Regina's eyes fluttered open and a lazy smile planted itself on her face. She had slept much better than she thought she would after the events last night, though that was probably due to the beautiful blonde barbarian that was snoring much like a motorbike beneath her.
She lifted her head from where it had been resting on Emma's chest and propped herself up on her elbow so she could see the blonde's face. She still couldn't believe how stunning the Emma was and even more so when she was asleep, she looked so relaxed and peaceful, and Regina found her fantasising about what it would be like to wake up every morning snuggled in Emma Swan's arms.
'Gina, I can hear you thinking in my sleep,' yawned Emma as she forced her eyes open and looked up at the brunette, who was smiling softly down at her. 'Good morning, beautiful, going from the smile on your face. I gather you slept well?' She questioned as she attempted to kiss Regina on the forehead but missed and kissed her nose instead, making the woman giggle.
Regina lifted her hand and brushed some stray blonde hairs out of Emma's face before she leaned in to kiss her lips. Smiling into the kiss as Emma tugged her on top of her and wrapped her in her arms. 'I slept very well, which was a surprise, considering what happened...' she trailed off as memories of the night before popped into her head.
'Hey,' said Emma softly as she cupped her cheek, guiding her face up so she could look into her eyes. 'Robin is locked up now, and he's never going to hurt you again, I promise.'
Regina nodded as she bit her lip. 'Emma, last night Robin told me that he wasn't Zaynah's dad.'
'I know you told me and I said that she deserved better than him, which she does. She deserves better than a dad who refuses to claim her and you deserve better than a man who gets you pregnant and then decides eighteen months later that he doesn't want to be a father anymore.'
Regina shook her head. 'No Emma, you've picked it up wrong.' she fiddled with the hem of her jumper. 'I didn't sleep with Robin, he just made me think that I did, so there's no way that Zaynah can be his child because I never slept with him since that night either,' she explained with a hint of embarrassment.
'Oh,' replied Emma, a little surprised by that information. 'Well, is there someone else besides Robin who could be her dad?' She asked gently.
Regina shook her head again. 'No, I slept with Graham months before I fell pregnant, so she can't possibly be his either. Zelena said I should make Robin do a DNA test just to be sure, but I know that he's not lying, however that means I have no idea how my baby was conceived,' she said as her voice broke and tears filled her eyes.
What sort of mother can't remember who her baby's other parent is? She felt like such a failure. She had wanted her daughter to grow up in a happy home with two loving parents. She had wanted her childhood to be the opposite of her own, but instead she had already been subjected to a father who never loved or wanted her and now she was completely fatherless, though Regina supposed that was better than having a rapist as a dad.
'Um, Regina?' Asked Emma as her mind raced and her palms started to sweat. 'What exactly do you remember from the day you apparently slept with Robin?'
Regina looked at her oddly, not understanding how telling Emma about her first meeting with Robin was going to help them figure out who Zaynah's other parent was, but she answered anyway.
'Well, I was about to crush Snow White's heart,' she started and was a bit confused when Emma didn't look at all shocked by that information, but she carried on. 'When Tinkerbell showed up and used some fairy dust to show me my soulmate, it led us to a tavern where I met Robin. I didn't feel anything for him like I thought I would.' She let out a humourless chuckle. 'That should have been my first red flag that the whole thing was a cruel joke but I so badly wanted my happy ending, so I stayed and drank with him and the next morning I woke up in my bed with him naked and he told me we had sex and I foolishly believed him even though it didn't feel right.'
'Right,' said Emma, as her heart hammered in her chest. 'And how long after that did you find out you were pregnant?'
'Three weeks later I became sick and Alma forced me to see a doctor. They did tests and then told me I was between three and five weeks pregnant. I assumed it was three weeks because that's when I slept with Robin. Though I hadn't slept with anyone five weeks before that either, so it still makes no sense.'
'You slept with me two weeks before,' thought Emma as her chest tightened and she pieced everything together. 'You were already pregnant when you landed back in the Enchanted Forest, you just didn't know it.'
'Oh God,' she said out loud as the realisation that Zaynah was her daughter sunk in. 'Oh, my fucking god,' she continued, sounding a bit hysterical, while Regina eyed her curiously, wondering if she had lost her mind. 'I need to go.' She got up from the bed and searched frantically for her clothes.
Regina had called last night after she had gotten back from the hospital and admitted she didn't feel safe in the mansion by herself, so Emma had offered to come and stay over, which Regina had accepted, which is why she was here now.
'Emma,' panicked Regina as she watched the blonde manically attempt to dress herself. 'What's wrong? You're acting strange.'
Emma stopped with her leg halfway in her jeans and she snapped her eyes to Regina's concerned face. 'Nothings wrong.' she forced out a chuckle. 'I forgot I promised Henry and Kingsley that I would meet them for breakfast and I'm already late,' she lied, hoping Regina would just drop it and let her leave.
However, she wasn't that lucky. 'It's only just gone seven Emma, I doubt they'll even be out of bed,' pointed out Regina as she came to stand in front of the blonde and cupped her cheek. 'Tell me what's wrong please, did I say something to upset you?'
'No, of course not Gina, you didn't say anything,' reassured Emma with a sigh. 'I really do just have to go.' She leaned forward and kissed Regina softly, hoping that would squash any worries the brunette had.
Regina nodded and gave her a small smile, realising that Emma wasn't going to tell her what it was that was bothering her and she would only close down more if she kept pushing her. 'Very well, I'll see you later though, at baby Azalea's welcome home party?'
'Yes, I'll definitely be there.' She smirked over at Regina from where she was standing in front of the mirror, brushing her hair. 'Still can't believe that Henry and Kingsley have an auntie that's younger than them. They're going to love that baby so much. 'Just like they love Zaynah.' added her brain, making her grin widely.
Regina chuckled as pulled on her own clothes. 'Yes, I can imagine they will and they also have a grandmother who can't wait to spoil them.'
Emma left the mansion ten minutes later and decided to just drive around in her bug for a little while as she tried to get over the shock of finding out she had another kid, another kid that she had missed the birth of. It made her physically sick that Regina had been alone and probably terrified when she had found out that she was pregnant. She couldn't imagine that Robin had been much help since he had known that the baby wasn't his and it made her want to drive back to Boston and pull out the plug on Rumple's life support because this was all his fault.
If he hadn't of forced Snow into casting that curse then she and Regina would be happy raising their daughter, but then she wouldn't have met Kingsley, would she? Though she still wasn't sure how he found her in the first place, all he had said was that someone pushed a note under his door with her address on and then he hopped on a bus and knocked on her door.
She decided she wouldn't tell the twins about Zaynah yet, she wanted a little more time to come to terms with it herself plus they had a lot going on already and they would be meeting their new auntie and grandparents properly for the first time today and finding out that Emma was actually Zaynah's mother would probably overwhelm them, and also Kingsley wasn't the best at keeping secrets she was actually surprised he had managed to keep the fact that Henry was Regina's son to himself.
'He must get that from Snow,' she thought with a chuckle as she drove around looking for a shop that she could buy baby Azalea a present from.
Snow, that was another thing playing on Emma's mind. It seemed like Regina was extremely close with her parents now and honestly, she didn't know how she felt about that, though Snow seemed to be a completely different person now that she had her heart back, still that didn't take away the fact that she shoved her in a tree without a second thought.
