November 29th

Regina

It had been a week. A week since Emma and her had their "altercation", though it was more of a verbal disagreement. At first she was mad and even the mention of the blonde co-parent sent her into a fit of rage. Then she was furious at herself. Disappointment then grief finally she was fine. She was fine. That is the only way she could describe herself. Not mad or happy. Just fine. They hadn't talked. Regina in a way was thankful for the space. It helped clear her mind and reset her emotions.

After careful consideration Regina had decide she may have been a little too harsh on Emma, but you would never see her apologize. The reason why? Well she meant it. She meant everything she had said and truthfully it felt good to have finally let her frustrations off her chest. Contrary to everyone's belief she wasn't trying to be difficult she just wanted…something. Truthfully she wasn't sure what she wanted.

Actually what she wanted was a fairy tale romance. She wanted Emma to be her prince. She wanted to be romanced like a princess and treated like a queen. Realistically though she knew that could never happen. Emma wasn't a prince and she was not a princess. They were just two young stupid people who meshed to make an atom bomb. A beautiful volatile man made creation ready to implode at the slightest sign of distress that would destroy the world around them. Okay that was probably a horrible comparison, but the point is that their relationship as is would end badly.

Sighing she sat up in bed. It was still dark out and very early in the morning. The clock on her phone read 2:27 am. She was uncomfortable. Like really uncomfortable. As if her body was restless and unable to find relief. She had never felt this way before. It didn't scare her as much as it frustrated her. The feeling was so unbearable that all she could think of doing was walk. The first hours she spent walking back and forth in her room. Soon the feeling was becoming more unbearable and the walls made her feel as if she were caged in. She quickly through on sweats and a hoodie before headed for the front door.

"Just to the corner and back," She told herself. The cold 4 am morning air hit her hot body. She had not realized in all the time of being inside that her face was burning, her whole body was burning. Carefully she traversed the snow covered ground towards the end of the street.

Once she reached the end she looked around. The ground was beautifully covered by the snow and illuminated by the street lights. Snow was still falling, but she did not care this moment was too perfect to ruin. The feeling was still there and felt as if it was worsening. So she continued walking.

By 7 in the morning she was forced to stop walking. She had walked all the way to the docks which were at least a 30 minute walk without the obstacles of being pregnant and having snow as far as the eye could see. Most of all the uncomfortable feeling she had was now a full on periodical pain. As if she was cramping, but worse. Fearing the worst she searched for her phone which she had quickly realized she had forgotten. Panicking Regina quickly checked to see if she had been bleeding. No blood. 'That was a good thing, right?' she thought as she turned around. She had to get help. Trudging through the snow had become more difficult as the pain continued. It had felt like forever before she had made it to the road and she had started to realize she was painfully cold. She continued walking until she saw headlights. She had to get them to stop or else she feared both her and Henry would die. Waving her hands in the air hoping the driver would see her distress. A sudden pain stabbing pain coursed through her body causing her to fall to her knees.

"REGINA!" She heard. Looking up she found her father quickly running over to her.

"Daddy," Regina gasped in pain. "Something is wrong." Her father quickly helped Regina to his car. As they drove to the hospital Regina's father called her mother to inform her of their movements. Upon arrival at the hospital she was quickly wheeled into a room where they examined her. She was slightly hypothermic and in labor. At first she panicked believing that her little adventure had put her child at risk. The doctors had assured her that while being out in the cold did not help it had not been the cause of his arrival. In fact, they told her that sometimes babies just come out early. They placed her in the maternity ward to await the arrival of her doctor.

"What were you thinking." Her mother scolded. "Leaving in the middle of the night IN THE SNOW none the less-"

"Cora, Scolding Regina will do no one any good." Her father defended. "The important part is that we found her and she is safe." Regina moan as another contraction hit. Silent tears started to fill her eyes as both her parents started to argue.

"Please, can you just stop?" Regina sated releasing her breath, "Can't we just argue about this after? As I am trying to focus on not dying due to this horrid pain I am in."

