them.

"Now I've told you my problems, tell me yours, and don't bother saying you don't have any, I know you do." Regina nodded.

"I don't want to lose you. Who says you won't leave, even after having the baby? I just don't want to be without you again." Mal stroked her hair.

"I will never leave you. Lily really loves you, I don't think either of us will be able to let go." Regina pulled back.

"Really?" Mal bobbed her head.

"You can't scrape me off your life if you tried." Regina laughed through a burst of tears and nipped and kissed at Mal's lips hurriedly. The other woman blushed.

"I love you," Mal murmured. Regina laughed.

"And I you," she replied before tugging at her blouse.

"You want me? Like this, baby in my belly and all?"

"I will always want you, and that's a promise. Plus, you can never look anything less than absolutely gorgeous."