Hey guys! Sorry updates haven't been as frequent as I would like! Please review! I need them like I need coffee and chocolate! This chapter is pretty short, but I have most of the next chapter written so I should update again soon!
The next week and a half passed by quickly, the women spending as much time together, both alone and with Henry, as possible. They had enjoyed three more dates since the picnic, not including their frequent shared lunches and the dinners that the trio had as a family. When Friday came, the night they had begun having their family dinners at Regina's, the women had their first official fight as a couple. After dinner had been eaten and dishes had been done, Henry was put to bed and the women were in the study. Emma asked Regina if she minded Neal having Henry for Saturday and Sunday, at the man's request.
"Absolutely not!" Regina had snapped quickly.
"Why?"
"Because he's an idiot. I don't want him around my son."
"Our son."
Regina shook her head, only half listening to Emma. "What?"
"Our son, Regina, he's mine, too. I didn't bring this up to ask your permission. We are both his mothers and while, yes, you deserve slightly more say, I deserve a voice when it comes to Henry, too. I understand you don't trust him and I understand why, but did you not wanting me in Henry's life work out?" Regina glared at the bad memory of their past. "Sweetie, I know that's not very fair to bring up, but you know Henry snuck off all the time to see me, because he wanted a relationship with me. Don't you think he'll do that if you forbid him to see Neal? Wouldn't you rather know where he's at?"
Regina sighed. "I don't care, Emma, I do NOT want him near that…that thief! That man is bad news, Emma."
"Thief? I was a thief, Regina. And you—"
"What? I, WHAT, Emma? I'm the Evil Queen? Of course! It's always going to come back to that! Well excuse me, I raised him! You said yourself that no one could have done better by him! The Evil Queen can go back to doing it alone if I have to, so Savior, feel free to leave!" Regina was shouting, harder than she had shouted in a long time. Her throat was clenching tighter with every word she said, fighting the break in her voice that she felt creeping into her throat.
Emma recoiled as though she had been slapped. "Regina, that's…that isn't what I meant. I was just saying, you can't judge someone by their past, by who they once were. You should know that better than anyone. You've overcome more than anyone I know. I…I just ask that you give him a chance."
Regina looked sharply at Emma then her eyes flickered down, filled with uncertainty. "It's hard for me to let him go. It's one thing giving him to you, you can protect him, but I don't trust that Neal can."
"He would never let anything happen to Henry, Regina."
"I don't like him."
"You didn't like me."
"Why are you so intent on this, so insistent on defending him?"
"What?"
"Should I be concerned?"
"What are you talking about?" Emma asked, confusion written across her face. Deep blue-green eyes searched dark features until finally, realization colored her face. "Regina," she started, voice full of love and reassurance. She raised her hand to hold the brunette's chin and turn her face to look into deep chocolate eyes. "Look at me, look into my eyes and tell me you don't honestly believe that could be it. I love you, Regina. Not Neal, not Hook, not anyone on this earth other than you."
Regina enclosed herself, wrapping her arms around her torso, hands grasping at her elbows. Her beautiful eyes pooled with crystal tears, eyelids blinking rapidly so as not to let them spill over. The strong jaw clenched and the older woman tried to stop her emotions from exposing her, giving her away in her moment of weakness. Emma moved closer and unfolded the brunette's arms, pulling them up to wrap them around her shoulders following the action by putting her own arms around the tiny waist of her lover. She leaned her forehead against Regina's and whispered.
"Sweetie…Regina… I need you to be happy for me to be happy, so if this is something you really don't want, then we won't do it. I just think that having a father in his life is something that will be really good for Henry, and you know, something that may help us out as the kid gets closer to you know, puberty and stuff. I mean, that is unless you want my father to be his father figure."
"You're not helping your case, I actually sort of like your father, now. It's Snow I still have the issue with." The blonde chuckled.
"Just think about it, ok?" Emma kissed Regina deeply, passionately and circled her hands on perfect hips and an ample bottom. She broke from the kiss to whisper, "so, our first fight, huh?"
"I suppose so." Regina captured the pink lips with her own again. She wrapped her fingers in curls, pulling the blonde closer to her, their lips and tongues moving in perfect synchronization until Emma pulled away.
"So, that means we deserve some make up sex?"
"I think that can be arranged."
When Emma woke up in the morning, she reached over and found the spot next to her empty. She opened her eyes and looked around the room finding no sign of Regina. Shuffling around in the drawer of things she kept at the mansion, she found a sports bra and pulled a pair of Regina's lace panties from the top drawer, sliding both on. She wrapped a robe around her body, tying it at the waist and opened the bedroom door to accept the warm smell of coffee brewing and headed downstairs to get some. Regina was standing in the kitchen cooking French toast when Emma entered. Walking up to the brunette, she slid her arms around her waist, pushing her body against the strong back of her lover, enveloping the woman in her arms.
