More Than She Wanted
The Mother of Dragons part II:
Doctor Whale leaves, and Regina and Mal is once again alone. Regina rolls on to her side and groans.
The labors progress and at first Regina curses Maleficent for doing this to her, curses herself for being so weak, and curses doctor Whale for not giving her any magical drugs to relieve the pain.
But when the pain gets stronger and almost unbearable, Regina goes silent and twists the bedsheet between her fingers instead of crying out. Suddenly, all her mother's warnings about never to let the world know how you're really feeling echoes in her head, and Regina suffers in silence. The pain is indescribably, and Regina buries all her angry thoughts and make a weak gesture towards Maleficent.
,,Could you please get over here?" she asks weakly, and her wife instantly jumps to her feet and is by her side in two steps.
Maleficent promptly takes her hand and rubs the soft spot between her thumb and index finger.
,,Labors hurts," Regina states matter of factly.
,,Tell me what I can do to help," Maleficent pleads.
,,I'm afraid you can't do very much right now," Regina says darkly. ,,But that feels nice," she adds when Mal lightly glides her finger over her hand.
Maleficent scoffs. ,,I'm just upset I can't do anything to relieve your pain."
,,You could rub my back?" Regina suggests. ,,That would be nice."
Maleficent immediately let's go of her hand and moves her fingers down to her lower back instead. She rubs soothing circles on Regina's back, and Regina exhales softly.
,,That's nice."
,,It's not too hard?"
,,No, no, it's fine," Regina assures, and then she can't talk anymore. Another contraction hits her like a wave, and she swallows thickly as she twists the sheet between her fingers.
Maleficent makes no attempt at talking with her, and Regina is grateful that she isn't showered with "just breathe," and "you'll be alright", advises like that has never worked one bit, and this silent soothing is far better. Maleficent is excellent at guiding her through this in her own, silent manner.
Regina exhales as the pain subsides again.
,,Is it over?" Maleficent asks quietly and continues to rub Regina's lower back in soothing circles.
,,Yes. That was a hard one," Regina says and smiles meekly.
,,I hate that I'm the one who makes you suffer, little one."
,,This kind of suffering I can handle," Regina says and wipes her brow. ,,It will all be worth it in the end."
Maleficent nods and hands Regina a plastic cup filled with water.
,,Thank you," Regina says and drinks eagerly.
,,I think that's the least I can do, my dear," Maleficent says rather dryly, and Regina lets out a little bubbly laugh.
The two sorceresses manage to talk in between the labor pains, and Maleficent doesn't budge from the spot. She just continues to draw slow patterns on Regina's back, and when the pains are almost unbearable, she willingly lets Regina crush her hand until her knuckles turns white.
Regina groans a little and slowly loosens her grip on Mal's hand.
Another conversation. New subject.
Stabbing pain in her lower back. Regina squeezes her eyes shut, and Mal graciously offers her hand.
That's how the time goes. Quiet conversations about everything and nothing while Maleficent draws patterns on Regina's back, and then stabbing pains where Regina lays silent and just breathes her way through it with Maleficent's hand in hers.
As the sky darkens outside the hospital, Regina and Maleficent gradually stops talking, and Regina just lays silent with her eyes closed. Mal switches over to rubbing her temples in slow, soothing motions, which feels very nice despite the contractions that seems to get worse by the minute.
Right in the middle of a particular painful contraction, Henry comes in, and Regina somehow manages to send him a smile and grit out a "hi, sweetheart."
,,Hi mom," the teenager says and sends his mother a little smile, and then to Mal:
,,How soon..?"
,,Doctor Whale has just been here," Mal says quietly and continues to thread her fingers through Regina's hair. ,,Things are moving along nicely. It won't be long now."
,,I hope not," Regina groans as the stabbing pain subsides a little.
,,Is there anything I can do for you, mom?"
Regina shakes her head. ,,You being here is more than enough, sweetheart."
