Chapter Eight
I want to hear you say it
"How are you feeling today?" Emma asked Regina. She was sitting with her feet up on her couch in her office working on paperwork. Darien was another month older and Regina was still holding around six months pregnant, and all scans looked good, she went at least once a week.
"Like I am carrying a bowling ball," Regina sighed.
"Glad you're here Emma," Kathryn said walking into the office. "Now Madam Mayor finish up your paperwork, so Emma can take you to lunch and then straight home to bed no excuses."
"You're more tired today?" Emma asked concerned as she kissed Regina's forehead and bent down in front of her. Darien grunted from her magically suspended bouncy swing. She bounced as she smiled and squealed at Emma. She eagerly waved a brightly colored toy in her hand. "Don't worry I didn't forget you too baby." Emma moved over and quickly kissed Darien in greeting before turning back to Regina who was smiling at them as well as Kathryn.
"Yes, unfortunately, my feet are swollen again, we actually have to see Whale," Regina made a face. "Everything is so abnormal, just want to make sure nothing bad has developed." Emma nodded. When it was clear Regina was going to be pregnant longer they had done their research, and so were constantly on the look out for any negative changes.
"Then you get finished up like Kathryn said, I'll busy myself with Demi," Emma said. Darien was already smiling big hearing Emma say her name and bouncing. After Henry, Emma was her favorite play mate. Regina was always exhausted and found it hard to maneuver around her belly. The baby made it difficult for her to just sit and play with her kid, when it's all she wanted either physically or energy wise. She finished up her work, left Kathryn with instructions for the rest of it, before Emma walked her down to the car.
"Gee we've got such a fat mayor!" Leroy yelled walking by drunk already. Emma frowned as she helped Regina sit down in her Mercedes and got Darien secure in her car seat before she went and arrested Leroy. She called Mulan over to take him to jail. When Emma got in the driver's seat Regina was wiping away her tears.
"You are not fat, you are just pregnant," Emma reassured her. "There's a difference." Regina just shrugged sadly and stared out the window looking depressed. Emma made a note to punch Leroy in the balls later. She took Regina first for her quick check up mostly looking at her weight, blood pressure, and urine samples those came back clean.
"As I said you're fine Madam Mayor and still early into your six months of pregnancy," Whale told her. He left out without another word. They left the hospital and went home.
"Just say the word and I'll get us an appointment outside of Storybrooke, just to be sure," Emma asked. Regina smiled at her looking exhausted.
"Maybe when we get rid of the Mercedes," Regina murmured as she moved around the kitchen to prepare lunch. Once lunch was on the table they sat down with Darien eagerly reaching to try out what they had. Regina broke up a boiled egg into tiny pieces and allowed her to touch it and put it in her mouth if she liked. Emma was amazed she didn't try to reinforce right away the using of her baby spoon, but Regina didn't see the point when Darien explored her world through touch and didn't have the motor function for a spoon or fork, so allowing the use of her hands taught her independence.
"What why?" Emma asked.
"Because there will be too many cars in my drive way otherwise. The Mercedes only holds four people comfortably, no way I will get a second car seat in there."
"Fuck well the bug wouldn't hold two car seats either, but I'm sure I can get a second car seat in the Aston."
"My kids aren't driving in that deathtrap, but I also assumed you'd want to pass the bug onto Henry, so I had planned on the bug getting an extreme overhaul in terns of engine, wheels, and so on, but with the original stuff if possible so you wouldn't moan about me destroying your bug. Because no way I let my son drive it in, the state it is in now." Emma gave Regina a huge smile. "What?"
"You're not going to fight me, I thought for sure you'd argue on buying him a new car or passing on the Mercedes." Regina shook her head.
"I spoil him, but your first car should be a bit of a shitter to teach you about maintenance and so on. And I always have things to teach Henry." Emma chuckled.
"I love you even with the back handed insults to my beloved Bug." Regina smiled at her too, but it was bigger than Emma expected.
"You said I love you," Regina smiled. Emma blushed and looked away. "I love you too Emma." They finished up lunch with Emma smiling, but trying to act like she wasn't feeling so much in that moment. Darien ignored her mashed sweet potatoes which was leftovers from last night's dinner favoring bits of egg and pieces of salad.
"I think you succeeded in getting the kid on vegetables and not sweets," Emma chuckled.
"No, she's been pushing away banana as well in favor of whatever we're eating. I think she's over anything close to puree after the pea incident with Henry except for my homemade apple sauce, she cries if I don't share." They chuckled.
"It is really delicious though especially when I add cinnamon," Emma said humming as she thought of it.
"You add cinnamon to everything," Regina teased as she nursed Darien while Emma cleaned up lunch.
"True," Emma said loading the dishwasher. They had just put Darien down for their nap when they both became aware that two people were on the property. Regina had managed to help Emma tap into the detection spell so that they both knew when someone came near the house. Whoever it was promptly went away again, it was hard to say who it was if they didn't have a magical signature and remain on the property for more than a second, well one did have a weak signature, but nothing they currently recognized. When Emma looked out the front window there was no one there she could see.
"We'll keep an eye out, but I don't think whoever it was could hold a candle to you even on your tired days," Emma pointed out. Regina nodded.
"I'm cold," Regina said. "It's not fair I can't fit any of your hoodies." Emma chuckled as she went through the drawers producing winter maternity leggings for Regina as this was the most comfortable over pants or even a dress she said unless the baby was really on her bladder. At that point they were inconvenient, and a dress was better. Regina got changed and also accepted the long sleep thermal Emma had bought her. They fit snuggly around her belly but kept her warm.
"I got you a gift and I think now is about the right time to give it to you," Emma informed her.
"A gift, but why, what's the occasion?" Regina asked her eyes wide thinking she had forgotten something and was now gift less.
"You being cold all the time," Emma chuckled as she came out with a new hoodie. It was a grey hoodie with the words Queen of my heart on the front and it was much bigger than any of Emma's others.
