***Author Note: I totally got traumatized looking up birth/pregnancy stuff this week. I clicked on a link and there was a "featured video" of a water birth and no matter where you scrolled on the page you could not get rid of it in the side-bar! I've gotten so used to videos playing in the side-bar I didn't even notice until there was blood and baby head stretching stuff. It was weird and awful and it may be natural but I should always have a choice to watch something or not. I am DEATHLY afraid of sharks (like I get the shakes just seeing a shark) and it was Shark Week last week, for those of you who don't know, and they advertise that crap a bunch but I wasn't traumatized by sharks once. I gotta give Discovery Channel and Animal Planet some kudos... but not pregnancy websites apparently! Also thank you guys so much for all the positive feedback. I love reviews especially. Hint. Hint. :) Here's a new update for all you lovelies out there. Enjoy!
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WEEK 11
"I'm really nervous about telling Henry. Aren't you?"
"Not particularly. Our son has expressed nothing but the desire to have us be happy over the years and having another child is going to make us both happy. I think he is going to love it. He always wanted a little sister to spoil and protect. You know how much he loves being the hero."
The women were in Regina's attic looking for boxes of Henry's old baby clothes to go through and sort. Regina had expressed that she wanted to at least get a couple boxes sorted each weekend. Since they didn't yet know the baby's sex Emma had suggested that they sort into categories: anything that could potentially be reused, anything Regina wanted to save as "just Henry's", and anything that was donation or simply trash Regina had been too sentimental to discard years ago.
"I know but you don't think that he will think that we are trying to replace him. Do you?"
"Of course not Emma. Henry knows we love him dearly and I think he is old enough now for us to explain our logic in this decision. We will tell him that each of us knew we wanted at least one more child and we figured that at least if you and I have a baby now, together, him and his sibling will have the same two parents. We are trying to make things as conventional as we canfor him in a town where Snow White is his maternal grandmother and Rumpelstiltskin is his paternal Grandfather."
"I appreciate the effort that the two of you put into this decision," the two women who had been too completely engrossed in their conversation to hear their 15 year old son climbing the stairs both turned their heads to look at him when he spoke, "I like the idea of having a younger sibling and even more so that we have the same parents. It will never be awkward like when Emma first came to Storybrooke, we will always be a family."
Emma got up and hugged her son. Moisture gathered in her eyes.
"Ma are you crying?"
"No I got dust in my eyes," Emma lied cause the Mills' to laugh, "alright you two. Laugh now but the crying is only going to become more and more frequent as my hormones go haywire in the next few months."
"By the way, I've known about Emma being pregnant for about three weeks now," Henry smirked at his older mother.
"How?"
"Little things seemed off at first Mom was taking care of you a lot more than usual and never letting you out of her sight for more than a few hours. At first I thought it was because of the move and you guys just getting closer but Emma's always been the protector. I mean she is the savior after all and Mom's just been more that way lately instead of you," Henry paused and smirked, "also I saw the sonogram photo laying on your dresser a couple weeks back."
"Alright snoopy snooperson no more poking around in my room. Oh and don't you say one word to your grandparents yet."
"Hahaha. Alright. I gotta say I'm really glad Hook is not the father cause I was very close to taking more than that guy's hand."
"Henry!"
Emma and Henry laughed at Regina's aghast expression.
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WEEK 14
"Are you sure we can't just wait until the baby pops out to tell my parents?"
"I'm going to credit both your mother and father with enough brains to notice something up before then. When you suddenly gain 30 pounds all in your midsection, they may get suspicious."
"You are giving them way too much credit doll," Emma smirked at Regina as they walked to the Charming residence like they did every Sunday evening at 5 o'clock.
"If you want, I can tell them. Either way they are probably going to be pretty shocked. I think that it only went so well with Henry because he had time to adjust to the fact that you were pregnant and when he found out that I sired, so to speak, his brother or sister he was just relieved it wasn't the pirate."
"I should probably tell them because the news that it's yours needs to come a couple minutes later. Let's a least give them a minute to process before we tell them that their second grandchild also belongs to the Evil Queen."
Regina stopped walking and Emma realized what she had just said, "Hey I'm sorry Gina. I didn't mean that at all. That is not the person I see and I never have. I'm just… my parent make me a little crazy sometimes thats all and my hormones are out of whack. I honestly don't know what I'm saying these days."
Emma chewed her lip and looked into Regina's eyes when she spoke hoping that she hadn't hurt her friend too badly and feeling like an insensitive jerk.
