It was one very tired Emma Swan who finally could leave the wedding after having taken one last picture of the happy couple. The two women had been a very lovely couple. Sweet, polite and very grateful that she was there. She had been treated like a guest. Had participated in the dinner, toasted and been offered champagne. Which she of course had declined. Emma didn't drink when she was working.

It had been a beautiful wedding with wonderful guests.

But the event had dragged on forever.

The heater in her car wasn't working properly, and the formal, black trousers she was wearing, were too goddamn tight. And her blouse seemed to be climbing into her armpits. Urgh. Emma was not a very happy swan.

But it wasn't because of the wedding. Or the cold weather. Or even because of her clothes. Nope, it was because today happened to be the first day of her period, and that always tended to make her a little extra sensitive to everything. It had been fucking hard to get out of bed this morning. As bad timing as it had been, today had been a double-day for Emma. Meaning that she first had a photo event early in the morning. A birthday party, it had been. And then she had rushed to make it to the wedding in time. It had been tough. This morning had been somewhat of a nightmare. And it hadn't made it any better that Regina had been all cuddly this morning. She had mumbled in sleepy Spanish while reaching for Emma.

Emma had almost decided to ditch her work in order to melt into Regina's arms right then and there. But alas, she hadn't. She had been all sensible and forced herself out of bed. Away from Regina's usual morning warmth. It had been painful.

But at least she was on her way home now. That was something. And she had the entire weekend off. She could officially turn into a potato the moment she walked through the door. Unless Regina wanted to do stuff.

Emma frowned. She kinda hoped that Regina didn't. She hoped that Regina was in the mood for staying in and eat gross food. Like… nachos. Yes. Nachos. Or mozzarella sticks. Oh god, she could probably eat a whole pack of those. Or two.

Did they have mozzarella sticks in the house? Or should she drive by the grocery store really quickly?

Emma decided to do it no matter what. She could always by herself some chocolate. And some chips. Or popcorn. Extra salty. Regina had really been digging popcorn lately, and Emma was not about to forget her pregnant girlfriend's needs in the midst of her self-pity.

"Don't you honk at me!" she threatened the car behind her. "There's a big ass truck in front of me, okay!"

The car honked again, and Emma debated whether committing murder was acceptable or not…

One hour later, Emma pulled up in front of Granny's Diner. She had promised to pick up Regina on her way home. Regina had been working late tonight. She was probably looking forward to coming home too. She had been on her feet for a long time.

Emma unbuckled her seatbelt and got out of the car. Obviously, she was not just going to sit in the car and wait. That was rude. Of course she would be heading inside the diner to pick up Regina.

She muttered a bit under her breath and complained about the bad weather. It was nice to be able to open the door and slip inside the toasty warm diner.

Emma was greeted by laughter. Three different women laughing. She recognized all three voices. One of them made her stomach flipflop in delight. That laughter of course belonged to Regina. Emma stood for a moment in the doorway and just basked in the sound of Regina laughing. Emma loved hearing Regina laugh. The sound always felt a shot of happiness injected straight into her veins. It made her feel rejuvenated and happy. Even when she felt as grumpy as she did today.

The two other women laughing were Ruby and Belle. Emma peered into the staffroom in the diner and quickly found the three women together. All three of them were laughing hysterically. Ruby was gesturing wildly, speaking in between fits of laughter. Belle had a hand cupped over her mouth, and Regina was gripping onto the table not to double over in laughter.

"I kid you not, that's what happened," Ruby gasped, breathless from laughing. "I still don't know how I made it home that night!"

"Dios mio." Regina wiped tears of laughter away from her cheeks. "How is it even possibly to fall into a fountain?"

"It's possible if you're drunk enough," Ruby sniggered.

"I'm impressed." Regina laughed again. "I once nearly fell into a swimming pool, but never a fountain."

Emma smiled as her three favorite people started laughing again. She'd heard the story about the swimming pool once. It was a highly entertaining story.

But Emma was quite relieved that Regina hadn't actually fallen into the pool, though.

