A/N: Whew. I wrote over 6000 words in less than two days for these two chapters. In fact I wrote this nearly 4k chapter entirely today. Time for me to get a drink while you guys read it.

Monday, May 28, 12pm

"That was a huge turnout," Emma comments as she follows the crowds down Main Street. The Storybrooke Memorial Day Parade has just concluded, and the spectators are dispersing away from the town center, mostly moving toward the mayoral estate for the annual cookout.

"I told you," Regina starts, taking Emma's hand and linking it with her own as they slowly walk down the road. "My mother doesn't do anything small. 'Go Big or Go Home' has always been her unofficial motto, at least when it comes to running this town."

"I can see that. It looks like every person in town was here."

"It's true. My mother may be a raging bitch to me, and sometimes to Zelena, but the townspeople love her, for the most part. She was elected mayor when I was 18, and she's listened to her constituents and has made a lot of improvements to the town," she explains. "It would just be nice if she could extend the same courtesy to me."

As predicted, Cora had made a sly comment about Regina's attire before the parade that morning. Cora had said the denim shorts and red cotton tank over her white bikini top was far too casual for the "First Family of Storybrooke." It's all about appearances, dear, Cora had reminded her. Regina had held back an eye roll, simply saying that she and Emma were going to go to the beach later and she didn't want to have to change clothes. Fortunately, Cora had let it go and quickly moved on to her mayoral duties for the annual tradition.

As they continue walking toward the house, Emma squeezes Regina's hand a little tighter before bringing it to her lips and placing a quick peck on the back of it. "Are you sure you want to go to her barbeque? I'm sure my dad would understand if we decide to skip it."

"No, we have to go," Regina says. "I can't let my mother think that she's won."

"Okay," Emma nods. "But if you want to sneak out early, just say the word."

*.*.*

It could be worse, Regina thinks as she nurses a cold beer and watches a few high school students play cornhole in her mother's backyard. She has been at the party for about an hour, and no fireworks have gone off just yet. Her mother had coolly greeted the pair when they arrived, but she had at least offered them a drink. Regina had been most surprised when her mother had even said I didn't get a chance yesterday to thank you for the Mother's Day flowers. That had been all that she said, but it's the closest to a genuine show of gratitude she has received from her mother in over a decade, so Regina had been happy to accept it.

"Are we next?" Emma asks, appearing at Regina's side with a fresh beer of her own and interrupting the woman's thoughts.

"Yep. We've got winners from this round," she confirms.

"Excellent. I haven't played this game in years."

"Oh, good," Regina deadpans. "I'm sure we'll be great, then."

"Relax, Regina," Emma says as she nudges her with an elbow as they walk toward the wooden beanbag targets to take their positions. "It's just a game."

Fifteen minutes later, Regina mutters "well, there goes my pride," as she and Emma walk back toward the grill, having just been defeated by two high school football players.

"Hamburger, cheeseburger, hotdog, or brat?" Leopold asks as the two women approach. He's been manning the grill all afternoon, keeping the guests well-fed and happy.

"Cheeseburger for me, please," Regina says, her mouth practically salivating at the thought. She doesn't let herself have burgers often, but she loves them.

"Same. Thanks, Dad," Emma adds.

He quickly fulfills their requests, sliding the burger onto their paper plates. "How are you girls today?" he asks.

Regina knows it's a loaded question. "Better than yesterday," she says. And it's true. There hasn't been a confrontation yet, so she's grateful for that.

"Good," he smiles.

"Am I right to assume you had something to do with that?" Emma asks knowingly.

He shrugs. "I simply told her last night how excited I was to have you both in town this weekend, because I don't get to see you as often as I'd like, and that I hope it will be a positive experience for everyone."

"Well, thank you," Regina says sincerely. "She seems to be on slightly better behavior today."

"You're welcome. And feel free to come back for seconds if you're still hungry after that. We've got plenty. Your mother basically bought out the entire supermarket for today."