"It's kinda your fault you are in pain," her sisters teased.

"Out!" Regina yelled as another contraction started, "Out all of you! I am done!"

"The hell I will!" her mother yelled.

"GET OUT!" A knock on the door did nothing to faze the disagreeing family prompting the nurse to come in unannounced.

"Excuse me, but all of you are going to have to leave."

"I am not leaving."

"Cora –"

"No you are all mad if you think I am going to miss my first grandchild's birth."

"Fine stay, but if I hear one more un-encouraging word I will make you leave. Is that understood?" Cora nodded. As her sister attempted to protest their father ushered her out the door. As another contraction passed Regina took a deep breathe.

"Would you like an epidural?" The nurse asked innocently.

"YES"

"NO" they looked at each other, "My grandchild will not be-"Regina gave her a deadly look, "Fine. Do what you must."

"Please ma'am the epidural." The nurse nodded just then there was a knock on the door. In walked a sheepish Emma causing Regina's stomach to jump.

"I'm sorry miss, but no one else is allowed in." the nurse politely stated.

"It's fine she is the father," the nurse took a minute then nodded.

"I will be back with the anesthesiologist." Regina only nodded. For a moment the room was silent then she looked at her mother begging to give them a minute.

"Fine," Cora rolled her eyes, "I will be back in 10 minutes."

Emma

Both stayed awkwardly quiet for a moment to ensure Cora had Left. Truthfully Emma could admit that she was intimidated by the older woman, a lot of people were. Shoving her hands in her pocket Emma kicked at invisible dirt.

"Um how are you feeling." That was a stupid question she knew it, but she didn't know where to start.

"Really," Regina snapped.

"I'm sorry. I understand the pain must be unbearable that was insensitive of me."

"Unbearable is an understatement," Regina sighed, "How did you know I was here?"

"Your sister texted me." Still standing awkwardly decides it was best she sat, "My parents are here. Your dad saw us and took them to get food or something." Regina still didn't say anything . Emma could see the pain on Regina's face and only could imagine what it felt like. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Emma I am in pain and unless you have a magical cure. Just stop talking." Regina snapped. "They are bringing me an epidural soon."

"Wait isn't that something we should discuss?" They hadn't talked about what would happen on the 'BIG DAY'.

"No its not."

"But-"Regina cut her off.

"Emma. Truthfully, I am trying to be really calm and not kill you right now. Even though you and everyone else are here does not mean you are suffering through this labor. I don't want you to take this personally, because I know you are trying, but I will do as I please in order to make it through this." Emma nodded and just sat quiet for five minutes as if she were a punished child. "Okay I can't do this. Say something. Anything!"

"I don't know what to say." Emma said defeated.

"You never do," Regina rolled her eyes. For a split second Emma couldn't help the feeling of frustration that swept over her. She quickly remembered though the conversation she and her father had before they got to the hospital. He told her that Regina would be in a lot of pain and that there was nothing she could do to stop it. He told her due to that pain she might say things in order to hurt others just to take away from that pain. It was Emma's job to no matter what was said or not said to take the brunt of her struggles and not let it affect her. So she asked the first thing that came to her head.

"What's it feel like?"

"It feels like I am cramping combined with someone twisting my insides." Regina gasped.

"So is he going to be ok? I know he is early and that sometimes premature babies don't make it." Emma could admit that she was nervous.

"When I got here the doctor said he looked good and that sometimes babies are just ready to come out." Emma still didn't feel better. "We will find out when he is here." This still didn't pacify Emma, 'maybe I shouldn't have drunk or smoked so much' Emma thought. "What is in the bag?"

"Oh," Regina's voice broke her out of thought. "I brought a kindle, some warm baby clothes and necessities, clothes for me and tooth brush for me, some snacks, my Nintendo and a warmer blanket. I would have brought your clothes and stuff, but you know." Emma pulled out each item out to show Regina. "I think most of this stuff will come in handy after he is here. My mother suggests you get as much sleep as possible even, but says you probably won't get much, because it's our first. She says after she had me she had this irrational fear that everything would harm me. My dad told me that in the beginning he sneezed and my mother would freak out either rush me to the emergency room or pump herself full of vitamins so I wouldn't get sick."