"You're the only person I know who would fall into a fountain, Rubes," Belle said fondly and flashed her girlfriend a smile.

"Yeah. And if you're not careful, I'll drag you with me," Ruby mock threatened.

"I would like to see that." Regina giggled and looked like she was about to burst into a new fit of giggles.

"I wouldn't." Belle grimaced.

It literally didn't take anymore than that. Regina started laughing again. Her legs wobbled and she gripped the edge of the table with one hand. The other one rested on her round belly. She looked like she was having the time of her life. Until a flash of pain crossed her face and she went 'ouch' as she held her belly a little more firmly.

"You good?" asked Ruby before Emma could.

"Sí, sí, just a little bit of Braxton Hicks."

"Have there been a lot of those?" Emma asked, finally announcing herself instead of creeping around.

Regina turned her head and a smile blossomed on her face. "¡Querida!". She took off her apron and came over to Emma. She put her arms around Emma's neck and gave her a kiss. "Hi."

"Hey!" Emma immediately felt a little better. She slipped her arms around Regina's waist and gave her a little squeeze. "You're in a good mood."

"Sí, Ruby tells so many fun stories." Regina cupped her cheeks. "And how are you feeling?" She frowned softly. "You look a little pale, mi amor."

"Long day," Emma said. "Wanna go home and watch crap television whilst eating cookies?"

"That is the best offer I've gotten all day."

Emma tilted her head and quirked an eyebrow in a teasing gesture. "Got many offers, beautiful girl?"

"No," Regina laughed.

"But your girl has gotten plenty of tips, though," Ruby piped up. "She's like, massively popular! Especially with the kids. She ended up getting a tiny stalker, isn't that right, Regina?"

"Sí." Regina sniggered and explained: "it was this little boy about this size-" she illustrated with her hands how small the boy had been. "He kept following me everywhere. And asking me questions about the balloon under my dress…"

"Oh." Emma grinned. "That's adorable!"

"I know. He melted my heart. I was quite sad when he left."

"You'll get your own one soon enough," Emma gently reminded her girlfriend and put a hand on her baby bump. "Did the Braxton Hicks go away, by the way?"

"Sí, all gone. Nothing to worry about."

"I know. But I'll still be happier when you are resting with your feet up."

"You're adorable."

"Sí," Emma teased. "Are you ready to go?"

"No, she's not," Ruby butted in. "Granny has a gift for her. Employee bonus. Stay put."

She disappeared further into the backroom, and Emma shot Regina a confused look. "What bonus is that?"

"No tengo ni idea." Regina shrugged. "This is the first time I'm hearing about it."

"Huh. Curiouser and curiouser."

She didn't have to be curious for long, though. Soon, Ruby came back, carrying a tinfoil covered plate.

"What's this?" Regina asked.

"Nachos with cheese," chuckled Ruby. "Granny thinks you look hungry. Or maybe she's just drowning in nachos. Either way it's for you. It just needs to be re-heated."

"I love Granny," Emma said spontaneously.

"Me too. She's amazing," Regina said warmly as she happily took the plate from Ruby. "Tell her thank you when you see her."

"I will. I'll text her. I think she had plans tonight."

"I see. Interesante."

The way Regina said it, plus the slight smirk on her face had Emma feeling all curious. So as soon as they had said goodbye to Ruby and Belle, Emma immediately asked Regina: "what was the smirk about? When Ruby said that Granny had plans tonight?"

"Because as it happens, daddy cancelled dinner with us," Regina told her, smirk lurking in the corner of her mouth again. "He texted me about an hour ago and told me that he couldn't make it. The official explanation is that he had a work related phone call, but…"

"You don't buy it?" Emma guessed.

"No, I do not." Regina giggled as she elegantly climbed into Emma's little Bug. "I think he and Eugenia is on a date somewhere."

"It's not impossible." Emma too climbed inside the car. She buckled her seatbelt and entertained the thought of Regina's father and Ruby's grandmother sneaking off on a secret date somewhere. It was very cute to think about.

"Part of me want to drive around town and see if I can find them." Regina chuckled. "But the other part of me knows that it's none of my business. Yet."

