2 weeks later
Emma sat on the floor of the bathroom, using a washcloth to wipe at the tears running down her face. One thing, she had just wanted one thing. She bunched the cloth up in her fist and looked at the mess on her shirt. Dammit! All day she had thought about the damn fettuccini alfredo with chicken that Regina was making for dinner, and now she just puked it up and part of it on herself. Everything seemed to turn her stomach and the one thing that sounded appetizing wouldn't even stay down. She cried some more and buried her head in her hands.
There was a soft knock on the door. "Emma? Are you okay?"
"No, dammit! I just threw up your pasta and ruined my shirt," she sobbed.
The door squeaked open a few inches and Regina peered in at a tearful Emma sitting on the bathroom floor next to the toilet.
"We can wash your shirt, hang on." She disappeared for a moment then poked her head back in. "Look familiar?" she asked, holding out a grey sweatshirt. "I'll trade you."
"I don't—-"
"Emma, get that damn shirt off right now." she growled in her best 'I am not dealing with nonsense' voice.
With a sigh she complied, unbuttoning her cream colored stained short and trading it for the sweatshirt.
Regina took the shirt to the washing machine and sent Henry off to get some sports drink for Emma to make sure she stayed hydrated. She then went back to the bathroom and found Emma still sitting there now in the sweatshirt and her head in her hands. She sat down next her on the floor and leaned back against the cabinet.
"I just wanted nice dinner, you know? I fantasized about that pasta, it was one of the few things that the thought of didn't make me queasy. Then I thought we'd have a dessert, then I'd give you the…thing I got you." She sniffed and tipped her head back.
"Emma," she sighed. "You're pregnant, this comes with the territory. How about we jump to the dessert? I have ice cream."
"Are you encouraging me to eat ice cream for dinner? You, who accuse me of eating like a child?" she wiped at her eyes and looked at the woman next to her.
She shrugged, "If it stays down then good enough. What did you get me?"
"It's a surprise. I'm not ruining that too."
"You didn't ruin anything."
Emma could guess a lot of this was hormonal but she was powerless against it, tears welled in her eyes again as she thought about how patient and caring Regina had been with her. Sometimes she felt that lately all she did was ask things of Regina, and sucked at giving anything back.
"I'm sorry," she sobbed.
"It's okay." She wrapped her arms around her and held her close, rubbing her back.
"I love you," Emma mumbled into her shoulder.
"I love you, too."
Mal slowly mixed in a bit of sugar with her tea as she sat at her kitchen table. It was an older house, a bit drafty but it had served her well since she decided she was going to stay for a little while in Storybooke. The clinking of her spoon was joined by the sound of shuffling. She raised her head and saw Lily entering the kitchen, carefully keeping her weight off her right leg.
"I told you you were coming in too fast for that landing," Mal commented.
Lily grumbled and sat down at the white formica topped table.
"Listening is a skill you should develop," she added.
"I know, I know, ok? I learned my lesson." She crossed her arms over her chest and kicked her foot out.
She shook her head and took a sip from her cup. After she had taken a moment to savor her tea she looked across the table at her her daughter.
"Do you speak to Emma often?"
She shook her head, "Not really, why?"
"Just curious. Lots of talk around town about her and…Regina."
Lily shrugged. "Rumors. It's a small town."
"Yes, but that gnat Blue is sniffing around, too. It sounds like the Savior and Regina were up to some magic work recently that has her wings all aflutter. I need to give Regina a heads up. Let me know if you hear anything, ok?"
She nodded and uncrossed her arms.
The diplomas on the wall were well framed, ensconced in a barriers of glass with black wooden borders. Regina inspected each one carefully as she waited rather impatiently. She was a couple of minutes away from storming out the door when the doctor entered the room.
"So sorry," she apologized. Her blonde hair was up in a bun and several strands had escaped. "Had a bit of a fire to put out." She stopped in her tracks as she felt Regina's eyes bore into her. She had been told she had a consult waiting, but she had somehow missed that it was the queen. She gathered herself and moved toward the desk.
