Henry slowly came sulking in the kitchen, completely ignoring his father and mother who were both sitting at the table, eating breakfast. He opened on of the cabinets and reached for a bowl. Putting the bowl on the counter he walked over to the fridge and reached for the milk.
Regina and Daniel were both staring at the boy with worried looks. Henry was still ignoring them as he put his fruit loops in the bowl and poured the milk over the crunchy breakfast food. It's wasn't before he had placed the milk back in the fridge and dropped down on his usual chair that he spoke up.
"Good morning." He grumbled, signaling that he felt the complete opposite of what he was saying.
Regina bit her bottom lip as she put the half eaten toast back on her plate. She knew Henry had been feeling down ever since Emma had been forced to leave town with Gold. She had been gone for almost a week now and everyday Henry became a little more anxious. Regina and Daniel did everything they could to cheer him up, even Cora had tried playing video games with him because she knew Henry always enjoyed the way she screwed up. But nothing had yet cheered Henry up enough to keep the smile on his face.
But maybe today was the day she succeeded. There was another doctor's appointment on the agenda today. One of the last ones, seeing that she was now eight months pregnant. Henry always enjoyed going with her to these appointments.
"Henry?" She started carefully as she toyed a little with the hem of her black maternity sweater. Henry stopped stirring his drowned fruit loops and looked up to meet his mother's eyes. "Would you like to come to my doctor's appointment today? Daniel needs to work and Cora wanted to sleep in. I would like to have a man by my side." She said as she smiled gently.
When Henry's dark eyes lit up, Regina mentally high-fived herself. "Yes I'd like that, mom." He said with a small grin as he grabbed his spoon again to take a big spoonful of milk and fruit loops. "What time do you need to go?"
She checked her watch and then looked up again. "I need to be there at one so where leaving at 12:30 okay?"
"Sure." Henry smiled as he jumped up and ran towards his room to get dressed.
...
Regina was smiling to herself as she pulled her coat over her arms. She was happy that she had managed to put a smile on her son's face, even if it was just for an hour or so. She reached for her purse and checked for the carkeys. She then waited patiently as she listened for the familiar thumping if Henry's sneakers against the hard wood of the stairs.
Henry came stomping down the stairs, jumping from the second last step. He landed on the floor with a loud bang and then smiled triumphantly.
"Henry." Regina scolded softly as she opened the front door. "What did I tell you about doing that. You're going to get yourself hurt and then what?"
Henry grinned as he pulled his coat on also. "Sorry mom." He said, signaling that he had no plans on stopping anytime soon.
Once Regina had locked the door behind them, the pair walked down the pathway and to the black Mercedes that was shining in the sun. Henry was faster and he waited patiently by the car for his mother who was walking very slow, supporting her belly as she opened the car.
The drive to the hospital was quick and it wasn't even fifteen minutes later that mother and son were sitting in the waiting area of the OB/GYN ward. Most of the uncomfortable plastic chair were empty. Though there were a few couples and even some women alone, varying form all different stages of pregnancy.
Henry stood up and walked over to the different posters that were hanging on the white wall with a look of fascination on his face. Regina smiled as Henry started looking at them, it seemed he was interested in this sort off thing. She was still watching her son when an old nurse stepped inside the room and called her name.
"Regina Mills?" She asked with a high voice as her wrinkled hands were squeezing the chart almost impossibly tight. The look of fear on the woman's face was obvious as Regina slowly stood up. She smiled at the woman, trying to put her in ease but the old nurse was still gripping the chart as she let Regina and Henry towards on of the rooms.
Dr. Cross was already sitting in the room when mother and son walked in. After the pleasantries were exchanged, Henry took place in the chair next to the examination table and Regina climbed onto the blue cushions.
"How have you been feeling Regina?" The red haired woman said as she grabbed a pen and scribbled something on her notepad.
"Ehm, I've been feeling fine. Although my back has really been hurting these past few weeks and walking is becoming a bit difficult."
The doctor scribbled something down again and then looked up with a comforting smile. "That's expected so you don't have to worry about that, maybe you can convince Daniel to massage your back every once on a while."
