"I feel like a fat penguin, Emma."
Emma rolled her eyes at her wife's words as she looked at the woman clad in a black-and-white dress that reached her ankles. "No, you aren't." She moved to tuck a wayward strand of hair behind the older woman's ear. "You're beautiful."
Regina's face told otherwise; her dark eyes glazed with an irritation that had been present since the start. "Look at me," she hissed quietly, moving closer to the young woman. Her eyes darted to the people around them, though they stood several feet away.
"Do you want to leave, babe?" The blonde frowned slightly and touched her hand when it slid along the soft material of her dress.
"No." She let out a resigned sigh. "It's your thing and I don't want to ruin it." It was referring to a small party the people at her station had thrown together for Emma's boss since it was the man's 25th anniversary. She dragged her poor wife along, not wanting to go alone, and since she had been holed up for a few days, Regina didn't mind.
"Besides," she continued, offering Emma a small smile, running her fingers through her hair, "I wanted to get out. I'm just…" Regina shook her head slightly, looking down to her stomach. Emma so kindly thought it looked as if she stuffed a watermelon under her dress, but quickly demolished the thought before she let it slip and upset the woman further.
"I know, baby," she murmured, chuckling a bit. "I'll give you backrubs when we get home?"
"That would be wonderful, dear." The older woman moved from Emma's side to head toward a table that held several bottles and cans of drinks. "My back has been aching for some time, now." Emma followed her with a frown. "And I think I ate something… or…"
Regina had shrugged before taking a bottle of water and cracking it open, but her words had the blonde's frown deepening. "Why? Do you feel sick, baby? Maybe we should go home?"
But the brunette shook her head and offered a smile on those sweet red lips. "No. It feels… uncomfortable. It doesn't hurt. I just… I think something isn't agreeing with me. But the feeling doesn't last long so I should be alright for now."
"Oh, really?" Emma slipped her fingers between her wife's free hand and squeezed. "If you're sure."
"I am. I want you to have a fun night, sweetheart." She felt a pair of lips press against the skin of her cheek and hummed when it sent shivers down her spine.
Emma nodded slightly, her cheeks darkening, and leaned against the table as well, eyes observing the small room filled with her colleagues and their partners. Then she noticed one in particular moving their way through the crowd and to her, a friendly smile on his face.
"Hey, Emma!"
"Graham." Emma greeted her friend once he reached the two, though he didn't stop until he reached behind her to grab a can of soda. "When did you get here?"
"Not that long ago," he replied, cracking open the can to take a sip. "The traffic tonight is unreal."
"Tell me about it." She huffed softly. "I thought we wouldn't make it."
"Oh, you're being dramatic." Regina chuckled and pressed a kiss to the side of her head.
Emma only snorted. "So, how have you been, Regina?" Graham turned his attention to the brunette and took another drink. "How are things with the little one?"
"Oh, don't get her started." The blonde playfully muttered before her wife could answer. "She's about ready to carve the baby out herself. Ow! Will you stop doing that?" Emma crinkled her nose and held her stinging arm.
"I am doing fine, Graham, thank you." Her eyes were still on Emma; narrowed in warning. "I have been good most days, but I'm getting quite sore and sleep is still scarce."
"Oh, pft, you were out for like six hours when you went to take a 'nap,' don't lie." Emma smirked and moved to the other side of her friend to avoid getting another smack to her arm. "It was cute, really. She was watching me play a game and fell asleep on me and basically trapped me on the couch until she finally woke up."
"Emma, I swear to Gods-"
But, Graham was laughing anyways, a smile on her face when he looked back to the brunette. "As Ruby likes to point out, you two are cute." His smile was soon defiled by a devious smirk when he turned to Emma. "No offense."
"No offense, my ass." Emma scoffed.
The young police officer only smirked before pushing away from the table. "Before I get murdered, I'm gonna go get some cake."
"Wait…" Emma paused and stared at her male friend. "They have the cake out?"
"Yea-"
"That's a game-changer. Let's go." She grinned and took her wife's hand, pulling along the surprised woman as she followed Graham to a table that was surrounded by a few people.
"You and your cake…" The blonde heard her wife mumble behind her and it only made her laugh, her smile growing as she pushed her way before her friend to get a plate of the delicious confection.
