Chapter 20
So the weeks flew by in a pattern, almost exactly as it was before. Regina and Emma talked about their separation and Graham several times until they both felt satisfied with their emotional stability. It soothed Emma to know that they had an open line of communication with one another. They could tell each other how they were feeling and they calmly resolved it together. Who knew that the two women who spent a year yelling, scheming, and one-upping would be master communicators?
Both women felt that their relationship was back to what it was before the incident, maybe stronger. It confirmed that they had the drive for fight for their relationship.
"Baby, are you sure you're not hungry? You haven't eaten all day." Emma questioned. It was Sunday night and the entire family, now including Ruby, was seated in the apartment.
"I haven't been feeling well this week, probably that virus that's been making rounds. If I get hungry later, I'll eat a small snack. I'm just so tired. The mayor's office was bombarded with meetings and paperwork." Emma frowned.
"Gina, you can't work yourself to death." Ruby stated, concerned for her friend. Regina gestured lazily with her hand, urging the rest of the family to eat without her. Everyone paused for a moment before filling their plates and digging in. Snow's eyes flickered between her daughter and Regina, who was scrunching up her face at the smell of the roasted pork. Snow's eyes widened imperceptibly. She had a gut feeling that Regina wasn't just tired but she would approach the brunette alone.
Snow cleared her throat, "So, Emma, how's it been going with the Blue situation?"
"Blue is acting cagy after we cornered her in the church. She definitely helped him," Emma chewed carefully before continuing, "She'll confess. She knows we got her."
"Good thing Hook flipped on her when we offered him a life supply of rum." Charming chuckled.
"Alcoholic douche bag." Ruby murmured before stuffing mashed potatoes into her mouth.
"Amen." Regina sighed, her eyes half-closed. Henry studied her for a second.
"Mom, why don't you go lay down in Ma's room while we eat?" The boy suggested and all the adults nodded in agreement.
"I think I'll do that." Regina stood, smoothed her skirt, and bent to kiss Emma quickly before moving up the stairs. The family continued eating and talking about their respective days.
Once enough time passed, Snow announced that she had to use the restroom and sprinted to Emma's bedroom. She entered slowly, not wanting to disturb Regina if was already asleep. She closed the door behind her inaudibly before turning in the dark room.
"Snow?" Regina whispered, propping her upper body up on her elbows. Snow walked slowly to the bed and sat down on the free side, her back supported by the headboard. Regina pushed herself onto her ass, scooting back to match Snow's position.
"Regina, what's going on?" The younger woman questioned softly, interlacing their fingers for comfort. Regina wrapped her free arm around her abdomen and leaned her head back against the wood.
"It's impossible," The older woman whispered, "I drank a potion that made me barren. It can't be... It has to be exhaustion."
Snow smiled lightly, not wanting to get her hopes up, "A long time ago, a very smart woman told me that true love was the strongest magic of all. I think if anything could make this happen for you, it would be your love for Emma."
"I don't want to get excited," Regina smiled involuntarily, "I don't want to feel happy about something that may not be happening, even thought the symptoms are matching. And Emma, she might react negatively. What do I do?"
"We buy a pregnancy test. I'll tell them that I have to pick up milk, which is true, and I'll get like six tests then we have you squat and tinkle. If it comes out positive, you'll tell Emma. It's going to be okay."
"Thank you Snow." The younger brunette nodded before letting out a quiet squeal as she bounced on the mattress.
"You might be having a baby!" Snow whispered, hugging Regina's midsection lightly.
"I might be having a baby." Regina whispered back in awe, her smile so large it blinded her former stepdaughter.
Snow made her back downstairs inconspicuously. She and Regina decided that the younger woman should wait until dessert was over to go to the store. Regina would ask Emma if they could stay at the apartment because she was too tired to go home. Of course, Emma would agree rapidly and Regina would wait for the blonde to fall asleep before meeting Snow in the bathroom.
So Snow picked at her dessert, chewing slowly. She was too nervous to down chocolate cake. She might be a grandma again! Her leg started bouncing, causing her chair to squeak, as the minutes ticked by. She completely blocked out all conversation, staring at the clock. When she felt eyes burning into forehead, she glanced around the table and caught Ruby's eyes. The wolf tilted her head, wanting a minute alone.
