Chapter 15
Six months later…
Emma paced the living room, her nervous energy bouncing off the walls. Regina sat patiently on the couch, her legs bouncing with the same nervous energy in rhythm to Emma's pacing. They could feel each other's hearts beating with anxiety, and it felt like they were both going to have a heart attack on the spot.
The sound of the timer going off startled them both, their anxiety increasing tenfold.
Emma joined Regina on the couch, their hands finding each other's, their fingers lacing together as they stared at the white stick sitting face down on the coffee table. Time was up, and yet they were both too scared to look at the results. Taking a deep breath, Regina reached forward and grabbed the stick, keeping the results face down for a few more seconds.
"Ready?" Regina asked, clasping Emma's hand so tightly their fingers turned purple.
"No. But I don't think I'll ever be. Just do it," Emma said, her voice already sounding sad. They both took a deep breath as Regina turned the plastic stick over quickly, their hearts instantly breaking.
The test was negative. Emma wasn't pregnant.
"Well, that's a shocker," Emma said, her voice cracking as she held back tears.
"Maybe it was too early. You can take another test in a few days."
"What's the point, Regina? I'm not pregnant. Once again, I'm not pregnant," Emma snapped.
"We can try again next cycle. And in between. It's not as likely to become pregnant when not in heat, but not impossible," Regina said, trying to comfort Emma.
"Apparently, it's impossible for us," Emma said, letting the tears fall.
"Maybe we should make an appointment with a fertility specialist. See if there's a problem," Regina suggested.
"Find out what's wrong with me, you mean," Emma snapped again.
"That's not what I meant, and you know it!" Regina snapped back, tears streaming down her face. She took a deep breath before continuing. "When it happened, I was kicked repeatedly in the crotch. Hard. Very hard. What if there was damage done with that? It could just as easily be my fault, Emma. It's not all on you."
"But it could be," Emma said, her mood instantly changing from anger to sadness.
"It could be either of us," Regina said, kissing Emma softly. "I'm going to go make an appointment with a specialist. I'll be right back." She stood from the couch, disappearing into their bedroom with her cellphone.
As soon as the bedroom door closed, Regina broke down, her back falling against the door, her body slowly sliding down until she sat on the floor. So many bad things have happened to them, and for once they thought they were going to catch a break. She placed her hand against her chest, feeling the sorrow in Emma's heart as well as she dialed the phone of the fertility specialist she had found earlier that week when she had started doing research.
When she emerged from the bedroom fifteen minutes later, her eyes still red from crying, she found Emma laying on the couch with her knees tucked against her chest, her tears staining the couch cushion.
"We have an appointment for next Saturday morning. I checked your work schedule and made sure you weren't scheduled to work," Regina said, walking back into the room. She noticed the negative pregnancy test still sitting on the table where she left it. Scooping it up, she rushed into the kitchen to throw it away, and with it the memory of another failed attempt.
"Thanks," Emma said, her voice sounding completely defeated. Regina laid on the couch next to her, wrapping her arms around Emma from behind. "I just don't understand, Regina," Emma said, her voice hoarse from crying, fresh tears falling from her eyes. "What did we do wrong in this world to cause so many horrible things to happen to us?"
"I don't know, my love" Regina whispered, trying to put on a brave face for Emma. "But just like everything else, we'll get through it together. As long as we have each other, we can get through anything."
"I guess you're right," Emma said, her voice still sounding defeated.
They spent the rest of the day in relative silence, most of the day spent on the couch with their arms wrapped around each other. Emma went to bed early, asking Regina to give her a little time alone before she came to bed. She loved her wife with everything she had, but at that moment, she needed some time alone. Regina went to bed a few hours later. Without a word, she wrapped her arms around Emma in the exact moment she needed her the most.
The following week, they found themselves sitting in the office of the fertility specialist, nervously looking at all the diplomas and awards that littered the walls while they waited for the doctor.
"What if there's a problem?" Emma whispered, her leg shaking up and down while she tried to steady her hands.
"We can't think about that now. We have to stay positive," Regina answered, trying to calm Emma while covering up her own nerves. They both jumped when the office door opened and the doctor walked in.
"Good afternoon, ladies," Doctor Astrid said as she made her way to her desk. "What brings you here today?"
"We're having trouble conceiving a child." Regina answered.
"And how long have you been trying with no success?" Doctor Astrid asked.
"About six months," Regina answered as she clenched Emma's hand.
