"How are my babies?" Regina softly whispers, leaning into the phone like she's expecting to be able to hold her family or at least smell the sweet baby aroma that's filling Emma's nostrils.
Emma's lips crack into a loving smile as she studies the way those brown eyes consume their son, memorizing every detail of his tiny face.
"We are good. I'm still sore, but it's not too bad. This little guy is going to have his first bath tonight," she playfully sing-songs as Regina's eyes sparkle with amusement. "I'm a little nervous, not gonna lie. He's super tiny," she squeals, creating the most adorable giggle from Regina's mouth. "But your mom said she will help me. I'm going to have your dad record it and then I'll send it to you."
"You better, I don't want to miss out on his first bath. I don't want to miss a thing, day or night you better send me everything," Regina scolds, her eyes narrowing pointedly, just daring her to slip up just once.
"When are you coming to visit?" Emma investigates, her hand methodically stroking Henry's silky soft hair as he lays asleep upon her chest.
"It was very hard to convince the team that my son was just born in Sicily," she rolls those stubborn brown eyes while Emma laughs lightly, conscious not to wake her sleeping baby. "But after a few pictures, I was able to book a week starting March first."
"Oh my god, Regina, that's only a week away, I'm so excited."
"I know," she sighs heavily as though a weight has finally been lifted off her shoulders and for some reason Emma has an inkling that maybe Regina was worried the hospital wouldn't grant her the time she requested. "I booked the first available flight right after my last shift, so I don't waste any time. I can't wait to hold him, Em."
"When's Regina coming?" Cora calls from the kitchen, nosy as ever, but Emma should have known she was listening to their conversation.
"March first," she yells back and winces in fear that she just woke a sleeping baby, the biggest no-no in the parenting guide. "Oh god," she whispers, "is he still sleeping?" She inquires, since Henry's head is tucked securely under her neck and she can't see his face because the phone is only showing him at the moment.
"He is," Regina smiles adoringly and scoots even closer to the screen like maybe, by some magical power, she will be able to reach through the phone and actually touch him. "Emma, have you talked to Neal, yet?" And the sternest in her tone encourages Emma to move the camera so they are now face to face.
"Regina I just got home last night," she whines, but her girlfriend's face expresses just how much she doesn't give a damn. "Fine," she huffs as her fingers trail gentle touches against her son's back for a distraction. "I'll call him tonight."
"You have to Em-" Regina abruptly stops speaking as her eyes drift away from the phone.
"Dammit Regina, you know that lunch time means eat and get back on the floor," someone coldly remarks toward her girlfriend and she can only assume it's Belfrey.
"I know you believe that, but it's the only time where I know I will have a minute to see my son," Regina just as frigidly snaps back, prompting Emma's heart to beat with pride for her amazing girlfriend.
"Oh, that's right, you claim this mysterious girlfriend of yours had a baby," the woman quips with nothing but malice lacing her words and only infuriating Regina even more.
"Yes, she is so mysterious," Regina sarcastically retorts as she flips the phone around for her mentor to finally come face to face with the mysterious girlfriend. "Emma, this is Dr. Belfrey, Dr. Belfrey this is my girlfriend, Emma, and our son, Henry."
"Hi," Emma shyly mutters, feeling completely exposed and vulnerable in the moment as she lays on the couch in sweats with her sleeping baby on her chest. The moment is far too intimate to be meeting her girlfriend's boss, but this is Regina's style, bold.
The stern woman with beady little eyes hums in response as she takes in the scene before her. "I hope you plan on returning to the states soon, so Mills can focus on her work," she coldly spits with judgement burning through her eyes.
"Yes, we should be coming home in May," Emma confirms, but Regina cuts off her words when she abruptly spins the phone back around, exchanging the view of Belfrey to her loving girlfriend.
"I have been focusing on work," Regina argues with defiance etched across her face. "And you know it. I'm by far the most advanced from my graduating class and if I would like to FaceTime my family during my lunch break, then I will," Regina smugly declares before she turns her full attention on Emma once again, completely ignoring the scowling woman.
"Five minutes Mills," Emma hears the woman sternly command before a door slams shut.
"Well, at least she's giving you five minutes," Emma happily announces because that bitch could have cut off their time completely.
"That's not being generous, that's exactly how much time I have left on my break," Regina deadpans with another eye roll. "But seriously, Emma, promise me you will call him. We need to confirm he is Henry's father, not only for his medical history, but also to figure out what we are going to do about everything."
Her beautiful face is pinched so tightly that Emma wonders how sore those muscles are. Regina looks utterly defeated and she knows all those insecurities from her past relationship are whispering and taunting in the back of her mind. Probably filling her head with obscenities that this baby isn't really hers and one day they will be ripped apart just like her and Roland. Emma so desperately wants to change her mind and ease her sorrows, but it's so hard when they are so far apart.
"Regina, I love you. Henry is your son, just as much as he is mine. He has both of our last names so nothing could ever tear you two apart. I need you to trust that," she softly declares in hopes to settle her girlfriend's racing mind of uncertainty.
