Chapter 21
"Ok guys! I'm just going to the store to get some stuff. I'll be back!" Snow shouted from the doorway as Emma sat on the couch armrest. The blonde looked around the room, feeling uneasy. Then suddenly she realized that Regina was upstairs, feeling like shit, and she was in the living room, about to watch a game of Mario Kart. It felt wrong. It should be Emma up there comforting Regina, not Ruby.
And Emma knew that this was what the wolf was talking about. The savior should have thought to check on her girlfriend. Emma could try romance and big gestures but it was the small things that mattered most, like checking in when your love wasn't feeling well. Emma cringed. Her expectations as a girlfriend in the past really screwed her over this time. This was love. This was work and she needed to get her ass in gear because Ruby was doing the caregiving and giving Regina affection.
Emma was an emotionally stunted woman. It was difficult to express her level of love. She rarely did it and, when she did, it was usually right before, during, or after sex. The blonde groaned, which caused the boys to look at her questioningly. She waved them off and they went back to their game. Maybe Ruby was right. She needed to get her shit together… and fast. The wolf was moving in at lightning speed.
So Emma raced up the stairs, receiving dumbfounded looks from the males, and knocked on the door. She heard Regina's voice give permission to enter. When she stepped inside, Ruby and Regina were sitting on the bed cross-legged, watching an old sitcom rerun. Regina smiled at her.
"Honey! Come sit with me," She patted the space next to her before turning to Ruby, "You can go now Pup. Emma will sit with me."
"Sure thing, sweetness." Ruby hopped up after giving the older brunette a peck on the cheek. As she made her way out of the room, Emma placed a hand on her arm, stilling her for a moment.
"I'll be right in baby. I have to piss," Emma received a glare, "What I really meant was 'please excuse me as I use the facilities'."
Ruby snorted as Regina smirked and turned back to Everybody Loves Raymond. Emma pulled Ruby's arm roughly and dragged her into the hallway. She shut the bedroom door and walked several feet away so that her lover couldn't hear their conversation. Emma stepped forward into Ruby's personal space.
"I need you to back off. I know you think I'm a piece of garbage that's unworthy of her love and forgiveness but it's not your place to decide what's good for her. You're trying to take my place and I won't let you do that. I love her and I'd rather put you down than lose her. I'm trying to break this vicious cycle of shitty relationships but it's hard and it's going to take me a while. And sitting down there, I realized that I have a lot of work to do because I allowed a former girlfriend of Regina's to waltz right up here, cuddle up to her, comfort her. I'm supposed to do that and, yes, I took too long to realize that but I learned now, okay? I need you to act like a best friend to her, not her lover," Emma hardened her eyes, "You get me?"
Ruby smiled coyly, "It's about fucking time Swan."
"Huh?" Emma startled, watching as Ruby's smile widened. The wolf patted Emma's cheek.
"I've been waiting to see some damn fire! Some passion! Something that proved that you weren't just floating through this relationship. I was watching you get complacent with how things were and it really pissed me off. I know I was over stepping boundaries, encroaching on your duties, but I was waiting to see just how far I could go before you fucking took charge! Emma, you need to fight for her always! Even when you're married for twenty-five years and you're going gray, you need to protect her from horny old bastards."
Emma stared in disbelief, "Ruby… have you been testing me?"
"I guess you could call it that. I mean, Swan, haven't you noticed how I've been a tad more affectionate, touchy, acting like a suitor," Emma nodded fervently, " I was kind off seeing how far you'd let me go, how far you'd allow someone to move in on her. That's where concerns came from. I skipped over the separation because that wasn't the biggest issue for me. The biggest issue was your complacency with being undermined. I needed to know that if anything happens to me, you would be there protecting her fiercely, that you wouldn't let anyone touch her, hurt her. But you let me, for a month, act like her girlfriend and it scared me. I kept wondering if you were ready to just throw in the towel. Then I wondered if I had made a mistake by pushing her to you because of that fact. You're a runner, Emma. It's an instinct but I needed to know that even when you're pushed to your limit, you would stay and fight, not run."
"So…" Emma gaped, her mouth opening and closing a few times. Ruby let of a bark of laughter.
"Babe, you passed the test! It took you a while but you did it. You didn't run. You fought me. You're gaining brownie points with me yet, Emma Swan." Ruby patted Emma's shoulder and turned to walk away.
"Wait… so does this mean you approve of me?" Emma stuttered. Ruby looked back at her affectionately.
"The whole point, Emma, is that my opinion doesn't mean anything. Regina's does. You don't live to make me happy. You live to make her happy. And if you make her happy, you make me happy. It's a rad cycle for you." Ruby grinned.
"So no more flak from you?" Emma smiled nervously, wringing her hands.
"We'll see." Ruby laughed.
"What do you mean?" Emma asked, exasperated with the cryptic answers.
"There's one more test I want you to pass. We'll know how you did tomorrow. You pass that one, you're home free, my friend," Ruby began climbing down the stairs but paused after a few steps and turned to add, "And never quit improving, huh? Never throw in the towel."
"Never." Emma stated factually, grinning when she received a large smile from the wolf.
