I am so sorry for the long wait! I have had SO much going on! I hope you all like this chapter, the end of it was one of my most favorite things to ever write! Let me know how it makes you feel! And thank you to everyone who is still reading and to those of you who favorite/follow/review this story, I can't quite tell you how much it means to me.
In the morning, Regina was up first with Grayson, feeding him and taking him downstairs with her to put in the swing after he was changed. Henry came down quietly shortly after, sitting down at the island while Regina made breakfast.
"Ma still sleeping?" he asked.
"I believe so. Unless she's gotten up by now, but I imagine she would either be down here to get some food or taking a shower."
"So…I don't have to go to school today, do I?" Henry was raising his eyebrows and smiling cheekily at his mom.
"You can stay home today and tomorrow. But…if you ask for longer, I will never let you stay home again unless you're deathly ill, do you understand?"
"Yeah, cool." Regina was halfway through cooking the pancakes and bacon when Grayson started crying, and Emma still hadn't come down.
"Sweetheart, can you either watch the food or hold your brother for me?" Regina asked Henry, wanting to keep the house quiet so Emma didn't wake up before she was ready.
"Yeah, I'll get Grayson." Henry picked up his baby brother and cradled him against his chest. Knowing his mom would be more comfortable with his holding Grayson if he was sitting, Henry returned to his seat. Regina tried not to watch him too carefully, wanting to let him know she trusted him. "Babies are pretty cool."
"I'm glad you think so, dear," Regina replied with a chuckle. You're uh…going to have an uncle or aunt soon, it seems."
"Huh?"
"Your grandparents are expecting."
"Two babies so close together, seems pretty cool."
"I expect that, should things begin to calm down now that everyone is back in Storybrooke and people have started to relax, we will probably see many more babies being born in the next year or so."
"That's pretty cool, though. We need to keep the town populated somehow."
"You're really ok with us having the baby?"
"Um…it's kind of too late for me to not be ok with it."
"Henry," Regina scorned.
"I'm really ok with it. I mean…when you guys were spending so much time at the hospital and I didn't get to wake up around either of you, it kind of sucked, 'cause I missed my moms, and I was wondering if it would be the same way when we got home, since he'd be here. But…he's pretty cool and I like him."
"Henry…" she started, flipping the last of the pancakes from the griddle and scooping the last pieces of bacon out of the pan. She turned off the stove and faced Henry. "Sweetheart, I know it's been really hard on you lately. With…Neverland and then the things that happened to you, losing months of memories and then having to deal with your mother and I spending a lot of time at the hospital. And it was terribly unfair to you, I'm very sorry for that. But nothing, and no one could ever replace you in our hearts and our lives. Emma and I love you so much."
"I just sometimes wonder how you can have enough love for both of us."
"You and I had a hard time for a while there, didn't we?"
"Yeah," Henry answered with a shrug.
"And now Emma is in your life, our lives, does that mean you love me less so you can love her?"
"No!" he quickly defended. "I just love you both."
"That's exactly how it is with parents. Just because there are two of you to love now doesn't mean that we split our love between you two, it just means that we have more love now, and you each get every bit of it."
"I completely agree." Regina and Henry looked to the doorway to see Emma standing there, hair messy and still in her pajamas.
"Good morning, darling. How did you sleep?"
"Really well since Grayson's last feeding with me. Thanks for taking care of him."
"Would you like some breakfast?"
"It smells amazing. I need some loving from my boys though, first." Emma reached into Henry's arms and pulled Grayson out, handing him to Regina so she could pull her older son into a hug. "Shouldn't you be getting ready for school?"
"Mom said I could stay home today and tomorrow so I can hang out with you guys."
"Did you give her the puppy dog eyes?"
"No!" Regina answered. "He did not, I simply found that it was a reasonable request."
