"Hey, hey, I'm home!" Emma called as usually as soon as she stepped inside the hallway. She freed herself from the leather jacket and her shoes and ventured into the kitchen.

"Hi, honey, welcome home!" Her mom greeted. She was standing by the stove and stirring something in a pot.

"Thank you. Where's Regina?" that was always the first question out of Emma's mouth when she came home.

"She is out helping your father. Archie called. Pongo ran away again, and your dad asked if she wanted to go with him."

"Was that wise?" Emma lifted an eyebrow. Couldn't imagine that Regina could benefit from trotting around and searching for a lost dog. Not in her condition.

"Regina was all for it. She was very happy to be asked."

"How long have they been gone for?"

"Not much more than an hour. I'm sure they'll be home soon."

"I hope so." Emma frowned. "She shouldn't be out looking for missing dogs, mom. She should be resting. Especially after the night she had." Regina hadn't slept very well last night. The baby was putting some real pressure on her spine and pelvis, and it was something close to impossible to find a comfortable sleeping position these days.

"You know just as well as me that your father will be the one to do most of the searching for Pongo," her mom said patiently as she stirred something in the pot. "Regina is just there to keep your dad company. Her face completely lit up when he asked her. I think she's going a little bit stir crazy, to be honest."

"Yeah. Of course. You're right." Emma felt like she had just been gently chastened. And rightfully so. It wasn't right of her to assume that Regina would be satisfied with staying inside twenty four seven. Despite the fact that she now was so highly pregnant, her moveability was extremely limited. Getting out of bed was a struggle. The baby was crowding her lungs and making her feel out of breath. Shifting her weight to stand up would often make her dizzy, and walking was a challenge because Regina no longer could see her feet. She was now only one week away from her due date, and she was definitely ready to deliver. Had told Emma that she currently was in a waiting position where everything had to be postponed until after the birth.

Emma was anxiously awaiting the birth of their child too. She was ridiculously nervous, but she did her best to bite it back when she was near Regina. It wouldn't be fair to Regina to let her see how nervous Emma was about the birth. Because Emma knew that if she was nervous, Regina had to be a billion times more nervous.

Emma took a breath. Just thinking about it made her belly flutter anxiously. She blinked and then suffocated a yawn. She hadn't gotten much sleep either last night.

"You know, I thought the gig was up last night," Emma told her mom. "When I woke up and saw her walking up and down the floor, I seriously thought that she had gone into labor."

"Well, she could have been. Her due date is in a week."

"I know." Emma winced and felt a lick of anxiety somewhere low in her stomach. "Where did the time go?"

Her mom chuckled. "That's how it is with the last weeks of pregnancy. You blink and they're gone. Just like that."

"Yeah. Just like that," Emma repeated and swallowed something.

"It is important that the two of you really take this last opportunity to relax as much as you can." Her mom let go of the spoon and pressed her hands against her lower back as she stretched. "Oh, goodness, my old back can't handle standing bend over for longer than five minutes these days!"

Emma chuckled. "You're not old, mom. You're too young for that. Want me to take over for a moment?"

"Yes, that would be lovely, honey."

Emma took her mom's place in front of the stove and grabbed the big spoon. She began stirring and sniffed appreciatingly. It looked to be some kind of soup packed with all kinds of herbs. "That smells amazing, mom."

"Thank you. I asked Regina what she wanted for dinner, and she requested soup."

Emma gave a noise of appreciation. Soup was good, hearty meal. As some women did, Regina had been struggling a bit with some nausea recently, so Emma sure was glad to hear that she had requested soup. She had been a bit worried when Regina suddenly got nauseous again. She hadn't known that was a thing late in the pregnancy.

"Can't go wrong with soup. But didn't you make like… way too much?" she grinned and was halfway expecting her mom to clap back with a lecture of storing things in the freezer, or something like that.

"No, I did not make too much. We're having guests over for dinner."

"We are?" Emma dragged the spoon through the soup again. "Who?"

"Your father-in-law and his new girlfriend," her mom chuckled.

"Oh." Emma grinned now. "Got it."

Ever since Regina's spontaneous little speech at the diner, Henry and Eugenia had been much more open about their relationship. Emma knew that Granny had told Ruby. Ruby had called Emma and nearly squealed into the phone, completely and utterly over the moon about her grandmother finding someone.