"Good morning, dear."
"Good morning, sweetie. How did you sleep?"
"I always sleep better when you're here. You're completely ruining me."
"It's all part of my ultimate plan."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, I have to make you need me so you'll never turn me away."
"Mmm, well, dear, I do believe I've offered a situation that would allow you to be here every night for the rest of your life and you didn't seem too keen on accepting, so I do believe that your ultimate plan is only making things harder for the both of us."
"I see your point," Emma said. She paused to kiss the crook of Regina's neck. Shrugging, she continued, "oh well."
"Would you go wake Henry? Tell him breakfast is ready."
Emma nodded and left to do as she was told. Regina poured herself a refill of coffee, poured a cup for Emma and put some juice in a glass for Henry. Taking everything to the table, she set three place settings and smiled to herself, thankful more everyday that she finally had a family. When Emma and Henry entered the dining room, Regina smiled and took her seat, waiting for them to follow suit.
"Henry," Regina started, looking at her son. She felt like she needed to savor every moment with him, he was growing before her eyes and she couldn't always cope with it. When he looked back at her with raised eyebrows, she continued, "how would you feel about spending today and tomorrow with your father?"
"Really, mom? That would be awesome! Are…are you sure?"
"Yes. Emma and I spoke about it yesterday and we think that it would be good for you to have a male figure in your life, and since he's your father it couldn't hurt."
"Thanks, mom, ma, you guys are the best."
"He'll be here in just under an hour. When you're done eating go take your shower and pack your bag for the night over, alright?" Henry nodded vigorously, practically shoveling the food into his mouth. When he ran upstairs for his shower, Emma turned to Regina and covered one of the slender hands with her own.
"Regina, I'm really proud of you, and I don't want you to take that in a condescending way, I just really, really am. What made you change your mind?"
"I thought about it and you are right, Henry needs his father just like he needs the two of us. I was being selfish, wanting Henry just for us. Neal proved himself in Neverland, though he was almost completely useless and I hate what he did to you, but that is no reason to keep Henry from happiness, that's all I've ever wanted anyway, for Henry to be happy."
"God, you really are the best mom."
"You know, I do believe that opens up the house for the weekend."
The blonde raised her eyebrows and Regina winked at her, continuing her meal.
Several more weeks passed until they had been back from Neverland for nearly two months. Emma still hadn't agreed to move in with Regina and Henry, but the women saw each other nearly everyday and when they weren't together, they exchanged texts and phone calls. When it was time for their Thursday lunch, Emma walked into Granny's to pick up their food and saw Ruby smiling from the counter. The two talked while Emma waited for her and Regina's food.
"Still not feeling well, Em? You look tired," Ruby said, concerned.
"You sound like my mother," Emma drawled. "I've been having a lot of late nights without the relaxation of late mornings."
"You know it's true love, you guys can slow down, you have forever."
"So much time to make up for, Ruby." Granny brought out the food and Emma said her goodbyes, heading to Regina's office. When she arrived she was greeted with a beautiful and sincere smile behind exhausted eyes.
"Hello, dear," Regina said, standing to greet Emma. After the blonde set their food onto the desk, the brunette wrapped her arms around her lover's waist and kissed her. "Are you still coming for dinner tomorrow night?"
"Of course," Emma replied, kissing Regina again. "Should I ask my parents—" she was cut off by a gag which caused her to throw herself over Regina's trash can vomiting.
"Emma, dear, are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm just stressed, sweetie," was the response she gave. She took the tissue that Regina offered her and wiped her mouth, standing back up.
"Alright, then. What were you saying before?"
"I was going to attempt to seductively ask if I should give Henry to my parents for the night, but the sexy part is out the window."
"That's fine. I'm not at my best for that anyway."
"Huh?"
"My cycle, darling."
"Oh." Emma's brow furrowed in contemplation.
"But maybe they should take him tonight and tomorrow night and I'll care for you."
"Nah, I've been like this for a while, actually, since the ship on the way back from Neverland. I think its just nerves."
Regina had many expressions that crossed her face, the final one being anger mixed with pain. "Whom did you sleep with?" Regina accused.
"What?" Emma asked, confused.
"Baelfire? Hook? Damn it, Emma! Who was it?" Regina yelled, pushing Emma's shoulder with one hand.
"Regina, I have no idea what you're talking about."
"We've been back almost two months, I'm on my second cycle and I have no recollection of you having one since we've been back. And now you're telling me you've been nauseous since Neverland?"
Emma's eyes widened and she looked shocked. "Regina, no! No, I swear! You're the only person I've been with at all since I came to Storybrooke. I'll swear it on anything!"
"Last I checked, a woman can't impregnate another woman, Emma!"