"Okay," Emma muttered to herself, taking a step back and looking over the result. "That's gotta be it for tonight."

She was satisfied. Had developed the images from the latest photo job, and now the pictures were hanging and drying in her darkroom. Meaning that her job was over for tonight. Thank god. She had started to get a little tired of it.

Emma put her hands behind her head and leaned backwards in an attempt to stretch her lower back a little. She was really starting to feel the effect of standing bended over for so long. Maybe she was starting to get old.

Emma chuckled quietly as she turned around and walked up the basement stairs. It felt good to finally be able to leave the basement. She had been cooped up down here for ages. Finally, she had some down time on her hands, and naturally, she was going to spend that down time with Regina. If she hadn't gone to bed. Emma had a feeling that it was late-ish. She wasn't sure how late, though. She always lost track of time when she was working in the basement.

Coming into the kitchen, she found it dark and empty. So her parents were still out. They were seeing a play at a nearby theater. Emma had forgotten which play, but her parents had been excited, so that was nice.

Emma quickly checked her phone to see if she had missed any messages from Regina. They had agreed that Regina should text her if she needed anything. That was easier rather than going downstairs to the basement.

There was no messages, though. And no sight of Regina downstairs either. Maybe she was already asleep. Yes, it was only nine PM, but Regina slept a lot these days. Her energy level was below zero, and her hormones were racing. Her mood fluctuated a lot. Sometimes her eyes could well up when seeing a cute commercial, and sometimes she could be quite grumpy. Sometimes it could be hard to navigate in Regina's ever changing emotions, but Emma did her best to take it all in strides. Continued to reminded herself that it was the last haul, and that Regina was really going through it. She had an excuse to be grumpy.

After having checked that Regina wasn't in the living room either, Emma went up the stairs. She made sure to walk softly. Just in case Regina had gone to bed early. Obviously, Emma didn't want to wake her.

But reaching the bathroom door, Emma realized that Regina wasn't asleep. There was a white paper towel hanging on the door. That was a new rule they had come up with. Rather than locking the door, Regina would hang something on the door. And a white paper towel just so happened to indicate that Regina was taking a bath.

Emma hovered by the door for a moment. She could hear splashing and reached for the doorknob. She did so loved when Regina was taking a bath. They had a whole tradition of Emma either being in the tub with Regina or sitting on the floor and keeping her company. It was a cute tradition, and Emma saw no reason to break it now.

She pressed the doorknob down and pushed the door open.

The sight meeting her eyes was truly a lovely one. Regina was sitting in the tub with foam coming up to her shoulders. Her hair was pulled into a soft bun on top of her head. She was sitting leaned back in the tub. Her legs were slightly parted, and her belly was sticking up in the foam. Like a mountain surrounded by little clouds, Emma thought to herself and smiled.

She was about to say something when a sound Regina made caught her attention. It was not one of her usual groans. Nope, this was a…. nice groan. One of those kind of groans.

Emma did a double take on Regina's position in the tub. The slightly parted legs. The way her right hand seemed to be busy in the water.

Oh. Ohhh. Regina had found a way to entertain herself while Emma was busy working. Well then. Good for her.

Obviously, Emma didn't want to do the whole voyeur thing, so she aimed for a hasty retreat. But unfortunately, the door creaked when she attempted to pull it shut.

Regina turned her head. "Emma?"

"Hi," Emma said sheepishly and gave a meek wave. She hoped that Regina wouldn't get mad. She honest to god hadn't tried to spy or anything. She had only followed the tradition they had established long ago.

"Are you going to come in or not? Please decide quickly. The draft is making me feel cold!"

Emma chose to come in. Hastily, she crossed the threshold and closed the door behind her.

"Thanks," Regina grumbled.

"How are you feeling?" Emma asked carefully.

Only to regret it immediately. The look Regina gave her was positively withering.

"My back hurts. My feet hurts. My breasts hurts. I have Braxton Hicks. I'm constantly out of breath. I'm horny but for whatever reason I can't achieve a decent orgasm. All of me is swollen. And I have an invasive doctor's appointment tomorrow. How would you feel?"

Emma cringed. "Yeah, that is… I'm sorry."

"So am I," Regina said flatly. "I have been pregnant for three hundred years. Are you gonna come in or what?"

Emma blinked. "Come in?"

"Into the bath, Emma. You usually want to get in, but now you're just standing there. Am I really that repulsive to be around?"

