More Than She Wanted

Operation Birthday:

It soon becomes very obvious that Maleficent's wish of an "uninterrupted night" isn't possible. Regina balks at the thought of sending her little girls away for the night, but on the other hand, she would very much like a few hours alone with her wife. So overall, they are stuck in a tricky situation.

,,What is mommy gonna do with you?" Regina questions her half asleep children.

That's the question really. What is she gonna do with them? She can't just send them away, in her head they are still too young, but on the other hand, she and Maleficent could really use some private time. Things have been kind of hectic lately.

Regina sighs heavily and leaves the nursery. She's still considering just what to do. The dinner, Maleficent mentioned might not be possible either. Lily has chosen this week to get sick with the flu, and Regina would very much appreciate it if she stayed at home until she's feeling better again. God forbid that the babies should get sick.

Maybe they'll just have to settle for a very quiet night in with the babies instead, Regina thinks to herself. Oh well. Perhaps another time.

The brunette heads back downstairs and settles down on the couch. The babies should be asleep for a good while, and Regina could take the opportunity to catch up on some sleep herself, but she's too frustrated to sleep. It's like she has all but forgotten how things were before they had the children. And she loves her daughters. She loves all of her children more than anything in the world. And she feels like a terrible mother for wanting some alone time with her wife.

Regina sighs heavily. This is a tough balance. A very tough balance indeed. How the hell is she supposed to come up with a solution for this one? She can't quite figure it out. Probably because her brain is completely beat from lack of sleep the last previous nights.

It's Maleficent's birthday in exactly two days. She's got two days to figure out how to get some much needed alone time with her wife.

Regina leans her head back and thinks. And thinks. But no. Her mind is completely blank. Again.

This is hopeless, she decides. Utterly hopeless. And she had enough pondering about for one day. If she strains her brain further, she might just pass out from overthinking. If that's even possible.

Suddenly, the house feels cluttered, and Regina waves her hand to swing the front door open and goes outside. It doesn't help very much though, and Regina knows exactly why. It's her brain that's cluttered, not the house.

Regina shivers a little. There's still a slight chill in the air, even though some of the snow has melted. Maybe spring is coming to Storybrooke after all. Regina's never been a fan of winter. It always reminds her of the lonely hours spend at the castle in the Enchanted Forest. That castle really got dark during winter.

Regina rolls her shoulders back and forward and tries to think just one more time. If she can't give Maleficent an "uninterrupted night", then she bloody well has to come up with some sort of gift.

A movement on the street catches her attention, and out of the corner of her eye she sees Snow walking on the pavement, a to go cup of coffee in her hand.

The princess quickly spots Regina standing on the porch, and the younger woman resolutely opens the gate to Regina's mansion and walks up to the porch.

,,Hey," the princess says and takes a sip of her coffee. ,,What are you doing out here?"

,,Despairing." Regina says shortly, and Snow's green eyes widens.

,,What? Why?" the princess asks and raises an eyebrow. A gesture Regina recognizes from Snow's childhood.

,,I have exactly two days to come up with a gift for Maleficent, and I still have no idea what to give her."

,,Oh." Snow chuckles. ,,You had me scared there for a second. I thought something was really wrong."

,,Something is really wrong," Regina says sullenly. ,,I have no idea what to give her."

,,Haven't she said anything about what she wants?"

,,Well, she did mention a dinner with me, Lily and Mulan and Henry, but Lily has the flu, and Henry is out on a school trip. Which I forgot completely."

,,Then make a dinner for just the two of you then."

,,I could do that I guess," Regina shrugs. ,,But it won't be very special then. It will be just like it normally is, and that's a bit trivial on her birthday, don't you think?"

,,Honestly, I think Maleficent is more than thrilled about how things normally are." Snow says and smiles gently.

,,I guess so.."

,,Aren't you?"

,,Of course I am," Regina assures. ,,I couldn't ask for more."

,,And yet I'm sensing a "but"," Snow observes calmly.

,,No buts," Regina dismisses. ,,I am perfectly contend."

,,Hmm." Snow says and doesn't look one bit convinced. The princess keeps eying her, and after a solid five minutes of that, it becomes too much for Regina.

,,What?" she challenges and folds her arms across her chest.

,,Nothing."

,,Then kindly stop staring at me."

,,Just that.." Snow begins and Regina silently braces herself for the hope speech she undoubtfully is gonna get.

,,You look exactly like I did when Neal was three months old."

,,I doubt there's any similarities between you and me, dear," Regina says haughtily.

Snow ignores her. ,,The look in your eyes is exactly like the look I had on my face."

,,Is there a point with this conversation?"

Snow ignores her again. ,,You know I was just dying to get a chance to be alone with David, but with a young child in the house, it seemed impossible."

,,Again, is there a point with this conversation?" Regina is really not interested in knowing anything about Snow and David's private life.

,,I felt terrible for even thinking about sending my baby away," Snow continues. ,,But at the same time, I knew I had to step out of the mother role for just a little while, otherwise I would go mad."

,,I doubt you have the ability to go mad, dear."

,,And now I can't help but wondering," Snow says and gives Regina a little, secretive smile. ,,Is that the case for you?"