She wondered how David would react once he got his memories back since this version didn't know that he had actually left her, hopefully for their baby's sake they could work things out, there was no need for another kid to grow up in a broken home. She also wondered if she would ever have a relationship with her brother.
Jace-Ruben, that's what Snow had said his name was. She briefly wondered if they had named him Ruben after Ruby. These fairy tale characters did love to name their kids after people. Lily named Kingsley after her, Regina named Zaynah after her. Regina named Henry after her father and her true love. Mal named her daughter after Lily.
She finally spotted a shop that looked like it sold baby stuff and parked her car outside. It only took her about ten minutes to find a dragon stuffie and a dragon print onesie. Lily had told her that Mal had said that the baby's nursery was dragon themed, so she knew they would be appreciated.
She had also picked up a little present for Zaynah and because she knew he would be there she had gotten something for Jace too, but only because she didn't want him to feel left out. Well, that's what she told herself, anyway. She may have also picked something up for Regina to give her later once they were alone.
Lily had arrived at Mal and Marian's a little earlier than everyone else since Mal had said that she wanted them to talk. She was now sitting on the sofa, fidgeting nervously with her wedding ring. She felt a hand cover her own and looked up into warm blue eyes.
'It's okay, sweetheart. You don't have to be anxious. I will answer all of your questions as honestly as I can,' said Mal softly as she squeezed her hand.
Lily was grateful for the soothing touch and she felt her self calm a little. 'I'm just worried that you'll tell me something that makes me angry.' She bit her lip. 'I have a bit of a temper and sometimes I can't control it.'
Mal smiled knowingly before she let out a soft chuckle. 'That's the dragon in you, darling. You will learn to control it once you have your first change and I can help you with it if you like?' She offered.
It would be the perfect bonding experience for them, though she tried not to get her hopes up. There was no certainty that Lily would even want anything to do with her after this chat, but she hoped against hope that she wouldn't hate her too much.
Lily's eyes went a bit wide at that. 'I'm going to actually turn into a dragon?'
'Yes, I gave birth to you in dragon form. You were an egg and your father was a dragon too, though I have no idea who he is,' replied Mal with a hint of embarrassment. 'We met in dragon form and well, I didn't get his name.'
Lily let out a bark of laughter. 'You had a dragon one-night stand? How scandalous,' she teased, already feeling more at ease around the woman.
Mal cleared her throat as a light blush rose on her cheeks. 'Yes, well, I was going through some things. I couldn't find a sleeping curse for Aurora and Rumpelstiltskin had asked for my first-born child-.' She was interrupted when Marian entered the room with a tray of tea.
'Sorry to interrupt but I thought you might like some tea and also Regina, Zelena and Emma are here but I'll keep them in the kitchen with me,' said Marian as she placed the tea on the table.
'Actually,' said Lily as she looked over at Mal. 'I'd really like Emma in here, if you don't mind?'
'Of course not,' smiled Mal. 'Whatever will make you more comfortable.' She was just happy that Lily was giving her a chance to explain.
'I'll just go and get her. The boys can play upstairs with Roland. Maybe they can talk some sense into him,' chuckled Marian.
'I think you should stay too, you're kind of my step mom now so I think this concerns you as well, and I know Zelena will only be listening at the door so you might as well let them through too,' replied Lily with a smirk as Mal and Marian laughed.
'I'm sure Zelena will be honoured that you're giving her a front-row seat to listen to the family gossip,' joked Mal as Marian went to collect the others.
Emma, Regina, and Zelena walked through the door a few minutes later with Marian right behind them. 'Hey, Lil,' said Emma as she squeezed her shoulder. 'Are you okay?'
'Omg Emma, I'm a freaking dragon, like I hatched from an egg and everything,' effused Lily as she grabbed Emma's hand.
Emma let out a snort. 'You made me come in here to tell me you're a Dragon? Because um, I kind of already figured that out since your mom and sister are dragons too.'
Lily scowled at her before she elbowed her in the ribs. 'Jeez Emma, way to rain on my parade, please give me more of your moral support,' she sassed.
'Whatever, dragon lady,' muttered Emma, before she took a seat next to Regina on the other sofa.
'Did she hurt you, darling?' whispered Regina in her ear. She had healed Emma's ribs, but they would still probably be a bit tender.
Emma turned and smiled at her. 'No, baby girl, I'm fine. She was only playing,' she murmured low enough for only Regina to hear.
Zelena let out a light cough. 'Erm, if you two are finished whispering in the corner, I would like to hear today's gossip. I need something to tell Oriel and Ruby later at our girls' night.'
'I'm sure those three are in some sort of three-way relationship. They're far too close to just be friends,' muttered Regina to Emma, who nudged her in the arm as she tried to hide her smirk.
'I was just telling Lily how Rumpelstiltskin asked for my first-born child in exchange for a sleeping curse to use on Aurora,' explained Mal, before she continued with her story. 'I said no at first but as the years went on I became more desperate, I was in a bad place, though that is no excuse but I ended up going back to him and making the deal because I didn't think I would ever have children, I didn't want them, I was far too caught up in my revenge.'
'We've all been there,' said Zelena darkly as Regina nodded along and Lily and Emma exchanged amused looks while Marian rubbed her wife's back in comfort.
'However, I ended up having a one-night stand with another dragon and falling pregnant. I kept it a secret and hid out in my cave, but when Lily was two months old, Rumple came and took her from me. I tried to fight him but I was still quite weak from giving birth and he was just too powerful.' Her voice broke as she remembered the last time she had seen her daughter. 'He chained me up and he took Lilith away from me. I had no idea what he had done with her. I searched the Enchanted Forest, but I couldn't find her, obviously because she wasn't in that world. She was here, but I thought she was dead,' she choked out.
'Um Lily,' said Emma as she looked over to her friend, who had her head bowed and was far too quiet for Emma's liking.
Lily lifted her head, tears streaming down her face. 'I know Ems. I feel like going back to Boston and pulling the plug on him,' she said as her eyes blazed with fire.
'Funny you should say that,' chuckled Emma darkly. 'Because I was thinking the exact same thing this morning.'
'Okay, enough of the morse code. Just tell us who the hell you're taking about,' piped up Zelena as she looked from Lily to Emma. She hated being left out of the loop.
'Zelena,' hissed Regina as she elbowed her sister in the ribs. Sometimes she wished that Zelena would think before she spoke.
Zelena scowled at her as she rubbed the spot where Regina's funny bone had slammed into her. 'What Reggie? We both know you were also wondering about whose murder we would be accessories too.'
'I was kind of wondering as well,' admitted Marian quietly. 'I know a few places in the woods where we could hide the body.'
'We wouldn't need to hide a body, my love. I'm a dragon, we can burn it and then we can make it disappear with magic,' chimed in Mal as her eyes danced dangerously.
'Okayyyy,' said Emma as she looked around the room. 'I feel like I've just walked into a villain 101 class. You realise that I'm literally the police, right?'
Zelena quirked an eyebrow. 'And Regina is the mayor. What's your point? Also, you just admitted to wanting to murder him too so you would be just as guilty as us.'
