*This chapter has been updated since the original. please read before chapter 2 :)*
I'm not sure how long this story will be, but Day #4 of EC Week "Fake Marriage" inspired me to start on an idea I've had for a while now. This begins about five months after Robin dies. Regina, alone again, realizes that her soulmate's kiss broke her curse, and she is pregnant with his child. Emma is enjoying newly married life with Killian, Henry is a teenager with little time for his mothers, and Snow and David's marriage is rocky. David finds himself being forced (at first) to help Regina...and I'll let you read the rest. Let me know if you like this idea! xxx
"Look at you! You've really popped!" Snow's obnoxiously bright smile greeted her when the front door swung open before she could even knock twice, "Oh Regina, you look adorable!" She fussed and immediately had her hands on Regina's gently curved five month bump, poking and prodding in awe. It never failed how many times Regina grumbled or swatted away hands, nothing seemed to deter her former step-daughter from making over her protruding belly.
Regina sighed under her breath, glancing at the ceiling with her hands on her hips to try to deflect from the touchy-feely woman in front of her, "I thought we had an agreement, Snow."
"Oh," Snow shook her head with a wistful smile when Regina tilted her head back down to look at her, pulling her hands away and clasping them in front of her chest, "I know but I just can't help it! You're practically glowing and you're still so slim and beautiful. When I was pregnant I looked like a human tent!"
Regina gave a small smirk at the memory of Snow waddling around while pregnant with Neal and followed her to the kitchen area of the Charmings' new farmhouse, "I'm not hungry before you try feeding me again."
"I'll get you something to drink then. Juice! It'll be good for the baby," Snow smiled quickly, grabbing a glass from the shelf, "Emma and Henry just ran out to get groceries for dinner and then we'll start cooking."
Regina nodded with a hint of a smile at the thought of their new tradition. They had made it a point to begin having dinner weekly as a family, all of them gathering at David and Snow's or at Granny's every Wednesday. The Charmings, of course, came up with the idea and she was well aware it was a sly excuse to get her out of the mansion after the loss of her soulmate.
The turmoil following Robin's death brought by the return of her Evil Queen counterpart and Emma fighting the final battle had forced her to keep going and distracted her from the reality of her situation for a while. It was easier to compartmentalize her grief over Robin and avoid the fact that she was about to raise another child alone when she had enemies to fight and curses to break. But eventually it became too hard to hide the physical signs of her pregnancy and she told her family that there would be a new addition before the year end.
Since the Charmings, Emma and Henry found out about the pregnancy, they had refused to give her the space they once granted when they thought she was merely mourning Robin. Now that everyone was aware she was pregnant on top of missing her soulmate, they refused to let her be alone for long. If she were being honest, she often looked forward to them forcing her to be social and knew it was something she needed but would never ask for on her own. The irony was not lost on her that she now was secretly grateful for the Charming gene that compelled them to constantly be nosy and insert themselves without invitation.
Being in their cozy farmhouse surrounded by family or in Granny's noisy diner was a stark contrast to her normal evening routine in her quiet mansion. Henry was a teenager now and always seemed to be busy between seeing friends and splitting his time at she and Emma's house. She didn't blame him for not being with her as much and she was happy to see him so content now that the threats to their family were behind them and life had settled down. It was time for him to get back to being a kid again and the rest of the town to find a sense of normalcy.
"You know we should start doing this at my house, there's much more room to cook and I have an actual dining room," Regina suggested with a shrug, leaning in to press her elbows on the counter and wrap her hands around the glass of juice Snow set in front of her. She stifled a quiet laugh at the way the bubbly woman's eyes lit up at the mention of being invited into her personal space. It was almost reminiscent of the young girl who longed to spend any moment she could around her when Regina first married her father.
"Really?" Snow gave a bright but surprised smile and bent to scoop Neal up when he crawled through the kitchen, "You wouldn't mind the noise and the mess?"