Regina shrugs. Damn Snow White and her ability to read her like an open book. There was a time where Regina was a master of keeping secret from her stepdaughter, but apparently not anymore.

,,Tell you what," Snow says and nonchalantly sips her coffee. ,,Why don't you and Maleficent and the little dragons have a nice breakfast together on her birthday, and then, once you finished breakfast, you can drop of the little ones at me and David's."

,,You have a three year old. I doubt you need more children to watch."

,,Nonsense," Snow says and shrugs. ,,You already know that David and I have a soft spot for the twins. And so does Neal. He always asks if we can go see "Emmie and Mia". He adores them."

Regina hesitates. The offer is very tempting. But the thought of sending her babies away is daunting. And she feels just a twinge of panic at the thought.

,,I don't know.." she says vaguely.

,,Step out of the mother role for five seconds," Snow says and grins. ,,Remember, you are not just a mother, Regina. You also happen to be somebody's wife."

,,I'm not sure I ever want to hear you say that again," Regina says sternly and rolls her eyes.

Snow chuckles. ,,I'm serious."

,,Is that your way of telling me to get back in the game, dear?" Regina drawls and hopes to make the younger woman uncomfortable.

But Snow doesn't falter. Instead she simply shrugs and says: ,,Yes."

,,Alright. In that case, I will accept your generous offer."

,,Good. There's just one thing."

,,Isn't there always? What thing?"

,,Is Maleficent okay with me and David watching your children?"

,,Of course she is, why wouldn't she be?"

Snow bites her lip. ,,We didn't exactly treat her first child kindly."

,,Are you planning on filling my daughters with darkness and sending them through a portal?" Regina asks calmly.

,,No!"

,,Then there's absolutely no problem. Mal has forgiven you. She forgave you a long time ago."

,,Really?"

,,Yes," Regina nods. ,,As she says, you can either be angry about the past or happy about the future."

,,She's pretty.. Incredible."

,,Please don't tell her that," Regina warns and laughs. ,,No need to overinflate her ego."

Snow sniggers. ,,But we have a deal, then? The little dragons will join me and David in two days?"

,,They will," Regina confirms.

,,Neal is gonna be so excited to hear that," Snow smiles.

,,And I will try not to get a heart attack at the prospect of sending my daughters away." Regina says rather dryly.

Snow laughs and gives Regina a little friendly nudge.

,,Anyway, I better get going, I promised David to have brunch with him at Granny's. see you later, Regina."

,,See you later, dear."

Regina heads back inside and tries her very best to forget the absurd conversation she just had with Snow. Getting advices on her private life from her former stepdaughter is more than a little weird.

But nevertheless, Snow did offer to take the children, and as much as Regina balks at that thought, she and Maleficent need it. They need privacy. Just for a few hours.

Regina quickly goes upstairs to check on Emerald and Amelia. Both babies are peacefully asleep in their cribs. And they probably will sleep just as well in the care of Snow and David. Regina just has to relax and step out of the mother role for a second.

She already misses them though, and she stares herself blind at the babies.

,,Are you gonna be good girls for Snow and David, hmm? I know you are part dragon, but can't you at least try?" she quips and touches her daughters' tiny hands.

The babies' coo, but doesn't wake up at the touch.

,,How's mommy gonna cope without you two for a few hours?" the thought is still daunting. The twins are only three months old. Is she a terrible mother for sending them away?

Regina watches as her girls begins to dream, and magic starts to float from their fingertips. It's always so fascinating every time it happens, and Regina would do anything to know what her daughters are dreaming about right now.

A green cloud of magic appears behind her, and the next second Maleficent steps over to the cribs.

,,How long have they been asleep?" Mal asks softly and gives her sleeping baby dragons a fond look.

,,About an hour so. Did you make sure Henry remembered his phone?"

,,Mm. He told me to take care of his sisters until he comes back from the school trip."

,,That is an easy promise to keep," Regina says and tickles Amelia's cheek.

,,A very easy one indeed."

,,Let's hope his grandparents will take just as good care of them," Regina says. Not that she's doubting Snow and David in any way, she's just a bit nervous at the thought of someone else than her and Mal watching the babies.

,,What do you mean?" Mal asks without tearing her gaze away from the twins.

,,I mean that Snow and David are gonna watch the babies for a few hours."

,,Alright," Mal says and raises an eyebrow. ,,When?"

,,In two days. On your birthday. After we've had breakfast. That should give us a few hours."

,,A few hours to what?" Maleficent asks and now her tone is slightly playful.

But it doesn't work on Regina who just shrugs and says: ,,I would prefer not to speak of it in front of our children."

Maleficent gently spins her around and her arm slips around Regina's waist. ,,You are quite resourceful, my darling."

,,I guess I am," Regina drawls and leaves out the part of the story where Snow read her like an open book and offered to take the twins.

,,Tell me, my dear," Maleficent says huskily and rubs Regina's upper arms in slow circles. ,,Have you planned anything special?"

,,Can't tell you."

,,Why not?"

,,Because then it wouldn't be a surprise, now would it?" Regina rebukes and rests her hands on Mal's hips.

,,You are so frustrating."

Regina chuckles. ,,That's the thing about birthdays, my dear. They are meant for surprises."

To Be Continued..