I admit, I am madly in love with this family. I didn't think that you all would mind the length, especially with all the Charlie cuteness and, of course, the perfection that is SwanQueen ;)
If this chapter leaves you wanting more, I can safely say that I have at least one final chapter in the works. But I will soon be bringing this story to a close.
Regina stops in her tracks when she spots a foreboding sign attached to the abandon boat dock. "What?" she exclaims.
The message reads that the Swan Boat season had ended a few weeks prior and it would resume the following April. Well, Regina thinks, maybe they could make a special trip for Charlie's birthday.
Puzzled by her mother's reaction, Charlie inquires, "Can I ride the swan now?"
How could she have been so careless? She should have checked the boat schedule before promising her eager baby a ride. Without any idea about how to remedy the situation, Regina bends down to her daughter's level to relay the terrible news.
"It doesn't look like they're doing the Swan Boat rides anymore, because it's too cold." she regretfully informs.
Regina watches her baby's features contort and at that same moment feels all the air drained from her own lungs.
The upset child whines, "You said I could ride the swan."
The devastated child uses her hands to cover her face which is now beet red and streaked with tears.
Regina's eyes begin to sting at the realization that she had broken her little girl's heart and immediately the adoring mother scoops her despairing girl into her arms in an effort to appease her.
"Alight, sweetheart, I know."
At that moment, she imagines, that she is the worst mother in the world for setting her daughter up for what turned out to be a huge let-down. "I shouldn't have told you that you could ride a swan without checking first." She tries to sound reassuring. "I didn't mean to disappoint you, sweetie."
She kisses her baby again, registering that her little cheek is disturbingly cold. This was a particularly chilly October day, due to the fact that the cloud coverage was significant.
"Oh, baby, are you freezing?"
Charlie had been too preoccupied with the idea of a captivating swan ride to be aware of any discomfort.
When Charlie only proceeds to cry, Regina decides, "We need to get you warm."
She quickly claims a nearby bench, opens her coat and wraps it around her frozen child, hugging the little girl close to her body. When she notices her shivering daughter quiet considerably, the panicked mother breathes a much-needed sigh of relief.
Regina is beyond content, holding her baby in her arms, even though she is unexpectedly chilled by icicle fingers. She kisses the top of her cherub's head before resting her chin there and proceeds to rock her treasured child.
"I'm so sorry, baby. I didn't know." She truly feels terrible for being the cause of her little one's tears. "You are my good, sweet girl. I'm sorry I couldn't get you a ride on a swan today."
Charlie rubs her eyes and sits up in her mother's arms. Though her hair is now matted and stuck to her face, which is slightly puffy, the little girl is still the most beautiful sight her mother's eyes have ever beheld.
"Hi, baby." Regina smiles and sniffs back tears. "Are you feeling better?"
When her little one answers with a shy nod, Regina fishes a clean tissue out of her purse. As she attempts to clean the accumulation of snot from under her child's nose, Regina validates, "My poor baby."
She makes a suggestion that she imagines will be well received. "I think you deserve a special treat since we can't ride the swans. And I believe I know where we can get some hot-chocolate and doughnuts."
To her mother's delight, Charlie instantly perks up.
Regina encourages, "Would you like that?"
Charlie nods enthusiastically.
"Alright, baby." she kisses her angel again, before lifting the child off her lap and re-buttoning her coat. Grasping a tiny hand, Regina guides her daughter in the direction of a local business that they had passed earlier that advertised coffee, tea and hot-chocolate. Plus, she distinctly remembers seeing another sign in the window that marketed doughnuts. One way or another, the queen vows, she is going to find her baby a doughnut. As they walk, she introduces a prospect that will un-doubtfully instill joy in her child. "I promise, we're going to have a lot more fun after Mommy's done with her appointment."
"When can Mommy play with us?" Charlie questions.
"She should be able to play with us very soon," Regina replies, before a brilliant idea strikes her. "How would you like to surprise Mommy?"
Regina watches her baby's expression transform to reflect the joy in her heart.
"Does that sound good?"
Charlie nods with even more fervor at the proposal, as Regina illustrates the plan.