"I've been wearing it after you fall asleep, so it smells like me." Regina managed to get up and engulf Emma in a hug.
"You're the best girlfriend any woman could ever ask for," Regina told her giving her a big kiss before she slipped into the hoodie happily. She sighed in content.
"Yes, yes this is what I've been missing." Emma grinned. She always wanted to make Regina look as happy as she did right now over a simple hoodie. As high maintenance as her girlfriend was it was really the simple things from Emma that put the biggest smile on her face, showing up to lunch, hoodies, a flower here or there. And in turn she spoiled Emma with whatever she wanted not that Emma ever asked, Regina just seemed to know. When she was in need of new clothing items, items she would have kept wearing in the past, because she had always had old things regardless now of if she had money. Regina replaced it with new things, no one had ever bought Emma new clothes before, and if she were honest aside from her red leather jacket, all her clothes were second hand.
Regina didn't see her as a burden that needed to be clothed somehow or fed. Regina always fed her so well, never once did she complain outside of gest because they were all eating so much about spending too much money on food for Emma. And maybe that wasn't spoiling exactly, but for Emma it was. Hell, even now when she walked into their her and her closet where Regina had removed half her wardrobe just to give her half a closest at the time she could not fill not even a quarter of it, but she had come home one day to a nice selection of ties, vests, suits, and dress shirts. Her jeans were neatly folded. She had matching shoes and belts to her suits all organized like she had seen in the movies. And still Regina had found room for her henleys, her tang tops, her skinny jeans, and sneakers. Even now she had proper jogging shoes and clothes. Before she always sweated in a pair of old jeans and old t-shirt. And even though Emma preferred suits which Regina didn't mind at all, she had still managed to throw in a couple of nice dresses and heels because sometimes Emma liked a nice dress too.
Emma had practically broken-down crying when she had walked into the closet for her usual jeans and tang top for work and found she actually had more options including cleaned work boots, cargo pants, proper utility belt for work. No more sticking her gun in her pants. She had accidently shot a hole into the seat of her pants once, but she was in danger of that no more. All fitted together with a proper polo shirt that said Storybrooke police department, and because it was winter, a solid work jacket as well. This had meant her jeans stayed nicer and she stayed comfortable at work. All these things were done without asking, Regina just simply took care of her needs and no one had ever done that for her before.
"Someone is back again, and I feel the magic," Regina grumbled. Emma nodded feeling it too. This time they went downstairs and opened the front door and there was Mary Margaret crying with a screaming toddler as she fumbled for her phone trying to possibly text Regina or Emma. She looked desperate enough that Regina was a real possibility.
"Oh, Thank God, I need help," Mary Margaret cried. They allowed her through the barrier and she ran to Emma. "Emma you have to come home and help me, I can't do this alone. Your father is somehow making it worse, and the only break I get is work, but of course it's stressful."
"Come in and just explain to me what's going on," Emma told her. Mary Margaret came inside and finally put the screaming toddler down. Almost immediately they took off and hid themselves in the living room.
"Why don't you go make her a cup of tea and talk it out, and I'll make sure they don't hurt themselves." Mary Margaret looked worried.
"They're fine, Regina will just sit on the couch, she's too tired for magic," Emma said indicating Regina's pregnant belly. Mary Margaret looked too exhausted to argue that Regina had energy, she had no energy to care, and just nodded. Regina went inside the living room and managed to sit on the floor near where the child was hiding between an arm chair and a toy box. She eavesdropped though with a small bit of magic.
"I don't know what to do Emma, Leo won't talk, he won't eat without us forcing him too, he screams when we dress him, he won't even play. I'm just at a loss he just cries all the time. We've taken him to the hospital several times now to be force fed. We have to knock him out and put a tube down his throat. Dr. Whale is suggesting a more permanent tube. You have to come home, I just know that if you are there I can handle it better."
"Well kid, it's pretty obvious your parents are stupid, how are you supposed to eat, talk and play when no one has ever showed you how?" Regina asked. "Also, I am dead sure you don't like to be called Leo." The kid gave a louder cry at that, but not enough to make Mary Margaret rush in and blame her thankfully. "No need to cry, I don't like the name either, it's a terrible name after a terrible man. So, what say you and I pick out a new name?" The child became a bit quieter and Regina reasoned that they understood her that maybe speaking was the issue. "I've been thinking favorite charming, and you could pull off a Parker or Skylar maybe." There was a grunt of disapproval it seemed. "Hmm…yes you're right, no, how about Bailey or Rowan or both." The kid looked at her at the last suggestion. "Ah so are we feeling Princess Bailey Rowan, eww no definitely not." They both wrinkled their noses. "Princess Rowan Bailey has a nicer ring to it I think." The kid crawled out and just sat staring at Regina.
"Now I know perhaps you're hoping that your mommy will start calling you that, but right now that's not possible. She doesn't yet realize you're a girl. So, for now it will be our special name until she can see what I see a beautiful little girl." Rowan smiled at her and Regina smiled back. "And maybe I can teach you sign language to help you communicate your needs until you learn to talk like I am talking to you."
By the time Mary Margaret noticed that Rowan was no longer crying but laughing. Regina had managed to help Rowan learn a few basic signs to communicate her needs to eat, sleep, and go to the bathroom. She hated the diapers and often signed no to indicate she didn't want them. Regina however had explained about accidents and would tell Mary Margaret to potty train her soon. And she was also playing with a little truck, Henry had bought for Darien.
"He's playing, he's laughing, what spell did you use?" Mary Margaret asked astonished and for once Emma was sure she didn't mean it in a bad way.
"No magic just talking," Regina told her. "Favorite Charming didn't know how to play so I showed them."
"You showed him?" Mary Margaret asked.