How her teenage son responds to that remains unclear. The next contraction arrives and Regina instantly squeezes her eyes shut and falls back into her "silence-mode". She vaguely registers that Mal says: "your mother prefers to be quiet when it hurts" to Henry.
Regina whimpers a little. This one really hurts. It feels like she's being stabbed repeatedly.
Maleficent instantly takes her hand and presses a tender kiss to her knuckles.
The brunette hears the sound of a chair scraping over the floor, and a second later Henry takes her other hand and draws circles all over it like she did when he had fallen down as a child and needed to be comforted.
Regina slowly breathes in and out through the pain. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. One more time. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.
And finally, the pain subsides and her cramped muscles gets a little break.
,,Huh." She breathes as she opens her eyes to Mal and Henry's faces.
,,You are incredible. You are doing so well," Maleficent whispers and presses a light kiss to her temple.
,,Thank you," Regina says tiredly and rubs her face. ,,Do you mind handing me that glass of water, Henry?"
Her wish is instantly granted, and her son hands her the plastic cup with water. Regina drinks eagerly. Her throat feels completely dry. After a few gulps, she shoves the covers aside and swings her legs over the edge of the bed.
,,What are you doing?" Maleficent questions and looks alarmed immediately.
,,I'm getting out of bed. My back feels stiff," Regina says and stands from the bed. She has a prickling feeling in her feet; standing up will probably be good.
,,Is that wise?" Maleficent asks and follows Regina like a shadow.
,,Walking around can actually speed things up a bit," Regina explains as she walks the few steps over to the window. The ground lights up in snow white colors, it's still snowing. Regina spots Mary Margaret's car outside on the parking lot.
,,Is your grandmother here?" the brunette questions her son.
The teenager nods. ,,Yes. She's doing volunteer work today."
,,Ah." Well, as long as she doesn't come anywhere near the maternity ward.
Regina grabs onto the windowsill as she's overwhelmed by yet another contraction. Breathe. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.
,,Contraction?" Maleficent asks and rushes to Regina's side.
The former queen nods and leans in as her wife gently wraps her arms around her. Maleficent is touching her so gentle and so tenderly, and Regina rests her forehead on her shoulder.
Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Breathe. Dont panic.
Regina finally lifts her head and straightens her back a little.
,,All done?" Maleficent asks and gives her lower back another gentle touch.
,,For now," Regina nods.
,,They are not that far apart now," Mal observes and fiddles with her hands.
,,Nervous, dragon?" Regina teases halfheartedly and pushes a stray lock of dark hair behind her ear.
,,A little," Maleficent admits and bites her lip.
Regina sniggers a little at that and gives Mal's cheek a light pet.
Time proceeds like that for a good while. Regina either walks around or half sits up in the bed with her head tipped back against the wall. A hundredth percent focused on her breathing. Maleficent and Henry chats very quietly, and it suits Regina just fine. she doesn't mind them talking one bit, and once in a while she chirps in with a comment or two. Just like she would do any other day. Regina finds that she can- well, not exactly control the pain, but breathe her way through it. Her composed and regal nature is finally paying off.
Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. One more time. Breathe. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Excellent.
Doctor Whale comes in mid-contraction, and he receives a biting comment from Regina when he asks how she's doing. Once the contraction is over, he examines her again, and Regina silently curses him.
,,I have good news," he says and flashes Regina and Mal a smile.
,,Wonderful. I could use some good news," Regina mutters.
,,You are about ready to push."
Regina's eyes snaps open. ,,Already?"
,,Yes," Doctor Whale says. ,,You're fully dilated."
,,Well done, darling," Maleficent chirps in.
,,So, by the next contraction you push, and we'll see if the babies would like to join us out here."
And the next contraction comes soon enough. Too soon. Regina could have used a moment. Maleficent and Henry grabs her hands, and Regina squeezes them as she pushes. And pushes. And my god, this is fucking hard, and doctor Whale isn't exactly making it easier with his "keep it going, keep it going, pant, pant, pant, keep it going, keep it going, one more time."
