Emma hummed to herself, opening and closing the cabinets in Examination Room C as they waited for Dr. Whale to return. There was nothing of interest so far: just a few tongue depressors and cotton balls. Exhaling frustratedly, she slammed the last set of cupboards shut and moved onto the drawers.

Regina gave her an annoyed look as she rifled through them. "Do you have to do that?" she asked irritably. "I asked you to come with me to keep me calm, not help me stock up on Band-Aids."

"He already took the blood test," Emma frowned, holding a syringe up to the light to examine it. "My job's done, I got you through the hard part."

Regina let out an incredulous laugh. "No, you didn't! The hard part is waiting for the results, and you're not doing shit!"

"Well, what do you want me to do?" Emma said, twisting around. "Hold your hand?"

"Maybe stop making so much goddamn noise?" Regina shot back.

Emma raised her eyebrows. "Ooh, I see the hormones are already acting up."

"Don't." Regina glared at her. "I'm nervous enough as it is."

"You should be," Emma said, casually leaning against the counter. She picked up an otoscope and squinted through the tiny lens. "Pregnancy's a bitch."

"So I've heard," Regina grumbled, her nails digging into the sides of the examination table. "How long does it take for a blood test, anyway?"

"Why don't you just take one of those drugstore tests?" Emma asked, twirling the otoscope through her fingers. "They only take, like, a minute or two."

"Because I'm not trusting what could be the most important thing in my entire life with a ninety-nine-cent pregnancy test from Clark's store," Regina said icily. "Now either say something to calm me down, or shut up."

Emma pushed herself to a seat on the counter, bracing her hands against the edge as her feet dangled below. "Well, let's see…" She furrowed her brow thoughtfully. "I could sing you a Christmas carol?"

Regina slowly turned her head, glaring at her disdainfully. "What?"

"A Christmas carol, I could sing you a Christmas carol," Emma offered. "I've been told I've got a lovely voice. Listen—-Hark, the herald angels sing—"

"Emma—"

"Glory to, the newborn king—did you see what I did there, with the 'newborn'?"

"This isn't helping."

"Of course, it's helping. Peace on earth—"

"Emma, so help me God, if you don't shut up right now, I'm going to take that scarf and strangle you with it."

Emma protectively put her hands around her scarf, recoiling. "Neal gave me this."

"And I'll be sure to return it to him, once I unwrap it from your cold, lifeless body," Regina hissed.

Emma rolled her eyes, but desisted: if there was one thing she'd learnt over the years, it was that provoking an already-agitated Regina never ended well. "Can I ask you something?"

"No."

"Is it weird, me dating your brother?"

Regina stared at her for a long time, then slowly trailed her eyes up to the ceiling, as if asking God for an explanation. "This is what you want to talk about right now?"

"It's just—" Emma shrugged, twirling the otoscope some more. "You remember when I first came to Storybrooke? When you used to hate me?"

"'Used to'?"

"But we both wanted to see Henry, and then the curse broke and we found out you were my step-grandmother…and then we found out Rumple was Henry's grandpa…and now we find out that you're also Henry's aunt because Neal is your brother—"

"Where are you going with this?"

"I don't know," Emma said truthfully. "It's just funny how things work out. I never would have guessed when I first came here how connected I would be to everyone. It's kind of sweet how fucked up this family tree is."

Regina raised an eyebrow. "You have an interesting way of looking things."

"So, is it weird, me dating Neal? I mean, since you guys are siblings and everything now? Is it still weird, or is it just like, 'Hey, why not?' at this point?"

"Honestly, Emma, it's weirder that you keep asking me about it," Regina said through clenched teeth.

"Yeah, but does it bother you?" Emma asked, growing impatient.

"If I say 'no', will you stop talking?"

"So, it does bother you?"

"If I say 'yes', will you stop talking?"

"So, it doesn't bother you?"

"Emma, shut up!"

Emma groaned exasperatedly, dropping her head back. "You told me to talk to you—"

"Yes! And then I spent the last ten minutes begging you to stop!"

"All right, ladies, settle down…"

Dr. Whale walked in, frowning down at his clipboard. Emma hastily stowed the otoscope away, shoving her hands in her coat pockets. Regina watched his every move, her eyes flickering between the clipboard and his face.

