Life at the castle over the last few weeks had been hard. They had heard disturbing things from their spy at Snow's castle, and were constantly on the lookout for any signs of danger. The spy was in fact one of the Dwarves, who had publicly turned his back on Emma and Regina, and announced his everlasting loyalty for Snow White.
Bashful was a good spy. He was quiet and unassuming, and people didn't really take much notice of him, so he heard many things that would have been kept hidden from anyone else. He had always had an affinity with wildlife and early on in his friendship with Snow, he learned about the birds and how to work with them to send messages. This was how Snow and Bash had become so close, undoubtedly closer than she was with any of the other dwarves, so he was the perfect choice to infiltrate Snow's castle.
The latest update received went straight to Regina's hand, as usual. She untucked the letter from the bluebird's foot, and gave it a crust of bread to say thank you. She re-read it twice, before calling an emergency council meeting.
Once the council had been gathered in the hall, Regina stood up to speak, "I'll keep this brief. We have a problem! Our person on the inside has today informed me that Blue knows that we have a spy within their castle."
"What? How could they know that?" Kathryn asked.
"According to the correspondence I received this morning, Blue has taken the heart of someone living within this castle and is using them to gain information about us and what happens inside the castle walls. They don't know who our spy is, because we kept their identity a secret, and it's a good job that we did, because that is their only protection at the moment," Regina explained.
"How do we find out who is feeding information back to Snow?" Belle asked.
"I feel I need to emphasise that this person is not doing it on purpose. They probably aren't even aware that it is happening. When you take a heart, to control someone, you can make them forget what has happened or instruct them not to tell anyone," Regina patiently advised them, "as for who has had their heart removed, I don't know. I can't think of anyone who has been acting strangely of late. We have all been under a huge amount of pressure."
"What if we took everybody's hearts?" Emma suggested.
"Finally tempted you over to the dark side, have we, Saviour?" Mal drawled, winking at the younger blonde.
"Oh! No, I didn't mean it like that!" Emma hastily told them, "I just meant, what if we attempted to take the hearts of everybody living within the castle. We would soon find out who's heart was missing and would therefore know who Blue is using as an informant."
"I'm not sure that's entirely ethical," Kathryn mused.
"It would be, if we asked permission first, and gave people a choice. If they don't want us to do it, then they obviously have a reason for not wishing us to do so, and therefore are a likely culprit anyway," Mal put forward, "I think it's a great idea."
"Does anyone have any other suggestions," asked Archie.
Everybody was silent for a moment, but no one else had anything to suggest.
"In lieu of a better plan, I propose we vote on this plan now. If we have a spy within these walls, then we are all in a lot of danger. We need to act quickly to limit the damage that is done," Archie told them.
"I agree," David nodded, "and once we know who the person is, maybe we can feed back false information to throw a wrench in Snow and Blue's plans?"
"You know, David, there is an evil villain inside you, just screaming to get out. That's a very devious idea, I like it," Mal laughed.
"All those in favour of Emma's suggestion of removing hearts until we find Blue's victim, raise your hands," Archie requested.
Despite any concerns that people may have initially had, all of the council were in agreement. Archie was right, this needed to be done sooner rather than later, or life was going to be much more difficult for them all.
Mal spoke, "looks like we all agree. I think that we need to get started. Regina, Emma and I can get prepared. Though, I am wondering now, if it should be done more discreetly than we planned. If the spy knows we are taking hearts, and lets it slip to Blue, then all of this will be in vain, and I worry for the life of the person who Blue is controlling, if they have no purpose for her anymore."
"Maybe we could go around at night? A tiny sprinkle of poppy dust would keep them asleep while we check their hearts, and then we can find who it is without alerting anyone to the issue," Regina hesitantly suggested.
"I don't like the idea one bit," Kathryn told her with a sigh, "but I understand that it might be necessary."
"Is there anyone that is against this idea?" Archie asked, looking around.