,,Could you please shut up while I'm trying to concentrate?!" Regina growls, and a splutter escapes Maleficent's lips.
Doctor Whale sighs and shakes his head. ,,Come on, Your Majesty, push!"
,,Shut up!" Regina half yells. It feels like her lower abdomen is burning.
The pain is absolutely agonizing, and she grits her teeth together as she pushes. Regina feels like her body is splitting in half, the burning intensifies, she's sure she's gonna pass out, but then, one last push, a strange sensation and then the live-affirming sound of a baby crying.
Regina looks down just in time to see doctor Whale laying her newborn daughter on her chest. The baby is a mess of blood and gunk, but to Regina is the most beautiful thing in the world.
Maleficent looks completely stunned at the baby, and Henry is beaming. Regina raises a trembling hand to touch her daughter. To make sure she's really there.
Amelia.
,,Would you like to cut the umbilical cord, mommy?" Doctor Whale asks Maleficent.
Maleficent snaps out of her trance like state and cuts the umbilical cord with trembling hands.
Amelia stirs and blinks like she's surprised to be here, and Regina is positive that she will never get enough of looking at her.
Unfortunately, she's brought back to reality by doctor Whale who says:
,,Alright, Your Majesty. Ready to deliver the next one?"
Oh god, there's two of them.
,,I can't," Regina breathes and squeezes her eyes shut. ,,It's too painful."
,,Yes you can," Maleficent encourages and cradles her face. ,,You can do anything."
,,No," Regina denies. She's so tired. The only thing she wants to do right now is sleep.
,,Come on mom," Henry says gently. ,,You can't let Emerald wait. She wants to be born too."
,,Fine." Regina says reluctantly and pushes herself up to a sitting position. ,,But not another word out of your mouth," she warns doctor Whale.
,,Alright. As long as you don't throw me into a wall once we're done."
Doctor Whale keeps her word and encourages Regina silently to push. And Regina uses all her remaining strength to bring her second daughter into the world. Her magic chooses this moment to come back, and the room gets filled with a multitude of colored sparks as Regina grits her teeth and pushes with all her might.
A sharp, burning sensation. The feeling of something entering the world, and then, finally the cry of an infant.
Maleficent cuts the umbilical cord, and Regina's head falls back against the pillows and she cradles Amelia in her arms. Thank the gods that's over.
Regina's eyes snap open when Amelia leaves her arms, and she glares at doctor Whale.
,,I'm just wiping them off," doctor Whale says. He quickly wipes both babies off and swaddles them in white blankets.
,,Congratulations," he smiles as he hands the babies to Regina.
Regina smiles tiredly and looks down at her daughters. Amelia and Emerald are perfect. Amelia has most definitely inherited Maleficent's nose, and the shape of Emerald's ears looks vaguely familiar.
,,Wow," Henry grins as he looks at her sisters.
,,How are you feeling, my darling?" Maleficent asks and tears her gaze away from her daughters.
,,Quite well," Regina says and wipes her brow. ,,Sorry if I squished your hand."
Maleficent laughs. ,,I think I'll live."
Doctor Whale leaves them a little while later, and finally Regina is alone with her newborn children and Henry and Maleficent.
,,You did great, mom," the teenager says and smiles broadly.
,,Thank you, sweetheart." Regina answers with half closed eyes.
,,Tired, my darling?"
,,Just a little," Regina quips and gives her wife a fond look. Maleficent is sitting in the chair with Amelia in her arms. Emerald is fast asleep on Regina's chest.
Maleficent chuckles and talks softly to the sleeping Amelia.
,,Are you calling her your little dragon?" Henry says and grins.
,,Yes," Mal says and plants a light kiss on Amelia's forehead.
,,What about Emerald?" Regina questions. ,,Isn't she your little dragon?"
,,Of course she is. They are both my little dragons," Mal says, and as to confirm that statement, Emerald coos softly.
Regina reaches out and pats her wife's knee.