It hadn't taken her long to get into the groove of the party with cake in hand and Regina in the other. She talked to her colleagues, congratulated her boss, ate cake, danced, conversed with Graham, ate some more cake, listened to Regina's mild complaints, and was disappointed when the rest of the cake was gone.
By the time they finally made it up to their apartment around midnight, Emma was ready to crawl into bed, and she was sure Regina felt the same. Though, for some reason, despite the weariness in her bones, her brain was wide awake. The party and the music had pumped her up, and there was no doubt that the sugar helped, as well.
Unfortunately, she had to work in the morning – definitely not something she was looking forward to.
"Are you ready for bed, my swan?" Regina asked, dropping her purse down on the end table by the door. Emma looked up at her and merely shrugged, earning a furrowed brow from her wife. "That is not an answer, Emma."
"I know. But, ugh, I'm not tired." She shrugged her jacket off and hung it up before walking to the couch, her fingers digging into the back of it as she stretched.
"I don't think I can get any sleep with my stomach, so how about we watch a movie instead?" Emma could feel the warmth of Regina behind her and the feel of her stomach against her back before those loving arms encircled her.
The blonde nodded slightly before straightening out to lean slightly against her. "Your stomach is still upsetting you?"
"Yes," she answered and placed a kiss to the back of her neck. Emma shivered before she turned around to wrap her arms around the older woman to be met with pinched brows. It was the first time she saw those dark eyes dull in pain.
"Gods, baby, how bad is it?" She lifted a hand to touch her cheek and immediately felt the unusually hot skin. "You look… Well, frankly, you look like shit."
Regina snorted softly. "Thanks," she muttered and pulled back, her face relaxing. "I'm fine, sweetheart. It's nothing."
"Are you sure?" The blonde stepped away when Regina pulled away. "I mean… Maybe you're going into labor?"
The brunette shook her head, though Emma caught the sense of fear that touched her face. "No, I don't… I don't think so."
"Baby." Emma let out an exasperated sigh.
"Emma." Regina narrowed her eyes.
The blonde wrinkled her nose before raising her hands; those dark eyes piercing her felt like they could melt her skin off. Regina was a stubborn woman, sometimes. "Oh, fine." She turned toward the hallway, but stopped before she proceeded down it, and turned to the older woman. "I have a surprise for you, anyways."
"Oh, do you?" One of those perfect brows quirked.
"Yes!" And, before Regina could inquire further, Emma disappeared down the hall and into their bedroom. Only minutes later, she returned, finding her wife leaning against the couch with raised brows.
"What the hell are you wearing?"
"Footed pajamas." Emma smirked and tossed up the hood to the pajamas that she wore, revealing little ears and a pair of golden eyes. The entire assemble resembled a panda bear. It was a purchase she made in vain to see her wife in once the baby was born because, naturally, she bought two when she saw them.
Regina remained speechless, although the corners of her mouth twitched as she kept herself from laughing. "I see," she finally murmured, moving over to her blonde wife, but before she could reach her, Emma started to bounce around.
"If you want my body," Emma tried to sing as she danced around the brunette who bubbled with brash laughter at the unexpected break.
"No! No no!" Regina giggled her words, a desperation to them, but Emma continued anyways.
"And you think I'm sexy, come on sugar, just let me know!"
"Emma!" Tears were streaming down her cheeks, Emma noticed, as the woman stood with her hand on the back of the couch, her laughter never ebbing.
The blonde officer could only laugh with her. "Oh, come on, you know you want me."
"Oh, yes, my little panda." Her words were wheezed and her legs were slightly crossed. "Gods, I think I urinated myself."
Emma's eyes widened at the confession and she couldn't help but to look down, pressing her lips together when she noticed a light stream down her wife's legs. She laughed at her lover's expense and tensed when she expected a hand to meet her arm, but it never came.
"I'm sorry," she said, a snicker leaving her lips. "Why don't you go to the bathroom and get cleaned up? I'll get you some pajamas."
"I haven't laughed that hard in a while, Emma." Regina's tone was forgiving, a mirthful look in her dark eyes.
The blonde felt herself glow before she gently pushed the brunette toward the hallway. "Oh, go get changed, you sap."