'Lily, can you please just tell us who it is that you and your wife want to murder and what they've done and why it's relevant to this conversation?' Asked Mal, as she looked at her daughter expectantly.
Lily let out a sigh and then nodded before she began to explain. 'Right, well, firstly, Emma isn't my wife. She is the mother of my sons, but we're not married. We haven't been together since we were seventeen-.'
'Regina is banging Emma,' chimed in Zelena before she snorted. 'Regina is literally fucking the police.' earning herself another elbow to the ribs and a hissed threat of murder by poison.
'As I was saying,' continued Lily, as she glared at Zelena. 'I actually have a husband he's called Neal; we have a daughter together called Bella, she's five.'
'So why aren't they here with you and Emma?' asked Marian curiously. She had just assumed that Emma was her wife since they were moving in together.
Lily looked towards Emma, her eyes pleading for her to take over. Emma gave her a small nod before she spoke. Lily didn't want to be the one to tell her mother that she was married to the son if the man who ripped her away from her.
'Neal is back in Boston; he couldn't join us because his dad is sick and in a coma.' She hesitated before she said her next words, knowing that this could be the moment that she was forced to tell Regina the truth of why she was here. 'Neal's dad... Well, he's um... he's...'
'Oh, for god sakes, just spit it out blondie preferably sometime today, or you know, before we all die of old age,' snarked Zelena. She was eager to find out the gossip, and she just knew it was going to be juicy. She could feel it in her bones.
'He's Rumpelstiltskin,' blurted Emma. 'Neal's dad is the dark one.'
There was a collection of gasps from everyone but Emma, Lily, and Zelena who actually yelled out, 'Fucking hell, plot bloody twist or what?'
Regina was the first to recover as she eyed Emma sceptically. 'And he's in Boston in a coma? How? How did he get to this world? Because I know for a fact he had been trying for years and he was unsuccessful every time, hence why I became the Evil Queen. He wanted to train me so I was powerful enough to cast a dark curse.' She raised her eyebrow, daring Emma to keep lying to her.
Emma sighed, knowing that Regina was going to have a lot of questions that she couldn't answer unless she told her the truth. 'Listen Regina, there's just some things I can't answer right now, it too complica-.'
'No Emma!' yelled Regina as she stood up. She was sick of being lied to, Emma had been hiding something from her since she had gotten here and she was still convinced that the blonde was going to leave her once she found this mystery woman she was looking for and there was also those weird flash backs she'd been having. 'You'll either tell me the truth right now or you'll leave me the hell alone.'
Emma's fists clenched by her sides as she felt herself rapidly losing control of the situation. She wanted to tell Regina the truth she had been wanting to since the first moment she came back to Storybrooke, but what were the chances Regina would believe her?
'Emma, maybe you should just tell her why you're here,' suggested Lily as she came to stand beside her friend.
'Lily, she'll never believe me,' croaked Emma. 'I have no proof. She'll laugh in my face.'
'You have Henry, and me, and Kingsley. Just start from the beginning. I'll be right here with you,' said Lily gently as she gave Emma's hand a reassuring squeeze.
'Emma, please just tell me,' begged Regina as she came to stand in front of her and took both of her hands in her own. 'I promise I'll listen.' She leaned forward and gave Emma a soft kiss on the lips.
'Told you they were banging,' smirked Zelena as she looked over at Marian and Mal, who were watching the couple with raised eyebrows. They had never seen Regina be that openly affectionate with anyone.
'Shut up Zee,' said Mal with an eye roll before she threw a cushion at her, which hit her in the face.
Emma pulled Regina into her arms and hugged her tight. 'Just promise me you won't freak out,' she whispered in her ear. 'I can't lose you Regina, I just can't.' She just prayed that Regina believed her and that she didn't end up scaring her away for good.
Regina buried her face in her neck. 'I promise, daddy,' she murmured so only Emma could hear her before she pulled back. She wanted to know that truth so badly and she just hoped that it wouldn't be something that would make her feel differently about Emma because as much as she had tried to stop it, she was falling in love and she was falling fast.
'Right, okay,' said Emma, as she laughed nervously. 'I'll tell you but you can't interrupt.' She shot a pointed look at Zelena, who rolled her eyes. 'And you have to listen to everything I'm saying even if it doesn't make sense.' She took a seat on the sofa next to Regina before she turned to face her.
'Thirty years ago, I was sent to this land from the Enchanted Forest via a magic tree. I was found by the side of the road just outside of Storybrooke by a little boy who said he had been camping in the forest. I found out later that he was actually Pinocchio, and he had come through the tree with me. I grew up in the system, I was passed around a lot and I didn't have a very good life. When I was thirteen, I met Lily. She was also a foster kid, we bonded, and we stuck together.' She looked over at Lily and gave her a smile before she received one in return.
She turned back to face Regina, who was smiling at her sadly, and she continued. 'She was my best friend, and we did everything together. We eventually fell in love when we were fifteen and we decided to run away together. We stole a car, sort of, turned out the car was actually already stolen and that's how we met Neal. He was older than us and he offered us a place to stay. We didn't really have any other choice, so we agreed.'
'It went well for the first year. I got a job at a pizza place and Lily got a waitressing job; Neal was already working in a garage when we moved in, so life was pretty good. However, he lost his job a few months later, and he started shop lifting again. He got in with some dodgy people and it escalated from little shops to factories and warehouses. Me and Lily weren't aware until we caught him passing off some stolen jewellery to my foster brother August, who I now know was just a grown-up Pinocchio.'
Emma looked around the room to see everyone listening intently. Lily was smiling at her encouragingly, while Mal looked like she was holding back tears, presumably from having to hear how her daughter grew up. Marian was comforting her wife but also looked close to tears. Zelena was practically vibrating in her seat, probably from all the juicy gossip she would have to tell her girlfriends, and Regina, well, Regina, was hanging on every word that was coming out of Emma's mouth.
'Anyway, we argued about it and he promised he would stop and get a job and we believed him. It was a lie, though, and he ended up with these stolen watches that he couldn't get rid of. We argued again, and I told him that if he didn't get them out of the house that I was taking Lily and he'd never see us again. It wasn't something I wanted to do, him and August they were like brothers to me, but I didn't want to live that kind of life and I knew Lily didn't either.'
'I never told Lily about the watches, not even when he asked me if I would drop them off at the pick up point because he was paranoid that people were watching him. I agreed because I just wanted them out of the house. Well, it turned out to be a set up, and I was arrested. I got sent down because I refused to snitch on the people I called family.'
'They gave me eighteen months, but I only done nine and then when I did get out, I went back home and August handed me a tiny baby Henry and said he was my son, he then told me that I was better off giving him up for adoption because if I didn't, he would turn out just like me, a fuck up, however the last words he ever said to me stayed with me all my life. He told me.'
"There's a reason no one ever kept you, Emma. Fate has plans for you".
'I only figured out what that meant two years ago.' she looked at Regina to make sure she was listening. 'Because two years ago, Regina, I opened my front door in Boston to a little boy who told me he was my son. He then told me if I didn't come back home with him, he was going to tell the police I kidnapped him.' She heard a chorus of amused chuckles and twin snorts from Lily and Zelena.
