Drifting back into consciousness the following morning was the most pleasurable experience ever because Emma was awakened by a pair of soft and extremely familiar lips pecking her chest again and again. And again.

"Mmm, hello, you," Emma drawled as she slowly opened her eyes. The world blurred for a moment, but after having blinked, everything, including Regina who was kissing her chest and tickling her skin with her hair, became laser sharp.

"Buenos días, amor," she mumbled against Emma's chest. Gave one more kiss and then shifted her attention lower.

Emma shuddered. God, what a way to be woken up!

"You don't mind this do you?" Regina asked. Her lips were hovering inches from Emma's right nipple.

"Pff, no!" Emma said, half-laughing, half-moaning. "I have never minded something less than this!"

"Maravillosa," Regina kissed her nipple softly. "You see…" another kiss. "I had a dream about-" another kiss. "Waking you up just like…." She flicked Emma's nipple with her tongue. "This."

"Well, thank fuck for your dreams!" Emma said earnestly and laughed to herself. Was she seriously about to be woken up with morning sex? Man, she was one lucky bastard! And Regina was….

"You are unbelievable," Emma moaned, back already arching and pushing her breast further against Regina's lovely mouth.

"But I haven't done anything," Regina pointed out and let out a laugh that was positively wicked. "Yet." She stopped talking and closed her mouth around Emma's nipple and sucked gently. Where last night had been all about blowing off steam as fast as possible, this morning was apparently more focused on a slow, gentle pace. Emma loved that. She loved it quick and hard too. Loved when Regina was vocal and almost ferocious in bed like she had been last night. But this slow pace which felt more like lovemaking than sex was amazing too. Either way, Regina was amazing. Whether things happened fast or slow. She tended to gravitate towards slow and tender in the morning, Emma had discovered that long ago.

"You have a hickey, querida," Regina murmured and interrupted Emma's thoughts. Her mouth was still on her breast. "Right…. Here." She touched a spot low on Emma's ribcage.

Emma laughed strangled. "Guess it won't be today I'm wearing a dress where the neckline comes all the way down to my belly button. "What a shame."

"What a shame indeed," Regina agreed. "I would like to see that dress."

Emma chuckled. She didn't actually own a dress with a neckline so deep. But Regina's reaction rather made her want to invest in one. Soon.

Regina resumed swirling her tongue over Emma's nipple while gently kneading her other breast.

Emma moaned softly. Felt how her toes curl and something in her abdomen twitched. Of course she was getting aroused. It didn't take much. And especially not after a night of passion. She was always putty in Regina's hands (or mouth) the following morning.

"Me encantan tus tetas."

Emma laughed. "Thanks, babe. I love your boobs too."

Regina snickered. "Even when they're all big and weird?"

"Pff. Big and weird," Emma huffed. "Big yes, weird, no." oh no, there was absolutely nothing weird about Regina's boobs. Nothing whatsoever.

Regina kissed her nipple again. Swirled her tongue in an agonizingly slow pace. Just like last night. She had been endlessly fascinated with Emma's breasts last night, and that clearly continued this morning. Emma definitely didn't mind. The only thing she minded was whether Regina was okay. Her body nearly trembled as she forced her head to lift off the pillow so she could see Regina.

As it just so happened, Regina lifted her head at the exact same time. Most likely to switch side. She smiled when they made eye contact. "Hola," she chuckled. "What's wrong? Am I doing that bad of a job at keeping you entertained?"

"No," Emma huffed, then laughed at the absurdity in that. "Of course not. I just wanted to see how you were doing, that's all."

Now Regina was the one to huff. "Well, if you're worrying about my wellbeing, I AM doing a terrible job at keeping you entertained."

"You are not-"

"Time to change that," Regina interrupted and lightly pressed against Emma's shoulder. "Lie back, preciosa."

A big shit-eating grin spread on Emma's face as she willingly lied her head back down. Preciosa. Regina only ever called her that in bed. She gasped when she felt Regina's hot mouth close around her nipple again. She was no longer swirling her tongue softly, but sucking firmly, and Emma was immediately sent straight to paradise on a one-way ticket. No luggage. And definitely no thinking about anything whatsoever. Hell, she couldn't even remember her own name. The only thing existing was Regina. And the wonderful things her mouth was currently doing. Once Emma was squirming and moaning, she released Emma's nipple and lifted her head. But only briefly. It didn't take long before Emma felt Regina's mouth close around her other nipple. Emma groaned and arched her back. Strained and tried to push her breast further into Regina's mouth. God, this was absolute heaven! Could all their trips be like this, please? She bit her lip and took a shallow breath. Regina's hair was tickling her skin and making her squirm. But she wasn't laughing. There was nothing to laugh about. Definitely not.

When Emma was certain that A: she couldn't take anymore. And B: she would be coming from this, Regina lifted her head and looked up at her. Her eyes had gone very wide and very dark. Her cheeks were slightly flushed. She looked like a femme fatale from one of those old noir-movies Emma's mother so favored.

Now she grinned at Emma. "And how is your well-being, preciosa?"

Emma laughed strangled at the joke. "Pretty fucking good. I have no idea where I am and who I am, but I'm happy about it."

Regina smirked wickedly. "Good. That's good." She lightly ran her fingertips down Emma's chest and stomach. The grin faded for a moment. "Shame I can't go down on you."