She left her wife's chuckle as she walked to their bedroom and collected what her wife had been wearing as bedwear; a baggy T-shirt and a pair of stretchy pants. It hadn't taken her long to join the woman in the bathroom, who, by that time, had taken a wash rag to clean herself up.
"Oh, don't look at me that way." The brunette looked up and narrowed her eyes. "I don't feel like taking a shower right now."
Emma raised her hands defensively, Regina's garments still in them. "Hey! I wasn't going to say anything." She handed them off when the older woman reached for them and shrugged. "To be honest, I don't feel like taking one, either."
The brunette snorted before she stood, though she hadn't straightened out and, instead, gripped the edge of the sink which had Emma moving forward with a frown to touch her elbow. "Hey, baby, you okay? Or are you gonna shit yourself, too?"
There was a deep sigh that fell from Regina's lips before she lifted her gaze to meet with the blonde's, her lips pressed together as she shook her head. "No," she answered, the hand on her stomach balling into a fist. "I-I think it's time."
"W-wait! You're going into labor now?!" Emma's humor died instantly as her wide eyes landed upon the older woman.
Regina nodded, a hand ghosting over her stomach, her brow pinched. "I-I think so," she murmured softly before the pinched brow furrowed deeper and her lips pressed together.
The blonde didn't hesitate to step forward and take her wife's hand, immediately feeling the tight squeeze in the process. "Does it hurt a lot?" she whispered as if her voice would only disturb her.
"Yes," she hissed and Emma flinched. There was another sigh before the older woman finally straightened out, though the lines in her face were still prominent. "I apologize, sweetheart. I… I know it's been going on all day, but I just…"
"Hey, hey, hey… It's okay." She lifted their hands to kiss her wife's knuckles before stepping away, releasing it. "See? I knew something was up…"
The look Regina shot her could kill. "This is no time for 'I told you so's.'"
"Okay. I'm sorry. I just…" Emma shook her head, a sudden panic welling inside her lower belly. She swallowed, attempting to shake it away, and gestured to the clothes the brunette still held. "Why don't you change into those and- and I'll go change into something else… and…. Oh, Gods! What if we don't make it in time? I don't know how to deliver a baby!"
"Emma." She felt a hand touch her arm and, for a moment, she relaxed, but her brain still buzzed with thought. "I really need you to not panic, okay? That won't happen."
Emma bit her lip and quickly nodded her head. "Okay, okay, okay…" She turned toward the door before turning back to the brunette. "What… Ah, shit, what am I doing?"
"Getting changed because I am not having a panda drive me to the hospital." One of the brunette's brows quirked.
"Right." The blonde took a moment to breathe before turning back to do just that before she was stopped with a quick "wait!" and turned back around.
"Do help me unzip, please." Regina's back was facing her and she made haste to unzip the dress before flying out of the room to change into a pair of jeans and a shirt.
"Do I need to pack you a bag of stuff?" She yelled from the closet, already holding a duffle bag in hand. "I heard people do that."
"You know, Emma, you do not need to shout."
Emma jumped up from her position and hit her head on the metal bar of the closet, her heart thudding in her chest when she turned to look at the source of disturbance. Regina stood there with creased brows and an extended hand which soon found her bicep.
"Don't knock yourself out, Emma. I know this is tense, but that's no reason to be dramatic."
"How can you be so calm?" Emma desperately asked, turning again to shove a few garments into the bag. "I feel like…"
"The world isn't ending, my swan." Regina chuckled softly and kissed the tender part of her head which had her wincing. "Gods, I swear you act as if it were."
"Sorry." The younger woman faced the older one as she finished zipping up the bag. "I'm just… Wow, it's happening."
"It is." The brunette sighed softly and touched her stomach briefly before backing out of the closet to let her younger lover free.
Emma followed her out with a slight nod and a dizzied head. As much as she had attempted to prepare for this moment, and with Mary Margaret's instruction, everything logical seemed to have flown out of her brain. She was in a state of disarray, as much as she had hated it; she needed to be strong for Regina and for their son who would be joining them soon. But, Gods, she couldn't stop her nerves from taking control.
"Should… Should we go?" She asked, finding as much to say, her emerald eyes falling to the shorter woman.