"Go watch sitcoms with your girl." Then Ruby was gone and Emma felt a weight had been lifted. She thought about Ruby's test and knew that the girl had been right. Emma had been becoming comfortable with the relationship she had. She had liked that she didn't have to show much affection to receive a lot from Regina. She had liked Regina's romantic gestures but hardly did any for the brunette. She had liked being pampered without having to reciprocate. And that was the issue. She needed to reevaluate those things and change them. She needed to show Regina how important she was, never forget to utter those words of love, and do things without the expectation of receiving in return. It would be difficult to change that pattern but she had to do it for Regina.
After all, Regina changed her patterns for Emma. The brunette was used to love being a power play between kingdoms or an outlet for sex. Regina was just as emotionally stunted as Emma, if not worse. So, Emma had to do for Regina what Regina did for her. The balance needed to be shifted. They had to become equals.
So, she breathed out a puff of air, expecting all her negative patterns to float out. She squared her shoulders, "For Regina."
The two ladies laughed as they watched the comedy unfold one screen. Emma had her arm around Regina's shoulders, pulling her into her body and snuggling. Their legs were intertwined, Emma's toes caressing the bottom of Regina's foot.
Raymond Barone, on the television, excitedly yells, "It's twins? Oh, my God, it's twins! Twins don't run in our family! Oh, my God! Am I the man or what? I bet it's because I switched to boxers."
Emma smiled, wondering if that was ever going to be in the cards for her. She smiled down at Regina, who was mysteriously glassy eyed.
"Baby? Are you okay?" Emma stroked her medium-length brown hair soothingly. Regina nodded succinctly.
"It's just… babies. It reminds me of when I got Henry." Regina sighed happily before reaching up to wipe her eyes. Emma squirmed, knowing this was her chance to ask the question that has been on her mind for a while.
"Gina?" The brunette hummed, "I'm not… saying we have to… or anything. But, uh, have you ever though of… having another?"
Regina almost snapped her neck when she turned to face the blonde, "Why do you ask?"
Emma stared intently at her fingernails, "For weeks, I've been having baby fever… I guess. I kind of want another one… with you this time."
"Emma—" Regina smiled, happy tears gathering in her eyes. Emma would have saw them if she wasn't avoiding eye contact because she was afraid of rejection.
"I know you took that potion but, I mean, love is a pretty strong thing, ya know? And anyway, we could adopt again! There are a lot of kids that need a home." Emma stumbled over her words and Regina could not be more in love with the babbling blonde.
"Honey," Regina paused and Emma looked at her expectantly, "I think… I might be pregnant."
Everything was still. Both women stared at each other in silence. The only sounds heard were the sitcom and Mario Kart. Regina watched as Emma's stunned face turned into a gargantuan smile. Emma let out an uncharacteristic squeal as she stood on her knees and bounce on the bed in a child-like manner.
"How?" Emma felt tears gathering in her eyes. Regina felt joy flow through every vein in her body.
"Like you said, dear, true love is the most powerful magic of all." Emma covered her face, the tears finally marring her cheeks. Regina sat up as well and took her into her arms.
Emma pulled back and placed a slobbery kiss on the brunette's cheek, "I am so fucking ecstatic right now, Gina! We're going to be parents again… together this time!"
"Oh, Emma, you have no idea how much your reaction means to me." Regina whispered, hugging Emma tightly. Emma cradled her head and cried for a few moments before pulling back. She needed Regina to know what this would mean to her.
"Baby, this is amazing, a blessing. I've been thinking about this for weeks and I've been afraid to bring it up. This news just made my year!" Emma bounced some more, this time grabbing Regina's hands and forcing her to as well. Regina laughed sweetly before stilling the blonde with hands on the shoulders.
"Let's not get too excited yet. We don't know for sure. Snow is getting pregnancy tests at the store." Emma nodded.
"So my mother knew?" Emma asked as she caressed Regina's collarbone with a thin finger.
"She figured it out tonight. She noticed the symptoms and confronted me. Then Ruby came in and said that she could smell the change in my hormones. I told them my suspicions and I was going to, as your mother said, squat and tinkle when you went to bed because I was afraid of your reaction. But now, we can do it together."
Emma laughed, "Be nervous freaks together."
"Exactly." The brunette laughed. Emma leaned in and caught her lip between her teeth and nipped. Regina moaned so Emma repeated the action. Emma lovingly laid the brunette down, straddling her knees so that her face could rest on Regina's tummy. Emma felt tears gather again but she didn't fight it this time.
"Hey, squishy. It's your Mama." Both women chuckled. Regina reached a hand down to caress Emma's beautiful blonde hair.
"Tell her to disregard what aunt Ruby said about you." Emma playfully glared at the door, silently scolding the wolf. Regina smirked as Emma leaned back down.
"Don't listen to Ruby. She's a mutt." Regina burst out laughing and Emma couldn't help but join in. This moment was perfect. This time Emma was happy to learn about a pregnancy involving her. Henry's pregnancy was sad moment because she knew she had to give him up. Neither of them had been great mothers for Henry but they changed. Together, they would do right by their three children.
They were going to be mothers again… hopefully.
A/N: I know some of you were angry at Ruby but I hope that this made you understand her better. Also, Emma grew a damn backbone! Hurray! Anyway, we find out the results of the tests next chapter. And, yes, there was a bit of foreshadowing in this chapter. Let me know if you found it.