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"They look so happy, don't they?" Regina smiled tiredly, leaning her head on David's shoulder as they sat at the wedding reception, watching Hook and Emma slow dance, oblivious to the people around them on the dance floor. It had turned out to be a beautiful evening, the wedding taking place at the park gazebo around sunset and the reception not far from it, underneath a canopy that Emma and Regina had fashioned with their magic. The decorations were a mixture of gold and creme colors, flowers and and foliage twisting around every archway. The breeze was warm but comfortable, the canopy lit with lanterns that gave off a cozy ambiance while their family and loved ones celebrated.
"Thank you, Regina," David said in reply, making her lift her head to look up at him. His arm was wrapped around her, hand resting on the side of her baby bump as they cuddled in their dimly lit corner, overlooking the festivities. Both of them were content observing, enjoying the presence of one another in the moment.
"What are you thanking me for?" A hint of a smile played on her lips at the question, not expecting that response at all. His blue eyes were warm and full of love, making her heart constrict at the depth of emotion she saw in them. She would never tire of looking into his eyes and seeing that connection she'd yearned for her whole life. Being so completely tethered to someone was never something she thought she'd have for herself, never thought herself capable of opening her heart in this way.
"You don't think I've seen the way you've helped Emma with the wedding? You're nearly at your due date and yet you made sure every little detail was seen to," David glanced around in wonderment, "I mean look at this place...I'm so grateful for you," He said, pressing his lips to her forehead as she closed her eyes to savor the simple affection.
"It was nothing," She bit her lip to keep her smile at bay, shifting her eyes to look up at him as he let go of her to stand slowly. He looked handsome in his suit, a dark gray color with a black undershirt that complimented her classic, black fitted dress. He made her proud to be by his side, aware of the pair they made after everyone had complimented them that evening.
David grinned at her, reaching out his hand, "Will you do me the honor of dancing with me?" He asked formally, laughing softly at her slight eye roll. She couldn't help but find his efforts adorable, even if her back and feet were tired from the day's activities. She knew he'd asked her to make her feel special, given her history with being forgotten at events such as this. For that alone, she couldn't bring herself to turn him down.
"I'm not sure how good of a dance partner I'll be," Regina smiled as he helped her up, leading her towards the platform of the gazebo where the dancing was. His arms came around her securely, pulling her up against him gently as much as the baby would allow.
"From what I remember you're a natural," He replied with reference to their moment in Camelot as he pressed the side of his head to hers, wrapping one arm around her as the other took her hand to begin their two step, "This will be us soon. Have you thought of what kind of wedding you'd like?"
"Not really..." She admitted, resting the side of her head on his shoulder as they swayed slowly to the music. She felt a low chuckle in his chest and his breath in her hair as he nuzzled his face in it.
"I see how you are," He said playfully, resting his chin on her head.
"It's not that I'm not excited," She replied, feeling more comfortable that she didn't have to look at him while saying it, "I just didn't think you'd want a wedding like that. I know you did it with Snow and I wasn't sure if you'd feel right doing it again..."
"Hmm, you're right, I have done the whole big wedding before with Snow," He agreed, pausing for a moment as they moved in the comforting rhythm of the slow dance, "And you've had a big wedding before, but it wasn't what you wanted. We're getting married because we want to be together and our weddings before? Those weren't for us. I want a day for us, I want you to experience what a wedding day is supposed to feel like," He lifted his head to look down at her. Her eyes filled with a mixture of pain and healing as she recalled the past, yet felt David's intent for her future. Everything he did was for her, taking into consideration her past while giving her what she needed in the present.
"You two realize the song is over, right?" Henry's voice brought them back to the present as they lifted their heads to see the teenage boy grinning from ear to ear, holding Neal who was dozing sleepily, head nodding toward Henry's shoulder slowly, "Granny said she'd keep Neal tonight," He added, glancing back to the older lady coming up beside them.
"Are you sure, Granny?" David smiled at her when she came over, throwing her cardigan over her shoulder to free up her hands, reaching for Neal from Henry's arms.
"Of course I am," She cooed at Neal as his head fell against her shoulder in defeat of the sleep that beckoned him, "I haven't seen him as much lately, and you two deserve a night off," She winked at them, "Go on Neal, tell them goodnight."
"Goodnight sweetheart," Regina smiled, running a hand over Neal's locks as she leaned in to kiss his cheek. His warm eyes reached hers, a hint of a smile playing at his lips as David leaned in to do the same.
"Goodnight Neal," He smiled before wrapping an arm around Regina's waist, "Thanks Granny."
"Don't mention it," The old wolf waved it off, "You coming boy? I could use some help with the all-you-can-eat pancake special at the diner in the morning," Granny raised an eyebrow at Henry, "Wanna make a quick buck to feed that comic book habit of yours?"
Henry's eyebrow piqued in interest as he glanced at Regina for approval, seeing her smile and give a slight nod, "Are my pancakes included?" He grinned as Granny muttered under her breath in mock irritation.
"Come on you little con artist," She clucked, leading the way out with a sleeping Neal on her shoulder.
"Night Mom, night Grandpa!" Henry smiled at them both before following her quickly.
"Who would've thought we'd ever trust an old wolf to babysit for us?" David smirked as he ran his hand down Regina's arm, taking her hand in his.
"Well this is Storybrooke, our options are limited," She replied with a grin.
"You must be tired, I'll go get the truck and pull it around while you say your goodbyes," David smiled, pressing a kiss to her forehead before heading out of the canopy.
Regina glanced over the remaining party members, the most of them being the younger crowd who had indulged a bit too much in the open refreshment stand. Killian's friends, a mixture of shipmates and a few familiar looking Merry Men cheered each other on to finish their pints. Near the floor Emma, Belle and a few others still laughed and danced, their faces flushed from a mixture of champagne and exertion. She'd never seen Emma carefree enough to let loose in this manner and she was happy for the new bride that she was able to.
