AN:: Hey there - chapters are going to be a little longer for a second because there are little moments I need to see happen because of that pull between fluff and angst that I love so much, and also because I don't want Regina's pregnancy to last twelve years.

Apologies for the late upload, I've been getting stuck and I have a lot of things happening, but I'm not going to let this story slip away. Not this time, I have too big of a plan for it and I enjoy it too much. Thank you for sticking around and I promise we'll get to all the good stuff soon. Warning for time jumps, I don't know exactly when I'll put them in but I will make them apparent when it happens.

Please send good vibes over to Sammichbatch who is having some amazing changes happen in her life. Unfortunately she didn't have time to beta this chapter but I might re-upload if she finds things that don't agree with her later on. Seriously, so excited for her!

And thank you for reading and for the feedback. You guys are amazing. Reviews make me smile. You are loved.


Emma leaned against the side of the grill, elbowing Sean. "This, right here.." She pointed at Regina and Ashley chatting in their lawn chairs, then to the blanket Alexandra was laying on with Henry and Ruby making faces at her. "This is my favorite."

"Yeah, this was a good idea." He nodded. "Even if it came from a shitty set of circumstances." Sean eyed the blonde's hand - now taped up despite her telling Regina multiple times that she was fine.

Emma sighed and looked back over at the moms, noticing how their eyes would always glance back over at the kids every so often. She imagined it was on instinct - even if they weren't actively talking about the children.

"Are you worried he'll actually do something?"

"He already did - sack of shit. I would have broke his fucking jaw if he tried to get into the house any further. I don't give a damn about FBI whatever."

Sean laughed to himself.

"You think it's funny?"

"I think you talking like you're the heavy-weight champion is funny."

She shook her head. "Whatever."

"Nah, it's good." He nodded before flipping the burgers again. "And I think it's good you told me. In case anything goes down and you need a second set of hands."

"I just needed someone else to keep them safe.. in case I'm somewhere else, or if you can get to them faster, that's valuable. It's just honestly so terrifying to think they won't have someone to stand up for them. I mean Henry's eleven and Regina's... delicate in more than one way."

"For sure. I know you'd do the same for my family."

That one hit Emma right in her throat. Family. It sounded so perfect but she'd never said it out loud. She knew she was just afraid of making it too real, just in case there was a chance things could still fall apart and for some reason they didn't want her around anymore.

"Yeah." Was all she said.

Sean looked at her. "What's wrong?"

She shrugged and took a sip of her single beer - somehow more than happy with just the one. "Just... something Graham said."

"What?"

Her cheeks puffed out as her breath left her slowly. "He said I wasn't a part of their family. That I was a guard dog or one of those annoying babysitters or something." Emma looked at her boot and scratched her arm so it didn't look so much like she was just hugging herself out of insecurity.

But Sean shook his head, almost in a disappointed way.

"It just got under my skin."

"It shouldn't." He shrugged and crossed his arms. "Regina backed you up - she let you back in the house and took care of you. She didn't go out and fix his face."

"Yeah, but... I don't know, man."

"Okay, let me put it like this, then. Ashely should have hated me. She got pregnant and I knew it was mine. I knew she loved me and I dipped out anyway because my parents told me it wasn't good for me. I didn't even give her and the baby a chance in my head in the beginning. But she didn't call me and tell me what a dick I was, or tell everyone else how dumb I was being. Because she loved me, and because we'd been together most of high school and we grew up planning this fairy tale we wanted to live in. When I came back, all of that was just there. She forgave me and took me back because she loved our history and she loved me and what we'd already built - she forgot all of the stupid things I did and I didn't even have to explain myself. We're working now because of a whole different thing but - anyway..." He looked at Regina and back in a very pointed way. "They were going to get married, right? As far as I know they were together for five or six years, and she's pregnant with his kid right now. The point is that she's always going to care about him and probably hope he's okay because they shared things you don't just give to anyone. And here's the thing;" He turned around and pointed at the women and then at Henry, still cooing over the baby. "They're here with you. She could have easily ran out there and stopped you and took care of him. She could have even gotten back together with him?"

"No, she wouldn't-"

He cut her off. "They're here. With you. And they're letting you take care of them, and watch out for them. And they were worried about you - not this guy who's been in their life a lot longer than you have. That's the kind of trust only family has."

