Monday came abruptly. Far too abruptly for Regina's liking.
The weekend had been so wonderful in every way possible. It felt almost brutal to be awakened by Neal's shrieking from the crib.
"Come back to bed, beautiful," Emma rumbled, and Regina caught a glimpse of her grabbing after her.
Going back to bed would have been delightful. But alas… "Good morning...my love. It is...Monday," Regina informed her and chuckled.
"No way, really?" Emma groaned in complain.. "It can't possibly be Monday already. I refuse to believe it."
Regina chuckled again and picked up Neal. He kept wailing. Perhaps he wasn't happy about Monday either. She cuddled him into her chest. He squirmed. Not interested in being cuddled. He just wanted a fresh diaper. Fair enough. Regina could understand that. It couldn't be nice to wear a wet diaper.
She grabbed the big diaper bag and slung it over her shoulder. Then carried both him and the diaper bag out of the bedroom and into the bathroom. She gently laid him down on the changing table and took off his little sleeper. Neal wasn't being very compliment, but that was alright. He was allowed to be a bit grumpy in the morning. "I'll…..Fix this….In a….Heartbeat," Regina promised the little boy. "Y-yes, I…. will."
Neal looked up at her with his big blue eyes. Regina ran her fingers through his sandy blonde hair. It truly was odd that he somehow looked like Emma. It shouldn't have been possible. Perhaps she was just silly.
"Will your…. Eyes turn…..Green later?" she jokingly asked the baby. She knew that wasn't the case. Neal's eyes would most likely stay blue.
Neal reacted by lifting a little fist and grabbing her hair. He gave it a solid yank, and Regina winced as she gently pried her hair out of his grasp. She feared that hair pulling was his new favorite thing to do.
"That hurts," she said to him. "Ouch."
Neal looked curiously at her and wiggled on the changing table. Regina made sure to keep one hand on his little belly as she removed his dirty diaper and threw it in the bin. She gave him a throughout wash and powdered him. He gurgled happily, wailing long forgotten. All he needed was a fresh diaper.
"And… A bottle too," Regina said and washed her hands in top speed. Then she opened one of the drawers under the changing table and rummaged through the clothes they had bought for Neal. There was a lot. Sometimes it was hard to decide what he should wear, but today she was not in doubt. Today, Neal was going to be a little panda. He looked so sweet in that outfit. Regina loved to dress him up as different animals every day. She had bought him far too many clothes. Which of course was silly, but she never could help herself when she saw a cute outfit. And it did not help that Neal always looked so darn sweet in those outfits. Regina had taken a ridiculous amount of pictures of the little boy.
She snapped the little panda suit shut and chuckled to herself when he kicked up his little legs. A peaceful little moment.
Then the door was pushed open, and she spotted Emma in the mirror. Regina turned her head slightly. "I am almost...done, my love...then you can...have your...shower."
"Henry's sick," Emma said. "I'm no expert, but it sounds like he caught a cold."
"Oh." She felt a flicker of concern. Henry hadn't been sick in a long time. She picked up Neal, who now was a happy little panda rather than a grumpy little boy. "I suppose...we better go...and see...what that is...about."
She handed Neal over to Emma so she could focus on Henry. Emma made a short detour to their bedroom where she, judging by the sounds, put Neal down in his crib again.
With that taken care of, Emma came back to the hallway, and they continued towards Henry's room.
Regina pushed the door to Henry's bedroom open and slipped inside. Gently perching herself on the edge of his bed, she said: "Good morning, my...little prince...what is...going on here?"
"My throat hurts, mom," Henry answered, he sounded hoarse and congested. "And I have a headache."
"Hmm." Regina frowned and touched Henry's forehead. "You are...a bit...warm." she suspected that he had a fever, but she would like it to be confirmed before making a 'diagnosis'. She turned her head and looked at her girlfriend. "Emma, darling...could you go...and grab the...thermometer? It's in the...b-bathroom."
"Sure, I'll be right back."
She went into the hallway. Regina heard her speed walk.
"I think she's worried about," Henry rasped.
"She has…. Never seen you….. Sick before," Regina reminded him. "Maybe she is…. A bit nervous."
"She doesn't have to be," Henry said and coughed. "It's just a cold."
"She is…. Your….mom," Regina smiled. "Of course…. She is…. Worried."
As summoned by their talk, Emma came back to the bedroom with the thermometer in hand. She handed it to her.
"Open up," Regina said and chuckled slightly as she carefully popped the thermometer into his mouth. "Keep this...under your...tongue for...three minutes, okay?"
Henry, prevented from speaking because of the thermometer, gave her a little nod, and Regina quickly assessed the situation. His eyes were a bit glassy. His cheeks were tinted pink and was hoarse. One didn't have to be a doctor to know that Henry had caught some kind of cold. Hopefully, he would feel better in a couple of days. That poor thing. Seeing your child sick was never fun. Regina tugged a lock of hair behind her ear and scrunched up her nose at Henry.
Henry copied the motion and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly. They hadn't used the secret little 'oh no, you're sick'-signal in a long time.
Glancing at her wristwatch, Regina saw that the three minutes were up, and she carefully took the thermometer out of Henry's mouth. Willed her still sleepy morning eyes to focus as she looked at it. Ah yes. Exactly as she had expected. Henry had a fever. Your temperature...is a bit...elevated. This looks...like a...blanket and...Disney kind of...day."
"I'm sorry about that, buddy," Emma said. She had been strangely quiet, Regina noted. She hoped that Emma wasn't too worried.