Emma mustered enough brain capacity to reach up and stroke Regina's hair. "Don't worry about it." They had established the impossibility of that last night. There were certain things Regina's broken ankle prevented her from doing. Certain angles had become impossible. Regina had mourned that. A lot. And then she had cursed. A lot. In Spanish. Which had been very distracting.

"Well," Regina said, grin back on her face. "At least it isn't my fingers that are broken." As she spoke, she slowly ran her fingers down Emma's chest and stomach again. This time she did not stop but continued down Emma's abdomen.

Emma squirmed when Regina's nimble fingers reached her center. She was wet and had been for a while.

"That feels nice," Regina grinned as she slowly teased her fingers through Emma's folds. Slowly, so slowly. Down towards Emma's opening and up towards her clit.

"You smug little-" the rest of the sentence drowned in a moan when Regina rather suddenly started rubbing her folds and spreading her wetness.

"I'm sorry, what?" Regina teased. "How was that sentence going to end, preciosa? Smug little…?"

"Fuck!" Emma moaned at a particular talented rub.

"'Smug little fuck'?" Regina repeated and laughed. "Well. Not quite what I had hoped for. But I suppose I've been called worse." She rubbed harder and faster.

"I think I might be- god!- dying!" Emma groaned and squirmed on the bed. Her hips wiggled. Her feet were now firmly planted on the mattress and her knees kept swaying and moving.

"Careful," Regina laughed and planted a kiss on Emma's knee. "Don't give me another concussion, preciosa."

"S-sorry," Emma gritted out. "But could you just please…?"

"What?" Regina asked innocently. Her thumb flicked Emma's clit once. "This?"

Emma cried out and squeezed her eyes shut.

"Or maybe…. This?" the pressure on Emma's clit disappeared and she felt two of Regina's fingers being pushed inside her. That had her crying out again.

"Oh, I know!" Regina's laughter was full of mischief and promises. "Ambas." The pressure on Emma's clit was back and the double stimulation had Emma feeling like she was dying a little bit again. At least that was what she ended up moaning to Regina.

"'La petit mort,'" Regina teased as she touched Emma deep and slow with two fingers and rubbed her clit gently with one.

"Fuck! You're so good at that!" Emma moaned.

"I like practicing on you, mi amor." She was still teasing. Still stroking and rubbing and now also nuzzling her nose against Emma's bare chest.

Emma felt Regina wiggle slightly. Then she was kissing Emma's breast gently. She twisted her fingers slightly, so they were rubbing more firmly against Emma's g-spot. She was making a point of going slow and deliberate. She was taking her time.

Emma felt absolutely pampered. She moaned and rolled her hips to meet Regina's gentle thrusts. "Oh, god!"

"No-no, solo yo," Regina gently teased. Solo yo y mis dedos." As she spoke, she rubbed Emma's clit a little firmer.

And however absurd it was, Emma actually ended up laughing at the remark. Laughed and involuntarily jerked her knees when she felt Regina's fingers brush against her g-spot again. Something was fluttering in her belly. She was getting closer still.

"Te gusta este," Regina said. It was not a question.

"Yess," Emma hissed. Threw her head back and moaned deeply. At Regina's Spanish and at the SOUND it made every time Regina's fingers moved inside her. She still felt like she was dying a little bit.

"Te gusta cuando te follo, ¿no?" Regina rasped, and Emma cried out. There was nothing sexier than Regina speaking Spanish when they were in bed.

Regina kissed the top of her chest. Whispered in her ear. Naughty, sexy words in Spanish Emma both did and didn't understand. She was almost wailing now. Completely forgetting where they were and how to be quiet. She didn't give a shit. Was chasing her climax up, up, up. Could feel the tightness between her legs, the fluttering in her stomach and the growing tension in every single muscle. Her breath came out as little puffs of air. She was sweating. Her clit was throbbing. Bordering on painful. The tingles evolved into a sensation that almost was too much to bear. She cried out again. Then felt her pussy clench around Regina's two fingers.

Then the metaphorical rollercoaster was taking her up. For a moment she hovered right on the precipice. Her head snapped up. Her hips elevated off the bed and her right knee bumped against something solid. But it did not hurt. Or if it did, at least she couldn't feel it. She couldn't feel anything except for the pleasure building inside of her. The precipice gradually loosened her grip on her, and then….

She was tumbling, tumbling, tumbling. Down, down, down with almost unbearable speed and a loud wail to accompany the feeling of being on a rollercoaster. The tingles exploded in her abdomen. Her thighs trembled and euphoria seeped right into her bones and made them soft and limp where they had been tensing and tight a moment ago.

With a soft little cry, Emma let her muscles unclench around Regina's fingers. Her body slumped back against the mattress with an uninspired flop, and she let out a deep, happy: 'aaaaaah!' that seemed to come all the way from her belly.

"Well…." Regina's voice said close to her ear. "If my fingers weren't broken before…."

Emma laughed strangled. She couldn't really concentrate.

"And apparently I was wrong," Regina continued. Now she was the one to laugh. "You are trying to give me another concussion."

THAT had Emma opening her eyes and focusing. "Did I knee you in the face?!"

"Sí," Regina laughed.

