More Than She Wanted

The Dragon's Sick Day:

The snow falls heavily outside the town hall. Regina is deeply engaged with her paperwork and doesn't notice the darkening of the sky. She's entirely focused on her work, and is happy to see a note from Emma, informing her that Nottingham finally has been arrested after months of hide and seek. Now he won't be bothering the citizens of Storybrooke anymore, and Regina is delighted. For a while he really made the young girls living in Storybrooke scared to walk alone at night.

Regina is just about to take a closer look at the town budget when her assistant, Sarah, knocks on the door and pops her head in.

,,Yes, Sarah?"

,,I'm sorry to bother you Madam Mayor, but your wife is here," the young redhead says.

,,My wife? Now?" Regina questions and frowns as she glances at her watch. Why on earth would Mal come to her office at this hour? It's barely midday.

,,Yes, Madam Mayor."

,,Well, alright then. Let her in."

Sarah leaves and returns shortly after with Maleficent. Then, the young redhead leaves the office and quietly shuts the door behind her.

Regina looks at Mal. The dragon doesn't really look her usual, cocky self. She looks a bit pale to be honest, and her eyes are slightly glassy.

,,Is everything alright?" Regina asks and tilts her head at her wife.

,,Not really," Mal admits. ,,I suddenly felt strange and wanted to see you."

Regina stands from her chair and curses her back when it protests at the sudden movement. She walks over to Maleficent and puts a hand on her forehead. Maleficent leans into the touch, but Regina frowns.

,,No wonder you felt strange. You're burning up."

,,What does that mean?" Mal asks and wobbles slightly.

,,You have a fever."

,,Ah. Maybe that's why I feel dizzy." The dragon says and Regina quickly grabs her arm to prevent her from stumbling.

,,Alright, let's get you home. Why did you even come here in the first place? You should have gone straight to bed instead."

,,I wanted to see you," Maleficent repeats, and Regina sighs and shakes her head.

,,You are one stupid dragon."

,,I know."

Regina quickly explains the situation to Sarah, and tells her that she will leave the office early to take care of her sick wife. Sarah nods understandingly and sends them off with her kind words.

It's quite an achievement to get the barely conscious Maleficent into the Mercedes when you're seven months pregnant, but Regina somehow succeeds and Maleficent mumbles incoherent nonsense all the way home to the mansion.

Getting Mal out of the car isn't an easy task either. The dragon tries her best to cooperate, but her legs are completely like jelly, and they wobble with each step. Regina ignores the protests from her lower back as she helps Maleficent up the steps to her porch.

,,Careful. There's another step."

Maleficent mutters something Regina can't quite understand.

,,Come on. Just one more step. Easy, easy. You can do it."

Maleficent clings to Regina's arm as they reach the front door. Regina doesn't lose her death grip on Maleficent's arm, she simply reaches behind her and opens the front door.

Maleficent trips on the doorstep, and Regina quickly grabs her around the waist to prevent her from falling.

,,Wow. Careful."

Regina carefully escorts her delirious wife into the kitchen. Maleficent leans over the kitchen table while Regina considers the next step. Getting Mal upstairs and into the bedroom seems like an impossible task, and of course her magic chose this day of all days to be unstable. Regina vaguely suspects that the babies perhaps are feeding off her magic or something like that. Either way, she has to drag a barely conscious Maleficent up the stairs. It wouldn't have been a problem if she wasn't seven months pregnant, but right now it seems like an almost impossible task.

Regina's train of thoughts is interrupted when Henry pops into the kitchen.

,,Hi mom. What's going on, why are you home so early?"

,,Maleficent arrived at the Town Hall and told me that she wasn't feeling well."

,,Oh. Why didn't she just go to bed?"

,,Good question," Regina says, and Maleficent mumbles "I wanted to see you".

,,Why are you home so early?" Regina questions her son.

Henry shrugs. ,,The school closed early because of the weather."

,,Ah. It does look like we're in for a bit of a storm."

Mal chooses this moment to wobble on her feet and Regina instantly grabs her and supports her.

,,Wow. She doesn't look too good," Henry observes.

,,No. She's running a high fever," Regina pants and wobbles herself. Maleficent feels like a complete deadweight.

,,We should probably get her upstairs," Henry says with a frown.

,,Yes. I was on my way, I just needed a.." Regina sucks in a breath. ,,Break."

,,I'll help you," Henry says and grabs Mal's other arm and drapes it over his shoulder. ,,You shouldn't be doing it alone when you're this pregnant."

,,My hero," Regina says and sends her son a grateful smile.

It's difficult, but mother and son somehow succeeds in hauling Maleficent up the stairs and into the bedroom. And they even manage to place Maleficent in a somewhat normal sleeping position on the bed.

Regina leans back against the wall and wipes her brow. She winces as she receives a particular hard kick to the kidneys.

,,Are you alright, mom?" Henry asks and frowns again.