Regina certainly wasn't. But she could understand Emma's feelings. She hadn't seen Henry sick before.
"Why?" Henry croaked and tried laughing. He ended up coughing instead, though. "There's nothing bad about Disney and blankets."
"True that," Emma agreed with a soft chuckle. "But I meant the fact that you're sick."
"It's okay," Henry coughed. "I'll be fine."
"Do you want...Yoghurt?" Regina offered and smiled at their son.
"Mom," Henry warned and wrinkled his nose.
But he always wants Yoghurt when he's sick. Oh god. Had he gotten too old for Yoghurt? Regina certainly didn't hope so. That would make her sad."Can't harm," she said softly and touched his cheek. Of course she wasn't going to pressure him or anything. She just wanted him to know that it was completely fine to want Yoghurt. Just like it also was fine to not want Yoghurt. Even if it was making her sad.
Henry seemed torn. His frown deepened.
Regina stayed silent. It was up to him.
"Alright," Henry said after a moment. "Let's let Ma in on the secret."
"That is...a good...idea." Regina stood from his bedside.
"Uhh, exactly what is so secret about yoghurt?" Emma asked. She sounded confused, and Regina couldn't blame her. Not many people knew about Yoghurt.
She headed over to Henry's closet and had to stand on her tippy toes to be able to reach the top shelf. The box containing Yoghurt had managed to nestle itself somewhere in the very back of the closet. Typical. She muttered under her breath.
"Uhmm, babe?" Emma chuckled. "The last time I checked, the yoghurt was downstairs in the fridge. Not on the top shelf in Henry's closet."
Wait and see… Just you wait and see. Regina tried to cackle like an old witch as she at last got a hold of the box and could lift it out of the closet.
Henry grinned. Emma looked confused.
Regina removed the lid and smiled when her gaze landed on Yoghurt. A worn out elephant. Once bright blue, but now almost dirty grey. His trunk was not as stuffed as it once was, and his eyes were wonky. But he was very, very well loved.
"Ma, this is Yoghurt," Henry introduced with a grin, and Regina lifted Yoghurt out of the box and brought him over to Henry. She made a point of positioning Yoghurt to make it look like he was sitting on the pillow.
"Oh." Emma laughed.
"He was a...gift...to Henry...from...my father," Regina said. Yoghurt was special, and she wanted Emma to know why. "He bought it...two days before he...passed away."
Emma 'oh'ed' again. This time more softly. She always adopted such a soft, gentle tone when they were talking about Regina's father. Emma knew how much he had meant to her, and Regina loved her for being so respectful to her father even though she had never known him.
"Yoghurt only ever comes out of the box when I'm sick," Henry told Emma and looked at Yoghurt. "He's a bit of a secret because I'm actually too old to have a stuffed animal."
"You...are...not," Regina said quickly. Absolutely not. There was no shame in having a stuffed animal when you were ten years old. Or eleven. Or twelve. Or thirteen. Or fourteen. Or older. Adults could have stuffed animals too. One of the most badass adults Regina knew had a stuffed animal. And that badass adult was of course Malena. Regina had had the joy of meeting October, the little stuffed dragon that slept in Malena's bed and sometimes her pajama pocket.
Regina was ninety nine percent sure that October still was a thing to this day. And never once had she found it odd that Malena had a stuffed toy.
"Well, it's very nice to meet you, Yoghurt," Emma said and interrupted Regina's train of thoughts. She smiled when Emma took the stuffed elephant's little paw and shook it once.
"Ma, you're being silly!" Henry complained.
"Wanna explain to me why he's called Yoghurt?" Emma asked. Clearly ignoring Henry's statement.
"Oh," Henry gave a hoarse snicker. "That's because mom spilled yoghurt all over him when I was three. Isn't that right, mom?"
"It is," Regina confirmed and chuckled.
"I screamed," Henry said almost gleefully. "And threw my oatmeal on the floor because I thought mom had ruined Yoghurt."
"Yes, that was...a fun...morning," Regina said dryly. She had been tempted to scream too. But since she wasn't a three year old, she had left the screaming to Henry and settled for cussing under her breath while cleaning everything.
"After that, he was only ever called Yoghurt," Henry explained. "I guess I sort of forgot that he'd had another name at some point."
"And what was his other name?" Emma asked curiously.
"Grandpa," Henry said and smiled Regina. "I think it was because I had learned that grandpa had given it to me, so I guess it just made sense to call him grandpa."
"Yoghurt... suits him...better." It would have felt strange to call the stuffed animal 'Grandpa'.
"He looks like a Yoghurt to me."
A sharp wail from the bedroom cut through their conversation. Neal was not one bit happy being on his own anymore.
"I'll get him," Emma said quickly.
"And I will... head downstairs and... make some chamomile tea...for you." Regina ruffled Henry's hair as she rose from his bedside again. "And some...toast."
"Lots of honey in my tea," Henry croaked.
"Yes, my little...prince," she assured him. Plenty of honey, of course. Honey helped nursing a sore throat. Regina knew that better than most people.
Both of them left Henry's room. Emma went to grab Neal, and Regina headed downstairs to prepare breakfast. Just as she was putting on the kettle, Emma arrived with Neal in her arms.
"It was fun learning about Yoghurt the elephant," Emma chuckled as she plopped Neal into his bouncer. He immediately stopped fussing and instead looked at his feet in wonder.
