Chapter 34
Emma decided that she should sleep on the couch that night, after helping Regina up the stairs.
The brunette hated to sleep without her girlfriend, but she was happy Emma had actually come home to her. Regina figured she could eventually accept the running, as long as Emma always came back to her.
Even though she wouldn't admit it out loud, the farther Regina went into her pregnancy, the fear of losing Emma sadly strengthened.
She knew Emma needed space though, so she didn't put up a fight, because she knew if she pushed too hard, she could push Emma away for good.
Regina sighed and stared up at the ceiling as she felt the tears roll freely down her cheeks.
"I wish you were here, Daddy… I really do." Regina whispered between silent sobs. Soon after, she finally wore herself out and began drifting in and out of a restless sleep.
Emma, on the other hand, couldn't even be still.
She paced up and down the hardwood floor in the immaculate living room. Even though she didn't realise she was doing it, she looked at her duffle bag time and time again. Like always, it was standing by the door.
Regina had tried to move it to the bedroom earlier when they arrived at the cottage, but Emma had panicked over that, and broken down in tears because of it.
"So that's it. Everything is out of the car, and carried upstairs, my queen." Emma said with a big grin towards her heavily pregnant girlfriend.
"Yes, expect for this." Regina said as she reached for Emma's duffle bag, but the blonde quickly snagged it right out of her grip.
"No. That stays there." Emma said with low growl in her voice, as she put it back down by the door again.
Regina frowned, as she took a step forward and cupped Emma's face in her hands.
"Emma, it's just a duffle bag, dear, and I have plenty of space in the closet upstairs." Regina smiled and placed a kiss on her girlfriend's temple but Emma pulled away with a grimace.
"It's not that simple." the blonde stated gently. "I've always had my bag by the door, and I want it that way."
"Why?" Regina challenged, when she soon realized that wasn't a smart move. Emma was quiet for a few long seconds, then had a far away look as she spoke.
"Because, when I was a kid, I never knew when I had to run away, or when I would get thrown out. I'm a fucking foster kid, remember? I'm not the type of person that people want to keep around for long..." Emma spoke clearly devoid of emotion, and Regina flinched.
"Emma I'm sorry, I didn't mean…"
"Save it." the blonde growled, seemingly snapping back to reality. As she swung around, she accidently made a vase fall down to the floor.
The sound of it cracking freaked the blonde out completely. Emma quickly curled up into a ball and had a small panic attack. Regina carefully sat down beside her girlfriend and met her terrified eyes.
This, of course, concerned Regina, and she had no idea how to navigate this situation. She supposed the best thing to do, would be to remain calm, and somehow soothe the blonde.
So she wiped the stunned look off of her face as she sat beside the heavily breathing blonde, then spoke gently.
"Emma, I love you." she spoke honestly as she slowly moved her hand to run small fingers through thick blonde tresses. Emma calmed dramatically.
"Okay?" Emma nodded and crawled into Regina's arms. The brunette knew Emma was used to getting beaten when she did stupid things like this, but Regina didn't care. A vase was replaceable. Her girlfriend was not.
It had obviously been years since she had been punished in such a way, but with everything going on, she kind of understood why Emma would be especially sensitive right now.
Emma wasn't upset with Regina, and it wasn't her intent to punish her. So she took a deep breath and walked carefully up the stairs. She opened the door and cleared her throat.
"Emma?" Regina breathed and dried her eyes. She had recently woken up for the third time, and began crying immediately after.
"Can I sleep in your bed?" Emma asked as she tugged on her bottom lip. Regina didn't answer.
She just removed the covers and patted on the bed beside her. Emma offered her a small smile, and climbed in beside her.
The two laid facing each other. After a few quiet seconds of mapping out each other's features, Emma spoke quietly.
"Regina, I'm sorry for being such a bitch. I really don't want to use my past as an excuse, but.." Emma shrugged and Regina cracked a smile as she interrupted.
"These past couple of days have been an emotional roller-coaster for us both, dear." Regina chuckled and stroke Emma's cheek. "Not to mention everything else…" Regina trailed off as she gently took Emma's hand, then moved to place it on her stomach.
"Yeah," Emma replied breathlessly. "but I didn't mean to make you sad, you know..."
