CHAPTER 14

Emma awoke with a start. She sat blinking at the morning glare wondering what had spooked her out of her dream but it had already disappeared from her mind.

Regina chuckled over at her. She had just come from the shower and stood in a robe with a towel drying her hair. "Time to get up sleepyhead. Our appointment's in an hour." She dropped her robe and began digging in her drawers.

Emma watched her shocked. Her cheeks flamed while she averted her head to give Regina as much privacy as she could. She climbed out of bed and gingerly stepped around Regina who was getting dressed. She ran into the bathroom and shut the door quickly. She tried to quietly turn the lock into place.

She went through her morning routine as quickly as possible. Today was a check up day for Regina and Emma wanted to be there to support her.

They had a quick breakfast of toast and coffee. Then headed off to see the doctor. When they got to the office Emma stood around nervously while Regina signed in and took the paperwork with her to fill out.

Emma paced back and forth nervously. It had been a week since Regina's release from the hospital. Today was the first pregnancy check that Emma had been allowed to be a part of. The last one hadn't ended so well.

~~ FB ~~

It took days before she was able to come across Regina again. She'd come outside glare at Emma and then go back in. In the meantime, she'd be loading boxes into her car as if absolutely nothing was going on. Emma was incensed. This just made her dig her heels in farther.

It wasn't until the third day that she'd been able to corner her. Regina had driven out so Emma had followed her. Regina kept going past the town line. Emma had first become scared. She didn't know if this was it. If Regina was leaving for good or not. But she followed her anyway just to see where they were heading.

Regina stopped at a clinic. She got out of the car and again threw her patented death glare over at Emma. Then she made her way inside.

Emma sat in her car nervous about what to do. But it was her baby too. She had a right to be there.

She followed Regina into the building. She saw Regina in the waiting room filling out paperwork. She made her way over to the empty seat beside her.

"Leave now. Or I'll have them call the police. You won't be able to hide behind your badge here, Sheriff," Regina practically spat out as she gave Emma a look filled with venom.

"It's my child too Regina. I just want the chance to make up for before," Emma squirmed beneath her glare even though she knew she deserved it. She knew she didn't have a leg to stand on here. But Regina needed to understand that she couldn't let her just walk away with their child without a fight.

"Good luck explaining that to the police once they arrive and I fill out a complaint for stalking. Now leave!" Regina turned and went back to her paperwork.

Emma stood and walked towards the exit. As she was leaving a nurse called Regina to the back. Emma detoured and took a seat again.

Regina was in the back for about 35 minutes. When she came out she walked over to the front desk. Emma stood and leaned against the wall next to the window. She was out of sight of the nurse but she could still hear everything.

"And how many copies would you like of the ultrasound?"

Regina narrowed her eyes at Emma. She turned back to the nurse, "I'll take 4." Regina paid for the copies and scheduled a follow up appointment. Then she walked over to the in house pharmacy. She gave her prescriptions to the pharmacist assistant then she took a seat and waited.

Emma stood a little ways away from her not wanting to crowd her. But her eyes stayed glued to the envelope in her hand.

Regina opened the envelope and pulled out the sheets. There were about 6 different pics with little captions underneath. She held one of the sheets out. "This is all you deserve. And it's all you'll ever get."

Emma gulped and walked slowly over to her. She took the sheet of photos in her trembling hands. Tears came to her eyes as she looked down at the little bean shape trying to distinguish head from tail. "Thank you."

The aide called Regina's name and she walked over to the desk. She paid for her prescriptions then made her way outside.

Emma had been lost staring at the photographs. She finally noticed that Regina had left and she ran after her. Regina was already in her car about to back out. "Regina! Regina, wait! Please!" Emma banged her hand against the door.

Regina shook her head and kept backing out.

"Regina please! I just want to talk," Emma stood in the street in front of the car.

Again Regina narrowed her eyes at her. Then she looked around. When she saw no one she raised her hand and let her magic flow. Emma fell to the ground on the side. She landed with an 'oomph!' Regina quickly pulled out and away.

Emma collected herself and ran to her car. She jumped in and sped after Regina. She followed her all of the way back to her house. She parked her car and started to make her way up to the door when she encountered a barrier again. Emma threw a hurt look back over to Regina as she walked into her house ignoring Emma the entire way. Then she turned her car around and went back to the inn.