"Oh god!" Emma said horrifying. "I'm so sorry, honey!"

"It's fine," Regina chucklingly assured. "It was just a little love tap. Nothing more." She gently withdrew her fingers from within Emma.

"I'm really sorry," Emma said, weakly lifting her arms and trying her best to motion. "C'mere…"

Regina snickered softly as she came to lie on her side next to Emma.

Emma too rolled onto her side and angled her body so she could spoon Regina. She let her hands wander to Regina's front and gently rested them on her round belly.

Regina sighed. "That was really fun."

"For me," Emma pointed out.

"For both of us," Regina immediately corrected.

"Need me to do any reciprocating?" Emma offered.

"Hmm, yes, that would be lovely. But your hands are in the wrong place."

"So they are," Emma laughed, agreeing with her girlfriend. She was about to slide her hands lower, but then she felt how Regina's belly suddenly went tight.

"Aquí vamos de nuevo," Regina said. "Don't worry, preciosa. It'll disappear soon."

She was right. It couldn't have taken much more than thirty seconds before Regina's belly went back to its normal state.

"Another bogus-contraction?" Emma asked. Just to check.

"Bogus-contraction," Regina repeated and snickered. "Querida, I swear you'll make me laugh my way through labor!"

"But was it?" Emma pressed. "Another false one?"

"Sí. It was."

"Was that the first one today?"

"No, doctor Swan," Regina teased. "It was not. I had one a moment ago when I was… busy."

"I see. Did it hurt?"

"No."

"Did this one hurt?"

"No. Everything just goes sort of… tight. It's difficult to explain."

"So you're okay?"

"Sí, mi amor preocupado. I'm absolutely fine."

"Good. That's good. I'm just checking."

"I know. And I love you for it. But if you could get your hands off my belly and move them a bit further down, you'll discover that I'm struggling elsewhere."

"Well, we can't have that!" Emma said with faux-firmness as she moved her hand down and cupped Regina's center. "There's to be no straining anywhere."

Regina sighed deeply and gripped the back of Emma's neck with one hand. "I might… Be as quick as I was last night."

"That's completely fine," Emma gently assured. "You know I don't mind that at all. It was really sexy."

"It was not," Regina muttered.

"VERY sexy," Emma said and planted a kiss on the side of Regina's neck. "I promise." She kissed Regina's neck again and earned herself another soft sigh. Then she slipped two fingers inside Regina and was welcome with a tremor going through Regina's body and a Spanish vulgarity. Something about a specific body part of Regina's and exactly what she needed Emma to do to it.

"I can do that," Emma assured and felt smug all over again. "I can DEFINITELY do that."

And when she did so, Regina cried out in a way that had Emma wondering if they would be kicked out of the hotel. But she only wondered for a moment. The next second she had forgotten all about it. Why should she care about a triviality like that when Regina was letting out the most delicious sounds one could possibly imagine. Literally nothing except that mattered. She kissed the side of Regina's neck. Her shoulder. Anywhere she could reach from her current position.

Regina hadn't lied. It did not take long before she came as beautifully as last night…

It took a while, but at last they managed to get out of bed. Emma helped Regina shower. It happened exactly like it had in Spain. Regina sitting on the shower floor with her broken ankle wrapped in plastic and Emma spraying her with water.

Once they both were clean and dressed in casual clothing (they weren't meeting with Mrs. Adamson until tonight), they headed downstairs to the restaurant where a huge breakfast buffet was waiting for them. Regina's eyes started shining when she laid eyes on the buffet, and Emma found that to be positively adorable.

"American breakfast, babe?" she asked with a chuckle.

"!Sí!" Regina exclaimed. "I am positively starving!"

"Well, why don't you go and find us a table?" Emma suggested. "Then I'll grab us some breakfast, yeah?" she could see the issues with Regina on crutches trying to get breakfast with one hand and navigating the crutches with the other and then suddenly falling over. She worried about that happening. Which was why she had offered to get breakfast for them both. In hindsight, this was definitely coddling, and Regina had had some issues with that, but it was too late to take it back now.

Regina didn't seem to mind it today, though. She just nodded. Said 'okay'. Kissed Emma's cheek and then hobbled along to find an empty table for them. Perhaps she hadn't seen it as coddling. Or perhaps she was too fatigued to argue about it.

Emma snickered to herself as she went over to the buffet and grabbed a large plate. She would naturally start with finding food for Regina. She was the one who needed it the most. She had said yes to an American breakfast, so an American breakfast was what she would get. And not just that. She would be getting a full American breakfast.

Emma quickly began the hunt. Started out with bacon, naturally. Nice, crispy bacon. That had been the craving of the week last week, and she chose to believe that it was this week too. After bacon came scrambled eggs, of course. One simply couldn't have bacon without scrambled eggs. Or fried tomatoes. Emma loaded some of those onto Regina's plate too. Fried sausages were important too. And the nice, crispy, choppy, golden pancakes Emma passed along the way. There was hash browns too. And muffins. Emma grabbed two of each. She had just decided that this was enough food when she passed a plate full of deliciously smelling French toast. She simply couldn't resist that. Regina LOVED French toast. And Emma wasn't one to deny her pregnant girlfriend anything. French toast was loaded onto Regina's plate as well. Then she grabbed a little bowl of fruit and decided that now she really was done finding food for Regina. The food didn't really match each other, but she was sure Regina wouldn't mind that. As long as she got something to eat. Sometimes she could get a little cranky in the morning if she didn't get food immediately. Definitely a side effect from being pregnant. Apparently, Regina once had the unfortunate habit of skipping breakfast. Well. She definitely wasn't doing that anymore.