Henry's phone beeps for something that feels like the fiftieth time that day, and the teenager chuckles as he reads the message.
,,It's grandma again. I think she's dying to see Amelia and Emerald."
,,I'm sure she is," Regina says and shifts slightly in the bed. ,,But your curious grandmother must contain herself until tomorrow."
,,It is tomorrow," Mal observes and glances at her watch.
,,Oh right," Regina says and glances at her watch. It's 4 in the morning. Long after midnight.
Emerald stirs in her sleep, and Regina whispers nonsense to her as she adjusts her daughter on her chest.
Henry yawns and tries to hide it behind his hand, but Regina quickly picks up on it.
,,Henry, sweetheart," she says gently. ,,It's very late. You need to get some sleep."
,,I want to stay here," the teenager protests.
,,Your sisters will be here when you come back, but please listen to me and have someone pick you up. It's been a very long day."
Henry opens his mouth to protest again, but Regina shoots him her best "don't argue with your mother"-look.
,,Alright," the teenager sighs. ,,Fine. I'll have Killian come and pick me up."
,,Good boy," Regina says and flashes her son a smile.
Henry gives his mother and Mal a quick hug each, then he kisses Amelia and then Emerald on the forehead. The teenager only reluctantly leaves the room with promises about that he will come back tomorrow.
The door closes behind him and Regina gives Mal a look.
,,What about you, dragon?" she questions.
,,What about me?" Mal replies without taking her eyes off Amelia.
,,Aren't you gonna go home and get some sleep?"
,,Not a chance," Maleficent huffs. ,,I am staying right here with you and the babies."
,,You can't sleep on the floor all night."
,,Watch me, my darling."
,,Don't be ridiculous," Regina sighs. ,,And give me my daughter."
,,Why?"
,,Because Emerald wants her other mother?"
That works. Maleficent gently lays Amelia in Regina's arms, and then they trade babies so that Mal holds Emerald instead.
,,Hello there, little darling," Maleficent coos softly. ,,Don't you take after your mother."
,,Which one of us?" Regina chuckles and runs her thumb across Amelia's tiny hand.
,,Both of us," Maleficent grins. ,,We make some very beautiful children, my darling."
,,Yes we do," Regina agrees.
Maleficent can't get enough of the newborns, and she stares at them until her eyes goes slightly unfocused. Regina notices that her wife is going paler and paler and her words are slightly muddled.
,,For gods sake, Maleficent. Go home and get some sleep."
,,No," Mal says stubbornly and rocks Emerald.
,,Yes! I can't deal with two newborns and a wife who's passed out from exhaustion.."
,,Says the woman who has just given birth," Maleficent deadpans.
Regina ignores her. ,,Seriously, you aren't very useful to me if you're this tired. I need you to be well rested, because tomorrow I will be needing a shower. And I can't let you watch the babies if you're exhausted, now can I?"
Regina can sense how Mal slowly is caving in, so she quickly but gently adds:
,,As I told Henry, the babies will still be here tomorrow."
,,They better be," Maleficent says sternly. ,,And you too for that matter."
,,I'm gonna be here too," Regina confirms. ,,Now please go home. Before I force you."
,,Alright," Maleficent says reluctantly and stands from the chair. She carefully lays Amelia in the brunette's arms, and enjoys the sight of both of her daughters sleeping peacefully in Regina's arms.
,,But I will be back first thing tomorrow morning," the dragon mock warns.
,,I didn't expect anything else," Regina teases as her wife puts on her coat and hat.
Maleficent kisses Emerald's tiny little hand, then Amelia's. And last but not least, she gives Regina a soft and lingering kiss.
,,Sleep well, my darling."
,,You too. Goodnight."
,,I'll see you in my dreams," Maleficent quips.
,,Yes, I imagine you will."
Maleficent blows Regina one last kiss and then she leaves the room and closes the door quietly behind her.
Regina looks down at her daughters sleeping in her arms.
,,Just us left then. Sleep well my little dragons."
To Be Continued..