"Wha- no! No! Of course not!"

"Then get in." Regina grumbled. Then she frowned and went: "please."

Emma was quick to lock the door behind her and shed her clothes. Once she had ridded herself of her underwear, she swung one leg into the tub. Then the other.

Regina shifted and scooted back so there was room for both of them in the tub.

"Is that better?" Emma asked softly.

"Sí. At least you're not just standing there anymore," Regina muttered. But there wasn't much bite to her words anymore.

Emma made herself comfortable in the tub. The water was nice and warm, and the bubbles were surrounding her. She looked at Regina and smiled. "Can I interest you in a back massage, beautiful girl?"

Regina perked up. "Really?"

"Really," Emma confirmed and motioned for Regina to come closer. "Come here."

Regina turned around and scooted closer, so she was sitting with her back to Emma.

Emma went to work immediately and started working on Regina's lower back.

Regina groaned. "I think there's a lot of tension there."

"Of course there is. You're carrying a tiny person around every single day."

"Sí, and as lovely as that is, I'm starting to get a little fed up," Regina sighed. "I am just so tired of being uncomfortable all the time. If this baby stay in there past the due date, I'm going to lose my mind."

"Let's hope he won't keep us waiting for too long." Emma dared pressing her lips to Regina's temple in a soft kiss. She gently kneaded Regina's lower back and earned herself a satisfied little sound.

"That feels really nice. Gracías."

"You're welcome. I'm just happy to help."

"Did you finish work for the day?" Regina asked and leaned back against Emma's touches.

"Yeah, I'm all yours for the night, babe."

"That sounds nice. What are we going to do?"

"Hmm… What do you want to do?" Emma asked. "Anything in particular?" yes, she was flirting a little bit. It was pretty hard to recover from the sight of what she accidentally had walked in on. The sight of Regina touching herself had definitely made the wheels in her head turn.

Regina hummed lightly. "Perhaps I could think of something…"

"Yeah?" Emma didn't jump the conclusion. When Regina was using that tone, it could either be about sex or food. It was a fifty/fifty chance, honestly.

"Well…. I can't seem to achieve anything on my own," Regina said and sounded positively miserable. "I was actually about to text you, but…"

"Why didn't you, honey?" Emma asked softly.

"Estaba avergonzada," Regina admitted. "It seemed so crass to text you for that. And I didn't want to interrupt your work."

"Please, please interrupt my work," Emma murmured into her ear. "At any point. Seriously. I would have been here so fast…"

Regina sniggered. "I'm sure you would, querida."

"So….?" Emma spoke in a honey-soft voice. "Do you need my attention anywhere else?"

"Sí," Regina rasped. "Lower. Please."

"No pleases required, my love," Emma said tenderly as she moved her hand from Regina's lower back to her front. She slipped it below Regina's big belly and found exactly what she was looking for.

Regina let out a sight and tipped her head back. "Thank god!"

"You can just call me Emma," Emma teased and moved her finger just a quarter inch to the right.

Regina gave a sort of strangled laugh and tossed an arm around the back of Emma's neck. "Right there. Don't stop…"

"Definitely not planning on that," Emma assured.

Regina groaned again.

Emma kept touching and stroking in the way she knew Regina preferred it. She circled her fingers over a hardened nub and then glided her digits up and down. She breached Regina's entrance, but didn't slip her finger until Regina mumbled:

"Por favor. Estoy muy listo."

Kissing the side of her neck tenderly, Emma said: "you let me know if something doesn't feel good, okay?"

"Sí-sí, just do it!"

Emma slipped a finger inside Regina's tight, wet heat and easily found that sensitive spot within her. Determinated to make this as nice for Regina as possible, she lifted her free hand to Regina's right breast and took one swollen nipple between her fingers. She gently rolled it and circled the area around the nipple. Slowly. She knew how sensitive Regina's breasts were these days, and she didn't want to do anything that could cause her pain.

"Dios," Regina groaned. "Querida, eso se siente increíble!"

"Good. It's supposed to."

"I think… I think I'm close?" surprise and wonder colored Regina's voice.

"I know. I can feel it." And fuck, Regina tightening around her finger was the best feeling ever!

"F-faster, mi amor. A little faster!"

"Whatever you need, you shall have, beautiful girl." Emma pumped her finger a little faster, easily hitting Regina's g-spot with each thrust.

Regina whimpered. Her muscles tightened and then she was coming, babbling Spanish and arm squeezing the back of Emma's neck.