Emma stared at Regina and then at Henry for a second. Henry loved her. That much was obvious. But Regina... her eyes stuck to the way she smiled slowly and nodded at Ashley - the other woman's hands went to her belly and they kept talking in such an animated way.

Regina's eyes caught hers and the smile softened. She threw a wink over to Emma before turning her attention back to Ashley.

And Emma nodded, though the slight tilt to her lips didn't really count as a smile.

That pull was always there - she loved her. Emma knew that's what it was. But was it worth more to just be there and be in their lives, and protect them and love them that way, or would they be happier if they held hands and made out and slept in the same bed? Like every other time Emma decided almost immediately it wasn't worth it to risk all of the good things that they already had. Regina didn't need any more complications in her life. She dealt with more than enough. And just being accepted and wanted was more than she'd ever thought to ask for. She was already so lucky - she kept telling herself just to be happy with what she had.

Yet it didn't stop her from wanting to go and lace their fingers together, then lift her hand up just to kiss it softly.

The imagery alone made Emma have to swallow down the ugly knot in her throat.

Thank god Ruby picked that moment to come over and hover over the food. "Hey, Master Chef."

"She thinks she's funny." Sean told Emma like it was a secret.

"I am funny. How long until we get to dig in?"

He glanced back over to the kids before shrugging. "Actually they're almost done."

"Awesome!"

She went over to tell Regina and Ashely and then the kids, scooping the baby up in her arms like a pro.

Before too long everyone was dishing themselves up, Regina somehow getting a hold of Alexandra along the line and talking to her as she made her plate.

Ruby coughed to get her attention.

"What?" Emma glared at her.

"Stop staring - you look like you're going to puke up your heart at any second. It's gross."

The blonde frowned and squeezed the ketchup bottle a little too hard.

Then Ruby frowned again. "Sorry." She rubbed her back in a couple strong swipes. "You'll be okay."

They didn't notice the half confused, half startled look Regina gave them at the small show of affection. She didn't know if she'd recognize it either if someone told her what her face was doing in that moment.

Ashley laughed and pointed to the Sheriff's plate. "You okay?"

Sean and ruby laughed a bit and Emma rolled her eyes. "You guys are just jealous - my burger looks bomb."

"No it looks like a bomb - like it exploded from the ketchup bottle."

"I don't know my own strength - look at these guns." She flexed obnoxiously, making Henry giggle to himself.

Sean laughed. "You look like a disney princess in boots - calm down. You're not that tough."

"Oh, stop making fun of her." Regina scowled in a playful way. "Look at your daughter. You've made the most Aryan looking child - she looks like she was bred for a hate crime."

Everyone went silent.

Regina's eyes went from the baby in her arms, then scanning all of the adults faces. "What?"

Emma was the first to break down laughing, almost to the point of tears.

Ruby picked her jaw up off the floor. "Did you just make a joke?"

The rest of them joined in laughing before Regina just smiled at the baby again. "You do, you know? You're very close to the Mr. Hitler's archetype for the perfect human."

"Wow, I didn't know you were so funny." Ashley said, wiping at her eyes.

"No, she's just spending way too much time around me." Emma corrected.

Regina rolled her eyes in the most dramatic way and handed the baby off to her father.


There was no better sight than the Mayor with her wet hair pulled back into a short pony, brushing her teeth.

Emma peeked over through the door from her bedroom, grinning like a fool. And sure enough Regina caught her stare and narrowed her eyes slowly. If she wasn't trying to get Henry to lay down, she was sure the brunette would have started one of their fake fights - chalk full of insults that neither of them minded a bit.

"It's weird though."

Emma rolled her eyes and shoved Henry's head down into the pillows for the fourth time. "It is not. These are clean sheets, and warm blankets, and I promise you, this mattress is more expensive than your moms shoes."

"Doubtful!" Regina called from the bathroom.

"But it's not my bed."

"Kinda what a sleep-over is. Not sleeping in your own bed is one of the few requirements."

Henry pulled his arms out of the covers and folded them across his chest. "You're starting to sound like mom."

"Lucky her." Regina laughed.

Emma laughed before running her hands through Henry's hair. "Listen - your mom is going to come sleep in here too, so there's nothing to be afraid of."

"I'm not afraid, I'm just not tired."

"Okay."

He rolled on his side to face the blonde. "So where are you going to sleep?"

"On the couch. Where I sleep most of the time, anyway."