"It couldn't be better," she had said. "I mean, Regina's dad is like the sweetest man ever. And he makes Granny happy. I love that!"

"I think it's wonderful they've found each other," Emma's mother said spontaneously and smiled softly. "Finding a partner isn't that easy when you reach our age. But Eugenia and Henry are lovely together. It would appear that daughter as well as father found love in Storybrooke." She winked cheekily at Emma.

"Regina didn't find me in Storybrooke," Emma said and ignored the teasing. "Technically, I found her. And it was in Madrid."

"Emma Marie Swan, don't be so unromantic," her mom scoffed and pretended to whack her.

"Wha- I am not unromantic!" Emma protested. She laughed heartedly and thought about the 'unromantic' response Regina had given her earlier when Emma asked how she was feeling.

Regina had answered by sending Emma a picture of a very big, very pregnant hairless cat sitting like a human and frowning in a way that made its entire face wrinkle up in disdain. Emma had laughed and laughed when she saw the pictures. She had been forced to pull over until she could breathe again. It had been absolutely hilarious.

"I can take over now." Her mom came over to the stove and took the spoon from Emma. "Could you check on the garlic breads in the oven?"

"Garlic breads," Emma groaned as she crouched down and opened the oven doors. The breads were golden on top and filled the kitchen with the delicious smell of garlic.

"Mom, you're genius," Emma said. "Seriously."

"Seriously, thank you," her mom laughed. "The crust isn't turning black, is it?"

"Nope, definitely not. The breads are delicious. I can't wait to taste them!"

"My chronically hungry Emma," her mom said fondly.

Emma grinned. She couldn't very well run from that. She was definitely chronically hungry. And especially when the menu happened to be soup and garlic. Her mom's garlic breads was one of her biggest weaknesses in life. Garlic breads and Regina.

"So, what time will our guests arrive then?"

"They should be here in… two hours." Her mom glanced at the clock and frowned. "I do hope your father and Regina will make it home in time."

"Are they running late? Should I call and ask where they are? Or I could drive around and see if I can find them?"

"Or," her mom said calmly. "You could sit down and relax and be contend with knowing that your father is with Regina."

"I….could also do that," Emma sheepishly acknowledged as she plopped down on the nearest chair. "Sorry, mom. I'm tense, I know it."

"Of course you are, sweetie. You're about to have a baby."

"Well, not now I hope."

Before her mom could answer that, Emma heard the front door open. There was a lot of laughing. Her dad's and Regina's voice blended, and Emma wondered what could possibly be that funny. She was curious enough to leave the kitchen.

"Hey," she said as soon as she could poke her head into the hallway. "I heard you guys have been chasing Pongo. Did you find him?"

"No," Regina laughed as she turned around and revealed the big, muddy pawprints on her jeans. "He found us."

"Yes, Regina is now Storybrooke's official dog whisperer," Emma's dad laughed and wiped his brow. "I don't think I've ever seen him that happy."

"Must be my special abilities," Regina joked, still sniggering.

"Well, I'm glad you had such a fun outing," Emma said softly and wished that she could let it stay with that. But she couldn't. She just had to be worried girlfriend-extra-ordinaire.

"Pongo didn't get anywhere near little one when he jumped up, right?" she asked.

"No, no, of course not. All thanks to your hero-dad. He went like this…" Regina swung her arm out and shielded her large belly. "It was like an action movie."

Emma relaxed. "Did you feel like Mary Jane, then?"

", little bit." Regina laughed heartedly once again. "But the bottom line is that Pongo is back home where he belongs, and nobody got hurt. Are we late? How much time do I have before daddy and Eugenia arrives?"

"Plenty of time, Regina," it came from the kitchen. "And thank you for your help with the garlic bread earlier, they're turning out beautifully!"

"Oh, good!" Regina looked very pleased. "I'm glad the recipe is doing its job, Mary Margaret."

"Hang on," Emma tilted her head. "You made the garlic breads?"

"God no," Regina laughed and shook her head. "I just chipped in with a few advises here and there. That's all."

"Regina helped me spruce up the recipe," Emma's mom's voice came floating through the kitchen. "She thought of some really clever things I wouldn't have come up with on my own."