"I think I probably speak for all of us, when I say that none of us like this idea, but if that's what it takes to keep our people safe, then we should do it," Granny looked to the others for confirmation.
One by one the remaining council members signalled their agreement and it was decided.
Mal would fly to the fairy glade and collect some poppy dust, and then Emma, Regina and Mal would walk round that night and perform their test.
"One last thing before we wrap this meeting up," Archie interrupted the thrum of conversation at the table, "where do we stand on the sleeping curses?"
"We collected all the ingredients, and it is currently brewing. It will be ready on the eve of the next new moon," Mal informed him.
"Ok, good. Meeting is adjourned."
xxxxxxxxxx
Mal, Regina and Emma were sitting around the fireplace, drinking cocoa in the Swan-Mills suite of rooms. They all were wearing similar expressions of shock on their faces. It was nearly dawn and it had been a long and trying night. They had spent hours, stealthily going through the castle, systematically checking if everybody had their heart.
"I'm stunned," Emma breathed out deeply, "of all the people to have their heart taken, I never would have believed it could be her."
"It's not often you can creep up on a werewolf," Mal agreed, "but she was the perfect person really."
"She spends a lot of time overseeing the garden and vegetable patches, and picking herbs for dinner. She was the perfect person to choose because she is often alone, right on the edges of the estate," Regina told them, "it's unfortunate that she is a member of the council."
"Blue struck gold there, didn't she," Mal said in a frustrated tone, "she has more information than most of the other residents in the castle."
"Well, at least we know that now. We can start feeding false information back to Snow and Blue," Emma said gleefully.
"We need to be careful. I don't want to alarm anyone living here. They trust us to keep them safe," Regina said, "I think we should tell the other members of the council that it is Granny, but not tell any of the other residents that we have a spy. It will look too suspicious if people are suddenly cautious around her."
"Maybe we call a fake council meeting, but we inform the other council members what we are doing, so they know to play along. Perhaps that would be the best way of laying down a false trail?" Mal suggested.
"What do we tell her? What do we want Snow and Blue to think we are up to?" Emma asked.
Before she could answer, a door off of the hallway that led to the living area swung open, and revealed a very sleepy young Willow.
"Hi, little one," Regina cooed softly, "did we wake you?"
Willow shook her head, "I had a dream."
"Was it a bad one?" Emma asked, holding out her arms for a hug.
Willow went to her and jumped up on her lap, resting her head on her shoulder, "I dreamed Belle was having the baby."
Regina, Emma and Mal all looked at each other, the same thought going through all of their minds.
Was it time?
Getting to her feet, Mal prepared to summon her magic, "I'll go check," she said before disappearing.
"She was so cute Mom, but she's really scrunchy," Willow told them, to their amusement, "her face was all like this," she said, demonstrating by putting her hands on either side of her face and pushing toward her nose, giving herself wrinkles.
"All babies look a little 'scrunchy' when they come out," Emma laughed, "it's normal."
"Even Henwy?" Willow wondered.
Emma looked sad for a moment, but answered as evenly as possible, "I didn't see Henry, sweetie, they took him out of the room ready for your Mom to take care of him."
Trying to lighten Emma's sadness, Regina chuckled quietly, "he was still a little 'scrunchy' at three weeks old, when he came to me."
Mal appeared back in a flash of her magic, "Belle is in labour, and would like you both in the room with her. She wants you to be there when the baby is born."
Joint expressions of joy were on Regina and Emma's faces. They had thought there was still time to discuss the labour, but Belle had gone into labour early, so the chance to discuss things like this had not come up yet. Delighted, they both jumped up to their feet, ready to depart.
"Little one, I need you to go back to bed for a little while, ok?" Regina told Willow, pointing her in the direction of her bedroom.
Willow pouted, "but I want to see the baby when she is born."
"Honey, you saw her before any of us, never forget that," Emma reminded her.
This made Willow smile and she gave the three adults a quick hug before slipping back through the door to her bedroom.
