A/N: I wasn't intending to write the court scene but I didn't really see any way around it. Plus I have done some work in courts (the English system admittedly) in the past but I have also watch at lot of Law & Order so I hope it's a pretty accurate representation. I hope you're all happy with the results!
Emma had never willed time to go as fast as she did that Saturday morning. She wolfed down her breakfast, pointedly ignoring the knowing looks Red and Snow were shooting her. She didn't care how desperate it looked. All she wanted was to see Regina again. As soon as her last mouthful of toast was swallowed, she got to her feet and headed straight to visitation, the slip bearing Regina's name held tightly in her hand.
She was the first to arrive, before even the guard on duty so she sat with her back against the wall, waiting. It wasn't long before Fa arrived, giving Emma a kind smile as she unlocked the booth and allowed the blonde to sit in one of the spare chairs as she waited for the visitors to be granted access on the other side.
Emma stared through the glass as people began to filter into the room. Her heart was pounding in her chest just anticipating a glimpse of the brunette. As soon as she saw her, Emma jumped to her feet, a wide smile on her face as Regina's familiar eyes found hers. Her girlfriend gave a little wave and a wink as she walked to one of the tables closest to the door from which Emma would enter.
The blonde couldn't tear her eyes away from Regina. The new Regina. The brunette had cut her hair, the stylish bob framing her stunning face perfectly. She wore a silky teal blouse which rippled as she moved and fitted black pants, hugging her curves and accentuating her figure. Regina also seemed taller and as Emma's eye line roved down toned legs, she realised that was due to the four inch black heels the woman was wearing.
Fa nudged a transfixed Emma gently out the way so she could get to the door. As soon as the lock clicked open, the blonde rushed through and threw herself into Regina's waiting arms. Fa couldn't bring herself to scold the two women for prolonged contact and instead stepped out the way of other inmates now arriving.
"I missed you so much!" Emma gasped as she inhaled deeply, Regina's scent calming her immediately.
"I missed you too," Regina said. "Emma, I'm so sorry about last week." The brunette pulled away and placed a gentle kiss to pale lips before guiding the heavily pregnant woman into a chair and taking the one opposite.
"Don't worry about it," Emma said as she settled herself more comfortably. "You're here now and that's all that matters."
"I still feel terrible about it."
"Blame the car dealership who sold you that crappy Land Rover. What were you even thinking buying something second hand when you have squillions of dollars."
"Firstly, I don't have squillions of dollars, not least because squillions isn't a word."
"It should be," Emma pointed out.
"And secondly," Regina continued. "I don't see the point in buying a brand new vehicle that is going to get trashed in seconds at the stables."
"Because it will get you from A to B without causing your girlfriend to go out of her mind with worry?" Emma suggested.
"I'm so sorry," Regina repeated.
"I know," Emma assured. "I'm just making a point."
"The point being?"
"Buy a new car!"
Regina laughed and reached across the table to grasp Emma's hands.
"So how have you been in here?" Regina asked. "You look good. Bigger."
"Fatter," Emma corrected. "And I'm good thanks. Shrimp has finally stopped his 2am kicking ritual. And you'll be very pleased to hear Fisher told me at my ultrasound I shouldn't be lifting any more. I only have two weeks left of work too."
"Good," Regina smiled. "You need to take care of yourself now honey. And speaking of that ultrasound …,"
Emma smiled, fished the photo out of her pocket and handed it over. Regina took it and gazed down reverently into the grainy image. Emma watched, wondering how she had ever questioned this woman's commitment to her and their baby.
"He's beautiful," Regina whispered.
"He looks less like shellfish," Emma conceded, "but I'm not sure we can describe him as beautiful yet."
"He's got your genes, of course he's beautiful," Regina said, raising her moist eyes to meet Emma's green ones.
"So are you all prepared for court?" Emma asked as Regina tucked the photo into her new Prada handbag.
"I think so," Regina smiled. "I spent far too much money on a killer suit. My new hair is meant to make me look as little like a drug dealer as possible …,"
"You look gorgeous," Emma butted in. "I love your hair like that. It's super sexy."
"Thank you," Regina said, a slight blush on her cheeks. "I do quite like it. Makes me look vaguely important."
"You are important. To me."
Regina smiled. "Oh and I have some other news," she said, reaching into her bag to pull out some papers.
"Yes?"
"Remember that barn conversion property right up by the border of Georgia, just inside Osceola National Forest?" Regina asked, rifling through to find what she was looking for.
"The one with the river running along the bottom of the garden and the cute little town a few miles away?"
"That's the one," Regina nodded, sliding a form that looked to Emma's inexperienced eyes like some sort of contract. "It's ours."
