A SPECIAL THANKS GOES OUT TO EVERYONE WHO REVIEWED! YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!

DON'T OWN IT.

Graham and Emma went back inside, barely unclipping the leash from Boston's collar before heading up the stairs. Snow and James stared after them until the dog barked. Henry ran over to play with him.

"Do we have any treats? I want to teach him how to sit."

"Yeah, right here." The queen handed Henry a bag absentmindedly.

"Thanks! Boston, sit." He pushed the dog down gently. "Good boy!"

"What are you thinking about?" James whispered softly into her ear.

"Us. We used to be like that."

"We still can be." He said seductively.

"Charming!"

"What? He's way too absorbed in Boston to notice." Sure enough, Henry was still playing with the dog.

"Alright, but let me make one thing clear: we are not trying to have a baby." She said with a smile. James took her hand and led her to the bedroom. Five minutes later, Henry looked up.

"Where'd everyone go?"

Red laid on the couch with a hand resting on her swollen belly. Suddenly, searing pain shot through her abdomen.

"Oh my God." She gasped. "Jiminy!"

"Yes, Love?" He came out of the kitchen.

"The baby's coming." She said, her eyes wide with fear.

"But he's a month early." Jiminy said, trying to hide his terror. His girlfriend wasn't particularly known for panicking, but she was obviously scared. "It'll be okay. Let me call Doc."

Doc stood nervously in the hall, contemplating his options. Should he disrupt the king and queen or their daughter? Finally he settled on Snow and James. They were less likely to be angry, especially since it was her best friend. Hesitantly, he knocked on the door. He heard James groan.

"Your Majesties, it's me."

"Is it an emergency?" Snow asked.

"Red's baby is coming early."

"Be right out." The brunette said urgently. A few moments later she and James emerged, looking rather unkempt and panting, but alert as ever. "Is she okay?"

"For the moment. She's more concerned about her son."

"Okay." Snow ran a hand through her hair. "Just give me five minutes to change and I'll go with you."

"I will, as well. I think Emma and Graham can watch the castle and Henry and Boston for a few hours." James said.

"It'll be a lot longer than that." Snow replied sullenly, referring to her own labor. Five minutes later, they ran down the stairs. "Henry, tell Emma and Graham that Charming and I are going with Doc to be with Red while she has her baby." As an afterthought, she added, "When they come down."

"Obviously." Henry said with a smirk. "Tell Red I wish her the best!" He noticed how tired Boston was and carried him to his crate and tucked him in. Then he wandered the castle looking for another one of the dwarfs. He found Bashful.

"Hello, Prince Henry." He bowed.

"Hey, Bash. Can you help me with something?"

"Anything." The dwarf smiled.

"Cool. Mom and Dad are trying to have a baby and I want to make them something. I'm going to have August help with a rocking chair, but I was thinking maybe you know how to make clothes?" Henry referred to Pinocchio as 'August' because he still couldn't get used to calling him by his given name.

"I can try."

"I was thinking it could be a yellow shirt that says I have the best big brother on it. I drew a sketch." He pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket.

"Yes, I think I can do that."

After what seemed like an eternity of riding, the carriage finally stopped in front of Red and Jiminy's house. It wasn't very big, but was exactly what they wanted. Snow raced inside, followed by James and Doc.

"Red!" She yelled.

"Snow?" The brunette looked up, her face drenched with sweat. Her eyes lit up a little upon seeing her friend.

"How are you?" The queen embraced her.

"He can't come now, it's too early!"

"Red, he's going to be fine." She pulled back to look her in the eye. James and Doc watched from the doorway, not wanting to intrude.

"I'm so scared." She whispered, blinking back tears. Snow frowned at seeing the usually strong woman so vulnerable.

"It's going to be okay."

"Ow." Red moaned, her head falling back against the pillow. "How much worse is it going to get?"

"A lot." Snow said firmly. "But I promise we're not going to leave you." Jiminy came in, holding an armful of firewood.

"Thank you for getting here so fast." He said.

"Anything for you guys." James smiled, taking a step into the room. Doc followed suit.

"Are you nauseous?" The dwarf asked.

"Not really." Red replied. Jiminy took a seat beside her and James started to make a fire.

