Notes: Race continues to be the fantastically talented and generous editor of fic that she is and I am very grateful.

When Mal and Lily left to fly around the town and he got told to stay home, he knew Something Was Up. Sure enough, now instead of flying with them, Henry sat in his mom's study, across from her and Emma. Mom had her not-Mayor clothes on - jeans, a t-shirt, and a sweater. The worst events always brought out her best suits and sharpest outfits and even though mom dressed more relaxed since Emma had moved in, this was still a major crisis. Mom wore her power suits like armour so the fluffy sweater was odd.

More confirmation that Something Was Up soon followed and Henry catalogued the evidence silently. Emma had more coffee, but his mom had tea instead. Mom had told him his pancakes were delicious too many times, but he hadn't seen her eat one. Emma shifted in her seat, almost squirming. Next to her, his mom sat rigid and straight, her posture perfect. They kept looking at each other, then back at him. He would have been scared, but whenever Emma glanced at his Mom (and wow they were not good at being subtle) she got this look on her face, kind of stupidly adoring actually, with a little smile. It was kind of pathetic. Well maybe also cute but seriously, his moms were ridiculous. That look on Emma's face told him that whatever was up wasn't that bad, though, so instead of demanding they tell him what was going on, he just crossed his arms and attempted to wait them out.

Maybe they'd summoned the harpies somehow, or they needed to take another trip. As soon as he thought that though, he discarded the idea. Going over the town line was bound to make his mom sicker. Mom was never sick, ever, yet now she'd been sick for days and if she got worse, Emma was going to freak out even more. It didn't take long before Henry was out of ideas and didn't know what to think, leaning back into the couch and staring. Mom's skin was still flushed pink and she seemed smaller, curled close to Emma. He'd noticed that a lot, even before they got together. Mom was more...Mom around Emma than anyone else but him. And even more so lately.

A dull shard of guilt lodged under Henry's ribs, remembering those months when he'd thought her evil, when he'd seen everything about her as one more lie. He knew they were over that, but sometimes he thought he'd never be done trying to make that up to her, what he said and how he acted. He knew that she made mistakes too, so did Emma and Grandma and David. They all did. His family was pretty messed up. Was pretty messed up. Now it was just...his. Now he understood that the woman in front of him - who wore baggy sweaters (cashmere, she's not a barbarian) and curled up against Emma's side and let herself be held was the same one who wore four inch stilettos and could silence an entire room with a glare. Just like Emma was a hero who'd made a lot of really bad choices, and hurt people she didn't mean to. He thought about when he'd first read the Story Book, when everything was black and white and easy.

Henry Mills really didn't give a damn about easy anymore.

Which was probably good since he had a hunch that another layer of 'complicated' was about to get added to all their lives.

Mom started to say something, but stopped. Emma squeezed her hand, and they looked at each other again and finally Mom seemed to find the words. "I know you've been worried. Emma and I wanted to tell you why I've been sick, together, so you don't have to keep worrying. It's not a bad thing, we promise."

"Okay." That didn't make much sense at all. What kind of thing would make her so sick and not be a bad thing, except...oh. Oh Shit!

He guessed half a second before she spoke.

"Henry," she paused again, swallowing. Her eyes never left his, and she sat so still. "I'm pregnant," Mom finally said, her voice cracking a little on the words.

"Oh shit," Henry said, before he could stop himself, clapping his hand over his mouth. He knew he wasn't supposed to say that word, and Mom's eyes went wide.

"Henry Daniel Mills," she snapped, appalled, and yeah, he was in for it. Though, Emma just made that choking sound that said she was trying not to laugh and he could tell she was biting her tongue, so maybe this once, he'd get away with it.

"I'm sorry, Mom, I was just...uh, wow...surprised." He smiled though, and Emma gave him a slightly less gross version of the adoring face she'd been giving Mom.

"That is not how you respond to surprise," Mom reminded him. Her voice was still sharp but her shoulders relaxed. "But it was a shock for us too," she trailed off. Watching him as if waiting for something, her face remained careful. For a moment he didn't understand, but her knuckles were white because she held Emma's hand so hard.

It hit him then, like having the wind knocked out of him. She was scared. His mom - who wasn't afraid of anything - was scared. Of him. No, of him being upset. He wanted to hug her then, and tell her that was ridiculous, because it was super obvious she was happy - but he was almost fifteen now. He wanted that careful expression to go away though, it made him sick to his stomach.

"So I'm going to be a big brother? Really?"

And there, there was Mom's smile, not careful but bright like the sun. Her eyes were a little shiny when she nodded and Emma thankfully turned the gross adoring face back on Mom. Which pretty much answered who the dad was, but that meant…

And uugh, mom sex was so not a thing he wanted to think about but they were smiling at each other now and yeah, this was totally going to add another layer of complicated to their lives.

Oh shit indeed. "So uh...you and Mom, but I thought-"

"Magic," Emma said, shrugging and smiling. Oh god she looked smug. Nope, did need that image. Apparently neither did Mom, because she glared hard at Emma and it was nice to see someone else on the receiving end of that look. Except this was Emma and she never really had been phased by Mom's glares and now she just straight up grinned. "Sorry, kid," (she didn't sound at all sorry, he was never going to let her live this down). "We knew it could happen but-"

"You weren't careful," Henry said, shaking his head at them both and oh yeah, now he had his revenge. Because Emma blushed and Mom bit her lip and tried to hide a smile behind her hand. His cheeks ached from the effort not to smile, to look stern and very. serious. "How long did you sit down and talk to me about safe sex Ma? 'Always use protection, Henry' 'You owe it to yourself and your partner to be safe, Henry'" he raised his voice in a deliberately terrible imitation of Emma when she'd given him the talk and watching her flush beet red was almost worth knowing his moms had sex. Almost.