"I know, I will just feel more comfortable when all of this is settled. Who knows how Neal will react with two women raising his son?"
"I know. I've known Neal for a very long time, and he would never do anything malicious towards me. He's a good man and I know all he will want is to be a part of Henry's life."
"Just please call him tonight," Regina pleads with her again. "I have to get going before Belfrey comes storming back in here."
"I promise I will call him and then I will text you and let you know how it went."
"Thank you, I love you."
"I love you, too."
"I love you, Henry," Regina coos softly even though he's fast asleep in baby dreamland. Emma softly kisses the top of his head and smiles like a fool.
"He loves you, too."
XXXXX
"Make sure you have everything available to you right here, you don't need to be running around when your baby is wet and cold," Cora delegates as she rocks Henry close to her chest.
"I think I have everything. Washcloth, shampoo, soap, towel...is that it?"
"Do you have his pajamas out and a new diaper and lotion?"
"Uh...hold on..."
Emma scrambles out of the bathroom and back into the living where she will be staying for a couple of weeks. She gathers a fresh pair of pajamas, lotion, and a new diaper in her arms and takes off toward the bathroom again. Shit. She doesn't get very far before she turns around and searches for the Vaseline that she needs to place in his diaper after being circumcised. She finds the jar and darts back to the bathroom to find Cora humming softly to her son as she gazes into his playful eyes.
"Are you ready now?" Cora questions in a sweet tone, her sole focus remaining on the sweet infant.
"Yes, I think," Emma mutters, her eyes raking over all the items lined up while she wracks her brain for anything she could potentially be missing.
"Alright dear, just a sponge bath, remember we don't want to wet the umbilical cord."
"How about you do the first bath and I watch," she bargains with the older woman who flashes the most stern face she can manage while holding a previous newborn.
"Henry!" Cora calls for her husband, carefully placing the baby into Emma's arms.
"Yes, dear? Are you three ready?" He playfully questions as he enters the bathroom.
"Yeah."
Emma hands over her phone, so he can record and she can't help but smile when the man becomes giddy right before their very eyes.
"We are going to do this quick, so he doesn't freeze," Cora explains again as she turns on the warm water.
Emma nods and begins unwrapping her son from the blanket that she used to keep him warm after she removed his clothes. She gently lays him down inside the baby bathtub and removes his diaper. She folds the diaper up and tosses it into the trash.
Mistake number one.
"Oh my god!" She squeals as her hand instinctively flies in front of her face to block the steady stream of pee that's spraying like a fountain.
"Ahhh, Regina is going to love that," Henry chuckles at Emma's expense while Cora places a washcloth over the baby's penis.
"Little boys like to spray," Cora laughs lightly to herself unlike her husband's obnoxious cackling. "Always make sure you cover it. Every time you change his diaper, throw a wet wipe on top."
"Thanks for the heads up," Emma groans, quickly washing away the urine in the sink. "Any other tips you care to share before I learn the hard way?" She teases, earning herself a wicked smirk in return from the older woman.
"Let's hurry up, I don't want him to catch a chill."
Cora instructs Emma to wet his thick black hair and gently apply the shampoo. She rushes through the process, terrified that he's freezing, but there's a dopey look gracing her baby's face as she gently massages his scalp. They all laugh as baby Henry enjoys the pampering to his fullest and Emma can't wait to send the video to Regina.
After Emma rinses her son's hair thoroughly, she begins washing him carefully with the washcloth, avoiding his umbilical cord completely. This is the moment her son declares he's had enough of this and begins screaming bloody murder.
"He must be cold, dear, let's wrap this up," Cora informs her like she's a baby whisperer and understands exactly what he's saying.
Emma quickly rinses Henry off and lifts him up while Cora wraps a thick, fluffy, duck towel around him. Cora places the baby back into Emma's arms, so she can snuggle him close and keep him warm. She's quick to dress him in clean pajamas and swaddle him in a nice warm blanket.
"So, are you going to call Neal now?" Cora questions as they all sit down in the living room.
"Man, you're nosy," she mocks, her finger tapping her son's little button nose. "One day you're not going to like what you overhear between Regina and I," she smugly replies and brushes back some of Henry's hair.
"Nothing I haven't heard before," Cora quips.
Emma's head jerks up to meet those amused eyes while hers triple in size. "What are you talking about? You never heard anything," she protests, but by the look of Cora's expression, she maybe wrong.
"You two weren't very discreet in the mornings. You do realize we were always up and about around the farm early in the summer mornings, correct?"
Emma gulps down her mortification, her entire face burning with embarrassment, even the tips of her ears ignite with heat. "I'm just going to pretend that you are kidding."
"And I'll just keep pretending that I didn't find any sex toys."
"So nosy!" Emma snaps back immediately as her humiliation becomes far too much, but the older woman just chuckles as if this was just all part of normal conversation.
"Give me Henry and you call Neal," Cora rapidly changes the subject as she stands from the couch and opens her arms for her grandson.
"Alright," she reluctantly mumbles and lightly places a kiss to Henry's cheek before handing him over.