She grabbed Regina's hands in her own and held on tight as she gazed intensely into her eyes. 'This bit is really important but please just trust me.' She took a deep breath. 'When Henry was five days old, I gave him up for adoption. It was a closed adoption, so I had no idea where he went. The night he knocked on my door ten years later, I took him home to Storybrooke to 108 Mifflin Street to his mother Regina Mills.'
'Emma,' said Regina in a strangled whisper as she tried to pull her hands away. That couldn't be right. She didn't have a son, and she had never been here before. What the fuck was Emma playing at?
Emma held on tight, though, as she ignored everyone else in the room. 'No, Regina, please just listen,' she pleaded desperately. 'You did cast the curse, you cast the curse, and you trapped everyone here in a time loop for twenty-eight years. Eighteen years into the curse you adopted Henry and ten years later you met me. You hated me at first. You thought I wanted to take Henry away from you, but you were also attracted to me. We ended up sleeping together and I moved in with you. I found out about the curse a little while later and then we fell in love.' She was rambling now, but she needed to get it out. She needed Regina to know the truth.
'The day we told each other we loved each other, the curse broke. My parents were furious with you when they got their memories back and they led a mob to your door. I threw whale across your lawn because he tried to strangle you and I blasted my mother into your den wall because she tried to slap you. Five days later my mother cast another curse and Rumple told you that you either had to let me and Henry go or all the townspeople would die, he would be coming with me and Henry because I owed him a favour from when I beat him half to death after I found out that he had groomed you into casting the curse. You weren't the Evil Queen anymore, Regina. You had changed for Henry, for yourself, for Daniel and for me.'
Regina let out a heart-breaking sob at Daniel's name. She didn't want to believe what Emma was saying. She couldn't. It didn't make any sense. Her thoughts were racing and nothing made sense. 'It must be another cruel joke,' she thought to herself.
'My father even threatened to kill my mother at one point. It wasn't really a choice in the end. We both knew you had to save the townspeople, but the price of that was that was that you would be sent back the Enchanted Forest without your memories and we would have to leave Storybrooke. Just before the cloud came Rumple threw you my mother's heart.'
'Who are your parents, Emma?' asked Mal dangerously as she moved across the room to comfort Regina, who was now sobbing loudly and had managed to rip her hands away from Emma's.
'My parents are Snow White and Prince Charming,' whispered Emma brokenly, as she watched Regina sob into Mal's arms.
'She's lying, Mal,' cried Regina as she clung to the dragon. 'This must be another cruel joke, revenge from Snow and Charming.'
'Regina, please, I swear I'm telling the truth,' Emma said desperately as she got down on her knees in front of the sofa. She reached out a hand to touch Regina's arm, but she was flung across the room when a blast of magic slammed into her chest.
'Don't touch my sister or next time I'll kill you,' threatened Zelena as she stood over Emma, who was crying out in pain.
'She's not lying, you fucking psycho,' snarled Lily as she shoved Zelena out of the way and bent down to check on Emma. 'I've had to listen to nearly two years of her and Henry trying to figure out a way back to Regina. Our son didn't speak to anyone for six months because he missed his mom too much.'
Emma coughed as blood seeped out of her mouth and down her chin. 'Lils, get the boys,' she gasped out as she tried to sit up but cried out in pain again.
'Henry, Kingsley,' yelled Lily in panic as she tried to see where Emma was injured. 'Emma, tell me where you're hurting?'
Regina lifted her head as she heard Lily's panicked voice and her eyes widened in horror as she saw Emma lying on the floor with blood dripping from her mouth as she howled in pain.
'Zelena, what have you done to her?' She cried as she scrambled away from Mal and rushed over to Emma and kneeled down beside her.
'I'm sorry I panicked. I thought she was going to attack you,' replied Zelena nervously, now only realising the seriousness of what she had done. 'You can heal her though, right?'
Regina shook her head as tears dripped from her eyes onto Emma's cheeks. 'I can't. I still have the cuff on,' she sobbed as she cradled Emma's head in her hands. 'Please Emma, please don't leave me,' she begged her frantically. This wasn't what she wanted.
'Um, what's going on?' asked Henry from the door way as he saw that the entire room was in chaos. He then spotted Emma lying on the floor bleeding and rushed over to her. 'Ma, Ma, what happened?'
Emma wheezed out a laugh. 'I...' she gasped. I told... your mom the truth... it didn't go very well.'
Henry turned to Regina with pain-filled eyes. 'You still don't remember?' he asked sadly.
Regina shook her head sadly. 'No Henry, I'm sorry,' she choked out. She then looked back towards Emma. 'You really were telling the truth?'
Emma nodded as her as she tried to ignore the pain in her body. 'I promise, Henry is your son and I'm going to need you to take care of him.' she lifted a weak hand to cup Regina's cheek. 'All those stories I told you? It was you. You were the woman I was here to find, the woman I was in love with, the mayor.' She let out a weak laugh before she coughed again while more blood seeped from her mouth.
Regina covered her mouth as another sob escaped her. 'The weird visions, omg, they were memories. I'm sorry Emma, I'm so fucking sorry,' she cried as she watched helplessly as the light in Emma's eyes slowly dimmed.
'Ma,' shouted Kingsley as he pushed past everyone to get to Emma and dropped to his knees with Zaynah in his arms.
'Mama,' squealed Zaynah as she reached for Emma. Emma tried to sit up again but only ended up coughing up more blood. Her body felt like she had been hit by a truck, and she knew she was going to lose consciousness soon.
'What's wrong with her?' said Kingsley worriedly as he looked her over. He thought he would see a wound, but she looked fine apart from the blood coming out of her mouth.
'Henry, Kingsley. I love you both so much,' breathed Emma as she started to feel the exhaustion over take her. Her eyes closed briefly before she forced them open to look at Regina, tears swimming in her dull green eyes.
'I love you; I've loved you for two years,' she gasped out before she pointed to Zaynah. 'That's our daughter. We made her. She mine and yours and I loved her since the moment I met her.' Her eyes closed again, and she felt too tired to try to fight it.
She heard a few cries of anguish and a lot of panicked shouting, a threat of murder from Regina to Zelena as the red head tried to desperately tell her sister she was sorry. A sob of, "do something". From Lily. She heard Henry and Kingsley pleading for her to open her eyes and Regina begging her not to leave her as she whispered, 'I love you.' She could hear Zaynah shouting Mama over and over again.
She wanted to reply, she wanted to fight, but her body was far too exhausted. She felt numb and was on the brink of falling into the dark abyss until she felt hands on her before she felt the flow of magic seep into her body. It made her feel light and tingly and she could feel it healing her, the same feeling she had felt when Regina fixed her ribs. She heard a few broken whispers of love and then four sets of lips on her face before she felt a wave of magic wash over her and her eyes snapped open as she bolted up right and gasped for air.
As soon as the wave of magic hit, Regina's eyes slammed closed as thirty years of forgotten memories flashed behind her eyes. She saw herself casting the curse and then waking up in Storybrooke, she saw the day that she left town to pick up a three-week-old Henry And all their years together after that, every Christmas, birthday, mothers day and everything in between.
