"I changed my mind." Regina said, her eyes catching Emma's over her coffee cup.
"Well that's a loaded statement…what exactly did you change your mind about?" Emma asked, her gaze dropping down to Regina's stomach.
Regina narrowed her eyes at Emma until she had her full attention again. The smirk playing on the blonde's lips was enough to make her get up and leave the table, keeping her question unanswered. The problem with that was everything she did took 5 times longer than it should and Emma's hand reached out and stopped her before she could even lift herself off the seat.
"Come on. Just tell me. I was just playing with you a little…" Emma kept her hand on Regina's forearm, her thumb stroking across her skin, lovingly, trying to soothe away some of the annoyance she caused.
"I don't want to have a baby shower." Regina's shoulder lifted slightly, as though shrugging the statement off as no consequence.
"It's this afternoon. At our house. I don't think we can back out now." Emma took a deep breath, steadying herself so that she could get to the real problem. "Is this about Snow?"
"No. Not everything is about your mother. This is about Henry."
Emma watched Regina's hands, twisting around her coffee cup, an external sign of her inner conflict of the subject. "We talked about this already. Henry is fine." Regina gave her an incredulous look and scoffed at the statement.
"Did you hear him when he left this morning? "Bye Emma. Have fun at the baby shower." You could practically hear the "because you didn't get to have one when you had me" tapped onto the end."
"Regina. That is not what he meant. I think what he meant was "Sorry you don't get to go play poker with all the boys at Frederick's house and you have to stay here and play stupid girly games." Emma shook her head slightly, still not fully comprehending how much Regina's view of this morning's conversation with Henry could be so far from what she'd experienced.
"There will not be games. I specifically told Snow that. No games." Her finger tapped the table twice to add emphasis to her statement.
"Henry was making fun of me okay? Just like he has been for the last few days when you weren't around. Besides, don't you think that us giving him a car today will sort of make up for any weird teenager feelings he might have? That's why we're doing it remember? To make the day about him too? "
"It feels like a bribe." Regina pouted uncharacteristically.
"It is a bribe. I think that's just what you do with teenagers…"
Regina sighed dramatically and rubbed at a spot on the table, seemingly contemplating whether or not she could let this go. "I still don't understand why you had to buy him such an old car though, not a newer, safer one." She looked up at Emma again, one eyebrow arched, daring her spouse to contradict her.
Emma knew what game they were playing and she happily danced the conversation away from the heavier subject. "It's called a classic, not old. Besides, it's kind of like a family tradition. We both drive classics." She said, waving her arm between the two of them.
"I drive a classic. You just drive an old car."
"Call my car what you want, but you cannot under any circumstances call a '69 Chevelle just an old car."
"Fine. What time do we go pick it up?" Regina asked, her earlier hesitation all but gone.
"1:30. Which will leave just enough time before the shower for Snow to set up while you're not here supervising."
"Perfect, then there's plenty of time for you to take me upstairs and make it up to me." Regina smirked and started the process of getting up from the table.
"Make what up to you?" Emma asked, genuinely confused. She thought she'd handled that pretty well. She stood and held her arm out for Regina, pulling the woman out of the chair with ease.
"Does it matter?" Regina winked over her shoulder and with more grace then someone 7 months pregnant with twins should have, started to make her way up the stairs, curling her finger at Emma to follow.
SQSQSQSQSQSQSQSQSQ
They were late. As it turned out, Emma had several things to make up for that morning and they'd gotten a late start to go pick up the car. Which delayed them further because they'd met Snow coming in on their way out and Regina had to make some final suggestions before they could leave.
So now they were late. To their own baby shower. At their own house.
Something that Regina probably was not going to let go of and somehow blame her for, despite the fact that Regina had been the one to demand a longer test drive. She said it was for safety reasons, but Emma knew that her wife was just enjoying being behind the wheel of something so powerful. When the paperwork was signed and the title was in her hands Emma had tossed her the keys again and let her drive home Henry's new toy as she followed along in the Mercedes.
Emma pulled into the driveway and jumped out quickly, jogging down the path to the street. Regina expertly parallel parked and Emma was there to open the car door for her, grabbing the keys from Regina's hand and stuffing them into her pocket.
Regina let herself be hoisted out of the bucket seat and with a curt nod she said, "I suppose that Henry will enjoy it." Earning her a laugh from the blonde.