Regina nodded. "My father's...first and...last gift...to Henry." She didn't mean to sound so philosophical this early, but she couldn't help it. Talking about her father always put her in a bit of a 'funny' mood.
"Sweetheart." Emma came closer and put a hand on her shoulder
"Sometimes I am...reminded of...how much I still...miss him." The kettle started whistling, and she quickly took it off the stove and poured the boiling water into a cup before the whistling sound could make Neal distressed.
"Of course you still miss him."
Regina turned her head and smiled at her girlfriend. "He would...really have...loved you." She didn't doubt that for a moment. Her father would have welcomed Emma with open arms.
Emma squeezed her shoulder. "He had to be a pretty wonderful person in order to have such an awesome daughter as you."
Regina chuckled. "He was...a wonderful...man." she could still remember his booming laughter and the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled. His tight bear-hugs and the way he would spin her around when they danced in the kitchen before bedtime.
"I know. I already know him."
What? Regina tilted her head and shot Emma a confused look.
"Because I know you." Emma smiled softly at her. "But it would have been an honor to meet the man you named your son after."
Regina chuckled gently. A somber little sound. "It still...sometimes upsets me...that he never...got to meet Henry. He was...so excited about...becoming a grandfather."
"It wasn't fair that he never got to meet Henry," Emma said. "I can't imagine how hard it was for you. Highly pregnant and losing your dad so unexpectedly."
"I had to...be taken...to the...hospital when I...found out." She poured honey into Henry's tea. "I...fainted." or so she had been told later. She had no recollection of it. Could only remember that her legs had given in, and her world had blurred.
"Oh baby." Emma squeezed her shoulder again.
Regina finished preparing the tea and smiled fondly at her. "I've always...worried about Henry...not having a...large family, but now...he has you too." His very own Ma.
"Damn right, he has!" Emma said firmly. "And I'm not going anywhere."
"You...better not," Regina joked. She was determined to lift the mood. This wasn't supposed to be a somber Monday. Her father had been gone for ten years, and she had accepted that a long time ago. She carefully lifted the cup of tea. "I better...bring this...upstairs to him...before it...gets cold."
"Good plan, beautiful. Then I'll give Neal his bottle."
"Guuhhhh," said Neal. Regina chuckled as she went up the stairs.
Henry was not too awake when she came into his room. She sat the cup of tea down on his nightstand. Ruffled his hair slightly. He mumbled something.
Regina did nothing to wake him up. She could always make him another cup of tea should this one get cold.
When she came back downstairs, Emma was sitting at the kitchen table and giving Neal his bottle. The sight had Regina spontaneously bending down and kissing the top of Emma's head as she passed her.
"That was really nice!"
Why yes, it was. She chuckled lightly. Then said: "It is on...days like these...that I am...glad that I...work from...home."
"I get that," Emma nodded. "I actually kinda wish I could stay home with him too. And I'm not saying that because I don't wanna go to work. I'm worried about the kid. I don't like seeing him sick."
"You are...so sweet." Regina popped two slices of bread into the toaster. "But it is...just a...cold. He'll...be fine."
"I know he will. He's been taken care of by you. Obviously, he'll be fine." The joke was clear in Emma's tone, but her next question was quite somber: "now the question is, what should we do with little panda here?"
"What do...you mean?" Regina didn't quite understand.
"You're already taking care of Henry," Emma pointed out. "I'm not about to let you have extra work when he's sick."
"I can...take care...of him. It is...not a...p-problem," she did her best to assure.
"It's a problem for me," Emma said firmly. "I don't want you to strain yourself. You already have a sick boy to take care of. You shouldn't run around after the baby as well."
Emma, Emma, Emma. "I think...you're worrying...too much...my love."
"Nope, just looking after your wellbeing." As she spoke, she wiggled the bottle a little bit. Her pretty lips pouted, and a tiny little wrinkle appeared between her eyes as she considered out loud: "let's see, who can look after little panda? Hmm... Ruby's at work and so's Eugenia. Elsa's visiting her sister and Kristoff and Gold and Isabelle are out of town. Not that I would ever trust Gold with little panda here, but Isabelle's good with kids. Not that it helps much when she isn't here. Zelena's working too, so what other options are there?"
"I can...manage two...kids...while you're...at...work," Regina said again. Really, it wouldn't be a problem. Yes, maybe she would run around a little extra, but she could handle that.
"Or..." Emma suddenly grinned from ear to ear. "Maybe baby panda could accompany me to work today!"
The way she said it had Regina laughing. The two slices of toast popped up, and Regina snapped out of her laughing fit. She swiftly grabbed the two slices of toast and had to throw them onto the nearest plate. They were very hot. She suspected that she had just burned her fingertips, and blew on them in an attempt to minimize the damage.
"Careful, love," Emma scolded. "Don't hurt yourself."
"I am...not," Regina dismissed even though she definitely had burned her finger. She opened the fridge and grabbed the butter. "So you wanna...take Neal...with you...to w-work?"
"Yep," Emma chuckled. "Obviously, I'm going to text Malena and ask if it's okay, but if she says yes, I'm dubbing today "take your baby panda to work"-day."
"She is...going to...say yes," Regina predicted with a laugh. Who could say no to Neal? Who was this cute? And dressed like a panda.
"Let's hope so. You finished your bottle! Good job, buddy."
Neal gave a coo. He loved being spoken to. Regina had discovered that quite recently. She watched and silently aww'ed as Emma wiped his little mouth. Placed a dishtowel over her shoulder and lifted Neal up. "Now for the tricky part," she announced as she lifted the baby up, so his chin was resting on the top of her shoulder. "How to get little panda to burp."