She saw the day she first met Emma and her awkward little "Hi" and "You're Henry's birth mother?". She saw their first kiss, the first time they slept together, and the night that Henry slept in Emma's bed with them. She saw when Emma found out about the curse and when she dragged her from Rumple's shop after she nearly killed him. She saw the first time they made love and the night Emma got arrested for punching Graham. She saw their first I love you's and then every time they said it after that. The curse breaking and everything else Emma had told her that happened.
'Emma, omg, Emma,' she cried as she threw herself into Emma's arms. 'I didn't think I'd ever see you again. Oh, darling, I've missed you so much. I love you so much and I'm so sorry,' she sobbed harder as she attacked Emma's face with kisses, which had the blonde laughing while also crying.
'Mom,' asked Henry hesitantly, as he put his hand on Regina's arm. He knew what had happened, but he wanted to be sure.
'Henry, my little prince,' said Regina softly with a big watery smile as she pulled Henry towards her. 'Baby boy, I've missed you so much. I love you so much. I'm never letting you go again,' she promised while she hugged him fiercely as he sobbed into her chest. 'I'm never letting any of you go again.'
Emma looked up at the people in the room that all looked relieved and happy to see that she was actually alive.
'Come here, kid.' She gestured for Kingsley, who was standing watching the scene with Zaynah still in his arms and a watery smile on his face. 'And bring your sister.'
She could tell that he was trying to be brave, but she could also see terror in his eyes and the hint of jealousy as he watched Regina shower Henry with love and kisses.
'He thinks he's going to be cast aside, that he doesn't fit in anymore, that he's not part of their little family,' she thought to herself sadly. Well, she would make sure he knew that he was wrong and that they loved him just as much as they did Henry and Zaynah.
Kingsley moved forward quickly before he sat Zaynah on Emma's stomach and then practically fell into his Ma's arms as he too started crying while he clung to her tightly. He had never been so scared in all his life. He really thought he had lost her, but then something amazing happened, and he wasn't quite sure what it was, but he knew that it had been powerful enough to keep his family whole.
He felt another pair of arms wrapped around him and he looked up to see Regina smiling softly down at him. She cupped his cheek before she pressed a kiss to his forehead. 'It's okay my little solider, your Ma is safe now,' she whispered soothingly into his hair as he tightened his hold on her.
'So,' said Emma, after everyone's crying had started to settle. 'What happened? Because I'm pretty sure I was dying five minutes ago.'
'You were and Zelena is lucky she's still standing, However she won't be for much longer,' snarled Regina as she glared at her sister who looked thoroughly ashamed of herself and also looked like she had been crying and for once didn't have a snarky come back.
'Regina,' said Emma gently as she grabbed her girlfriend's hand. 'She was only trying to protect you. Honestly, it just makes me like her more.' She was far too ecstatic to have her Regina remember her to be bothered with revenge.
'Emma!' Exclaimed Regina as she whipped her head around to face her obviously brain damaged girlfriend. 'She nearly killed you. I could have lost you again,' she reminded her tearfully.
Emma shrugged. Just happy to have her family back. 'But you didn't, and we're all family now and family forgive each other,' she pointed out with a goofy grin.
Regina gave her a look that told Emma she thought she had lost her mind. 'Not for murder Emma, Jesus Christ,' she said in a high-pitched tone.
Emma let out a snort at how hypocritical that sounded. 'Um, I forgave you for trying to murder my parents. Multiple times, may I add,' she said with a cocky smirk.
Regina scoffed as she rolled her eyes. She hated it when Emma was right. 'You don't even like your parents,' she rebutted, but it was a weak argument, and she knew that.
Emma laughed. 'You're right, I don't, but neither do you, and you forgave them too. You're like besties now.' she scrunched her nose up in disgust. 'You like Zelena though, she's your sister, so if you can forgive them, you can forgive her.'
Regina crossed her arms over her chest as she scowled at Zelena, refusing to give in. She loved her sister, yes, but she had just nearly killed the love of her life. 'Gina, don't make daddy punish you when we get home,' whispered Emma into her ear, making her shiver.
'Fine,' she huffed. 'Zelena, I forgive you for nearly killing my future wife and leaving our three children motherless,' she deadpanned.
Zelena moved closer to the little family that was huddled on the floor, now that she was sure her sister wasn't going to attack her. Her eyes were brimming with regret, and Emma and Regina could both see how sorry she was.
'Right, and I'm sorry I nearly killed you Emma,, but it really was an accident. I sometimes forget how powerful I am,' she apologised before she added with a wicked grin, because she just couldn't help herself. 'Also, Regina, you're so whipped.'
'Future wife? Three kids?' Questioned Emma with a hint of amusement. She really hoped that meant what she thought it did.
'Yes, darling, I expect us to be married by next summer. I refuse to go any longer without making you my wife and we have three kids, do we not?' She pointed to Henry, Kingsley, and Zaynah as she counted. '1,2,3, yes there's definitely three of them unless you have more hidden away that I don't know about?'
'No,' said Emma, with the most loving smile Regina had ever seen. 'It's just the three of them and also I'd love to be your wife.' She leaned in and captured Regina's lips in her own, pouring every ounce of love and adoration she could muster into the soft but passionate kiss while the rest of the room looked on with soft smiles at the adorable couple who were still huddled together on the floor.
'Um, okay I think you should save that kind of reunion for later, preferably when there aren't kids around, or adults, or anyone really, literally no one needs to be subjected to witnessing that,' said Lily pointedly after the kiss had become rather heated and she wasn't sure whether they were going to start ripping each other clothes off right there on her mother's living room floor.
'Yeah,' agreed Henry. 'That's kind of gross moms.' He was happy for them, he really was, but that kiss was just a bit much and he didn't want to have to bleach his brain.
Kingsley also nodded his agreement. 'Nobody wants to see their parents kissing like that.' He then looked over at Lily, who was watching him with a sad smile, and he felt a pang of guilt in his chest. He had bonded with her so much more in Storybrooke and if he was honest with himself, he really didn't want her to go back to Boston. Nearly losing his Ma had taught him that family is the most precious thing of all and he didn't want to lose Lily either.
He got up from the floor and walked over to her before he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly, something he had only done a few times in his life. 'I love you, you're still my mom. I just have four parents now instead of three and two sisters instead of one.' He heard Lily let out a choked sob, and he pushed himself further into her as she pressed a kiss to his head.
'I love you so much, Kingsley Emmet Swan. You're the bravest, most protective boy and caring boy I've ever met, just like your brother and you're the best son I could have ever hoped for,' whispered Lily tearfully as she held her boy close.
Storybrooke had taught her how to be a better parent and that family was the most important thing you could ever have and, well, now that she has one, she really didn't want to let them go.
Regina and Emma finally pulled back, not wanting to scar their children any longer. Though they held on to one another not yet ready to be apart again. They did, however, move from the floor and took a seat on one of the many sofas.
Zelena sat as far away as possible from Regina and Emma, still not quite trusting her sister not to lash out at her in a sudden fit of rage. She had heard all about Regina's reign as the Evil Queen and while she was powerful, she wasn't quite sure she would be able to beat the woman who tortured hundreds and murdered thousands. She still felt extremely guilty that she had nearly killed Emma, though that really wasn't her intention. She had just wanted to scare her into keeping away from her sister.
