Trigger warning: mention of prior pregnancy loss.

It was the middle of the night, the wee hours of a Saturday morning, when Emma awoke to the sounds of Regina moaning and crying out in her sleep. She'd been to see the new therapist twice now. The sheriff expected Regina's nightmares to worsen, but they had yet to make a reappearance. The therapist had warned that she might be easily triggered after their second session. Emma didn't go into the sessions with Regina, but she waited in the car or waiting room just in case she was needed. Regina had chosen not to disclose anything about the sessions so far, and Emma respected that. After the most recent visit, the therapist walked Regina to the waiting room and warned Emma that she may be triggered easily or have heightened fear responses. So far, though, things had been as normal as they could be for the former Queen.

Emma watched for a moment, unsure of whether she should wake Regina or let her wake on her own. Regina shifted so that she was facing Emma, her features contorted in what Emma could only assume was pain. She moaned and squeezed her thighs together. The blonde decided she would take her chances on a cranky Regina and wake her up. She reached out and stroked Regina's cheek gently. She was about to whisper soft, soothing words in attempt to wake her when Regina tossed and flipped onto her back. Her knees fell apart, and her hand moved beneath the blankets. Regina moaned again, and Emma followed the shape of her arm under the covers. She lifted the blanket slightly and looked down to find Regina's hand between her legs. Her fingers twitched, and she pressed them more firmly into her pussy. The brunette exhaled a shaky breath before slipping her hand under the delicate fabric of her panties. Fabric, Emma noted, that was slightly snug as Regina's belly had grown over the last few weeks. It was now obvious, at sixteen weeks, to most everyone that she was with child. Emma gloated at the sight of Regina's perfectly round baby bump. She not-so-secretly loved telling people the baby was hers, that she'd managed to get Regina pregnant. Before she could gloat any further, Regina's fingers quickened their pace. Fuck! Her sex drive is back! Merry Christmas, Emma!

"Mmm," Regina moaned. "Ah! Ahhh!"

Regina startled awake just before she reached her climax. She groaned internally, frustrated that she didn't orgasm and embarrassed that she'd practically had a wet dream. Wet dream indeed. My panties are soaked. The sheet is soaked. Oh, gods, I hope Emma didn't wake up. Regina turned back onto her side, pressing her thighs together as she did so. Even that little bit of friction was almost enough to set her off. She opened her eyes, just barely, but it was enough to see Emma staring back at her in the dark with a giant shit-eating grin on her face.

"Oh, shut up, Miss Swan," Regina grumbled.

"If you're nice to me, I might help you out with your… ahh… problem," Emma replied, still grinning.

"I'm fine, thank you very much."

"You were almost fine," Emma challenged her. "I don't think you quite made it all the way."

Regina groaned and shoved Emma (but not too hard) before she stalked into the bathroom and slammed the door. She splashed cold water on her face and tried to will her libido into submission.

"The vibrator is out here, darling," Emma teased.

Regina made a noise that was a cross between a shriek and a growl before the telltale sizzle of magic made Emma's hair stand on end. The blonde opened the door, expecting to find Regina had conjured herself a new toy, but the brunette was nowhere to be seen.

"Regina?" Emma called out into the quiet house.

Emma waved her hand and placed a silencing spell around Henry's bedroom. She called out a few more times and grew worried when Regina didn't reply. Emma pulled some flannel pants on and hurried down the stairs to search for her pregnant fiancée. She found Regina in the kitchen, sipping ice water and taking slow, deep breaths.

"Baby?"

Emma stood behind Regina and put one arm around her waist to rest her hand on Regina's stomach. She rubbed lightly along the growing bump.

"I'm sorry. I…" Regina lightly pushed Emma away and averted her gaze. "I was embarrassed."

"Embarrassed about what? Wanting pleasure? This is the best part of pregnancy if you'll just relax and enjoy it!"

"Emma! I think our baby is the best part of pregnancy!"

"Ughhh you know what I meant! Dealing with morning sickness and raging hormones! It's all awful! This is your reward for getting through that part! Now, come back to bed with me. Without magic, please. We don't want to risk the baby."

Regina allowed herself to be led back up to their bedroom. It was officially theirs, as ever since Regina told her about the pregnancy, Emma hadn't spent a single night in her own home. The room was warm and had a faint scent of sex in the air, imperceptible to most. With Regina's heightened senses, she recognized the scent of her own arousal.