"Well?" she asked, her voice a little higher than usual. "Wh-what does it say?"

Whale looked up, an eyebrow raised. "Well," he said, tossing the clipboard down and putting his hands in his white coat's pockets as he walked toward her. "Mazel tov, Regina. You're definitely preggers."

Regina turned white. She opened and closed her mouth a few times, only managing a strained, squawking noise. Whale nodded his head, as if hearing what Emma knew was going through Regina's head: Are you sure? Really?

Emma, for her part, was less convinced: she had dealt with Dr. Whale before. "Is she actually pregnant?" she asked suspiciously. "Or is this you trying to break bad news to one of your patients again?"

"Emma, please—" Regina squeaked, but Emma put up her hand.

"It's okay, Regina, he does this. I came in here with a fractured rib, and he told me I was pregnant. You probably have an ear infection or something."

"Well, I'll tell you—that's one hell of an ear infection if it can send a woman into labor in nine months to deliver a baby," Whale shrugged.

Regina swayed on the examination table. "B-b-b-baby?" she babbled, for the first time in her life not dignified and composed. "Me?"

"Yep," Whale nodded.

"For reals?" Emma asked, raising her eyebrows. "Like…a baby, baby?"

"Is there another kind of baby?"

Emma turned to Regina with wide eyes. "Regina…" she breathed. "Congratulations."

Regina swayed more violently, looking like she was about to vomit. "Thanks," she said faintly.

"I mean, that's…wow. Holy shit."

"Thank you, Emma."

"Oh, but this is so exciting!" Emma gushed, going to sit down on the table by Regina to put her arm around her. "Oh, my God! I mean, this is huge! How are you going to tell Robin? He's going to be so happy! Oh, and he's such a cute daddy, you guys are going to be adorable! And now Roland and Henry will have a little sister or brother to play with, they're going to love that! I'm so happy for you guys!"

"Thank you," Regina said numbly.

Emma squealed happily, hugging Regina around the neck. "We have to go out and celebrate! What do you want to do? Hmm? My treat! The boys are at the White Rabbit, so we should probably avoid that or I'm going to ruin the surprise, but what about that nice little Italian restaurant on the corner?"

"Actually, Emma, I think I'd like to go home and have a cup of tea," Regina said quietly, composing herself as she gathered up her coat and purse. "Please let go of me."

"Oh. Okay." Emma drew her arms away, her smile fading. The poor woman: she looked completely sick. Not that Emma blamed her: she remembered what it'd been like to look at that little pink plus sign. It had been entirely overwhelming—which was actually the understatement of the century. There weren't enough words to describe the shock and fear and excitement and despair and happiness she'd felt simultaneously.

But she understood Regina's need to downplay it, she reflected as they walked down the hallway toward the front lobby. Regina was very similar to her brother in that regard: she didn't like people catching her being emotional (though her wildfire temper made that nearly impossible). Emma was sure Regina was feeling a great deal more than she was letting on, but she was also sure Regina wasn't going to confide in her any time soon.

That didn't stop her from talking as soon as they got in the car.

"So, how are you going to tell Robin?" Emma asked again as she pulled out of the parking lot. "Over a candlelight dinner or something? That would be cute."

"No, I don't think so." Regina inhaled deeply, directing her gaze out the window. "Actually, Emma, I'd appreciate it if you didn't say anything. I…need a few days."

"No problem," Emma shrugged. "It's your news." She glanced at Regina, who still looked rather pale. "You scared?"

"Terrified."

"It's going to be a rough couple of months, I won't lie to you," Emma sighed. "Doctor appointments, aches and pains, throwing up, maternity clothes—"

"Oh, my God." Regina gagged, putting a hand to her mouth. "Maternity clothes."

"No more sensible pantsuits."

"God."

"Plus, you get all sorts of weird cravings, and there's the mood swings and hormones going off…you start crying randomly, you can't sleep, you're exhausted all the ti—"

"Emma," Regina said suddenly. "Could you shut up? Just for a minute or two?"

Emma slowly closed her mouth. They drove in silence for a few moments, Regina staring dully out the window, Emma sneaking side glances at her.

"Not to mention, you can't drink—"

"SHUT. UP."

"Yes, ma'm."