"We'll meet her at her doctor's office and then we can all go to the aquarium together." "Do you still want to go?" she prompts.
The little girl hesitates. She has a more immediate need on her radar. "Can I have chocolate too?"
"Oh, my sweet girl, of course you can have chocolate too," Regina assures, petting her daughter's cheek. "We'll get chocolate first," she clarifies, "and then we can surprise your mother." "How does that sound?"
"Yes!" the tiny girl cheers.
If it's possible, Regina's smile is even more brilliant than her child's as she steadies her bouncing girl.
"Okay, baby," she giggles. "Let's go find some chocolate."
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"Sometimes I feel like I'm suffocating and then Regina touches me and I can breathe again. When she looks at me, I feel whole." She voices an anxiety that she has been trying to ignore. "I'm so afraid that I'm going to lose her."
"Have you spoken with her about this fear?"
Apparently, Wendy is in favor of a more direct approach.
"Yes extensively," Emma answers. "But I hate seeing that hurt look on her face when I tell her that I'm afraid." Since their reunion, Regina has been nothing but reassuring and accepting. Despite their difficulties in the past, Emma has to admit, "She's given me no reason to doubt her. And I never feel that she resents me."
"Why would she resent you?"
She really needs to repair her mental filter, Emma thinks. She resigns to the fact that Wendy's question is her own fault and she is determined to answer fearlessly and without reservation.
"When I wake up in the middle of the night, she wakes up too and stays awake with me. And when I cry, she's always there to console me. When it comes to sex, she is beyond patient and she would do anything, and has done a lot already, to help me feel comfortable." She thinks back to the handful of times that sex was not even an option because of her emotional state. And because of Regina's understanding, she was able to accept her own limitations. "We don't even have to do anything. She says she's just happy to be near me." She thinks back to the first night they spent together after all those years apart. "I never could have imagined that I would, one day, matter this much to another person."
"Regina sounds very special."
"She is." Emma smiles, but it's clear that she is on the verge of another breakdown. "I just want to be better for my family," she articulates. "They shouldn't feel responsible for me, not Regina and especially not my three-year-old."
"It's not uncommon for children growing up in homes where they witness domestic violence."
Overcome by guilt Emma avoids eye contact.
"Did she ever see him hit you?"
The younger woman squeezes her eyes shut in a futile effort to make the terrible truth disappear. Her chin begins to quiver. "I didn't mean for her to."
In her grief, the younger woman hears the reassuring voice of her trusted therapist.
"Emma, what this man did is not your fault."
"I just want to be better," Emma reiterates. "I'm the mother. My toddler should never have to worry about taking care of me." She knows that it's nonsensical for her to expect so much from herself right now. But she still can't shake the guilt for not being strong enough for her child. "I'm just grateful that she, at least, has one stable parent."
The end of their session rapidly approaching, Wendy recognizes that it's time to guide the young woman back. She goes on to explain what Emma already knows to be true. "Before you can expect yourself to be the kind of mother you want to be, you need to help you first. Until you've healed, it's unrealistic to have such high expectations of yourself."
"Regina always tells me that I'm too hard on myself."
"She sees what I see," Wendy reveals, shocking the other woman slightly. "You could have given up years ago, Emma. But, you didn't. You said yourself that you made the decision each day to live. And you continue to choose each day to fight the depression, guilt and fear that would consume you if you let them."
Emma only stares at Wendy in awe. She still cannot comprehend that what she's saying is about her.
The therapist continues, "From what you've told me, you are taking the right steps to get your life back: you're not living in an abusive environment anymore, you are divorcing your abuser, you've reunited your child with her mother, who loves her, you've reunited with your son and your parents, you are providing a steady home environment for your daughter, a home without violence, and you are taking the necessary steps to help yourself. It's important to your recovery that you recognize these things."
Emma's whole expression transforms from one of disbelief to one of desperation. She wants, more than anything, to believe what Wendy is saying.
"Are you a list maker?"
Her inquiry is unexpected and mildly confusing.