"Typically, we don't consider medical intervention for fertility issues until the couple has been unsuccessful for over a year. Have you become pregnant in the past and suffered a miscarriage?"
"No, no pregnancies. The tests have all been negative and I haven't missed a single period," Emma explained.
"Okay. Well, since it's only been six months and there have been no history of miscarriages, we won't intervene until it's been a year. Sometimes these things take time."
"We understand. However…" Regina took a tentative deep breath. "A few months before we began trying, we experienced a massive trauma…" Regina started to say, suddenly unable to continue.
"We were violently attacked," Emma finished. Doctor Astrid's eyes darted to the massive scar on the left side of Emma's neck then to the fresh mark on the right side. Her eyes filled with pity as she nodded to acknowledge the motives of their attackers.
"And…as part of the attack…I was kicked repeatedly…in the groin and abdominal area. It caused internal bleeding in my abdomen. But nothing was done to check to make sure my reproductive system was still functioning properly," Regina said, trying to hold back the tears. "I'm afraid that there was damage done during the attack. And I don't know if I can keep going and seeing all those negative pregnancy tests and keep thinking I could be broken."
"It's been a really rough few months," Emma said, taking Regina's left hand in both of hers.
"I understand. It can be a problem in the medical community. Female Alphas not getting proper medical care due to the staff's personal feelings. And yes, trauma to the abdomen and groin could cause permanent damage to the reproductive system," Doctor Astrid said with a sympathetic smile. "Let's start by running some tests on both of you. I'll need blood and urine samples from Emma, as well as a seman sample from you, Regina. Also, Emma will need a full pelvic exam. I'll run the tests and we will meet again next week when I have the results. And based on what the tests show, we will come up with a fertility plan. Hopefully, it won't come to that though."
"Thank you, doctor," Regina said, her eyes so vulnerable and so appreciative.
"It's my pleasure. Now, let's go get what we need." Doctor Astrid smiled, making her way to the door. A nurse led Regina into a small room where she was handed a specimen cup and told to provide a seman sample while she led Emma into an exam room to collect the blood and urine samples from her.
Regina walked into the small room and shuddered slightly, thinking of the amount of men who had walked into these rooms to provide a sample. She hoped they cleaned everything well. She became instantly anxious as she looked around and saw the recliner chair in the center. Next to the chair was a small table with a small container of lubricant and a box of tissues. A second table held a stack of pornography magazines. Directly across from the chair was a small counter with a television and a DVD player hooked up to it, with a row of pornographic DVDs stacked next to it. Embarrassment rose inside her as started looking through the pile of magazines, choosing one that she might enjoy. She flipped through the pages of naked women, but none of them sparked anything but more embarrassment. She moved to the row of DVDs, choosing one and setting it up in the player. She nervously sat on the chair as the video started. Two women began to kiss on the screen when she heard the beep of her cell phone, indicating a new text message. She pulled out her phone, ignoring the women on the screen who were now caressing each other, to read the message from Emma.
"How are things going?" Emma asked.
"Slowly," Regina responded, a little more embarrassed at the current situation.
"Is everything alright? Are you okay?" Emma asked instantly. Regina could feel her heartbeat quicken, knowing Emma was worried.
"I'm having a little trouble…getting motivated…" Regina texted back, ashamed at the situation.
"Can I come in?" Emma asked.
"Sure," Regina responded. A moment later, she heard a soft knock on the door. Rushing over to unlock it, she found a smiling Emma on the other side.
"Regina Swan-Mills, are you watching porn?" Emma asked as she entered the room. Regina closed the door the second Emma was in the room, locking the door quickly behind her.
"Yes," Regina admitted, her voice filled with shame and embarrassment, and a deep red color washing across her face as the sounds of the porn played in the background. "But it wasn't helping.".
"Can I help?" Emma asked, a dirty smile on her face. Regina nodded slowly, her face turning an even deeper shade of red as Emma led her back to the chair. "We don't need this." Emma smiled as she turned off the porn behind her, tossing the remote back on the shelf.
As soon as Regina was settled on the chair, Emma took off her shirt and climbed onto Regina's lap, grinding against her slightly as she kissed her wife passionately. Regina ran her fingers up Emma's bareback, unclasping her bra once she reached it, tossing it on the floor beside the chair. Her hands quickly moved to cup Emma's breasts, massaging them slightly as she deepened the kiss.
"Hey now, we're here to get you all worked up, not me." Emma laughed as she climbed off Regina.
"Your breasts always get me all worked up." Regina laughed as Emma unbuttoned her pants quickly, releasing her hard penis.