"Emma," Regina called to her. It was only then that she realized she was rambling.

"Shit I am rambling. Sorry." Emma half-hazard stuffed everything into her bag. As she was doing so a knock came on the door.

"Miss Mills?" a man in jeans and polo called out. He was accompanied by a nurse. "I am Jeff and I will be administering your Epidural."

"Thank God." Regina breathed of release. It took about 15 minutes for Jeff to get Regina pumped with the pain relieving drug. Emma did her best to hold Regina's hand as the anesthesiologist inserted the IV to Regina's spine. Inwardly though Emma could not stop the cringing feeling her body was having as they injected Regina. Finally getting the epidural Emma could see the instant relief on Regina's face.

"Does that feel better?"

"You have no idea." Regina seemed to be enjoying her relief.

"Good." Gathering her courage Emma finally was ready to talk, "You know I'm sorry about coming at you sideways the other day with the whole relationship thing. I just… you make me frustrated."

"I make you frustrated?" Regina raised an eyebrow.

"I mean not you, but just the whole situation makes me frustrated. I know that everything I have done till this point has set me back in the negatives in your books and –" Regina Stopped her.

"Emma stop." For a brief moment Emma could not stop the feeling of rejection that washed over her, "I am just done with this whole thing. I'm done talking about the past and I am done thinking about it." Emma could not stop herself from fidgeting, "If you want to be with me, fine. I have taken note of your want to be with me. As of right now though, I don't want to be with you."

"But-" Emma Tried to argue.

"There is no BUT Em. You are charming and very skillful with the ladies .I can admit that I find you very charming and sweet when you want to be. I like that about you. What I don't like about you is that you're a dick. That is the nicest way I can describe you." Emma's heart clenched as she listened to Regina explanation on how she perceived Emma. She had never wanted to be that way to Regina it would just slip out. "The way you treat Females is horrible. You say hurtful things to women when you don't get what you want. You treat them as a place to rest your dick. When you are finally in a "relationship" you still sleep around and don't care. Women, especially me, are not toys you play with just to throw away when you find a brand new."

"It's not like-"

"It is like that." Regina lifted her hand to signal she wasn't done, "That fact that you don't see it doesn't make it less true." Emma just nodded her head in acknowledgement. "I know everyone has told you this over and over and over. I understand this is feels like all the rest of the times you were told to stop fucking around and grow up, but really this is not me lecturing you. This is me being real with you. I am not a toy. I am a trophy. I want someone who will be proud of me. Who wants to polish me, by that I mean support me and help me grow. I want someone who isn't afraid to show me off or talk about me to their friends even if it might be embarrassing, because I am one of the best things in their life. Does that make sense?"

"Maybe?"

"Okay think of it this way. Think of everything you have done to a girl." Emma tried to push back her feeling and do what was asked of her. Personally she didn't think she was horrible to girls. Though she had done some really fucked up stuff she will admit that. There had been many times where she would just get up and never talk to a girl after she had slept with them. "Now imagine if that was your daughter or son that was treated like that." Emma didn't want to say anything. She knew Regina was right, but wasn't ready to admit it. "No one deserves to be treated poorly."

"I wouldn't treat you poorly." Emma mumbled.

"And you may not. But I just don't trust that you won't. That is where the problem lies. I just don't trust you."

"So because you don't trust me you will never give me a shot?" Emma was aggravated now. The thought of her transgressions forever haunting her angered her.

"No. That would be ridiculous, but until you can show me that you are changing, that you have changed. I don't want you right now, because the stuff I dislike about you out ways what I like, love, about you." Emma for the first time looked Regina in her deep brown eyes. "If you actually mean what you are claiming show me."

"How can I? I feel as if everything I do is wrong and I have tried, but it's never good enough."