Emma laughed, free and easy, and now it was apparently his mom's turn to get that gross adoring look on her face, but she smiled too. He did good. The tension in the room eased a lot after that, and Henry thought the answer was pretty obvious but still, some part of him that was maybe not the adult side of fifteen wanted - needed - to hear them say it.

"So you're, you guys are happy?"

He was an unplanned baby, he knew that, Emma told him the truth years ago. It hurt at first, because he was so busy trying to make Ma into someone she wasn't - a perfect hero in love with his dad. Now it hurt because it would always remind him that he'd doubted how much his mom loved him. It was okay now though, better than okay, because whether it was fate or just luck, he had Mom, and a childhood he was only now starting to really appreciate. And he had Emma too. But part of "The Talk" had been about planning and responsibility (honestly she could have just saved most of the talk, making him change his Uncle Neal's diapers was super effective at driving that lesson home) and he knew his moms hadn't planned another kid.

"Yes," Emma said, and their hands tightened together.

"We are," Mom added, beaming at Emma. Her expression turned serious a moment later though, and the next thing he knew, she shifted, moving off the couch and walking over to sit next to him. Her hands felt just like they always did on his shoulders, sure and strong and steady. When she nudged his chin upward with a finger it felt so familiar, and safe. Yet, he couldn't ignore that he was as tall as she was, and that her eyes were still a little too bright, her cheeks still flushed. "Henry, we want you to know that we love you, and this doesn't change how we feel about you. You're our son, and the most important person in the world to both of us. You're not being replaced. This child-"

Her voice cracked and he suddenly didn't care that he was fifteen and supposed to be a grownup anymore. Reaching out, he pulled her into a tight hug. She felt small against him, but her arms were just as strong, the way she smelled - laundry detergent and soft perfume - all the same. Her hands clutched at the fabric of his shirt and she sniffled a little. Then she pulled back first. If this were Emma he'd roll his eyes and make a bad joke, but his mom - his larger than life magic hero mom - felt small and human. She smiled like she might break, even if it was in a good way, and not that terrible empty smile he saw on her face when he was angry with her.

So instead he let her hold on to him and tried to make her understand. "I know, Mom. I'm happy for you both. Really." When she still didn't seem satisfied, he smiled a little. "We're family, and it's not about blood. It's about love." It had been what she'd told him so many times when he was younger and upset about his adoption and he watched as his words affected her. "Mom, I have an uncle who's fourteen years younger than me and a sister that's older than one of my moms. Our family is weird, but its ours. I'm kind of excited to be a big brother."

He shrugged, looking away because it was all kind of just a lot. Then his mom hugged him again and whispered against his hair in a way that he guessed Emma wasn't supposed to hear, "Thank you, my little prince."

"Okay, fine no more group hugs without me," Emma grumbled. Suddenly, he was pulled against her side roughly, her hand messing up his hair, making him laugh and shove her. She shoved back, which turned into an attempted tickle war that ended with him on the floor when om cleared her throat pointedly.

"Honestly, I think being pregnant is redundant as I already have two children." But she smiled, and so did Ma and yeah. This was okay.

He watched them gravitate toward each other, Emma reaching out and Mom taking her hand until they sat side by side again. Emma nudged him with her toe and he threatened her with tickle claws but stayed sprawled on the floor.

Everything felt a little quieter after that, Emma not fidgeting, Mom leaning against her, all the tension in her posture gone. Emma (thankfully) stopped throwing those gross adoring glances at Mom too, and Mom didn't look quite so feverish, though the way she slouched told Henry she was still more tired than she admitted.

"So this is why you've been sick?" He asked, watching her. Emma gave Mom a pointed look, which meant this was probably a conversation they'd already had. Where Mom nodded slowly, Emma answered him.

"Yeah kid, magic makes it, well, it takes more out of your mom."

Henry frowned, more questions suddenly springing to mind. Ma must have read his expression because she shook her head gently. "We don't have a lot of answers yet either, okay?" When she looked at Mom this time, he saw the uncertainty on her face. That more than anything made something cold clench in his stomach. Mom's skin was still too hot, her eyes too bright and her movements too slow. He had to remind himself that Ma was being overprotective and that Mom would be fine. Babies happened all the time.

Not like this, they don't, that cold, scared little voice said in his mind.

"Would Mal know more?"

They didn't look surprised he brought up Mal and he was grateful. He needed to have someone, someone else, tell that him mom would be okay but there were some things you just couldn't ask your parents.

"She should. We have a lot of questions too, we just really haven't time to ask them. This is new to us too."

Henry was already making a list in his mind. At the top was a question he still felt fine asking. "When are you going to start feeling better?"

Mom looked at Emma, her forehead in tight lines and he knew before she said anything that it wouldn't be soon.

"We don't know," Emma explained, frustration in her voice.

"It's all right," Mom promised, and Henry and Emma shared an identical 'bullshit' look that thankfully, she missed. "If I'm sick, then it's going well. The baby's taking what she needs."

"So don't worry?" Henry asked. His eyebrows raised and he looked from one of them to the other. Emma's face was too soft, too sympathetic, and Mom had that single frown line between her eyebrows.