"Why do you sleep there instead of in your bed?"

Emma groaned and flopped down on the bed next to him. "WHY are you not asleep."

"I thought we went over this."

Regina sat down slowly on the other side of the bed and put her hand on his leg. "Henry." Her tone was much more stern and warm than Emma's. It might have been practice, or the general mommy gene Regina just seemed to have, but he turned to her immediately, taking one large breath. "What was... your favorite part of the day?"

His eyes went to the ceiling for a moment. "Getting to hold Alexandria."

The women smiled at each other.

"Why?" Regina asked.

"Because she's just so cute. And she looked up at me and smiled. I think it's going to be better holding my brother just because he's related to me, but I like Ally too. It's just cool, I guess."

"Cool how?"

"She's like... So small, but she's a person. It's weird and awesome at the same time. It makes me more excited for when you have the baby."

Regina nodded. "I'm excited, too. But do you think you'll be ready to help out and be a big brother?"

Emma sat back and watched their conversation unfold and Henry's eyes become a little more tired every time he tried to verbalize his thoughts until he had to croak out his answers through yawns. And it was amazing how much he looked like Regina, even just in the way he would look around the room searching for what he wanted to say. It wasn't ten minutes later than they were tucking him in and turning out the lights.

Regina closed the door and Emma raised her eyebrows. "You're too good at that."

She just nodded, rubbing her eyes forcefully. "Years of practice."

"It shows."

Her hand patted Emma's shoulder. "You'll get there. You just have to talk to him instead of argue with him."

"But arguing with him is fun."

"So is... jump rope - but it's not for bed time."

Emma nodded and went to get tea out.

"Tonight was fun, though."

"Yeah." She smiled as Regina took her seat. "I think we should hang out with them more often."

Regina nodded back, resting her chin on her knuckles. "I didn't think I would get along with them so well."

"Why not?"

She shrugged, pushing a yawn into the inside of her elbow. "They're a bit younger than I am, but so are you, and we seem to get along I suppose. That... and I didn't think they liked me very much."

"They like you."

"Before tonight, I mean."

Emma paused and got out mugs and honey before turning back around. "But, I had to tell Sean about Graham being back. And beating the living shit out of him. If anything else goes down he's not in the dark."

"Like what?" Her brows crinkled together.

Emma sighed. "Like... if I were out of town or something. Or, you know, if he could get to you guys faster than I could for whatever reason, I want him in on everything."

Regina's eyes flashed down to Emma's hand again. The swelling had almost completely gone down but the redness on her middle knuckle was still visible. But that only meant Graham's face was probably doing a whole lot worse.

"Hey."

The brunette looked up.

"Don't worry about me."

"You say it as though it'll just happen so easily." Her fingers went over her mouth as she looks toward the window. "You do so much for us, and for the town, I don't know what I would do without you now and it's terrifying to think you're so reckless as to start a fight with someone twice your size, Emma."

"I've been doing that for most of my life!"

"Not because of me, you haven't."

It was quiet, but Emma nodded before gulping down her stupidity.

She didn't say anything as she pushed Regina's chamomile over to her and stayed on her side of the island.

"I don't mean to sound ungrateful-"

Emma shook her head. "You feel guilty... because...?"

Regina twisted her spoon around in the steaming liquid. "Because if anything were to happen to you, I would hate myself."

"Right. And if I let anything happen to either one of you three, I would hate myself."

Her eyes slowly found Emma's. And as soon as they did the blonde just nodded at her with a soft smirk.

"I suppose that makes sense." She let herself smile for a moment before she opened her mouth again to speak, however instead of words a sharp gasp happened as her face twisted in pain. Her hand went to her belly, and immediately Emma was up and around the island.

"It's fine." The words were small spoken through Regina desperately holding her breath.

"Fine my ass - what happened?"

Regina shook her head. "It's just a cramp... or the baby moving against something."

"No, no - don't give me that. I've seen cramps - your face doesn't get like that."

She couldn't look Emma in the eye. "I was talking to Ashley about it - it's normal."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Emma. I'm sure." Her tone settled even though her head shook as she said it.

Emma took the other chair and put both of her hands on Regina's knees. "Is there anything else happening? Is it just the cramping?"

"Sure."

"Regina."

"...There's... I've been having a little spotting, but it's-"

Without another word Emma shook her head and searched for her cell phone. "I'm not buying that shit, Regina. We're going to the hospital."