"Maybe we should change the sheets?" Regina suggested.

"Why? We'll just have to change them again in a little while. Now get your butt in bed!" Emma lightly slapped Regina's ass as she spoke.

She was taken aback at first. Regina wasn't used to being slapped and liking it, but something about the gentle smack to her backside turned her on even more. Her skin tingled lightly, but it didn't hurt. She looked over her shoulder and reached out to take Emma's hand, dragging her along to the bed with her. Emma pulled Regina into her arms and kissed her deeply. As they kissed, the blonde's hand found its way to the ass cheek she slapped, and she massaged it gently.

"Was that okay?" Emma asked, breaking their kiss. "I didn't think. I don't…"

"Shut up and fuck me, Miss Swan," Regina interrupted.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Emma replied with a flirtatious grin.

The name caused a new flood of arousal to seep between Regina's legs. She purred into Emma's ear as the blonde ran her hands along her sides. The pressure was firm enough not to tickle her but light enough that it sent shivers up and down her spine. She nipped Emma's earlobe, who responded by lifting her by her ass cheeks and laying her on the bed. Emma recalled how lying flat was uncomfortable even early in her pregnancy and set to work building a nest of pillows for Regina to recline on. Once she was settled and comfortable, Emma gently nudged Regina's legs apart and kneeled between them. She lifted the t-shirt (her shirt) that Regina was wearing and kissed her growing stomach. She kissed down the center of her abdomen to the apex of her thighs and tugged on Regina's panties.

"If anything hurts or isn't okay…"

"I promise I'll speak up. Now quit teasing me!"

Emma chuckled at the brunette's eagerness and removed the ruined panties. The sight of Regina's folds, slick with arousal, sent a shiver up Emma's spine. She ran one finger along Regina's center, enough to make her whimper.

"Fuck. You are so beautiful."

Emma brought her lips to Regina's clit and nipped before sucking gently. Regina moaned and grabbed a fistful of Emma's hair, pushing her down more firmly. Her hips bucked as Emma increased the pressure. She teased Regina's entrance with two fingers and waited for a response before entering her.

"Yes! Yes! Emma!" Regina shouted.

Emma's fingers pumped in and out of Regina's wet heat and for a moment the only sounds in the room were of their lovemaking. She pressed her tongue flat against Regina's dripping cunt and lapped her juices before sucking her sensitive bead into her mouth once more. The brunette's thighs squeezed Emma's head. She worked her fingers back inside, causing Regina to let loose with a string of grunts, growls, and curses. Her walls spasmed and clamped down on Emma's fingers, and the blonde continued her ministrations. She was determined to make Regina come undone before stopping for air.

It didn't take long with Regina's newly awakened sex drive. Her legs twitched, and her hips bucked. She gripped tighter on Emma's hair as her other hand twisted into the sheet. When her orgasm hit, Regina was surprisingly quiet. Emma heard her sharp intake of a breath just before her body spasmed out of control. The blonde kept her pace until she felt Regina relax beneath her. She crawled up the bed to be closer to Regina. She peppered her body with kisses as Regina's breathing slowly returned to normal. She was about to kiss Regina's belly, when the brunette suddenly sat up and put her hands around her stomach. She winced, as if she were in pain, and rubbed her stomach.

"Emma, something's wrong!"

"Are you hurting? Are you having cramps?"

"I… I don't know! It doesn't hurt exactly. It just feels strange."

Emma placed her hand over Regina's baby bump. The odd sensation happened again, and Regina started to panic.

"Breathe, just breathe. Do you want to go to the hospital?"

"I think we should. It… It feels like when my stomach is upset, but it's not my stomach."

"Does it feel bubbly? Like you need to burp but too far down?"

"Queens don't burp, Miss Swan!"

"Oh, Regina!" Emma chuckled. "I've heard you burp. Now, answer me."

"I guess? But it's too low… And don't go asking about other bodily functions."

"Sweetheart, she's kicking!"

"She's…?" Regina paused as the sensation hit her again. "She's kicking! Oh my gods, Emma! Our baby is kicking for the first time!"

