"I can definitely do that," Emma said and could probably have cried of relief. Cora was coming! She was finally stepping up!
"I'll do everything I can to get the first flight out here, and I will text you when I know exactly when I'll arrive. Please tell my daughter that. Please make sure that she knows I'm doing everything I can!"
"I will," Emma assured.
"Thank you, miss Swan," Cora said tightly. Her voice was tight with feelings. Determination mixed with anxiety.
Emma was pretty sure she knew where the anxiety was coming from. "Cora?" she said kindly.
"Yes?"
"There is time," Emma said softly. "You have every possibility of being here before the baby is born."
"I- yes, I know that. I just hope that I will be there in time."
"You will," Emma said even though there was no guarantees. She couldn't in no way back up her statement. She merely had a gut a feeling. "You will."
"I certainly hope you're right. I have missed out on many things. I will be damned if I miss out on this. I'll text you as soon as I can. Goodbye, miss Swan."
"Bye, Cora. See you soon."
Emma hung up, stuffed the phone into her back pocket and left the bedroom.
She rushed back to the bathroom where Regina was still in the tub. She was sitting with her knees propped up, cheek resting on them. Her dark hair was spilling down her back and dipping into the water. Her eyes were closed and her breathing slow. No contraction right now. She was enjoying a moment of quiet.
Emma crouched down next to the tub and put a gentle hand on Regina's shoulder. "Honey?"
Regina opened her eyes and looked at her.
"I called your mom," Emma told her. "She's coming."
Regina's eyes filled with tears. "R-really?"
"Really," Emma confirmed, now squeezing Regina's shoulder slightly. "She was so happy when I told her you wanted her to come. And she's on her way right now."
Regina gave a wobbly smile. "I… really hope that she can be here for the b-birth. I want her here."
"She'll make it," Emma said. Again, she wasn't in a position to make such a promise. But she did it anyways.
Regina exhaled. "Thank you for calling her."
"Anything for you. You know that."
She smiled at that.
"Regina, I don't want to chase you out of the water," Emma's mom said kindly. She had stayed in the bathroom to look after Regina while Emma spoke to Cora.
Regina slowly turned her head and looked at her mother-in-law.
"But we really do need to go to the hospital," Emma's mom continued. "You need to be monitored by Doctor Whale and Nova now, honey."
"But the water is so nice," Regina mumbled and closed her eyes again. "Can't I stay for a little while?"
"I'm afraid that's not really possible," Emma took over, speaking gently to Regina. "I know it sucks, but we really do need to go, beautiful girl. And I promise you, the tub at the hospital is so much bigger than this one. You'll be much more comfortable. And you don't have to switch position all the time because either your knees or shoulders are getting cold. In the hospital, every part of you can be in the water. Doesn't that just sound too good?"
Regina chuckled tiredly. "It does. But I still have to get out of the water, don't I?"
"Only for a little while," Emma assured. And made it her life's mission to ensure that Regina got into a tub as soon as possible when arriving at the hospital. She was more than willing to pull the 'I'm the Mayors daughter'-card if needed.
"Fine," Regina surrendered.
"I'll bring the hospital bag to the car and alert Henry," Mary Margaret said briskly. With that, she left the bathroom. Emma heard her speed walk down the hallway.
"Your mom is an effective lady, querida," Regina said and smiled a little bit. "She's amazing."
"So are you," Emma said plainly. "Are you ready to get up?"
Wrong question. Regina scowled. "No. Not even the littlest bit. But it would appear that I have no choice."
Gripping the edge of the tub, she slowly stood from the tub, but as she moved to carefully swing one leg over the edge, her shoulders bunched once more, and her face contorted in pain. "¡Oh Dios, aquí vamos de nuevo! Ow! Ow!"
"Alright!" Emma was there immediately and wrapped her arms around Regina. Not to pull her out of the tub. But to assure that Regina didn't trip and hurt herself.
Regina leaned heavily into her, face pressed into the crook of her neck and fingers twisting Emma's tanktop in the back. She groaned in pain and Emma felt her body tremble.
"Alright," she soothed, dropping kisses on Regina's hair and moving one hand from her waist to her lower back so she could massage it. "It's alright, honey, you're okay. Just lean on me. I've got you."
"H-hurts," Regina breathed and squeezed a handful of Emma's tanktop. "Emma, it h-hurts!"
"I know, my love, I know, it'll be okay, I promise." Emma held her close. One arm around her waist and the other pressing against Regina's lower back. She kneaded and pressed and did her best to soothe those cramped muscles straining so much right now.
"Oh, god!" Regina moaned and leaned heavily against her. Her legs shook violently under her, and Emma once again was more than ready to pick her up, wrap her up and carry her all the way into the car.
"¡Mi espalda!" Regina yelped into Emma's shirt. "¡Mi espalda me está matando!"
Emma knew that 'espalda' meant back, and 'mantando' meant killing. My back is killing me. That was what Regina had just said.
She rubbed Regina's back a little harder, applying just a little more pressure. Regina started swaying back and forward. She was still gripping Emma's shirt, still pressing her face into the crook of Emma's neck. She was one hundred percent depending on Emma to keep her upright.