Emma laughs as she looks at the two buffet-sized tables that are filled with side dishes, desserts, and condiments. "Yeah, we can see that."

*.*.*

"God, I'm stuffed," Regina sighs, leaning dramatically into Emma's side. "That was so good. Leopold knows how to make a good burger."

"Be sure to tell him that. It'll be a nice ego boost for him," she says, running her fingers through Regina's hair. The two get lost in the moment and Emma bends down to gently kiss Regina's lips. "Love you," she says softly as she pulls back.

"Eh hem," Zelena clears her throat from across the picnic table. "If you two are going to get all disgustingly cute, I am going to excuse myself. I'm already dealing with indigestion from the large baby inside me and the onions on that burger. I don't need you two making me even more nauseated."

"Love you too, Zee," Regina chuckles, but makes no effort to move from her spot leaning against her wife's shoulder. "I could so take a nap right now."

"Then do you want to find a spot in the grass? It might be more comfortable than sitting up here. At least for me if you insist on using me as a pillow."

"Sure," Regina says, standing up from the table and taking their empty plates. "Go grab a spot and I'll meet you down there."

Emma nods and starts heading farther down the expansive property, toward a clearing of grass where some of the younger kids are playing tag and their parents are watching from the sidelines. The blonde finds a folding chaise that's been set up for lounging and quickly claims it.

Before Regina can join her, she literally bumps into her mother. "Regina, dear, are you enjoying yourself?"

She takes a steadying breath, prepared for whatever condescension is about to come. "Yes, mother. You've outdone yourself once again."

"That's nice of you to say, dear," Cora says, giving her a tight smile before walking off and leaving a confused Regina staring after her.

That's it? Regina asks herself as she starts walking toward Emma.

"You okay?" Emma asks when Regina sits down next to her on the chaise. "I saw that Cora intercepted you."

"Yeah, I'm fine," Regina says. "She just asked me if I was having a good time and then walked away."

"Really?" Even Emma seemed surprised. "No backhanded, passive-aggressive comment?"

"Nope. Literally nothing."

"Huh."

*.*.*

"Regina, get up. I need to pee," Emma says quietly, brushing a strand of hair that had escaped from Regina's ponytail off her face.

"Hmm?" she asks, getting her bearings.

"You fell asleep, and I can't move."

"Oh," Regina chuckles, pushing herself up. They had been laying on the chaise and watching Neal and the town kids run around the yard. Regina's food coma had caused her to pass out in her wife's lap. "Sorry."

"No worries. Do you want anything while I'm up?"

"Another beer would be great," she replies.

"You got it. I'll be right back," she says, kissing the top of her head as she runs off toward the house in search of a bathroom and more booze.

"I know I've said this before, but you guys are so cute together," Mary-Margaret comments. She and David have been watching their son play with his new friends, grateful that the Storybrooke children quickly accepted him into their group, even though he's just visiting.

Regina blushes a bit, as she offers a quiet "thank you."

"Are things any better with your mom?" Mary-Margaret asks hesitantly.

"I mean, they're certainly not any worse than they were at Christmas, so that's a good thing, I guess," she shrugs. "I wouldn't say they're better, though. We're actively avoiding one another, it seems…which is okay."

"Here you go," Emma says as she hands Regina a bottle of Blue Moon. She immediately sits back down behind Regina on the chaise and leans back, pulling the brunette with her until she's resting against her chest once again. She wraps her free hand that isn't holding her own beer around Regina's waist, and Regina threads her fingers through Emma's as she rests their joined hands across her abdomen. She feels Regina relax into her, letting out a small sigh of contentment. "Don't fall asleep on me again," Emma warns with a smile.

"I won't. My eyes aren't even closed," Regina smirks, tilting her head back to look up at her wife.

"Okay. Just checking."

"So," Regina starts. "Is Neal excited for summer break? And more importantly, are you?"