"Don't worry more than we do," Emma said. Her voice was steady but Henry saw the way her mouth curved downward just a little bit too much. She was trying to pretend she wasn't worried, though whether that was for his benefit or Mom's though, he couldn't tell. Her next words though, were for him. "Your mom's going to be sick, and that's awful for her, and us, because we love her, but we've got this, okay?" Henry could count on his hands the number of times Ma had used that tone with him, the one that said nothing about this was a joke, and she meant what she said completely.

"Okay," He said, and it sounded like more than an answer, it sounded like a promise. It felt like one too, and when Emma looked at him, he nodded solemnly, as if they had made a pact between them. Maybe they had, not an operation but a vow: take care of Mom.

"There's one more thing," Mom said. Staring at her hands before she looked back up at him, she shifted closer to Emma. "It's still early, so there are several reasons why this might not end with a baby. The risk is low, but considering my age, and our lives, there's a chance that... Everything's gone well so far. It should stay, I mean-"

Emma put her arm around Mom's shoulder, pulling her gently closer and when Mom looked down, he got it.

"You mean miscarriage," Henry clarified, and fear made it hard to keep his voice steady. He managed though, because this was part of that promise, even now, Mom didn't need to see that he was scared. Even if that cold fist was back, twisting his guts. "So that's a risk that we have to think about?"

Mom nodded. She wouldn't lie to him, but he wasn't sure that she could speak.

Emma must have thought the same thing because she answered in that same serious voice. "Even if something happens, your mom will be okay. Miscarriages usually don't hurt the mother. We didn't want to keep this a secret from you, but we're not going to tell anyone else, not yet. We'll share it later, when we're sure that your mom and the baby are both healthy. My doctor said you were okay when I made it into the second trimester." Emma explained, her arm around his mom. "So it'll be a few weeks before we're ready. We need you to keep it a secret with us. Mal and Lily know, but that's it."

It made something warm and light push up at his ribs, that they trusted him. "I won't tell," he promised instantly. His mom's smile at that looked a little watery but Emma, Emma's smile made him feel like a grownup, like he'd done something really right.

"So uh, how do Lily and Mal know? Magic?" he asked when they'd been quiet for a bit.

"Sort of," Emma said. "I'm a little fuzzy on that myself."

Mom smiled that smile she got when Emma was being cute but dense. Henry saw that one a lot actually. "Dragons are more sensitive to changes in their environment so yes dear, magic. And it's going to be fine. I'll be sick for awhile, then better, and in several months you'll have a sister," Mom promised. "I know it's strange, and complicated, but we don't want you to worry."

"Okay," he promised. He didn't really mean it though. She was his mom, and this was huge, whether she wanted to admit it or not. He was going to worry. Henry could tell, however, this was one of those things where she was worried about him worrying, and so if he pretended like everything was okay, it would make her feel better. It was a little frustrating -adults made things really complicated, but when he chanced a quick glance at Emma, she gave him a subtle nod of approval.

"Good," she said, and Henry got that she wasn't really talking to him. "Mal has a spell should even out the drain on your mom's magic. Which should make her feel better."

"So you won't be sick anymore?"

Emma made a wry face, answering instead. "Well, that's the idea, but I was pretty sick with you for a couple months, kid, no magic needed. That's what crackers and ginger ale are for though." That soft, sympathetic look came back to her eyes and he knew Mom was pretty sick then, if Emma worried.

"I'm fine," Mom promised, and when he raised his eyebrows she smiled, giving in. "I'm happy," she corrected. "I will be fine."

Emma poked him in the leg with her toe again, her mouth pulling down into a soft, serious line. "We don't want you to feel like you have to be happy right away, because it's a big change for us and-"

"I'm happy," he interrupted before Emma got herself too wound up. "I really am,"he said softly, trying to let Emma see he really meant it. Because he did. As long as mom was safe, as long as they were a family it was okay.

Really damn weird. But okay.

"When will we have the electricity back?"

"Why is my house on the bottom of the list?"

"You expect us to let a dragon into our homes?"

Emma winced on Regina's behalf, only barely resisting the urge to facepalm, or better yet, just shout down their stupid questions. Regina had just explained, with exacting detail, the thorough plan to repair the town.

And almost no one was happy with it.

Emma was beginning to have a lot more sympathy for Regina's decision to cast the Dark Curse. Honestly.

"I'm quite happy to leave houses of the unwilling in a heap," Mal muttered under her breath, leaning slightly towards Emma. "They can just wait until a more suitable sorceress comes along."

Emma had to work to hold back the very inappropriate laughter that threatened to break loose at that image.

Next to her, Henry bit his lip to hide a smile. On his other side, Lily leaned down, asking just loud enough Emma could hear. "What's with the dragon hate?"

"Old prejudices," he whispered back. "Ruby says they're not too happy about werewolves either."

"Great."

Mal touched her knee and Emma watched Lily settle, her frown easing as she turned her attention back to Regina. The way she watched Regina speak to the town was almost awed. Emma couldn't really blame her, Regina was in full Madam Mayor mode, radiating competency and power; amazing to watch.

Emma thought about past town hall meetings and some of her irritation faded. She remembered when she first came to Storybrooke, the way Regina commanded a room had been captivating - and ridiculously sexy - even then. Only now Emma could watch the woman in front of her without wanting to slap that superior attitude off her face.

They really had come along way.