Naturally, Emma did just that. And she did it while telling Regina that she was so good. So brave. So amazing.
"I love you so much," she told her. "So fucking much!"
"Love… you too," Regina groaned. "Oh god, it hurts so much!"
"You're doing so well, sweetie, so, so well! You're incredible!"
"A-am I?" Regina moaned.
"Yes! Fuck, yes! You are the most amazing person in the world! Just… just look at you going! You are giving us our kid!"
Regina made a sound that could have been a chuckle, but also a sob. "I-I am!"
"Damn right you are, beautiful girl!" Emma kissed the top of her head again. "I'm so fucking proud of you, you have no idea!"
Another meek sound. Then Regina fully wrapped her arms around Emma's neck.
"Yeah," Emma said gently as she skimmed her fingers up and down Regina's naked back. "That's it, sweetie. You just lean on me. I've got you. I'm right here. You're safe."
Regina took a shuddering breath.
"Good job," Emma praised. "Nice, deep breaths. In and out. That's it."
Regina kept on taking those deep, slow breaths. Emma kept praising her for it. She was so fucking impressed with Regina. Impressed with how Regina was 'breathing with the pain' like she had learned at those Lamaze classes. She was doing everything right, and Emma didn't hesitate to tell her that.
"You've got this. You're fucking acing this thing, Regina! Just look at you going, babe!" she kissed the top of Regina's head again and kneaded her lower back and hips. Those were tense too from carrying the extra amount of weight.
Regina lifted her head and looked up at her. "H-hi."
"Hi, honey." Emma dropped another kiss on her hair. "Is it over?"
"Sí, I t-think so. That one was really…"
"A biter?" Emma suggested.
"Sí, exactly. A biter. But the way you rubbed my back was really, really nice. Gracías, mi amor."
"You don't need to thank me." Emma gave her a very gentle hug. "Do you think you can manage to get out of the tub now? I don't want you to get cold."
"I can try," Regina said sheepishly and gave a bubbly, little laughter.
"God, the fact that you can still laugh…" Emma was endlessly impressed as she carefully helped Regina out of the tub. Once Regina was out of the water, Emma took the fluffiest of towels and gently toweled Regina off. God forbid that Regina should get cold.
"Are you okay standing, or would you rather sit down? Because that's totally okay."
"No, standing is fine. I can towel myself off, though."
"But I can do it for you, right? I really want to."
"Of course you do…" Regina chuckled slightly once more. "I must admit that it's nice not having to do it myself."
"Good!" Emma said. Now that Regina wasn't in pain at the moment, she felt quite cheery. And very, very effective as she toweled off Regina's legs and back. She lifted Regina's braid out of the way so she could rub the back of Regina's neck dry, and afterwards, she rubbed the towel all over the edge of Regina's braid to ensure that water wouldn't drip from it and make Regina uncomfortable.
Finally, she gently patted Regina's large belly dry.
"I think you might have missed a spot, amor," Regina joked and gestured to her belly button.
Emma laughed. "Good point, but I'm not sure I can get in there."
"Nobody can," Regina chuckled.
Emma gave Regina's belly an extra rub with the towel. Smiled when she felt something she was sure was their baby's little foot.
"I sure hope it is," Regina said when Emma said it out loud. "Because that means he's still in the right position."
"He will be. I'm sure of it. I have a gut feeling."
"I trust gut feelings," Regina said firmly.
"Oh, me too, definitely. I mean after the gut feeling you had about this starting soon? Man, that was amazing. You were like a witch or something."
"Mmm, you better watch out, or I'll cast a spell on you," Regina joked.
"I wouldn't mind that at all.."
"Of course you wouldn't…."
When she was all dry, Emma helped her girlfriend back into the sweatpants and t-shirt she had worn before going into the bath. "There," she said satisfied.
"There," Regina echoed. Then she frowned and looked at Emma. "Oh, my goodness, I've gotten you all wet!"
Had the occasion been any different, Emma could undoubtedly have come up with a dirty joke. But now was not the time for that. So she settled for assuring Regina that it was alright.
"You can't walk around in that," Regina insisted. "You'll end up getting a cold!"
"You're the one in labor and yet you're worried about me." Emma smiled. "I think I have to give you a lesson in priorities at some point."
"Can it wait until after I've given birth to our child?" Regina asked, smile lurking in the corner of her lips. "I have a feeling I will pay much more attention then…"
"Lies. You'll be too busy cuddling our little bundle of joy." Emma took her hand and escorted her out of the bathroom.
Slowly, they walked down the hallway. Regina was shuffling more than walking, and when they reached the door to the bedroom, she stopped abruptly.
"What is it, sweetheart? Another contraction? Come here, I've got you."
"Not a contraction." Regina folded her arms across her chest. "I'm just not gonna walk any further until you put on a dry shirt."
"Regina-"
"Emma, I can literally read your mind right now," Regina interrupted. "And I know for a fact that you were about to go to the hospital wearing that wet shirt, and it is not happening. You are putting on something dry. Now. Don't argue. Hell hath no fury like a woman in labor."
Emma wisely kept her mouth shut and scurried into the bedroom. She quickly yanked the closet open and found a dry shirt. She wiggled out of the wet shirt and put on the dry one, and yeah, she had to admit that wearing a dry shirt was much nicer. As always, Regina was right.