"I can see that." Emma laughed, her eyes full of lust.
Emma ran her tongue up the shaft of Regina's penis before taking the tip into her mouth, gently rubbing her free hand down the hard shaft. With each thrust, she took more and more of Regina into her mouth, Regina moaning her name. Knowing exactly how close Regina was to climaxing, Emma quickly grabbed the specimen cup off the table as Regina's orgasm came crashing over her suddenly, making sure to direct Regina's seed into the jar. She quickly replaced the top and put it down, while Regina attempted to regain her normal breathing rate.
"Have I ever told you how incredibly sexy you look when you come?" Emma asked, standing in front of Regina.
"It's a shame we have to stop, I owe you an orgasm," Regina said, her hands caressing Emma's breasts, sucking her left nipple lightly.
"Not fair. I have to go have a pelvic exam. It's embarrassing enough as it is, and now I have to do it all turned on." Emma laughed, her fingers lacing themselves through Regina's hair. "But, I will definitely take you up on that offer as soon as we get home." She laughed as she peeled herself away from Regina to get redressed. They fixed themselves quickly before leaving the room, Regina's sample in her hand, as they quickly made their way back to the exam room where they waited for Doctor Astrid to perform Emma's pelvic exam.
One very long week later, they found themselves back in the office, awaiting their test results. By the end of the day, they will know if they are able to conceive and what their next step will be. Emma was so nervous she was sure she was going to be sick, and if it wasn't for Regina's constant support, she wouldn't have made it there. After a few minutes of silence, the office door opened and Doctor Astrid entered, taking a seat across the desk, opening their file.
"Welcome back, ladies," Doctor Astrid said, scanning the pages of the file once more. "I have the result of your tests. And…it doesn't look good, if I'm being honest."
"Oh god," Regina said, her voice shaky. "I was right. There's damage from the attack."
"Actually, no. Your tests came back perfect. Your sperm count and mobility are all within the normal range. There does not appear to have been any damage done."
"So the problem is with me," Emma said quietly, reaching for Regina's hand.
"I'm afraid so. Your pelvic exam came back normal; however, your blood test showed something abnormal. There was no indication of the Luteinizing hormone, the hormone responsible for releasing eggs. In fact, it is not just low, it is absent completely. You are not producing the hormone needed to release eggs," Doctor Astrid explained.
"Okay, so what does that mean? Are there treatments I can do that will allow me to release an egg?" Emma asked.
"There might be, but it all depends on what the underlying cause is. We would have to run some more tests before we can put together a fertility plan."
"Before we start, I should disclose that I was forced to take suppressors for longer than recommended when I was younger," Emma said, her voice low.
"How long did you take them for?" Doctor Astrid asked.
"More than five years. Maybe closer to seven years, actually."
"Well, that changes things. Research has proven that the use of suppressors for more than two years can cause permanent infertility. The overuse of suppressors causes damage to the ovary; more specifically, they destroy all the remaining eggs inside them. When there are no eggs left to be released, the ovaries no longer release the Luteinizing hormone."
"Are there fertility treatments we can do?" Regina asked, knowing Emma's heart was breaking.
"Even with treatment, it is unlikely that Emma would conceive naturally. Your uterus is working properly, so insemination is a possibility, but you would need to use an egg donor. I'm sorry to say, but Emma, you will never conceive a biological child," Doctor Astrid said, pausing to allow them to process the new information. "I know this is a lot to take in. Take some time and discuss your options. If you choose the insemination and donor route, please do not hesitate to come back in and we can get the process going. We can work together to find a donor that matches Emma's features."
"Thank you, Doctor. We'll be in touch," Regina said quietly.
The commute home was uncomfortable. Regina made the decision to take a cab home, knowing the subway would be too overwhelming for both of them after receiving such bad news. Emma didn't say a word once they left the doctor's office. Regina could feel her pain and knew her wife was using all her energy not to burst into tears. All Regina could do was hold her hand, a silent reminder that she was there for it and would always be there.
As soon as they walked into their apartment, Emma ran over to the couch, her arms resting on her legs, her head in her hands as she let the tears she had been struggling to hold back began to fall.
"I'm so sorry, Regina…" Emma cried, her tears falling into a puddle on the floor. "This is all my fault. I'm so sorry."
"None of this is your fault," Regina said, pulling Emma in her arms.
"Yes it is, Regina. It's because of the suppressors I took. They made me sterile," Emma cried into Regina's shoulder. "I knew that could happen, but I took them anyway."
