CHAPTER 20

Emma pretended to be watching television as she sat holding her baby. But it was hard for her to drag her attention away from the li'l munchkin.

Regina walked in and handed her a beer before she sat beside her. She smiled over at the two of them. "You know Ruby said something really weird today."

Emma faltered slightly but managed to keep her smile on her face. She knew Ruby wasn't a fan of hers or their new family. "Oh?"

Regina ran her finger through her baby's dark curls as she bent and pressed a kiss to her head. "Yeah. It was really weird. She said I had talked to her about me and Lolly leaving here," Regina nuzzled her baby as she chuckled. "Something about I wanted to show her the world."

Emma gave Regina a tight smile, "Sounds like a good idea for a family trip."

Regina nodded eagerly, "Yeah it would be. We really should look into it. But that wasn't the weird part. The part that was weird was her saying since you, me, and Henry were together now. We've only been together for almost 3 years now," Regina rolled her eyes.

Emma gave a weak chuckle while running a hand through her hair, "Yeah."

"For some reason it's been stuck in my head all day long," Regina shook her head. It was really weird. "Anyway, I'm going to take her up and put her down," she rose and reached out for Lolly. After Emma handed her over she began to walk away. "You coming?" she asked before pausing and looking at her over her shoulder as she waited for an answer.

They always put Lolly down together. Or started to anyway. One would put her down in her crib and then they'd sit staring at one another for a while before getting up and bringing her to their bed. They were both suffering from really bad separation anxiety. It's how Lolly's crib had become relocated to their room in the first place.

"Yeah. I'll be there in a minute," Emma smiled and gestured to her beer. "I want to finish this first."

After Regina left the den Emma almost broke out in a panic. She knew that Ruby was upset about the situation. But she had explained to her that she wasn't taking advantage of her. This wasn't a curse. It was just a spell to make it easier for her to remember good times with her and Henry. It wasn't hurting her at all.

She stood up and began pacing the room. She put her hands up to her temples. "No, no, no, no. This cannot happen."

Emma had risked too much to get to where they were. She'd practically had to sell her soul to that demon.

~FLASHBACK~

Emma walked into Gold's shop. He was standing behind the counter with a creepy smile on his face as if he'd been expecting her. She glared at him then walked over to the counter.

Gold placed his cane upon the counter and leaned over, "How may I be of help to you today Sheriff?"

Even hearing his voice creeped her out. But Emma shoved it all away. She shook her head to clear it. This was going to be the most important conversation of her life. "You were the one who said you could help me."

Gold smiled knowingly, "I heard about your problems with the Miss. I was merely offering my services."

"Cut the crap Gold. I'm not interested in anymore of your handshake deals without knowing the terms up front. I've done all the favors for you that I'm going to. Just tell me what you want and this will got a lot faster."

Gold appeared offended, "I'm crushed. This is merely a friendly transaction between family." Emma's mouth thinned out as she narrowed her eyes and waited for the other shoe to drop. "Since you're my grandson's Mother, I can offer you exactly what you want."

Emma took a step back and crossed her arms over her chest. "And that would be - ?"

"Why the chance to keep your family whole and intact of course," Gold's smile came out as something closer to a leer.

Emma reminded herself to ensuring that he stayed specific on the details so that there were no surprises, "And how would you accomplish that?"

Gold leaned over the counter and lowered his voice, "why I can make it so that this little spat of yours never existed," he flicked his wrists out and then clapped his hands together. "Your little miss will remember nothing but the good times between you two. And she will be head over heels for her true love."

Emma's breath hitched. She knew if things sounded too good to be true that's because they usually were. She took a deep breath to ground herself, "And how would you do that?"

"It's a small spell," he tightened his lips as he pulled the corners downward. "Repress the bad memories and allow her own mind to fill in the rest. It's quite simple really."

Emma moistened her lips. She uncrossed her arms and moved closer to the counter where she placed her hands down flat. "And how much is that going to cost me?"

Gold's face turned pensive, "Since you're family. And Regina means so much to me," he placed his hand upon his chest as he giggled slightly. "I'd be willing to help out just this once all for absolutely nothing."

Emma shook her head to clear it knowing she couldn't have heard right, "nothing? The man who makes deals for a living is willing to help me out of the kindness of your cold dead heart?"

Gold threw his nose in the air, "Sheriff Swan, I'm offended. Family is extremely important to me. And as Henry is my grandson his happiness means the world to me. If having his Mother's together will return a smile to his face why – that's all the payment I would ever need," Gold grinned wickedly.

Emma knew he was up to something. Even with Neal in town he'd never sought Henry out on a personal level. He didn't seem to care about him one way or another. But if he could do what he said he could – and they could get Regina back all for the price of nothing. She found it impossible to say no.

The imp watched her defenses crumble. He grinned as he stuck out his hand, "is it a deal then?"

Emma closed her eyes and bowed her head. She took a big swallow as she tried to push the bile rising in the back of her throat. She knew this was probably going to come back at her someday in someway.

But Regina had left her with no other choice. She'd made it clear that any day now she'd be gone. And she'd be taking Emma's baby right along with her. Emma could probably stand losing Regina. She knew she deserved that. But losing her baby would kill her. That she couldn't live with.

She ignored his outstretched hand. "Deal," she nodded.

-EFB-

Emma made her way upstairs. She stuck her head in Henry's room and found him already asleep. She kissed him lightly on the side of his head as she pulled his blankets up closer around him. Then she bypassed Lolly's room and headed straight to the bedroom she shared with Regina. She knew Regina wouldn't be able to put Lolly in her own bed though they both talked about them all needing to get used to sleeping in their own spaces.

Lolly wasn't in her crib though where she usually slept. She was lying beside Regina in the bed playing with her toes. She was happily gurgling as Regina lay on her side staring down enraptured by her baby.

Emma jumped into bed on the other side of her daughter. She put her hand on her belly as she gave her light scratches while smiling down at her.

"We really should let her sleep in her own room you know," Regina said yet made no attempt at pretending to move.

"Yeah, yeah," Emma said as she covered herself and her baby with the blanket and got comfortable. The last thing she remembered before her eyes closed for the night were an identical pair of eyes fluttering softly before falling closed.

MF

The next morning Emma got up and dressed as early as possible. She left her girlfriend and baby sleeping peacefully in bed after pressing soft kisses to each of their cheeks. Then she headed out after leaving Regina a note that she would be home late that night.

She was on a mission. She left word with her Dad that she wouldn't be in today as she headed out of town. She drove into Portland and headed for a store that had gotten rave reviews online.

She asked the clerk to show her the best that they had in stock. It took her three trayfuls of no's before she found what she was looking for. Her face lit up as she pointed to the ring that she knew would look perfect on the former Queen. "I want that one," she told him as she imagined sliding it onto Regina's finger.