"Oooh, nice one," Emma winked at her girlfriend. "Ever thought of becoming a chef?"

Regina snorted. "Many, many times, querida. Anyways, I should probably change out of this. It wouldn't look good to walk around with pawprints on my pants." She took off her coat and wiggled out her shoes. It didn't escape Emma's notice that her girlfriend let out a little sigh of relief upon doing this. Maybe her feet were hurting again. Her ankles were fairly swollen now. And her joints hurt just in general. It was nice to see her smile right now. She wasn't having a ton of fun these days.

Emma accompanied Regina up the stairs and inside the bedroom. She too wanted to change her clothes. She was currently wearing her professional, black blazer and matching pants, and while the clothes was nice, it was also just a little bit too tight to be comfortable. And comfortable was exactly what Emma wanted to be. Comfortable yet fancy.

But she wasn't more in a hurt to change her clothes than she had time to settle down on the bed and watch as Regina stripped out of her jeans and the casual grey hoodie she had worn. She carefully dumped the pawprint decorated jeans in Emma's hamper basket and then turned to the closet. It had been a few weeks since she had moved her clothes from her suitcase to the closet. It was much more practical. Emma had applauded the decision. She had a thing for seeing Regina's stuff in her closet.

Soon they could permanently share a closet. When they at last moved to Laguna Beach. It wouldn't be long now.

"Me estás viendo a mi?"

"Yes," Emma said, quickly snapping out of it when Regina spoke to her. "I am definitely looking at you. I mean…." She let the rest of the sentence get away from her and sighed instead.

Regina was an absolute vision as she stood there in nothing but bra and panties. Her cheeks were full and rosy from the crisp Maine air. Her hair was a beautiful, wild mess of curls that seldom could be controlled. Her eyes were ashine from previous laughter. Her belly was sticking out, always looking as though it was poking at something, which Emma found to be hilarious. She found it highly entertaining to ask 'oh, are we going that way?' when they were walking.

Regina's body had changed so much, and especially in these what Emma assumed was the last weeks of the pregnancy, and it had been an absolute joy to be able to watch the changes happen. The subtle changes. And the major ones.

"You're glowing," she told Regina.

Regina snorted as she reached within the closet. "Que cliché absoluto, querida."

"I don't care if it's a cliché." Emma scoffed. "You are glowing." Seriously, Regina's face was lighting up in a particular way these days. She looked so fucking good Emma could barely stand it. The urge to either kiss or touch Regina was almost constant. Which was unfortunate seeing that they currently were living with Emma's parents. Her mom had accidentally walked in on them kissing rather passionately yesterday, and Regina had looked embarrassed for the remainder of the day.

"Do you think this is suitable for welcoming Eugenia to the family?" Regina half-joked as she pulled a blue dress out of the closet.

"Oh, definitely." Emma silently applauded Regina's choice.

The dress was dark blue, had little sleeves and a round neckline. It suited Regina beautifully.

"This is it then," Regina said briskly. She hummed softly to herself as she unzipped the dress and then stepped into it. She tugged it up. Over her thighs. Her butt.

Emma unconsciously licked her lips and tilted her head. Regina's butt was an absolute wonder. And it was another thing Emma couldn't stop touching. Much to Regina's delight.

"Mierda," Regina softly cussed as she tried and failed at zipping the dress in the back. "Querida, can you help me?"

"Always." Emma briskly stood from the edge of the bed and walked over to Regina. "Turn around."

Regina obediently turned around and pulled her hair out of the way so Emma could zip the dress.

Emma quickly went to work and tugged at the zipper.

"Please, please say that it can zip," Regina muttered lowly. "De lo contrario, podría llorar.."

"Of course it'll zip," Emma said quickly. "No tears required!"

Regina laughed sardonically. "Bold of you with the way my hormones are going up and down these days…"

"Of course they're going up and down. Your due date is literally in a week."

"Lo sé. por favor no me lo recuerdes." Regina shuddered a bit.

"Sorry. Won't happen again."

"That's a lie and we both know it, querida."

They both laughed at that, and Emma tugged Regina's zipper up the rest of the way. "There. Perfect." She lightly smoothened a crease on the shoulder of Regina's dress, then spontaneously bowing her head and planting a kiss on the back of Regina's neck.