Emma elegantly balanced the plate full of food as she walked away from the buffet. It didn't take long before she spotted Regina. She was sitting at a table not too far from the buffet.

But Emma quickly spotted something else too. The guy talking to Regina. Emma squinted. The guy was tall and blonde and clearly very interested in conversing with Regina. His body was turned towards her, and he looked her in the eyes every time she spoke.

Emma understood why the guy had taken an interest. Regina looked so beautiful and mysterious as she sat there all by herself. But just because she understood the fella, didn't mean that she condoned it. Definitely not! Regina was NOT available, and Emma was going to tell him that! Right now.

She squared her shoulders and began marching towards the table, but Regina turned her head and made eye contact with her. Discreetly lifted a hand to stall her.

Emma stopped but was thoroughly confused. Why on earth did Regina want to keep talking to this man?

Regina grabbed her crutches and slowly came to stand. Up until now, most of her had been hidden by the table she was sitting at, but now she gave the guy a full view of her six months pregnant belly.

Honest to god, it was the most entertaining thing Emma had ever seen. The guy's face, first vibrant with interest, now turned completely ashen. He muttered something. His voice was so low Emma couldn't hear exactly what he was saying, but she was willing to bet everything she owned that it was an apology of sorts. Especially because the guy first backed away, then fully turning around and hastily walking away as though Regina had been hiding something far more dangerous than a baby-bump over her dress.

Emma laughed so loudly, a couple of the dining guests turned their heads and looked at her. She didn't care. Just kept laughing as she walked over to Regina.

"Where are you going? Come back," Regina proclaimed with faux sadness as she looked at the door the guy had just disappeared through. "I thought we were getting to know each other!"

"Har, har, har," Emma said, giving her shoulder a squeeze and her temple a kiss.

"I guess he couldn't handle all of me," Regina said, batting her big brown eyes like an actress from a silent-movie.

"Apparently not," Emma laughed as she sat the plate of food down in front of Regina and then helped her sit down. "Great act, though."

"'Watch me make a man disappear'," Regina said, going along on the joke.

Emma snickered. "What did he want, though?"

"Nothing much. Just my name, how long I was in New York for and then he casually mentioned that he's staying in room 502."

Emma's eyebrows rose towards her hairline. "He gave you his room number?"

"He sure did. Bold move."

"Very," Emma agreed and grimaced.

"Good thing I have my little flirt-repellant with me," Regina quipped and gave her belly a fond rub. "El pequeño repelente de coqueteo de mamá…."

Emma smiled and silently melted on the inside. There was just something about hearing Regina call herself 'mamá'. God, someday a tiny little person would actually call Regina just that. Mamá. And Emma too. The thought of that….

"¿Voy a tener trillizos?"

"Huh?" Emma blinked, quickly pulled out of her thoughts.

"I said… Am I having triplets?" Regina slowly said in English and looked at Emma.

"Uhh…" Emma scratched the back of her neck. "Nope. Not to my notice, anyway."

"Then why am I eating for three?" Regina half-chuckled and nodded towards the plate loaded with food standing in front of her.

"Oh, I…...uhmm. I figured that you were hungry?"

"I am," Regina calmly agreed and speared a piece of bacon on her fork. "Definitely hungry, but…."

"But what?"

"Am I really THAT bad?" a tiny little wrinkle appeared between Regina's pretty, dark eyes. "Do I really eat that much?"

"No," Emma said quickly. "I just… Everything looked so delicious, and I couldn't choose what to get you so instead I got-"

"Todo ello," Regina finished the sentence.

"Yeah. All of it."

Regina clicked her tongue. Then laughed a little. "I'm planning to wear a pencil skirt for the meeting with Mrs. Adamson, and if I can't fit into that, there'll be hell to pay, señorita Swan."

"I promise I will take full responsibility," Emma said mock solemnly. "Now please eat something!"

Regina did just that. And for each piece of bacon she consumed, the more euphoric she looked. Had this been anywhere but a restaurant, Emma definitely would have teased her and said that the pleased look on her face reminded her of something else. But for now she chose to be good. Chose to be happy that Regina was enjoying her food. Their New York adventure was off to a very, very good start indeed, and the baby clearly agreed. Regina smiled when she informed Emma that it was kicking….

They played tourists in New York after breakfast. By some miracle, Regina accepted that she was in no condition to walk around and when the hotel kindly offered a wheelchair to their disposal, she did not refuse.

Emma was happy with that arrangement. Seeing Regina hobble around on one leg and crutches was practically giving her an ulcer. And she also worried that it was painful for Regina in the long run. Wheeling Regina around in New York was not a problem at all. It was quite fun. Even though Regina had ordered her not to 'play race' anymore.

"Spoilsport," Emma said with feigned sadness in her voice. "Where do you wanna go next?"

"Hmm," Regina glanced around. Then pointed lightly towards a store a bit further down the street. "How about in there?"