"Ursula's timely storm saved us all. The cleanup is proceeding. And yes, we're resilient enough to survive a few days without electricity," Regina spoke, her words clipped and brooking no argument. "Anyone who needs alternative light sources should remain after the meeting. We will provide for you. Granny's diner will be offering meals for all who need them."

A general noise of approval rose, followed by a smattering of applause, and Granny waved from her seat. Knowing they had food and light helped the town's patience and the temperature in the room began to ease. For the first time in what seemed like hours, Emma let herself slump back in her chair, ire fading.

Fixing power lines was tedious, delicate work which left them exhausted. Emma was getting better at it (through unending practice) but it was a dull way to spend a day and she had little patience for civic matters even on her best days. These were not her best days.

Still it was almost...fun, to watch Regina taking charge. There was no doubt she had a gift for command, and even the most stubborn idiots had to admit she knew more about how to run the town than anyone. It wasn't long before the grumbling tapered off and Regina wrapped up the last few questions, preparing to hand the meeting over to Mulan, who would take volunteers for the patrols they were setting up around the town's border.

Regina was just sitting back down in her chair, appearing at ease while she studied her papers when someone spoke up from the back.

"Will there be another attack?" Emma turned, but couldn't see a face. She caught Mulan's eye, sharing a 'are you shitting me with this?' look. They had been so close to being done.

And then, because the universe had it out for Emma, before Regina or Emma or Mulan could speak up and say something reasonable, Cruella had to go and open her mouth.

"Of course, darling," Cruella said, and she smiled, as if fascinated by the idea. "Darkness doesn't just fade. You have to burn out the roots, salt the earth, and still even then, it finds a way."

Emma swore she could hear Mulan grinding her teeth.

Worried murmuring took the crowd and Regina lifted a hand to hush them, shooting a glare at Ursula who rolled her eyes but did wrap her arm around Cruella's waist, whispering something none of them could hear (thankfully, judging by the way Cruella's eyes lit up). "We'll determine the source of these infestations. Belle's already researching summoners of note in the tales of the Enchanted Forest. Your Sheriff and I will follow the leads we can find, and Deputy Fa's patrol schedule will ensure that the town defended. Should this summoner strike again, we are prepared."

"And then what?" Whale said from the far corner. "It took a hurricane to defeat the harpies. What will we use next? A volcano? An earthquake? How long will it take to repair the town then?" Whale turned up his hands as if helpless, but he wasn't a good enough actor to hide the smug undertone. He was doing this on purpose.

Emma imagined just how satisfying it would feel for her fist to connect with his nose.

Apparently she wasn't the only one.

"As long as it takes," Mulan snapped. Emma blinked. She knew Mulan had stubborn, contrary streak a mile wide, but she didn't usually get angry. That was more Emma's style. Emma wasn't about to try and stop anyone from ripping Whale a new one though, and when Regina opened her mouth, Emma shook her head almost imperceptibly. Whale must have gotten under Mulan's skin at some point and Emma was more than happy to watch him get what he deserved. "Are you suggesting we aren't doing all we can to protect our home?"

"He wasn't suggesting that, Deputy," District Attorney Spencer said. The former King George, whatever he was called now, stood up. When he spoke, old loathing rose in Emma's chest. "I believe the doctor was asking how we're going to protect our town. The people of Storybrooke are to trust that two dragons and the sea witch will protect us?"

A low rumble rolled through the hall, distant thunder on the air. Emma glanced at where Mal sat, entirely too at ease, eyes bright with dangerous amusement. Lily looked at her shoes. Ursula shifted a tentacle, reminding the crowd of her power.

It got very quiet for a moment.

Stepping into the silence, Emma put her hands on her hips. She caught Mulan's lips quirking in a grin as she stepped back before turning her attention to the assembled townspeople. Most she knew of course, and most she - if not trusted, at least placed them in the 'not a troublemaker' category. Ruby and Granny were glaring at George and Whale and Emma thought she saw the corner of Red's lip pull up in a snarl.

"My mother was a bandit and my father a shepherd, and they're your heroes," Emma said. She hadn't made peace with her parents, and she knew what they'd done, but the town looked up to them. She could use that to keep the town together. "I'm a former inmate, but you keep saying I'm your savior, when the truth Regina's saved this place more than I have. It doesn't matter what any of us were, what matters is what we are. This is our home, we protect it, and you chose Regina to lead you, so listen to her. Whatever's still coming, we'll beat it." Heat flushed her cheeks and she held George's gaze, loading her final words with a warning even he couldn't miss. She had no reason to suspect his involvement in this, but she also wouldn't put it past him and it was gratifying to watch him swallow and sit back down almost meekly.

"She's right," Snow added, and stood. She glanced at Emma and it was all Emma could do not to turn away. Instead returning to her seat with as much poise as she could manage which...probably wasn't much.

A light brush of fingertips against her arm steadied her and she caught Regina's knowing look. It helped push away the anger as the way people instantly gave Snow their full attention. Emma wasn't even sure why it surprised her anymore. The town looked at Snow with blind devotion, she was their princess. Even if they knew what she'd done it probably wouldn't make any difference. Lily's kidnapping had been done in the name of the "greater good."

Even thinking about it her fists itched, wanted to curl into fists, a scream pushing up between her ribs and she had to swallow it down, again and again and again because no matter what, Snow was her mother and this wasn't the time or the place.

Snow spoke, and the town agreed with her. Emma kept silent in her seat, tried not to let her anger show because at least Snow supported Regina. She then defended Maleficent and praised her decision to protect the town. She said everything right. Emma's jaw ached.