'Hey,' said Lily as she came to sit down beside her. Her mom and Marian were in the kitchen making tea for everyone. Henry and Kingsley were playing on the floor with their sister, and Emma and Regina weren't aware of anyone but each other.
'I'm sorry for shoving you so hard earlier and I know you didn't really mean to kill Emma.' She nudged Zelena in the ribs, wanting to get back the snarky, blunt woman that she had met earlier.
Zelena didn't really react as she looked down at her hands. 'Regina would have never forgiven me if I had of actually killed her. I would have lost my sister and I've only just found her. Sometimes I hate how powerful and out of control my magic can get. Maybe I should get one of those cuffs,' she sighed, and Lily couldn't stand the resignation in her voice.
'Well,' said Lily as she took one of Zelena's hands in her own. 'My mom said she would help me with controlling my anger. Maybe she could help you control your magic?' She suggested as she gave the hand in her own a squeeze.
Zelena looked up at her, then, a small smile gracing her lips. 'I think that maybe I'll take you up on that. I'd like to be able to use my magic without fear that I'm going to accidentally kill someone.' Her lips lifted into a smirk and her blue eyes glinted mischievously. 'And I kind of want to see if you'll be just as hot as a dragon as you are in human form.'
Lily let out a choked sound at Zelena's bluntness, but she recovered quickly and gave her a smirk of her own. 'In case you've forgotten.' She pointed to her wedding ring. 'I have a husband.'
'For now,' winked Zelena as she patted her hand before she turned her attention to Henry and Kingsley, who were trying to teach Zaynah everyone's names.
Marian and Mal returned with the tea a few moments later. They had just sat down on the sofa when they heard a timid voice from the doorway. 'The baby woke up, and I tried to shout of you but no one answered so I went to check on her myself and she was crying so I picked her up and now I don't know what to do but she has stopped crying,' said Roland who had his sister cradled protectively in his arms.
Mal and Marian both shot each other hopeful looks before they turned to smile softly at Roland. This was the first time the boy had acknowledged his sister since Mal had found out she was pregnant, and they really didn't want him to resent her like he did with Zaynah.
'Bring her here, Roland,' said Mal gently. 'She's probably hungry.' Roland walked across the room slowly as he carried the tiny baby in his arms like he was holding the most precious thing in the world. He took a seat next to Mal as he watched her pick up the bottle.
'Can I um,' he hesitated as he looked from the baby to the bottle. 'Can I feed her?'
Marian looked straight over at Mal, who was already looking at her and mouthed the words. 'Omg.' Before she looked at her son, tears of happiness welling in her eyes. 'Of course you can, Roland. Mal will show you how to do it first and then you can take over.'
Mal nodded her agreement as she took the baby from him gently and then showed him what to do.
'Oh, yeah,' said Kingsley from where he was making faces at his sisters on the floor. 'Roland never really hated Zaynah. Richard told him that she wasn't really his sister, so he shouldn't get attached. He also told him that Regina didn't really love him and that she was just pretending because she was his soulplate and that the older Zaynah got, the more he would be pushed out.'
Marian's face instantly changed to one of anger and, after a quick glance at Regina, she could see that she was feeling the same. 'Is that true, Roland? Did your father really tell you that?' She questioned gently.
Roland dropped his head as his cheeks burned with embarrassment and shame at how he had treated the little girl. 'Yes, mother.' He lifted his eyes and looked at Regina, tears swimming in his big brown eyes. 'He said that you would try to send me away so you could just have him and Zaynah like a proper family.'
Regina jumped up from the sofa and rushed to kneel in front of him, and took his face in her hands so she could look into his eyes that held so much sadness that it broke her heart. He was just a boy; he should never feel as unloved and as unwanted as his father made him believe he was.
Robin was a sick and twisted man, and Regina hoped he was rotting in his jail cell.
'Roland, I never said anything like that, I promise. I would never and I do love you. Zaynah might not be your sister and you might not be my son, but you're still my family, everyone is this room is a family and we all love and want you just as much as we do Zaynah, Azalea, Henry and Kingsley. You mean just as much to us as they do and we would never push you out or send you away,' she vowed earnestly before she pulled him into a tight hug.
'Regina is right,' said Mal as everyone else in the room murmured their agreements, even Lily and Emma, who had only just met the boy. 'You might not be her son but you are my son and Azalea is your sister and she will love and idolise you because you're her big brother and you'll be able to teach her things that me and your mom can't, things that will probably get you both into trouble,' she teased earning herself a small smile from the boy. 'And Lily is also your big sister and I'm sure she can teach you some things that we also wouldn't approve of and I can already tell that you and your newly found nephews are going to a force to be reckoned with, so we're going to need all hands-on deck to cope with you a lot.'
Roland let out a wet laugh as she hugged Mal, being careful not to hurt his sister. 'I love you, Momma,' he whispered, making Mal's heart swell with happiness. It was the first time he had ever called her that. She looked over at Lily and gestured for her to join them as Marian also wrapped her arms around her wife and son. Lily joined them a few moments later, touched that she had been included in the family hug.
Emma looked over at them with a soft smile, her own heart swelling with love. She was happy that Lily had finally found her family, and she was overjoyed that she finally had hers back. She looked over at her three beautiful, perfect kids and she found that she really couldn't be happier at that moment.
'Come here, kids,' she breathed as she opened her arms for her three little cygnets. Henry picked up Zaynah and carried her over to Emma, with Kingsley following behind them. All three kids settled themselves in Regina and Emma's arms as their mothers held them tight.
Regina craned her neck to look over Emma's head towards her sister, who was sitting on her own with a soft but sad smile as she watches the two families soak up each others affection.
'Zee,' she spoke with just a little bite. Zelena lifted her head and looked at Regina, whose face was unreadable. 'You're part of this family, are you not?' asked Regina as she gave her a pointed look.
Zelena nodded dumbly, her eyes still swimming with regret. 'Well,' said Regina as her face softened and she gave her sister a small smile. 'This was supposed to be a family hug, but we can't really call it that unless all the family are involved,' she pointed out, her tone taking on a teasing lilt towards the end.
Zelena huffed out a laugh. 'Fine if I must.' She rolled her eyes like she was being forced to be part of the family embrace but the love that was shining brightly in her eyes gave her away and she got up and basically threw herself into the hug being extra careful not to squish her niece who was sat in both Regina's and Emma's laps happily babbling away.
'Sorry to interrupt,' came another soft voice from the door way making the two families spring apart and snap their eyes to the newcomers. Regina felt Emma's body instantly tense as she eyed Snow with mistrust.
Snow handed Jace's stroller to David, and she walked towards Emma, stopping when she was close, but not close enough to make her feel trapped. She knew she had to tread carefully right now, but she hoped Emma would listen.
'Emma, I know you have no reason to believe me, but I'm so sorry for everything I done and said after the curse broke. Rumple had my heart, and he was using it to control me. I'm not saying that I would have been happy to find out that you were with Regina, but I would never have acted the way I did and I know it's not an excuse, but I really didn't want to send you through the tree. He took my heart before Regina cast the curse and he used it to have me put you in the tree at the last minute,' she explained gently as her voice broke and her eyes filled with tears.