"Yes, they have no idea how things work, they grew in just a few short days. You have to teach them, that being said I taught favorite charming a few basic sign language signs, they are still acquiring language, but they can sign a few basic things now. They don't like the diaper, so you will find them cooperative if you try to potty train them now."
"I don't understand how you've managed to do what David couldn't do in weeks. I swear every day I come home it's worse than before." Regina shrugged.
"Maybe his methods aren't the best whatever they are," Regina replied.
"Why don't we try to show them some food, Regina's always got good stuff, and I think we still have sweet potatoes from Demi," Emma said. They took Rowan to the dining room and Regina pulled out some leftover chicken and peas to go with the sweet potato. She just talked to Rowan about food and what it was, and how it all tasted different and yummy. They talk about spoons and forks, but Regina told her to go ahead and use her hands even though Mary Margaret wanted to insist on the use of utensils.
"Who's the experienced mother here?" Regina asked her with a glare. Mary Margaret huffed and grumbled something like it would be her. "Not likely I raised you didn't I." To Mary Margaret's surprise though Rowan did eat and eagerly so once she had tasted everything. Regina packed away the rest for dinner.
"Leo come on let's go home," Mary Margaret said. Rowan signed no and went to Regina tugging on Regina's hoodie, she pointed to herself and then to Mary Margaret. "Leo you aren't staying with Regina, I'm not losing both my children to her." Rowan frowned, signed no, and pointed to herself again. Regina suddenly understood.
"Oh, they aren't objecting to going it's the name, they won't go until you change their name." Mary Margaret's eyes narrowed.
"Regina do not try to convince me again that Leo is a girl." Rowan screamed.
"No, just suggesting a new name."
"Oooh how about Emmy after me?" Emma grinned. Rowan shook her head and Emma pouted. "It was just a try kid."
"Emma no, that's a girl's name."
"We like Rowan Bailey," Regina shrugged and that got a huge smile out of Rowan as she signed yes and pointed to Regina.
"Sounds girly," Mary Margaret said.
"It isn't, I knew a few Rowans and Baileys they always came from the best homes," Emma sighed. Regina was impressed at the way she subtlety manipulated her mother.
"Fine, I will talk to David, now Rowan will you please come home with me?" Rowan walked over and lifted her arms.
"See nothing like a little talking," Emma told her mother as her phone rang. She answered. "I'll be right out." Emma turned to Regina.
"Will you and Demi be all right?" Emma asked. Regina nodded.
"We'll be fine, and Henry will be home soon to help me stay off my feet." Emma nodded.
"Good, I'll see you at dinner all right." Regina nodded as they kissed, and Mary Margaret glared at them before she left with Emma. Regina locked the door and made her way first to the downstairs bathroom, because of course the kid was on her bladder, and then back upstairs. Darien cried as soon as she poked her head through the door. Thankfully though when she lifted her out of crib she lay her head back down on Regina to go to sleep. That usually let her know, Darien was just wanting to be snuggled up in her arms regardless of if Regina intended to sleep or not. So, she took her to bed and got some much-needed rest herself. She was up again by the time Henry arrived home and playing with Demi. It was working for them that Demi lay on her stomach or sat up with some help from Regina to play with toys. That way Regina didn't have to bend down, and she could tickle Demi for as long as she liked.
"You never let me play on the dining room table," Henry pouted.
"No, but it wasn't necessary I could just lay on the floor with you for hours," Regina pointed out.
"Hmm…even so I promised Ma I'd help you, she said today's not been a good day for you," Henry replied.
"That snitch," Regina grumbled. Henry laughed. "Anyway no, if you have home work you should complete it and then I want you being a kid."
"I don't have homework today and I will be a kid, Demi and I are going to go play on the swing set outside, you said fresh air is good for her, I bet she didn't even get to nap outside today." Regina frowned at her words being thrown back at her.
"Regardless, no, have some Henry time, you already played with your sister until Emma got home yesterday, because you wanted to be nice and give me a break."
"And now today I need to give you a break," Henry said.
"No, you go play video games or read comics," Regina ordered.
"I'll play with Demi in my lap she likes to watch," Henry said as Demi reached out for him in greeting and he quickly snatched her up. "You can try to fight me on this, but I'll just take her to the park and you won't be able to catch up."
"You know one day I won't be pregnant, and I will get you back for this," Regina told him.
"No, you won't, because you know you need to rest." With that he turned on his heel and headed for the living room with Darien, she had zero objections and was raising her little voice with him when he cried out at the screen a few minutes later. Regina cleaned up their set up and eventually joined them with her traditional spinning wheel. She was spinning the last of the hemp for the baby's quilt.
"I almost forgot!" Henry exclaimed when she was finishing her last spool.
"What?" Regina asked.
"I got Clyde to bring some straw from the stables for me, can you spin it into gold, I've always wanted to see that done. But I thought asking Mr. Gold wouldn't be a good idea and then I remembered my mother is the daughter of the Miller's daughter." Regina chuckled.
"Hmm I supposed so." Henry eagerly brought the straw over from his backpack and it took so little energy for Regina to turn straw into Gold, she was almost bored with it.
"Here knock yourself out with that," Regina told him as she used magic to make the spinning wheel change into a loom.
"What part are we making now?" Henry asked.
"Velvet that I will use to embroidery on," Regina told him. He watched with Demi how she weaved pure anaphe silk into velvet. It didn't take her too long since she wasn't making too long of a cloth. Afterward she let him do the front of the quilt with the hemp threads. It alternated colors before a light green, purple, and white. She made sure to fix any mistakes, but he was quite skilled for his first time.
"Oh, Mom how long until we can finish it?" Henry asked as he took back Darien.
"Tomorrow probably won't take me that long, I have the two pieces and the bedding, but I actually want to embroider something on the fur with the velvet and that will take me the longest honest."
"Can we finish it tonight?" Henry asked.
"No, I have to get dinner started."
"Oh, Mom please Ma won't mind eating late, and Demi will want to nurse first anyway."