The question stung Regina but she knew Snow meant no harm. It was a question meant to be thoughtful, not to point out the emptiness and quietness of the mansion that was filled with such life only five months ago. Truth be told she missed the noise and the mess in her home when Robin and Roland and Henry lived there.
What she wouldn't give to see Roland's muddy boots discarded in the foyer or Robin's bath towel on the floor right beside the bathroom hamper. Her house full of boys had been the messiest but happiest time of her life and she desperately wanted that feeling back. The child growing inside of her gave her hope that she would have that again, even if she were doing it alone.
"I could tolerate it for one night of the week," Regina shrugged after clearing her throat, seeing Snow chuckle softly at her dry humor, her own lips curling slightly in response. Their relationship had evolved tremendously and she found the woman she once hated to be one of her closest friends. Albeit, friendship was a concept she was still getting used to and she knew she could be a bear at times, but luckily Snow never stopped trying.
"It's a plan," Her former stepdaughter nodded adamantly, bouncing her son on her hip, "How did your last doctor visit go?"
"Fine," Regina nodded once, her left hand finding her small bump absentmindedly. She'd gained little to no weight aside from the rounding of her stomach, but Wale assured her she and the baby were both healthy. He advised that without the stress she'd been under in the first trimester she might have filled out more by now but reassured her that her baby was still strong. "It's still in there."
"It?" Snow sighed with an incredulous smile and rolled her eyes, "You still haven't found out the sex?"
"No," Regina let out a breath and her expression softened at Neal when she caught his curious blue eyes staring at her before looking back to Snow, "What is the point in that? Women never knew the sex of their child until they were born back in the Enchanted Forest. Knowing what it is won't change anything right now."
"Because it's exciting! And you can be better prepared. We'll know what color to paint the nursery and what clothes to buy-" Snow rambled and Regina groaned internally. She didn't know how to act when the woman in front of her began to babble excitedly about the baby so she simply remained quiet. "Do you still have your birthing classes scheduled for next week?"
"I told you I didn't need those," She spoke up then with a warning raise of her brow, "Breathe and push, I got it. I don't know why you signed me up for that nonsense."
"Ooh-ho-ho, trust me Regina, you want to take those," Snow's eyes widened, "The only instruction I had before giving birth to Emma was to bite down on a belt. We took them before Neal considering it had been a while and I was thankfully more prepared..."
Regina scoffed out a chuckle, "You don't think it had anything to do with the fact you'd already pushed out one Charming?"
"Regina-" The woman sighed and shifted her baby on her hip, "This will be your first time giving birth and I just think having some guidance will help you feel more prepared...If it's no big deal then why don't you just go? It'll be good information to have, even if you don't need it," She shrugged and watched as Regina shifted uncomfortably, diverting her gaze to avoid showing Snow the vulnerability she felt.
"Because," Regina shot a look up at her as a deep frown set into her features, "Women have been giving birth without classes for centuries! I have ruled a kingdom, I have created a curse, I have run a town, I have raised a child already. I think I can figure out how to push a baby out of my body without attending a class. Why are you pestering me about this?"
"Now you're being oversensitive," Snow chuckled softly and tilted her head to the side in a knowing way that made Regina groan quietly at the knowledge she wasn't letting this go, "Regina...what are you really afraid of?"
"Nothing," She snapped back before remembering Snow was only trying to help and fixed her gaze to the counter between them as she swallowed thickly, "I'm not scared of anything...I just don't think it's something I need to do. I'm much too busy at work to take time out of my day to do something so unnecessary."
"They give classes on the weekend so that people who work during the week can attend. I gave you the brochure," Snow shrugged and Regina nearly cracked the glass she held with her grip, "Now are you going to keep giving me excuses or are you going to talk to me?"
Regina glared at the woman for a long moment before rolling her eyes and looking away from her, "It also says on your brochure to bring a birthing partner for those classes and I don't...have a partner," She hated the way her vulnerability made her voice wobble despite her steeled expression. Hated the fact she'd just admitted her loneliness to Snow White. Hated the fact she was lonely at a time she should feel anything but.