"Would you...like me...to do it?" Regina offered
"Nope, I got it," Emma assured. "You better bring the patient his breakfast."
Regina laughed again. "I'll...do that then."
She took the plate of buttered toast and elegantly balanced it as she went upstairs again.
Henry was more awake this time. He was half-way sitting up in bed. And drinking his tea. Good boy.
"I brought….. Breakfast, sweetie," Regina said and smiled at her glassy eyed little prince who definitely wasn't feeling well.
"Urgh," Henry said and scrunched up his nose. "I'm not really hungry, mom."
"Poor thing." Regina sat the plate of toast down on the nightstand and sat herself down on his bedside. She reached out and touched his forehead again. He felt warm. Warmer. His fever had gone up, but she still wasn't alarmed. "Do you…..feel…. nauseous….at all?"
"No," Henry croaked. "But my throat is really scratchy."
"The…. Tea…. Will… help with that, but….you need….food in your….stomach too… otherwise….your headache… will….only….get worse."
Henry turned his head and looked at the two slices of toast. Wrinkled his nose again.
"Come….on," Regina gently coaxed. "You have…. To eat…. Something, Henry."
"Ookayyy," he half-groaned, and Regina smiled because he definitely had learned that from Emma.
Henry attempted to set the cup of tea down on the nightstand, but his hands were trembling a little bit. Regina took the cup from him before a disaster could happen. She also handed him the plate of toast.
He took one of the slices and began nibbling on it. Not with the most enthusiasm, but that was alright. As long as he got some food in his belly. Otherwise he would feel all woozy. Food was required for regaining his strength. Regina recognized the symptoms of a common cold. It would blow over quickly, and luckily, his stomach wouldn't be affected.
"That's…. it," Regina praised and smiled at him.
He did that thing where he wrinkled his nose at her, and Regina thought to herself that if he perked up later, she would make a batch of cookies. That would cheer him up.
"Do you…. Need anything…. Else?" she asked.
Henry shook his head. "No, thanks, mom. I think I just wanna sleep. When I'm done eating."
"That is… a good idea." She stood from the bed and walked over to the window. Cranked it open slightly to let in some fresh air. Fresh air would do Henry good, and it would prevent the room from getting all cluttered. "I will be…. Right downstairs if you… need me."
"Thanks, mom."
She pecked his forehead and went downstairs again.
Emma had made breakfast. Toast with cream cheese and jam. And she was pouring coffee for her too. Regina was delighted. Now she could literally just sit down and eat her food and drink her coffee. How wonderful.
"How's the patient doing?" Emma asked as she brought the two cups over to the table.
"Not so...keen on...eating," Regina replied, brushing a lock of hair away from her face. "I think...its t-the...fever."
"Makes sense," Emma said as she sat down at the table. "I hope he'll feel better soon."
"Me too." Regina smiled. "You made...breakfast. T-thank you...darling."
"No thank you's required, milady," Emma quipped. "Now sit down and drink your coffee before it gets cold, Mills."
Regina chuckled and followed Emma's example. Sat down and took the first sip of the hot coffee. "Mmm," she said appreciatingly. Yes, this was exactly what her rasp morning voice needed.
"Good coffee?"
"Yes, very."
"Good." Emma smiled. "I finally managed to work out your ridiculously complicated coffee machine."
"My coffee...machine is not...complicated." It was just a matter of pushing the right buttons.
"Are you kidding me? It's basically rocket science, Mills," Emma teased, grinning into her coffee.
"You're...silly," Regina said simply as she dug into her breakfast.
"Acknowledged."
Neal cooed. A happy little sound. His bad mood never lasted for very long. Regina busied herself making faces at him while Emma looked at her phone which just had made a chiming sound.
"That was a yes from Malena," Emma told her after a moment "Seriously, she's the coolest boss ever!"
Neal cooed again. Clearly agreeing with Emma's statement. So did Regina. Malena was definitely cool. But Regina wasn't surprised, though. Again, who could say no to Neal?
When Emma was done eating, she announced that she would be heading upstairs to take a shower. She passed Regina on the way. And pressed a light kiss to the top of her head.
Regina could only repeat what Emma had said a little earlier. "That was... really nice."
"Good," Emma chuckled. Then she disappeared upstairs.
Regina noted that Emma was walking a lot softer than she normally would. For Henry's sake. In case he was sleeping. That was really thoughtful.
While Emma was upstairs taking her morning shower, Regina cleaned up after breakfast. It could have been a boring task, but it wasn't. Because Neal was happily cooing in his bouncer. Almost like he was purposefully entertaining her.
"That is… Nice of you….Sweetie," Regina told him and laughed. "What a…. good little….panda….. you are today."
"Gah," said Neal.
She was just about to pop the last plate into the dishwasher when Emma came back downstairs. Looking ever so lovely in a green dress and wearing her signature pale pink lipstick. Her golden curls had swept up in a ponytail, but a few strands of hair were framing her pretty face. Regina found it hard to focus.
At least until Emma broke the spell by saying: "David sends his regards."
Regina put the plate into the dishwasher. "How is...he feeling...today?"
"Fairly okay I think," Emma replied. "He had been out on a walk with Kathryn a bit earlier."
