A/N: hi lovely readers! I hope everyone has had a good weekend. Here's the latest chapter for you. Everything is going to come to a climax (sexually and otherwise) in the upcoming chapters so keep reading to find out what's in store for our lovely ladies!
"Can I ask you something?" Emma whispered quietly as she traced her finger up and down Regina's soft cheek.
"Of course," the brunette replied, smiling encouragingly at her girlfriend.
The two women were lying on their sides, facing each other on Regina's bed. It was late on Thursday evening and Arendelle II had pointedly told her bunkmate she would not be returning until after Scandal aired. After what she had walked in on the previous Saturday, the new inmate made sure to tell Regina when she'd be returning. The couple had enjoyed the relative privacy, although nothing beyond making out had happened in case a guard walked by, and Emma knew she would soon have to go back to her own bunk.
"Tomorrow afternoon I have my four month scan with Doctor Fisher. I was wondering if you would come with me?" Emma said, hopefully.
There was a short pause before the smile on Regina's face widened.
"I would love to Emma!" she gushed. "Thank you so much for asking me to go with you. That's really sweet."
"I usually go with Booth," Emma shrugged. "But I'd rather it was you."
"Of course," Regina smiled, reaching up to tuck a loose strand of blonde hair behind Emma's ear. "I can't wait to see your baby!"
At those words, Emma's smile faltered and she rolled onto her back. Frowning, Regina propped herself up on an elbow and looked down into the suddenly tormented face of her girlfriend.
"Emma, I'm sorry. What did I say?" Regina asked, worry evident in her tone.
"Nothing," Emma said, her eyes seeking the comfort and warmth she always found in Regina's chocolate orbs. As their eyes met, Emma felt the panic that had risen inside her lessen slightly. She took a deep breath and began to explain. "I've never seen my baby. I don't look at the ultrasounds." Regina knew better than to interrupt and instead reached to hold Emma's hand. "I'm due at the end of September but I don't get out of here until January 2016 which means I won't be able to look after my baby. If I had any family members they could be granted temporary guardianship but I have no one which means I have to give this baby up for adoption." Emma's hand drifted to her belly, a slight swell now evident if one looked carefully. "I can't look at the pictures of them, Regina. If I do, I'll never be able to say goodbye."
Tears slid down Emma's face as she spoke and Regina felt her own eyes burn slightly as she listened to her girlfriend's predicament. She moved her hand to cover Emma's, stroking lightly over the tiny bump. Emma had pushed her hand away earlier in the evening, grumbling about being fat but now she allowed the contact, fresh tears spilling as Regina reverently stroked her abdomen.
"I'm so sorry, Emma," she said, softly. "That's a horrible position to be in. I can't imagine having to give up your baby against your will."
"I have no choice," Emma said, almost angrily. "If I could, I would keep this baby, give it the best life possible, the childhood I never had. What if they go into the foster system and get put in fucked up families like I did? I know what could happen to them out there and I'm still letting them go. I can't protect my own child. What kind of mother am I?"
Regina lay back down beside Emma and pulled her now sobbing girlfriend against her, running her hands soothingly through her hair.
"Emma, we will find a way, I promise. Your baby is going to be just fine and so are you. If you want to keep him or her, we can make that happen."
"How?" Emma said, turning her tear stained face towards Regina.
"I don't know yet but I will do everything I can to keep this promise to you."
The brunette spoke with such conviction that Emma nodded, believing her girlfriend's earnest speech, and rolled back into her comforting embrace.
"Oh great," came a voice from the doorway.
Emma chuckled through her tears and sat up. "Sorry Arendelle, I was just leaving," Emma said, as she wiped her face. The intruder noticed the young woman's evident upset and had the decency to look guilty as she lay down on her bed for the night.
Looking back at Regina, the blonde laughed at the dark look her girlfriend was shooting at her bunkmate. Leaning down to kiss Regina goodnight she whispered "we can sort out getting you a new bunkmate whilst you're working out your master plan to save my baby!"
Emma wasn't exactly nervous as she sat outside Fisher's office. In fact, she felt calmer than before any of her previous visits when she had been accompanied by Booth. Regain hadn't let go of Emma's hand since the two of them had set off walking towards the infirmary, the gentle pressure comforting and familiar.
"Swan," Fisher announced, coming out of her consultation room.
The blonde stood, pulling Regina to her feet as well. The doctor raised her eyebrows as her gaze journeyed to their joined hands.
"Is it ok if Mills comes in with me?" Emma asked.
Fisher hesitated, looking at Regina who was trying her hardest not to resort to her usual tactic of glaring at anyone not complying to her request.
"Of course," the tall blonde said, standing back to let the couple walk into her office. "How have you been?" she asked after closing the door.
"Good," Emma said. "I'm starting to show and I've not had any morning sickness for weeks."
"Great. Well if you just lie back on this table then I can get started with the ultrasound."
Emma nodded and hopped up onto the reclined bed, never once letting go of Regina's hand. Rolling up her top, she lay back and glanced up at her girlfriend. The brunette was looking reverently at the swell of Emma's belly.