"Regina, where have you been?" Emma exclaimed when she saw the brunette headed her way, turning to gather her dress and make her way from the floor, "I've been waiting to bust a move with you all night," She smirked, wrapping an arm around Regina's shoulders in a tomboyish fashion that contrasted ironically with the white lace dress and flowery veil she wore.
"Swan if i danced in this condition I'd be busting more than a move," Regina quipped with a smirk, raising an eyebrow at the inebriated sheriff whose eyes were heavy from the alcohol, "Your dad and I are just heading home. I wanted to tell you goodnight."
"Hey...thanks," Emma's expression sobered a little, bringing her arm down to face her friend more, "I couldn't of done this without you...and as much as I wanted my mom to be here, having you made it all okay," She admitted, her emotions closer to the surface from the long day and countless champagne toasts.
Regina swallowed the lump in her throat, leaning in to give Emma a brief hug, "My pleasure, Swan," She said with a nod as she pulled away, exchanging a warm look with her before turning to go find David. She smiled to herself on her way out of the reception, thinking at how far they'd all come. She had her son, a child on the way, a fiance, a step son and a best friend. She had a family.
Regina woke up to gentle kicks to her lower abdomen, running a hand down her bump to where she felt it, "Easy on mommy, it's early," She mumbled with a sleepy smile, feeling David stirring behind her, his hand moving from her hip to come down over where her own lay.
"Good morning," He half whispered near her ear, his nose nuzzling in her hair and his voice low and raspy from sleep. Warmth flooded her at his nearness, despite the fact that she was heavily pregnant and as tired now as she was when she went to bed.
She signed contentedly before replying, "Good morning," She smiled as she guided his hand towards the baby kicking, reveling in sharing the experience with him. One she never thought possible.
"Oh that's definitely a girl," David grinned when he felt the movement, "A little, impatient Regina who can't wait to get out. She already has a temper." His heart swelled at the thought of a baby girl with dark hair and a smile like her mother's.
"How can you be so sure?" She chuckled, turning in the bed to face him, bump pressed against his firm stomach, "I think it's a boy, that seems to be what I'm meant to raise."
"I think it's a girl," David laughed softly, "A mini you, who will go rounds with her mother and most likely be the death of me when she's a teenager."
"Two of me? I wouldn't wish that on anyone," She joked, leaning in to kiss him once, "Besides, I wouldn't know what to do with a little girl."
"We'll find out soon enough," He smiled back at her, running an arm around her as he leaned in and pressed a kiss to her neck, "You know what they say helps induce labor, right?"
"Hm, what's that?" She played along with a coy grin, her hand finding the back of his hair as he nibbled along her neck and earlobe, making her breath quicken.
"Well..." He smirked before biting down gently on her lobe as his hand ran up her inner thigh, a frustrated groan rumbling from him when his cellphone started ringing from the nightstand, "Damn it."
Regina chuckled, seeing him glance up at her as if asking permission to ignore it, "It's probably Henry, you should answer it. They're probably ready to come home."
David pouted, rolling over onto his other side and grabbing his phone, "Hello? Yeah, okay, I'll be there soon, bye." He answered in short replies that let Regina know she was right in her assumption, watching him put his phone back on the nightstand, "Our kids have perfect timing, don't they?" He chuckled as he got up and went over to their closet, grabbing a pair of jeans to shrug on.
"We should do something fun with the boys today, we've been so busy with Emma and Killian's wedding plans, we haven't done much with them lately," Regina pondered, sitting up in the bed slowly running a hand through her hair with a yawn.
"Go take a bath, I'll pick up the kids and some breakfast while you get ready and then we'll take them to the park," David nodded as he pulled on a shirt, making his way over to kiss her head once on his way out, "Be right back."
She nodded and smiled as she watched him go, letting out a breath as she stretched her arms above her head before tucking her hair behind her ears. Her back ached already and she knew it would be a long day ahead. Scooting towards the edge of the bed, she decided to get up and indeed follow David's advice in starting the morning off with a relaxing soak. The cool wooden floors felt delightful on her feet as she stood to make her way towards the bathroom. A day at the park was what everyone needed, Neal could toddle around the playground while David coached Henry on his fencing and Regina could enjoy some fresh air and her family's company on the park bench.
Mid-way to the bathroom and thinking of what she could pack in a picnic for lunch, her breath caught in her throat at the sharp pain seizing her lower back and abdomen. Her hand instinctively reached out for the edge of the bed to steady herself as she tried to stay calm and breath, willing the pain to pass. It could simply be a pulled muscle, maybe she over did it yesterday with the wedding? Her mind began to create scenarios in her head as another sharp pain gripped her, erasing all optimism that it was anything minor.
The third wave of stabbing made made her cry out as she grasped the bed cover, sinking down to the floor beside the bed, leaning her shoulder against it as she cradled her stomach in pain. Something was horribly wrong, that much she was sure of. Tears welled in her eyes, not from her own pain, but when she glanced down, seeing the dark red pool spreading across the floor, knowing the source of it. Her head began to swim as an overwhelming sense of fear mixed with the blinding pain overtook her.
She summoned her lucidness as much as she could, bringing her hands up over her stomach in an attempt to muster a protection spell for the baby. Her magic faltered on her fingertips and drained what small bit of consciousness she did have. The room spun as she tried desperately to stay coherent despite the sudden darkening. David would be back soon, everything would be all right. He'll be back soon. She comforted herself with this, realizing she had no more control over the situation. He would be back soon, she told herself again as everything went black.