"That sounds...good," Regina said and grabbed a cloth so she could wipe the table. "Exercise and...lots of...fresh air is...very important." She hadn't been very keen on being outside when she had been in the hospital, but she'd had a very convincing nurse who had coaxed her into doing daily walks. And to this day, Regina was convinced that the daily dose of fresh air had made a difference.
"It sure is."
Regina finished wiping the table and fixed her gaze on Emma instead. She looked so stunning. Regina simply had to say what she was thinking. "You look...so beautiful...today!"
Emma shot her a rather goofy grin at that. Henry had actually dubbed it 'the marshmallow grin'. Regina wasn't completely sure why, but it sounded funny.
"I remember when you would always give me a note that said that every time we saw each other,' Emma said fondly.
"Do you...miss the...notes?" Regina asked softly.
"Yes and no," Emma said and chuckled lightly. "The notes were definitely adorable, but now that I've heard your voice and know how you sound, I wouldn't trade it for the world!"
Regina suspected that she was the one to wear the 'marshmallow grin' now.
"You look beautiful too, by the way."
Regina scoffed. Seriously? "I'm wearing...my pajamas, Emma."
"Yeah, exactly," Emma smiled. "You look so beautiful in the morning. You always do."
"Stop it," Regina laughed.
"Never," said Emma mock firmly and looked at Neal in the bouncer. "Alright, little dude. Are you ready to go to work with me?"
"Daaah!" Neal gurgled and gave a drippily grimace. His little belly jiggled. Then he burped. And sounded shockingly much like an old man rather than a very small man. It was quite impressive, really.
They both laughed at that. Regina shook her head. Before Neal came into their lives, she had almost forgotten how utterly unpredictable babies were.
"What's going on?" Henry croaked from upstairs.
"Neal burped. Loudly," Emma told informed him. "How are you feeling, kid?"
"Alive," Henry said gravely, and his mothers laughed at him. Regina did not feel bad about it. It was obvious that Henry had been trying to joke.
"Okay, I seriously better get to work," Emma said when they had laughed sufficiently about the matter. "Otherwise I'll be late, and I bet Malena won't be happy then."
"Don't forget...your lunch," Regina said quickly as she went over to the fridge. She opened it and brought out the white lunch box.
"You made me lunch again?" Emma half-chuckled. "You know you don't have to do that, right? I can just buy something in the cantina."
"I know." That was very much true. Emma could buy lunch in the cantina. Regina did know that. And yet she kept on making lunch. Because she couldn't help it. Because caring for Emma Swan in even the smallest ways came naturally to her.
She felt herself flush as she admitted: "I can't...help it."
"Well, I definitely don't mind," Emma laughed. Emma came over to her and wrapped an arm around her waist. "You know I love your lunch. But I can't help to make sure that you're making me lunch because you want to, and not out of obligation."
"One of...the many reasons...I love...you."
"Yeah?" Emma snatched the lunch box right out of her hand and tightened her grip around her waist. "What are the other reasons then, Mills?"
"I could...tell you...every single one...of them...but then you would...be late for work," yes, Regina was shamelessly flirting as she tugged lightly at Emma's ponytail. There was indeed many reasons to love Emma. and right now, her ponytail was one of those reasons.
"Right well, we'll definitely have to talk more about those reasons when I come home." Emma snickered. Then kissed her.
"Mmmm." Regina hummed softly and cupped her cheeks.
This was definitely another reason for loving Emma Swan. She was such an exquisite kisser. And she smelled so good. Fresh and citrus like. Regina definitely could get addicted. In fact, if Emma didn't leave at once, they would be doing this all day long. And so, Regina chuckled softly as she nudged Emma away. "You'll be...late for work...my love."
"Yeah. And you probably have work too, don't you?"
"I do." She grinned. Had managed to forget her own work for a hot minute. "You are...delaying me."
"Alright, alright," Emma mock-grumbled. "I'm leaving. In fact I'm leaving right now." She gave Regina's waist one last squeeze and went over to the bouncer so she could pick up Neal's bouncer.
"Come on, little panda. Let's go and charm everyone at Dragon Publishing, eh?" she hummed.
Neal cooed when his bouncer was lifted. Regina kissed the top of Emma's head. Then the top of Neal's head. "Have a…. Good day….at work….both….of….you." "The same to you, Mills," Emma chuckled. And as she turned her head and yelled: "Bye kid, see you later!", Regina took the opportunity to stuff the lunch box into Emma's bag.
"See you, Ma!" Henry croaked.
"You better feel better when I get home," Emma jokingly threatened. "And I might just have some mint ice cream with me when I get back!"
"That sounds awesome!"
"You are...spoiling him." Regina wasn't even scolding her.
"Yes, I am," Emma blissfully agreed. "Because he is worth spoiling. And so are you."
"See you...later," Regina smiled. "I love...you."
"I love you too." Emma kissed her softly. Then left, armed with Neal in the bouncer, his diaper bag, and her own bag.
Regina looked out of the window and watched as Emma climbed into the Mercedes and drove off. Now it was just her and Henry home. The house was very quiet, Regina thought. Normally, there was so much noise when Neal was here. It was strange that it was so quiet. But she reminded herself that Neal would come back again later.
This time. One day, David is going to want him back.
She shook her head. Didn't want to think about that. Not now.
Regina turned around and headed into the living room where her laptop was standing on the coffee table. Her phone was there too, and she grabbed it so she could text Henry. 'I am in the living room. Text me if you need anything. Don't strain yourself with yelling.'
The reply came immediately. 'Okay, mom. Thanks.'