"Can't blame you for being curious, though. Your dad hasn't been dating anyone before."

"At least not that I know of. And I really want this to work out for them. Though it would be fairly awkward to keep calling her 'Granny' if things becomes serious between them."

"Oh." Emma frowned. Then laughed. She hadn't thought of that. "That's a good point, actually."

"Mmm. So…" Regina leaned back in the seat, careful not to tip over the plate of nachos. "Do we have any plans this evening, mi amor? Except for heating up this plate of goodness, of course."

"No plans," Emma said and suffocated a yawn. She was so tired…

They arrived home to an empty house. There was a note from her mom on the table, explaining that she and Emma's dad had gone out for dinner. They were home alone. And under normal circumstances, Emma would have taken advantage of it immediately. And taken Regina straight to bed. But on this particular night, she only felt like taking herself to bed. Or at least to the couch.

"I'm going upstairs to change," she announced. Seriously, it felt like her abdomen was begging for mercy. She dragged her tired, useless body up the stairs and into her bedroom where she took off her too-tight pants, the annoying blouse and the bra that had been stabbing her all day. She breathed a sigh of relief when she finally could put on her old, soft and well-loved sweatpants and a big, boxy sweater.

She almost felt like a brand-new person after a trip to the bathroom in which she had removed her makeup and tied her hair back in a relaxed braid. She had also treated herself to an aspirin to relieve some of the cramps she was having. She gave an unsatisfied little puff as she looked at herself in the mirror. Why was she looked so old tonight? What was up with that? And was that a pimple on her forehead?

It was. It was definitely a pimple.

"Urgh," said Emma and scowled at her reflection. Which did not make her look any prettier. She hastily left the bathroom before she could do anymore damage.

When she came back downstairs, she found that the kitchen smelled deliciously of melting cheese. And she found Regina sitting cross legged on the living room floor. She had one arm wrapped around her round belly, and the other stretched gracefully in the air.

"Pregnancy yoga?" Emma guessed and grinned a bit. She always found it highly entertaining to watch Regina do yoga.

"Sí. And don't you dare laughing at me, Emma Swan." Regina huffed.

"I'd never dream of it. You look magnificent."

"Gracías, querida. I try my best." She leaned to her left and grimaced slightly. "Ooof, my back is so tense these days!"

"Want me to rub it for you?"

"No, that's okay. From where I'm sitting, it looks like you're the one who might need a back massage, mi amor. Is the cramps really bad?"

"How did you know?" Emma mumbled and sank into the couch. She and Regina hadn't spoken this morning. Regina had still been half asleep when Emma left.

"You look so miserable," Regina said softly. "And you're too pale too. I can tell that you're not feeling well today, querida. But don't worry. I'm here to pamper you."

"I'm the one who's supposed to pamper you, though." Once again, Emma tried her best to suffocate a yawn. "You're the one who's pre- preg-" she failed and erupted in a massive yawn.

"Sí, I'm pregnant," Regina agreed and frowned in sheer concentration as she stretched to her right. "But I am not in pain. You are. That makes the whole difference."

"I took an aspirin. It'll be fine."

"Sí. And especially after you've had some nachos."

As on cue, the little alarm in the kitchen went 'ding', and with surprising speed and much grace, Regina got on her feet and waddled into the kitchen.

"Not so fast," Emma called after her. "You're supposed to take it easy!"

"Do you want the nachos to burn?"

"….No."

"There you go then." Regina's laughter floated in from the kitchen along with the smell of melted cheese, and Emma made a noise of delight as she leaned back in the couch.

It didn't take long before Regina came back. She was carrying the plate of nachos and two plates. "There we go," she said lightly as she sat the lot down on the coffee table.

"I need cheese," Emma said simply.

"Don't we all." Regina sniggered. "Eat, querida. I'll be back in a second."

"Where are you going?"

She received no answer. Regina simply disappeared into the kitchen. Emma heard her roam around. The water was switched on. Emma's curiosity was growing, but it was hard to concentrate fully on what was going on when she simultaneously was stuffing her face with cheese-covered nachos.

