Mary Margaret smiled as she put on the cap and gown. She was wearing a huge gown, the largest size they had; it was still a little tight around her very pregnant form. It had also ended up being way too long, and since it was only a rental and she couldn't cut it, it was pinned up awkwardly around her ankles. But it didn't matter. She was graduating today!

She headed outside to David's waiting car, hopping in beside him. "You excited?"

"Of course. You?"

"Yes! Freedom! We're adults, and now we'll be graduated, too."

He nodded at the house. "I guess your stepmother isn't coming?"

She chuckled. "No. I mean, maybe, but if so it's purely in her capacity as mayor. You know she doesn't care one bit about me."

"Are you absolutely sure of that?"

"Pretty sure, yeah."

He gave her a small smile. "It's really happening."

"I know!" She smiled as they headed to the graduation.

When they got there, Belle was standing with Aurora, Phillip, Ella, and Thomas. "Hey!" Mary Margaret called when they got out.

Aurora smiled. "Hi!"

"Is Robert here?" Mary Margaret asked Belle.

"Yes, he's up in the stands. He almost couldn't get a babysitter for Neal, but he found one. He said he's only sitting a couple rows behind my dad, though; I hope they don't end up talking."

"You still haven't told your dad you're dating?" Ella said, shaking her head.

"He knows I'm dating a man named Robert, just not that he's three years older than me and has a son."

"So they haven't met," David clarified.

"No."

"Good luck with that," Mary Margaret said with a chuckle.

Ariel and Eric walked over to them. "You guys ready for the ceremony?" Ariel asked.

"Absolutely," Ella said. She glanced up at the stands. "Are those all of your sisters?" Six women between the ages of 20 and 30 sat in the stands, a gray-haired man at the end of the row.

Ariel nodded. "And dad."

"My parents are over there," Aurora said, pointing. "All of them, I think."

Ruby and Dorothy came over to the group in their caps and gowns. "Who else is so ready to graduate?" Ruby asked.

"Me," said Mary Margaret.

"And me," said Mulan, walking up behind them. "We'd better get to our places."

They all moved to their places and Mary Margaret looked out with a smile. This was it, she was graduating, getting ready to move out into the adult world.

Ten minutes later, she heard her name called. "Mary Margaret Blanchard!"

She walked across the stage and received her diploma with a wide smile, then took her seat.

Another hour later, all of the speeches were done, and she threw her cap in the air, grinning widely. Then she met up with everyone on the field.

"Group picture of the graduates?" Ruby asked.

"Sounds great," said Belle. "I'll ask Robert to take it."

When the picture was done, Ella said, "So-celebration at Granny's?"

"Let's go," said Mulan.

They all smiled as they ate their food, which Granny had said was on the house in honor of the graduates. After about two hours, they were all getting ready to go home, when Mary Margaret suddenly felt a sharp pain in her abdomen. "Oh!" she exclaimed, and they all turned to look at her.

"Mary Margaret?" David said, concerned.

"David, I think-I think it's starting."

"Oh-oh god," he said. "Should I call the hospital?"

"I think we're supposed to wait a little bit before doing that? Let's just get to your house..."

"Alright." They got in the car and started driving to his house; about ten minutes into the drive, she felt another contraction. "Another one," she said. "How long has it been?"

"Twelve minutes."

"Okay. I think we're supposed to call the hospital when they're a minute apart?"

"That seems too late."

"I don't know what we're supposed to do!"

"Should I just drive us to the hospital in case?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"Good thing you're not wearing the gown anymore, I don't think the company that rented them would appreciate this."

"David!"

"Sorry."

They got to the hospital ten minutes later; as they went up to the checkout desk, another contraction started. They brought out a wheelchair for her to sit in and wheeled her into the maternity ward.

As they moved, she felt the strangest sensation, and said, "I think my water just broke."

They put her into a bed, and she stayed there for the next ten hours, the contractions getting closer and closer together. Then they took her into the delivery room.

Two hours later, she held in her arms the most precious and beautiful thing she had ever seen. "Hi, Emma."

David smiled at the little bundle in her arms. "She's beautiful."

"Isn't she?"

"The greatest baby anybody could ever hope for."

"And she's ours."

"Not for long," said a voice.

Mary Margaret looked up, and could swear her heart stopped for a moment. "Regina? How did you get in here?"

"I'm the mayor."

"And what do you want?"

"Isn't it obvious? I want Emma."

To be continued...