"I'll take him to my room, so you can have some privacy," the woman kindly offers as Emma nods along and pulls out her phone.
Anxious energy is clawing at the back of her neck just thinking about having this conversation. She knows in her heart Neal is a stand up guy, but she just doesn't know how he's going to react from her falling off the grid for nine months and ignoring him.
Her thumb taps nervously against the corner of her phone as she works up the courage and convinces herself to hit the call button. Not speaking for nine months is a very long time, especially after being with someone for eight years. She half expects that her father already blurted everything out to Neal since they are so buddy-buddy, but she'll never know unless she calls.
Her thumb connects with the call button and she swallows the tangy burn of fear slithering up her throat.
"Hello?" She chokes up. She cannot find the courage to say one damn word back. His voice from the simple word alone sounds bewildered as to why her name would be lighting up across his phone after all this time. "Emma?"
"Y-" she clears her throat when her voice cracks. "Yeah. Uh, hey. How are you?"
"I'm alright...how are you? Your dad told me you're still in Sicily," he kindly asks, in the softest tone imaginable, causing her stomach muscles to recoil painfully from guilt.
"Yeah, I am. I should be coming home in May, but umm look, there's something I need to tell you."
"You're dating some woman now? Yeah, I know, your dad told me. Look, I'm happy for you. I don't know if your dad told you, but I'm dating someone, too. Her name is Tamara and Emma, you were right. We weren't...right...we were content. We were...best friends...not lovers. I get it now. I understand why you ended it..."
"Neal, please stop. There's something important I need to tell you and this is probably one of the hardest things I have to say."
"Alright, what's up?" He inquires sincerely to make sure she feels comfortable enough to open up to him.
She blows out the longest, over exaggerated breath and closes her eyes. "I was pregnant. I just had a little boy. His name is Henry and I didn't tell you before, because I slept with someone right after I got here and I was terrified of not knowing who the father was, and I didn't want to drag you into a mess and break your heart if he wasn't yours, but now that I see him, god Neal...there's no doubt in my mind. He's your twin, but I know you will still want proof, so I guess I'm calling to see if you are willing to take a DNA test?"
The line is silent. Too silent. Emma pulls the phone away from her ear and checks the screen to make sure he didn't hang up on her. The numbers for the time call are still changing, so she knows he's still there. She waits a minute to allow him time to process, but then the silence keeps stretching on until she can no longer handle it.
"Neal? Please say something."
"Can I see him?" He shyly questions, just barely enough to even qualify as a whisper.
"Of course. Um, I can send a picture right now. Or do you want me to hang up and FaceTime you?" Her mouth is a bumbling, stuttering mess as she tries to formulate sentences for this man.
"Yeah, can you FaceTime me? I want to see him," he softly requests and Emma nods along vigorously even though he can't see her just yet.
"Yeah, yeah. Just give me one minute. He's with Regina's mom, so I could call you in private. I'll grab him and call you back," she frantically explains as a burst of nervous adrenaline burns hot through her blood.
"Okay, see you soon," he murmurs before they both hang up.
Emma rushes to Cora's room and rapidly fires off the plan to the older woman while her hands tremble from the awkward situation. She carefully picks up her son and holds him close to ease her worries. She carries him back into the living room and calls Neal once again.
"Hey," he smiles brightly, creating a smile across her own lips from just seeing his old familiar face. He was always her best friend...her only friend, really.
"Hey, so I would like you to meet Henry," she softly sing-songs, adjusting the phone, so Henry's little head takes up the whole screen.
Henry's eyebrows crinkle as he stares aimlessly at the screen, most likely only seeing the light shining from it. She places a gentle kiss to his head and snuggles him even closer.
"I don't know Ems...I see you," Neal playfully suggests as he scratches his little goatee.
"That's what Regina said, but I see you."
"Yeah, that little man looks just like me," he proudly states as he holds his chin a little higher. "He's freaking cute."
"I know," she breathes, staring at her son with all the love a mother has to offer.
"When did you have him?"
"Three days ago. I spent one day in the hospital and then I came home last night."
"February eighteenth? Is that right?"
"Yup, that's his birthday."
"Alright I better mark my calendar," he laughs lightly.
"You better, it only took you six years to memorize mine," she mocks offense causing both of them to chuckle while Henry stretches his tired limbs and yawns dramatically.
"Man, I can't get over how cute he is, but uh...yeah I'll take the DNA test. And let me know when you're home, I wanna come meet the little guy."
"Oh yeah, of course. There's a place where we just swab our mouths and send it in through the mail. I can send you all the information." Neal nods along as his eyes stay focused on Henry. "Here's the other thing, I won't be moving to Boston, I'll be moving to New York with Regina. She's finishing up her residency to become a doctor."
"Alright, well...we will figure something out. I want to be in his life, Ems."
"I know, that's why I'm calling you."
"Thank you, I really appreciate the call. He's so beautiful. Man, we are going to have some fun together!" He cheerfully chants as he gazes upon their son.
"No dirt bikes Neal!"