"All right, all right, we'll finish it. Go get the bedding that goes in between." He grinned and took Demi to get it. She took the hemp piece of finished cloth as well as the match piece of black rabbit fur she had sewn together the day before and put them on the table. She made the loom go away, but sent Henry to get her sewing machine, she had used enough magic for the day. Soon she was carefully instructing him in the how before they turned it right side out and stitched all three pieces together.
"What will you embroider with the velvet?" Henry asked as she mashed some potatoes.
"Oh, I am going to cut it into the shape of the Hogwarts coat of arms to go with the nursery, but don't tell Emma, she's going to cry when she sees it." Henry chuckled.
"You're right, I won't tell Ma anything," Henry said.
"Don't tell me what?" Emma asked popping her head into the kitchen.
"And how did you sneak in here missy?" Regina asked her. Emma grinned.
"I dunno, I wanted my magic to hide me from my own magic and it did, so what won't you be telling me?"
"What are you talking about?" Regina asked her innocently.
"Yeah Ma, did Leroy hit you in the head at work?" Henry asked.
"Fine, fine keep your secrets," Emma told them. "But I am watching you." They laughed. "Anyway, I am going to change and get some work done on finishing the gazebo. Thanks to Marco it's just the roof."
"Thankfully, I can't wait to string Christmas lights all over that thing and never take them down." They all laughed.
"We're laughing but she's completely serious," Henry told Emma.
"Were you able to get any rest?" Emma asked her while taking Darien from Henry.
"Yes, I caught the last forty-five minutes of her nap, we slept together, she wasn't feeling the crib. Then we managed some play time together," Regina told her pleased with herself.
"Sounds like you had a good afternoon before the kid came home," Emma teased.
"Hey!" Henry cried. "She had a better one when I was home." Emma ruffled his hair before convincing him to come help her on the gazebo. Regina chuckled at them as Emma got Darien in a sling on her back and they all went outside after giving her a kiss. By the time they came back red faced from the cold and sweaty, dinner was ready, so she sent them up for a shower while she prepared Darien's meal by cutting up the meat and broccoli into smaller pieces.
"I think it's safe to say that Darien loves your meatloaf," Henry chuckled as he took video of Demi stuffing her face.
"I swear Henry never ate this well at seven months, half his food would be on the floor for our imaginary dog to eat," Regina laughed. Emma laughed as well making Henry indignant.
"I did not think there was a dog," Henry pouted.
"Yes, you did, you made this cute little d sound whenever you saw pongo or a dog on the television. And you'd knock it on the floor and make that sound. You had an imaginary dog as far as I am concerned." Emma was in absolute tears.
"Please, please tell me there's a home movie somewhere?" Emma asked.
"Of course, Emma, I recorded everything as much as humanly possible," Regina told her. "I can't wait to play it on his wedding day."
"Oooh Moms no!" Henry cried. A scream from Darien got their attention as she signed eat and more repeatedly. They'd apparently been ignoring her. They chuckled.
"Say please," Regina told her as she signed please. Darien was frustrated and crying when no one moved to give her food since she was at this point pretty adept at signing Eat, Milk, More, Finished, and please. She just didn't like to always use please. Eventually she rubbed her chest and Regina praised her and gave her more food.
"When we get what we want, we say thank you," Regina told her making the sign for thank you. Darien watched her before she began to eat again. After dinner they played a board game before they went to bed.
"Emma, why do I have to get dressed up it's my day off, you said it was ponytail and sweats day with sweets because Demi is eight months today," Regina grumbled. Emma chuckled.
"Because love, it's been three months since we went on any sort of date, and we especially need to do that before Granny locks you in baby jail again." Regina grimaced.
"Well if this kid didn't swell me up like I'm having twins, all would be well, I could still move with ease." Emma bent down and put her ear to Regina's stomach and rested a hand on her side.
"You hear that kid; can't you be a reasonable size for a six-month-old pregnant woman?" Emma asked. "Please for me, I want your mother to have a good day."
"Emma, that's not how this works, the baby isn't going to suddenly…" Regina suddenly felt more normal, not energetic, but she didn't feel like she was going to burst constantly. She looked in the mirror shocked that she could move more easily without being thrown off balance, just for a bit she felt like this was a normal pregnancy.
"Right on kid, you and I are going to be best buddies," Emma grinned before she went into the closet and brought out a green dress.
"Now you go put this dress and do that hairstyle where you let your hair perfectly curl at the ends down your back. Flawless make up love." Regina nodded still in shock. Once the dress was on and her hair done, Emma provided a white headband.
"To go with your pearls, I think you should wear your pearls." Regina nodded curious what Emma had planned. Eventually they made their way downstairs, which was curiously empty.
"Do you trust me?" Emma asked her as Regina looked over beautiful green suit with a golden yellow tie and pocket square. Regina couldn't wait to present her with the pocket watch and chain she had bought to go on Emma's suits, it was going to really make her look pop. But unfortunately, she still had to wait for Christmas.
"Of course, I do, more than I thought possible," Regina told her. Emma smiled.
"Then let me lead you to your first surprise of the day." Regina nodded and allowed Emma to blind fold her. Emma also tied something in a bow just over bump making it accentuated more.
"We just got the bump to go down and now you're trying to show it off again?" Regina asked making Emma chuckle.
"Yes, but in a different way. Anyway, let's go my Queen." Regina smiled and even though Emma knew she couldn't see it she smiled back and gently led Regina out the front door.
"It's cold I should have worn leggings, I don't know what I was thinking," Regina grumbled. Emma chuckled and kissed the side of her cheek as she gently led her towards the cars, but than bypassed the cars until they were in the garage which was open and leading the backyard. "Uh why are we in the garage, the ground is different?"