,,Yes, I'm fine," Regina assures. ,,The babies are just kicking."

The brunette wipes her brow again and gives her half-asleep dragon a look. She's still wearing her booths, and if there's one thing Regina can't stand, it's shoes in bed. Regina pulls her booths off, and decides that it can't be very comfortable for Mal to sleep in her clothes. The brunette removes her wife's hat and unbuttons her coat.

Maleficent stirs in her sleep, her fever is definitely getting worse.

Regina ignores the strain in her back and slides her wife's coat of her shoulders.

,,Mmpf," Maleficent mumbles and gives Regina a sleepy, sickly look. ,,I don't think you ever undressed me like this before, my darling."

Regina blushes a little at that statement, but holds it together. ,,Just ignore her, Henry. She's delirious."

Henry chuckles a little. ,,It's alright. I'll pop downstairs and make you a cup of tea while you…" he doesn't finish the sentence, simply gestures towards the coat and booths.

,,A cup of tea would be lovely," Regina smiles and nods.

Henry leaves the bedroom and quietly shuts the door behind him.

Regina quickly unbuttons the dragon's shirt and slides her jeans off. Mal blinks a little and looks at Regina with her glassy, blue eyes.

,,Are you gonna take advantage of me?"

Regina sighs dramatically and pulls a pajamas out of the closet. ,,No stupid. I'm not gonna take advantage of you, I'm gonna dress you in something more comfortable."

,,Oh," Maleficent mumbles. ,,I wouldn't mind if you did. Take advantage of me, I mean."

,,Boy, aren't you on fire when you're sick," Regina mutters under her breath and hastily removes Maleficent's shirt.

Maleficent isn't doing much to help, and Regina feels how she breaks out in sweat as she redresses Mal in a warm pajamas.

,,I'm cold," the dragon whines, and Regina has to bite her lip not to snigger. A dragon complaining about being cold.

The brunette quickly tucks her shaking wife in and wraps the covers tightly around her body.

,,Is that better?" she questions.

,,Mhmm," Mal mumbles.

,,Good. Try and get some sleep, alright?"

,,I can't sleep when you're not here, you know that." Maleficent protests and scrabbles to grab Regina's wrist.

Regina shakes her head. ,,I don't think it would be a very good idea for me to lie next to you right now, even though I want to."

,,Right." Maleficent mutters. ,,I don't want you to get sick too. It's not good when you're pregnant."

,,Exactly," Regina says and frees herself from Mal's grasp. ,,I'll be right downstairs if you need me, alright?"

,,Wait," Maleficent insists. ,,Can I at least feel the babies before you leave?"

,,Of course," Regina says gently and guides Mal's hand to her stomach. She picked a good moment. The babies are still kicking away.

Maleficent smiles despite the fever. ,,I love when they kick."

,,So do I," Regina says. ,,I just wish they wouldn't kick so hard."

Maleficent chuckles hoarsely and coughs. ,,Don't hurt your mother, little ones. I need her in one piece."

Regina sniggers and stands from the bed. ,,Get some rest. I'll be right downstairs, alright?"

,,Alright," Maleficent mutters.

Regina ignores her back pain and bends down to press a chaste kiss to her wife's forehead. She frowns a little when her lips touch the smooth skin. Maleficent feels very warm, and Regina silently decides to phone doctor Whale if the fever don't break soon. God forbid she gets pneumonia or something like that.

,,I love you," Maleficent says spontaneously.

,,I love you too," Regina says with a little smile. She quietly leaves the bedroom and closes the door behind her, waddles down the stairs and into the living room.

She really desperately needs to take her shoes off. And sit down. And maybe even put her feet up for a second. Yes. That would be really, really, nice right now.

,,Great timing," Henry says when he spots his mother shrugging her coat off. ,,The tea is ready."

,,Thank you honey," Regina says grateful and groans quietly when she sits down on the couch. Ahh. That feels absolutely wonderful. She bends down a little and removes her shoes. And then she does something she normally wouldn't do. She rests her feet on the coffee table.

,,No feet on the table," Henry teases as he hands his mother a cup of tea.

,,I'm allowed to," Regina says mock sternly. ,,I'm pregnant. Don't be cheeky, young man."

,,I'm just teasing. How is she?" Henry inquires.

Regina takes a sip of her tea. ,,She's running a high fever. Maybe it's the flue or something."

,,Can dragons even get the flu?" Henry wonders.

,,Maybe it's dragon flu?" Regina suggests, and Henry sniggers.

,,You're not worried about her, are you?"

,,I am a little worried, yes. If her temperature gets any higher, I'm phoning doctor Whale." Regina says firmly and sips her tea.

,,That's a good idea," Henry says and nods.

Mother and sons by a screeching sound, and Regina quickly realizes that it's Maleficent's phone. And after a quick look, she finds out it's Lily who's calling.

,,Maleficent's phone, you've reached the mother of dragons," she quips when she answers the call, and Henry laughs.