But she still ended up going: "are you making tea?" when she heard the sound of the kettle whistling in the kitchen.

"No," came the reply.

"Then what?"

"Come tus nachos, querida."

"I am eating nachos! But if you stay out there for too long, they'll get cold." She didn't want Regina to eat cold nachos.

"Be there in a second!"

Emma had to settle with that. She shoved more nachos inside her mouth and felt every bit pleased about the crunchy sound. She already felt lots better. Getting home helped. Getting out of her too tight clothes helped. Hanging out with Regina helped enormously.

She had just consumed another mouthful of nachos when Regina came into the living room again. Carrying the reason for her mysterious disappearance. It was a hot water bottle.

"For your cramps, querida," she said sweetly as she handed the water bottle to Emma. "Careful. It's hot."

Emma carefully took the hot water bottle and placed it on her abdomen. "Have I ever told you how ridiculously perfect you are?"

"I think you might have mentioned it a few times," Regina quipped as she sat down next to Emma on the couch. "Is there anymore nachos left?"

"Plenty. I'm greedy, but not that greedy."

Regina chuckled softly as she reached for the nachos. She was about to treat herself to a mouthful when her a frown creased her forehead and she put a hand on her belly. "Estoy comiendo ahora, pequeña. No hay razón para enfadarse."

"Blueberry getting impatient?" Emma guessed.

"Sí, very. He's hungry."

"He always is," Emma said fondly and patted Regina's belly lightly.

Blueberry responded by kicking a little foot against Emma's palm. The kick had Regina's face contorting again.

"Hey, hey," Emma said softly, now rubbing Regina's belly in slow circles. "Don't do that, little one. It hurts your mom, okay? And we don't want that. We never want that."

"I don't think moralizing is going to work at this age," Regina chuckled. "But I appreciate it, though."

"Maybe not." Emma leaned forward to treat herself to some nachos, but then her abdomen did that fucking cramping thing again, and she ended up wincing. And cussing under her breath.

"Mi pobre querida," Regina said sympathetically. "Is it very painful today?"

"A little." Yes, she was understating how she felt. "But it'll be better tomorrow, though."

"I wish it could be better right now. I hate seeing you in pain. Is there anything I can do?"

"You've already done plenty," Emma smiled and pressed the hot water bottle against her stomach. With her free hand, she touched Regina's cheek. "But you know what I wouldn't say no to?"

"What?"

"A kiss." Emma gave a goofy grin.

"Oh." Regina's dark eyes sparkled at that. "Well, I can definitely handle that." She leaned in and pecked Emma's lips. "Do you feel better now?"

"A little."

Regina kissed her again. "How about now?"

"Getting there." Emma puckered her lips slightly in the hope to win herself a third kiss.

She was in luck. Regina kissed her again. And this time, the kiss lasted a little bit longer. Long enough to give Emma the time to cup the back of Regina's head. Long enough to distract her from the cramps.

But they were interrupted when Regina's stomach started growling.

Emma snickered softly as she broke the kiss. "Someone's hungry."

"Not me. It must be Blueberry," Regina claimed with big, innocent eyes.

"Sure," Emma snorted. "Blame the kid."

Regina said something quiet in Spanish. Most likely something sassy. Emma couldn't quite hear it. She was much too fascinated watching Regina as she stuffed her face with nachos.

"Quit staring at me and eat," Regina said around a mouthful. "You're making me feel self-conscious."

"Not the intention. I was actually just about to praise your eating skills."

She said it completely without thinking, and she couldn't blame Regina for choking on the nachos. Then she laughed and laughed.

"My eating skills," she repeated, gasping for air. "That sounds so wrong, querida!"

"Or so right," Emma grinned. "Depending on the situation…" she hadn't meant to turn their conversation sexual, but she couldn't say that she minded. The amused look on Regina's face was definitely worth it.

Regina laughed again. "I swear, you'll end up sending me into early labors!"

"I hope not." Emma frowned a bit now.

