Emma was drinking her cocoa and watching the winter sky that had settled over Storybrooke. It seemed like it had come on so suddenly, too cold too soon. But then again, it was the middle of November. Time was moving so quickly.
"So, what do you think?" Snow asked.
She sighed and turned away from the window. Snow was sitting on the couch and looking at her expectantly.
It was hard for her to get excited about the traditions of the land her mother came from. She had a decidedly 'when in Rome' attitude and she didn't understand others who didn't.
"Weren't the kind of dances…balls, whatever, kind of, you know, elitist? I imagine the people who herded the goats or picked grapes weren't there kicking up their heels. How do we manage such a thing here? Do we have a place that could hold the whole town?"
"The high school gymnasium is pretty large, Emma. And we can sell tickets, for charity. It's not everyone's thing Emma, I get that. That's why I don't think space will really be an issue. And it would be a good time to…you know, present you and Regina as a couple to the town. Then everyone can stop gossiping."
Emma huffed as she sat down next to her. "That's unlikely."
"At least it will end the whole 'are they or aren't they debate'. I'm getting tired of being asked all the time because they're too afraid to ask you two directly."
"But what will they talk about then? We can't take away something that provides so much entertainment and community spirit. Nothing bonds people together like gossip."
"They'll find something else, believe me." She put her feet up on the coffee table and looked over at Emma. "How are you feeling by the way? Any luck with the nausea?"
"Some, but…I don't know. It should be getting better but its not." She placed the white mug with her cocoa on the coffee table and leaned back. Her mother put a supportive arm around her shoulders and rubbed her arm.
"Big day tomorrow, right?"
Emma nodded. "Ultrasound, the big reveal. I know its a girl though."
"How's the doc? You like her?"
"Yea, I do. Regina sure doesn't, I can tell you that. Tomorrow may get ugly."
"The fairy thing, I know."
"She says its my decision but she practically growls when I mention her." Just at that moment she felt the ping as she liked to call it. She got up from the couch and went to the coat rack where her jacket hung. She grabbed the phone out of the pocket and as she did it chimed.
[Have your milkshake, where are you?]
"Ooooo milkshake! I forgot," she stated, heading back to the couch with the phone in hand.
{At mom's, come by}
"Who knew this would require drinking milkshakes? I'm not complaining."
Snow tipped her head and gave her a quizzical look.
Emma shrugged, "I'm not putting on enough weight, I have to get extra calories. Granny's milkshakes have been the solution."
Snow went to say something but was interrupted by the front door opening and David coming in. When he saw Emma a smile lit his face. He hung his jacket up quickly, unclipped his service gun from his jean waistband and set it on the counter in the kitchen before coming over to her.
"Em, how are you? Give me a hug!"
For some reason Emma couldn't quite sort out her father had gotten a bit sappy when it came to her since she told him she was pregnant. She didn't know if it was protectiveness or what but it veered into downright silly territory.
He plopped on the couch next to her and wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on her shoulder.
"Mom was just telling me about her ball idea."
"Oh yea?" he asked, pulling away. "You don't sound thrilled. Come on, it will be fun. Something to break up the winter doldrums. Keep people out of trouble."
Her green eyes darted to the side as she gave it some thought. "That's a good point, I must admit."
"Oh, he's got the good points but not me?" Snow asked, a trifle annoyed.
He smiled a full toothy smile, "Sounds like it."
The white front door banged open again and Regina came in, wrapped in a black woolen coat and holding a large white styrofoam cup. She swiveled on her heel to take in the sight of them together on the couch.
"Daddy to be! How are you?" David asked.
She swallowed the groan that bubbled up from her midsection. This was David's favorite thing now, and she hated it.
"David," she said with a clenched jaw. She tried to ignore the insipid grin on his face, and it wasn't helping that Emma was smiling along with him. She pushed Snow's feet off the coffee table, ignoring her indignant huff, and set the cup down.
Emma leaned forward with an excited grin and pulled the lid off. "Chocolate. Perfect." She sniffed it like it was wine. "Spoon?"
Everyone expected some biting remark from Regina but she turned on her heel and immediately headed for the kitchen.
David bumped Emma with his shoulder and smiled. "The queen does your bidding?"
"Dad, zip it," she hissed.
Regina came back with the spoon and was surprised by the fact that she found herself a bit irked that Emma had her parents on either side of her and there was no room for her. She sat down in the armchair and wondered when she started devolving into a teenager.