Snow pressed her lips together but kept any sympathetic words to herself, knowing Regina would mistake her empathy for pity, "Is that all?" She shrugged as if it were irrelevant. "David isn't doing anything next Saturday, he'll go!"
"David will do what?" The tall sandy blonde appeared with a furrowed brow, coming into the kitchen with a diaper in one hand and a teething towel over his shoulder as he made his way around the counter to Snow.
"Nothing-" Regina spoke up quickly, shooting a look at Snow who was smiling reassuringly and holding out Neal to his father, "Snow, that's not necessary-"
"Regina needs a birthing partner for her class next weekend," Snow chirped and Regina clenched her jaw. She was going to kill that girl after all. "I said you could go."
"I uh-" Prince Charming stuttered hesitantly and glanced between the two of them, "A what?"
"Birthing class! Like the one you and I went to before Neal," His wife jogged his memory, giving him a glance that warned him against any negative reaction. "You'll go with Regina. You don't mind. Tell her you don't mind."
"I-" He glanced over at Regina and shifted at the thunderous look on the Queen's face. "I don't mind."
Regina reeled with irritation and embarrassment at the situation and the look on David's face told her he felt just as awkward about the idea, "Really Snow White, this is an unnecessary waste of time. I have much better things I could-"
"Regina," Snow cut in firmly, leaving David and Regina's lips parting in surprise at the unusual sternness, "David will go with you and you will attend for the welfare of you and your child when the time comes that you bring the next member of our family into this world. I told you that we were all going to help you with this baby and I meant it. Got it?"
She glared somewhat slack-jawed at the woman, taken aback by the motherly tone that invited no argument. Snow simply countered her silence with a brow raise of her own and she found herself unable to form any other argument or excuse. Regina's jaw snapped shut and she briefly considered the fact that she didn't know the first thing about giving birth.
She considered how such a thing may be beneficial and help calm her nerves about delivery, but she wasn't about to admit it. So instead she rolled her eyes as if it were the most absurd idea she'd ever heard and that she was merely agreeing to humor her, "If I agree will you shut up?"
David sighed and took a deep breath as he knocked on the front door of the mansion. There was no answer or activity to be heard on the other side and he shifted on his feet in contemplation. He glanced back at his truck still running and considered what would happen if he left and told Snow that Regina hadn't been home before shaking his head at the thought. He'd never hear the end of it from Snow if he flaked and he knew Regina didn't deserve to be let down.
He reached out to try the handle after a few minutes, surprised to find that it turned and allowed him to push open the front door. Despite how far they'd all come in the past few years, it still felt odd to invite himself into the home of the once Evil Queen. Snow and Emma had become quite close to Regina and although they were now family, he hadn't spent much one-on-one time with her. The downstairs was quiet and pristine when he stepped in the foyer and glanced around for any sign of the brunette before he heard footsteps in the hall above that prompted him to look up.
"Sorry," Regina muttered as she started down the staircase with a hand on the railing while David remained where he stood. He could tell she was irritated as she tugged at the fitted black cap-sleeved dress she wore that appeared to be made out of softer, stretchier material than she knew what to do with. He'd never seen her wear anything that wasn't tailored or sharply form-fitting and while she still looked chic in this, he bit back amusement that this was likely the closest thing to maternity wear her vanity would allow. "I couldn't find anything appropriate to wear."
He smirked to himself at how disgruntled she seemed to be with the end result, despite the fact she looked entirely put together with expertly done makeup, freshly styled hair and uncomfortable looking heels. "No problem at all, I just got here. Are you ready to go?" He asked, reaching behind him for the door knob as she gave a reluctant nod.
"Yes," She took a deep breath and briefly glanced up at him with an apologetic expression as she approached, "Sorry about this, but we both know if we hadn't agreed Snow would never shut up."