Regina hadn't budged from the spot when Emma returned to the hallway. She took a look at Emma's nice, dry shirt and went: "good. Now we can go to the hospital."
"Yes, Milady," Emma replied, putting on a terrible British accent.
It was worth it, though. Regina laughed.
They were greeted by Henry at the bottom of the stairs. He appeared to be nervous, and while Regina took his arm, Emma took the opportunity to check her phone. She had heard it buzz in her pocket earlier, but she had been much too busy tending to Regina.
It was a text from Cora. She had found a flight to Portland in two hours…
Emma was relieved when they arrived at the hospital. It was a good thing that the drive was so short. Regina had had another contraction in the car, and both Emma's dad and Regina's own father had worn similar, nervous grimaces. It could have been entertaining had the situation been any different.
"There we go," Emma said gently as she helped Regina into a wheelchair.
"Is this really necessary-"
"As necessary as my dry shirt," Emma interrupted, gripping the handles of the wheelchair and wheeling Regina over to reception.
"Hola," Regina said to the receptionist.
The receptionist took one look at her. "Maternity ward is just down the hallway. You're in room eight, miss Mills. Doctor Whale has notified us."
"Gracías," Regina said and flashed her a smile.
"Down the hall. Room eight. Gotcha!" Emma immediately wheeled off with Regina.
"Slow down, querida," Regina murmured. "Give my dad and your parents a chance to catch up."
"Oh. Sorry." She stopped and waited for their parents. Silently scolding herself for going too fast. Henry had a pacemaker and obviously needed to take care of his heart still.
Regina drew small circles on her belly. "When did you say my mom's flight is taking off?"
"In two hours," Emma replied. It wasn't the first time Regina had asked this question, and Emma did not mind answering it again.
"Two hours," Regina echoed. "That's fine, right? I mean, the baby won't come in two hours. This phase is supposed to last four to eight hours. Right?"
"Right," Emma confirmed. There was no way that Blueberry would be here in only two hours. She refused to believe that. As she refused to believe that Cora wouldn't be here in time. Of course she would! Of course Regina's mom would be present when Blueberry was born. End. Of. Story.
The parents caught up with them, and Emma sheepishly said: "sorry for wheeling off. I got a little carried away."
Her mom chuckled and patted her arm. "Plenty of time, honey."
"Sí, it's not like I'm going to have the baby in the middle of the hallway," Regina joked.
"¡Espero que no!" Henry muttered under his breath.
Regina patted his hand. "No tengas miedo, papi. Todo esta bien."
"She is the one calming me," Henry said amusedly and shook her head. "It should be the other way around, mija."
"But right now you need to be calmed more than I do," Regina smartly pointed out.
They reached the door to room number eight. Emma's dad gallantly opened the door, and Emma wheeled Regina in.
"Cool digs," she commented as she looked around in the hospital room. "Not bad, huh, beautiful girl?"
There was a standard hospital bed, a large tub and an adjacent bathroom.
"No, not bad at all," Regina agreed as she slowly rose from the wheelchair. She walked over to the bed, but she didn't make it very far before having to lean heavily over the pain. She squirmed and gripped onto the edge of the bed.
Emma left the wheelchair in the middle of the room and went over to Regina. She began rubbing Regina's back yet again.
Regina didn't react to it. Her legs were shaking, and she was breathing heavily.
"That's it," Emma soothed. "You're doing so good, Regina. It's alright."
"It is not!" came the sharp answer.
Emma stopped spewing ridiculous cliches and settled for rubbing Regina's back. It was better to be quiet right now. She was well aware that this was the first time Regina had snapped at her during this, but Emma of course didn't take it personally. Regina was totally allowed to snap right now.
"¡Mierda!" Regina hissed through gritted teeth. "¡Hijo de puta!
"Respiraciones profundas, cielo. Respira a través de él," Henry said gently. He had come closer and was now carefully rubbing the spot between her shoulders.
Emma halfway expected Regina to shake off his hand, but she didn't. She just whimpered into the bedding. Mumbled something that couldn't quite be deciphered. Emma looked her head and looked at her mom. She wasn't quite sure why. Perhaps she was silently asking for some kind of advice. A magic word she could say that would make everything better.
But there was none. She already knew that. She rubbed her thumbs in circles across Regina's lower back, hoping to make things at least a fraction easier for her. It wasn't much, but it was at last something, right?
Regina huffed out a breath and slowly lifted her head. She blinked a few times. Then turned her head. "I apologize for the…cussing," she rasped.
"Don't apologize," Emma said.
"No tienes nada por lo que disculparte, Reggie."
"We're not that delicate," Emma's mom assured and chuckled softly. "I was cussing like a sailor when I was having Emma. Isn't that right, David?"
"That's right," David confirmed. "I can still hear it if I close my eyes. It's a very fond memory. And trust me, Regina, it's not anything I haven't heard before. You just go on and let it out."
"I'll bear that in mind," Regina said tiredly and slowly rose to her full height. She arched her back slightly. "I think it's over for now."
"Yeah?" Emma tenderly brushed a lock of hair away from Regina's face. "I'm not trying to be a cliché or anything, but you did really, really good."