Emma met Regina's eyes, dark and knowing even in the expressionless mask she seemed to wear so effortlessly. Regina held her composure better than anyone Emma had ever met. That used to drive her crazy, made her want to get under the other woman's skin, to make her react, make her admit she was human.

Now Emma knew exactly what lay beneath the perfect facade of Madam Mayor - she knew the woman, the mother, the lover, who loved so hard and bled all too easily, who even now was running a fever and probably still had an upset stomach and yet she sat ramrod straight, perfectly composed and attentive. Not to Snow though, but to Emma. To anyone else Regina's expression probably gave away nothing but Emma could see the worry. For her. It made something in her twist with shame, but mostly it made her angry at Snow all over again. Because Emma knew why Regina held herself so carefully, knew it was her armor, that she was hurting too and Emma hated it. She just wanted to go home, cup that beautiful face in her hands and kiss Regina softly till all her masks fell away, until they could just have dinner with their son and curl up on the couch, or watch Mal teach Lily magic in the backyard while Henry played with his DS nearby.

"Thank you," Snow said loudly, sitting back down and breaking Emma out of her thoughts, dragging her back to the present. Regina's fingers brushed the back her hand, just long enough for Emma to feel a tingle of her magic, warm and calm and understanding, buoying her.

With the meeting finally ended, Emma gathered all her deputies to plan the nightly patrols and set shifts. Between Mulan, David, Ruby and some of the Merry Men, they were at least not short of (mostly) competent people. As they drew up the patrol schedule, she included herself in the list, but Mulan stopped her with a shake of her head.

"Sheriff, we'll need you, the Mayor, Maleficent and Ursula on standby as backup. We can handle patrols until we find something that needs your expertise."

"Oh, uh, right, good plan," Emma agreed. Unused to being able to rely on anyone but herself and Regina it felt strange to step back, to not be rushing into everything. Mulan seemed to guess the direction of Emma's thoughts, her lips quirking upward into a brief, wry smile.

"Don't worry, you won't get shelved," she said.

Emma took a moment, trying to place the word in that context, then tilted her head. "You mean benched?"

"Is that it?" Mulan asked. "I see. Then you won't be benched." She proceeded to punch Emma in the shoulder, which, ow. But it made her grin, and the soft look in Mulan's eyes told Emma that was the goal. "Go on, we've got this covered, take care of her," Mulan said, her voice quiet enough to be for Emma's ears alone. Emma could only nod her thanks.

She left Mulan and Ruby discussing schedules and routes, a thought occurring to her as she looked for Regina. Mulan had been a general, maybe she'd be interested in becoming Sheriff, leaving Emma free to become just another Deputy -

Then she saw Regina and put future career moves aside for another day. Regina stood beside Lily, speaking to Tinkerbelle. Tink was a friend, and Regina smiled as they spoke, so okay, she was fine. Emma still wanted to go home and get away from the crowds, at least until they could do whatever this spell Mal had in mind. Maybe then Regina could look her in the eyes and convince her that she was okay.

Moving quickly to avoid any more questions (No, none of the patrols had seen anything dangerous recently, yes, all the damaged houses would get fixed, yes, for the moment Storybrooke was calm. It seemed like Emma answered these same questions until her jaw ached and she wanted to scream. Fortunately, her da...Charming, seemed in his element and so did Mulan, so Emma finally directed everyone till them and slipped away) Emma slipped through the crowd toward where she'd seen Regina and Tink. She found them deep in conversation with Archie and Kathryn and a few people Emma didn't recognize, but Regina was obviously busy, and also obviously okay, so Emma forced herself to stay back, instead finding Ursula, leaning against a wall by the window.

Cruella stood just outside, cigarette in a long holder, smiling as thin plumes of smoke rose from the cigarette. Emma envied her the quiet. Fortunately, Ursula didn't seem to need anything and the two just stood in companionable silence for a while until Mal's deep, rich laugh caught their attention.

"I've never seen her this happy," Ursula said, tilting her chin towards Maleficent. The tall woman stood apart from the main crush of people milling about, talking to Granny near the back of the room, and she looked often at Lily. "You did a good thing bringing the kid back."

"You saved the town with a hurricane," Emma replied, shrugging. "That was pretty badass."

"I'm glad it worked, but I doubt it'll work again," Ursula said, nodding her thanks. She had a wide, easy smile, and Emma appreciated how frequent it was. Of all their three newest magic users, she seemed the most grounded. Maybe because she already had her happy ending and wasn't afraid it would be taken away again. "We're opening our little tavern up tonight, if you and the queen need a drink after all your road work."

"Thanks, but-" Emma stopped, looking for Regina again. She had no quick excuse and she'd need one. Everyone in town would think she was trying to hide Regina away, which maybe she was, but she couldn't bring herself to care. What she didn't want, though, was rumours starting. "Repairing takes a lot out of us," she offered, knowing it was a lame excuse. Across the room, Henry was with Belle. The Blue Fairy, Whale, and that horrible King George, were nowhere close to Regina. Relieved, Emma sighed.

If Ursula thought anything of Emma's wandering attention, she was kind enough not say, apparently the one person in all of Storybrooke who wasn't nosy as Hell. Emma liked Ursula even more in that moment when she simply asked, "Repairs are going well then?"