"Did you pick a name out yet?" Snow inquired.

"Yes." Red smiled fondly. "Aaron. Aaron James."

"Really?" James looked over at them.

"We want you guys to be his godparents." Red continued, her eyes hopeful.

"We'd be honored." Snow grinned.

"How much longer?" She asked as another contraction hit.

"Let me see how dilated you are." Doc examined her. "At least another few hours before you start pushing."

Graham and Emma came down the stairs, their eyes scanning for any signs of people.

"Henry?" She called, quietly walking toward the living room. They heard shuffling and muffled voices before the boy in question walked up from the basement.

"Hey guys!"

"What were you doing down there?" She asked suspiciously.

"Exploring." Henry replied quickly. Emma crossed her arms. "Fine, but I can't tell you what I was actually doing. It's top-secret." He knew he was caught. Bashful all but ran out the front door.

"Okay." She said in a sing song voice. "Where'd Snow and James go?"

"Oh yeah, Red's having her baby so they went with Doc."

"I still can't picture Ruby as a mother." Emma shook her head and then sniffed. "I think Mom left the stove on…"

"Time to go save the soup." Graham shot Henry a look that told him to start planning on making tacos. "Emma, let's just take it off and throw it away or something. I'm sure Henry can make lunch."

"I'm perfectly capable of making soup." She took the lid off the pot. "Okay, it's chicken noodle. Unfortunately it's not Campbell's and from a can, but I think if I just stir it it'll be okay. The chicken isn't in it, and neither are the noodles or carrots. If someone wants to bring me those, I'll cut it up and put it in." Hesitantly, Graham put the chicken next to her. Thankfully it had been previously cooked. Then he put the carrots next to it, and the box of spaghetti. "Okay." Emma took a deep breath and began chopping the chicken. When she was done she put it in the pot. "You know, you guys can go do something. I won't burn the castle down."

"I guess we can play catch." Henry said.

"We'll be right out front if you need us, Em." With that, the two left. Half an hour later, she dished the soup into three bowls and put the leftovers in the fridge. She opened the door.

"It's ready!"

"Be right there!" Henry caught the ball and they went in. Graham inspected the contents of the bowl.

"Everything looks cooked. I don't think we'll get food poisoning."

"Hey!" Emma whacked him playfully.

"I don't want him to get sick." Graham defended. Henry rolled his eyes.

"I'm sure it's great, Mom." He took a bite. "It is!"

"Really?" The blonde looked at him skeptically.

"Yeah, not kidding."

"I have to say." Graham said with his mouth full. "This is amazing!"

"Thanks." Emma blushed, trying it as well. "I mean, Mom made the broth, so it's not like I did the hard part."

"Emma." Graham put a hand on hers. "Accept the compliment. It won't kill you."

Red bit back a scream for Jiminy's sake. The man had visibly paled over the past hour and had been fighting tears. James pulled him outside.

"I know it's hard to see the woman you love in that much pain, but you need to man up because she needs you."

"I'm trying but… I did that to her." Jiminy stuttered.

"It's nothing she didn't want. Just think about your son."

"Aaron…"

"Yes. Support Red, okay?" He patted him on the shoulder.

"Okay." Jiminy nodded. They went back inside. "Honey, it's going to be okay." He pushed a strand of Red's hair out of her face. "I love you so much."

"I love you, too." She panted, then grasped his hand. "But I'm never doing this again."

"Red, I know this is hard, but as soon as you're holding Aaron, you'll change your mind." Snow said. Red screamed as a contraction clamped its unforgiving jaws on her. A tear rolled down Jiminy's cheek. He stroked her hair.

"Let's see how much longer." Doc looked again and smiled. "Next contraction, I want you to push."

"Oh God." Red looked up with fearful eyes.

"You're doing great." Snow assured her. James looked at Jiminy.

"I can't wait to meet Aaron." The therapist said. "You're going to be a great mother, you can do this." As a contraction hit, Red pushed with everything she had. Her wails echoed through the small house.

"Last one!" Doc said excitedly. With one final push, he held up the crying baby. Doc handed him to Red.

"Hi, Aaron." Red cooed, her pain forgotten. Doc held a pair of scissors out to Jiminy.