"Hush my Queen this is a surprise remember." Regina huffed impatiently making Emma chuckle. "God you are beautiful." Regina couldn't stop the smile from spreading across her face. Leopold had once called her beautiful as many times as Emma did, and it had only made her skin crawl. But when Emma said it, her skin didn't crawl, she felt like the most beautiful girl in the world and not just on the outside, but on the inside. And when Emma made her insides feel beautiful well that's all she needed to know to know she'd never let Emma go.
Meanwhile Emma continued to carefully lead her into the backyard. As soon as they were in view Darien was making squealing noises and Henry was trying to get her to be quiet.
"It's all right kid, we should have known she wouldn't be quiet." Regina chuckled as Henry still scolded Darien for ruining the surprise.
"It's not ruined I still have no idea what's happening out back here," Regina reminded them. "And I'm still cold.
"Don't worry, you'll be warm soon." Regina nodded. After walking to what she figured must have been the center of her backyard, her heels were oddly not sinking into the ground. She started to detect that Emma must be using magic and she was surrounded by it. And Emma was right she did feel warmer.
"Can I see my surprise now?" Regina asked.
"Patience my Queen," Emma teased. She looked around the backyard making sure everything was perfect. Before she pulled off the blindfold to reveal to Regina a finished deck with stone grill and prep table if necessary or could be used for serving. Patio furniture she had unwittingly gotten Regina to already pick out even saying that it was just, so they could dream about the finished project. There was a swinging bench big enough for them all and removeable shade on the pergola that had been erected. And it wasn't the simple wooden deck patio Regina had been anticipating. No Emma had laid it all with gray slate stone and the railings around it matched the whiteness of the house and Pergola. On the railings and Pergola, she had already strung up the lights not to mention the natural little lamps she had installed for normal lighting.
"I thought you could grow some Boston Ivy on the Pergola because Boston brought both Henry and I to you."
"Boston Ivy comes from Japan," Regina replied. Emma laughed that beautiful laugh of hers. After a moment Emma turned her to her apple tree where her bench now sat to one side just in its shade.
"I didn't make it too close, so you can still sit under it, Henry said you still do that sometimes," Emma told her before she turned her again to the now finished gazebo also now had lights hanging down from the roof and wrapped around the railing. It had the same gray slate flooring as the patio and Regina realized she was now standing on a slate stone path leading from the patio stairs to the gazebo. Henry and Darien were in the gazebo now giving her big smiles, Henry was of course in a matching suit and Darien in a matching dress with a similar hairstyle just more curls and a big yellow bow in her hair.
"Emma it's beautiful, but how did you learn enough magic to do all this so fast?" Regina asked.
"You've become a heavy sleeper and because you're tired you don't notice the magic, I've been practicing little things on my own and Belle may not have magic, but she is amazing until you can really teach me one day I hope." Regina nodded as Belle appeared from behind the gazebo. "Second surprise is I want you to have pregnancy photos, Darien is special, and you didn't get to look forward to her, and that's sad, but this kid is taking their sweet time so let's appreciate her."
"Him," Henry corrected.
"Her," They both told him. He groaned.
"They then," He grumbled. They chuckled and smiled at him.
"Anyway, Belle's going to help us take some pretentious family photos plus some pregnancy photos." Regina nodded eager.
"Does that explain why my tree suddenly has fruit again?" Regina asked with a chuckle.
"Yes, because it's my little apple, and I needed the tree to have fruit, it's just an illusion though so no harm came to your tree." Regina chuckled.
"For your sake I hope not, you already took a limb off." Emma grinned and kissed her cheek. Belle got a picture of that. They took lots of photos together and separately, because Regina wanted some individuals from the children. They took the most pretentious one in Emma's opinion and perfect for the living room for her mother to see in front of the apple tree, because the tree would cause a vein to pop in her head if not David's.
"Last one I think," Belle said to Emma who nodded behind Regina and led her to the gazebo. "A couple's one yeah, Henry you come stand next to me with Demi." Henry nodded. "Okay Regina you stand slightly to the side and show off the bump and fix the yellow Ribbon around it, I want to make sure I get a good shot of not only you two but of the belly for the officially baby shower announcement. Regina chuckled, but nodded and fixed the yellow ribbon Emma had put around her and made sure the bow was still perfectly more to the side. Her right hand curved her belly to accent the bump a smidge more, and her left hand rested on the side of it.
"Perfect Regina, your pearl bracelet is going to pop. Now Emma you come up behind her and cup your hand under her left. Emma did so, and Regina leaned back into her. She didn't know what she had ever done to deserve this woman, but she was grateful to have her. This woman who loved her insides more than her outsides. Unbeknownst to her, Belle caught the perfect photo of Regina looking back up at Emma.
"Okay now Emma cover Regina's hand this time and both of you look at me." They did as they were told. Just as the picture was being taken, Regina felt a bit of magic come from Emma, before she moved her hand back to a previous position of back just under hers. Regina looked down and her eyes went wide to see a huge diamond ring staring back up at her. Emma pulled her back close in that moment and Regina could just feel the tension in her body. Of course, whatever Emma had to say couldn't be said directly to her face or all her doubts would come up. Regina was just speechless as she waited.
"Regina, in my lifetime I have lived in many people's houses, but I've never lived in a home until now. And in those houses, I have always been a burden and a nuisance. But in less than forty-eight hours you taught me that I had a home and I was not easily replaced. I had only been living here a day when Darien arrived and instead of kicking me out like my first family to make room for the new baby, you made room for me. I don't know if you meant too, but you taught me I was with my last family, my forever family after years of disappointment and loneliness. And you took care of me, I know you're going to say I do a lot for you, but you do so much more for me emotionally with your little ordinary acts of daily life than I can put into words. You were the first person to make my favorite anything just to put a smile on my face. You were the first person to buy me new clothes, just because you saw I needed it. You were the first person to tell me their house was my home and mean it. You were even the first person to give me a gift in my entire life that I can remember. You made me finally see my worth without even saying it and you were the first person to make me feel like I really was beautiful the way I am. And if all those things don't convince you, you are this wonderful amazing mother to my children, and you will be this wonderful amazing mother to our next kid. I love you Regina Mills and I would be so honored if you would consider one day becoming my first wife, my only wife, my last wife. Because I never want to leave you not in this life or the next." Regina was just crying as she listened to Emma.