'Try and get some sleep. I love you.'
'I love you too.'
Regina left it at that and sat down in the couch. Her plan was to start work and power through for about an hour. Then she would go upstairs to shower and dress for the day. She hummed to herself as she switched on the laptop. She found her reading glasses on the table and slipped them on. The laptop screen immediately became a bit clearer. Regina stretched her arms high above her head. Yawned. She was feeling a bit unmotivated this morning. Typical Monday. She chuckled, silently encouraged herself. Come on. Get started. The sooner you'll get started, the sooner you'll be finished. Not that she did not enjoy her job, she did. Very much so. But the 'Monday-blaahs' as Emma called it, was getting to her.
She was just about to get started when her phone made a sound to indicate that she had gotten a text. It was from Henry. He was requesting more tea. Regina immediately cancelled everything else and went into the kitchen to make some tea for her little prince. He came first. Always. Her work could wait a little longer. Henry needed tea. And maybe she would have a cup too. It couldn't harm, could it? Her voice would probably be grateful…
'Thank you for the awesome lunch, babe!'
Regina smiled as she read the newly arrived text from Emma. She washed her sticky hands before grabbing the phone and answering the text. 'You are most welcome, my darling. Are you having a good day at work?'
'I am. Can I call you? That could be really awesome!'
Regina pursed her lips. This was a new thing for them. They hadn't spoken over the phone before. Or, she hadn't spoken properly over the phone before. They hadn't had an actual conversation over the phone before. Before her thoughts could stray in any kind of direction regarding the nature of their previous phone calls, she quickly answered the text. 'What if I stutter?'
'Then I don't give a flying fuck. Can I call you? Please?'
Why say no? Saying no would be silly. Regina was all for trying new things now. 'You can call me.'
It felt like she had barely sent the text before her phone rang. Regina quickly swiped a finger across the screen and brought the phone to her ear. "Hello, my...darling," she said and was silently thrilled. She was on the phone. With her girlfriend.
"Hi, sweetie!"
Sweetie? Alright then. "That was...a new...one." but that was fine. She was more than okay with being 'sweetie'.
"Best thing I could come up with. How are you doing?"
"I am doing...quite well. What...about you? Have you...had your...lunch?"
"Yes, ma'am." A chuckle. "Just finished the last bite. That was an awesome sandwich, babe!"
Regina chuckled again. "Good."
"So? How's the patient?"
"He's doing...okay," Regina answered and turned her head so she could peek into the living room where Henry was half asleep. The TV was on. The Lion King was today's favorite. "He's been...moved to the...couch so I don't...have to...run up the...stairs all the...time."
"And it's easier for you to answer him when he needs you because you can't holler back."
"Correct, miss...Swan."
Emma laughed sweetly in the other end. "You guys are so clever. I can't wait to see you when I come home later."
"You haven't...been gone...for that...long," Regina pointed out. As though Emma was silly. She wasn't, though. Regina was missing Emma just as much as Emma missed her.
"Maybe not. But I still miss you! What are you doing right now?"
"I am...baking cookies." Somehow, she had managed to squeeze that into her workday.
"Seriously?" Emma groaned into the phone, and had Henry not been in the other room, Regina definitely would have commented on that.
She chose not to, though. Maybe he wasn't sleeping that heavily. And there was no reason to make him croak 'moooom!'. "Yes. Henry...was in the mood...for something...sweet, and I...figured it could be nice...to have some cookies...in the house. You could...b-bring some with you...to work tomorrow."
"Oh my god, you are so much wife material!"
It was hard to chuckle and sound all casual. "Am I...Indeed?" a warmth was spreading rapidly in her chest.
"That sounded wrong," Emma immediately amended, and even over the phone, Regina could hear the sheepishness in her voice.
"I think it...sounded nice." She was still trying to sound nonchalant.
Her heart was pounding faster and faster though.
"Yeah?"
"Mmmhmmm," Regina hummed and decided that it was time to change subject. This was hardly something they should be discussing over the phone. "What is...Neal doing?
"Behaving excellent. He just had his bottle and now he's looking at his feet. We're all good here."
"That is...excellent. And Malena...doesn't mind that he's...there?" she was just checking. Of course she didn't actually think that Malena would mind Neal being there.
"Nope, not at all," Emma assured her. "And she might reach out to you pretty soon."
"M-Malena?" How come?
"Yeah. She mentioned that she's been missing her godson."
Regina nodded even though Emma couldn't see it. "Oh, I s-see...Well, maybe...we could...invite her...and Ursula over...for dinner sometimes?" the idea came completely spontaneously, but Regina was not unhappy about it. It had been ages since she'd had friends over for dinner. And she had missed it.
"That is a brilliant idea, beautiful," Emma said. Then Neal made some sort of noise and caused them both to laugh.
Regina was just about to ask what Neal was doing, when she heard some disturbance in the other end. Low muttering. And Emma going 'that's fine'.
"What was...that, my...darling?" Regina asked curiously.
"That was Malena," Emma said in the other end.
Thunk!
Regina winced slightly at the loud sound. Did a tornado pass by Dragon Publishing, or what? "And what...was that?"
"That was Malena dropping the ink cartridges because she heard your voice,"came the sheepish reply in the other end. "I forgot to tell her about the latest uh... development."
"Oh," Regina said softly. "Yes, I c-can...imagine that...that must have...been quite the...surprise."
Emma wasn't the only one who had forgotten. Regina had too. And now she was mentally kicking herself. Why hadn't she thought of sharing the good news with her oldest friend? Damn it!