Regina gasped and turned around in a quick, fluid motion that was rather impressive for someone who was thirty nine weeks pregnant.

"Do that again and I will knock you onto that bed, sit on top of you and squish you," she said lowly.

Emma tilted her head innocently. "Was that a threat or a promise?"

"Querida, have you seen me lately?" Regina scoffed. "Soy enorme. It was definitely a threat."

"I don't know…" Emma looked her arms around Regina's waist and drew her as close as the big belly allowed these days. "I wouldn't mind getting squished by you."

"Careful what you say, querida," Regina warned. Then she jokingly nudged Emma with her belly.

Emma of course had to be dramatic and pretended to fall, taken down by Blueberry. "That one hell of a way to use our kid against me."

", very handy." Regina rubbed her belly lightly and wiggled out of Emma's grasp. "You better get dressed too, mi amor. I think Mary Margaret would want help with setting the table."

"You mean she'll want my help," Emma corrected with a grin as she pulled off her blazer and top. "You she'll tell to go and sit down."

"Probably. But that doesn't mean I'm going to do it, though. I prefer helping out."

"I know you do," Emma smiled. Yes, her mom and Regina had a little 'battle' going on. They were fighting from two completely different corners. Emma's mother's corner was full of 'go sit down and rest, Regina, dear', while Regina's corner was full of: 'no, that's okay, I want to help'.

It was a fairly even battle. Yet none of the opponents were backing down.

Emma peered inside her closet and wondered what to wear tonight. After a second, she decided on a green button down with short sleeves and a pair of light blue jeans. It looked casual without being too casual. Comfortable but not slobby. Fancy without being too much. Perfect.

"That shirt looks so good on you, querida," Regina praised as Emma slipped her arms through the short sleeves. "And the color matches your eyes perfectly."

"Thanks," Emma smiled. "You look ridiculously hot in that dress. Just figured I'd mention it."

"Well, I appreciate it."

Emma grinned at Regina's reflection in the mirror. She loved the little smirk thing Regina had going on right now. Then she was distracted by her phone pinging. It was an email.

Emma turned around and snatched the phone from her vanity. She quickly went through the email. Then went: "yeah, nope, I don't think so."

"¿Qué es eso?"

"It's an email from a lady whose photographer cancelled on her last minute, so now she's asking me if I have any opportunity to step in. But I'm going to say no. It's next week already, and we're having a baby next week, so…"

"Emma, you don't have to-"

"Didn't you hear me?" Emma scowled slightly at Regina's reflection. Then looked down and concentrated on buttoning her shirt. "I said, we're having a baby next week. Which means no work. Nope. I'll be right here so I don't miss out on anything."

"Mmm."

Emma looked up. Immediately concerned that the talk about the baby had made Regina anxious.

But upon glancing in the mirror, she saw Regina sitting on the bed with her eyes closed. Her face was slightly pinched in pain, and she was rubbing her stomach repeatedly.

"Braxton Hicks?" Emma guessed.

"Mmmm," Regina said again. A muscle worked in her jaw, and she shifted uneasily on the bed.

Emma stopped the getting-dressed-process and walked over to Regina. She climbed onto the back, positioned herself behind Regina and gently rubbed her back in soothing circles.

"Mierda, that hurts," Regina muttered under her breath. She shifted again. Mumbled a flurry of Spanish words. Most of them cuss words.

Emma kept rubbing her back. She didn't say anything. Could sense that Regina wasn't in the mood for talking.

After a moment, Regina let out a long breath and opened her eyes.

"Done?" Emma asked softly.

". This on was rough. Not very promising for the future." She cleared her throat. "Okay. I'm done now. Thank you for rubbing my back."

"Did it even help?"

", of course it did. Took some of the pressure. I hope you'll do that a lot during the birth."

"As much and as long as you want, beautiful girl," Emma promised.

Regina turned her head and smiled at her. Sweetly bopped her nose against Emma's. "Eres tan dulce. Sorry for interrupting you in the middle of getting dressed."

"Please interrupt me as much as you want." Emma kissed her cheek. "Do you need help with putting on stockings or anything?"

". Definitely. But you better get dressed first. I'm sure helping me will be a lengthy process."

"I don't mind that," Emma assured. She pecked Regina's lips and then got up from the bed.

She concluded the getting dressed process, finishing off by zipping and buttoning her jeans.