Emma grinned from ear to ear. It was a store specializing in baby clothing. "Yes, ma'am," she said briskly as she began steering the wheelchair in that direction.

"Don't call me that," Regina half-growled. "You make me sound like some sort of… frump."

"You are definitely not a frump," Emma assured. "How about 'Your Majesty', then? Can I call you that instead?"

"No seas tonta."

Emma grinned, knowing that her comment had hit the spot so to speak.

Onwards they rolled. Right into the store selling baby clothes and equipment. Emma's jaw nearly hit the floor as she looked around. It wasn't just a tiny, cutesy little store with a few pretty things on display. Oh no, this was a three-storied larger-than-life store packed with baby clothes. Strollers. Prams. Cribs. Blankets. Car seats. And diapers. Packs and packs of diapers. It was easy to get overwhelmed.

"Dios mio," Emma said plainly and slowly spun the wheelchair around so Regina could see everything there was to see downstairs.

"We don't have to see all three departments," Regina said hastily.

"Oh yes we do," Emma laughed. "If there's an elevator, we're definitely going up there!"

"I can't decide whether to be frightened or excited," Regina muttered, shaking her head slightly. "What on earth is that?" she pointed to a rather strange looking device.

Emma had no idea about that, so she wheeled Regina over there to take a closer look at the thing. She picked it up and studied every inch of it.

"It looks like some advanced instrument you'd use in a horror movie," Regina commented. "Why is it vibrating?"

"It's- ooooh," the exclamation came from Emma as it dawned on her. "It's an electronic breast pump!"

"Oh." Regina wrinkled her nose. "Interesting. Can I see?"

"Sure," Emma handed her the breast pump in question.

"It looks weird, but am I actually going to need this?" Regina wondered aloud. "I could, right? I mean if we're going out or something…"

She sounded a bit overwhelmed, so Emma took the breast pump from her and sat it back on the shelf. "How about we skip the pumps for now and only focus on finding cute clothes?" she suggested.

"Querida, I'm six months pregnant," Regina said. "At some point I have to find out what I need."

"Sure," Emma agreed. "But maybe not right now. It would look a bit weird in the suitcase, right?"

"Right," Regina chuckled then. "Good point."

"Clothes?" Emma asked.

"Clothes," Regina confirmed, immediately sounding more excited.

And the clothes truly was something to be excited about. Racks and racks of itty bitte pants, onesies, cardigans and dresses. Teeny tiny shoes that had Emma fawning. Hair bows and bonnets and hairclips.

Regina let out a flood Spanish words as she held up an itty bitty yellow cardigan with little bumblebees printed all over.

"We need that," Emma said plainly.

"Absolutamente. I had no idea how small baby clothes is."

"I know. It's adorable," Emma said and felt how she turned to absolute goo. That tiny little cardigan was undoubtedly the cutest thing she had ever seen in her life.

"You know what's good about baby clothes?" Regina asked as she held onto the cardigan.

"No. What?"

"It doesn't take up any room in my suitcase."

Emma grinned and stopped the wheeling for a moment so she could kiss the top of Regina's head. "That is very true, beautiful girl. How very clever you are."

"Thank you. I try my best." Regina chuckled but then grew serious again. "This is the first piece of baby clothing we're buying. Do you realize that?"

"Yeah," Emma said softly. "Pretty wild, huh?"

"In three months I'll be someone's mom," Regina continued. "And so will you, querida."

"I can't wait," Emma said warmly.

"Me neither."

"Should we check out some of those tiny jeans?" Emma asked hopefully. She'd had a vision of dressing their baby in jeans.

"Sure," Regina chuckled. "Lead the way, querida."

Emma did just that, and soon they were both fawning over the tiny little jeans.

"I wonder if you can get tiny little boots to go with them?" Regina questioned, voice full of amusement.

"Oh my god, that would be amazing!" Emma exclaimed. "If we find a pair, we're getting them. I don't care what they cost!"

"I do. Moving to California, remember?" Regina said sensible.

"Spoilsport," Emma muttered, snatching a pair of the tiny jeans and instructing Regina to hold on to them. They were definitely getting a pair of those.

They actually did find a pair of tiny little boots which were just about the cutest pair of boots Emma had seen in her life. Mainly because they were so similar to her own brown boots, she had left back in Storybrooke. They were expensive, but Emma insisted even though Regina kept stating that it was silly and that the boots didn't fit in the suitcase.

"Nonsense. Of course they fit," Emma brushed her off. "You're just protesting because you don't want our kid to wear boots like mine."

"That's ridiculous," Regina huffed. "I like your boots. I like these one too. But I still think its silly. The baby will only be able to wear them for about five minutes before growing out of them!"

"Ah, but it'll be five great moments, babe," Emma said, effortlessly skating over Regina's incredibly-sensible points. "Imagine the pictures!"

"How are you going to concentrate on photographing things you're paid to photograph when the baby comes?" Regina joked.

"I won't." Emma said simply and shrugged. "I might have to buy a separate camera for baby-pictures. And maybe one for you too."

"Oh, I don't think that'll be necessary," Regina said a bit strained. "I'll be looking a mess for months afterwards!"

"That's the worst bullshit I've ever heard. And that's coming from someone who used to listen to Neal's nonsense."

"Urgh, don't remind me of him, please!" Regina groaned. "Thinking about him makes me angry!"

