"The two idiots should have been here by now." Regina was pacing the hallway anxiously awaiting the arrival of her soon to be in-laws. She always acted like a hard ass, as Emmett fondly informed her, when she was stressed about something.
"Babe. Stop worrying. They know that we've been keeping a secret for the past couple of months now. Trust me, they will be here. "Emmett wrapped his arms around the pregnant brunette's waist, effectively stilling her, and rubbed soothing circles around the growing bump that held their unborn child.
"Why did we decide to wait to tell them again." He asked resting his chin on Regina's shoulder.
"I-I wanted to be sure. If I wasn't pregnant or I happened to god forbid miscarry, no one would be disappointed. And before you say anything, I know what you're going to say. I know that it would be better to bear the pain together but I just can't help the way I think sometimes."
"Okay," Emmett kissed her temple "Let me look at you."
He released Regina, who spun around towards him. She had put on a fitted peasant blouse (the irony) that flowed from the waist down, still covering the existence of the unborn child, with black jeans. Emmett startled when the bell rang and Regina laughed loudly at his pink-tinged cheeks.
"Regina! How are you? " Snow exclaimed excitedly, hugging her. Regina tensed before counting to three in her head and relaxing. Her relationship with Snow was still complicated. She no doubt loved the woman and had already forgiven her but, and it took a lot for her to admit, she still hated the woman's self -righteous behaviour.
"Hey, Dad." Emmett and David did some weird handshake slash hug thing he had taught him. Regina rolled her eyes and hugged David.
"Hello, David." David she liked. He was a simple man and only wanted to please and protect his family. Snow was still annoyed by Regina's quick acceptance of him.
"Where are the children?" Snow asked. She was absolutely enamoured with Rebecca, who looked like the perfect blend of Emmett and Regina, with her warm hazel- green eyes, tanned skin, and unruly chestnut curls. But, of course, that was impossible.
"They are in the living room. Henry's teaching Becca how to play Mario Karts. "Emmett laughed following them into the living room.
"Nana! " Rebecca squealed delightedly, " And Pop-Pop!"
She giggled as David swung her around and kissed her cheek, "Hey, Boo-bear."
"Alright everyone, dinner will be ready in fifteen minutes."
"Oh, Regina I'll come help." Show chirped.
"That's all right dear, you really don't have to."
"I insist." Regina rolled her eyes and followed the annoying woman, who was to be her other in law, into the kitchen.
As Regina took the casserole out of the oven, Snow watched her. She looked softer somehow and not just emotionally,but physically, like she had gained weight. Her bum and bust certainly did look bigger. If Snow didn't know any better, she would think that Regina was pregnant. But that was impossible because she couldn't have children after Henry.
"Hey Regina, would you like to join me on my morning run?"
"No, thank you, dear. I really have my mornings full right now, especially with Rebecca." Not to mention the morning sickness, she added silently.
"Oh well, I just thought it would be nice to lose some weight together. I need to get rid of the rest of this baby stuffing and God knows what you've been eating with Emmett around.
Regina froze and blinked, "You-You think I'm fat ?"
Her lower lip wobbled. Great. Now her hormones decide to act up and in front of her ex-archnemesis no less. Do not cry, Regina.
"Well, no, but you did gain some weight. Not a lot because you look great as usual." Snow laughed oblivious to the situation she was creating. Regina sniffed and her eyes filled with tears.
" I ..." Regina choked back a sob. She knew she was gaining weight but really?
"Oh Regina, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to offend you. I just thought it would be nice." Snow was startled by the tears beginning to streak down the woman's face.
"I'm pregnant!" Regina sobbed and then ran out of the kitchen.
Snow stood there, shell shocked.
"Mom?! What's going on? " Emmett came running into the kitchen and looked around, "Where's Gina?"
And then he heard things being thrown around upstairs.
She was fat. Regina never thought anything of it when she began gaining weight, throughout her pregnancy. She certainly didn't think of it with Henry. But it was different then, she wasn't in a relationship and she was just happy to know that she was having a child. This was a whole new level though. Someone had insinuated that she was fat and of all people Snow. If other people thought she was fat, what did Emmett think?
Regina choked back another sob and threw something against the wall.
"Gina?" Emmett called from the hallway, "Can you let me in?"
'"Oh, Regina, I'm so sorry! I didn't know." Snow apologized, no doubt crying as if it were her feelings that were hurt.
"Go away!" Regina cried, throwing a pillow at the door. She wanted to conjure something to throw at the annoying woman but her magic was being wonky.