"I like making lists. In my personal experience I've found that it helps," Wendy explains. "In order to overcome these self-defeating thoughts I'd like you to try making a list of daily affirmations, of the good things in your life and the things you've done to improve yourself."
Stunned beyond the capacity for rational thought, Emma responds mechanically, "I could try that."
The older woman goes on to surprise her when she tears a sheet from her legal pad and hands it to her. "I've already started the list for you."
"Wow," is the only response that she can manage.
"That's all you, Emma," Wendy points out. "I didn't make any of that up," she explains as she watches the younger woman scan the document. "Feel free to add to it," she invites. "You are so much stronger than you realize. And the fact that you are where you are today is a testament to that." She only hopes that her words are taken to heart.
At that, Emma meets the older woman's eyes. She wants to believe in Wendy's words, but so many years of being beat down have reinforced her negative feelings about herself. Unable to formulate an argument, she accepts the affirmations spoken by the mental-health professional.
"Thank you."
"Where did you say your family lived?"
"Regina and I drove down with Charlie, from our home in Maine this morning." She adds, "It's about a two hour drive, depending on traffic. "
"Will you be returning home this afternoon?"
"We'll head out later this evening. But we wanted to pack as much fun as we could into this trip, before we leave." Feeling the need to justify their decision, Emma elaborates, "I know that we could've left Charlie with her with her grandparents, but Regina and I don't feel comfortable being separated from our daughter for any length of time. And since this will become part of our routine, we want to make it as enjoyable as possible for baby-girl."
Wendy voices her observation. "She sounds like a very lucky little girl."
Emma offers a shy smile in appreciation. She still isn't accustomed to such sincere approval.
"We'll take one burden, one fear at a time and you will get better." Wendy emphasizes, "You will, Emma." "When would you like to meet again?"
"What do you suggest?"
"Since we are just beginning this journey, and if you don't mind the drive, I think it would be best to meet once a week."
"Okay." Emma concedes, "That sounds good."
Offering the younger woman her business card, Wendy informs, "You can always reach me at this number if you need to talk in between sessions. Also, feel free to e-mail me."
"Thank you."
"I'll walk you out."
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Emma only manages to set one foot outside the elevator door before a tiny figure charges in her direction.
"Mommy!" Charlie cries, barreling toward the blonde woman.
With arms outstretched, Emma matches her daughter's enthusiasm. "Charlie!" She lets out premeditated grunt at the contact before lifting the excited little girl into her arms and spinning her around. She was so caught up in the shared moment with her squealing daughter that she barely registered Regina quietly approaching them.
The brunette woman places a delicate hand on her beloved's shoulder, gently alerting the younger woman to her proximity. "I know you said you'd meet us, but Charlie and I wanted to surprise you," she divulges.
"I'm so glad you did," Emma reciprocates, kissing her baby and then Regina.
"I missed you," the older woman admits, securing an arm around the younger woman's waist and melting into Emma side. "I know it was only an hour, but it felt like an eternity."
Emma's facade is instantly wounded, as she turns toward the older woman. "Regina…"
Averting her eyes, Regina acknowledges, "I know it won't always be this hard." She does her best to re-gain poise. "This was only the first session."
Emma sees beyond her queen's tough exterior and kisses the coy brunette again.
Blushing slightly, Regina asks, "How did it go?" "You look like you're feeling better," she surveys.
"I am," Emma confirms, now using both hands to support Charlie's weight. "But I feel a little raw. That took a lot out of me."
Noticing her fiancée's fatigue, Regina suggests, "Here, honey, have a seat." She directs them toward an un-occupied bench in the near-deserted lobby before continuing, "So, what happened?"
Emma rests her baby on her lap before continuing. "She seems pretty confident that she can help me. And I think she can too."
Too excited to sit still, Charlie squirms out of her mother's grasp.
Seeing no need to reprimand her daughter, the blonde woman adds, "I have a good feeling."
Though both mothers are focused on keeping watch over their animated daughter, Regina's heart clings to Emma.
"We'll have to thank Archie for recommending her."
"Mommy let's go!" Charlie insists, griping her blonde mother's hand, as she struggles to pull Emma to a standing position.