"Keep making jokes and I won't be held responsible for the result," Regina threatened. "And eat some nachos. So I can admire your eating skills…"

"That is a great expression."

Regina shook her head. "Es una expresion terrible."

Naturally, Emma immediately took it upon herself to feign insult.

But not for long though. The nachos was a smidge more interesting. Never had she been more grateful for melted cheese.

"We should do this more often," she said in between mouthfuls and took the opportunity to push a lock of hair away from her face. She frowned. "Do I look a mess?"

"No," Regina said immediately. "Why would you think that?"

"Because I feel like one." Emma grimaced.

"Eres hermosa."

In her vulnerable state, that one little compliment was enough to make Emma feel all kinds of mushy and ridiculous. "Thanks."

"You are most welcome, mi amor. What do you say we go upstairs to watch television in bed after this?"

"That sounds great. I'll rub your feet then. They're probably sore, aren't they?"

"Not much."

Emma snorted. "Look who's understating."

"Look who's claiming that her cramps aren't that bad when they're actually terrible."

"Touché, beautiful girl. Touché."

Regina looked every bit triumphant. And not to mention ridiculously sexy. Emma definitely had a weakness for that sassy smile and the way Regina always flipped her hair behind her shoulder when she once again had managed to outsmart Emma in some kind of way.

"Did I tell you that Cora called me when I was at my lunch break?" Regina asked, interrupting Emma's train of thoughts.

"No, you haven't said that. Did she want something in particular?"

"No, she just wanted to talk. So we did. For the entirety of my lunch break."

"Wow," Emma said around a mouthful of nachos. "That's a long time. She must have had a lot on her mind."

"Actually not." Regina eyed the nachos as though trying to decide which one to eat. "It was just one of those random chats. Like one of those I have with daddy. But never with her. That was completely new. She gave me a whole long update about what her and Malaina have been doing. Lily too. I hope she'll come and visit us when we move to California."

"Cora and Malaina? Or Lily?"

"Well… All three of them. I would like to show them our new home. I don't want to push Cora out."

"Of course you don't. And you're not. You're approaching her carefully. That's different." Very much so.

"Sí, I suppose it is," Regina nodded and pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. "We also talked a bit about the birth."

"Oh." Emma lifted an eyebrow. "She didn't push you about wanting to be here for it, did she?"

"No, no, not at all. And that had me thinking."

"About what, beautiful girl?"

"About whether I might have been too quick in my decision. Maybe I shouldn't have excluded her so quickly. From the birth, I mean."

"Oh," Emma said again. "Well, it's completely up to you, honey. And I'll support you no matter what you decide, you know that."

"Sí, I know. I don't know yet, but I still have some time to decide," Regina said and leaned back in the couch. She rubbed her belly slightly. "Cora's so different now. I used to think that she never could change, but… I feel like she has. Coming out, it has softened her somehow."

"Well, yeah. I think I would soften too if I had nothing to hide either."

"Sí, it must be a great relief for her," Regina said thoughtfully and absentmindedly ran her fingers up and down her belly. "She's different, I can feel that. But I am still skittish of her. It's difficult to just let her in."

"Of course it is," Emma said, leaning closer to Regina and slipping an arm around her shoulder. "Cora wasn't the mother you deserved for many years. Of course it takes more than that."

"Maybe we should go to therapy or something," Regina mused. "Genuinely speaking. Maybe it would be good for us."

"Yeah. Maybe. But that isn't something you need to decide right now either."

"You're right. Right now, it's much more important to decide which nacho to eat first!" the half-serious mood suddenly changed as Regina grinned whilst eying the nachos.

"Oh yeah," Emma agreed. "That is very important." She eyed the plate of nachos for a moment. 'Mmm'ed' slightly as she tried to find the nacho that was covered most in cheese. Then she triumphantly went 'aha!' as she found a particularly cheese-covered one and handed it to Regina, feeling as proud as if she had just presented her girlfriend with the royal sceptre.

"Gracias. Mi héroe."

Emma grinned from ear to ear. Trust Regina to make her feel like a hero. Even on her off days.

To Be Continued…