"Unless you would like for me to have the baby here…" Regina smirked. "Please, before I am unable to walk."
"Yeah… Right, right." Emma nodded and took the older woman's hand, leading her through the apartment and out the door.
"Go ahead and push again, Regina, you're doing great," said the doctor, looking up from his position with a friendly smile.
The blonde suddenly felt her hand being crushed by the woman, earning a sharp cry and a, "Holy shit, you're gonna break my hand!"
"Because it fucking hurts!" Regina's voice didn't sound like Emma's wife, instead, it sounded like a demon personally ripped its way up from Hell just to possess the woman so she could rip Emma a new one. "Why don't you try pushing a tiny human through your vagina? It's like a-" Her sentence was quickly stopped, much to the blonde's momentary relief, as the older of the two broke into a long, pained cry.
Emma's hand was not spared.
She winced, at best, trying not to match her wife's pitch, and watched helplessly as she fell back against the pillow for a moment, breath ragged.
"Why did I agree to this?" She questioned in a hoarse voice as Emma quickly took the damp rag to wipe the perspiration from her brow.
"Because you wanted a cute little baby?" The blonde offered the wry look an acquitted smile.
"You need to keep pushing, Regina." Their doctor rumbled and Emma could almost hear the older woman die a little inside.
But she persevered through it and tensed once again as she continued, breaking Emma's hand a little more in the process. "You can do it, baby." The younger woman encouraged, eyes falling from her wife's face to the man who concentrated on delivering their baby. It was then that she noticed the blood and her head felt dizzy. Quickly, she looked away, her face pale, and kept her eyes on her wife.
"You're crowning!" The exclamation had Emma buzzing with excitement and she couldn't help but to turn her smile to the poor brunette who looked exhausted already. She didn't mind that the smile wasn't shared and, instead, was met with a harsher cry, and a very crushed hand that had her nearly falling to her knees.
"Shit," she muttered, but kept her grip tight, and smiled larger when the doctor announced the progression until the room had silenced. She held her breath when the kind-eyed man stood fully with a small form and smiled widely.
"It's a boy!" He chirped and Emma suddenly couldn't see a damned thing.
"Oh my Gods." She heard a whisper next to her and when she looked to her wife, the woman was wearing the same dopey smile and teary eyes. And when the room suddenly erupted with a shrill cry, the teacher seemed to melt. "That's our son."
The blonde's body shook, taking her by surprise, but she laughed anyways and squeezed her wife's hand even though her own throbbed. "He is. You did it."
"We did it," Regina murmured, tugging on her love's hand, urging her to come closer. When Emma had, she was met with those sweet, red lips and hummed.
"It's not a dream, y'know?" She sighed softly. "It's real."
"It is real." The brunette purred in agreement, those chestnut eyes sparkling. Though, they were taken away when the doctor approached them with a small bundle in his arms.
"Here he is," he whispered and gently laid the boy in his brunette mother's awaiting arms.
Regina broke in that moment as she stared at the small human that she had created and sought out Emma's comforting gaze. The blonde was just about in the same state as she attempted to settle next to her, a pale digit moving to caress the small, pink cheek of their son, almost afraid as if she would break him.
"Hi, Henry," she whispered, choking on her joy. "Gods, he looks like you, Gina."
"Does he?" Her smile only widened and her dark gaze fell to the infant again. Emma could feel her body tremble.
"Yeah," Emma murmured, releasing a deep sigh as she calmed herself down, wiping the tears from her eyes. "Oh, man, my mom is gonna die when she sees this cute kid we made."
Regina tittered softly, trying not to disturb the sweet little baby. "This poor child will suffer the same fate as Neal, hm?"
"He probably will, but we're here to protect him." Emma smirked and reached out to touch Henry again, the desire driving her mad. "Oh, man, he's so cute though."
Regina chuckled and shifted a bit. "Would you like to hold him, my love?"
The blonde seemed to light up at the thought and nodded. "Oh, would I ever?"
"You are still weird, but I love you." The brunette carefully transferred their son into her wife's arms and smiled when Emma stood with the small infant, a watery smile on her lips. "Gods, you look adorable with a baby."