"Everyone done?" Emma, Henry, and Charming nodded, "Great! Give me your bowls."
"I'll help." Ruby smiled and took the utensils. The two women made their way to the kitchen. Both brunette's threw the dirty dishes into the sink and Snow turned the tap on high, knowing the sound of water hitting metal would drown out their voices. Ruby and Snow turned, leaning their butts on the counter, facing the wall.
"Her hormone's are out of whack. I can smell it," Ruby whispered and paused before clearing her throat, "Is she..."
"I think so." Snow nodded, her face blank. She didn't know how Ruby would react to this information. Yes, Ruby loved Regina and knew that a baby would make her happy but Ruby was apprehensive of Emma. The wolf saw how dejected Regina was during the separation, how the rejection brought up negative memories and lowered her moral. She believed that Emma had a lot of making up to do. Snow was inclined to agree. As Emma's mother, she understood why Emma had needed time but, as a woman, she knew a month of snubbing was rude and uncalled for.
"I don't know how to feel." The wolf crossed her arms over her chest; the conflicting emotions were battling in her mind.
"Be happy. This is something Regina has wanted for a long time." Snow begged, her eyes shining. Her former stepmother needed support from all her friends, especially if Emma reacted negatively, which was a distinct possibility. Emma had the tendency to run before she thinks.
"Snow, I'm happy that Regina's going to have a baby, a shining light in her life other than Henry. But with Emma? I don't know… I don't know." Ruby covered her eyes with her palms and sighed. Snow slumped, knowing that Ruby had a point. Emma was a flight risk and Snow had never heard her daughter talk about more children.
"Emma wouldn't hurt Regina." Ruby snorted and Snow cringed, knowing her sentence was a lie. They had already hurt one another deeply. Their relationship was in a recovery period. Things had just gotten back to normal. Snow sincerely hoped that her daughter would be happy.
"She's already—" Snow lifted her hand, knowing what Ruby was about to say. The pixie-haired woman pinched the bridge of her nose.
"I'm going to get her a few tests later." Ruby nodded jerkily and Snow sighed, feeling an obligation to defend her daughter but she knew that Emma had been in the wrong.
"She needed time." Snow whispered unconvincingly, wringing her hands together.
"She made Regina feel like shit! You may have paid her daily visits but I was there almost all the time. I saw her cry herself to sleep. You don't know anything!" Ruby's voice faltered and she paused, getting her emotions together, "I swear, Snow, Emma better not hurt her if she is with child. This is supposed to be a happy time. When it comes to Emma, I'm a lot of talk because Regina loves her flaky ass but if she fucks this up, I'll chase her out of town."
"Ruby!" Snow whispered desperately.
"No! I'm done letting her off the hook!" Ruby uncrossed her arms and slapped a palm down on the counter. Snow glared at her friend before turning to the sink, holding herself up using the counter. Emma raced into the kitchen after seeing their body language get aggressive. She paused, watching them closely.
"Everything okay here?" Emma asked slowly, inching closer to the two women that were glaring at her. Snow softened first, slouching her shoulders and pushing away from the counter. Snow sent a look at Ruby, who was staring at the wall by the fridge, avoiding everyone's eyes. Snow sighed, knowing Ruby was clamming up.
"Everything's fine. We're just having a conversation." She turned back to the sink and lathered up the sponge with dish soap. The wolf's eyes darted to Emma, giving her a scathing look. Emma narrowed her eyes at the tall brunette and stepped forward ominously.
"Something you want to say to me Ruby?" Emma questioned darkly. Ruby turned to face the blonde. Snow froze with a plate in her hand and soap dripping onto the counter. Her eyes widened as she watched her daughter and friend stare each other down. If the tap was off, everyone would be able to hear a pin drop. The women could hear Henry and Charming powering on the Xbox in the living room, laughing and choosing what they were going to play. Ruby sauntered forward, stopping right next to Emma, shoulder to shoulder. The wolf tilted her head towards the blonde.
"Get your shit together and you won't hear a peep from me." Ruby continued out of the kitchen, leaving behind a stunned Emma and a nervous Snow. They watched Ruby run up the stairs and Emma growled. The blonde ambled to her mother, standing close.
"What's going on?" Emma questioned quietly, "Does Ruby still love Regina? Is that why she's been giving me grief for weeks?"