"I guess you could say that."
"Is she...still there?" Regina asked.
"She is."
"Okay." Regina took a quick breath. It wasn't fair of her to once again pushing Malena out. Even though it hadn't been intentionally this time. "Do you...think you...could put me...on speaker?"
"Absolutely." Emma grinned softly. "Hold on." There was some shuffling in the other end. Then: "okay, go ahead. The stage is yours."
Regina chuckled softly. And then she greeted her oldest friend verbally for the first time in seventeen months. "Hello...Malena."
"Hello," Malena said in the other end.
"How are...you doing?" Regina asked softly.
"Quite shocked at the moment," Malena replied. "But very, very happy too, dear. You can speak!"
"I-I can." Regina smiled. It felt wonderful to actually talk to her friend again. "As you...can hear...it's with...some delay...and a bit of...stuttering, but I am...getting better at...it."
"It is truly wonderful to hear your voice again. I've missed that."
"I've missed...talking to...you," Regina said and quickly glanced towards the oven. Her cookies were doing just fine. "And just...talking in...general."
"I can more than imagine that." There was a slight edge in her voice now.
It wasn't hard to deduce what Malena was thinking about, and Regina didn't want her to. There was no reason for Malena to be sad right now.
She changed the subject. "Emma and I...was just talking…" Yes. Talking! "Maybe you and...Ursula would like...to come over...for dinner this...Saturday?"
"Really?" Malena asked. She didn't sound particularly uncertain. Just surprised.
"Absolutely," Emma confirmed, and Regina copied that: "a-absolutely. You could...say...hello to...Henry."
"And we could invite Zelena and Chad too!" Emma excitedly interjected. "What do you think of that, babe?"
"That is a...good idea...my l-love," Regina praised. "What do...you think...about that...Mal?" Yep, she could also say her best friend's nickname now! She was seriously winning this talking-thing.
"I'll run it by Ursula and then I'll text-" Malena interrupted herself by laughing heartedly. "No, I will not. I'll CALL you and tell you what she says. But I think you and Emma can expect us for dinner."
"That sounds...wonderful," Regina was thrilled about this development. "Seven...o'clock? Is that...okay with both of...you?"
"Yes," Emma and Malena said in unison, and Malena added: "I wish I didn't have work right now."
Regina chuckled warmly. She understood what Mal meant. "We'll...c-catch up...this...Saturday."
"Indeed. And I cannot wait for that. But now I think I'll have to leave you to it. Goodbye, dear. It really was wonderful talking to you again."
"Likewise." Such a small word. But oh, how she meant it! She heard Malena say goodbye to Emma in the other end, and then it was just her and Emma talking again.
"She walked out of here wearing the biggest grin I've ever seen in my life!" Emma revealed and chuckled into the phone.
"Good," Regina said simply. There's that damned strain again! Why can't I just keep talking?
"Your voice is getting tired, isn't it?"
"A...little bit." Regina had no choice but to admit defeat.
"Then let's end it here, okay?"Emma said softly. "I'll see you when I get home. With mint ice cream."
"Henry is...looking forward to that," Regina laughed and urged her voice to not fail her. "See y-you...later, my...love."
"See you, Ma!" Henry had woken up and decided to join the conversation.
"See you later, kid. What are you and your mom gonna do once I've hung up?"
"We're gonna watch Spiderman!" Henry said, and Regina was slightly surprised at that development. This was news to her.
"Urgh, I'm officially jealous!" Emma moaned. "Anyway, I should get going. I can't wait to see you guys later!"
"You've already said that," Henry rasped. Then he coughed. For the millionth time that day. That type of dry cough that sits right in your bronchia.
Emma 'ohh'ed' in concern in the other end.
"I...better...g-go and...make him some...m-more t-tea," Regina said. She wasn't too concerned. Henry just needed more tea, that was all. He was already feeling better than this morning. His fever was rapidly going down.
"Yeah, do that. But make sure you also sit down now and then."
"N-noted. See you later."
"Yeah. Love you. Bye!"
"B-bye."
Regina put down the phone and checked the cookies again. They were not quite done yet, but they probably would be when she was done making tea for Henry. So that was exactly what she did. Her timing turned out to be correct, and she was happy to offer her sick son a freshly baked cookie. He praised it and encouraged her to sit down and watch the rest of The Lion King with him. And how could Regina resist that?
They were just about to start Spiderman when Regina's phone dinged in the kitchen. She excused herself via Sign Language and headed into the kitchen to see what it was about. Maybe it was Emma again. It could be something about Neal.
It wasn't though. It was in fact Malena.
'My dear, I am so unbelievably happy for you. You have no idea how happy I am. I would call you, but you know how I feel about talking on the phone when I'm emotional.'
'That is completely fine,' Regina texted, well aware of how Malena felt about phone calls in general. She didn't like them. Didn't like that she wasn't able to see people's facial expressions when talking to them. 'I am resting my voice anyway. It still gets a bit tired.'
'I can imagine so. Are you alright, though?'
Regina smiled. 'I am. Thank you for asking!'
'Of course. How about my godson? I hear that he isn't feeling too well today.'
'He is doing alright. It's just a bit of a cold. I trust he'll be up and about in no time.'
'Before Saturday?'
'Absolutely. He'll be as fine as a fiddle in time for the dinner.'
'Excellent. I cannot wait to come for dinner. I already talked to Ursula. She is excited too.'