"I'm glad you approve. Sorry we're late to the shower though…" Emma trailed off, hoping that Regina wasn't too upset by the day's progression.
"Oh, no. I planned it this way. You know how I like to make an entrance…Wait until you see your mother's face." Not giving Emma any time to protest, she opened the front door and swept into the house. A hush fell over the attendees gathered in the dining room area and Regina locked eyes with Snow. "Sorry I'm late." She'd dropped her voice a level and growled out the words, much like the day she burst into Snow and Charming's wedding so long ago.
Snow's face clouded with anger and just as it looked like Regina was going to get the blow up she was angling for Emma trailed up behind Regina. "Yeah, sorry we're late. Traffic, you know…" Emma stopped and took in the faces around her and then ping-ponged between Snow and Regina. "What'd I miss?"
Snow sighed loudly. "I think Regina was trying to be funny. She wasn't."
Emma frowned a little, still not quite understanding what was going on around her. "Okay, whatever. Where's the cupcakes? I've been waiting all day for one…or two…" She trailed off as she left the room in search of food and Regina just smirked at Snow, before turning and following, offering up a belated "I'll help you find them Emma." She shot another glance at Snow over her shoulder, the woman's eyes just narrowing at her in response.
As Ruby watched the scene unfold, her fingernails dug into her palms trying to stop the laughter from erupting, she couldn't help but see Regina really was just teasing poor Snow. Once the woman had made her equally dramatic exit, Ruby made her way over to Snow. "You have to admit that was a little funny…I mean come on…" Ruby waited to see if Snow was going to find the humor in the moment and when she saw her friend's eyes dance a little she let out the breath she was holding.
"She always did know how to make an entrance." Snow said, shaking her head at Regina's antics. "At least she didn't do the whole speech…"
SQSQSQSQSQSQ
The party proceeded flawlessly after that, that is until the very end. Presents had been opened and with a few exceptions they got mostly what they'd registered for. Belle and Ruby gave them an entire set of Dr. Suess books, a note inscribed in the card assuring Regina that they were, in fact, complete works of fiction and were in no way based on anything other than imagination. Everyone got a good laugh when Regina opened Ariel's gift, a set of baby forks with rubber tips. The laughter only growing when Emma inquired about them and Ariel off handedly informed her that she'd once "Forked Regina."
As the party started to wind down, Snow announced that she had one more thing planned and as she darted out of the room to grab the surprise. Katherine and Regina shared an epic eye roll. They'd been made Queen's for the Day and were currently sitting in the "thrones" Snow had set up for them when they started to open presents. She had to actually give the woman some credit, it had been a very good shower and she'd managed to make both mothers-to-be feel like the center of attention.
Things went downhill though when Snow bounded back into the room, her arms full of an assortment of supplies and announced they were going to be playing a game.
"No games. I was perfectly clear about that." Regina said, the anger evident in her voice.
"But I thought, maybe….just one." Snow answered. Her chin belatedly jutting out in defiance.
"I said no games." Regina repeated through clenched teeth and just like that Snow disappeared, a cloud of yellow smoke swirling her away.
Emma screeched out a loud, "Regina!" When she realized what had happened.
"What? I didn't do it! The kids did." Regina shot back.
Katherine was the first to break, her laughter ringing out in the otherwise silent living room. Ruby joined in and before long the entire group was doubled over with them.
When the laughter died down Katherine was the first to speak up. "I'm not really sure what just happened, but I can assure you this baby shower will never be topped."
Regina smiled at her and rubbed Emma's leg in comfort. "Yes, well I do believe that's the end of things everyone. The Sheriff here has a few phone calls to make and a mother to track down. Thank you all so much for coming." She said graciously, as though her mother-in-law hadn't just disappeared before their very eyes.
"I'm gonna….I'll go call David…" Emma mumbled as she left the room, filing out behind the other guests making their way to the exit.
"So the kids learned a new trick huh?" Katherine said once they were alone, a smile still playing across her face.
"I guess so. They are really quite advanced for their age." Regina replied, her voice filled with humor.
"Mmhhmm…Do you mind if I have another Momtini? I'd like to see how long it takes David to come running in here promising to find her. She really did plan a great shower for us…you know up until that last part." Katherine said, snagging another baby bottle filled with something resembling raspberry lemonade.