"Well, in that case allow me to present the perfect distraction…" Emma spun the wheelchair around with a refined movement.

"What?" Regina raised an eyebrow and tilted her head. "Found something interesting?"

"Actually, yes…" Emma bent slightly at the knees and pecked Regina's lips once.

"Oh." Regina chuckled. "Hola."

"Hola yourself," Emma said warmly. Then she kissed Regina again.

The rest of that afternoon disappeared in shopping and lunch. Delicious sandwiches in a little pavement café followed by a large milkshake for Regina and a cup of coffee for Emma.

When they came back to the hotel, it was with a bag full of baby clothes. The yellow cardigan and of course the tiny little boots were amongst the things they had bought. But they had also found several cute little onesies in light colors. And of course the mandatory 'I love NY' onesie. That had been Regina's idea. And naturally, Emma had been completely onboard with said idea.

Regina ended up taking a nap when they got back, and Emma took the opportunity to text her parents and friends and tell them about her New York-adventure. She had already sent several pictures. Once she had ended the call, she did a bit of work and prepared for the upcoming meeting with Mrs. Adamson tonight. Looked through her portfolio and smiled when seeing all the photos of Regina. Those were the pictures that had prompted Mrs. Adamson to reach out to her. It was all because of Regina. Emma owed Regina a lot.

When Regina woke up, they ended up watching a bit of television and not much else. Both of them seemed to be re-charging for the evening. Regina kept running her fingers through Emma's hair which ended up sending Emma straight to dreamland for two solid hours. When she woke up again, she was completely groggy and confused and Regina laughed at her and informed Emma that she had been talking in her sleep.

"No way," Emma groaned. "What did I say?"

"You were talking about sex."

Emma spluttered. "You're joking!"

"No," Regina flashed her tongue-in-teeth smile. "I'm not. But I do wish that I had recorded it."

"Oh god," Emma groaned again and rubbed her eyes. "What was I saying?" she fully believed Regina. Knew that she had the tendency to talk in her sleep. And especially if she was sleeping in a new place.

"Well, you were talking a lot about me," Regina smirked. "About what you wanted to do to me."

"Oh." Emma wasn't sure whether to feel flushed or proud.

"Quizás más tarde," Regina said casually and quirked an eyebrow at Emma. "If we're not too tired."

"Don't insult me like that," Emma huffed. Then laughed. "Maybe I'm older than you, but I'll NEVER be too tired for THAT!"

The 'good to know', Regina responded with was deliciously breathless, and when she turned around to kiss Emma, Emma did not protest…

And just like that, it was time to get ready to go to the gallery and meet with Mrs. Adamson. It turned out that there was not hell to pay. Regina fitted perfectly into her black pencil skirt. She paired it with a Bordeaux red blouse with strings tied into a bow at the front. She brushed her hair thoroughly and put it up in a chignon with a few curls hanging down on either side of her face and brushing her cheeks when she moved her head. Her lipstick matched the color of her blouse perfectly. Her eye makeup was subtle in a way that made it look like she wasn't wearing anything at all. And all Emma could do was stare. "Wow," she said simply. "Look at you. You look gorgeous."

"Stop it," Regina gently scolded. "The waistband in my skirt comes all the way up to here-" she pulled at the elastic with two fingers and then let it snap back against her belly with a pop. "-And my boobs feels like they're being squished!" she brushed invisible dust off of her blouse. Then looked at Emma and smiled. "But it's worth it. Anything to make a good impression on your future boss."

"You don't need to dress up for that," Emma said automatically as she let her gaze roam over Regina's form. "But damn…." She trailed off as her gaze settled on Regina's cleavage. The blouse Regina was wearing tonight was not that lowcut, but still, it was enough to make Emma think things.

"You…." Regina lifted a crutch and pretended to jab Emma in the chest with it. "Need to get ready, mi amor."

"You're right," Emma acknowledged. "I do." Reluctantly, she turned her back on the stunning vision that was her dressed up girlfriend and headed into the bathroom. Emma's own get-up consisted of a sleeveless green dress and a pair of leggings and her black boots. It looked both casual and professional at the same time, and that was exactly what Emma wanted. She put her hair up in a ponytail. Felt that made her look more 'serious'. She chose to keep her makeup light. Mrs. Adamson was going to see her pictures. Not stare her in the face all night.

Once her makeup was done and she was ready, Emma took a couple of deep breaths. She was a bit nervous. Tonight was either make or break. Either Mrs. Adamson would exhibit her pictures, or she would decide that Emma was not a good fit for Art's Delight after all. God, this night could shape their entire future. IF (and that was a big 'if'!) Mrs. Adamson decided she wanted to exhibit Emma's pictures, the chunk of money meant that they could move to California a lot sooner. And that was all Emma wanted. To start their future in a place of their own instead of tearful goodbyes in the airport all the time.

Emma squared her shoulders and left the bathroom.

Regina hadn't moved much. She was still sitting on the bed. Only difference being that she now was rubbing her belly and giggling (yep, giggling!) every time doing so. "Am I missing out on something again?" Emma asked and squinted slightly.

"Mmm," Regina looked up and now her eyes shone for an entirely different reason. "What was it you said a moment ago, querida? Damn…." She dragged out the word in a particularly sexy manner.