"We are not! Henry is asleep-"

"I'm calling Ruby and she'll be here with him."

"We both have work in the morning, and he has school-"

She put the phone down and looked the other woman in the eye, for once putting a foot down. "Fucking. Stop." She folded her hands across her chest and took the tone Regina had whenever she was frustrated with Henry. "I am taking you to the hospital, and you can whine all you want to, but this is not normal. And I can bet that this isn't the first time you've felt this pain, and it's not the first time you're sweeping it under the rug so we won't worry about you. It's so dumb, because what if something is wrong? You want to sit here and wait it out until you're sure he's in trouble? You can hate me for being concerned later - right now I need you to get your purse and put shoes on because Ruby will be here in ten minutes and I'm taking you to the fucking hospital."

Regina set her mouth in a straight line and stared at Emma. But after a few seconds of eye contact, Regina got up and moved slowly around the living room collecting her things.

"Then... give me a minute to put on some mascara."

Emma wanted to smile, but she thought of what Regina would do. So she nodded and started to get herself ready as well.


Three hours later and all of the tests were done and Emma could see the worry wear beneath Regina's eyes. Ultrasound was normal, but then the tech stopped and looked closer, angling the little eyeball thing away from the baby entirely. Then the second opinion and hours more of professionals going in and out of the room, checking all sorts of things.

By the time Whale actually got there, he looked like he'd been sleeping for three days and could barely wake up until he looked over everything himself.

Regina was quiet the whole time, and answered every question calmly, but Emma knew her frown. It was anxious and hurting. Between that and a few more cramps, she stopped trying not to hold Regina's hand, instead just clasping their fingers together silently, and she squeezed back.

A rare quiet happened to surface and Emma leaned her head against the elevated bench thing Regina had been sitting on for the past four years.

The brunette looked down. "How many hours without sleep have you gone now?"

Emma smiled through a yawn but shook her head. "Doesn't matter."

"I hate it when you're right, you know."

She just nodded.

"Something is obviously wrong if they're not telling us anything and they have to ask half of the maternity wing and chief surgeon to come and look at me."

"But we're here. And if the baby needs help then you're exactly where you need to be."

"Yeah, so what if he needs help?"

The desperation in her voice isn't lost on her, but Emma didn't know what to say. Her free hand just went to Regina's belly as they waited.

A minute or so later Whale came back and sat down, not wasting any time with smiles. "So what we're seeing - the issue and the probably cause for the cramping and spotting - is called an incompetent cervix."

Regina nodded, taking deep breaths and holding Emma's hand tightly. "I've read about it."

"Right. So... What we're seeing is that your cervix is too short. It's thinning out, like your body wants to dilate and have the baby, but you're not even close to ready yet."

She kept nodding.

"It's rare. The cramping and spotting would be normal but not at this point in your pregnancy. Later on.. eight months maybe, but not now. Because of that, it's not usually detected until it's too late."

"Is it- we can't do-"

"No! Regina- no... we caught it. It looks like your cervix is starting to thin out, but you're still fine. What we have to do now is just preventative measures. I was just saying how lucky you are. Most women miscarry before they know they have this condition. You're five months in, which means you beat the odds so far. Women with this condition rarely keep their first pregnancy this long."

"He's going to be alright, though."

Whale nodded again. "Yeah he will."

Both of her hands went to her face before she started sobbing. Emma rubbed her arm forcefully but looked toward the doctor. "What preventative measures?"

"We're going to do a cerclage, which means we're going to put stitches to reinforce the cervix, and limit physical activity somewhat."

Regina shook her head. "Limit - meaning... bed rest?"

He shrugged. "Moderate bed rest. You can get up and eat, bathe, those things. It's more about staying off your feet as much as possible, and I'd advise you not to go into work everyday. Meetings... probably a couple times a month, but you can email from your bed. You'll probably want to have someone move in with you for the remainder of the pregnancy. Hire a nanny or-"

"I can do it."

Regina just looked at her, wiping tears away still. "No, Emma-"

"What? I'm already over there all the time. Henry's used to me."

She hook her head. "You'll be even more exhausted than you are now, with the station and Henry, and taking care of me too.."

Emma shook her head and turned back to whale. "I'll do it. When are you doing the stitches thingy? And when can I take her home?"