"I forgive you Emma but I really sincerely hope that you don't believe me to be that person because I want you to trust the person who is your equal in raising your child."
"I do trust you doll. That was stupid what I said and I was being a jerk. I meant absolutely nothing by it."
Emma smirked a little and gave her best voice over impression, "Comments or opinions expressed are those of mob mentality only. The views expressed by Emma's baby brain's interpretation of that mob mentality do not necessarily represent the actual views of Emma Swan, her family or friends." Emma finished her joke disclaimer by reaching for Regina's hands and giving them a light squeeze in her own, "Are we ok?"
"Yeah. You are very lucky you are having my child. I find it increasingly difficult to stay mad at you now that you are pregnant."
Emma gave the brunette her thousand watt grin, "Let's face it, you couldn't really stay mad at me before either."
Twenty minutes later they sat in the Charming's living room, chatting and listening to Neal play happily in the next room.
"Emma you've seemed a little anxious lately, is there something we should know sweetheart?" Emma had not been engaged in the exchange since they'd arrived. She had been distant and Regina and Snow had filled most of the silence talking about Henry and Neal.
"There actually is something that I need to tell you," she took a deep breath, "I'm having a baby."
Snow smiled real wide and Charming looked utterly appalled.
"Oh Emma I'm so happy for you Sweetheart. Charming?" Snow noticed that her husbands mouth was gaping slightly.
"I'm going to kill whoever did this."
"Well I guess that's my queue to leave," Regina joked and Emma threw a dirty look her way.
"Was it the pirate? Because if he did this I will ring his," David was cut off by his daughter.
"Actually Dad it wasn't Killian," Emma stated but did not elaborate.
"I'm afraid that this is my doing," Regina spoke up much to everyone's surprise.
"What do you mean your doing Regina?" Snow asked.
"Well a couple months ago Emma and I discussed the desire we both had to have another child sometime in the future. Neither of us is getting any younger and I explained to Emma that it was indeed possible for the two of us to do so before time runs out. Really Emma is doing me a favor but long story short… the baby that your daughter is carrying is half mine. We agreed that at least if we have a baby together Henry gets a full time sibling. They both have the same two parents. Maybe not technically biologically but for the rest of their lives."
Snow and Charming did not say anything for what seemed like eternity. They just looked at Emma then each other and eventually Regina, which made the pregnant blonde even more anxious. David was the first to make a move and when he moved toward Regina, Emma reached out and took her hand. David did something completely unexpected though. He hugged Regina and breathed out in relief, "Oh thank goodness."
Regina stiffened in his embrace and peered to her right at Emma who couldn't help but smile at how well her father was taking the news. She felt arms wrapping around her as well but unlike Regina she returned her mother's embrace.
Regina cleared her throat after Charming released her, "Yes well," just as Regina started to regain composure Snow pulled her tight against her body.
"Gee Regina I've never seen so many people eager to hug you," Emma joked.
Regina and Snow pulled apart, both of them glaring at Emma.
"So, um, when are we eating?"
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WEEK 34
"So Mal I really need those memos to go out by Friday and will you call the caterer and make sure that he replaced those tablecloths. This is a business banquet after all."
"Calm down Regina everything will look perfect." The phone had been ringing off the hook all day and Regina and Maleficent had been planning a banquet for the businesses of Storybrooke for a month and a half now and it was finally coming together. The phone rang for what felt like the hundredth time that day and Regina answered it.
"Mayor Mills speaking how can I help today?" She sounded cheerful but Maleficent could still hear the fatigue in her voice.
"What?! Oh my god! I'll be right there."
"I have to go. Emma's in labor," Regina looked as if she'd been shot out of a canon, she was running towards the door. She was gone about a minute before she rushed back into the office and she was looking around frantically scrambling from one corner to the other, "Where is my purse?! I need my keys!"
"Regina you need to be calm. Emma could be in labor for hours and she NEEDS you to be calm."
"I know but Mal, she's only 34 weeks. The baby is 6 weeks early!"
"I'm sure everything is going to be alright. Here is your purse. Here are your keys. Drive carefully because you are going to want to live to see your son or daughter."
"Thanks Mal," Regina hugged her and rushed from her office a little less frantic this time.
Regina rushed into the maternity ward of Storybrooke General ten minutes later and saw Charming waiting for her at the receptionist's desk.