"Most definitely," Mary-Margaret nods. "I love my job, but being in charge of 20 eight-year-olds all day is exhausting. I think Neal's excited, too. This was his first year where he was in school for the full day, so it's been a long year for him."

"I bet. Any big plans for summer, then?" Emma asks.

"We're going to visit my parents for the Fourth of July," David comments. "And this one has been begging for a trip to Disneyworld," he teases, pointing a thumb at his wife. "I think she has a thing for Prince Charming."

Mary-Margaret rolls her eyes. "That will have to come later in the summer, though. Neal has day camp for most of June. Plus we'll be back here for Zelena's wedding at the end of August, and hopefully sometime in July after the baby is born. I'd love to see the little one before the excitement of the wedding. Are you guys traveling at all this summer?"

Emma looks down at Regina who shrugs. The brunette then says, "We haven't made any concrete plans. Friends of ours always have a big party for the Fourth in D.C., so we'll be sticking around home for that. I'd like to be here when Zelena has her baby or shortly thereafter, but it depends on when that actually happens. And then we'll obviously be here for the wedding, since I'm a bridesmaid and will be in charge of holding the two-month-old flower girl."

Zelena had already announced that she wants her newborn baby girl involved in the ceremony and with them at the altar, much to Cora's dismay. The older woman found it unorthodox and gauche, because, she reasons, if the baby were to cry during the ceremony, it would ruin everything. But, Zelena had been unwavering, and Regina had been proud of her for standing up to their mother. She just hopes Cora isn't able to change Zelena's mind, as there are still a few months left before the big event. Knowing Cora, Regina suspects she's just waiting for Zelena to be exhausted after the baby is born. Then, Cora will make her move to have things go her way.

*.*.*

"This is nice," Regina comments later that evening. They had escaped to the beach for a bit in the afternoon, meeting up with some of Regina's friends from high school who were in town for the long weekend. Jefferson had stayed behind in D.C., but Kathryn and her husband, Daniel and his wife (who he had just married a few months earlier), along with a few others had made the trip back for the annual festivities. Memorial Day had always been a big to-do in Storybrooke, officially kicking off the launch of summer. Just as they had in high school, they snuck a few six packs of beer onto the private beach and spent a few hours playing a half-hearted game of beach volleyball, wading in the ocean, and making out with their respective partners in the sand. But now, they were back at the mayoral estate, still covered in sand despite trying to rinse off in the water, and relaxing in the backyard by the fire pit.

"It is," Emma smiles as she leans into Regina's side on the bench. The brunette's arm is draped around Emma's shoulders, and the blonde's hand finds hers, pulling her closer.

The other guests have long since retired for the day, and it's only the immediate family remaining around the small bonfire. David is showing Neal how to make a perfect s'more, while Leopold holds his granddaughter a safe distance from the flame as he dances with the giggling girl around the outside of their circle. Mary-Margaret, meanwhile, holds a sleeping Robbie in her lap.

Regina is mostly successful in her attempts to ignore her mother, who is sitting directly across the fire from them. She can only occasionally see the stern woman's expression lit by the flame, and it's mostly unreadable — perhaps a mix of disdain and discomfort. But, Regina had decided earlier in the day not to let her mother ruin an otherwise great weekend with their family, so she pulls Emma a little closer and kisses her temple.

They all sit in silence a bit longer, mesmerized by the flickering orange and yellow before them until Zelena interrupts their trance. "Alright, I must excuse myself and head to bed. The little one will be waking me up early as usual, I'm sure, and I'd like to get some shut-eye." Walsh helps her to stand up from the creaky bench, and they circle around the fire saying their goodnights. "Have a safe flight back to D.C. We'll see you when the baby comes, yes?" she asks as she approaches her sister.

"Absolutely. Call me the second you go into labor, and I'll be on the first flight out here. Since it's your first, I'm sure I'll have plenty of time," Regina winks as she stands to hug her sister and her future brother-in-law.