"Would you like to cut the cord?"

"Absolutely." Jiminy replied with tears of joy. He cut it, then held a finger out for Aaron to hold. "Hi, baby boy. We've waited so long to see you."

"I think he's going to be just fine." Doc said.

"Thank you." Red smiled.

"You're welcome."

Henry paced nervously in front of the door.

"Kid, calm down." Emma said from her spot on the couch. "You grew up with the woman."

"I'm meeting my… other stepfather? Is that what Daniel is?"

"He's…" She looked at Graham.

"Whatever you want him to be, Henry." The sheriff answered.

"Good, cause you're my dad." Emma looked at her glass of wine to hide the jealousy she was sure was written on her face. She wished Regina's relationship with Henry could be that defined, but it wasn't. The blonde would forever be competing to be his mother. Regina's carriage pulled up. "Bye, guys!" Henry left. She looked up at her husband with glassy eyes.

"What's the matter?" Graham scooted closer.

"I… when we have a kid, I'll be its only mother. What if I love it more than Henry? What if I can only love him so much because Regina raised him?"

"Oh, Emma." His face softened. "That won't happen. I know you."

"But-"

"Henry is your son. Nothing will ever change that."

"I'm sorry I keep doing this." She got up to pace.

"You have nothing to apologize for. I'd rather you be ready to have a baby than rush into it."

"I want to." She said.

"I know. The fact that you're terrified says that you're more than ready. What were you like when you found out you were pregnant with Henry?"

"It was not a pretty sight. I locked myself in my room for three days." Emma sat on his lap. "I really want to have a baby."

"Me, too." He smiled. Suddenly the door flew open and Snow and James walked in.

"Oh, sorry." They immediately averted their gazes. "Were you in the middle of something?"

"No." Emma said quickly and moved over to the next cushion. "We were just talking."

"Did Henry leave yet?" James asked, hanging up his coat.

"Yeah, a little while ago." The blonde replied. "How's Ruby and her baby?"

"Red is good, and so is Aaron." Snow smirked. "It got your father and I thinking."

"Oh God. Thinking is never a good idea." Emma paled a little. She knew where this was going.

"If you're still okay with it, we were thinking about possibly having another child."

"Yeah, absolutely. It's just… Graham and I are trying. I don't think we should put the guys through us being pregnant at the same time."

"That would be a nightmare." James agreed.

"We wouldn't do it now. You and Graham will need all the help you can get." Snow said. Emma excused herself, muttering something about checking on Boston. The king held up a hand to Graham, and followed her. He walked out onto the back porch, where the blonde was sitting on the steps, watching the sunset.

"Sweetie?"

"Yeah?" She swiped at her eyes. James took a seat next to her.

"If you don't want us to have another baby, tell us. We'll be okay." He said.

"I thought I'd be okay with it. I mean, when you were pregnant before the miscarriage, it's not like you meant to get pregnant, you know? It was an accident. But now you want one, and that's different. God, is this what Henry feels like?" She said, her voice shaking.

"He's told me he can't wait to be a big brother."

"Great, so it's just me feeling like this." She moaned, putting her head in her hands. "I want a sibling. I mean, as I said before, I'm not opposed to the idea, it's just… every time it could very well become a reality, I panic. In case you haven't noticed, I'm not good at sharing the attention of my parents."

"I know." James chuckled, draping an arm around her shoulder. "For what it's worth, you'd be a great big sister. We wouldn't have to be worried about him or her getting bullied. You'd help with homework."

"Dad, I got straight D's in every subject except gym." The statement was meant as a joke, but fell flat. That wasn't something you happily told your father. He kept silent for a few moments, searching for the right words.

"Emma, you make your mother and I so proud. Maybe you've made some bad decisions, but everyone has. And no, I'm not referring to Henry. You did everything right in that department. Don't get hung up on the small stuff, okay? We wouldn't change you or trade you for the world. If we have another child, we're not replacing you. I know we've had this conversation, but I'll do it as many times as I have to to make you realize what I'm saying. We love you, and nothing can ever change that." James said firmly.

"I love you, too." She replied without missing a beat, and hugged him.

WHAT DID YOU GUYS THINK?