Regina's initial reaction is to correct her daughter for being too aggressive, but Emma is already trying to subdue the child.
"What's the hurry, kiddo? I want to hear about what you and Mommy did while I was talking to the doctor." She easily frees her hand, pulling the little girl closer.
Regina smiles in amusement before beginning. "Emma, it was a disaster," she confesses, covering her eyes with her hand.
The blonde woman is immediately concerned. "Why? What happened?"
"The Swan Boats don't run after mid-September."
"Really?" The shock in Emma's voice is unmistakable. "I never noticed. I mean, I never rode on one the entire time I lived in Boston." She begins rubbing soft circles on the little girl's back and her tone is solemn. "Was she upset?"
Before Regina even has a chance to respond, Emma perceives the answer just by the older woman's fretful gaze.
"Yes, very," Regina laments.
Emma expresses remorse, hugging her baby close to her body. "Aw, I'm sorry kiddo."
"Well, we still toured the public gardens," Regina informs. "And I got pictures of Charlie with the ducklings."
"Oh, yeah, Make Way for Ducklings."
Emma remembers passing the statues almost daily when she lived there, years ago. The bright-eyed woman turns her attention toward her quiet daughter.
"Did you like the ducklings?"
"Tell Mommy which one was your favorite," Regina encourages.
Charlie ponders for a moment. "I like the mommy."
"You like the mommy?" Emma asks, in hopes that her daughter will elaborate.
"Yeah," Charlie chirps. "She's leading her babies."
Growing increasingly animated, Emma asks, "Did you get pictures with the babies too?"
"I got a ton of pictures," Regina verifies, with added gusto, as she hands Emma her phone.
As usual, Charlie does not want to be left out of the action and reaches for the device. "I want to see."
"We can look at the pictures together, Charlie. But I'm going to hold your mom's phone," Emma corrects, encouraging her daughter to come closer.
She had only just begun flipping through the album when she stops. "Oh, I love this one of you two together," Emma squeals.
Not accustomed to hearing such a sound come out of her charming fiancée, Regina earnestly inquires, "Which one is that?"
Emma tilts the screen, revealing a close-up of Regina and Charlie's smiling faces, huddled together. From what Emma can tell, Charlie is sitting on her mother's lap and the two had evidently shared hysterical laughter.
The blonde woman is positively radiant, as she says, "I want to get this one framed."
Regina is completely flattered by her fiancée's approval of the impromptu photo.
"Who knew that I would be any good at taking selfies?" she wonders aloud.
With wistful eyes, Emma looks toward the older woman. "I knew," she entices.
Regina satisfies her amorous fiancée with peck on the lips before returning her attention to the album.
"These are great, Regina. I love them," Emma announces as she continues to swipe through the images. "I'm so glad you had fun." She runs her fingers up her unsuspecting baby's side, eliciting shrieks of laughter.
Regina doesn't know why, but her eyes begin to fill with tears at the simple shared moment with her favorite people. She is quick to wipe away her tears before Emma turns to address her.
"Did you guys freeze?" asks the younger woman.
"Yes," Regina answers, doing her best to keep her voice even. "I honestly didn't anticipate that it would be this cold today. Charlie and I needed to get some hot-chocolate in order to properly thaw. Didn't we, Charlie?"
But Charlie remains too distracted to answer and Regina soon discovers that she had said the magic word.
"Oooo, hot-chocolate." The younger woman detects herself beginning to salivate at the thought of the tempting beverage.
Though she didn't believe it possible, Regina feels herself falling more in love with her adorable fiancée. "Do I need to get you some hot-chocolate too?"
"Yes, please." Emma grins.
With a chaste kiss, Regina announces, "You can have anything you want." She adds, "I told Charlie that we could go to the aquarium next, after I made sure that they were open. I'm not trying to win the award for Worst Mother in the World today."
"There is no way you would ever be the worst mother in the world."
"Well, I felt like it today."
Emma detects that the Swan Boat fiasco had left her fiancée entirely down-hearted. Fortunately, she knows how to pull Regina out of her slump and turns her attention back to her restless child.