"Oh, I know," David chuckled at her eye roll over Snow and opened the front door, pulling it shut as he followed her out into the muggy summer morning, "I left the truck running so it'll be nice and cool."
"Your -" Her head snapped up at him at the mention of his pickup, "How am I supposed to get in that monstrosity?" Regina's eyes widened as she walked down the path and crossed her arms over her chest in disgust at the exhaust fumes clouding her driveway, "We could get carbon monoxide poisoning just standing here!"
"I'll help you into the passenger seat," He raised an eyebrow and ignored her snobby behavior, reaching for the passenger door and swinging it open. She gave him a testy look when he motioned her over, her jaw setting in that telltale way that she was barely keeping her temper under control.
She was clearly aggravated to even be in this situation and he knew that forcing the polished Mayor out of her posh comfort zone and into his truck was pushing the limit but he had no choice. "Look we'd take yours, but I'm 6'5" and I don't see myself fitting into your sports car without breaking something and then you'd really be mad."
"Fine," She grit out when she glanced at him and saw that he was trying to be reasonable so she tucked her hair behind her ear and stepped up to the truck, tilting her head up in search of a handle, "Just get me in here?" She huffed when she saw it was out of her reach and threw an embarrassed glance his way.
David bit back a grin when she snapped her back forward and he gripped the Mayor's hips, lifting her up with ease as she reached to grab the handle in a vain attempt at looking like she did it herself. Even five months pregnant she was considerably light and looked petite perched in his passenger seat despite the threatening expression on her face, "Not so hard, was it?" He chuckled at the glare she gave him before he gently shut the door and rounded to the driver side.
He had more patience for her than he usually did considering he knew that she was no more happy about this than he. His ideal Saturday hadn't been taking his former enemy to a birthing class but she was trying to be civil and it at least got him out of the house. Winter and spring had seemed to last forever and the tension between him and his wife made their considerably roomier home feel as small as their old loft apartment. If Snow hadn't volunteered him for this he likely would've found an excuse to go to the station for the day which would've only made matters worse when he returned home and was confronted for avoiding being there. At least this way he had a reason to be elsewhere that his wife couldn't hold against him.
"Here," David reached to the dashboard after stepping up and settling into the driver's seat with ease, picking up the paper bag holding the pastry he'd purchased on the way, "Thought you may be hungry."
Regina glanced at offering in surprise, clearly not expecting the small kindness from him. She looked to be as unsure around him as he was her. In the past they had only avoided each other or argued incessantly and she almost looked uncomfortable over the nice gesture, "Thank you..."
"This is so foolish-" Regina muttered, trying to find a ladylike way to sit on the mat after they'd signed in and found a spot near the corner of the room. The class was offered in a building not far from the town hall and she'd nearly walked straight out when she realized one of Blue's 'fairy idiots' taught it. Luckily it seemed to be a newer fairy from the Enchanted Forest that Regina did not have any kind of negative history with and it had calmed nerves by a fraction. At least enough to agree to stay.
"It's not all bad," David smirked and took a seat beside her on the floor after helping her down, "You comfortable?" He asked and put his hand to her lower back for a moment. The touch was brief and harmless but she shivered and realized how she'd missed caring contact from someone. Henry was the only person she was affectionate with now but she was his mother which meant she was the one giving the hugs and the comfort. Her heart ached at how sorely she missed being held and comforted in the way she'd gotten used to with Robin around.
"Fine," She nodded once she found her voice, her eyes shifting irritably when another couple approached the spot beside them. "Gods help us," Regina muttered at the bubbly young couple and glanced at David to see if he found them as annoying as she did.
"It'll be over before you know it," David chuckled under his breath, seeming to know that her grouchy behavior was only a byproduct of her uneasiness. Raising Henry on her own had been a choice and the thing that saved her, but this was entirely different. This was an unexpected pregnancy and giving birth and somehow caring for a newborn on her own after childbirth. It was uncharted territory and this class was only a reminder that she would soon have to face the terrifying reality she'd been avoiding.