Emma was silent for a few minutes while everyone else waited with bated breath to see how she would respond. Her face was a blank mask, giving no hints at how she felt about Snow's explanation and apology.
After what seemed like hours but was in reality only about five minutes, she let out a tired sigh. 'It kind of is an excuse though, isn't it?' She saw Snow open her mouth to speak, but put up a hand to stop her. 'I mean if there was ever a legitimate excuse as to why you shoved your kid in a tree and sent her to an unknown land, then it would definitely be because an insane mass murderer took your heart right out of your chest and used it to control your actions,' she finished with a hint of amusement and a smirk.
Snow brought her hands to cover her mouth as she let out a strangled sob. Emma believed her, and she didn't seem to hate her as much as she did before the curse broke, so maybe she could salvage some sort of relationship with her daughter after all.
'I'm still angry at you, though,' said Emma evenly. 'Its hard to just forget all of that. It wasn't just me that you lashed out at but Regina and Henry as well and I understand that you weren't your true self but it's going to take some time, and like I said to David before the curse broke, I'm not looking for parents, I'm past that point, however maybe with a bit of time, we could have some kind of relationship.'
She didn't want to fight anymore. She was exhausted and all she really wanted was to be happy with her family. She was going to have to live in this town with Snow and David and also Regina was her brother's godmother and Snow's friend, so it would be easier for everyone if she could just be civil to them. She had liked Mary-Margaret before the curse, so maybe she could learn to like her again.
Snow nodded as she tried to control her emotions. Once she was sure she could speak again without crying, she opened her mouth to reply. 'I would like that, Emma, and it will be all on your terms, whatever you're comfortable with. I promise I won't be pushy.'
Regina and Zelena both snorted at that. 'Being pushy is literally part of your personality. It's the only reason we're friends now,' smirked Regina with a playful smile.
'I don't think you should make promises you can't keep Snow flake,' pointed out Zelena with a teasing grin.
'It is not part of my personality,' denied Snow, looking rather offended as she looked towards her husband for back up.
David only shrugged, though, as he sent her an apologetic smile. 'They kind of have a point sweetie, you can be pushy at times,' he said gently, trying not to upset his overly sensitive wife but also not wanting to lie to her.
Emma stifled a giggle at how quick Snow's expression went from offended to betrayed, before she decided to take pity on her. 'I wouldn't worry about it, Regina can also be extremely pushy, in fact, you probably learned it from her, after all she was your step mom at one point,' teased Emma hoping that Regina knew she was joking and only trying to make Snow feel not so ganged up on.
It worked and Snow shot her a small grateful smile. However, Regina gave Emma a dangerous smile, followed by a threat.
'Miss Swan, have you forgotten about that month of night shift I put you on because if you have, I could always refresh memory,' she said sweetly.
Emma let out a bark of laughter. 'Of course not baby, but I also haven't forgotten the phone calls in the middle of the night begging me to finish early because you missed me and couldn't sleep without me,' she smirked smugly.
'I never once said those words to you. We weren't even together then,' huffed Regina before she shot a glare at her sister, who was cackling with laughter.
'I can read between the lines, Regina, and no, we were still pretending we were just friends with benefits at that point, but I know you loved me,' replied Emma confidently as she quirked her eyebrow, daring Regina to deny it.
'Whatever, you totally loved me too,' muttered Regina as she tried not to pout. Emma always made her feel too comfortable, and she wasn't quite ready for every one else in the room to see that side of her.
'What's friends with benefits?' Asked Kingsley curiously as he looked at Emma and Regina expectantly.
Regina started blushing, not knowing how to answer, but Emma had it covered. 'Exactly what I said, kid, it's a friend with benefits. Those benefits include cooking you breakfast, cuddles, killing spiders so you don't have to, being there when you give someone their heart back.-'
'So, it's basically being in a relationship but pretending you're not?' Interrupted Henry, making Regina let out a chuckle.
'Yes, my little prince, that's exactly what it is,' said Regina with a smile as she felt Emma lace their fingers together.
Henry nodded. 'Okay.' He then turned to Roland and Kingsley. 'Want to go and play Mario cart?' both boys nodded and then they left the room to go upstairs.
'So,' said David as he picked up Jace from his stroller and came to sit beside his wife, who was sitting on one of the sofas. 'How did the curse break?'
'Oh,' said Emma as she looked towards Snow and David. 'Zelena accidentally almost killed me and I have no idea what happened after that, apart from that I felt someone healing me.' She looked at Regina, but she shook her head.
'It wasn't me. I still have the cuff on.' She then bit her lip, trying to think back. Everything had happened so fast, but she did have an inkling of who it was. 'I think it was Zaynah and Kingsley. They were both touching you and I think I saw King's hands glowing.'
'You did see it, I saw it too. Emma was glowing a dark blue colour with golden flecks,' remembered Lily. 'But everything happened so fast that I wasn't one hundred percent sure.'
'I saw it as well. There was a golden light surrounding Zaynah,' added Marian, as she also thought back to what she had seen.
'Yes, and then you broke the curse with a family's true love kiss. It was pretty spectacular,' commented Mal with a wide smile.
'You know Henry theorised that the key to breaking the curse would be something to do with you all as family,' smiled Lily, remembering the talk they had in Emma's car.
'Well, my son has always been smart. After all, it's how I raised him,' replied Regina pointedly. Now only realising that Henry had yet another parent she had to compete with, not that she had to compete with Emma anymore, but still it scared her that she would be cast aside, now that he had both of his real parents.
'Regina,' hissed Emma, but whatever she was going to say next was cut off when Lily spoke up instead.
'No Emma, it's fine, you did warn me.' She let out a chuckle before she turned to Regina. 'Mine and Henry's relationship isn't what you think it is. He's never once called me mom in the eighteen months that I've known him. He is my son biologically, but you are his mother in every sense of the word. I'm not here to take that title from you. I came here to help him find you because I wanted him to be happy, and I've never seen him happier than the moment he realised that you remembered who he was. You are his mother, Regina. You always have been and you always will be,' declared Lily sincerely.
Regina didn't quite know what to say to that. She had expected an argument, she had not expected Lily to put all her worries to rest in just a few short sentences. 'Right, well, good. I'm glad we sorted that out. I just get defensive I'm not very good at sharing but I suppose if you're going to share Kingsley with me then I can share Henry with you, However I don't like the idea of him being around the dark one's son,' she replied, the disapproval over Neal clear in her tone.
Lily smirked at her. 'Neal is nothing like Robert-'
'I beg to differ. He got Emma sent to jail for a crime he committed and then shacked up with her girlfriend. He sounds exactly like his father to me,' cut in Regina with a sneer.
Emma squeezed Regina's hand, sensing that her future wife was about to lose her shit. 'Technically he only did that because Pinocchio told him too but you don't have to worry about Neal, Henry is not a fan.'
'Kingsley isn't much of a fan either and it wasn't like that with me and Neal we didn't get together until King was two. And Neal doesn't want anything to do with his father, the only reason he's with him now is because he feels guilty for pushing him in front of a car, and he wants nothing to do with magic and he's not keen on Bella being exposed to this world either,' explained Lily.
'Does that mean I won't meet my granddaughter?' asked Mal, with a hint of sadness. She was hoping that Lily would think about staying in Storybrooke, but if her husband didn't want anything to do with magic, then that was probably not going to happen.