"Ta-dah," Emma quipped, doing a little mock-spin. "What do you think? On a scale from one to ten?"

"Eleven," Regina said without skipping a beat. "That's a clear eleven, querida."

"Why thank you," Emma chuckled. "So. Are you ready to go? Need the bathroom?"

"No."

"Got your snacks?"

Regina opened her purse. "Chocolate-peanut butter bar ready and available. I even have four. Two for me and two for you."

"Aww. So thoughtful of you. Are you comfortable?"

"As comfortable as someone as big as me can get," Regina joked, gracefully rising from the bed with help from the crutches. "Do you have your briefcase?"

"Yup," Emma confirmed and snatched the leather bound briefcase containing all her pictures from the bed.

"Espléndidamente," Regina said exaggerated. "In that case, let's go out and hunt down a taxi."

"And a wheelchair," Emma murmured lowly.

Regina heard her perfectly. "Ruins the outfit," she complained. "But on the other hand, so does that." She glanced down and looked at her feet. She was wearing an elegant high heeled shoe on one foot. The other one was hidden in the colorful cast Emma had been doodling on since it was put on Regina's ankle.

"It doesn't ruin anything," Emma assured. "You're perfect."

Regina flashed her a little smile over her shoulder. "It does. But this is your night, so I won't complain. Now come on. Otherwise we're going to be late, and I don't like Mrs. Adamson will like that." With that she walked towards the door and disappeared down the hallway.

Emma hastily locked up after them and followed her girlfriend down the hallway. She thought to herself that one had to admire Regina's dedication. High heeled shoe and crutches. How she managed Emma had no idea of, but there she was, striding along as though she had been hopping on one high heeled shoe all her life.

Emma easily caught up with her and matched her pace with Regina's. She had to bite her tongue not to ask Regina to slow down, or worse still, be careful. She didn't want to be annoying. But she kept nearby just in case Regina stumbled and needed help….

Mrs. Adamson- whose first name turned out to be Patricia- was a short smiling woman with grey, coarse curls cropped in an elegant short style. She too was professionally dressed in a black suit and a cobalt blue blouse that sort of looked like the blouse Regina was wearing. Except this one had buttons coming all the way up to her chin. That could easily have made her seem strict, but that was definitely not the case at all. She was exceptionally kind. She greeted both of them exuberantly as though they were old friends. Asked them if the hotel was good enough. Emma answered that it was perfect.

Patricia also referred to Regina as 'the beautiful model', expressed her sympathy about her broken ankle, congratulated her on the pregnancy and asked when she was due.

"In three months," Regina replied and smiled slightly nervously.

"How exciting," Patricia said, returning the smile tenfold. "You both must be very happy."

"We are," Emma said, putting a hand on Regina's shoulder and squeezing gently. "Very happy."

"Sí," Regina confirmed, reaching back and patting Emma's hand gently. She could probably sense that Emma was nervous too.

But Patricia was definitely not something to be scared of. She continued to be kind and forthcoming as she showed them around in the gallery. It was a huge place.

"This would be the room where we would be showing your pictures, miss Swan," Patricia said, spreading her arms wide as she showed them another huge room.

"Wow," Emma said, losing her professionalism for a moment as she looked around. "This place is really… wow." Her voice echoed as to show just how large the room truly was.

"Increíble," Regina said, perfectly summarizing how Emma felt about this place.

Patricia chuckled. "Thank you. We are very proud of our facility here. Now I think it's time to take a look at your pictures, miss Swan. And time for a refreshment too." Her gaze rested on Regina for a moment. "I don't want anyone to go hungry around here."

"I have snacks in my purse," Regina revealed and offered a slight chuckle.

"Sensible. I did the same when I was pregnant with my daughter," Patricia said, chuckling too. "First, I tried to be perfect and only carry carrot sticks with me, but it's just not the same as a good chocolate bar, is it?"

"No, it is not," Regina wholeheartedly. "I try to be healthy, but…" she shook her head. "It's so hard."

"My advice to you is to eat what you want when you want to," Patricia chuckled again. "You're allowed."

"Yeah, you are," Emma joined in their conversation. "More than allowed."

Regina smiled faintly at that.

"Well, enough chit-chat. Let's go and take a look at those pictures. Follow me." Patricia led the way and Emma followed, wheeling Regina through the large room. They settled by a table in a more office-like room. Still huge. And very office… esque. Large desk. Fancy pictures of fancy people shaking hands. Framed newspaper articles about this gallery and other galleries opening all over New York.

Emma felt a flutter of excitement in her stomach. If she could land this deal, if Patricia actually wanted to exhibit her pictures, she would be on her way to something far bigger than just being a wedding/event photographer.

"Let's see…." Patricia opened the briefcase containing Emma's portfolio and started slowly flicking through it. Her face revealed nothing, and Emma was almost holding her breath.

Regina gave her hand a little squeeze, and Emma noted that her hand was completely dry and not clammy like Emma was. Actually, Emma's hand was very clammy. Eww. That was gross. Not something she wanted to expose poor Regina to.

But when she tried to withdraw her hand, Regina only held on tighter and rewarded Emma with a 'how dare you try and not hold my hand'-look.

Emma abandoned ship and kept holding Regina's hand. Hell hath no fury like a pregnant woman whose partner tried to let go of their hand. Or something.