Emma was impressed. Regina had never come this fast before. It was hard not to be at least a little bit proud of herself. She silently told her ego to cram it. Regina was so sensitive these days. Of course it didn't take a lot for her to climax.

But the next words out of Regina's mouth only overinflated Emma's ego further.

"Oh, thank god!" she exclaimed, turning in the water and kissing Emma's lips. She was one big smile when she pulled back. "Thank god for you, querida! I had been…" she gestured vaguely with her hand. "For almost twenty minutes and nothing. It was all build up with no actual result!"

"Twenty minutes?!" Emma was appalled and tugged Regina in for a hug. "Honey, that is unacceptable! And not something that'll ever happen again. From now on, I'll help you with that!"

"Eso suena muy bien," Regina laughed. Then she huffed out a breath and asked hopefully: "do you think there's any way that was labor inducing?"

"Your due date isn't until in two weeks!" Emma barked.

"You know just as well as I that delivering the baby now would be quite safe, querida."

"Yeah, well, I can't help you with that," Emma said firmly.

"No, I guess you can't," Regina chuckled. "But speaking of help…" she licked her lips. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

Joy filled Emma. "I could definitely think of a thing or two, babe. But only if it isn't too strenuous for you."

"Depends on what you want me to do…" Regina winked at her.

Emma laughed. Regina really was in a good mood on this particular night. How delightful!

But still, she had to be sensible and mindful of Regina's condition. "Nothing too strenuous," she said seriously.

"That's fair. I can do slow and gentle too.."

"Oh, come here, you!" Emma pulled her teasing girlfriend closer and kissed her soundly on the lips.

Regina returned the kiss and her hands started wandering down Emma's body.

Emma was extremely pleased. This was exactly how she wanted to spend her evening. In a bathtub surrounded by bubbles. With Regina kissing and touching her. Few things were better than this. Emma felt very lucky. It was quite possible that Regina was the best girlfriend ever…

But next day, the best girlfriend ever was in a rather sour mood. They were coming straight from Doctor Whale's office. Regina had just endured yet another prenatal visit. That included checking her blood pressure, doing a blood test, urine sample, measuring her bump. And a pelvic examination to see if her cervix had dilated. Emma had of course panicked at the mere thought. In her mind, dilating meant labors and delivery, but Doctor Whale had patiently explained to her that it didn't necessarily mean that the birth was imminent. It was merely the body's way of preparing.

Regina's cervix hadn't dilated. But she certainly had looked like she wanted to murder Doctor Whale afterwards.

And now she was walking quietly next to Emma. Clearly still in a bad mood.

Emma sympathized with her. It couldn't be fun to have some doctor poke around between your legs. She knew that it was necessary, but she wasn't a fan of it either.

"Prefiero que me extraigan un diente que tener otro examen pélvico," Regina muttered under her breath.

"What did you say?"

"I said, I'd rather have a tooth extracted than having another pelvic examination," Regina growled quietly.

"Oh." Emma cringed and wondered what she could even say to that. There wasn't much she could say to offer comfort.

Regina kept muttering in quiet Spanish. Undoubtedly cussing under he breath.

"Uhm, milkshakes?" Emma ended up saying.

"Milkshakes?" Regina echoed and lifted an eyebrow.

"Yeah! I mean, we could go to Granny's and get some milkshakes? Doesn't that sound good?"

"It does," Regina agreed. "I could definitely drink a milkshake right now."

"Yes, you could." Emma took her girlfriend's hand and steered her towards Granny's Diner. Regina had deserved a goddamn milkshake after what she had just endured. There had been so much talk about the upcoming delivery, packing a hospital bag, nursing and so much more. It had been overwhelming for Emma to listen to. And if it had been overwhelming for her, she could only imagine how it had felt for Regina.

"Is it bad that I just want Blueberry out?" Regina asked.

"Nope, definitely not. It's been a long time. Of course you're tired."

Regina laughed bitterly. "'Tired' is to put it lightly, querida. I'm fed up. Done. Exhausta. I just want to give birth, go home and cuddle our baby. Is that really too much to ask?"

"Soon," Emma did her best to soothe and slipped an arm around Regina's shoulder. "Soon, I promise."

They made it to Granny's Diner. The place greeted them with its usual warmth and cozy atmosphere. And what's more, Henry was there. He was sitting in one of the tall barstools and chatting to Granny. Of course.