'Honestly, I don't know,' said Lily, looking torn. 'I obviously have to go back to Boston because my daughter is there, but I don't think I want to stay there. Storybrooke has taught me a lot and I don't want to be away from my family but that means having to choose between you lot and my husband and it will be the second hardest choice I've had to make in my life the first one being giving Henry to Emma. I'm not sure I'm ready for it,' she sighed sadly.
'I could always kill him for you to make it easier?' chimed in Zelena with a playful wink in Lily's direction, making the dragon snort.
'Omg Zelena,' gasped Snow, not at all getting that it was a joke. 'You can't just offer to kill someone's husband.'
Zelena rolled her eyes. 'Relax Snow flake, I was joking, kind of.' She turned to Lily and gave her a sultry smirk. 'I would totally kill him for you if you asked me too,' she winked again, this time making Lily blush.
Mal raised her eyebrow at her best friend. 'I would prefer it if you didn't come on to my daughter right in front of me, thank you,' she commented with a glare.
Regina smirked at her sister. 'Oriel and Ruby won't be happy that you're flirting with someone else, aren't you three in some sort of throuple?' She inquired with mock innocence.
Zelena scowled at her. 'You know fine well that we're just friends. Friends are allowed to snuggle in the same bed, there're no rules against it.'
'I can't wait to see Ruby now that she remembers and Oriel. I missed them while I was away,' said Emma excitedly.
'Yes, I remember you also thinking it was normal to snuggle in bed with your 'friends' Emma Swan,' huffed Regina, her voice dripping with jealousy.
Emma rolled her eyes. 'It was one time Regina and if I remember correctly, you slapped me for that even though we weren't even together at that point and I didn't even sleep with Ruby that day,' she rebutted before she quickly added. 'Or any day after that either.'
Snow shifted uncomfortably next to David. It made her feel a bit sick when she thought of her daughter and her best friend, who was technically Emma's godmother, though she wasn't sure Emma was aware of that. 'Ruby is your godmother,' she blurted out, making everyone snap their eyes to the couple who had been rather quiet since they arrived.
'Right.' Emma dragged out the word as her nose scrunched in disgust. 'I could have happily lived my life without knowing that I fucked my godmother, but thanks for that I guess,' she deadpanned.
'Well, you're technically fucking your ex step -grandmother now and that's way worse,' pointed out Zelena rather unhelpfully while everyone else sniggered apart from Emma, Regina, Snow and David, who all looked rather green.
'I take back what I said earlier. I hate your sister and I would not be upset if you still wanted to murder her,' growled Emma, who shot a dark look at Zelena while the witch just cackled unbothered.
'Oh no, this is your family and family forgive each other, Em-ma.' Regina repeated the sheriff's own words back to her with a smug smirk.
'Sorry, blondie, but you literally signed up for this when you agreed to marry my sister like two hours ago,' said Zelena with a grin.
'You two are getting married?' inquired Snow curiously.
Emma blushed as a goofy grin spread across her face. 'Well, it's not official or anything, but Regina basically demanded I be her wife after she got her memories back and I said okay.'
Regina elbowed her gently. 'You made it sound so unromantic,' she grumbled.
Emma laughed as she pulled her into her arms and squeezed her tight. 'Well, that's what happened, so if you don't want that to be the story at our wedding, then I suggest you ask me properly at some point.' She kissed Regina's nose and then her cheeks and finally her lips. 'I love you,' she murmured softly.
Regina beamed at her before she connected their lips again. 'I love you too, darling, and I promise I will give you a proper proposal once I've bought a ring,' she vowed as she pulled back.
'You two are so adorable,' gushed Marian as she snuggled into her own wife, who had Azalea on her chest and was humming to her softly.
Snow smiled warmly at Regina and Emma. 'I'm happy for you both. I genuinely am. I didn't think I'd ever say this, but I'm glad you found your way back to each other and I wish you a lifetime of happiness together,' she said sincerely while David nodded along, proud of how his wife was handling things.
Regina stood up and moved to pull Snow up before she hugged her tightly. 'That means a lot and I think Emma will come around eventually. Just don't give up on her,' she whispered into Snow's ear.
Snow nodded as she tried her best to hold back her tears. 'Thank you, Regina. I'm glad we're friends now. It fits us much better, don't you think?' She chuckled wetly.
While Snow was talking to Regina, Mal and Marian were busy with the baby and Lily and Zelena were whispering and laughing in the corner, David moved to sit beside Emma. They hadn't had the chance to talk much, and he had a few things to say.
'I'm happy for you too, Emma. You and Regina make a good team, and I have no doubts you will be extremely happy together,' he smiled, his blue eyes twinkling with sincerity. 'And I want to thank you for not shooting Snow down as soon as she opened her mouth and for giving her a chance to explain. She's struggling with all the guilt over sending you away not only once but twice, but I think what you said has helped her and that means a lot to me.'
Emma listened to what David was saying as she watched Snow and Regina chatting and laughing together like they had been friends for years. There was no evidence that they had been mortal enemies once upon a time and it was quite amazing to witness.
'I think,' she replied, as she turned to face David with a small smile. 'That maybe one day we could possibly have a strong bond, maybe not as parents and child, but definitely as family. I mean, if Regina and Snow can be family, then I'm sure there's hope for everyone.' She turned back to watch her future wife, who was holding their daughter, who was trying to reach for Jace, who was now in Snow's lap.
David let out a chuckle as he, too, turned to face his wife and Regina. 'It took them a while to get where they are now, and I'm pretty sure it was solely down to the babies. They bonded them in the best way. Snow helped Regina through her pregnancy, even though she believed she had never done it before, Regina obviously tried to push her away but Snow was persistent and Regina eventually gave in and let her help, and when Snow found out she was already eight months pregnant with Jace Regina was the only one that was level headed while me and Snow freaked out,' he remembered fondly.
Emma let out a laugh before she stood up and walked over to Snow as David watched from the sofa curiously. 'Hey,' she said a bit sheepishly. 'Um, I was wondering if I could, you know.' Her eyes flitted from Snow to the baby in her arms. 'Um, can I?'
'Of course you can hold him, Emma,' smiled Snow softly as she held out the baby for Emma to take. Emma smiled back as she took hold of him. She turned her head to see Regina watching her with an encouraging smile before she focused her attention on the baby in her arms.
'Hey, little buddy,' she cooed as he looked up at her with wide blue eyes identical to David's. 'I'm Emma and believe it or not, I'm actually your big sister and I know you don't understand yet, but you have a niece and two nephews as well.' She continued to chatter to the baby as Snow looked on, barely holding back tears as her two children bonded.
Lily was sitting talking to Zelena, who was telling her all about her time in OZ when her phone rang. She sent the green witch an apologetic smiled as she looked at the caller ID. 'Sorry I have to take this,' she said before she pressed the green button and put the phone to her ear.
'Hey, what's up?' She asked into the phone. She listened intently as Neal rushed out a barrage of words that only just made sense before she put the phone down and looked around the room. 'Um guys, we have a problem,' she said loudly to get their attention. Once she was sure everyone was listening, she continued. 'Rumple woke up, and he's on his way to Storybrooke.'