"How do you feel about fairytales, miss Swan?"

Emma forcefully bit the 'huh' back before it could slip out of her. Putting on her professional façade she carefully asked: "fairytales?"

"Yes," Patricia smiled as she gently closed the briefcase. "I could easily imagine a whole fairytale inspired series featuring miss Mills as the princess. Or queen. Yes." Her smile widened. "It was the shot of miss Mills with the apple that made me think of that. There has been many versions of Snow White portrayed in pictures, but never the queen."

"The Evil Queen?" Regina asked and tilted her head.

"Oh, I don't mean any offense, miss Mills," Patricia said hastily. "Not at all. I'm just thinking aloud, and you truly have the perfect face for such a series. The fairytale theme has been in the making for a while and the plan is to launch the series next year, so if you both are willing…"

"Sí," Regina said immediately, and now she was the one squeezing Emma's hand.

"Absolutely," Emma said. Of course she was happy about this amazing opportunity, but in a year? That was… not exactly what she had hoped for. She was a bit disappointed.

"And until then," Patricia continued, glancing at the portfolio. "I would be happy to exhibit these, miss Swan. They're incredible."

Emma felt a lightness spread in her chest. "Seriously?" the professionalism went out the window again.

"Yes," Patricia confirmed, smiling. "They're beautiful. They're tender and the model-" she directed the smile at Regina. "-has a completely timeless face. It's perfect. If you don't mind, I would like to keep this-" she tapped the briefcase gently "-and re-size the pictures. If everything goes well, they should be ready to exhibit in… four weeks."

Emma's heart was hammering in her chest. Four weeks! In just four weeks she would be able to see her pictures blown up on a big wall! That was incredible!

"Thank you," she nearly croaked. "Thank you for this amazing opportunity, Mrs. Adamson, I-"

"Patricia," the woman in question corrected. "It's Patricia. Shall we shake hands on it?" she extended her hand out.

Emma shook it once and hoped that Patricia didn't notice her clammy grip. This called for a celebration! When they got back to the hotel, she would treat Regina to a huge-ass meal! And ice cream! Lots of it!

"I will fetch us something to drink and a couple of biscuits," Patricia said and rose from the chair. "And the contract, of course. I think it's best to get the paperwork out of the way first thing." With that, she turned to walk away, but just as she was doing so, another woman walked through the door. She was tall, blonde, dressed in an elegant grey suit and tie and looked very determined. Until she discovered that the office wasn't empty.

"Ah, Mal," Patricia greeted the woman. "How are things in Brooklyn?"

"Just fine, thank you, Patricia. I am sorry for bursting in like this. I had forgotten that you had a meeting now," the woman- Mal- apologized.

Something niggled in the back of Emma's head. Something about the woman's voice had the wheels in her head turning for some reason.

"It's quite alright. We're just sorting the last bit of paperwork," Patricia said, then turning to Emma. "This is my former business partner, Malaina Drake- Mal- now she owns a gallery in Brooklyn."

"That's right," Malaina confirmed. "I just came by to fetch some papers. I won't be bothering you for long."

"I think we were just wrapping up," Emma said and frowned softly. Seriously, what was it about this woman's voice? Why did it sound so damn familiar?

"That's right," Patricia smiled. "You're not bothering us at all. In fact your timing couldn't have been better. Now you can meet my newest photographer!"

"Oh, I see. Splendid," Malaina flashed Emma a smile. "Congratulations, miss….?"

"Oh, goodness, how rude of me," Patricia laughed. "This is Emma Swan from Maine."

"I see. That is a long way," Malaina half-chuckled and extended her hand out towards Emma. "Nice to meet you. And congratulations again, Emma Swan from Maine."

"Thank you," Emma mustered, but on the inside, she was freaking out. If she had been less good at keeping her shit together, she probably would have fallen right off the chair.

Because when Malaina had said her name, something clicked in Emma's mind, and she could remember why this woman's voice was so familiar.

She had heard it before.

Weeks ago when she called Cora Mills to inform her that her daughter had fallen off the stairs. And to give Cora Mills a stern talk-to. That night where another woman had answered the phone instead of Cora Mills…

Emma was absolutely gob smacked. This couldn't be. It just couldn't. No way. She wasn't right? Right? Right?!

"Patricia's decisions are never bad," Malaina said and smiled. "I'm sure you'll be very happy here, miss Swan."

Hearing her speak again only confirmed Emma's suspicion. She was right. The voice was identical to the voice who sleepily had answered Cora Mills' cellphone that night Regina was rushed to the hospital.

Malaina Drake was none other than Cora's secret mistress.

To Be Continued…...

Spanish translations:

Buenos días, mi amor= Good morning, my love.

Maravillosa= Wonderful.

Me encantan tus tetas= I love your boobs.

Ambas= Both.

Te gusta este= You like this.

Te gusta cuando te follo, ¿no?= You like it when I fuck you, right?

Aquí vamos de nuevo= Here we go again.

Sí, mi amor preocupado= Yes, my worried love.

El pequeño repelente de coqueteo de mamá= Mommy's Little Flirt Repellent.

No seas tonta= Don't be silly.

Quizás más tarde= Maybe later.

Espléndidamente= Splendidly.