The fairy instructor began the class and forced her from her thoughts, only furthering her annoyance with an introduction that was entirely too long and cheerful. Regina took a deep breath and forced herself to at least pretend to pay attention until she saw others moving and realized the partners had been instructed to sit behind the pregnant women and begin the breathing exercises.
David shuffled without a second thought and she quickly moved to un-tuck her legs as his long ones stretched beside hers and his chest brushed her back. Regina stiffened instantly and shut her eyes briefly at how intimate and awkward she felt. She was going to kill Snow White.
"I'm Maggie, by the way," The blonde in her peripheral vision whispered and smiled brightly at Regina, "This is my boyfriend, Ben."
"Nice to meet you," David spoke up, tapping Regina gently on the arm to respond when she simply stared back at them in annoyance.
"Regina," She muttered quietly before turning her attention back to the obnoxiously upbeat fairy in the front. Sitting through this class was painful enough without humoring a pair of irresponsible young people beside her.
"I'm David," He chimed in and she felt his voice vibrate against her back and the heat from his body with his slight lean forward to address the couple. They were either entirely young and clueless or they had just come from another realm if they did not know who David was and she rolled her eyes at how friendly Charming was being.
David felt her becoming physically tense and he knew the instructor repeatedly referring to everyone as a couple or 'mommies and daddies' couldn't be helping. She seemed to be growing increasingly uncomfortable as the class went on instead of relaxing as he hoped she would but he couldn't fault her. He tried to imagine what it would be like to be going through this alone after everything she'd been through and he found himself wishing he could somehow fix it. It seemed like she more than anyone couldn't catch a break and it wasn't fair given the hard work she'd put into redeeming herself.
"Are you doing okay?" He decided to ask quietly near Regina's ear, smelling the scent of her perfume as he leaned in to do so. She gave a small, tense nod as the instructor told the partners to put their hands on the mother's bump. David tilted his head to look at her for permission but she kept her face forward, likely to save her pride.
The haughty persona she put on would never allow Charming to put his hands on her but he sensed she also did not want to appear any more out of place here than she already felt. So, he took a chance and slowly moved his hands from resting on his own thighs to her sides, sliding them over the rounded curve of her baby bump. Never did he think he'd be in such an intimate position with the woman who tried to destroy him for years but here he was, with his lovely wife to thank for it.
"Having a blast," She replied dryly to his inquiry of her well being, causing him to chuckle quietly as he returned his attention to the instruction at the front of the class. His hands rested gently on her stomach and he let his mind wander, noting how small she still was for being halfway through her pregnancy. The width of his hands on each side nearly covered the expanse of her swollen belly, making him feel like the gentle giant sitting behind her small frame.
"So how long have you two been married?" The blonde leaned over to them once more, striking up quiet conversation in just the way a teenager in a classroom would. Regina snapped her gaze towards the daft girl, lips parting but not knowing how to respond as soon as she saw the well-meaning curiosity in her eyes. Times like these made her wish she could still be as rude and ruthless as the Evil Queen without feeling guilty afterward.
Anxiety crept up inside of her and she furrowed her brow, not knowing why she stumbled so much for the right words. Pregnancy and grief had kept her physically and mentally exhausted for months now. The combination kept her on edge emotionally, making it a challenge to maintain her usual cool and collected demeanor. She wasn't sure there would be anything more humiliating than admitting to a teenager that she was a single pregnant woman in her thirties and the man attending the class with her was not the father, but someone who joined her out of pity.
Before she could answer, David's casual tone met her ears and his stubble grazed her jaw briefly when he turned his head towards the side of hers, "What has it been now babe? 7 years?"
Regina turned her head just an inch in surprise, but his face was too close to hers to see his expression. She glanced back at the two teenage idiots who were now smiling foolishly at the prospect of their fake marriage and swallowed hard, half irritated and half relieved that David hadn't made her answer the girl, "Uh..."