"Babies make everything cute," she muttered, cheeks pink, and just stared down at the small human in her arms. For some reason, everything felt surreal, still, even though the evidence was right in her hands. She had a son. Pride ripped through her at the thought and split her face with a beam.
"You look so happy."
She heard her wife's voice and immediately looked up to find the source, warmth spreading throughout her being. "I am," she murmured, swaying a bit in her spot.
"I'm glad." Regina tilted her head slightly. "I'm glad that I could give you the family that you deserve, sweetheart."
Emma frowned slightly. "Hey, we both deserve one. You do, especially. I mean…" she trailed off, furrowing her brow slightly. "After everything, Gina, you don't have- You never really had that. And, I know I didn't really, either, but I do now with the Nolan's and… and you. And you have me. And now we have Henry. And-" She felt a hand touch her elbow and stopped, meeting the warm gaze that made her feel at home wherever she was.
"I know, my swan."
"And you'll always have us, okay?" Emma couldn't help but to speak again.
The brunette hummed softly and her face, once pale from exhaustion, darkened with blood. "I love you, Emma."
"I love you too, Gina." The blonde sighed blissfully and looked down when a soft coo had sounded from her arms. She grinned. "And I love our son."
"I love him, too," she agreed, an olive hand moving to touch his delicate head.
Emma found herself sitting next to Regina's bedside hours later as the woman snored peacefully in the hospital room. After everything that had happened within that time, the two were finally able to rest, though Emma couldn't find slumber, even as sunlight started to peek into the room. Things were fine, for now, and their son's name was officially documented.
Henry.
She couldn't help but to think of the name as she gazed upon the small infant boy in his little makeshift crib. There wasn't a way for her to go back now. She was a mother. And the thought, before, had terrified her. It did, still, though now that the time had come, she felt as if she could do it.
Of course, she nearly panicked when Regina first fell asleep and Henry cried in her arms, resulting in her waking her exhausted wife up to help. But, after a few reassurances, and a bottle later, things were fine. Then everyone fell asleep on her and she was alone.
She didn't mind it so much. Regina deserved the rest after what she had been through. Emma looked to her abused hand and noticed some light bruising, but it wasn't broken; though, it wasn't like she would mind much, either way.
Her attention was grabbed when there was a light knock on the door and when it slowly creaked open, her parents were revealed. She offered them a tired smile as they entered. She had called them before Regina was prepped for delivery and told them that things were going down. Naturally, they wanted to take that five-hour drive regardless the time of night and lack of sleep.
"Where is he?" Mary Margaret whispered her excited question as she entered, a baby carrier in hand.
The blonde stood from her position and gestured before her where she had rolled Henry's little bed. "He's right here."
She could tell her mother wanted to squeal but refrained from doing so as she approached the two, her dark eyes twinkling. "Oh! He's so precious."
"Right?" Emma grinned proudly and shifted the little blanket. "He looks a lot like Gina, I think."
Mary Margaret nodded and handed the carrier over to her husband as she moved to lean in closer, fingers dancing over the little blanket covering the infant. "Oh, he does a little bit. How did things go?"
The blonde giggled softly and stood next to her father to see her little brother who was snoozing peacefully. "He took a while to get here, but everything's fine."
"That's good," she said and straightened out, eyes on Regina before moving to her daughter. "Is everything alright with Regina?"
"Oh, yeah!" Emma eyed her wife who let out a loud snore as she shifted. "She's exhausted, though. We were at a party 'til almost midnight and when we came home, we didn't really get straight to bed. I… uh…" She turned away, her cheeks florid, as she gazed upon the snoozing woman. When she looked back, she was met with wide eyes, almost mortified if she weren't wrong.
"Oh, no! No no no!" She laughed and slapped a hand over her mouth quickly, eyes flying to Henry. When he hadn't made a noise, she continued, lowering her voice. "We weren't doing that. I just… I had this little pajama thing with the feet and it had ears and I was dancing around and she was laughing so hard and I think I made her go into labor."
Mary Margaret blinked before snorting softly with laughter. "Oh, dear."
"She was about to burst, anyways, I guess. I kinda… uh… helped it along." She shrugged a bit and yawned, looking down to Neal when the baby had made a soft noise that soon erupted into cries. "Uh oh. How is Neal doing, anyways?" The last time she had seen the baby was the day after he had been born. Her mother had called her up, then, and she made the drive down after work the next day.