,,Does that mean my mother isn't the mother of dragons?" Lily says in the other end of the phone.

,,Of course she is, dear. I'm just the one who's carrying them," Regina jokes.

Lily laughs. ,,Is the other mother of dragons by any chance available?"

,,I'm afraid not, dear. She's sick and currently unable to talk."

,,Oh. What's wrong with her?"

,,She's running a fever and has a cough, so I'm guessing it's the flu," Regina says and takes a large gulp of her tea.

,,Ah. Shit. You should have called me earlier, I could have come and helped you."

,,It's quite alright, dear. I'll manage just fine."

,,You sure? Because I can cancel my plans with Mulan."

,,I don't want you to cancel your plans with your girlfriend, Lily. I'll be fine," Regina insists.

,,Alright. If you're sure.."

,,I am."

,,I'll call later and check up on you, alright?"

,,Alright."

,,Tell her I called. And give my regards to Henry."

,,I will. Goodbye, dear."

,,Bye."

Regina hangs up and puts the phone down on the coffee table.

,,Lily?" Henry questions.

,,Yes. She sends her warmest regards."

,,Did she offer to come over?"

,,Yes, but I don't want her to cancel her plans. I'll be fine. I can handle a sick dragon."

Henry sniggers.

,,What time is Emma picking you up?" Regina asks and leans back while she nurses her cup of tea.

,,In ten minutes or so, if she can even get here in this weather."

,,Oh, I think her yellow deathtrap can handle a bit of snow," Regina quips lightheartedly.

Henry laughs and Regina props her feet up on a pillow. Her ankles are slightly swollen, and apparently, the movement make the babies wake up again.

,,And you can stop that," Regina says mock sternly when she receives a light kick.

,,Are they kicking?" Henry asks.

,,They sure are," Regina sighs. ,,They are on fire today."

Henry chuckles and puts a hand on his mother's stomach to feel the babies kick.

,,I think your sisters are going to be a handful," Regina says and rubs her ankles together.

,,Well, with you and Mal's combined temper, how can they not?" Henry teases.

,,Watch it, young man," Regina says, but she doesn't mean it. Not really.

In that moment, the yellow bug pulls up in front of the mansion, and Regina urges Henry to let his mother in. The brunette really doesn't feel like standing up right now.

The teenager walks into the hall, and two seconds later, he returns with not only his mother, but also with his grandmother.

,,Hey," Emma says and brushes a couple of snowflakes out of her blonde locks. ,,What's up?"

Regina's answer is interrupted by a violent coughing coming from the bedroom.

,,Maleficent's sick, so I left early to keep an eye on her," Regina explains and tries in vain to push herself up from the couch.

,,Oh. It's nothing serious, is it?" Snow frowns.

,,I hope not. Probably just the flu and.. Damn it," she curses when she finds out that she's unable to get up on her own.

,,Do you need a hand?" Henry asks.

,,Yes. Yes, I do," Regina admits with a small smile.

Her teenage son walks over to her and extends his hand out towards her. Regina takes it, and with a little help, she manages to stand up.

,,Thank you, sweetie," she says grateful and straightens her back.

,,You're welcome," the teenager frowns. ,,Are you sure you don't want me to stay?"

,,Yes of course. Excuse me for a moment, I better go and see what that was about," she says and her back and ankles protests when she waddles up the stairs again.

Luckily, Mal is still fast asleep, but she has somehow managed to kick the covers of in her sleep, so Regina quickly tucks her in once more and gives her forehead a light touch. She still feels very warm, and the brunette frowns softly.

Once downstairs and in the living room, Regina is surprised by a sharp jab of pain in her lower back.

Oh, darn it, not this again. Regina leans into the wall and closes her eyes while she breathes in and out slowly. Braxton hicks aren't very pleasant. Hopefully it will disappear in a moment.

,,Are you okay?" Henry asks and gives his mother a concerned look.

,,Yes, yes, I'm fine," Regina assures and waves him off. ,,Just Braxton hicks. Nothing to worry about."

,,You know what," Snow says and shrugs off her coat. ,,I think I'm cancelling my plans with Ruby and stay here instead."

,,I'm fine," Regina insists but winces when the twins decides to kick her while she is experiencing Braxton hicks.

,,Nonsense," Mary Margaret brushes her off. ,,Maleficent wouldn't appreciate it if you hurt yourself to take of her."

,,She's right," Emma interjects. ,,You're seven months pregnant. You shouldn't be running up and down the stairs in that condition."

,,But.." Regina tries, but she's completely overheard by Mary Margaret who continues:

,,I'm staying. And that's final. Fighting me is pointless, Regina. You know how stubborn I can be."

,,Alright, fine. Then stay," Regina surrenders. ,,But I didn't ask you to."

,,I know," Snow chuckles.

Henry chuckles. ,,It seems like you have gotten yourself a friend to help you out, mom."

Regina mock frowns. ,,I don't remember asking for one."

To Be Continued..