"Stop it," the blonde grumbled, lightly slapping Regina's arm.
"Sorry," the older woman said, placing a light kiss on Emma's cheek. "I can't help it if I think you're beautiful," she whispered as she pulled away.
"Ok, let's see how the little one is doing shall we," Fisher announced, rolling over the monitor and interrupting the couple's moment.
Squirting the gel onto Emma's stomach, the doctor moved the probe around before flicking on the screen. As soon as she did so, Emma turned her head away, looking past Regina and focusing on a poster on the wall advising women to get STI tests regularly. Fisher noticed her patient's move but said nothing, used to the blonde's behaviour during her checkups.
Regina crouched down in front of Emma, interrupting her line of sight.
"Hey," she said.
"Hi," Emma replied as she looked into her girlfriend's deep brown eyes.
"So I was thinking we could go for a walk after this?" Regina suggested, trying to distract the blonde from what the doctor was doing. "The rain from this morning has cleared up and I love the smell of the outside after a good spring shower."
"Sounds great," Emma smiled weakly.
"And I bumped into Athena in the corridor this morning who is still trying to win me over. She told me tonight's dinner is fish pie so at least we can be guaranteed a good meal this evening."
"I do like her fish pie," Emma said, smiling a little wider.
"Plus I looked at the television listings tonight and one of the channel's is showing The Breakfast Club. If we get there early enough to nab the remote, it's one of my all time favourite movies and I'd love to watch it with you."
"I've never seen it," Emma admitted.
"What?" Regina gasped, faking shock at the news. "How come?"
"When you grow up in the system not many families allow you to go to the cinema or watch lots of tv. My film knowledge in general is pretty poor."
"Well we'll have to correct that as soon as you get out. I'll make sure I have all the classics on DVD and we can binge watch them all in one weekend. Endless popcorn and soda included."
Emma laughed and Regina smiled, both women thinking about the future of their relationship.
"Emma," Regina said, gently, "can I look?" she asked, jerking her head towards the machine.
There was a moment of hesitation before the blonde nodded quickly, fixing her sight once more on the poster. Regina squeezed Emma's hand and stood up to look at the ultrasound monitor. Fisher had been listening to the quiet exchange as she worked and smiled sympathetically at the brunette. Without saying a word, the doctor pointed to a dark shadow on the screen, showing Regina the outline of the foetus.
"Thank you," she mouthed silently as the blonde woman glanced over to make sure Regina had seen it. Fisher nodded and stowed the probe before wiping the gel off Emma's stomach.
"Ok, Swan, I'm all done," she announced, carrying the chart she had made notes on over to her computer.
"Is everything ok?" Emma asked, sitting up and pulling her top back down.
"It all looks fine," Fisher smiled. "The baby is healthy and growing at the predicted rate. Your surgery scar has healed well too. Do you have any questions or anything you need to talk to me about?" The doctor knew the young woman was going through a difficult time and wanted to offer her the opportunity to talk if necessary.
"No," Emma said, sliding off the table. "I'm fine, thank you doc."
"Ok. In that case I'll see you in four weeks and don't forget to keep on taking your prenatal vitamins."
Emma nodded and smiled, moving towards the door with Regina right behind her.
"Thanks Doctor Fisher," Emma said as the two women exited the room.
Emma cursed as she reached for the laundry detergent and found the bag empty. The amount they went through per day, you'd think the prison would buy bigger packs, she mused as she closed the loaded machine door and headed down to their supply closet. Grabbing several packs, the blonde turned and gasped as she saw who stood in front of her.
"Good morning, Miss Swan," West said in her clipped British accent. "Where's your little work friend today?"
After quickly scanning for West's bodyguards and determining they were not in the vicinity she replied. "Boyd's sick," Emma growled, moving to push past the redhead.
"Ah, where do you think you're going?" West asked, grasping Emma's shoulder and spinning her around, slamming her back against the wall. The detergent packets fell to the ground with several dull thuds and Emma let out an "omph" at the impact.
"Back to work," Emma said, squirming against the firm hold. "Let me go."
"In a moment," West laughed lightly as she watched the blonde's futile attempts. The redhead was much stronger than she looked. "I'm here to deliver a message."
"Go on then," Emma spat, falling back against the wall and willing her hands not to drift subconsciously to her stomach.
"Remember a few weeks ago when I told you to stay away from my sister?" Emma nodded, her hands balling into fists. "Well, it seems you didn't listen and some people are not very happy about your dyke relationship. Now I'm not an unreasonable woman," Emma scoffed, "so I'm giving you one last warning. Stay away from Regina or you will suffer the consequences."
With that, West released Emma and stalked from the room.
"Come in," came Booth's jovial voice. "Swan, take a seat," the man smiled as Emma entered. "What can I do for you?"
Emma paused. She had been debating all day about whether to confide in her counsellor but in the end decided her baby was not worth the risk.
"I've been threatened," she said.