Emma sat staring at her copy of the ultrasound while she cried. She cried for Regina, for what had become of their family, for her baby that she wasn't sure she'd get to see grow up, for Henry and all the other things that had been lost. She cried until she had no more tears left. Then she fell into a restless slumber.

~~ EFB ~~

"Emma," Regina lightly scolded. "You're making me nervous. We've been through this already and we have a lot more to go before this is over. Now come and sit down," Regina patted the seat beside her.

Emma squeezed her eyes shut and then opened them again. It was harder than she thought living in a world where she knew what was going on but Regina didn't. She had to keep reminding herself of which story she was supposed to be telling and oftentimes the lines were blurred.

Emma took the seat beside Regina that she'd offered. Then she smiled over at her as Regina grabbed her hand and squeezed. The door to the inner suites opened and a nurse called Regina's name.

Regina stood and waited for Emma to follow. She smiled at the nurse who led them to the back. She patiently went through the weighing in and checking in process. She told Regina to have a seat on the table and the doctor would be right with her. The nurse left the two of them to their own devices. Regina frowned over at Emma as she realized she'd gained 6 pounds already.

Emma was trying to control her anxiety through the entire process. When Regina frowned she got nervous, "What? What's wrong?"

"I gained 6 pounds," she said before dropping her head on her shoulder.

Emma rubbed her back and lightly chuckled. "I was 200 pounds by the time I had Henry. You have a beautiful body babe. And now you get to eat whatever you want."

Regina threw her a look filled with horror. She shook her head vehemently, "Nope. I am not going to be one of those women who decide they're going to pretend that their overeating has to do with a pregnancy."

Emma chuckled, "The cravings are no joke babe. Once they start you just become a monster. Prison wouldn't have been so bad if I hadn't been pregnant through most of my sentence. I won't even mind you waking me up in the middle of the night for a store run."

Regina hated thinking about Emma sitting in a prison cell going through a pregnancy alone. She leaned over and kissed Emma, "I'm glad I have you with me."

Emma blushed then smiled.

The doctor walked into the room. "Hello ladies. I'm Papa Pope," he consulted his chart. "And Regina Mills you are 14 weeks along?"

Regina nodded smiling. She grabbed Emma's hand. "We are 14 weeks along."

Emma exhaled. She couldn't believe all the changes that had gone on in their lives. She was just glad that all the madness was over.

"Well, let's have a look here shall we? I'll need you to lie back and raise your top."

Regina lays back and does as instructed. She had been informed when she set up the appointment that wearing two piece clothing would be best.

The doctor gets the machines in order before he places gel upon her belly. Then he uses the transducer to bring up the image of their baby. Tears well up in both women's eyes as they listen to their baby's heartbeat. The doctor studies the scan then turns the monitor around to them so that they can see.

"Well you appear to have a perfectly healthy baby here. All fingers, toes, and organs are all accounted for. The amniotic fluid looks fine. I do still believe it's a good idea to have an amniocentesis. Just to rule out any abnormalities," he gently reassures the women. He prints off copies of the ultrasound for them to take home. He gives them a few minutes more then sets his equipment away. He handed Regina some wet wipes.

"Everything looks fine here ladies. You don't have anything to worry about. I saw nothing that gives me worry since your accident. As long as you're not having any symptoms or issues," he turned to Regina who shook her head. "Fine, fine. I'd say it's safe to resume physical and sexual activities. Sex is good for the baby. They find it a relaxing experience so have as much of it as you want and that makes you comfortable," he continued as both of their faces flamed red. "Other than that, continue taking your vitamins and folic acid and I'll see you in a few weeks for the amnio. After that we can schedule a 3d ultrasound that will give you a clearer picture and we'll even be able to tell the sex soon." He waved the women away with a smile after he made sure they had no more questions.

They made the required appointments and got Regina's prescriptions filled. Then they proceeded to go home. They couldn't wait to talk to Henry about the news.

Once they got home Regina set about writing all of the information down in the baby book while placing copies of the ultrasound inside of it. Emma just sat staring at hers and staring back at Regina. She wiped away the occasional errant tear.

Living with this charade as her Mother liked to put it was harder than she had thought. But it was an experience she wouldn't trade for the world. Right now she was sitting with a woman she loved while they discussed baby things as couples do. Once more, she knew she had made the right decision.