Relief flooded Regina and she half laughed, and half cried as she tried to feel the tiny kicks again. It was a strange thing, feeling movement inside her body, without being able to feel it on the outside. Emma placed her hands on Regina's abdomen, trying to feel the kicks, even though she knew it was too early for her to feel them too. Regina suspected she was remembering those moments with Henry, his first kicks inside of her. The irony of the situation was overwhelming and beautiful. She was getting to experience all the things she missed out on with Henry, and eventually Emma would get to do the same. The thought made her hormones a little crazy all over again, and she all but attacked Emma.

She pushed the sheriff onto her back and made a line of kisses starting from her neck and worked her way down to her thighs. Regina grabbed the vibrator from the nightstand and pushed it between Emma's legs, teasing her entrance. The blonde moaned as Regina worked her body in all the right ways.

Her sixteenth week proved to be the best week of pregnancy thus far. By the end of the week, the couple was exhausted for other reasons. Regina woke up turned on every morning and at least once during the night. She demanded Emma meet her over their lunch breaks for sex in her office. One particularly fun time, they enjoyed a quickie in the back of Emma's cruiser. Emma was only happy to indulge her every whim, need, and want. One morning, after a night of passionate love making, Regina woke up with an unsettled feeling in her stomach. She groaned, unhappy with the return of morning sickness. I should've known it wouldn't last! I don't deserve to be one of those glowing, smiling pregnant moms. Regina turned onto her side and attempted to get back to sleep. The mild nausea quickly turned to a violent storm. It wasn't just the nausea, though. She felt pain low in her pelvis, and each time she felt the pain, her belly grew firm.

"Emma?" Regina whined as she shook her fiancée.

"You want to go again already?" Emma mumbled sleepily.

"Emma!" She whined again, more urgently.

Emma sat up, concerned by Regina's tone. She took one look at her fiancée and knew what was coming. She conjured a trash can just in time for Regina to throw up. She held the can and Regina's hair until her retching finally stopped. The mayor leaned back against the pillows, sweaty and exhausted. Her hand rested over her belly, the tightness palpable as the pain intensified again. Regina grabbed Emma's hand and squeezed it tight.

"Regina? What is it? What's hurting?"

She responded by putting Emma's hand over the firmness.

"Oh, no! Shit! You're having contractions! We have to go to the hospital! Now!"

Emma jumped out of bed and rushed to put on jeans and a t-shirt that probably wasn't all that clean, but she didn't care. She quickly helped Regina get dressed, which wasn't easy with her contractions. They raced toward the hospital in Emma's bug, where Emma pulled up to the doors of the emergency department, through the car into park, and helped Regina out of the car. Regina doubled over in pain as she stepped onto the sidewalk. Someone brought out a wheelchair, which Regina refused to sit in until she realized she was in too much pain to walk.

"I'm not sitting in that! It's probably filthy!"

"Oh, Regina! Just sit your butt in the chair so we can get you checked out."

"No… Ohhhh!" Regina moaned as another contraction hit her. "Fine, give me the damn chair!"

Regina would never admit it, but she was terrified. The miscarriage she had in the Enchanted Forest seemed like only yesterday. The memories were so painful, and she didn't even want a child with the king. At least, not really. It was her child, and she grieved that loss, but in a way she also felt relief. She was not tied to the king in such a permanent way. This time was different. She wanted this child, this connection to Emma, desperately. She didn't think she could bear the pain of losing this child. Villains don't get happy endings. This must be my punishment for all the bad I've done, all the suffering I've caused. It's my turn to suffer now.

Regina was silent, as if in a daze as her vitals were taken. She barely flinched when the nurse took a blood sample and started an IV. Someone asked her if she needed medicine for nausea, and Emma replied in the affirmative, but her voice sounded far away. The nurse hung a bag of fluid. As it ran into her arm, it made Regina feel cold. She started to shiver, and Emma covered her with warm blankets. The blankets felt nice, but she continued to tremble with cold and fear. A technician entered the room with an ultrasound machine, and Regina held her breath as the wand was pushed inside of her. The pressure combined with the contractions made her feel sick again. She tried to focus on breathing through her nose. Tears of relief slipped from her eyes as the sound of a strong heartbeat filled the room. She searched for Emma's eyes, and a silent relief passed between them. Emma squeezed her hand and kissed her hair as the technician finished the ultrasound. A few minutes later, Whale entered the room, much to Regina's displeasure. She was too scared to start an argument with him though.