"Tu trasero se ve genial en esos jeans..."

Emma grinned and basked in the way Regina drawled. She loved that drawl. And she loved being told that her ass looked great in jeans.

"Your everything looks great in that dress, babe," she replied, tossing a grin over her shoulder before reaching inside the closet and finding a pair of sheer stockings. Regina's preference.

"Ready to get all stocked up?" she joked.

Regina scoffed, clearly not impressed at her joke.

With the stockings in hand, Emma knelt down in front of Regina. "Foot, please!"

Regina obediently stuck out her right foot.

Emma carefully rolled the stockings on first Regina's right foot and then her left. Her fingers accidentally brushed the back of Regina's legs.

"Ticklish," Regina warned.

"Sorry, sorry. I see that the nail polish is still sticking."

She was very proud of the lilac nail polish adorning Regina's toenails. Emma had painted them herself yesterday. Regina had tried doing it on her own, but her belly was too big, and she couldn't find a comfortable position in which it was possible for her to reach her toes. And she had looked positively sad when discovering that it wasn't possible for her to paint her toenails. So Emma had stepped in.

", you did good," Regina praised. "I love it."

"I'm glad. You just let me know if you want a different color."

"I'll bear that in mind."

"Good." She smiled as she rolled it up Regina's ankles.

"Those are horribly swollen," Regina complained. "I wonder if I'll ever dance again."

"Of course you'll dance again, babe," Emma said firmly. "Your ankles won't be swollen forever."

"¿Prometes?"

"Promise," Emma assured.

"I'll take your word for it, then."

"Good. You should. Can you stand up for me?"

"Of course." Regina elegantly stood from the bed, and Emma tugged the stockings up her thighs.

"I better take it from here, querida." Regina gently batted Emma's hands away and tugged the hemline of the stockings up under her skirt. "Wouldn't want to give myself any ideas…"

"God forbid it," Emma said with faux seriousness. She happened to love all of Regina's ideas.

Regina ignored her and grabbed Emma's hairbrush. She ran the brush through her long, thick dark locks. She then rolled her hair up in a soft bun, leaving a few curly strands hanging loose and framing her face. Making up her mind about that hairstyle, she borrowed one of Emma's hair ties and secured the bun with it.

"What do you think?" she asked Emma. "Do I look appropriate for meeting my dad's not-so-secret-girlfriend?"

"You look perfect," Emma said. "Ten out of ten."

"Gracías. Te ves hermosa también. Should we head downstairs and help your parents?"

"Yeah, let's do it. Don't trip over the hospital bag again, please."

"Stop it." Regina sighed. "I didn't trip over it. It was mostly a stumble. And in my defense, that hospital bag was standing in a very silly place. And I can't see my feet."

Emma held her tongue and didn't comment on it. Didn't delve into the little detail that it was Regina herself who had placed that hospital bag so close to the bed. She had nearly gotten a mini heart attack when Regina staggered and nearly tripped over the bag.

Regina had cussed the bag out and been on the verge of unpacking the whole thing again. But Emma had convinced her not to.

Hand in hand, they ventured downstairs where it didn't take long before Emma's mom encouraged Regina to sit down. And as always, Regina sweetly rejected it.

And Emma? Well, she secretly laughed because both of them were so stubborn and hilarious.

"Please, Regina, sit down," Emma's mother nearly pleaded. "I think you have been enough on your feet today."

"I can help," Regina insisted. "I want to help."

Emma's mother looked pleadingly at Emma for help, but Emma just shrugged. She could do absolutely nothing about this. She had given up a long time ago.

"I am perfectly capable of helping out, and it's not like I've been running a marathon, so it's not- oh!"

Emma was by her side immediately. "Braxton Hicks again?"

"," Regina said strained and rubbed her belly. "Feel that?"

Emma lightly touched Regina's belly. And yep, she definitely felt it. How hard Regina's belly was all the sudden.

"Dios, this is really intense," Regina mumbled as she stalked over to the nearest chair and sat down. She rubbed her belly and in gentle Spanish spoke to the baby.

Emma exchanged a look with her mom. She had a feeling that they were thinking the same. That Regina sure was having a lot of Braxton Hicks these days. Much more than normally.