Emma saw how Granny was leaning forward slightly as she talked to Henry. Her eyes were sparkling, and she looked very happy. So did Henry.

"En serio, ¿podrían ser menos obvias al respecto?" Regina muttered.

"Reggie!" Henry called upon spotting them.

"It's Regina," Regina said tightly. "Not Reggie. Regina. Please try to remember that!"

"Lo siento," Henry said and looked slightly taken aback at Regina's tone.

The look on his face quickly made Regina snap out of it, though. "Lo siento, daddy," she said and sounded genuinely apologetic. "I should not have spoken like that to you. That was unnecessary."

"Think no more of it, Mijah," Henry said and smiled softly at his daughter. "How did it go at the doctors?"

"Quite well. We're as healthy as can be. Not ready for delivery, though."

"Well, there is still two weeks left."

"Sí, I know." Regina shifted and pulled at something under her coat.

Emma was almost certain it was the 'pregnancy-belt' Doctor Whale had prescribed for her. Regina wasn't particularly fond of the belt. For whatever reason, she felt like an old lady when wearing it, but it helped supporting her large belly, so she was enduring it.

"What can I get for you today, Regina?" Granny asked. "You can have anything you want. On the house."

Emma hid her grin. Granny had been nice to Regina before, but now her kindness definitely was suspicious.

"I'd like a banana milkshake, please," Regina said and smiled.

"Of course! You just sit down, sweet girl. I'll personally make that milkshake for you!"

Regina sat down. Emma followed example and saw a little smile lurk in the corner of Regina's mouth.

"'Sweet girl'," she mouthed.

Emma grinned. Yep, she had picked up on that too.

"So, Mijah, did Doctor Whale have anything new to say today?" Henry asked briskly.

"Not really, no. Just to be on the look out for symptoms of labors." Regina rolled her eyes. "As if I didn't already know that…"

Henry chuckled lightly and patted her hand. "Not long now, Mijah. Not long now."

"I know." Regina sighed deeply. "I'm just so tired of waiting, daddy. And I'm tired of being uncomfortable."

"I understand that, Regg- Regina. Soon the little one will be here."

"That's true." Regina mustered a small smile.

That was when Granny came back. She was carrying a banana milkshake for Regina. And a chocolate milkshake for Emma. Even though Emma hadn't actually ordered one. That was one of the many brilliant things about Granny.

"Thanks," said Emma and immediately took a sip of her milkshake. It tasted as good as always.

"Yes, Gracías, Eugenia," Regina said. "You make the milkshakes."

"You flatter me, my girl," Granny chuckled. Then she shot Henry a sideways glance.

Henry immediately glanced in Granny's direction, and Emma had to agree with her girlfriend. Henry and Granny were as subtle as a pair of sixteen years old. Really, they weren't fooling anyone. Absolutely no one.

Regina sighed deeply and muttered: "okay, this has been going on long enough."

"What do you mean?" Emma whispered back.

"I mean exactly what I said, querida," Regina said. Then she leaned forward slightly on the tall barstool and cleared her throat half loudly.

It worked as intended. Henry and Granny both got startled and looked at her.

"Is something wrong, Mijah?" Henry asked alarmed.

"Are you in pain, Regina?" asked Granny. She too looked concerned.

Concerned, and completely oblivious, Emma thought to herself. She had a feeling that she knew exactly what was on Regina's mind.

"No," Regina said shortly and rolled her eyes. "I just wanted to tell you that I know. And that I don't mind. So you don't have to do the whole sneaking around thing. At least not if is an attempt at shielding me. It's sweet, but unnecessary. I'm delighted for you both." But if you're sneaking around for own sake, like… keeping this under wraps because you're still trying to figure things out, that's completely fine too. I'll go on pretending that I don't know anything about it. But just know that I'll be happy for you both when you decide to tell me. Because this-" she motioned between her father and Eugenia. "Is something I'm very much on board with. I'll admit that I hadn't seen it coming, but I think it's the best thing ever." She concluded by taking a large sip of her milkshake. "Mm! This is really good!"

Henry stared gob smacked at his daughter. His mouth opened, but absolutely no words came out.

Granny blushed like a schoolgirl and wiped her hands in her apron. She clearly couldn't think of anything to say either.

But Emma laughed heartedly as she slipped an arm around Regina's shoulder and gave her a squeeze. Being in the last stage of the pregnancy apparently turned her girlfriend into an absolute savage!

To Be Continued….