He looked between the two of them carefully. "We should schedule as soon as possible. Sometime tomorrow morning." He looked at Regina. "We'll have to keep you over night."

She nodded. "That's fine."

"Good." He took a breath and let his fingers slide through his hair. "I'll get everything sorted and bring back the consent forms."

"Thank you." They both said at the same time.

Emma got up and stretched her legs, yawning at the wall.

"I can get my mother to stay with me." She said quietly.

The blonde just looked at her. "Really? That lady can't sit in a room without making you more stressed out, Regina."

"You already spend so much time on us."

"And it's where I want to spend my time. I keep telling you, and I don't know how you don't get it. You guys are my family." Fuck, that shook her more than she thought it would. "I feel like part of the family, at least. I love being able to be with you guys. And helping, whether you think it's more work or not, this is where I want to be." She looked around and shrugged. "Not this exactly place - okay. This place is creepy and it scares me. Especially because it's for you and the baby, but I would rather it's me so I know you're okay."

Regina fell into tears again, sobbing this time, a bit harder than she wanted to.

Emma went over and put her arms around her, letting Regina hold her face in her hands and just cry.

"I'm so scared." She admitted.

And the blonde just nodded. "I am too."

After a few minutes Regina caught her breath and nodded.

"You okay?"

"I think so."

"Okay. Then I'll call Ruby and ask her if she can drop Henry off at school in the morning." She kissed Regina's forehead more on accident than anything, but bit back her embarrassment fast. "I'll be right back."

"You don't have to stay here. I can-"

"I know. But I am." She shrugged before almost running from the room, only catching a hint of a smile on the other woman's face in her peripheral. She got as far as the waiting room and sat down. But she only got her phone out before it started ringing. An unknown number.

"Hello?"

"Emma Swan?"

Good - Sheriff Swan meant she'd have to wake Sean up and have him be on call so she could stay. "Yeah, what's up?"

"Hi, there.. this is Nurse Terry calling from St. Anthony's Hospital in Storybrooke. I'm calling to inform you Regina Mills is being admitted for-"

Her head turned to the desk about a room away from her. "Terry." She called, lowering her phone.

The older woman looked up and smiled, hanging up her phone. "When did you get here?"

Emma sighed and walked toward the desk, thankful the woman introduced herself over the phone first. Otherwise it would have been 'Lady with the drier machine fire last month.' "I'm the one who brought her in."

"Oh! Good then."

"Why did you call me? Why didn't you call her mother."

Terry nodded and pointed to the file in front of her. "You're her emergency contact so I'm required to inform you."

Emma leaned over the high counter top, almost to the point of pain and peered down at it the paper. "Really?"

"Yes, see?" She pointed.

"When did I get put on there?"

The woman turned the pages noisily - all of her rings clicking together on her fingers. "Two... two months ago."

"I didn't know that." She smiled to herself.

"Should I call Mrs. Mills tonight? Or-"

"Regina will probably call her in the morning. I'm sure she wouldn't make you do it. That woman's not the easiest to deal with."

Terry just gave her a look, saying she was aware of the fact.


With how smoothly things had gone all day, they should have known something would go wrong sooner or later.

Regina got to call and talk to Henry and then Cora before surgery, Sean covered Emma's shift, and Ruby said she would pick Henry up and have him visit after school before hauling him off to his grandmother for the night. Emma asked why Cora wouldn't just come in and get the kid, but all she got in return was "She doesn't do well with seeing me in pain." And Emma took it.

On top of everything else the surgery was quick. Emma didn't even get time to nap before Regina was out again. Whale said it went better than just to plan - they had to keep her the extra night to keep an eye on her healing and if there was any extra stress on the baby.

And when Regina woke up slowly there was just the slightest look of discomfort on her face. She put her hand under her belly and looked around.

Emma sat up from her place on the cot in the corner of the room - the same place she'd tried to sleep the night before.

"Hi." Regina's voice sounded like she'd been asleep for years.

The blonde grinned. "How ya feel?"

"Just tired." She frowned and pushed herself up, though she sank back to the same position. Emma came over and helped her sit up a little more before Regina rolled her neck. "It feels like I'm going to have cramps. Period cramps."

"Well, you have stitches in your hoo-ha so... I didn't think you'd be comfortable."

Regina raised and eyebrow. "Hoo-ha?"

She laughed at herself before she sat on the side of Regina's bed. "Everything went great, apparently. They're going to keep you overnight again, but I can take you back to the house in the morning."