"Emma," Snow sighed, reaching for another plate, "She's upset with you… for the whole separation thing. She just wonders if you're the best thing for Regina."
"Oh." Emma blinked and Snow shook her head.
"You are. It's just… you both have made mistakes and it's been rocky. Ruby wants a perfect person for Regina, that's what all best friends want, but the perfect person doesn't exist. The right person does and they come with flaws." Snow explained as she finished scrubbing the last dirty fork.
"She doesn't approve of me?" Emma grumbled sarcastically. Snow shook her hands and moved to dry them before returning to the counter.
"She has told me that she wonders if she made the right decision in pushing you two together. She said that, at first, Regina was blind to your feelings and that she wanted to stay with Ruby but Ruby convinced her to chase after true love," Snow closed her eyes, "Ruby regrets breaking up with her sometimes. She said that they could've had a happy life together if they stayed together, that it wouldn't have been true love but it could've been enough."
"Son of a bitch," Emma mumbled, "She's not wrong."
"Oh Emma—" Snow caressed Emma's shoulders lovingly.
"No. I haven't been good to Regina, not good enough. She deserves better," Emma sighed. Snow froze. This was going downhill and now was not the time for this, "And I'm going to get better for her. I will not lose her. Our relationship is the greatest thing that's happened to me since finding you guys and I want her to have a stable life."
Snow smiled lightly, "You really love her, don't you?"
"You have no fucking idea." Emma smiled back brightly, backing out of the kitchen to join Henry and her dad.
Ruby climbed the stairs quickly, needing to talk to her best friend. She needed to hear about the possible pregnancy from Regina's lips. The wolf was conflicted, as she told Snow, because she knew how much Regina regretted taking that potion that made her barren. She regretted it from the moment the cup reached her lips. She also knew that this meant that Emma was Regina's true love and it made her uneasy. She had an inkling before, as she told Regina at the park, but this cemented it.
Back then, the wolf also thought that Emma would be better to her friend but their relationship was a rollercoaster. They had periods of extreme, sappy happiness then they'd hit a major rough patch. Ruby wanted a stable person for Regina. It was difficult to see the ups and downs.
So, Ruby felt guilty for pushing them together, even though Emma and Regina are true loves. Maybe they weren't meant to be together. Maybe Ruby should've stayed with Regina romantically. Maybe they could have been happy. Maybe, maybe, maybe.
But deep down, Ruby knew the truth. Regina would rather go through the ups and downs with Emma than live a stable life with Ruby. That's why she broke it off. She knew the truth. But that didn't mean she had to be happy about it and she wasn't. Emma would have to deal with the protective wolf for an eternity, possible longer.
"Hey, sweetness, can I come in?" Ruby called through the door. She heard shuffling before the door opened to allow her in. She smiled at Regina as she shut the door behind her. They made their way to the bed.
"How was dessert, Pup?" Regina questioned as they slid under the covers. Ruby laughed half-heartedly.
"Snow's not too bad with dessert but I still think your apple crumble is better," Regina chuckled affectionately, "Sweetness, is my hunch right? Are you pregnant?"
"I think so. We won't know for sure until later." Regina answered, her smile growing bigger. Ruby stiffened. Seeing how jovial Regina was stilled her conflicted emotions. No matter what happened with Emma, this baby would make the older brunette happy, make her smile bright every morning and night. This pregnancy was a blessing, not matter what happened later on. Ruby smiled automatically.
"I'm so happy for you, sweetness. You get another chance at motherhood," Ruby caressed Regina's abdomen before leaning down and whispering to the area, "You're going to have the best mom, Peanut. She's going to spoil and coddle you. Oh yeah, you're going to have it made."
Regina laughed shakily, her emotions finally spilling forward, "Peanut?"
"Yeah, that's what I'm going to call it. I kinda love him or her already," Ruby kissed Regina's still flat abdomen before whispering conspiratorially, "Do me a favor, huh? Make your blonde mama's life a living hell."
"Ruby!" Regina giggled uncharacteristically. The wolf chuckled but continued talking to the fetus.
"Only listen to me, your aunt Ruby, Peanut. I'm the authority here." Ruby heard Regina's melodic laugh and decided that she wanted to hear it more often.
"You are not." Regina looked at the wolf lovingly, caressing her long brown locks. Ruby simply winked.
A/N: How do you think Emma will react?