"Hey, kid." She gets her little girl's attention. "Did you have a good time with Mommy today?"
Both mothers watch a shy smile claim their daughter's expression. "Mm-hmm."
Emma asks the next question with added interest. "Is she a good mommy?"
Charlie begins to dance in place. "Mm-hmm."
The younger woman seals the deal with her next question. "How much does your mom love you?"
This entire time, Regina had been trying her best to hold her tears at baby. But there is no denying how much Emma's efforts moved her.
"This much!" Charlie illustrates, holding her arms as far out to the sides as her tiny body will allow.
"Whoa! That's a lot," Emma comments, matching Charlie's fervor.
Regina rises from her seated position, takes Charlie's little face in her hands and kisses her. "I love you that much and more."
Mother and daughter share a much needed hug, as the brunette woman continues to shower her daughter with affection.
Emma discreetly wipes the tears threatening her vision and rises to a standing position.
"Are you ready to meet an octopus?"
Charlie doesn't even have to ponder the question before responding. "Yes!"
Emma takes hold of her daughter's hand, giving Regina a chance to recover.
"Mommy," Charlie requests, extending her free hand toward her brunette mother.
"I'm right here, honey," says Regina, accepting her daughter's offered hand.
As they begin walking, Regina prompts her eager three-year-old, "What kinds of fish do you think they'll have at the aquarium?"
"A whale," Charlie answers, matter-of-factly as she continues to skip.
"A whale?" both mothers exclaim.
"I don't know about a whale. But they probably have sharks." Emma suggests.
"Do you like sharks?" asks Regina.
"This kid loves sharks," Emma enlightens. "I don't know where she gets the fascination."
Regina beams at her giddy baby. "I like sharks too."
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In the darkness, Regina tilts her head in order to peer into the back seat. "She's so worn out."
Charlie had been asleep for the last ten minutes as they neared the end of their commute back to Storybrooke.
"That's good," Emma remarks. "Maybe she'll stay asleep."
Despite being tired, the young woman never once felt her positive mood waver during the entire drive home, with her beloved's hand resting in hers. Despite everything she had gone through to get here, she is beyond content with the way her life had turned out.
Emma parks the car in the drive at 108 Mifflin. She is beyond grateful to call this place home as she opens the door to lift her sleeping baby out of the car seat.
Remembering Emma's fatigue, Regina asks, "Do you need me to get her?"
"I can get her," Emma assures, lifting the unconscious girl in her arms.
After Emma carries her daughter upstairs and carefully places her in her bed Regina takes over tenderly removing her daughter's shoes, socks and the remainder of her clothes while Emma readies a small pale-pink nightgown. After their child is comfortably tucked in, both women retire to their shared bedroom.
"I can't believe she didn't wake up," Regina comments from her seated position in front of the vanity. She begins the process of undressing, starting with her earrings, followed by the rest of her jewelry, before removing her knee-high boots, to her great relief. "She must really be exhausted."
As Emma drags her heavy body toward the bed, she removes her sweater and drops it on the floor, deciding that aiming for the laundry basket requires more effort than she's capable. "Yeah. I'd give anything to sleep that soundly." As soon as she feels the backs of her legs against the frame, she hits the mattress with a thud.
Regina smiles in amusement, understanding what prompted the younger woman to make such a statement. She knows that her fiancée has had an ongoing battle with sleep. After stepping out of her sheath dress, she approaches the younger woman and sits on the bed beside her.
"How are you feeling?" she asks gently. Her heart is so full of authentic concern that she doesn't even register the abandon sweater next to her feet. Since Emma and Charlie moved in her life has turned into, in her mind, oddly balanced chaos; something the queen never imagined she would get used to.
The younger woman opens heavy lids. "Pretty drained," she answers. "Our kid has more energy than I know what to do with sometimes."
"Yes." Regina concurs. "Your children do."
"Oh, I see." Emma flirts, pulling her sexy fiancée closer, so that Regina has to straddle her body. "My children, huh? Was my son the same way?"
"Mm-hmm." The enamored brunette places a feathery kiss upon waiting lips. "But I wouldn't have wanted him to be any other way."