"Gracías. Sorry for snapping at you."
"Snap as much as you want. It's completely fine."
"It's not, though. I don't like snapping at you."
"This is a special case where snapping is allowed."
Regina didn't seem overly satisfied with that answer, but she let the subject go and turned her attention to her hospital bag instead. "I should probably get changed into that gown."
The parents stepped outside for a moment, and Emma helped Regina get changed into the paper gown. She had just helped Regina tying the strings in the back when there was a knock on the door.
"Come in," Regina called.
The door was opened, and Doctor Whale stepped in. "Hello again, Regina. Nova alerted me that you were coming. Things are progressing. Five centimeters. Well done."
"Thank you," Regina said and sounded genuinely proud of herself.
"If you could just pop onto the bed, I'll check your blood pressure and see how little one is doing."
Regina obediently climbed onto the bed and laid down. Doctor Whale wrapped the blood pressure cuff around her arm and inflated the cuff.
"Your blood pressure is perfect," he told her after a moment.
Emma smiled at her girlfriend. That was excellent news.
"Now let's check on baby, shall we?"
"Sí, very much."
Doctor Whale spread gel on Regina's belly and brought the doppler to her skin. The baby's heartbeat was still good and strong.
"That is all coming up lovely," Doctor Whale said satisfied. "I'm very happy with that. Baby is doing well. Now, I just have to give you a quick checkup, and then I'll leave you alone, I promise."
Regina gave a sort of mumbled answer and endured yet another examination. Her gaze was turned towards the ceiling.
"All done," the doctor said after a moment. "Now I'll leave you alone. I'll send Nova in to see you in about an hour, okay?"
"Okay. Thank you, Doctor."
"You're very welcome, miss Mills. And Emma-" he looked at her. "There's a coffee machine right down the hallway. Treat yourself to a cup of coffee. Doctor's order."
"Gotcha," Emma said. But refused to acknowledge how tired she was. A nap was out of the question. Even closing her eyes for a moment. Absolutely not.
The doctor left and Regina turned her head and looked at Emma. "Well, you heard the man, querida. Go get some coffee."
"I will. When our parents come back. You're not staying here on your own."
"Emma, it's just a few minutes. I'll be absolutely-" she stopped talking and her jaw clenched. Her eyes squeezed shut, and her hands curled into fists.
Emma silently thanked herself that she hadn't gone anywhere.
"My leg is….cramping," Regina managed. "Can you- ow!- do something about it?"
"Consider it done, babe!" Emma was quick to reach under the blanket.
"It's… my thigh," Regina groaned. "It… hurts!"
Emma went to work and began rubbing Regina's thigh in an attempt to make the cramping muscles relax. She had been prepared for this. Had read that leg cramping was fairly common.
"N-nice," Regina huffed. "Thank y- oooow!"
"Don't waste strength on talking, honey," Emma said tenderly and multitasked as she rubbed Regina's thigh with one hand and her lower back with the other.
Regina fell silent and squirmed in the bed.
"Relax your jaw, babe," Emma murmured. She wasn't trying to be annoying or give unsolicited advises or anything. She was just trying to avoid Regina's jaw getting all locked up. That definitely wouldn't help anything.
Regina unclenched her jaw and her mouth fell open as she took deep breaths.
"There we go, that's it. Good job, honey. You're so awesome!" Emma told her and kissed Regina's sweaty brow. She was vaguely aware that their parents came back inside, but for now, Emma ignored them and only concentrated on Regina. She spoke soothingly, whispered words of encouragement in her ear, and when Regina's body relaxed, Emma poured her a glass of water from the decanter standing on the little table.
"Here, sweetie, take a sip," she said as she brought the glass to Regina's lips. "We can't have you drying out."
Regina drank eagerly. Swallowed thickly and murmured. "I feel warm…"
A cloth was wetted and Emma gently dabbed Regina's sweaty brow. "Is that better, beautiful girl?"
"Mmmm." Regina tugged the cloth down over her eyes and went silent.
Emma took the hint and shut her mouth. Regina wanted peace and quiet, and peace and quiet she should get…
Two hours later, Cora texted Emma and told her that she had arrived in Portland. Regina looked relieved when Emma told her, and Emma's dad offered to collect her from the airport. Emma forwarded that suggestion to Cora, but she politely declined the offer and replied they would get a taxi.
"I guess that means they're both here," Regina murmured. "That's nice."
"I would offer to pick them up," Henry said, "but… No quiero irme de tu lado, Cielo."
"I don't want you to leave either," Regina said and flashed him a tired smile.
"Tell you what," Emma's dad said. "Tell Cora to text you if she hasn't found a taxi in twenty minutes. I'll go and get her. End of story."
"You're the best, dad," Emma beamed. "Seriously, you rock."
"Of course I do. I'm your dad."
Regina snickered from her spot at the window. She had gone from laying down to walking around. She had rejected going into the tub for the time being. Right now, it was more comfortable walking around. And swaying felt nice too. She also liked it when Emma wrapped her arms around her, and they rocked back and forward together.
Emma of course happily complied. Whatever made Regina comfortable.