Regina chuckled as she softly stroked her stomach. "I'll try, doctor."
"Good. Then let's have a look shall we."
Regina a nodded as she slowly laid on her back and pulled her shirt up to under her breasts. Henry's eyes looked with wonder at his mother's stomach as he reached for her hand and squeezed it softly. It caused a smile to spread over Regina's mouth as she laid her other hand behind her head and relaxed.
Dr. Cross snapped the gloves on her hands and grabbed the ultrasound. She squirted some gel on Regina's bare stomach and smiled warmly when she saw the slight shiver going through the woman's body.
"Ready to see your little girl again?" The red haired doctor asked as she placed the ultrasound on the tanned skin. Regina could only nod as her and Henry's eyes were glued to the small screen. The moment Regina could make out the shape of her baby, tears filled her eyes.
"Hello there little Aiden." She whispered as she slowly stroked the side of her belly, keeping clear of the translucent gel.
Henry was grinning from ear to ear as he saw his sister move not he screen. "Look mom, she's doing a summersault." He chuckled as he pointed at the screen and then looked down at his mother's stomach. "It actually seems like fun in there."
Regina laughed as she moved her head and looked at her son and then back to the screen again. Neither mother nor son noticed the smile that was palstered on Lucy Cross' face.
Once Regina had been handed a sonogram and Dr. Cross had wiped her stomach clean, the red haired woman scribbled something down on Regina's chart. "So, both you and the baby seem completely healthy. But I'd liked to see you again next week because she could come any day now."
Regina nodded as she stood up and collected her coat from the chair Henry had been sitting on. "Of course."
"You can make an appointment at the desk, and then I guess I'll see you next week."
"Yes, thank you so much." Regina smiled and both mother and son made their way out of the office.
...
"And how was your appointment, darling?" Cora asked as she lifted the teacup to her mouth and took a sip of the hot liquid. Both women were sitting in the living room, drinking tea. Henry had asked if he could meet Hansel at the park the moment they got home.
"Good, she's healthy and I'm healthy. Dr. Cross said she could come any day now." Regina answered as she bit her lip. It was a tell tale sign that she wasn't telling something and Cora caught it immediately.
"Is there something you're not telling me, Regina?" Cora asked softly . She put her own cup of tea down on the table and then reached for Regina's once Cora saw her daughter struggling with bending over. Regina smiled a small thanks as she sat back and softly stroked her stomach.
"No."
Cora sighed because both she and Regina knew there was something the younger brunette wasn't telling. "Regina, you know you can tell me darling."
A long silence fell as Regina continued biting her bottom lip and Cora patiently waited for her daughter to be ready to open up.
"I'm just- nervous., I guess." Regina finally muttered.
"You guess?"
Regina controlled the urge to roll her eyes. "Alright, I am nervous."
"For what? For the birth." Cora carefully asked.
"Yes." Regina breathed out, speaking louder this time. "I am nervous for the birth. I've never done this before and neither has Daniel and I just don't know what to expect."
"But darling." Cora smiled as she softly patter her daughter's knee. "That's why I'm here for. You can ask me absolutely anything you want. And I'll even be there for the birth." Cora stopped briefly before continuing in an uncertain voice. "If you'd want me to."
Regina smiled as she locked eyes with her mother. "I would like that, thank you mother."
"Always, sweetheart." Cora smiled back as she picked up her cup again and blew in it.
There fell a comfortable silence until it was finally broken by Regina's uncertain voice. "Mother?" She began slowly, only continuing once her Cora's eyes looked at her. "Do you think- do you think I can do this? Giving birth to a baby and then raising it. I mean, I knew I've done it before with Henry, but back then no one knew who I was and what I've done. What if they'll come after her?" Regina voice grew smaller and smaller.
"Regina." Cora started with a certain voice. "I know you can do this. You can give birth to this baby and you can raise her. And even when some people have not forgiven you, you have me, Daniel, Henry, Emma and even the Charmings to protect her."
Regina breathed out as she wiped the small tear droplet off her lower lash line. "You're right. I'm exaggerating."
"No you're not exagherating darling. You have every reason to be scared, just remember that you have this wonderful family to help you and protect the both of you."
...
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