Emma took a spoonful of milkshake and swallowed it down. "Thanks, sorry I forgot."
"It's fine."
Snow out her feet back on the coffee table. "Why don't you stay for dinner? We haven't all gotten together for a while now. We can order pizza or something."
"I've got to get Henry from basketball," Regina said. "How about tomorrow night? After the…"
"We'll have pictures to show!" Emma interjected.
Regina smiled, "Yes, pictures."
"You gonna be there, Dad?" David asked.
"David, any more 'dad' comments from you and I'll make sure you never see those pictures," she grumbled.
Emma gave him an elbow and continued consuming her milkshake.
The next day Emma was insanely nervous, like she was about to take a test or something. Regina insisted on driving and she was actually glad for it. She didn't know how much clothing she was going to have to shift around or remove since they were doing the ultrasound and heartbeat today so she wore sweat pants and a loose t-shirt. Regina was nervous too, she could tell. She was being more quiet than usual and seemed to be paying an inordinate amount of attention to every little thing which only escalated when they were finally in the room with the ultra sound technician. The questions just rolled out of her and was clearly putting the young tech on edge.
"Regina," Emma said, grabbing her hand and pulling her towards a chair. "It's fine. Just sit down, okay?"
The brunette nodded and sat down, her eyes darting around the room. She watched as the young woman exposed Emma's middle and tucked the paper drape into the waistband of her grey sweatpants.
"16 weeks huh? A little early for one of these," she commented.
"Doctor's orders," Emma replied.
"Well, if I can spot the gender do you want to know?"
They both nodded immediately.
"Okay then. Let me get the gel and we will get under way. I'm going to lower the lights a little bit so I can see better."
Emma leaned back and exhaled. She looked over at Regina who still had her brow furrowed in concern. She reached her hand out and felt her take it.
The images were blurs of black and grey but gradually things began to come into focus. A round head, a spine, and a heartbeat that pounded away with a strong rhythm.
"Are they always so…fast?" Regina asked.
"The heartbeat? Yup, that's pretty normal. Overall, everything is looking as it should, there's an arm right there, a bit tucked up by the head. Let's see if we can…oh yea, look at that. I think we are looking at a girl here."
Emma squeezed Regina's hand and gave her a grin. "Told you."
"Yes, you did."
The tech continued. "There's a leg and a leg, and nothing in the middle there I would expect with a boy. It's still a bit early but I'm 90% sure were are looking at a girl, and one that is developing just fine." She looked back at the two women and saw Emma was smiling and Regina looked shell shocked.
"Swan," she whispered. "We really did this."
"I know."
"We like…really did this. I mean, we made this. With magic. I didn't think this was even possible."
Emma leaned up a bit and looked over at her. "I know, I was there."
The young technician knew it was time for her to leave them to whatever discussion they needed to have. Her work was done here. She handed Emma a towel to clean the gel off with and moved out of the room as fast as she could.
A still image remained on the screen of the fetus in profile and Regina stared at it for a long time as Emma cleaned up. She didn't realize she was crying until Emma moved off the exam table and put her arms around her.
"It seems…unreal," she sniffed.
"Oh it's real, I know it every time I throw up. Now you have been officially introduced to baby Swan-Mills," she said, making a sweeping gesture at the frozen black and grey image on the monitor screen. She dropped her arm and looked down. "And she must be excited because she's moving, I think she's kicking."
Regina immediately put her hands on Emma's middle and felt the flutter, then a clear thump right under her palm. She dropped to her knees, keeping her hand in place.
"My little princess, I'm so glad to meet you. Please be nice to your mother and let her keep a meal down, okay?" She sighed and leaned in closer. "We moved worlds to bring you here, little one. We love you…very much."
"Dammit Regina, now you've done it." Emma said, wiping at her eyes. "We can't both be crying messes."
Regina stood up to look her in the eye. "No one has to know." She cupped her face in her hands and gave her a gentle kiss.
That night Emma dreamed of the carnival again. She walked among the stalls, the sun was bright and the grass was green. When she rounded a corner she saw Regina watching Henry throwing darts at balloons. A small baby wearing a green knit cap was cradled in her arms. The baby was resting against her shoulder and her bright eyes followed Emma as she approached.
"There she is, the cutest baby in town." She reached out to her but the baby turned her head, burrowing further into Regina's arms.
"Mama's girl," she chided with a smile.
"Emma," Regina said quietly, "There's something…"
The dream ended abruptly, and she awoke to the light of a full moon flooding a her bedroom.