"Ready, Moms?" Mal smiled, as the three of them used their magic to transport themselves to Mal and Belle's room.
xxxxxxxxxx
As far as labours go, it was not as long and arduous as it could have been, much to the relief of all of the women in the room. Emma had been worrying constantly, knowing just how many things could go wrong, even in a world with high-tech hospitals. As it turned out though, the midwife that came to look after Belle was very competent and things went as smoothly as they could have done.
"Just one more push, Belle, one more and that will be the head through," the midwife, Tabatha, encouraged.
Belle's head flopped onto the pillow behind her, glaring at Mal, "if we have children of our own, you're going to be carrying them," she muttered, "I'm not going through this again!"
"You would have children with me?" Mal asked hopefully.
Tabatha cut in with a brief laugh, "you two can sort your future out afterwards, right now, Belle needs to push."
As she said that, another contraction hit Belle, and she pushed as hard as she could. What felt like never ending pain, suddenly gave way to relief as her body finally let the head through.
"Ok, Belle," Tabatha spoke directly to Belle, "next contraction and hopefully that will be your last. You can do this!"
Belle pushed with the next contraction, and sure enough, the baby was born. Belle slumped back on the pillows, closing her eyes. She was obviously exhausted.
"Who's cutting the cord?" Tabatha asked.
Regina looked at Emma, "together? We can use magic."
"Together," agreed Emma, as they summoned their power and severed the cord. Tabatha wrapped the baby in a blanket and handed her to Regina, with a smile, "congratulations."
Mal took one look at Baby Swan-Mills, screwing up her face a little, "is it me, or is she a little… um… scrunchy?"
Regina and Emma both burst out laughing, "that's exactly what Willow said, after her dream!" Emma told Mal.
Walking up to Belle, Emma dropped to her knees beside the low to the floor bed, "thank you so much, Belle, for saving our baby and our family. We will never be able to repay you."
Belle reached out a shaky, tired hand and rested it on Emma's arm, "you're very welcome. I know you would do the same for me. We're family."
"Yes, we are," Emma told her sincerely, "and yes, I would. I would do anything I could for you, Belle."
"I don't suppose you can do anything about this?" Belle flushed bright red, as she pointed to the area between her legs, "I think she may have torn me," she whispered with embarrassment.
"Henry did that to me too and it took about six weeks to heal," Emma grimaced as she remembered, "I'll heal you, just relax."
Emma summoned her magic, and let a swirl of white surround Belle, feeding magic into her and guiding it with her mind, until she was healed.
"Wow, that feels like a double shot of espresso straight into my veins," Belle told her in awe, "I feel better than I have done in weeks!"
Regina walked over, "if there is anything you need, anything at all, will you please promise to let us know?"
"I will," Belle confirmed, "but my dragon will take good care of me, I know."
"Shall we leave you in peace now?" Emma asked, not wanting to crowd the woman.
"What are you doing about the baby?" Belle asked, "In future I can manually pump milk for you to give her in a bottle, which I'm sure you can summon? For now though, would you like me to feed her?"
"Um, why did we not think about this?" Emma slapped her forehead, with a frustrated groan.
"We thought we had longer," Regina sighed, "do you mind feeding her Belle, I don't want to make things harder for you, than they already are. I know this is a strange situation."
"I'll feed her now, no problem, and we can sort everything else out in time for her next meal," Belle told them, "it's no trouble."
"Thank you so much!" Emma turned her back to give her some privacy.
"Emma," Belle laughed, "I appreciate the gesture, but don't you and Regina want to be here for her first meal? You won't get this chance again."
"It wouldn't make you uncomfortable?" Regina asked.
"Sit down, please, we're family," Belle reassured them.
Emma and Regina took a seat, after passing the baby to Belle, as Mal joined Belle on the bed, supporting her in her arms as the baby found her nipple.
It was a weird situation, but the room was strangely peaceful as they watched the newest member of the family take her first few sucks of milk. Contented noises came from the baby, as she drank heartily for such a little one; she was perfect.