"I hope I didn't keep you waiting long. What can I do for you Miss Mills?" She set the files down she had been carrying and sat down at her desk. "Please, sit down."
Regina sat down in one of the chairs and looked across the desk at the doctor, taking a moment before addressing her.
"Frankly, Doctor…Hyacinth, I'm here to evaluate you."
"Evaluate me?"
"You were recommended to Emma Swan by her mother. Fairy turned OB as I understand."
"I didn't stop being fae, I just have a different profession than those in the convent with Blue. Are you looking for an obstetrician?"
"Yes and no. Emma is looking, and I think she is going to go with you. It's her decision obviously, but…fairies and I have had a rocky relationship."
"You have concerns that I won't what? Do my job? Take care of my patient?" She was annoyed now, and she let it show. She didn't need Regina dragging her Evil Queen bullshit around her office.
"If something happens to Emma or the baby there will be hell to pay, and I'll be the one collecting. That's all I have to say." She stood from her chair and left the office.
Regina felt uneasy after her meeting with the doctor, unsure if she had pushed things too far or not far enough. She was conflicted and felt pulled in twenty different directions. She felt the familiar pull of the need to aggressively defend what was hers, but she also remembered how badly that could go.
She arrived at the small cafe that overlooked the harbor a bit early for her meeting with Mal so she could gather herself before meeting with the dragon.
Mal had requested they meet and had been very mum on why. When she arrived she described her concerns regarding Blue and the questions about Regina's magical going ons. Regina decided it was as good a time as any to let her in on what she had been up to.
"Good God, Regina!" Mal exclaimed. "Are you serious? The levels of magic required for such are thing are tremendous! I'm shocked you would even attempt it." Her eyes bore into Regina and a slight frown graced her features.
"It wasn't…It was what Emma wanted. I don't see what's so shocking."
"What's so shocking is that number 1: you even tried, and number 2: it worked. Do you always just do what the Savior asks of you? No wonder there was so much magic flying about. I always suspected that silly girl had a bit of crush on you but I didn't know it ran that deep." She began to feel warm in the little cafe and removed the red scarf from around her neck and hung it over the back of the chair. To her right she could see the harbor through the plate glass window and took a moment to appreciate the view.
"Once word trickles back to the fairy she can get her ass back on the couch and resume her Real Housewives marathon, or whatever she gets up to over there." They probably should have met at Granny's, that would have ensured the message was overheard and found its way to the convent.
Mal shook her head. "No, if anything I would count on her making some sort of move against you or Emma."
"Oh please, she wouldn't touch Emma. What threat is a baby?"
Mal's eyes drifted away to the window again as several thoughts raced through her head and she tried to sort a way to tell Regina without alarming her.
"Blue is going to be concerned about what abilities that child may have. A child created by magic, with two magical parents—there could be consequences."
"Like what?"
"He or she may have the ability…to open passageways between worlds. This is what Blue will occupy her concerns with."
"With a may or may not? You talk like its common knowledge. This is the first I'm hearing of such a thing."
"It's an old belief, usually brought up to discourage people from doing what you did. There may not be any truth to it, there likely isn't to be honest." She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. "I can take care of Blue if you want me to."
Regina wanted to say yes, desperately wanted to see that damn convent in ashes, but she kew she couldn't.
"Other than ask questions she's done nothing." she said quietly, clasping her hands together on the table to keep from fidgeting.
Mal knew the old Regina wouldn't have thought twice about wiping the floor with that annoying do-gooder. It was probably paining her now not to take that road and she respected the effort it took.
"The Savior must be rubbing off on you. Speaking of which, I hope the baby making wasn't all potions and light shows. Please tell me you got to knock up Snow's daughter properly."
"I'm not sure what would be considered 'properly' in this situation."
"Were there adult situations and nudity?"
"I see someone's been watching TV. Yes, there were."
"Well then, cheers." she said, raising her glass. "And congratulations."