'Wonderful!' Regina smiled again. It truly was wonderful that all four of them could be friends like this. Good friends. Malena was back in her life, and Emma didn't care that she was her ex-girlfriend. It didn't matter.
'I am sorry I didn't tell you that my voice has. I should have done so sooner.'
'You're telling me now. That's the only thing that matters. You have nothing to be sorry about.'
'Are you sure?'
'Of course.'
'Thank you. I've missed you.'
'I've missed you too, dear.'
'What is life without a dragon?' Regina wrote and chuckled softly at the old joke between them.
'That I do not know. Nor is it something you have to worry about either. We won't lose contact again, right?'
'Right. No more of that.'
'Deal. May I change the subject?'
'Sure.'
'That baby panda your lovely girlfriend brought with her to work, is absolutely adorable. Is there any chance he can go with her every day?'
Regina laughed out loud. 'I'm afraid not'.
'Damnit. I'll give him some extra cuddles on Saturday, then.'
'He'd love that.'
"Mom? Are you coming?"
She knocked on the tabletop twice to indicate 'yes'.
'I have to go. Henry needs me.'
'Of course. Tell my godson to feel better!'
'I'll do that.'
With that, she put her phone down and headed back into the living room so she could watch a movie with her son….
"I'm home!" It came from the hallway sometime later.
Regina hastily headed into the hallway to greet her girlfriend. She smiled. Put a finger on her lip briefly. Then signed: 'Henry is asleep.'
"Oh." Emma said automatically lowered her voice and whispered: "hi, beautiful."
Regina smiled and kissed her cheek.
"How is he feeling?" Emma whispered. "I brought mint ice cream. And cough drops. And I also bought him a comic book in case he wants to read later."
Regina kissed her other cheek. Emma was so thoughtful always. 'He'll be very happy about that.'
"Anything for the kid."
Regina patted her cheek gently. "There's cookies...for you in the...kitchen."
"Awesome," Emma was impressively fast as she took off her coat and boots and tiptoed into the kitchen.
Regina took it upon herself to lift Neal out of the bouncer. She cuddled him and kissed the top of his head. Hello, little one. I've missed you too. With the baby in her arms, she headed into the kitchen.
"This is SO good," Emma whispered.
"Good," Regina smiled. "I'll just...take Neal...upstairs so he...can sleep."
"You don't want me to do it?"
Regina ignored that and headed upstairs with Neal. Emma had been on baby watch all day. Now it was her turn.
Neal was being very sleepy and therefore did not make a fuss when she gently laid him down in his crib. He just cooed softly, already half asleep. Regina tugged his little blue, star dotted baby blanket over him, and her heart nearly melted when Neal yawned. She bent down and kissed his forehead. "Goodnight….Little one….See….You….Later."
Neal obviously did not answer. Reckoning that he was out cold and would be for a while, Regina left the bedroom again and headed back downstairs. back downstairs Coming into the living room, she discovered that Henry was awake and halfway sitting up. Regina perched herself on the edge of the couch and put a hand on his forehead. Like she had done so many times today.
"Moo-ooom!" Henry moaned. "I'm trying to read my new comic!"
"I think...your fever is... better than...this morning," Regina said and chose to ignore his complain.
"That's awesome," Emma said. "I've heard a rumor that we're having chicken soup for dinner?"
"That's...right," Regina confirmed.
"I'm making it. I happen to be an expert in chicken soup."
"Deal." She surrendered without protesting. Emma was quite good at making chicken soup.
Henry clearly needed a moment with his new comic, so Regina stood from the edge of the couch and walked over to the plushy chair Emma was sitting in. Her intention had been to bend down and give Emma a sweeter welcome home kiss than the one she had bestowed upon her in the hallway, but her plan was ruined when Emma slipped an arm around her waist and tugged her down.
Regina ended up sitting on Emma's lap. She clicked her tongue. Then laughed. She wasn't one bit unhappy about her new way of sitting.
Henry didn't comment on it either. Perhaps he hadn't noticed. Perhaps he was too engrossed in his new comic. Or perhaps he didn't find their affection 'gross' anymore. Not that he ever had found it to be actually gross, of course. He was just teasing them. But not today.
Regina looked into Emma's eyes and draped her arms around Emma's neck.
Emma made a happy little sound in the back of her throat and tightened her grip on Regina's waist. "I might not let you go again," she mock-warned. "I might need you to keep sitting here forever, Mills."
"That is…. Fine with…. Me," Regina laughed and shifted, making herself comfortable on Emma's lap.
Henry was feeling better. Their 'borrowed' baby was peacefully asleep upstairs. Later, Emma would make chicken soup for them, there was delicious cookies for dessert, and they most likely would conclude their evening with another Disney movie.
"Who knew…. That an…..ordinary Monday…..Could be this…. Perfect?" Regina asked rhetorically.
"Me," Emma sniggered. "I knew it. How can it be anything but perfect when I'm coming home to you?"
Life, Regina thought as Emma teasingly squeezed her, was pretty good. It felt as though this perfect Monday was shaping the rest of the week. And on Saturday, their friends would come over for dinner.
Regina couldn't wait for that. She couldn't wait to once again open her home to people. To light. To laughter. And she was thrilled that she wanted to. That she was the one who had come up with this suggestion. She was a completely new person. So far from the isolated, frightened woman she once had been. She was proud of herself and the person she had become. But she owed a lot of it to the beautiful blonde woman whose lap she currently was sitting on….
To Be Continued…