"Roads are easy, but the power lines are ridiculous," Emma answered. Forcing herself to focus on the conversation and stop worrying. Regina was safe, and she'd be fine. It wasn't fair to the town that needed them both right now that Emma wasn't ready to share, that she couldn't stop thinking about how underneath her power suit armour Regina still looked so delicate. Although Emma was willing to concede that she might have been the only one to think that. With her stiletto heels and her blood red lipstick, Regina wasn't having any problem cutting a severe enough figure to keep people in line. Emma knew she was worrying for nothing.

But the ache she felt, like a string wrapped around her heart, wasn't lessened by something as frail as logic.

"Sorry about that," Ursula teased. "Next time I'll be more careful." Emma appreciated the quiet humour and smiled.

Finished with her cigarette, Cruella returned, and Emma watched the crowd part for her. The woman seemed to thrive on the cold looks and the whispers, grinning as if she walked the red carpet. Emma couldn't quite wrap her head around Cruella. Mal paid little attention to how the town saw her, viewing all mortals as more or less beneath her. Ursula fit in easily, her level-headed demeanor, beautiful voice and the fact she ran a great bar - and had no history with anyone in the town - made it seem like she had always been here. Cruella on the other hand, seemed to relish the distance people kept from her. Emma still didn't know much about her beyond the Disney story, but she hadn't threatened any puppies since she'd come to town and seemed to genuinely care about Ursula, if not much else. Emma didn't trust her, but Cruella felt more like walking chaos than someone who would actively threaten the town.

"We don't need electricity, darling. Most of this rabble's lived their lives without it," Cruella said, leaning against the wall beside Ursula and waving her hands at the crowd dismissively. "Just give them some candles and be done with it."

"I wish we could," Emma muttered. "Would be easier."

Cruella shrugged, languid and haughty as if to say 'no skin off my nose' and Ursula

It happened in the instant she forgot, some terrible application of Murphy's law, the instant Emma turned her attention fully to Cruella and Ursula's subtle banter and forgot to worry -

"Get back," someone yelled, cutting through the general babble of the crowd like a stone shattering glass. "Get away from her."

Emma spun, heart hammering in her throat, looking for the source of that voice. Deep, hissing and low, so it carried, the voice was-

Lily.

She stood in front of Regina, dark smoke that swirling around her feet and rising up to cover her body. The crowd retreated like water. Mal blinked herself over there, in one place, then another. She grabbed Lily's shoulders and they were gone in an instant. The smoke still hung near Regina but the dragons were outside. In the parking lot, first Lily wreathed herself in darkness, then Mal followed her and changed form. Everyone gasped awed, or frightened, or both; some ran to the window to watch the two dragons take to the sky as an ear splitting roar rattled the glass and shook the walls.

As soon as Mal and Lily disappeared though, Emma was at Regina's side, stepping in front of her as if to shield Regina with her body, because Lily was right. They needed to get away. Emma's magic rose with her anger, tight and hot, like flames on her skin. She hadn't felt this way since the Dragon fire spell but she embraced it, grasping at the power with both hands.

"Emma, I'm sorry," Snow pleaded, eyes wide and liquid and hurt. That expression would have made Emma back down once, would have made her want to apologise, to reach out and do whatever it took to make peace, but not this time. It was all still too close - her parent's lies, Lily's suffering, Regina's vulnerability, Emma knew she was overreacting but really couldn't bring herself to care.

"Don't," Emma said, her voice low and almost as much of a growl as Lily's had been. "This isn't-"

A touch at her arm, Regina's magic safe and steady. Emma blinked.

Everyone watched them - Henry, Granny, the fairies, Ruby, only Mulan looked elsewhere, surveying the rest of the room with a cop's eyes. Everyone else that hadn't run to the window to watch the dragons stared at them now. It was the worst possible time to have things out, but Emma wasn't letting her parents near Regina, or their daughter. Not for a very long time.

"Emma," Regina said, drawing her attention. The soft touch became a steady hand on her shoulder, gentle but Regina's beautiful eyes seemed to be all pupil and her hand was too warm and Emma couldn't just- "Emma, it's fine," she repeated, her voice firm and calm. Then Henry was beside them, standing in front of his mom, and Emma forced herself to pull it together.

"Sorry," she muttered, "sorry, I guess we're all just a little on edge."

"Everything's fine," Regina said, projecting her voice and her calm around the room. "Transforming is new to Lily, and she's still learning to control it. She's fine."

Ruby nodded and took a step forward, her voice filled with too much knowledge. "Being a shapeshifter's hard enough if you haven't had your whole life to get used to it. Something must have spooked her. Everyone just go back to what you were doing."

There was muttering, but gradually the crowd calmed, taking Ruby's advice. It didn't happen fast enough for Emma, her skin crawled from the eyes on them, shoulderblades itching with the instinct to run, to fight, to take her family and get out. The way she'd looked at her parents was going to be the topic of discussion all over town now.

"I'm done here," Emma said. Regina squeezed her hand, trying to reassure her, or maybe protect her from herself. "Can we go?"

Emma's mother looked at her, expression hurt and raw, but Emma ignored it, forced the tiny voice of long-learned guilt down under the hot flush of anger. She had her own children to protect and she didn't, couldn't trust Snow around Regina right now.

"Have you finished-?" Regina began to ask and Emma nodded, frustrated enough to interrupt.

"Mulan has the patrol schedule." Emma bit the inside of her cheek, focusing herself in the sharp pain. She was too on edge and too close to taking that out on anyone, even Regina, and she couldn't allow that. She'd already sat through three hours of Regina trying to take care of the town full of ungrateful morons and she was sick of it. Lily was right to not want her kidnappers anywhere near her mother. Going full dragon was overkill, but she'd had a handful of days to try and get used to her other self. The town owed her a break, especially Emma's parents.