"He's been fussy," David answered, setting the carrier down to take care of the little boy. "And landing atomic bombs in his diapers."
"Now, David," Mary Margaret chastised as she moved to help him, batting his hands away when he couldn't get the buckle undone. "He's a baby. And your son."
"I know, sweetheart." He chuckled and gave Emma a look, shaking his head. "I warn you now, Emma, that you might want to actually use a ten-foot pole to take care of the baby's diaper."
Emma made a slight face. "I had to do it earlier. It wasn't that bad… yet." She looked to Henry for a moment and noticed that he had woken. She frowned slightly and stood beside him, gently petting his cheek. He only cooed at her, and yet, she melted. "He's cute, though, and Gina's gonna be doing most of that."
"That's what I thought, too, until Mary Margaret decided she had enough and forced me to do it." David's eyes shone with humor. "It's not so bad. After the crying is done and the dirty pants are gone, it's nice to lay back and cuddle with him."
Her mother grinned at the man's words and stood with Neal in her arms, nodding. "I've taken several pictures of these two being adorable."
Emma chuckled softly. "Yeah? I gotta see 'em some time." She stretched a bit when she felt her weariness touch her. She knew sleep wouldn't come easy in the future. She will miss it, that's for sure. "Looks like Henry's up, by the way," she crooned and turned once again to look at the little boy whose dark eyes gazed up at her curiously.
"Oh, is he?" Mary Margaret queried, eyes landing on the boy; she inched closer with a sparkle in her eye.
The blonde looked up with a soft chuckle and tilted her head slightly. "Would you like to hold him, mom?" The brunette didn't have to be asked twice. She turned and gave Neal to her husband before turning back to her daughter with an eager smile. Emma enjoyed the excitement radiating off her mother as she gently scooped the small newborn up and moved to hand him to Mary Margaret.
"He's so tiny!" She cooed softly as she received him, those sparkling eyes lighting up when the little baby gazed up at her and made a soft noise.
"He really is." Emma agreed and watched as her mother fawned over her son. "I can't believe he came out of Regina. It's so… weird. But really… I don't know."
"It's magical, isn't it?" Mary Margaret chuckled softly, careful not to disturb the babe, and slowly paced around the room as she gently bounced him. The blonde nodded and looked to her wife again whose snores had quieted, but as she listened closer, they were still there. Her heart swelled in her chest.
"Poor Gina," she murmured and paced over to her father who held Neal in his arms. "She didn't really get to spend a lot of time with him before she passed out."
"She'll have all the time in the world," David rumbled. "How are you taking all of this, Emma?"
"Me? Well…" She shrugged a bit and waggled a finger to her little brother, the corners of her mouth upturning when he grabbed a hold of it. "I was panicky at first, when Gina went into labor and then…" Emma passed a glance to her mother and Henry and smiled. "I was scared when I realized what was happening, but now… I'm just… I'm tired and I'm happy. And, I guess I'm a little scared still…"
"Oh, no, why's that?" Her father tilted his head, the absent smile on his face sinking into a frown.
"I just hope that I can be a good mom, you know? What if I'm not? What if I suck at it?" A frown claimed her own lips. "What if I make mistakes that will… I don't know. What if…"
"Emma." Her heart sped in her chest when she heard her name and turned to see Regina's dark hues on her, tired, yet strangely alert. "You will be a wonderful mother, my love. Don't let your fears get the better of you. Will you make a mistake? Yes. But, don't we all?" Emma remained silent in her spot. "I could tell you were going to be a fantastic mother before I even got pregnant. You are a kind and caring woman, Emma, and I could tell how much you already loved him while he was no bigger than a peanut."
The blonde chuckled to herself and nodded slightly, knowing how true it was. She loved their child with all her heart as soon as she had learned Regina was pregnant, and her love for the little boy only grew. "But what if I can't be a good mother, Gina? What if I fail and he hates me for what I've done? What if I'm like… like the foster parents I've had?"