"Good."

Regina jumped, but looked surprised - not worried.

Then another time.

Without saying anything she reached for Emma's hand and pressed it just to the left of her little protruding navel. They both sat still and nothing happened.

"Talk to him." Regina smiled.

Nerves wrapped around Emma's throat but she bent down anyway, taking a second to figure out what to say.

"Hey, buddy." She gulped. "I hope you're comfortable in there because you're only about half way." She looked up and shook her head. "I don't know how to talk to a baby, man. He probably can't even hea- WHAT THE FUCK." She drew her hands away after the two big kicks hit her right in her hands. "Oh my god. How long has he done that?"

Regina laughed, wincing a bit, but even then it didn't stop - just quieted it a bit. "That's new. It just happened now."

"Really?" Emma couldn't stop smiling. She put her hands back on the bump and scratched it like she could tickle him through Regina. "Maybe he's a fucking kangaroo... you into that kind of thing?"

"I hate you."

Emma just laughed and kept talking to him, feeling little rumbles every now and again.

It couldn't have been more than a few minutes before there were two small knocks on the open door.

"Come in?" Regina called, expecting to see Dr. Whale.

Instead Graham walked from behind the curtain, taking slow, careful steps.

Both Emma and Regina gave him that same stern, careful look.

Emma straightened up immediately, puffing her chest out even though as soon as his eyes landed on her he looked at the ground. Then to Regina, but back down at the ground again.

"Hi." He said quietly. He raised his hand without a wave. There were flowers in his other hand and he made no attempt at any other movement, just standing right where the curtain ended. His left eyebrow was almost completely purple, circling around below his eye at the socket line. His nose was a little discolored too, but not half as bad.

Regina simply nodded to him as acknowledgement - not an invitation to come closer and he knew it.

Emma moved herself into the chair but kept both feet firmly on the ground, as if it were another warning. She'd play guard dog right now, that was fine with her. One wrong move and she'd be up ready to throw punches again.

"I heard..." He stopped and stared at her belly, something in his eye reading as terrified. Regina could only imagine that he was too scared to mention the baby. Maybe he thought if he didn't say it that it wasn't his. "Is everything alright?" Is what came out instead.

The brunette sighed, keeping her face and her voice as cool as she could as she nodded. "Should be fine."

"Good." He gulped down his pride and held out the flowers. "These are for you."

"Thank you." She held out her hand and only then did he move. Regina took them, but handed them off to Emma in one fell swoop, ever graceful.

Graham looked at the floor. "I think we should talk."

Regina nodded.

He looked to Emma and back again.

But all he got in return was a shake of her head before she leaned back into the pillows again. "She can stay."

For once he was smart enough not to fight it. He backed up against the wall and folded his arms.

And there was a long moment where Regina looked at him, and then to Emma who'd relaxed back into the chair, gaining just a bit of understanding about both of them now. Graham's frantic need to preserve the only concrete family he had left - Emma on the other hand simply standing by and supporting. The only difference between them in that moment was what family really was - not something to own, but something to surround yourself with because you love it.

"You're getting.." He gestured like he was holding a beach ball at his waist. "...pretty big."

She looked to Emma. "I'll be five months..."

"Next week." Emma picked at something invisible on her jeans.

Graham nodded again.

Another silence passed between them, his eyes firmly on his shoes and both women staring at him.

Then he sighed. "Why... What is it you're trying to accomplish by making me sign my rights over?"

"Rights to what?" Regina asked calmly, hands folded on top of her belly.

His brow creases in confusion.

"I want you to say it." Her eyes softened the smallest bit. "What is it, Graham?"

"The-" He cut himself off, pointing. His mouth opens and closes like a fish.

Regina waited, patient and motherly.

"It's a baby."

They both watched the way his shoulders dropped, like the weight of it all suddenly hit him.

Regina nodded. "It's your baby."

"So why have me out of the picture, then? Put my signature in saying it's not."

"That's not what it is. Signing over your rights doesn't mean he's not yours."

She didn't know how the words hit Emma, but they did. All she saw was a frown sag the muscles around Graham's mouth. "H- it's... it's a boy?"

Regina just looked at him.

"What does it mean then?"

"It means you aren't held accountable as a father." She never stopped looking into his eye - completely tactful. "You won't have to make decisions or argue with me about what's best for him because that will be up to me."