"She never can remember," David replied jokingly with a glance at the young couple when Regina stuttered, sliding his hands to meet over her bump and giving his arms around her a gentle squeeze for effect, "But that's okay, Valentines Day and anniversaries aren't really her thing, she prefers us do special things for each other just because. You know?"
"That's so romantic," The young girl sighed and smiled wistfully at them and David chuckled again.
Regina felt her body slowly beginning to relax at the warmth of his arms around her and the fact that he did not seem to feel awkward about it. It brought her relief and her anxiety seemed to calm at the picture they were painting for the younger couple. It was easier than telling the truth and pretending to be married to David gave her an excuse to act more natural in his embrace.
Maggie and Ben were watching them expectantly and she realized they were waiting for her to elaborate, "Yes uh...he's more of the sappy one. Flowers, candy, surprise dinners. That sort of thing."
"You sound like a real prince charming!" The blonde said dreamily, causing them both to laugh then and David felt victorious that Regina was at least relaxed enough to find the humor in it now.
Regina bit down on her bottom lip and glanced back at the man holding her, "Oh, you have no idea," She grinned knowingly at Charming. David's blue eyes crinkled with his smile back at her and her heart warmed at his genuine nature.
It was extremely rare in her life that anyone extended kindness to her without an ulterior motive. Her past had taught her that anyone offering relief or warmth or a nice gesture would always want something in return. But now? She was pregnant and he was happily married to Snow, so this was clearly not about sex. He'd seen her at her worst and been the recipient of her terror for years, so it wasn't out of pity. Snow had forced him into this, but he didn't have to be as nice to her as he had been today. He didn't have to get her breakfast or help her feel comfortable or humor her bad mood without retaliation. He was simply a genuinely good man.
"Is this your first kid?" The quieter half of the young duo asked with a slightly nervous expression and David smiled at the younger man's anxiety, knowing the feeling all too well himself.
"Yeah, it is. She wanted to have a career and I work odd hours at the station so," David shrugged as he fabricated, "We waited until the time was right."
"Yeah, we didn't really plan this," Maggie admitted, sharing a weak smile with her boyfriend that Regina found hard not to empathize with. At least the young girl hadn't been so foolish as to let herself get into that situation and end up alone as she had.
"But we're making the best of it," Ben nodded reassuringly at his girlfriend and Regina felt David's fingers caress her bump soothingly.
Being around Charming had never had a calming effect on her and she found herself wondering how they had managed to get along today without any of the spats that usually came with being in the same room as one another. She'd allowed herself to become so relaxed in his presence that she'd pretended to be his wife and let him hold her and actually followed the ridiculous exercises the instructor had them doing. He'd helped calm her enough that she actually listened and retained information and lost track of time in a situation she had dreaded.
"Best of luck to you both," David nodded with a smile as the class came to an end and everyone began chatting and gathering their belongings. He pulled his legs from around Regina, standing himself before leaning over to hold out his hands and help her. She found herself instantly missing the warmth and close contact of his body but she stifled the inappropriate desire to be close to him again.
She eyed his outstretched hands hesitantly, glancing up to see him raise a brow in warning not to be stubborn before letting him help her stand. Sitting down with her back to him had been one thing but facing him now, posed as husband and wife in front of the other couple, had her feeling awkward and unsure of what to do. David must have sensed it, smiling at her before wrapping an arm around her shoulders in a continuation of their charade.
"Thank you, best of luck to you, too," The younger woman replied with a smile and Regina could see that she was looking at them in adoration, likely hoping she and her young boyfriend would be like them one day. If she only knew. "You're going to make a beautiful family," Maggie added, jolting Regina from her sarcastic thoughts.
She stood stiffly as the other couple made their way to the exit, not sure whether to break physical contact with David or enjoy it a few moments more before their walk outside. Her gaze flickered up at Charming and she raised an eyebrow questioningly when she found him with an amused smile.
"Who would've thought? The Evil Queen and Prince Charming make a beautiful family."