"Hello, Your Majesty, I hear you're having some contractions?" Whale asked, and she nodded. "Any bleeding?"

"No."

"Are the contractions regular?"

"No. I'll have a few then none for a little while, then they come back."

"Nausea?"

"Yes, it was better recently, but came back today right before the contractions started."

"The nurse will be in to put a monitor on you. We will watch for contractions to see how often you're having them. We'll keep an eye on the baby's heart rate also. Now, I need to check your cervix to see if you are dilated."

Regina reluctantly cooperated with the exam. The pressure again made her queasy, and she squeezed Emma's hand for comfort. Whale quickly finished the exam and stood up with a smile.

"Good news, Your Majesty! Your cervix is very healthy. You aren't dilated at all, which means you are not likely to be in labor. I'll review your ultrasound to make sure the baby is growing well. Have you changed anything recently? Are you more active than usual? Drinking less water? Dehydration and increasing physical activity can cause uterine irritability."

Emma and Regina avoided meeting each other's eyes. The truth was, Regina had certainly increased her activity level recently, but not in a way she wanted to admit to Whale.

"We'll monitor you for contractions and keep giving you fluids for hydration. I'll be back to check on you in a little while."

As soon as Whale left the room and the door was closed, Emma and Regina burst out laughing. The tension in the room was broken, and Regina felt relief that the pregnancy seemed healthy.

"Perhaps we did get a little carried away?" Regina chuckled.

"Carried away?" Emma snorted. "We were fucking like bunnies!"

"Emma Swan!" Regina swatted her fiancée.

"You seem to be feeling better."

"I still feel some cramping, but I think it's better."

Emma climbed onto the bed with Regina and snuggled next to her. She rubbed her belly between the monitors and kissed Regina's soft skin.

"You better behave in there, little one. Stay inside and don't hurt your mama." Emma spoke softly to Regina's belly.

Regina smiled as Emma talked to their child. This pregnancy was drastically different from her first. Instead of being locked away in her bedchamber, sick and alone, Emma was there supporting her every step of the way. They snuggled together, listening to their baby's heartbeat on the monitor. Emma tended to her every need. She brought her ice chips and ginger ale and asked the nurses for warm blankets when she got cold again. After a few hours, Whale returned.

"Good news, your contractions have decreased to minor irritability. On the ultrasound, your uterus and placenta look healthy. Your baby is growing well. Do you wish to know the sex?"

The couple nodded in unison.

"You'll get an official anatomy scan in a few more weeks, but she gave us a nice look today. There's a slight chance we're wrong this early, but the baby seems to be a girl. How are you feeling now, Regina?"

"Much better, thank you. Can I go home?"

"I'll put in the discharge orders right away. Make sure you stay hydrated and try to avoid strenuous activity. And maybe take it easy in the bedroom too," Whale said with a sleazy wink before he left the room.

"He knew!" Regina groaned.

She looked over to find Emma with her chest out, grinning with pride.

"Emma! He knew! That's not something to be proud of!"

"Oh! Right, sorry," Emma had the good sense to look embarrassed.

Emma took Whale's recommendations very seriously. Once they were home, she refused to let Regina do anything for herself. Emma made sure Regina constantly had a snack and her water within reach and wouldn't let her get up from the couch except to go to the bathroom. She kept Regina entertained with card games and asked Belle to drop off a stack of books to keep her occupied. She fluffed her pillows and blankets and did everything she could to keep Regina comfortable.

"You're spoiling me!" Regina chided Emma as the blonde brought her another snack. "I haven't even finished this sandwich, and now you're bringing me fruit and cheese? All that's missing is a glass of wine!"

"No wine for you, darling, not until our baby is here. Would you like some juice?"

"No! If I drink any more, I'll just have to pee again. I thought you wanted me to stay put."

"Do you need anything else? Another blanket? Fresh water?"

"Yes, there's one thing I need."

"What? I'll get you anything."

"I need you to stop waiting on me and just come snuggle with me."

Emma stood at the doorway watching Regina for a moment before she joined her on the couch. Regina was exceptionally cute with her glasses sliding down her nose and her pregnant belly peeking out from the blanket across her lap. Her t-shirt was riding up slightly, showing her perfectly smooth tan skin. Emma crossed the room and sat next to her fiancée, happy to cuddle for as long as Regina would like.