"He won't, Emma." Regina patted the mattress and Emma unconsciously gravitated toward the hospital bed and her wife who occupied it. She perched on the edge and immediately felt the warmth of her lover's hand on her own, immediately banishing the worries. "If he does, it will only be for small things, and he won't really hate you. Children are complicated even if they appear simple." She squeezed her hand. "Take everything that those people have done and do the opposite."
Regina let a soft titter leave her lips. "Remember how you basically hammered that nail into my skull when I was worried about the same thing?" Emma nodded quietly. "I believe in you, my swan, I truly do. You have it in you, but you're hiding it away in your panic. Just relax. Things will come naturally."
The younger woman released the air that she had trapped in her lungs and nodded once again. "Okay," she murmured and leaned down to steal a kiss from those sweet lips before hers. "Thank you, Gina. You… I'm glad that someone believes in me."
"Hey, Emma, we do, too. Don't forget that." Mary Margaret had appeared before her, a frown on her face. "And don't forget that you don't have to do this alone. Regina is there with you, and so are your father and I."
"I know, mom. Thank you." Emma looked up, feeling lighter now, and smiled. "And you too," she continued, looking to her father who had joined his wife.
"Of course, Emma. That's what family's for, right? We're all here for each other." He smiled and leaned down to kiss her forehead.
"Speaking of family," Regina spoke up, eyes falling to the two who stood beside her. "Where is Henry? Has he been doing good?"
"He's been really good." Emma chirped and stood from the bed, eyes on her mother. Mary Margaret gave her a smile and fulfilled the silent request as she transferred Henry into her arms. "He was pretty quiet. Didn't really poop a lot… yet. The doctors are still waiting for that," she explained turning back around to face her wife who had now sat up, eyes shining when they landed on the small baby.
"Maybe he'll be a quiet baby?" Mary Margaret stood by her husband now, eyes on the exchange as Regina found herself with an armful of the sweet little bundle. "Neal isn't, that's for sure."
"He's up all hours of the night," David grumbled, though the look on his face told he didn't mind. "That's why we decided to come when we did. He slept through most of the day and would be up all night."
"I do not envy you," Emma said, brows raising. "But I guess that'll be my life, huh? I mean, it's already started anyways. I have to be to work in like…" She blinked slightly and furrowed her brows.
"You have to work?" Regina's voice pulled her attention from her phone after she decided to check the time.
"Yeah," she answered, stuffing her phone back into her pocket. "In, like, an hour. Man, why couldn't you have had him today?" Emma puffed out her lower lip. "It's my weekend."
"Like I could decide when he was ready to come out." The older brunette huffed softly as she cuddled the newborn close, the smile never leaving her lips.
"I can call in if you want me to?" Emma frowned a bit. It had escaped her mind earlier, through everything that was happening, to even call in to work. She hadn't even told Graham that Regina was in labor. There was only enough time to call her parents. Mentally shrugging, she perched on the bed again and gently caressed her son's cheek. "I'm sure they'd understand."
Regina, though, sighed softly and shook her head. "I don't want you to get yourself into trouble, my love. Besides, I will be fine." She offered her a sweeter smile and Emma couldn't help but to lean forward and kiss her.
"Okay," she murmured.
"We'll help take care of her, don't worry." Mary Margaret announced, a grin on her face. "And if she gets discharged before you're off, we'll take them home."
"Are you sure?" Emma asked, frowning a bit, then looked to her wife. "Are you okay with that?"
"It's fine, Emma." Regina purred softly and leaned forward to kiss her nose. "Thank you, Mary Margaret, I appreciate it."
"It's no problem!" Emma's mother chirped.
The blonde could only nod before sighing and standing from her spot. "I guess I ought to get going. I need to get home and change. Maybe shower if I have enough time." She leaned down and pressed a chaste kiss to Regina's lips before ducking her head to gently kiss Henry's forehead. "Man, I kinda wish I didn't have to leave you."
"You'll have all weekend, honey." The brunette teacher hummed and smiled up at her when Emma had straightened out.
"I guess, yeah." The smile soon came back, stretching wider than ever. "Alright. I guess I'll see you guys later. I love you, Gina. I hope everything's going to be alright." She stepped away from the bed and moved toward the door with a heavy step.
"I love you, too, Emma," Regina called out after her before the blonde made her way into the brightly lit hallway, revitalized by those words, and ready for the day.