"Emma, I know, everything is confusing, for the both of us. This whole thing with my mother…..is just. It's weird, to say the least. Plus, my hormones probably make me into a roller-coaster as well."
"Nah, You're perfect," Emma whispered in reply to the second part as she laced their fingers together over Regina's protruding belly.
"and I kinda gave her a taste of her own medicine, huh?" Emma chuckled and Regina nodded as she pressed her lips against Emma's.
"Yes, dear. I think you really got my mother to understand how much you love me." Regina stated and Emma smiled brightly.
"She doesn't know the half of it." Emma promised as she brought their hands up to her lips for a kiss.
Regina felt a light inside of her shining at those words. Something just seemingly clicked into place for her.
In that very moment, she knew that this blonde, her beautiful Emma, would be worth everything in the world. Regina would be damned if she let herself lose this beautiful creature.
The next morning Belle came up to the main house and met Regina with a quirky smile.
Regina knew her friend had something planned, and just like back in the old days, it was just something between the two of them.
Emma understood that without either of them saying anything, so she gave them some privacy, and went to the bathroom to brush her teeth.
"You're in a really good mood, Miss French." Regina chuckled and Belle shrugged.
"Yeah, maybe, but ehm….do you still have that carriage for Rocinante?"
"Yes. Daddy and I repaired it just before he got sick." Regina said with a sad but fond smile.
"Ehm, I thought we could take a trip into the little village and ehm, shop for something quite special…." Belle grinned and turned to Emma as she returned to the room.
Emma raised an eyebrow and Regina chuckled at the other brunette's excitement. "Besides, Ruby has planned a day for her and Emma anyway….. So, I thought an adventure for just the two of us would be kinda great!"
"and I guess Rubes is still asleep as well huh?" Emma said and Belle rolled her eyes, but nodded.
"That woman could sleep through a tornado," Belle sighed as she looked back at Regina. "but ehm, I got to go take a shower. We'll meet by the stables in...maybe an hour or so?"
"Yes, that sounds good, Belle." Regina answered with a chuckle.
"Awesome!" Belle squealed before she left the house. Regina raised an eyebrow and went back to the kitchen table and sat down next to Emma.
"What's she's so happy about?" Emma asked curiously, but Regina just shrugged happily as she took a sip of her tea.
Regina wasn't sure what Belle was so excited about, but she was sure it had to be some kind of surprise for Ruby. The two were crazy about each other.
"And what are you gonna need Rocinante for by the way?" Emma asked as she squinted her eyes over her coffee cup.
"I'm not gonna ride him dear, I promise you." Regina stated with a small smile. "He's just gonna pull me and Belle on a carriage. I promise it's totally safe, Emma." Regina tried to reassure and Emma still squinted in her direction.
"Hm, okay then…." the blonde spoke. Regina tried for another reassuring smile.
"Emma," Regina spoke as she laid her hand over her girlfriend's "I promise, okay?"
"Fine.." Emma groaned and Regina couldn't help but laug. Regina loved how protective Emma was.
Belle smirked as she left the main house. She had been planning to do this for a long time, but today was gonna be the day.
She was gonna buy Ruby an engagement ring!
Belle's coma had really showed her just how precious life was. She knew this was a bit crazy, but she had planned to speak with Granny first. To get her blessing, of course. So the fact that Ruby slept like a log was just convenient right now.
"Good morning, Belle." Granny greeted as the brunette walked up on the porch where Granny was sitting in the sun, and enjoying some breakfast.
Belle smiled at the sight. The old woman had worked hard her whole life to give Ruby the best life she could, and Emma later on too, of course.
She had hardly thought of herself in all these years, and even though Granny loved to work, the fact of the matter was that she was getting older, and her body would eventually demand she stepped down. So to see her actually sit down and relax right now, was a wonderful sight.
"Morning, Granny!" Belle replied with a nervous tone that Granny immediately picked up on. She put down her newspaper and pointed to the chair next to her.
"Belle, what's wrong?" the woman spoke concerned
"Oh nothing…. I just.." Belle worried her hands nervously. "God, this is really embarrassing, but ehm, you know how I'm a bit old fashioned?" she started and did not appreciate the sarcastic reply she could already hear leaving the old lady's lips.
"Well in some ways, you know?" Belle mumbled and bit her lip as Granny smirked.