"It's late," Regina said evenly, ever the diplomat. "It's been a long meeting and we're all still recovering from the shock of having our homes turned upside down. Emma and I have a another long day tomorrow, so Snow, David, will you excuse us?"

"Of course," Snow answered, nodding to Regina. She stepped aside, but something raw and hurt and hungry remained in her eyes, making Emma want to step between Snow and Regina again. Regina pretended not to notice, tugging Emma's hand as if absolutely nothing was wrong. "Good evening then."

Henry - with all the ease and skill only a kid raised by Regina could manage - smiled at his grandparents, giving Snow a quick hug. It cut the tension between the group and pushed back some of the anger Emma still struggled with. It was hard to be pissed off when your kid was being that awesome. He was going to be impossible when he was older.

Charming took Snow's arm, leading her away and Henry moved to follow Emma and Regina.

They'd barely started toward the doors when he stopped, though, tilting his head towards Belle and Ruby. "Would it be okay if I got dinner at Granny's with Belle and Ruby? "

Emma and Regina shared a glance. "Bored of us already?" Regina teased softly, reaching out and brushing his hair back from his face. For the first time since Lily had yelled, Emma felt a smile tugging at her lips. She knew what he was doing, so did Regina, but none of them were going to say anything. He'd be safe with Belle and Ruby, the town was almost his family too and short of his parents or Mal there were few people more qualified to keep him safe than Ruby.

"If you're certain," Regina said. When she opened her arms, Henry walked straight into them, hugging her tight. With her heels she was taller than him again but only barely and emotion swelled up in Emma's chest, fierce and bright and more than a little painful at just how grownup their son was.

"I'm good," he promised them both. "Belle's been researching the harpies and wants someone to talk to who won't get bored by what she's found."

"Go," Emma said after Regina nodded. "Be home by nine."

"Nine-thirty," Regina allowed, taking Emma's hand again. "And remember, the phones still aren't working. You can't tell us if you're going to be late, so you'll need to be punctual."

"Could send up a flare," Henry joked. He patted Regina's arm, smiling. "I'll be okay."

"I know." She shut her eyes for a moment, then nodded to him. "Before nine-thirty."

"Yes, moms."

"He's too smart," Emma muttered.

Regina nodded and watched him walk towards Belle. "He's giving us space."

"So we can talk about how terribly I overreacted?" Emma sighed, only half-joking.

Instead of chastising her, Regina touched Emma's cheek. "Perhaps," she replied, then sighed and took a step closer. "Let's go home."

"Before I say anything else I'll regret?" Emma asked, knowing she probably needed to apologize.

"Because I'm tired," Regina said, lowering her voice to a whisper. She squeezed Emma's hand for emphasis and sighed. "And, since I've promised to be honest, our neighbours have made my head ache and it's stuffy."

"It really is, isn't it?" Emma answered, shaking her head.

"Let's go," Regina said, gentle, not demanding. Emma shifted her weight, kept hold of Regina's hand, and with a single thought, brought them home.

It never even occurred to her until they were home what it would look like, the two of them disappearing together in front of a crowd.

To Hell with it, Emma thought as Regina locked the door behind them.

Once they were safe behind the walls of Regina's- their- house, Regina tugged her closer and kissed her cheek, then the corner of her mouth, then her lips. Her arms slid around Emma's waist, their bodies pressed together. Regina was soft and warm, her lips tender against Emma's, not demanding, assurance and care and home and against this tenderness Emma had no defense. Slowly the tension bled from her shoulders, her lungs expanding, she pulled Regina closely against her, pressed a kiss to her too-hot forehead and let out the breath she didn't remember holding.

"There you are," Regina murmured softly, reaching up to cup Emma's face, not letting her look away in embarrassment. "You're cute when you're overprotective," Regina whispered against Emma's lips, kissing her one more time while Emma tried not to melt into the floor. One last kiss to the very tip of her nose and then Regina moved away, leaning on the wall to step out of her heels. In her bare feet she seemed so much smaller, vulnerable yet so strong, she reached for Emma's shoulder and stroked her. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Emma argued. Looking into Regina's endless eyes and the concern on her face broke her, just a little. "No."

Regina nodded, then moved toward the kitchen. "Come on, I'll make you coffee."

"Regina," Emma protested, then stopped, taking off her boots. She wasn't supposed to trek dirt across the entryway and they were filthy. Hopping awkwardly on one foot, she stuffed them in the closet, then turned and grabbed Regina's heels too. She had to put them in the closet or Regina would just make that little noise with her tongue.

Hurrying into the kitchen in her socks, Emma found Regina already had the french press out, two mugs on the counter and a tea bag in her hand for herself.

"Thank you for putting my shoes away," Regina said with an evil little smirk.

Of course she'd known, and done it on purpose, because if there was anything that was familiar and comforting about their relationship, it was Regina being bossy and having no shame in making Emma do chores. And it was familiar and comforting. By the time she dropped herself onto a barstool and slouched against the counter, another layer of frustration fell away, like shedding clothes when you came in from a frigid winter's day. The smell of fresh ground coffee filled the air as Regina opened the canister and Emma watched the water in the french press come to a boil with a flick of Regina's wrist.