"But I'm the…" Regina started.
"No, you're the Queen, My Queen and that's all that matters," Emma told her suddenly turning her around, so they were looking at one another. Emma had her hands clasped in Regina's own now. Regina knew at once that Emma meant every word she said.
"Do I even have to answer out loud?" Regina finally got out. Emma chuckled.
"Yes, woman I want to hear you say it, I don't want to just know it, I want to hear it." Regina smiled at her.
"Then Emma Swan, I would…"
"NO STOP!" Mary Margaret yelled running into the backyard with Rowan, the dwarves, Blue, the fairies, and David. Somehow David had gotten another sword.
"…love to marry you," Regina finished ignoring them. They were not ruining this moment for her. Emma was so ecstatic she pulled Regina into a kiss. Let her parents see, she didn't care, they would be in denial awhile yet. A light shot out from and spread through the town as Emma released fireworks over them. She didn't care it was the middle of the day, she wanted Regina to see fireworks when she said yes. Although Regina didn't need the physical display to see them as true love washed over them and something unexpected happened. That same power seemed bounce back at them specifically from Darien and her pregnant belly.
"No, this can't be right, that wasn't true love's kiss!" Mary Margaret yelled.
"She faked it!" Blue cried out. It was a lie and she knew it, but the savior could not be with the Evil Queen.
"I knew it, we could see the magic from town," David growled as all the magic from the backyard disappeared. Emma had lost control and suddenly there was snow and Regina was cold again, there were heaters on in the gazebo, but it would be nicer when she was more warmly dressed. She noticed that their defenses were down, she had to admit her part had been weaker because of the baby, and Emma had obviously putting a lot into changing the environment of the backyard. But her deck and gazebo remained the same, so that meant she'd been holding up illusions before now to trick Regina.
"It was my magic," Emma told them.
"Great so now she's corrupted your magic," David said. "we should have dragged you straight to Blue."
"Gramps stop it you're a hero not a villain," Henry said frowning.
"I'm trying to save you Henry," David told him.
"We don't need saving we're happy," Henry told him retreating closer to his mothers with Darien who was frowning and crying. She reached out for Regina who gently took her daughter who looked beautiful in her dress and if the situation weren't serious she'd smile that Emma had taken the time and bedazzled her dress with rhinestones. They weren't perfect like her own, but she had tried.
"I believe the Sheriff informed you Shepherd if you were seen with an unauthorized weapon near me or my children you would be arrested as well as trespassing," Regina informed him her voice low. Suddenly his sword was a snake as well as that from the dwarves. They dropped them, and the snakes moved away from them but returned to their previous forms. David tried to go back for his sword, but he was stopped by a cross bolt.
"The next one won't miss," Granny declared as Ruby appeared in wolf form, Mulan with her sword and gun, as well as Kathryn with her mace. Ashley appeared with Sean who had his sword clearly ready to take on David.
"This ends here," Regina told them. "You need to accept that I have not done anything in almost thirty years to harm either of you. And I have no wish too. I have a family that I care about more. I don't want to fight anymore this isn't the Enchanted Forest, yes you were frozen, but I had time to grow and change. Now it's your turn." Rowan wiggled out of Mary Margaret's loose arms and hurried over to Emma who picked her up. She very much preferred spending time with Emma over her own parents.
"Liar you tried to convince Snow, that Leo was a girl." Rowan frowned at David.
"Rowan is a girl, you used dark magic and got tricked," Emma told them. "And regardless of what you think, Rowan hates the name Leopold, and the least you can do is call her by the name she chose."
"Stop enabling him or we will never fix him after the dark magic," David told her.
"Yes, and that's why she doesn't eat with you, talk to you, or go to sleep until I've been over to take them for a walk. Honestly I just bring her back here because Regina is this amazing mother who knows exactly how-to sooth her."
"NO!" Mary Margaret screamed. "Why do my children prefer you, why was I not enough!" Regina sighed.
"Because you need to listen to your children, and you were never enough because I was never meant to be your mother. You know that, and I know that. I'm sorry Eva was taken from you by my mother, I truly am, but I shouldn't have been your replacement. And any chance we had of maybe connecting was taken the day your father took Imogene from me."
"No, you aborted my sister," Mary Margaret told her.
"No, hard truth, your father did that as soon as that gnat divined a son, because no one could usurp his precious Snow from his perfect beautiful Eva. And when Imogene was born, alive just barely, he smothered her himself, because you could not handle the idea of me having a daughter that was mine. You feared being pushed out."
"I guess it was your karma that led me being returned from my first family not the curse," Emma told her. Mary Margaret ran off crying.
"David get off my property," Emma told him. He was about to speak but she raised her hand and he went flying up into the air over the roof and out of the boundaries of the front yard.
"I'm not even going to ask gnat," Regina said as a fireball appeared in her hand.
"You will get yours," Blue seethed. She turned and left with the fairies.
"Damn I had hoped she'd fight, I had bone to pick with her," Tinkerbell said appearing from the trees with Andre and Kimberly who was apparently an archer.
"Sometimes we can't have our cake and eat it too," He sighed.
"Return the prince," Leroy said.
"The Princess will be returned to only Mary Margaret since she's the only one capable of at least calling her Rowan," Emma told them. "Now get out of here before I arrest you early for being drunk in public." Leroy glared, but Darien sent some fireballs their way that sent them all running. Ruby and Mulan arrested David though. He was in a rage saying that Regina had control of Emma's magic and her.
"Now that they're gone, would you like to see the pretty dress I bought you?" Emma asked Rowan. Rowan nodded.