She texted Cora the new 'instructions' and even made a point of stressing out that it wasn't an option to say no to the ride if she couldn't get a taxi. It didn't take long before Cora texted back. And she was surprisingly compliant and agreed to the plan.
"Cora's gonna text me in twenty minutes," she told the room.
Henry nodded, satisfied with that.
Regina didn't answer. She was much too busy having another contraction. She was currently gripping the windowsill and swaying back and forward.
Emma walked over to her and massaged her back yet again.
This caused Regina to turn around wrap her arms around Emma's neck. Her head settled against Emma's chest, and Emma took charge over the swaying. Slowly back and forward. She didn't say anything. Regina preferred silence during these more painful contractions, and Emma was completely fine with that. If Regina preferred silence, she could have silence. She could have whatever the fuck she wanted.
Henry and Emma's dad fell silent too. That was the new rule. Nobody said a word when Regina was experiencing contractions.
Emma cupped the back of Regina's head and thought to herself that she would offer Regina something to drink once this contraction was over. Regina needed plenty of liquid. It was essential she drank water, so she didn't get lightheaded on top of everything else. That wouldn't be good.
Regina whimpered the littlest bit and Emma held her closer.
Once the twenty minutes were up, Cora texted Emma. She had found a taxi and was on her way to the hospital right now.
"Good," Regina said once Emma had delivered the news to her. "I want her to be here."
"I know you do. I'm so happy she's on her way."
"Sí. Yo también." She closed her eyes and fell silent once more. The only sound in the room was the water sloshing gently in the tub as Regina shifted. She had climbed into the tub around five minutes ago, and she seemed more settled there. The hot water had a soothing effect on her.
Emma took the opportunity to loosen her ponytail, run her fingers through her slightly greasy hair and then tie it back in a slightly looser ponytail. Her limbs felt a bit stiff, so she stood from the chair and took a little stroll around the hospital room. It was just her and Regina in the room. Regina had requested that the parents left for a moment. Naturally, everyone had complied. Emma had a feeling that they were getting coffee. She wasn't the only one who hadn't slept. Neither had they. Well, except for the very brief cat nap Henry had taken when Emma and Regina were out on that walk.
Her thoughts were brought back to reality when Regina started breathing deeper and heavier in the tub. She was gripping onto the edge.
Emma didn't speak. Just walked over to the tub and crouched down. Thrust a hand into the water and found Regina's lower back. She still didn't say anything as she began rubbing the sore spot. Had learned that Regina valued silence more than ever right now.
Emma was silently and endlessly impressed with her girlfriend. The way Regina was so focused. The way she knew exactly how to breathe. It was incredible.
She wasn't cheesy enough to tell Regina that. Obviously, she respected her girlfriend's wish for silence.
Regina groaned and put her arm on the edge of the tub. Then she plonked her head down again. Quite harshly. Emma reminded herself to fold a towel and leave it there when this round of contraction was over.
After something that was starting to feel like forever, Regina let out a huff and lifted her head. "Hi."
"Hey there," Emma said softly.
"That one sucked. But then again, all of them do now." Regina tried to laugh, but the sound was meek and not very genuine. "And I think I bonked my head too."
"I'll put a towel there. Or a pillow. Do you want a pillow?"
"What if it ends up in the water?"
"Al diablo con eso," Emma said and earned herself a small laugh from Regina…
There were sounds coming from reception. Emma straightened a little in her chair. She hadn't exactly been nodding off. Hadn't even closed her eyes. She had merely stared very intensely at the wall without actually seeing it. On her left side, her dad had her head tipped back and his eyes closed. Emma could tell by his breathing that he wasn't asleep though.
On her right side, her mom was sitting. She was knitting what Emma suspecting was a pair of very small socks. The knitting needles were going up and down, up and down and making Emma feel all drowsy.
Henry had his attention focused on Regina.
And Regina? Well, she was back in the hospital bed. Her eyes were closed. She was trying to get as much rest in as she possibly could. When she wasn't experiencing those terrible contractions, she was laying curled up, eyes closed, breathing deliberately slow and fingers alternating between squeezing and relaxing around a handful of bedding.
But all of them looked up at the sounds coming from reception. The voices made for a nice change. This being the maternity ward, they frequently heard women crying out in agony, and Regina paled more and more for each time.
Emma strained her ears and tried to focus on the voice speaking in reception. She was sure she recognized it.
"Cora," Henry said quietly.
That was entirely true. It was indeed Cora's voice. She was here.
"Mom," Regina whispered. "S-she's really here…"
Emma unfolded her legs and got up from her chair. To save time, she would head out and collect Cora and escort her back here. It would be easier.
She poked her head outside and then trotted down the hallway.
In reception, she indeed found Cora. And she looked different than the last time. For starters, her chestnut brown hair was hanging loose, and it looked like her coat wasn't properly buttoned either. It was strange to see Cora Mills looked so disheveled, but also kind of nice. It had to mean that she was in a hurry when she left New York.
"Cora," Emma called, sticking a hand in the air. "We're in here."
Cora turned around. "Miss Swan." Her heels clicked against the floor as she hastily made her way over to Emma. "My daughter…?"
"No baby yet, but definitely moving along," Emma told her. Regina had just been examined again, and things were still progressing as they should.