"You took them because you had to. Because it wasn't safe for you. You took them out of necessity," Regina said, rubbing Emma's back, hoping to calm her down, as her own silent tears fell into Emma's hair. "If this is anyone's fault it's mine. I should have looked harder for you. I should have found you sooner."
"No! Stop! It's not your fault! There's no way it was your fault, Regina. You needed to start school. You needed to focus on studying. I never blame you for the time we were apart. I blame your mother, and your mother only! But never once did I blame you for not finding me. Never!" Emma said, pulling away from Regina's shoulder to look her in the eyes. "You found me. You saved me. That's all that matters."
"Then you can't blame yourself either," Regina said, wiping the tears from Emma's face. "If we need to blame anyone, we can blame my mother for separating us."
"I think I can handle that," Emma said, trying to smile through her grief.
"And when you're ready, we'll discuss our options. I'll support you in any direction you want to take," Regina said, grabbing Emma's hands tightly.
"I don't think I can do it, Regina. I don't think I can carry a child knowing it's not part me. I know the child would be part you, but the other part won't be me, Regina. It would be your child with another woman," Emma said, her voice shaky with emotion. "I know you wouldn't be sleeping with the other woman, that's not it. And I know it would be our child no matter what. I just…I don't think I could give birth to a child that wasn't one hundred percent a combination of both of us. But by saying that, I'm denying you a biological child as well, which is very selfish of me, isn't it?"
"It's not selfish at all, my love. I completely understand. Knowing the child isn't part you would destroy me as well. Having a biological child means nothing to me if that child isn't part you as well," Regina said. "There is always another option for us to expand our family."
"We could adopt," Emma said, knowing exactly what Regina's is suggesting.
"How would you feel about that?" Regina asked, knowing Emma's history in the foster system.
"We could give a child the family I never had," Emma whispered, her eyes wide with excitement.
"That was what I was thinking as well," Regina said, smiling at Emma's sudden excitement. "Is that the route you want to take? You can take more time to think this over."
"I don't need more time. I want to adopt, Regina. I want to give a child a home. Give them the hope and the love that I never had. This is definitely what I want to do," Emma said, her voice filled with more confidence than she's had in weeks.
"Then it looks like we will be adopting a child." Regina smiled as Emma's face lit up with excitement. It finally looked like things may be looking up after all.
Emma held Regina's hand so tightly as they followed the social worker through their apartment, their bodies cringing everytime they watched her scribble something on her pad. This was their third and final home inspection before they found out the final decision from CPS as to whether they would be able to be placed on the list to adopt a child. Eventually, the three made their way back into the living room, settling in on the couch while the social worker sat on the chair beside them.
"First thing I want to say is, please release that deep breath I know both of you are holding. I have nothing but good news to report," the social worker said with a smile.
"Thank god," Emma said, releasing her deep breath with a happy sigh.
"Everything that I have seen during every home inspection has been positive. I couldn't even find a speck of dust out of place. You've both done an incredible job preparing for a child," she said, closing the file that was sitting in her lap. "Without further ado, I would like to tell you that your application has been officially accepted, and you are now officially on the list of possible foster parents."
"That's incredible news, thank you," Regina said, a wide smile on her face.
"Now that you are officially foster parents, we need to discuss your options. Are your intentions still foster to adopt?" the social worker asked.
"Yes. We are definitely still looking to adopt," Emma answered immediately.
"That's good to hear. Now, because you are looking to adopt, we will not call you for temporary placements, unless we have no other option. Because of that, it might take a while for us to place a child with you. Do you have a preference in age or gender?"
"No preference. We are open to adopting any child that needs a home," Regina said.
"That's excellent. And between you and me, the fact that Regina, you are a Female Alpha and that you, Emma, were also part of the foster system, helps things greatly," the social worker said, standing from her seat. "You've both done very well. Now just sit tight and wait for us to call you. I have a good feeling about you both." She shook both their hands and left the apartment. They sat on the couch for a second together as they processed what just occurred.
"We did it. We've been approved," Emma whispered, still in shock. "We're going to get a child."
"Yes," Regina said, letting the happy tears fall. "All we have to do now is wait."
Waiting is the hardest part of the whole adoption process. Not the parenting classes the state of New York required them to take just to be able to apply to become foster parents. Not all the home inspections and interviews they had to endure. None of those things were as hard as waiting. Six months passed at a glacial pace after their final meeting with the social worker, not hearing a peep since.