After the couple retreat to their guest house, Mary-Margaret and David quickly follow suit so they can put their three young children to bed. "We'll be back in 20 minutes or so, if you're all still out her then," Mary-Margaret says as she hands Robbie to David and takes Evie from Leopold's arms.

Emma looks briefly over at Regina before turning back to her sister. "Hey, Mary-Margaret, do you mind if I come in and read the twins a short story before bed? I don't get to do that nearly as often as I'd like…or ever, really."

Mary-Margaret smirks. "Sure."

Emma leans over to Regina and whispers in her ear before kissing her cheek. "I'll be five minutes, max."

Leopold quickly excuses himself as well, saying he wants to see his two daughters put his grandchildren to bed, leaving Regina and Cora alone on opposing sides of the fire. How poetic, Regina thinks.

After a few moments of deafening silence, when it's obvious that the others have purposely orchestrated this, Regina breaks the tension. "Well, they certainly aren't subtle."

"No. That is not their strength."

Regina sighs. She has nothing more to say, so she leaves it up to Cora to make the next step, as she knows the woman won't stew in the quiet for long.

And Cora doesn't disappoint.

"I'm surprised you came today, let alone returned here after your little beach excursion. I would have thought you wouldn't be able to escape soon enough"

"Well, Emma wanted to spend more time with her father and the rest of our family."

"I see. Well, I'm still surprised, considering you think I've been such a 'raging bitch' to you."

Regina pales at her mother's use of air quotes, which she can just barely make out in the glow of the bonfire. "I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about," she says softly.

"Oh please, Regina. I have eyes and ears all over this town. You can't expect that the mayor's daughter ranting about her hatred of her mother in the middle of Main Street after a town holiday celebration won't make its way back to me."

Well, Regina feels sufficiently guilty. She quickly shakes it off and refocuses her energy. "I never said I hated you. Don't put words in my mouth."

Cora scoffs. "Be that as it may, the townsfolk nonetheless interpret it that way. Words have consequences, Regina."

"Yes, Mother, believe me. I know. I've been living under the burden of yours since the night of my high school graduation."

That shuts Cora up.

But only briefly.

"Don't turn this around on me, Regina," Cora states flatly.

"Of course not. Because you're perfect and must maintain that fake persona in front of your adoring citizens. Fine, then. I'm sorry I called you out as a 'raging bitch,' although it's not an untrue sentiment, when I was having a private conversation with my wife…who you still fail to acknowledge."

"I acknowledged Emma. I said 'hello' to her several times this weekend and asked how her job was going."

Regina rolls her eyes. "Yes, because that's totally sufficient," she says. "If you can't accept that she's my wife, if you refuse to acknowledge that, then fine. But at least treat her the same way you treat Mary-Margaret. She is your husband's daughter. Leopold is a great and patient man, Mother, but he won't put up with your bullshit forever. I can tell that he tries to play off your behavior like it doesn't bother him, but I can see it in his eyes that every time you dismiss Emma, it hurts him. I saw it in Dad's eyes for years before you split up, after I told you that I'm gay. And in case it isn't brutally obvious, if it ever comes to that, I'm on Leopold's side. And I imagine Zelena probably will be, too," Regina says, taking a swig from Emma's wine glass that is still sitting next to her on the bench.

Regina can hear her mother exhale, but the older woman doesn't seem to have a rebuttal.

They sit silently for several more minutes, and Regina can't help but wonder what's taking Emma and Leopold so long to come back. She knows they're probably standing in the kitchen and watching this awkward encounter, so clearly they know that neither she nor her mother are speaking any longer. Regina decides to count to 60, and if they don't return by that point, then she will go inside herself to retrieve her wife and drag her back outside, or better yet, leave to go back to their room at the inn.

She gets to number 47 in her head when she hears her mother's voice again. It's quiet, and she mumbles, so she almost misses it. "Are you happy?"

Regina looks up, startled, but she doesn't hesitate in her response. "Yes. Very."