"I am not too late then," Cora said and let out a little sigh of relief.
"You're not," Emma confirmed. "Come on. Regina's waiting for you."
They quickly walked back down the hallway. Emma actually had to quicken her pace. Cora was walking faster than her!
They made it back to the hospital room and found Regina in the middle of a new contraction. She was squirming in the bed, panting and whimpering. Clearly in so much pain. Her eyes were still squeezed shut, and Emma could see tears sticking to her eyelashes.
Henry was standing on one side of the bed. He was dabbing Regina's forehead with the cloth and speaking gently to her in Spanish. His voice was deep and soothing. He was doing an excellent job at not showing how nervous he actually was.
Cora reacted promptly and crossed the floor in what seemed like three quick strides. In a manner of seconds, she was standing by Regina's bedside and could reach out to take her daughter's hand.
Regina opened her eyes and looked at Cora. "M-mom," she managed, voice tiny and tight with pain. "U-usted vino…"
"Sí, por supuesto que vine," Cora said softly, surprising Emma completely. She had no idea that Cora even spoke Spanish.
"I'm g-glad you're- ¡Vaya! ¡Dios, esto duele tanto!"
"I know, dear, I know," Cora said. "Feel free to squeeze my hand. "Remember your breathing and just follow your body. It knows what to do."
Cora could say things, so it didn't sound like clichés, Emma thought to herself. Cora was actually… very good at this. Another surprise.
The contraction passed and Regina slowly opened her eyes and looked at Cora. "Mom," she rasped.
"Yes," Cora said. "I'm right here." She brushed a sweaty lock of hair away from Regina's face and took the glass of water from the table. "Here. Have some water. You sound parched."
Regina took a little sip. "Is Malaina here too?"
"Yes. She didn't think I should travel on my own. She thought I was in a state, so she came with me."
"That's nice," Regina said tiredly. "Then she can meet Blueberry when he has been born. Which hopefully will be soon. I'm not sure I can t-take much more of this." She gave a strangled sound that was half a sob, half a laugh.
Cora took the cloth from Henry and gently dabbed her daughter's face. "Everything is going to be alright, Regina. Miss Swan's texts tells me that you have been very brave. You've always been such a brave girl.
"N-no I haven't," Regina protested.
"But you have. You've always done exactly what you wanted. Stuck to your decisions. That is very brave. And I know you can be brave for a little while longer. That's how strong my daughter is."
Emma was willing to take every bad thing she ever had thought of Cora back.
At som point, Emma went out in the hallway to get some coffee. She really needed that. Her eyes were stinging, and she felt completely flat.
It didn't take long before she got company by her mother and Cora.
"Regina's father is looking after her right now," she said when she saw the unasked question in Emma's eyes. "It was his suggestion that I went to get some coffee."
"It is nice to finally meet Regina's mother," Emma's mom said. There was a little sharp edge to her voice. She was not Cora Mills' biggest fan. Emma hadn't shied away from telling her mom how Cora had treated Regina in the past, and even though Mary Margaret Swan knew that Regina and Cora were mending their relationship now, she was still clearly skeptic.
"Mrs. Swan," Cora said a tad stiffly. "Regina has spoken so warmly about you. I am… very glad that you have been with her throughout this process. And I am… very regretful that I have not."
"But perhaps that will change now?" Emma's mom asked pointedly.
"Yes, rest assure that it will, Mrs. Swan," said Cora. "Regina and I have issues in the past. Because of me. I take the full responsibility. But I am optimistic that she and I can start a fresh. That is what I truly want."
"Well," Emma's mom smiled a little and her voice lost the sharp edge. "If that is good enough for Regina, it is good enough for me. You can call me Mary Margaret."
Cora seemed to smile a little bit. "Thank you, Mary Margaret."
"It truly is wonderful that you are here, Cora. You have made Regina very happy. She has been asking for you, isn't that right, Emma?"
"Yep, that's right," Emma confirmed. Regina had indeed been asking for her mother and worrying about Cora being stuck in traffic somewhere.
"That means… a lot," Cora said.
"Cora?"
That was Henry calling from the doorway. "Regina is asking for you. Ella te necesita."
Cora promptly turned around and sped-walk back down the hallway, coffee spilling on the floor. Cora didn't care. She probably didn't even see it.
Emma followed her and made it inside the hospital room just in time to see Cora take Regina's hand and assure: "I'm here, Regina. I'm here."
"I thought you'd left," Regina croaked.
"Of course not, my dear," Cora said firmly. "Of course I am not going anywhere. Would you like some water?"
"Mmm," Regina mumbled.
It was amazing to see how gentle Cora Mills was as she held the cup of water to Regina's lips…
Time ticked by. It became dark outside. Emma's legs were stiff every time she went out to get some coffee in the hallway. Which was often. Her body was tingling with adrenaline and caffeine. She had no idea how long they had been here for. Had lost all sense of time as she focused all her attention on Regina.
She had alternated between walking around, laying in bed and being in the tub. But not even that soothed the pain anymore. Which was good and bad. Good because it meant that things were moving along. And bad because she was in pain more or less all the time.