"Fuck them," Regina said as a potion appeared, and Regina gave it directly to Rowan, finally letting her outsides match her insides.
"They're going to lose their shit," Emma told her. Regina shrugged.
"I'm in the business of housing Charming daughters if they don't want her," Regina told her. Emma smiled at her. They turned to their friends who were all looking at them eagerly except Belle who already knew what they didn't.
"Please tell me that blast of true love was because you said yes!" Ruby yelled. They both smiled at them.
"It was!" Emma squealed and held out Regina's hand to show them the ring. They all exclaimed over it. Suddenly though Regina pulled her hand away and punched Emma in the arm.
"Ow what was that for?" Emma asked.
"Did you already forget it's your fault I'm already pregnant again, how come you didn't get mysteriously knocked up!" Regina exclaimed. Emma's face told her she had forgotten in her excitement as she blushed.
"I'm sorry I didn't know it was my fault I still don't know how it's my fault," Emma admitted as there was shocked looks all around.
"Oh, because you have true love, but wait you only just shared true love's kiss," Belle said. "I remember Regina and I scratched that off the list very early on, because you two weren't dating and true love didn't seem like a possibility yet."
"Yes, but what I didn't account for is that Emma and I's magic mixed when we were stopping the trigger. I was thinking about my life and Imogene and so our magic did the rest and hence Darien was born, why she was able to break the curse, because true love heals all."
"And this baby, you didn't really do any large spells together," Ashley pointed out.
"No, we didn't but we were making out a lot it could have been any moment of us thinking about our family with one another because we're true loves. And frankly, Emma, you have often stated because you wanted it somehow your magic just did it." Emma blushed. She couldn't without a doubt say that she had never thought of Regina pregnant with her baby.
"Yeah this second one is probably one hundred percent my fault," Emma told her. "I did think about it, and I did wonder if it was possible with magic like maybe…maybe two days before you realized you were pregnant." Regina's eyes narrowed. "It was just a thought I'm sorry!"
"Thoughts now have actions, but for your sake I am not mad, just so very relieved right now that there's not some magical entity or the work of my mother that's going to continuously keep knocking me up. I don't think my body could take it."
"Or the house, we're full up for now I think," Emma laughed. That earned her another punch, before they were allowed to finally celebrate the engagement.
"Well I for one am glad to put operation what the what to rest and finish off Operation SwanQueen with a bang," Henry grinned.
"Don't you mean what the f…what kid?" Emma finished lamely after a glare from Regina. "Never mind kid." Henry laughed. Rowan meanwhile was getting impatient and pulled on Emma's jacket glaring at her. Emma swore they were twins, but she had David's blue eyes instead of green.
"Uh…right the dress!" Emma picked up Rowan and went inside.
"Can we all go inside, before I catch my death?" Regina asked. They all nodded going up the stairs of the deck. Regina took a better look and was able to spot a fire pit. She would need to make cushions for the seats. Emma had really done a good job on the deck, they finally returned into her warm home. By the time Regina had brewed them all some tea and was serving their guests. Emma had come back down in a pretty green dress with a yellow ribbon around the middle for her sister.
"You two look like twins," Henry told them, and Rowan smiled so big at them.
"Is this now an engagement party or was there one planned?" Regina asked wondering if she could return to her hoodie and winter leggings. Emma chuckled.
"No, this isn't, but I planned on us leaving town for Portland, your car is in that you ordered. I still can't believe you got a Tesla." Regina shrugged.
"It's good for the environment." Rowan pulled on Regina's skirt and pointed at Darien's head. "You want a pretty yellow bow too?" Rowan nodded with a huge smile. Regina waved her hand and produced a big yellow bow for the side of her head which made her so happy before she took her seat and drank some tea with the others.
"I've never seen her so happy in my life," Ruby commented.
"That's because Charming has been torturing her," Belle said rolling her eyes. "This morning he came in thundering at Rumple before I left about him screwing up Rowan and making it, so his tough love didn't work. Where Mary Margaret at least talked to Rowan and called her Rowan, he refused said she was babying her."
"That's true if he was around Rowan never ate, I'm not surprised that Mary Margaret only ever got one meal, lunch in with them especially when you were there Emma," Ruby said.
"I'll just make sure Rowan spends more time here then," Emma said. "Man, I thought I got the shit hand as a kid, but I don't know somehow having shit actual parents is much worse. At least in the foster system you knew you weren't there's and maybe one day you'd get taken away."
"Anyway, I won't keep you guys from the family celebration, I want to get these photos processed as soon as possible."
"I can't wait to see them," Regina told her. "Especially when we got Darien laughing up a storm with Henry. I'm sure it's going to be my favorite."
"What not the one of me looking dapper?" Emma asked.
"Nope," Regina told her teasingly. Emma mock pouted.
"Very well, and since you upset Mary Margaret so much, I'll go pick up Rowan's car seat."
"You should probably let your mother know," Regina told her. "She has enough to be upset about than wondering where both her children also got off too with me."
"Probably a good idea or she'll break dad out of jail to destroy this house while we're gone." Regina snorted into her tea cup.
"They might not like it very much if they tried that." Emma chuckled and kissed her family goodbye. Granny and Ruby were the last to leave along with Ashley and Sean as they talked about how they had all helped Emma finish the projects either by watching the station, doing work in the backyard, or in Ashley's case creating a problem at the school that needed the mayor's attention.
"Mom do you like your ring?" Henry asked as they colored and waited for Emma to return. Darien was more than happy to grip a crayon and make random lines.
"Yes, I do, did you help Emma pick it out?" Regina asked him with a smile. He smiled back and nodded.
"Yes, I told her, that if she wanted to marry you, we had to find the biggest ring she could afford."
"You know I would have said yes even if it were the ring right out of her stupid cereal box, right?" Regina asked him. He nodded.