Regina sighed as she settled back into the dining room table, case files spread out in front of her. Emma walked by and kissed her lightly on the top of her head as she grabbed the last of the dinner dishes, taking them into the kitchen to finish cleaning up while Regina dove back into work. Admittedly, she had been burying herself in work when the waiting grew too overwhelming. Her eyes followed Emma as she walked back into the kitchen. Her brain began to play the " What If's" game as she watched Emma continue to wash the dishes that were too large for the dishwasher. What if we never get chosen? What if we never get a child to adopt? What if we made the wrong choice? she thought, causing tears to well in her eyes.
Just as she wiped away the tears that had begun to collect in her eyes, her cell phone rang in the other room. Releasing a defeated sigh, knowing it was probably someone from work calling to give her more work, she shuffled toward her phone, answering it without even looking at the caller ID.
"Good evening, may I speak to Regina Swan-Mills?" the unknown voice asked on the other end of the line.
"Speaking," Regina answered, slightly annoyed at the interruption of the evening.
"This is Belle French. I'm calling from the New York State Department of Child Protective Services. Is now a good time?"
"Yes, of course it is," Regina said, her voice changing suddenly.
"I'm calling to inform you that we have a young lady in need of immediate permanent placement. Are you and your wife still available?" Belle French asked.
Regina's heart sped up instantly as she listened to those words. Emma stopped what she was doing when she felt the sudden change in Regina's heartbeat, turning around and scanning the room for her wife.
"Yes! Yes we are definitely still available," Regina said as she made eye contact with Emma.
"Great. We are on our way to you now. We should be arriving in about an hour, maybe an hour and a half from now. Is that enough time for you to prepare?" Belle French asked.
"Yes, of course. That's plenty of time," Regina responded, still in shock.
"Great. We'll see you soon," Belle said, hanging up the phone.
"See you soon," Regina said to an empty line. She stared at her blank phone for a second, still in shock from the phone call.
"Regina?" Emma said, her eyes fixed on her wife as she stood in the living room like a statue. "What happened?"
"That was CPS…a social worker named Belle French is on her way here…with a child…for us…" Regina started to say, her brain still trying to process the information.
"Really?" Emma said, her face just as shocked as Regina's. "We're getting a child?"
"We're getting a child…" Regina whispered, tears filling her eyes.
Emma immediately ran to their spare room, ripping the sheets off the bed, throwing them into the hallway. She nearly slipped on them when she ran out to the linen closet to pull out a fresh set, remaking the bed three times to make sure it was perfect. She ran to the bathroom closet and pulled out a fresh toothbrush, leaving it on the nightstand next to the bed, just in case the child didn't have one. From her own experience as a foster kid, she knew that you only have a few minutes to pack all of your belongings. Some things get left behind, and a toothbrush is usually the last thing you're thinking about packing when you only have a few minutes. After fixing the sheets on the bed a few more times, she rushed back into the livingroom to search for Regina, finding her in the kitchen, frantically tossing ingredients into a bowl, flour on every surface.
"Chocolate chip cookies," Regina said as she turned the mixer on, rushing off to find the cookie sheets. "I didn't know what to do with myself."
"Everyone loves chocolate chip cookies. They'll love them, especially when they find out that you made them just for them," Emma said, causing Regina to smile as her eyes shifted to the folders and notes spread out on the table. She rushed over to clean it up when she realized the mixer was still running. "Finish the cookies. I'll clean off the table, then I'll help you clean up the flour explosion." Emma laughed, pushing Regina back into the kitchen.
An hour later, the apartment smelled like fresh cookies as they both stood in the kitchen nervously plating the cookies when there was a knock on the door. They both jumped when they heard the knock, looking at each other in panic. Regina rushed toward the door, leaving Emma in the kitchen to finish with the cookies. She took a deep breath before ripping open the door so hard she was convinced it came off the hinges.
Standing on the other side of the door was a woman she had never seen before, wearing a lanyard with an ID, stating she was a caseworker in the CPS department. Standing behind the woman was a tall blonde girl, her head hanging low with embarrassment. Regina's heart swelled when she saw the young girl. She knew it was meant to be.
"Hi. I'm Regina. Please, come in!" she said, opening the door wide to welcome them in, closing the door behind them. "This is my wife, Emma." Regina rushed over to Emma, who was placing the cookies on the coffee table.
"I'm Belle French, and this young lady is Alice Jones," Belle said, introducing the blonde girl.