"You would think that after all these years she'd learn to just listen to me…" Regina trailed off when Emma came back into the room.
"She's at home. She thought you did it at first and was pretty pissed, but she instantly went all sweet and kind once I told her that her grandchildren just learned a new trick and she should be glad they have such good GPS already." Emma sat down on the couch and reached for another cupcake, only to have her hand slapped away by Regina.
"That's surprisingly anti-climatic. I guess that I'll just make my way home then, Regina. Is it ok if I send Frederick by to pick all this up? I don't want to carry it all…" She gestured to her pile of presents, stacked neatly by the lazy boy that had been her throne for the day.
"Yes, that's fine." Regina struggled to get up out of her chair, only succeeding when Emma slipped a hand under her ass and gave her the leverage she needed. She looped her arm through Katherine's and led her to the door. "Thanks again for being here today Katherine. I appreciate it."
"I bet you did. I'll see you guys later." With a wave she made her way down the sidewalk to the street and was all most barreled over by Henry.
"Oops, sorry." He said as he passed by. "Is the party over?" He asked, when he reached his mom's in the doorway.
"Yeah, Katherine was the last to leave." Emma said, sparing a glance at Regina, winking inconspicuously.
"Who's car is that in the street then? I don't recognize it." Turning his back to the two women to look at the car again, he missed the look of excitement pass between them.
"I don't know. We better check it out." Emma said, giving him a little shove back down the sidewalk. She reached out and laced her fingers with Regina's and they made their way towards the seemingly abandoned car. "See if it's unlocked. Maybe there's something in the glove box with their name on it."
Henry nodded his head in agreement and checked the passenger door, finding it unlocked. He slipped into the passenger's seat and popped open the glove compartment. Inside he found a white envelope with his name printed on it, a red bow on the corner. Curiously, he glanced at his two moms before picking up the envelope and opening it. He scanned the card, his eyes not believing the words he was reading. "This is mine?" His voice cracking just a little.
Emma fumbled with something in her pocket and then pulled out a key, a purple rabbits foot dangling off it. "Oh, look what I found…" She tossed the key to him and was surprised when he caught it and scrambled out of the car, wrapping both his mother's in a hug.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you! It's seriously mine?" He asked again, still not totally believing his luck.
"All yours kid. That is if you'll let your mom drive it once in awhile…" She pointed a thumb at Regina, who smiled at him lovingly, tears rolling down her face.
"Thanks guys. I can't believe you got this for me." He turned back to stare at the cherry red muscle car. "I thought I was just going to get one of your cars when you got a new one."
"Why would we get a new car?" Emma asked, her eyebrows scrunching together in confusion.
Henry looked at both their faces, neither one realizing what he was talking about. "Because you both drive cars with very tiny backseats. There's no way you're going to fit two car seats into either one of them. I'm not even sure how mom got my car seat to fit in the back of hers when I was little…" He trailed off, his attention going back to his new toy. He climbed into the drivers seat and started to play with everything inside the car.
Emma chewed her lip in contemplation, and watched as the realization hit Regina at the same time. "How did you fit a car seat back there?"
"No comment."
When Emma's only response was to continue to stare at her spouse she relented. "I didn't. I simply walked everywhere I could with him and when I absolutely had to go somewhere…I made Graham drive us. I simply installed the car seat in the Sheriff's car."
"You just used the Sheriff's car?"
Regina nodded her head once. "It wasn't like he was ever hauling around criminals in the back of it and I couldn't buy a new car. Do you see a used car lot here in town?" She added defensively.
Emma frowned a little, mulling the idea over in her head. "It's a good idea…But it's not exactly something we can do this time…I mean people remember stuff now…" Their attention went back to their son, who was in the middle of pretending to drive his new car. Emma smiled at the picture, imagining what he might have looked like playing with cars when he was little. She walked up to the car and leaned in the passenger's window.
"You know you can actually take it for a real drive. Just be back by your curfew." Emma patted the window once and backed up from the car.
Henry's face telegraphed his pure joy when he started the engine for the first time and he yelled out a muffled love you guys as he tore off down the street. Regina watched, her head shaking at his dramatics, realizing, not for the first time where he got them from.
"I guess we need to add car shopping to the list of things we have to get done before they get here." Emma's finger pointing to Regina's belly.
"I guess so…" She said as she turned and tugged Emma back towards the house.