Chapter 7: Chapter 7

Chap 7

"I wanna have a baby." Yes, those words HAD escaped Regina's lips. And Maleficent heard them roll off her tongue with ease, as if she had been thinking about this for awhile. Waiting for a response from her wife, Regina watched Maleficent turn her head back to look up at the ceiling. It was silent for long...TOO long and she had begun to feel the throbbing in her core again. Her legs still shook and her hands and wrists felt weak. Her fingers fell limp in the blonde's hand between them and she felt one tear fall from both eyes. She was not crying, no. But she was hoping the pain would disappear soon.

Having no other words to say, she decided to keep quiet for a moment and stare at the ceiling as well. Suddenly, feeling her hand squeezed a bit tighter, she turned to look at the actress who had sat up. Taking one last look at Regina, Mal let go of her hand and stood up from the bed. Regina watched her as she pulled her silver, silk pajamas out of her dresser and slid them on. After doing so, she grabbed a red nightgown and handed it to the younger woman, who hadn't had the strength to stand just yet. Once Mal had taken their thrown clothes and put them in the laundry basket, she left the bedroom, going to the couple's Christmas present hideout and bringing a pile of Lilith's gifts over to the tree to put them underneath it.

Left alone in the bedroom, Regina didn't move from her position at first. She just laid there, holding her nightie and looking up to the ceiling as if soon, she would see words of wisdom written over her, telling her what to do to make her marriage better. After awhile, she finally felt a bit of the pain go away and she ever so slowly sat up as best she could, carefully pulling the nightgown over her head. She leisurely swung her legs over the side of the bed, wondering if she could overcome the weakness to stand. Eventually, she pushed herself up and limped out of the bedroom. She grabbed a couple more presents as well and joined Maleficent by the tree.

Hearing extremely heavy and slow footsteps, the former prostitute looked over her shoulder as she knelt by the tree. She looked at her wife from head to toe and looked back in front of her, not wanting to see Regina struggling so hard to get to her. She wanted to quickly rush to her side to help, but knowing the headstrong brunette, she would've scolded her for it. "Here." The twenty year old groaned as she handed the gifts to Maleficent. She hugged herself looking down at her wife and Mal put the gifts down before staring up at her.

"You should sit down." The older of the two softly suggested.

Regina shook her head no. "I can't. For one, I feel like if I sit I won't wanna get up again and for two, I really have to pee."

Maleficent stood. "Well, why don't you go pee?"

"Because….I have to sit to go pee. And I don't wanna have to sleep on the toilet tonight." She softly giggled painfully. "Plus, I feel like it's gonna hurt." She smiled as her eyes almost closed from exhaustion.

For a moment, Mal just stared at her wife in shame before responding. "Sweetheart, I'm so sorry."

Trying her best to smile again, Regina replied, "No, no. It's fine. It was my idea and plus….I really did enjoy it."

Mal cracked a small smirk. "You're really not enjoying it now though. I really shouldn't have-"

"Mal, Mal….stop." Regina touched her arm. "You're fine."

The blonde grinned and stepped in closer to give her a kiss on the forehead. She wrapped her arms around her, hugging her as gently as possible. "You should at least let me help you to the bathroom. Please?" Mal practically begged and Regina accepted.

They both usually used the bathroom in their bedroom, but Mal slowly guided her to the bathroom in between the kitchen and Lily's room due to its closer proximity. When they came out, they finished quietly putting the presents under the tree and making sure the cookies and carrots were out and bitten or fully eaten on their plates.

When they had finished getting everything ready for morning, Maleficent received their bathrobes from their bedroom and made hot chocolate for the both of them while Regina cozied up on the sofa, admiring the lights on their tree and the beautiful, peaceful candles Mal had lit around the living room. Handing the hot cocoa to the brunette, Maleficent sat beside her wife and let her lean on her shoulder as they both drank their full cups down to the very last drop.

When they finished, Mal set the cups in the sink and returned to the couch, wrapping her arms around Regina for a few moments. They just sat in silence for a bit, feeling the presence of each other and embracing their moments together before Mal could get another call about a new audition or interview. It wasn't too long though before one of them finally said it. "So?" Regina curled into the hug.

"So….what?" Mal wondered.

"Don't 'so what' me. You know what." Regina spoke with her eyes closed as she forced herself not to yawn.

Maleficent sighed and looked at her young wife beside her. "Yeah?"

Regina hugged her tighter. "Well, what do you think?"

"How long have you been thinking about this?" Mal asked.

"Well, ever since you left really. But also, I went to one of Zelena's doctor's appointments and I just….I really miss being pregnant. And I know we have Lily, which you know I absolutely adore her! But...I want one of my own."

"You're sure you're ready for that? I mean, having to deal with Lilith and in such a small apartment?"

Regina sat up as best she could and looked into Mal's eyes. "I'm more than ready. Lily's growing up and with the whole apartment thing, soon we'll have a new one anyways. So, why not? Right?"

Mal thought about it for a second with a smile. "I really would love to see you pregnant. And having siblings isn't so bad."

The twenty year old grinned. "No, it's not."

"But what about school?"

"I can always go to fashion school...I can't always get pregnant. So why not just do it now when I'm NOT in school and when your career's starting to take off?"

"So...what? We go to a sperm bank?" Mal wondered.

"Yeah...we can pick a talented, intelligent, hardworking man...and attractive. That way our baby gets all the best genes."

Both women chuckled and Regina snuggled back up to her wife. "You know what?" Mal began. "Let's do it!"

"Really?" The brunette looked up to her, excited.

"Really. Let's have a baby." Regina kissed her before she spoke up. "Just remember that giving birth hurts!"

Regina playfully nudged her side. "I know. Don't make fun of me." Maleficent giggled. "And in my defense, you didn't even really prepare my body for that. In labor, you go through contractions and dilations first."

"Hey." Maleficent said. "YOU told me to do it hard and fast...so I did." Regina tsked before hugging her and laughing. Maleficent yawned and sat up. "Alright, I think it's time for bed. Even if you're not tired, I am and I still gotta help you to the bed. Unless you wanna sleep out here and explain to Lily why you're on the couch." She knew that the child would ask why she couldn't sleep in the living room and met Santa, especially when they had explained to her that Santa won't come if anyone is asleep somewhere other than their own beds.

The twenty year old sat up as well, shaking her head no. "I'm tired too." She put her legs down and felt a small spark of energy she hadn't known was inside her all of a sudden. Perhaps it was that feeling of being hyper when you're exhausted. "I think I can walk by myself now...I do need your help getting up though."

Mal reached down, taking Regina's hands and pulling her up as she quietly grunted. "You good?" She asked.

"Yeah." They held hands as they tiredly walked to the bedroom and laid down, ready for a good night's sleep and a fun-filled day tomorrow. "Mal…" Regina whispered.

"Yeah, babe?" The blonde whispered back to the woman in the bed next to her with her eyes closed.

"Don't forget to put that toy away."

The 39 year old's eyes shot open before she leaned over and took the vibrator from the bedstand, opening the top drawer and closing it after putting it back where it belonged...out of Lily's sight. "Thanks." Maleficent said after closing the drawer.

"Mhmm." Regina sleepily smiled before cuddling up to Mal. "Goodnight, My Love!"

"Goodnight!" Mal responded and they both drifted off to sleep with smiles plastered on their lips.