That smile. That's the smile that has the power to clear away all the wreckage of Emma's past and eliminate any insecurity within her.
"This is my favorite."
She didn't expect to say that out loud. However, it turns out to be a happy mistake.
"What's your favorite?" Regina asks eagerly.
Emma looks up with sparkling blue eyes and voices the contents of her heart. "I get to come home to you."
Regina kisses the younger woman again, deeper this time. "You are home." She emphasizes, "This is your home."
"You're my home," Emma proclaims.
Regina's eyes begin to fill with tears of gratitude. "Do you think you'll be able to sleep tonight?"
"I don't know," Emma wholeheartedly expresses. "My mind is going a mile a minute."
"Honey, I'm sorry." Regina places a calming hand on the younger woman's cheek.
"The first session just brought up a lot of things, I guess."
"I'm sure it did." She continues to gaze at the younger woman in adoration as she lovingly pets her hair, something she knows always lulls Emma. "Is there anything I can do? Do you want to talk about it?"
"Actually," the younger woman begins timidly. "On the drive back, I was thinking about taking a bath."
Regina smiles in relief. At least Emma can still find enjoyment in simple pleasures.
The younger woman continues, "And since Charlie's already asleep, would you be interested in joining me?"
Raising a single eyebrow, Regina announces, "I'll start running the water."
Several minutes later, both women are comfortably submerged and Emma has claimed her favorite position, in between Regina's parted legs. She relishes the feeling of the older woman's skin against her back as she announces from her cozy spot, "Okay, this is my favorite."
"It's my favorite too," Regina whispers and places a delicate kiss on Emma's temple.
"What's your favorite part?" Emma playfully asks.
"Do I have to pick only one thing?"
"No." The younger woman muses for a moment. "You can have a list."
"Well in that case," Regina's sultry voice begins, "my favorite things about taking a bath with you are: holding you in my arms…"
"That's good," Emma purrs, placing a kiss of approval on Regina's forearm.
For the next answer, Regina methodically positions her lips against the younger woman's ear, sending a shiver up Emma's spine as she whispers, "You're naked."
"That's even better," the suddenly aroused blonde woman groans.
An amused Regina concludes, "You're wet."
Without missing a beat, the young woman prompts, "How can you tell?"
Emma couldn't resist turning such an innocent observation into a dirty joke.
Realizing that she set herself up for that one, especially with her fiancée's naughty mind, Regina giggles in enchantment and hugs the younger woman tighter. "I am so in love with you Emma Swan."
"I love you too," Emma reciprocates, turning her head to meet the older woman's lips.
"I still can't believe that this is my life now," Regina reveals, as the blonde woman nuzzles against her body. "We're a family."
That last part strikes a sense of guilt in the younger woman and Regina takes note.
"Honey, what's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong," Emma guarantees. "I just…" She wavers. "There's something I need to tell you."
Regina encourages, "What do you want to tell me? Do I have to guess?"
Emma hides her lips from view, trying to summon the courage to say what she reveals next.
"I'm pregnant."
Upon hearing the news, Regina has to blink in order to clear her vision, letting a few tears escape. Her voice trembles as she asks, "When did you find out?"
"I took a home pregnancy test this morning, before we left the house," Emma admits. She knows she shouldn't have kept this hidden from Regina and she starts to cry.
The older woman begins to piece together what she remembers from that morning. "That's why you were in the bathroom for such a long time. I was worried you might be sick."
Now Emma feels even worse. Not only did she keep this a secret, she made Regina worry. "I wanted to tell you as soon as I read the results, but we were rushing to get out of the house this morning and you were you were trying to get Charlie ready…"
"That's why you were so quiet tonight."
"I was worried that I might let it slip before we got home," Emma explains. The blonde woman can swear that she feels her immersed palms begin to sweat. "While we were walking around, the whole time, I couldn't stop imagining how I was going to tell you."
Regina only continues to astonish the younger woman with her patience and understanding, of which Emma has determined that she is undeserving.
"I thought you seemed distracted."
"I'm sorry, Regina," she laments.