"Good," Cora says, and it's almost a sigh when she repeats it again: "good."

"Am I interrupting?" Emma asks hesitantly as she rejoins them. Regina hadn't heard her approach.

"No, you're not," Cora says matter-of-factly.

Regina is thrown off by her mother's sudden change in demeanor, but she's relieved Emma's back. "I was actually just about to come find you. We have an early flight tomorrow, so we should probably head back."

"Oh," Emma says, slightly dejected. She had hoped her ploy with her father to give Regina and Cora some alone time wouldn't have resulted in Regina wanting to make a quick getaway. "Okay."

Regina extends her hand, wordlessly indicating for Emma to help her up. "Sorry," she says as she finds her footing. "I've been sitting so long my ass is completely asleep."

Emma chuckles as she pulls Regina into her, pecking her lips sweetly. They both forget they have an audience until they hear Cora quietly clear her throat.

"Right," Regina says under her breath. "Mother, it was a lovely parade as always, and thank you for having everyone over for the cookout."

Cora nods curtly as she, too, stands. "Let me walk you out."

Emma sends Regina a worried glance as they follow her to the gate in the wrought iron fence that surrounds the backyard of the property. Cora opens the gate and gestures for the women to walk through, following them down the driveway toward the Prius they have rented for the duration of their stay in town.

"Leaving so soon?" Leopold asks as he emerges from the garage, where he had been putting away the croquet set and some of the other games the guests had been playing earlier in the day.

"Yeah, we have an early flight back to D.C. in the morning," Regina says.

"Oh, well okay, then. Have a safe trip back, and give us a call or text when you get home so we know you arrived safely."

"Of course, Dad," Emma rolls her eyes as she steps toward the man, giving him a hug.

"And you'll be back in a month or so to come meet the baby, right?" he confirms as he hugs Regina goodbye.

"Absolutely. I'm not going to miss meeting my new niece as a newborn."

"Hopefully you won't have to deliver this one," he jokes.

She can't help but laugh. "Oh, I won't be. I don't want to be anywhere near the labor and delivery room when Zelena's in there. I can only imagine what hell she'll put her OB through. I'll stay in the waiting room, where it's safe."

He smiles as he looks over to his wife, who has been observing their conversation from the sidelines. She lets out a resigned sigh and moves close enough to them that he can wrap his arm around her and pull her to his side. He nudges her slightly, and she gets the message.

"Well, I'm glad you were able to join us, and we'll see you in a month or so," she manages to say, her mayoral mask in place, reflecting a sense of composure even though they all know she's anything but comfortable.

"Yes, you will," Regina says confidently, looking her mother in the eye. She then takes Emma's hand and turns to her wife. "Let's go."

Emma nods and sends one last smile to her father and a slightly less pleasant one to Cora as she turns around and heads to the car, taking her keys out of her purse as she walks around to the driver's side door.

"Regina," Cora says quietly, taking a few more steps to close the distance between where she had been standing and where the car is parked on the driveway.

"Yes, Mother?" she sighs as she turns around, her hand on the open passenger door, mentally preparing herself for a final snarky comment or passive-aggressive insult.

"I really am glad you're happy," she says quietly, her eyes cutting over to Emma for such a brief moment that if Regina had blinked she would have missed it. "You look happy."

Regina is gobsmacked. "I am."

"Good. Have a good drive back to the inn," she says before turning around and walking back toward the house, past Leopold and back inside, leaving a stunned Regina staring after her.

"Regina?" Emma asks from where she's standing with one foot on the ground and one partially in the car. "Ready?"

Regina takes a deep breath and allows a small smile to cross her lips. "Yeah. Let's go."

A/N: Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed the two chapters and that you had a nice long weekend. The next chapter will be when Zelena's newborn arrives, so it'll be about another month or so most likely before I update. (Both because my life is about to get absolutely insane with work and personally, and because I am trying to keep the timeline in the fic in line with the actual dates).