"Yes, but I wanted you to have the biggest diamond," Henry told her. "I liked this one because the big diamond is you the queen, and the two medium ones on the side is Demi and Me," He grinned. "And there will two small ones on the accompanying ring for the baby. It will be for the next baby, and I don't know what the fourth will represent, but between you and me I think Ma hasn't completely given up on the idea of adoption. Might end up being Rowan though the way things look." Regina chuckled along with Henry, but they knew the possibility was for sure. Still Regina hugged him and kissed his forehead.
"Perhaps you could help me pick out Emma's ring too?" Regina asked. Henry gave her a large smile.
"I would love that."
"I'm back!" Emma announced. "Is my family ready to go?"
"Yes," they all chorused with a laugh at Emma's enthusiasm. Emma laughed as well as she pulled out a darker green jacket for Regina that looked elegant and kept her warm.
"Henry can you run up and get Darien's quilt though?" Regina asked.
"Already packed in the Mercedes baby," Emma told her. Regina smiled at her and nodded. Regina had to conjure a jacket up for Rowan though before they were all packed into the Mercedes. Henry just, just fit, and it was going to be a long drive. Regina drove her car since it would be the last time.
"Last ride in the Mercedes guys," Emma said sadly.
"We had a good thirty years this car and I, we brought Henry home in it and Darien," Regina said sadly as she drove.
"Yes, and we're going to make new memories in the new car," Emma told her. Regina smiled at her and nodded. They made it all the way to the town line when they were stopped by the dwarves and David.
"I guess they broke him out," Regina sighed.
\ "How did they get pass Mulan without being hurt, no way they took her out," Emma muttered as Regina stopped the car. Emma got out and leaned on the door.
"What the hell David, return yourself to jail, I don't have time for this."
"I want Leo and you away from that witch," He said.
"No, Rowan is not going home with you, I already spoke to mom, Rowan's coming with me for the day and I will drop her back off at home when mom has had a chance to calm down and process everything. Do the right thing and go back to jail."
"Emma, I'm sorry but I'm going to break this spell on you," David told her. Emma sighed and rubbed a hand over her face, she just wanted to have a nice day with her family.
"You believe I'm under a spell, yes?" Emma asked.
"Yes," David said.
"Okay well than, I am going to cross the town line with Regina and the kids. That way none of us will have magic, that means that whatever spell is on me would no longer affect me. And when I get to the other side and tell you to go back to jail will you and take the dwarves with you?" He thought about it and nodded after looking towards the forest.
"Blue is in the forest line," Regina told her.
"No, Regina and her spawn crosses the line," David said. Emma glared at him, this was her spawn too after all, but fuck him. He didn't deserve to share in her good news. Not that he would even believe her, Blue's word was practically law and she'd claimed they had faked it. Not to mention she'd been calling Demi her daughter from the start so he wouldn't at all realize she meant it more than ever that Demi belonged to her and Regina biologically.
"Not a chance, we cross than we cross together," Emma told him. "Besides that, would prove nothing if I don't cross." Emma got back into the car and indicated for Regina to drive. Regina drove forward giving the dwarves enough time to move. They were just crossing when she felt Blue trying to rip Emma, Henry, and Rowan from the car, but Darien's magic surged to meet hers and they were across the town line all six of them. Emma got out of the car angrily as Regina brought it to a stop.
"What the hell was that?" Emma asked.
"I was trying to save you and expel the evil queen, just come back over the line now with Leo and Henry. We can erect a barrier.
"HER NAME IS ROWAN!" Emma yelled. "We are all fine, no spells and no magic over here."
"What you…you still think your brother is a girl?" David asked.
"That is because he was meant to be a she, and she is a girl now, I made sure of that, so you couldn't deny her."
"No, now he thinks he was right to try and chop off his penis." Emma shook her head. They had certainly not called her for that incident, she wished she had been there for Rowan. Clearly this kid was suffering more than they allowed her to see or it happened when her mother wasn't home, more times with not the worst tantrums came after a day with David. Regina had found no marks, so whatever it was it might have been verbal but neither of them could prove it. Or simply his refusal to call her Rowan had led to a trying day, they really couldn't say. Mary Margaret just simply had less trouble these days since learning to talk to Rowan avoiding her name altogether seemed to work for them most days.
"Magic changed her please just accept you have yet another daughter, sorry that is such a disappointment," Emma told him. "Now look I'm over the town line and I still love Regina, I am still engaged to Regina, and now we're going to go celebrate and you are going to take yourself to jail along with Blue and Dwarves. You said you would do the honorable thing. As I said I will bring Rowan back to a calm mom later." Emma stalked back to the car. They drove off leaving the town behind for the moment.
"So, I am not quite ready to rip Rowan away from Mary Margaret because I think she might come around, but I am thinking a weekend house away from storybrooke for all of us in this car right now."
"We might need several for that," Regina said.
"Why several?" Henry asked.
"Because we'll need a place near the water, but I think also some place inland for winter."
"Nope, snowmen on the beach is happening," Emma told them. "And swimming lots of swimming, don't think I forgot that I need to teach you how to swim Madam Mayor." Regina and Henry chuckled.
"Yeah okay."
"What?" Emma asked. "What's that smirk and chuckle?"
"Well I mean I got the ring, so I think you should know now," Regina said.
"Mom already swims, she saved me once when I thought I would try to swim after all," Henry told her. Emma's jaw dropped as she put a hand on her heart.
"You lied to me?" Emma asked.
"Well no, if I remember correctly I asked if you thought my mother would ever let me swim naked among the peasants or something to that nature. You answered no and assumed I could not possibly know how to swim. Except you forgot about my father and Daniel. Between the two I did go swimming naked in the river," Regina replied. Emma huffed and crossed her arms as she sat back in her seat. They drove in silence for a bit.
"But you are still going to fake it when we go swimming right so I can pretend to help you learn?" Emma asked. Regina chuckled.
"Yes, I've been working on my drowning technique, it's gotten good." They all laughed.
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