"Yes, my dear, that we can agree on, but I promise I'm not gonna bite. So please tell me what's going on in that head of yours." Granny replied impatiently.
"I ehm, I want to ask for your blessing...Because ehm, I want to ask Ruby to marry me and ehm." she swallowed thickly before she continued.
"I know it's crazy, and that we're young, but I love her so so much. I just want her to be happy. I mean us. I want us to be happy. Together. I want to make her happy."
"Oh my god, Belle!" Granny silently screamed with tears of happiness stinging in her eyes. "Of course you have my blessing!" Granny exclaimed quietly and dragged Belle into a tight hug.
Belle buried her face in the old woman's hair, and wondered what her parents would have said about this if they still had been alive.
Belle's parents were both well into their fifties when she was born. They had actually given up on having any children, so when Belle finally arrived, they saw her as a miracle.
Her entire childhood was filled with memories of her playing with her retired parents any time she wanted.
Memories of the three of them working on the farm. Memories of her father teaching her to read, and her mother teaching her to ride a bike.
She really had no idea until she was a teenager, but her parents had spent most of their fortune on trying to have children. The process was expensive, and complicated to her, even now.
When Belle was only 15 years old, and had just started dating Ruby, both of her parents passed away in a fatal car accident.
They had just sold the farm, so Belle inherited a huge sum of money, but due to a misprint on a few documents, she couldn't touch it until she turned eighteen.
Granny, who had always been like a grandmother to her, helped her get an apartment, and helped her with stuff like supplies for school. Even gave her a job at the diner with flexible hours.
So getting Granny's blessing meant the world to Belle, and was crucial. Granny had been so close to Belles parents that it felt like she got their approval when she got Granny's.
Regina smiled as she went out to the pasture to get Rocinante ready. As she led the horse to the barn, where the old carriage stood, Rocinante started to trot on his spot, just making Regina laugh. He really loved pulling it.
"There there boy, have some patience." Regina said as she patted his neck.
"Oh, I see he's as eager as he was that time you, me, and Ruby want to the village…. you know which time I'm talking about, huh?" Belle asked and Regina couldn't help but smile. Indeed she knew what, of all the trips, Belle was referring to.
"Oh yes, that was a fun trip!" Regina chuckled and Belle nodded.
"Oh yes! Poor Ruby..." Belle started as she burst out in laughter at that memory. "Remember how she refused to go near your horse the whole week after that?" the two laughed out loud
"And she didn't get any less upset when Daddy joined in on teasing her.." Regina added
"Yeah, your Dad was awesome," Belle said with a gentle tone and nudged Regina's shoulder as the two calmed "but this time none of us are gonna bathe in the mud, right?"
"Hopefully not." Regina smirked as Belle helped her to climb up onto the carriage and get settled.
Granny shook her head and chuckled when Ruby came out on the porch. Her adoptive daughter was, for some reason, wearing a really ugly green cap on her head.
And she was carrying two fishing rods, and a bag with some bait, beers and sandwiches.
"Wow! Look at you!" She chuckled again at the sight and Ruby rolled her eyes.
"You taking Emma out fishing?" Granny asked.
"Yeah, I thought we should take advantage of nature, and it's healing abilities, right?" Ruby grinned.
"Yeah, I can't argue with that, but please don't let Cora see those beers okay?" Granny said with a wink. Ruby rolled her eyes but nodded.
"I promise, Granny. See you later. Love you!" Ruby said as she leaned in and gave Granny a big hug, before the she made her way up to the main house.
Granny leaned back in the sun chair and took a big breath. She enjoyed the countryside, just like she always had.
Unfortunately, she had never had the money to move outside of town, and she didn't have any big savings either.
All of her money was invested in her diner, and she knew she could probably afford a little cottage if she sold it, but she couldn't do that.
Granny had always dreamed about Ruby taking over the place when she retired. Now she hoped at least one of daughter's would take over.
Granny shook her head at her thoughts, as she decided to focus on what was now.
A smirk appeared on her face as she remembered that Ruby had told her she wanted Granny to move in with them, in her and Belle's house.
She could only hope it was a promise ruby would keep.
Everything works out in the end, doesn't it? Granny thought to herself as she closed her eyes as she drifted off to sleep.
Hopefully.