Regina had gone from tears and agony to rage and agony. She cussed everything and everyone in Spanish and snapped at those getting near her. Nobody was allowed to touch her. Not Emma. And certainly not the doctor. Which was pretty problematic seeing that he had to examine her.
"¡Alejarse de mí!" she snapped at him. "Don't touch me!"
"Regina, he has to examine you," Emma carefully tried to reason with her.
Regina looked at her. Her eyes were bloodshot and narrow slits. "You are supposed to be on my side!" she hissed.
"Sweetie, I am on your side. Always," Emma tried again. "But he really has to-"
"If I let him touch me, it'll be to give me a c-section!" Regina half-yelled. "I'm done! I can't do this anymore!"
"I'll be quick," Doctor Whale promised. "It'll only be a moment."
Somehow, Regina allowed him to come near her. And when he began the examination, it was Cora's hand she reached for again. She was clutching her mom's hand, and Cora didn't leave her side.
"Well, I have good news," Doctor Whale said after end examination. "You are ten centimeters dilated, Regina."
Emma gasped as Emma croaked: "really?"
"Yes, really." Doctor Whale smiled a little at their amazement. "Little one will be here soon." He looked around at the bystanders. Frowned slightly at the number of people. "I am aware that all of you are family, but the room is a bit crowded. I don't want anything to cause unnecessary stress for mother and child. And we generally prefer less than four people in the delivery room."
"I'll wait outside," Emma's dad said. "That was the plan all along."
"No, that's not fair," Regina half-groaned. "Then you'll be the only one not here! Can't he stay?" she looked pleadingly at Doctor Whale. "Please?"
"I can wait outside with him, honey," Emma's mom said. "Then he won't be on his own. And your parents are here, sweetie, so-"
"No!" Regina interrupted. "That is not right! ¡Quiero que estén aquí!"
"We don't allow so many people in the delivery room, Regina," Doctor Whale said kindly. "It's not standard procedure."
"Can't you make an exception for once?" Regina asked, eyes misty. "I want Emma's parents to be here!"
"Regina-"
"Doctor," Emma interrupted coldly. She'd had enough of this. "What do you think is most stressful for Regina right now? My parents staying like she's requesting, or you arguing with her about it?"
Doctor Whale narrowed his eyes slightly.
"We don't want anything to cause any unnecessary stress for mother and child," Emma said tightly, throwing Doctor Whale's own words back him. "My parents presence is Regina's own wish and not a stress factor. I don't give a damn about standard procedures!"
Regina began moaning in pain again. Cora took her hand, and Emma put a hand on her shoulder. Henry and Emma's parents moved to stand behind her, and Doctor Whale gave up on the standard procedure.
"Alright, Regina," he said. "I want you to give a little push now, okay? Come on! Push!"
Regina moaned and her body tensed up as she strained. Emma took her free hand in her own.
"That's it," Doctor Whale said. "Little one is on the move!
Regina let out another strangled groan. Her body seemed to unclench, and Emma quickly let go of her hand and cupped the back of her head to ensure Regina didn't hurt herself as her head rolled back.
"M-me duele," Regina whispered, tears splashing onto her cheeks. "Emma, me duele…"
"I know, sweetie, I know." Emma kissed her cheek tenderly and felt the salty tears on her lips. That was enough to make her own eyes well up. There was nothing more heartbreaking than Regina telling her it hurt.
"No puedo hacer esto…"
"Yes, you can, honey," Emma's mom said gently. She had found the cold cloth and was now dabbing Regina's forehead. "You're already doing it."
"It's too muc- mmmmm! ¡Deténgase! Make it stop!"
"Come on, Regina!" Doctor Whale said. "Push!"
"NO!" Regina yelled.
But she did it anyway. Her upper body lifted, and she put her chin to her chest. She moaned and cried out and clutched Emma's hand so hard, Emma felt her knuckles creak slightly.
"That's it," Cora said on Regina's other side. "You're doing a wonderful job, Regina!"
"N-no I'm no- Aaah!"
"Good! I can see the head now! On your next contraction I want you to pant and not push, alright?"
"I want to go home," Regina whispered, head flopping back onto the pillow. She looked up at Emma, pain etched onto her face. "Emma, please, I want to go home!"
Emma's heart broke for her. She let go of Regina's hand and crouched down. "I know, beautiful girl. But you're almost there, I promise! Our baby is almost here, honey." She cradled Regina's beautiful face in her hands. Kissed her forehead. Her cheeks. The tip of her nose. "You are being so fucking brave right now, you have no idea!"
"No soy valiente," Regina slurred, eyes closing and body trembling with exhaustion.
"Sí, lo eres, Cielo," Henry said and took the hand Emma was no longer holding. He squeezed it gently. "Emma tiene razón. Estás siendo tan valiente!"
Regina didn't answer. Only cried out sharply as another contraction rocked her trembling body.
"Pant!" Doctor Whale said. "Pant, Regina! Don't push!"
"Like we learned at that Lamaze class," Emma murmured in her ear, wrapping an arm around Regina's shoulders, and thereby supporting her upper body. "Remember that? You laughed at me when I tried because you were doing so much better…"
Regina blinked and began panting.
"Good job!" Doctor Whale said. "The head is coming, just keep panting!"
"That's it," Emma praised and kissed her forehead again. "Well done, Regina! You're doing it!"