He stayed quiet.

"You're training still aren't you?"

Graham shook his head. "I just finished. I have a few weeks before I move to where they need me."

"They're placing you."

It's not a question but he nodded.

Regina offered a joyless smile. "You'll be following orders.. and going where they tell you to go when they tell you. Moving every few years and working all the time. You've explained how the FBI works to me... how many times?"

And there's a smile there too.

Emma saw that history Sean was talking about buzzing in between them now.

The Mayor leaned forward, somehow not looking small or weak at all in her hospital bed. "You should know me by now, Graham. My biggest goal in life is to keep my son happy and healthy, and have him grow up in the best environment I can give him and it's exactly what I want for this baby. I want to know that he'll have everything he needs at his fingertips, and always feel safe and loved." She shook her head. "I will not let him depend on you, only to be let down. You're going to be all across the country. You won't be there for spelling bees or bedtime stories. You can't commit to giving him a whole part of yourself or being consistent. Even if it weren't for this job, I don't think you're ready. I think maybe... if we were still together, but we can't go back there and you know that. One day you will be ready, though - and you'll be able to be constant and strong and understanding for your children."

There were actually tears in his eyes, but he didn't move.

"I'm not asking you to deny that you're a father - not to yourself or anyone else. What I'm asking you to do, is give him stability. You've seen the way I've raised Henry - I've never lied to him about where he came from. And the moment this baby asks me who his father is I will tell him. I'll show him pictures and tell him stories and if he asks I will absolutely give you the option to see him." Her voice got shaky but she kept blinking the wetness from her eyes. "Children need absolutes in their lives - concrete things to build on or they grown up unsure and scared. And I know right now, the only absolute you can give is nothing at all. You can promise not to disrupt his life. That's how you can love and support him, is by trusting me. I wouldn't ask you to do this if I didn't think it was the best and only option."

His head dropped and he pressed into his eyes with a thumb and index finger, his mouth stretching into a line.

"Graham."

He stepped forward then and hugged her.

Her chin was on his shoulder in an instant, her hands resting on his sides and tears leak from both of their eyes.

All of the sudden Emma felt like she should have left. She's too close and her heart is in her throat - it hurt so much and she knew it shouldn't.

"I'll send you pictures, if you want?" Regina offers.

Graham just shakes his head. He kisses her temple and pulls back, looking awkwardly at Emma before taking a breath and looking back. "Just... when he's born -a picture and his name?"

Regina smiled and nodded.

"I'll..." He wiped his eyes and back pedaled. "I'll go talk to Katherine."

"Alright." She dabbed at her face with the back of her knuckles.

Finally there's this moment - one where words aren't enough. Graham nods one time, casting his eyes to Regina's belly again and then turns and leaves.

And Regina could only stare after him, the curtain separating them from the door for a long moment before her lip curled under the smallest bit. She looked over at the other woman with a sad smile.

Emma was waiting for it. She stood up and crawled into the bed, hugging around Regina's arms with a force and ignoring each gouge of Regina's shoulder into her chest as she sobbed. Regina kept clinging to the bicep in front of her, feeling it flex as Emma moved that arm from the embrace just enough to bend and card her fingers through her hair. A nurse came in to check on them, and Regina turned to hide beside Emma's neck. Even after the nurse left, she kept hiding.

After the tears stopped, she stayed there - her head only swayed and dropped so her forehead was on Emma's collar bone.

Then Regina relaxed.

Emma felt it the moment it happened. One hand on her belly, the other still holding on to the blonde's elbow.

"You gonna be okay?" she whispered.

It took a moment but the brunette nodded. "It's just... closure." She signed. "I'm sad and I'm relieved."

She stretched out a bit before shifting closer. "You should go back to sleep."

Regina nodded again. "You don't-"

"I'll stay."

The Mayor looked up at her, looking so small and vulnerable out of nowhere.

Emma gulped. "If that's okay with you?"

Her hand went to smooth away one last tear from her jaw, and Regina just stared at her. All she said was, "Alright," and it wasn't even a whisper - just a breath of the word.

But she laid back, turning herself just enough to fit into Emma's side and closed her eyes.

Emma kept her fingers going slowly smoothing back the hair above Regina's ear until her breathing evened out. She memorized the feeling, soaking it in and storing it away with each passing moment before she let herself drift off too.