The silence stretched out, heavy but not uncomfortable and Emma let it, unsure what to say. She didn't want to talk about her parents. They were home and she didn't want to ruin it. After a few minutes, Regina pressed and poured the coffee with deft movements and then passed the mug over, waiting until Emma wrapped her fingers around smooth, warm porcelain before sitting down herself. She flicked her fingers at her mug of tea and then took a seat across from Emma, watching her through the steam that curled gently upward.

"Your mother isn't going to hurt me," Regina said at last, her voice too gentle and patient. Emma wanted to squirm.

"Yeah," she replied, staring at the counter. "I know that, I just..." She made herself look up, because Regina was waiting, and she'd keep waiting until Emma figured out what she needed to say. That meant Emma couldn't get out of admitting what bothered her. "I didn't want her to talk to you."

"She asked out of concern," Regina offered . "She knew I'd been ill the day before yesterday and she wanted to see if I felt better."

Lifting her coffee, Emma touched her lips to her mug, testing the temperature. Sharp heat bit at her lips and she put it back down. Damn. "And you lied?"

Toying with her teabag, Regina pulled it out by the string and set it aside, placing the bag neatly on a waiting saucer. "I was entirely honest and told her that you took good care of me."

Blowing on her coffee, Emma smiled wearily. "I brought you a plain pancake, Regina, that's - " she shrugged. It never felt like enough.

"If you'd put anything on it, I doubt I would have kept it down." Regina stated simply.

Emma looked down, finger tracing the handle of her mug.

"Emma, I'm fine."

"I know, I know," she sighed. "It's just. It's not enough."

The soft clink of ceramic on tile was the only sound and then the next thing she knew, gentle fingers sat on her wrists, sliding up her arm and nudging her gently around to face Regina.

"Emma, you sat in bed with me," Regina said, her voice so, so soft. "You brought me breakfast and convinced me to eat it. I would have tried to ignore my stomach and get up, and insisted I was fine while making it worse."

"That's not-" Emma protested, shaking her head.

"Emma stop." A hint of steel and Emma shut up. Slim fingers threaded through her own, Regina's magic bright and soft, slipped between them, as easy as the air they breathed. "We said honesty right?" She didn't wait for Emma's tentative nod to continue. "Yes, my stomach feels terrible, I'm tired, and that meeting was a chore. I almost miss the days of the curse." Emma looked up, caught the gentle twinkle in Regina's eyes, the way they crinkled at the corners before softening, wide and steady. The hands holding hers squeezed, held Emma tightly. "I don't like crowds. I never have. But I never - not for one second - felt unsafe today. Do you understand?" And maybe because Emma was slow or maybe just because magic was emotion and theirs was inescapable, Emma felt the words inside her, knew the warmth that Regina associated with her, and the awe - even now - that someone would step in front of her.

"I still overreacted."

"You did," Regina said gently, kissing Emma's brow. "But do you really think I'm going to be upset that your first instinct is to protect me? Protect us?" She took their joined hands, pressing them carefully against her.

Reaching out with her magic was simple, instinctive, like stretching her fingers to meet Regina's hand. Slipping off the stool, Emma moved close, letting her forehead rest against Regina's and closing her eyes. Feeling Regina was easy, like muscle memory, her magic was home and safe, and touching it was touching her, so bright and real that Emma could trace it with her fingers. Regina's breathing slowed, mingling with Emma's. Their hearts beat loud together, keeping time. The baby would be beneath, delicate, barely-

Like a spark, just a tiny flame - like a candle - compared to the burning sun that was Regina's life force, but it was there, still so small but so beautiful. Emma wasn't conscious of thinking anymore, her whole world stilled, narrowed, everything falling away but the connection between her and Regina and that tiny little light beneath their joined hands. She could keep it safe, couldn't she? Help her grow. She could swear that the little flame strengthened when she focused on it, so she focused more, love and family and safe rushing up to fill her heart, magic pulsing bright inside her, down her arm to her fingers and -

Regina's eyes went wide and she gasped, grabbing Emma's hand. Her grip, tight and unyielding, yanked Emma back from wherever she'd been, fear clambered her veins and all the air hissed from her lungs what had she done, what if she'd hurt Regina oh fuck oh fuck...

"Emma-" but Regina's voice wasn't panicked, it was thick and rough, pulled from her lips on a sigh.

"Oh fuck Regina are you okay? Tell me you're okay." Emma searched her face, but Regina just licked her lips and oh, why was that so gorgeous? Her pupils all but disappeared in her eyes and she smiled, that bright, bright smile that was just blinding.

"I'm okay," she whispered, holding Emma's hand tight against her belly. "What did you do?"

"I tried to protect her," Emma said. Her thumb stroking small circles across Regina's belly, Emma slowed her breathing, trying to calm down. Regina was fine, she was smiling. She looked at Emma with that particular "I love you but you're an idiot" look so it was fine. Everything was fine, she could breathe again. Maybe.

"She's there, I can, I guess I can feel her. She's so little."

"Of course she is," Regina said. Her lips pressed warm against Emma's, and their magic responded to the proximity and emotion, reaching out like gentle currents, merging together until everything was bright, so bright Emma could almost see it in the physical world. "At the oldest, she's probably only eight weeks. She's not taking up much space."

"She's beautiful," Emma murmured. Regina didn't say anything but she didn't have to, Emma could feel it in her magic, in the way she let Emma wrap arms around her shoulders and hold her close, in the way Regina's heart beat steady and sure against Emma's breast.

She was theirs, of course she was beautiful.