"It b-burns!" Regina whimpered. "It BURNS!"
"You're nearly there, you're so close, and you're doing such a good job, that's it, keep going, keep going!" Emma babbled. She had no idea what she was evens saying. Her mouth had taken over. Their baby was being born. Fucking hell, Regina was creating life. That was crazy. That was amazing!
"That's it! The head is out! I see lots of dark hair!"
"Did you hear that, honey? Our baby has hair!" Emma exclaimed. "Oh my god, I can't wait to meet him- or her in a moment!" she did not move from Regina's side. It didn't seem fair that she was the first one to get a glimpse of their child when Regina was the one doing all the hard work.
Regina let out a strangled sort of laugh and went: "m-mom?"
"I'm right here, Regina," Cora assured, lifting her daughter's hand, and giving it a gentle squeeze. "I'm here. And so is your father. All of us are right here."
Regina's answer to this was stolen and she wailed in agony once more.
"Come on, Regina, push!" Doctor Whale said. "You're almost there!"
"¡CALLARSE!" Regina screamed at the top of her lungs. She was shaking from head to toe as she somehow managed to sit up, bringing her chin to her chest again. Her legs lifted and her knees bent. Her face scrunched up in pain, her eyes squeezed shut, but not a sound came out of her.
Emma instinctively fell silent too. And so did everyone else around her. She briefly looked around, looked at her mom, her dad, Henry, and Cora. All of them there for Regina. All of them looking at her in silence, utterly amazed. Cora was pale. Emma's had moved to the corner. That poor man seemed completely overwhelmed. Emma would make sure to give him a big hug afterwards.
Henry was openly crying. So was her own mother. And, Emma discovered, so was she. She hadn't even noticed that. Hadn't picked up on her vision going blurry.
"Good job, Regina! One more big push and your baby will be here!" Doctor Whale said.
"Oh Dios mío," Henry breathed. "¡Mija, ya casi terminas!"
Regina just groaned.
"One more," Emma whispered. "One more and you're done. Our baby will be here, Regina."
"I can't do this anymore," Regina croaked, eyes closing and head going from side to side as she shook it. "Please, no more…"
"You've been so, so amazing," Emma murmured, cupping Regina's cheek again. It was agonizing to deny Regina anything.
"What you've done, it's… I can't describe it, that's how amazing it is, Regina! I know that you're exhausted, and I promise that you will be able to rest in a moment, but I need you to be amazing just one more time. Can you do that, baby? Can you give one more big push?"
Regina sobbed as she lifted her upper body. "Oh, god!" she wailed as she tensed up and pushed again.
"That's it, well done!" Emma took her hand. "Look at you going! You're doing it!" She vaguely registered that she wasn't the only one talking now, but she couldn't really process what was being said or who was talking. She could only look at Regina.
"Give me your hands, Regina!" Doctor Whale said.
Emma quickly let go of Regina's hand. Cora did the same and together they guided Regina's hands in the direction of Doctor Whale.
Emma didn't really understand what was happening until Regina gasped sharply and was holding something. No. Someone. A tiny, wiggling baby.
Now Emma understood. She understood that Regina had just caught their baby.
Regina's arms trembled as she with Doctor Whale's help laid the tiny baby on her chest and cradled the little one.
Emma gasped as she looked at their child. Who indeed had a head full of dark hair. Teeny tiny fingers and toes. The sweetest little button nose. The baby had blue eyes which looked here and there, and if Emma didn't know better, she would say that the little one was a bit confused about all the fuss.
Emma couldn't stop looking at the tiny little person Regina had just brought into this world. Tiny, pink, wiggling, itsy bitsy feet, and hands, face stained red and skin slightly wrinkled. He or she was the most perfect thing Emma had ever laid eyes on, and it felt like her heart had just grown ten sizes at least. That tiny little one… was her child. She was a mother.
"M-mommy," she whispered, feeling both big and small at the same time.
Her mom squeezed her hand tightly. "Oh, Emma!"
The baby squirmed a little on Regina's chest. Then opening its mouth and giving a dissatisfied, almighty wail. The sound went straight to Emma's heart. It was the most beautiful sound she'd ever heard in her life. That was the sound of their baby!
"Congratulations!" Doctor Whale said over the sound of the little one crying. "You have a son!"
A son. Emma bursted out crying as she kissed Regina's forehead. "Regina! Regina, d-did you hear that? We have a son! Oh my god, I love you so much!"
Regina's eyes were full of tears, but she was laughing at the same time, and her voice was breathless as she whispered: "I guess it was fate, wasn't it…" she bowed her head and kissed the top of their son's head. "Henry."
"Cielo," her father whispered. "¡Mija, él es hermoso!"
"Oh, Regina," Cora breathed. "Just look at him…"
"W-welcome," Regina whispered. "Henry David Swan-Mills."
There was a strangled sound behind Emma.
David Swan had once insisted that he wouldn't cry about becoming a grandfather. He had claimed that he would only smile. Had joked that the sheriff of Storybrooke 'didn't cry'.
Yet here he was. Bawling his eyes out whilst looking at his newborn grandson.
Emma turned around immediately and gave her father a long, long hug….
To Be Continued…..