Emma and Henry shared a look before Henry stood to make himself a plate of breakfast. Emma, too, piled a pancake and two pieces of bacon on her plate, and the group headed into the kitchen. When Regina sat down with Grayson, Emma bent to kiss his nose, and to kiss Regina on the mouth. Taking a seat, she poured some syrup on her pancake and forced all of her breakfast down. Handing the baby off to Emma, Regina made herself a small plate and a cup of coffee.
After they were all finished, they settled into the living room to watch a movie, picking 101 Dalmatians, it had always been one of Henry's favorites. Henry sat on the floor in front of his moms, who were on the couch, the women taking turns holding Grayson until he started crying. Carrying him upstairs, Regina rocked him in her arms until she got to his bedroom. Laying him down on the changing table, she changed his diapers and grabbed a fresh burp cloth, taking him back downstairs. She laid the burp cloth on Emma's shoulder and whispered that he was hungry, so Emma slid her shirt off her shoulder and unsnapped her bra strap, settling Grayson in to eat. Regina covered Emma with a thin blanket, giving her privacy from Henry.
When the movie was over, Henry went upstairs to read comics, while Regina made everyone lunch. They all ate and Emma settled onto the couch in Regina's study with Grayson, and Regina sat at her desk, catching up on some work she had missed.
"Baby…don't work. You get a week off," Emma complained.
"I know, dear. These papers are really overdue for the council. I promise once they're all signed I am all yours for the next week, ok?" she answered, smiling at her girlfriend. Emma nodded as her eyes got heavy.
"Mom is going to be here after school to bring Henry's work and so I can take you to see your surprise."
Humming, Regina smiled again. "Where are you taking me?"
"Shut up, it's a surprise," Emma answered lazily. Before either of them realized, Emma and Grayson were both asleep on the couch. Regina watched them a moment before continuing her work.
The next time she looked at her clock, she realized she only had half an hour until school let out, which would give her forty-five minutes until Snow arrived. She set aside her work, walking over to the couch and kneeling on the floor beside it. Enjoying the sight of Emma laying on her side, Grayson tucked into the curl of her body, on his back, Regina smiled widely. It was a private smile, the kind she only ever rarely gave, and more often than not, she was alone when it would cover her face.
"I love you two so much," she whispered. Brushing a kiss across downy hair, Regina then stroked Emma's face and placed a kiss on her forehead. She headed upstairs to shower. Once she was ready, she went to Henry's room.
"Henry?" she asked, knocking lightly.
"Yeah, mom?"
Opening the door, she leaned against the doorframe. "Sweetheart, grandma is going to be here soon. She's bringing your homework and she'll watch you while your mom and I run out for something. I want you to do your homework before dinner."
"But mom—" he complained, but she cut him off.
"No, I let you stay home from school and this morning was enjoyable. But you aren't going to put off all your work until tomorrow night, you'll be irritated and stressed, and we don't need extra stress, am I clear?"
"Yeah."
"Henry," Regina sighed, walking to his bed and sitting down beside him. "I know it seems like I'm too hard on you sometimes, and I'm sorry for that. You are smart and such a good boy, I just want the best for you. For now…I'm sorry, but that means you have to listen to Emma and me and you have to do your homework. But…what do you think about just the two of us having breakfast at Granny's tomorrow? And if you get your homework done before dinner, we'll play a board game or video games after dinner. How does that sound?"
"You'll play video games with me?"
"Yes, I will."
"Just like we used to?"
"Just like we used to. I promise."
"Ok. Cool." Kissing him on the forehead, Regina stood and headed downstairs to wake Emma and Grayson.
Emma went upstairs to take a shower and Regina changed Grayson and rocked him for a few minutes before Snow arrived. The blonde hadn't come back downstairs yet when Regina heard a knock on the door. Walking to the foyer, she opened the door and let her former nemesis in.
"Do you know where Emma is taking me?" Regina asked, her eyes narrowed teasingly.
"I do, actually," Snow answered with a smile. "And I'm not telling."
Huffing, Regina shut the door behind Snow and looked at Grayson, speaking to him in a light tone. "Where was grandma's discretion when mommy asked her to keep a secret, huh, Grayson?"