"Have you really tried Em? The fact that you are stating that your tries are never good enough shows that you haven't really been trying. So maybe you should stop trying and just do." Emma just let Regina's words sink in. It was strange to be having a calm conversation with Regina. Emma probably had the drugs to thank. "I am going to tell you this Em after this talk I will not bring up the past or hold it against you. "

"Why?"

"I have come to peace with who you are as a person right now and truthfully I am tired of dealing with this weight. I have other thing that I have to worry about." Regina motioned to the impending life. "I also want to let you know that I will not fight what happens between us anymore, but I will not be with this high school bullshit Emma. So if you want me then show me I am more." Before Emma could say anything a knock on the door started the next hectic half of their lives.

At 07:46pm Henry Daniel Swan was born healthy and normal. Emma was so shocked that Cora literally smacked the back of her head. She couldn't help it as she stood there unable to look away as Regina pushed her son out. The first cry Henry let out she almost fainted. When the doctor allowed her to cut the umbilical cord she stumbled. Regina held him first and Emma merrily took in the sight engraining it into her mind. When the doctors asked if she would like to hold the newborn she shook her head. Emma feared that she would for sure faint or drop him or worse. In her mind Henry was the most fragile thing in the world. Regina looked at Emma with a face she could not read. Soon everything was cleared out and the hordes of people started filing in offering both of them congratulations. Unable to take the stress any longer Emma quietly made her escape. Believing that no one had noticed her Emma went outside for fresh air. Quickly she pulled out a cigarette and lit the stick up. Finding a bench she sat down covered her face. She couldn't help this feeling of anxiety that consumed her.

"You know if you're going to smoke it should be something to celebrate this moment." Her father said pulling her from her mind.

"I just needed a minute." Emma said her father offering her a cigar.

"It's a lot isn't it?" Emma just nodded as she lit the cigar. "I remember when you were born. You were so perfect and innocent. From the moment I saw you I promise I would never let anyone hurt you."

"That is not what I am going through right now."

"Probably not but you will be." He sat down next to her, "This I know is all over whelming and there will be time as a parent that that feeling will be back, but know that in you kids eyes you never do wrong."

"You never did anything wrong."

"That you know of. I have done a lot of things wrong, but the one thing I never did wrong was letting you know that no matter what I will always love you." Her father then patted her shoulder and went back inside leave his daughter to her thoughts.

She didn't know how long she was outside for, but after while she decided she needed to sneak back inside. Stopping at the small gift shop Emma picked up some flowers as well as a small blue bear. Upon seeing the item the whole room cooed and awed at the cuteness. Soon everyone left promising to return. No matter how hard Regina tried to send Emma home. Emma would not leave. Emma laid on the hospital issued cot which what hard and uncomfortable. Regina had passed out not long ago and Henry slept quietly. Curious Emma stood up and quietly made her way over to her son. She wanted to touch him. To hold him, but her fear and anxiety would not allow her to hold him.

"You can grab him you know" Regina's tired voice rang out in the quiet room.

"I know. I just… I'm scared." She didn't look at Regina but focus on staring at their son. "What If I drop him?"

"You're not going to drop him." Regina reassured her.

"But-"

"Emma Stop. You won't drop him trust me." Emma looked at Regina for reassurance then nodded. Focusing on what she was doing. "Make sure you support his neck." Emma gently slipped one hand under his neck and head and the other under his butt and back. Softly she lifted him out of his bed and stared at him but she could feel her body was ridged and stiff. As she stared at this child, her child, she couldn't help but take him in he looked like Regina so much already, but he had her nose and mouth. His hair was going to be dark like Regina' but his eyes she knew already would be like hers. Her father was right she would never let anyone her him even herself.

Thank ypu all for the wonderful comments. I cant ne believe i have recieved 100 of them. Thank ypu so much! So I wanted to put this not at the bottom as I didn't want to give the chapter away, but I know very little about child birth or how someone reacts forgive me if I portrayed it wrong. Also the next month and half will be really crazy busy so you may or may not see an update. Review and if you want follow me on storyfire scruz.