Regina secures the crying woman in a forgiving embrace. "You were thinking about our baby. You never need to apologize for that."
Beginning to tremble, Emma looks up with red-rimmed eyes and blubbers through her next confession. "But what if it's not our baby?"
Regina is suddenly struck dumb, understanding that this is a legitimate concern for the younger woman, since they had only been together for the first time in four years less than three weeks ago. She had been so totally overjoyed upon hearing the news that her fiancée is with child that such a prospect had not even entered her mind. She tries to talk, but chokes before she can utter the first syllable. Attempting to remain poised, she clears her throat before speaking and asks the one question that she doesn't know if she's ready to her the answer to. "Do you think that's possible?"
"I wish it wasn't," the young woman wails and hides her face in shame.
Without a single thought, Regina surrounds her devastated princess with calming arms.
"Shhhh," she soothes, kissing the top of girl's head, as she attempts to keep her own emotions at bay.
"I'm sorry," the younger woman cries.
Regina breaks the hug and cradles Emma's cheek in a display of sincerity. "There is no reason to apologize. You didn't cheat on me. You didn't."
The younger woman timidly nods her comprehension.
No longer able to conceal her inner turmoil, Regina's chin begins to quiver. She adds, "You were trapped. You didn't have a choice."
Emma inhales a shuddered breath. She knows that Regina speaks the truth.
"You're okay now," the queen reminds, pulling her girl closer and wrapping her arms around her protectively. "You're safe with me. And you always have a choice."
"I want this baby to be yours," Emma admits from her nestled position.
The queen lets Emma's vulnerable comment affect her before responding sincerely. "I don't need DNA to know that you're carrying my child."
When she feels the younger woman's body shiver, the graceful queen understands the impact of her comment.
She continues, "You were pregnant with one of my children before we even met. You were carrying my child then and you are carrying my child now."
It becomes clear that her words were powerful enough to vanquish the fear that had been holding Emma captive all evening.
Dipping her hand, un-detected, beneath the surface and resting her palm on the younger woman's lower abdomen, just shy of her pelvis, Regina proclaims, "This is my baby." She clarifies, "Mine and yours."
The younger woman smiles to herself and she covers Regina's hand in silent agreement.
Regina continues the heartfelt proclamation. "I swear to you that I will love this baby and I will do everything within my power to assure that he or she has the greatest life."
The queen surrenders to the tears conquering her vision. In her wildest dreams she never could have imagined how in love she would be with her children and the fact that she and the woman she loves are adding to their family fills her heart with more happiness than, she imagines, one person could possibly feel in their entire lifetime.
The sincerity of Regina's comment sends the younger woman into another fit of crying. Only this time, the tears are ones of joy. She is restored with new hope and meets her queen's waiting lips. "I love you, Regina," she announces.
The queen smiles to herself, welcoming the sweet kisses from Emma Swan. "I love you too."
"How are you so amazing?" Emma sincerely asks.
While gazing into her favorite blue eyes, Regina has no doubt how to answer this question and confidently responds, "This incredible woman is in love with me. And she has given me the greatest gift. She made me a mother."
The two women lock lips again.
Regina asks hopefully, "Are you okay?"
"I'm more than okay," Emma vocalizes. "We're having a baby." Her happiness is undeniable.
"We're having a baby," Regina repeats, genuinely reflecting the younger woman's smile.
The blonde woman is entirely spent, having worn herself out with the most recent conversation. She rests back in what will always be the most comfortable spot in the entire world, safe in the arms of her queen.
Releasing a contented sigh, Emma whispers dreamily, "I just kept hoping that this baby was yours, because I wanted to tell you in the most romantic way possible."
"There is nothing more romantic that you could do than tell me that you're carrying my child."
Though she already knows the answer, Emma feels the need to ask in order to ease her insecurity, "Are you happy?"
Regina hugs the younger woman tighter before speaking. "Just when I thought I couldn't be any happier, you make me a mother again." She seals her proclamation with soft kiss.
The younger woman's eyes flutter closed at the contact as she murmurs, "Regina…"
"This will always be my favorite," the queen concludes.