"Hey!"
Regina looked up at Snow and smirked. "Oh, sorry, just chatting with the little one. Do come in, make yourself comfortable."
Calling Henry downstairs to get his homework, Regina waited until the last possible minute before letting Grayson go. Handing him off to Snow after Emma said she was ready, Regina smiled, kissed both the boys on their foreheads and followed Emma outside.
"Where are we going?" Regina asked.
"I'm not telling you until we're there."
"I have to drive, you're on painkillers."
"I didn't take them yet. I'm driving. No arguments."
Sighing, Regina walked to the passenger side of her car, handing the keys to Emma as she walked by her. Emma drove the car to the edge of one of the forest entrances and took Regina by the hand, pulling her along in the direction of the well.
"You brought me to the well?"
"Yes."
"Ok?" Watching as Emma dug two plastic cups out of the satchel on her hip, Regina raised an eyebrow. "We're drinking water…from a well?"
"Yes."
"Alright." Emma dropped the bucket in, reeling it back up once she heard it hit the water. Once she had poured water into both cups, she clinked hers against Regina's and took a heavy sip. Regina still hadn't taken a drink and Emma nodded to her to try it. Rolling her eyes, Regina took a small sip and glanced at the blonde. "Are you satisfied?"
Grinning wildly, Emma nodded. "Yes."
"Are you going to say anything else?"
"Yes," Emma answered, her grin widening even further. Regina just gave her a look that basically told her to get on with it. "Mom actually gave me the idea."
"Of us drinking well water."
"Yes. This water…you should know about it."
Puzzled, Regina tilted her head to the side and thought a moment. When she realized what Emma meant, it showed on her features. "Lake Nostos. I'm sorry, but what does that have to do with anything."
"Well, I don't know for certain, but unless you were born incapable of carrying children…it should heal whatever happened that made you unable to."
"So…this water should heal me?"
"I mean…mom said it worked for her. King George gave her a potion or something that made her barren, but she had some of the water from Lake Nostos…and she was able to have me."
"Emma…you…I didn't think you would want any more children," Regina spoke, tears filling her eyes.
"I don't want to carry any more. But I would love more. And I want you to carry, to have the option anyway, should you decide you want more."
"I do. Oh Emma, I do." Setting down her cup, Regina pulled Emma into a tight hug, her tears sliding over her tan cheeks as she considered how there was no one else in the world who knew her as Emma did. "I love you."
"I love you, too," Emma answered, pulling away and holding Regina's water back toward her. "Drink up and we'll go home to our family.
When they arrived home, Snow practically bounced up to them.
"How did it go?" she asked.
"Well, we'll know when we know."
"What if…what if I have a way for you to know...now?"
"What do you mean?" Regina asked. Walking over to her purse, Snow pulled out a necklace with a medallion.
"This was my mother-in-law's. David's mom, Ruth, was given it by her mother when she was pregnant with David and James. She was told that a gypsy spelled it so it could predict the sex of your baby, even before you're pregnant."
"How would we even know if it was working?" Regina asked incredulously. "What if it just shows what I was meant to have, had I not become barren?"
"Well, that's the thing. It sits still if you're barren. I know because that's how Ruth found out I was, and let me have the water from Lake Nostos that was meant for her, because she knew David wanted a child so badly."
"How does it work?" Emma inquired.
"Well, you put your hand out, palm up, and if it swings north to south, it's a boy, east to west, it's a girl."
"What do you think?" Emma asked, looking at Regina. Nodding, the older brunette turned her hand palm up. Snow held the medallion over Regina's hand and they waited. It swung immediately. "Oh my god! Regina! It worked!" She grabbed Regina and pulled her in for a hug, holding her as the brunette's body shuddered with relieved tears.
"I didn't watch…I didn't know if I wanted to."
"We're gonna have a girl someday, Regina." Emma smiled, and stroked dark hair. Snow signaled to Emma that she would leave them alone, and she headed out, letting the two women revel in their good news alone.