"Alice, it's wonderful to meet you. We are so happy to have you here," Emma said, taking over the conversation. She understood how Alice felt, having been in the exact same position so many times before.
"Hi…" Alice said shyly.
"Before we allow Alice to settle in, I would like to go over her situation with you," Belle said, motioning for everyone to take a seat.
Emma and Regina sat on the couch next to Belle, while Alice took the chair off to the side, sitting with her knees to her chest, a defensive move that Emma knew all too well.
"This is Alice Jones, and she just turned sixteen and newly presented," Belle explained, glancing over at the shy teenager.
"Happy belated birthday," Regina said, turning her attention back to Alice.
"Thanks…" Alice whispered. Belle didn't need to continue the story. Regina already understood what happened.
"Alice presented as an Alpha, and unfortunately, her parents did not accept her presentation," Belle explained. Regina inhaled deeply suddenly, remembering when she presented as an Alpha and her own mother's reaction to it. She was suddenly very grateful for her father's continued support of her after. "Alice's parents have made the decision to send her away, which is when they called us to take her into our care. It is their intention to sign away their parental rights once she is placed in the right home."
"You are always welcome here," Regina said, trying to put the teenager at ease.
They continued to talk for a few more minutes until Belle took her leave, instructing the women to call her if they needed anything, day or night. Alice sat in silence as she watched the social worker leave, waving goodbye to the scared girl.
"Can…I…have a cookie?" Alice asked once they were alone, her body still closed off.
"Of course!" Regina said, offering the plate to Alice. She nervously grabbed a cookie off the top and took a small, tentative bite.
"They're really good," Alice said, shyly.
"You know, as soon as we found out you were coming, Regina ran into the kitchen to start making them so they would be warm and fresh as soon as you got here," Emma said, taking a cookie from the plate.
"You did?" Alice asked, her voice a little excited.
"Of course. I wanted to make sure you had a special treat when you got here." Regina smiled as Emma took a second cookie from the plate, showing Alice it was alright to have a second.
"Thank you," Alice said, taking a second cookie, her legs staying on the ground this time instead of against her chest.
"Hey, I know how you're feeling. We both do, actually," Emma said, motioning to Regina. "I grew up in the foster system. I bounced around a lot growing up. I lost count of how many foster homes and group homes I lived in until I left the system."
"Oh…" Alice said, sounding a little scared.
"But that's not going to happen to you, okay? You are welcome here as long as you want," Emma said. The fear began to drain from Alice's face as she reached for a third cookie.
"I don't know if Miss French told you this, but I am an Alpha as well," Regina said, grabbing a cookie, joining the two blondes in their snack. "I've been in your shoes. I know how you feel."
"Did your parents throw you away too?" Alice asked, her eyes filling with tears.
"Not completely. My father supported me, and still does. My mother disowned me though. Forced me to hide who I was and forced me to move out as soon as I graduated high school. She even had Emma sent away when she discovered that we had found each other, to keep us apart. We were separated for five years," Regina said, reaching for Emma's hand.
"That sucks," Alice said, sounding like she was finally lowering her guard a little and getting to know the women in front of her.
A little while later, after all the cookies were gone, they showed Alice to her room, letting her know that if she needed anything, anything at all, to come knock on their door. They climbed into bed shortly after leaving Alice, almost too excited to sleep.
Not even a half an hour later, there was a soft knock on their door.
"Are…you guys still awake?" Alice said softly through the door.
"Of course, come in," Regina said. They watched as the door slowly opened, revealing Alice standing in the doorway in a pair of Emma's plaid pajama pants. "Are you okay? Do you need anything?"
"Yeah, I'm alright. I just had a question. Umm…should I be taking suppressors? No one told me if I should start taking them or not," Alice asked nervously.
"Suppressors are very dangerous if taken too long," Regina said, reaching for Emma's hand under the covers. "But they are very important at your age to prevent unwanted teenage attention. How about this? We'll give your body a few days to adjust to your presentation, and once you start school, you can start taking them. How does that sound?"
"Okay," Alice said shyly.
"And I'll talk to Miss French. Maybe try to give you a week or two to adjust to everything before we toss you into a new high school. I know how hard it is adjusting to a new placement while trying to adjust to a new school. We'll let you take your time," Emma added, knowing how nervous Alice was feeling.
"Okay," Alice said, smiling a little, turning to leave. "Thanks…for everything…"
"You never have to thank us," Emma said.
"Okay." Alice smiled, her first genuine smile she had since her parents rejected her presentation.
A/N: What do you think so far? I hope you're not mad at me!