"Gina, come on and let me in or I'll break the door down." Emmett threatened.
The door was swung open by a red-faced, tear-streaked Regina. God, she hated this about being pregnant. Regina, who was usually cool and collected, was overly hormonal and emotional when pregnant.
"Regina? What's wrong?" Emmett asked, horribly confused, as Regina clung to him, her tears soaking his t-shirt.
"Your mother said I was fat!" Regina cried, each word punctuated by a sob.
"Hey Gina, I'm sorry. I know she's clueless sometimes." Emmett comforted rubbing circles on his sobbing fiancee's back.
"I'm not fat right?" Regina hiccuped, pulling away from him and wiping her face.
"You're beautiful. I'll never think you're fat. Babe, you're just keeping the kidlet warm." Emmett said, smiling as Regina gave him a watery smile, "And I love these curves ."
He ran his hands along with them. Regina studied Emmett with a wrinkled brow, "You know I never felt beautiful until I met you. I - I knew that I was pleasing to the eye, my mother made sure of that, but I never truly felt beautiful until you. Thank you, Emmett. "
"Hey, look at me," Emmett tilted her chin up and stared lovingly into wet doe eyes, "Don't ever thank me for calling you beautiful. You always were and always will be beautiful. And you're not just 'pleasing to the eyes', you're beautiful Gina."
He placed a large hand over her heart, " You feel things deeply and love with your whole soul. I should be thanking you for loving me and letting me be apart of this family. You didn't have to let me in and you did."
"I don't know how I lived without you." Regina sighed into his chest.
"Me either. C'mon everybody's waiting downstairs. At least we still have one surprise left for my parents."
Regina tilted her head back to look at him and frowned, "I don't want to eat in front of your mother. "
She knew that she was being petty, but her feelings were hurt.
"If she says anything, I'll send her home." Emmett rolled his eyes as Regina nodded and walked out of the room satisfied like she hadn't been on the verge of a breakdown minutes before.
Dinner started smoothly, with Snow only apologizing five times, but bumped up a little in between serving the potatoes and the gravy.
Regina was passing the boat of gravy to Emmett, all while glaring at him when he drenched his potatoes. That's when she saw the ring.
"Regina! " Snow gasped grabbing the other brunette's left hand.
Oh shit. They were supposed to tell the 'rents after dinner. Emmett looked over at Regina.
Regina rolled her eyes at Emmett's panic and chuckled, "Well look at this, the step-mother becomes the daughter-in-law."
Regina laughed at Snow's wide-eyed expression, "When?"
"This morning, cuz it's Momma's birthday and Papa had to get her a present Nana," Rebecca informed clumsily, attempting to stuff two big pieces of potato into her mouth and failing.
"Oh." Snow's mouth formed an 'O', no other sound leaving it, while David beamed next to her and clapped Emmett on the back.,"Congratulations son."
"Momma it won't fit. " Rebecca pouted as she looked longingly at the potatoes covered in thick brown sauce.
Regina swallowed a laugh at the child's expression and extracted her hand from Snow's grasp. " I'm sorry, mi dulce."
She smiled and cut the baked potato into smaller pieces, "Better?"
Snow finally overcoming her stupor (not really) got up from her seat, dragged Regina from hers and engulfed her in a hug. As she hugged her soon to be daughter, Snow felt a little nudge on her stomach and jumped back shocked. Regina laughed, and put a hand underneath her belly, pulling the blouse she was wearing taunt.
Snow's eyes once again widened as she looked from Regina's stomach to Emmett and back to Regina, "How far along are you?!"
"Twenty-one weeks yesterday." Regina's smile widened as she felt the child kick her palm.
"That-the baby just kicked me?"
"Yes dear," She sighed, "I'm truly sorry that we kept it a secret for so long. Emmett wanted to tell the whole of Storybrooke the minute he found out."
Snow nodded her understanding. She knew how hard it was for the woman to conceive. She remembered all the failed trips to Boston and now understood how Henry came into this world. Snow at first didn't want to believe it, but looking at the two now, she didn't know how she had missed it. Of course, they had true love. The redeemed Evil Queen and the Saviour.
"I'm so happy for you Regina." And she truly meant it. Regina deserved this, especially after all the pain she had suffered.
"Thank you, Snow." Regina had missed this, the warmth between the two of them, though she would never admit it out loud. Day by day some of the hurt and pain from the past healed and so did their relationship.