"I think it's disappearing now," Regina said and smiled. ", it is much better now." But she didn't stand from the chair. She didn't even attempt to. For once, she allowed Emma and her mom to do the table setting while she settled for watching.

Emma chewed on her bottom lip. Everything was leading up to the birth these days…

Exactly two hours later, there was a knock on the door. Considering that it was 'just' Henry and Granny, Emma found the knock to be pretty formal, and she exchanged a look with Regina who raised an eyebrow. She could clearly see the odd and slightly hilarious part too.

"Looks like our guests are here," her mom trilled.

"Why don't I open," Regina suggested and got on her feet surprisingly quickly.

"Careful," both Emma and her mom hissed.

Regina ignored it and walked into the hallway. She had recovered from the Braxton Hicks episode, and she and Emma had spent time going over their 'things to do before the birth'-list once more. There still was a few things to do. Such as creating a birth plan. And Emma still had to install a car seat in the yellow Bug. That was very important. They also had to decide exactly when they were moving to California. Obviously, Regina had to recover first. And they had to establish a routine with the baby and all, so it was possible that they would stay in Storybrooke for two months after the birth. Something Emma's mother was absolutely delighted about.

Emma followed her girlfriend into the hallway. Made it there just in time to see Regina open the door for her father and Granny. Eugenia looked very nice tonight. She was wearing a flower printed tunic and cream colored pants. It was almost odd to see her in something that wasn't the white apron Emma normally saw her in at the diner.

"Mijah," Henry greeted his daughter and flashed her a smile.

"Hola papi," Regina returned the greeting and looked quite amused when her father kissed her on the cheek. "How formal we are tonight."

"Es una noche especial," Henry said. He turned his head and smiled at Granny who was standing next to him.

Granny smiled. Slightly nervously. Ever since Regina dropping the bomb at the diner, she had been a little hesitant with Regina. Almost a little odd.

This had caused Regina to one afternoon walk over to the diner and speak to Granny. She had actually apologized to Granny for how she in a way just had snapped and in a very non-subtle way had revealed that she knew about Granny and her father's relationship. Regina had felt bad about the blunt way she had revealed that she knew. It hadn't been entirely fair to either her dad or Granny.

Afterwards, she had told Emma that Granny had apologized too. For what, Emma wasn't entirely sure of (and neither was Regina), but Granny had apparently had some concerns regarding whether she was 'stealing' Regina's dad who had come to Storybrooke only to meet Emma's parents and spend time with them and Emma and Regina.

Regina had of course told Granny that that was ridiculous, she had told Emma afterwards. Granny had definitely not 'stolen' anything. And certainly not Regina's father. He's not just something one can steal, Regina had joked.

"," Regina agreed, pulling Emma out of her musings.

"It is a special evening," she continued and flashed Granny a beaming smile. "Hello, Eugenia."

"Hello, Regina." Granny smiled at her again. This time, less nervously.

Emma's parents joined them in the hallway.

"Welcome, Henry and Eugenia!" David said.

", welcome," Regina softly echoed and looked only at Eugenia.

Emma knew that Regina wasn't welcoming Granny to the house. No. She was welcoming her to the family. She was showing her that she was more than welcome in the Mills family.

And judging by the way Granny's laugh lines became more pronounced as she smiled, revealed that she had picked up on it. And was so, so happy about it.

Emma was happy about it too. Granny was a gem. One of the nicest people Emma knew. She truly was a perfect match for Henry.

"Voy a amar a mi nueva madrastra," Regina murmured as Henry and Granny walked inside.

"Huh? What did you say?" Emma was good at Spanish, but she wasn't sure she had understood what Regina just said. It had been a little too fast for her to understand completely."

"I said…" Regina chuckled softly. "That I am going to love my new stepmother."

"Oh." Now Emma was chuckling too. Joking or not, that was exactly what Granny would become if her and Henry's relationship continued to blossom. Which it rather seemed like it would. Both of them were glowing with newfound love. And the optimism of getting a second chance was evident in their eyes.

"What do you say, little one?" Regina put a hand on her belly. "Are you going to love your new step grandmother?"

Emma couldn't stop laughing as she too put a hand on Regina's belly. She felt Blueberry kick and felt like a confirmation. A reassurance that yep, Blueberry was absolutely going to love his/her new step grandmother!

To Be Continued…