"Hey Regina, how you holding up? Snow said you sounded pretty terrified on the phone but the doctor says she gonna do the best she possible can for both Emma and the baby. Come on. I'll take you to her."
Regina didn't say a word just followed David until they stood in front of a closed wooden door, "Why don't you head on in? Snow said to bring you here and I'm actually going to go pick up Henry from school." He gave her a smile and he was gone. Regina peaked through the window in the hospital room door but couldn't see Emma behind the wall that had the bathroom door on it.
She slowly open the door and stepped into the room. Snow was sitting next to the bed holding Emma's left hand in her own. The blonde was laying at a 45 degree angle with her eyes closed but she must have heard someone entering the room because she looked into Regina's eyes after a couple seconds.
"Hey doll," she sounded exhausted and Regina rushed to her right side when she heard her speak.
"Emma," she was looking the woman over to check for external signs of trouble but she paused so she wouldn't frighten Emma with her own worries, "what happened? Has Dr. Ross been here yet?"
"Yes Gina she said we are gonna be just fine. It's pretty common for In Vitro pregnancies to lead to premature labor so she thinks it may be similar. The problem is, its too late to stop it, the baby is coming. My contracts are only 7 minutes apart."
Regina took a deep breath, "Alright Em. I was worried but if the doctor says its not too early and is optimistic, so am I."
Emma put her hand out and Regina took it, "He's gonna be here soon," she looked at Regina and smiled, placing her hand on her belly.
"He?"
"Oh damn it Mom! You weren't supposed to know! It was a surprise for the rest of you."
"Darn it," Snow 'cursed'.
"What?"
"Well I was really hoping for a girl…"
"Well why don't you have the next one," the argument was cut short by a contraction, "damn it I can't do this noooooooooow," Emma gritted out, "I have to have a baby." She did her lamaze breathing.
"Snow, dear, why don't you go wait with Charming and Henry."
Snow looked to Emma just to make sure was alright, "I'll be fine. Regina is right here with me." Emma reassured her mother and Regina smiled gratefully at Emma.
"You know there was a time when that statement would not have been in the least bit comforting," Snow smirked as Regina glared in her direction, "Alright I'm leaving. Good luck Moms," she threw the last part over her shoulder on the way out the door.
"I swear if she tells them about the sex of the baby I'm gonna kill her. She never could keep a secret."
Just then Dr. Ross entered the room carrying Emma's chart, "Hello ladies, how are we today?"
The former queen looked at Emma waiting for her reply while Emma sarcastically retorted, "Well I don't know how WE are but this shit hurts so I need a damn epidural a.q.a.p."
The doctor gave Emma a confused looked and Regina, smirking, supplied, "As quick as possible."
Dr. Ross chuckled, "Alright Emma," she looked at the chart that monitored Emma's contractions, "can you roll onto your side for me?"
Regina held Emma's hand as the blonde rolled over to face her. The doctor suck a very painful looking needle into Emma's spinal membrane. Emma's face contorted but once the catheter was attached and fluid was traveling into her body she relaxed and took a deep breath.
"Shouldn't the anesthesiologist do that?"
"Normally yes but I've actually been doing my own for years because if I had to wait for that bumbling sack of ineptitude every time, my patients would all be having babies without anesthesia."
"Don't question the woman with the drugs doll," Emma scolded playfully.
"Yes dear," Regina and the doctor smirked at each other.
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"Owwwwwwwwwww. This hurts. It feels like he's coming out of my ass."
"Oh my god really," Regina moved down to look at the miracle of life.
"Stay up by my head!"
"Sorry. Emma you've got this. Our son is almost here," Regina smoothed sweaty hair away from Emma's eyes.
Emma groaned loudly and pushed a final time. Regina looked down to see a baby that looked too small to be real. Dr. Ross stuck a gloved finger in his mouth and swept it outward. He coughed and then started to cry quietly.
"Oh my god Emma," tears filled Regina's eyes, "he's beautiful. We are so lucky." She wrapped her arm around Emma's shoulders and rested her forehead against her's, "you did it." Regina kissed a sweaty brow.
"Do you want to cut the umbilical cord Regina?"
"Uhhh," Regina let out a shaky breath, "sure. Yeah." She stepped up and snipped where the doctor instructed.
She couldn't take her eyes off her son. She loved him so much already. Regina remembered when she brought Henry home. He was her world and her everything. Now she had another son to love unconditionally. Her heart beat hard in her chest: Joshua David Mills.