"What?"
"We completed yesterday," Regina smiled. "It's perfect Emma! The house is simply gorgeous. Four bedrooms, one which would be perfect for Shrimp's nursery. The kitchen is brand new with a stylish worktop island in the middle of it. I know you don't cook much but I'm sure you'll enjoy sitting there and watching me. Oh and the living room has this homely vibe. There's an old fireplace and I know exactly where we're going to put the Christmas tree. The master bedroom is perfect too. I've ordered us a king sized bed, it has an ensuite and a walk in wardrobe. I may have already purchased enough clothes to fill half of it, sorry," Regina finished, pausing to take a breath.
Emma just grinned stupidly at the woman before her, entranced by the happiness etched over Regina's face as she spoke about their future home.
"It sounds perfect," Emma smiled. "It's really ours?" she asked.
"Both our names are on the deed," Regina said, pointing to the bottom of the document. "You have a home, Emma. We have a home."
Emma stood up, moving to embrace Regina who met her halfway. Their smiles didn't even fade when Fa eventually decided the couple had been granted enough leniency and ordered them to move apart.
"I can't believe this is all happening!" Emma said as she sat back down.
"It is though. We're finally going to be doing something right with our lives."
"Tell me about the stables," Emma said. "You've told me about the house but what about your business?"
"They need some work," Regina admitted. "Most of the loose boxes need to be completely replaced but the paddocks are all securely fenced and there's more than enough space for at least twenty horses."
"Twenty?" Emma repeated, a little shocked at the number.
Regina laughed. "Don't worry, they won't all be ours. We'll have a livery area where people can keep their own horses and then I can train alongside the owners in the ménage."
"I don't really know what any of that means but ok," Emma said, still grinning widely.
"You'll learn," Regina said. "If you want to, of course."
"I do want to," Emma assured. "I want to understand your passion and I want to be a part of that lifestyle."
"I want that too," Regina smiled. "Maybe Shrimp will grow to be a champion jockey."
"Maybe," Emma nodded. "Speaking of which, the trial is next Friday. Do we want to go over everything one more time?"
"Swan, they're ready for us," Booth said, shaking the blonde from her daydream as she sat waiting.
"Right," she breathed deeply, following her counsellor through the maze of corridors and into the courtroom.
Scanning the almost empty room, Emma's heart skipped when she saw Regina. Her girlfriend hadn't been lying when she said she'd bought a killer suit. Emma thought the brunette looked the definition of a reliable, responsible, caregiving woman. And gorgeous as hell. Emma wished the prison had allowed her to change out of her inmate uniform. She smiled widely when Regina looked up from her notes and their eyes met. At least the brunette didn't seem to mind the beige.
Emma stumbled a little as Booth steered her into her seat, unwilling to break eye contact to watch where her feet were going. She and Booth were sat together, at a right angle to the judge's currently vacant table whilst Regina sat opposite the judge with a mousy haired woman Emma didn't know sitting beside her.
"Who's that?" Emma asked Booth in a hushed whisper.
Before he could answer, the court clerk announced the arrival of the judge and Booth helped Emma to her feet. The blonde watched as a petite woman with her hair pinned back into a severe bun entered the room and sat pompously in the high backed chair. Emma thought her robes made her look a bit like a nun.
When they sat back down again, Emma noticed the unknown woman remained standing.
"Judge Blue. My name is Ava Zimmer and I am the representative from child services. I am here today to advise on the placement of the child due to be born to Miss Emma Swan, a current inmate at FCI, serving a sentence of eleven months for possession of stolen property. This is Miss Regina Mills, the woman to whom Miss Swan wishes to entrust her infant until her release early next year."
"Good morning, your honour," Regina said, standing up and nodding respectfully.
The judge cast an appraising eye over the brunette before turning her attention back to Zimmer.
"Details please," the judge prompted.
"Your honour," Regina began after Zimmer nodded for her to begin. "Before we get any further I would like to be honest about my past. I met Emma Swan when we were both incarcerated in FCI. I have just finished serving a three year sentence for dealing drugs. However, I was never a user and will never return to that world. Since my release I have secured a permanent home for myself and Miss Swan to raise our son. I am starting up my own business over the course of the next month and I am already decorating a room intended to be Shrimp's nursery."
"Shrimp?" the judge interrupted.
Emma hid a giggle behind her hand whilst Regina blushed bright red.
"My apologies your honour, that is the nickname we have given the baby until he is born and we name him properly."
Judge Blue nodded slowly. "Continue."
"As I was saying, I was released from FCI less than three weeks ago and I have already purchased a house with money left to me by my late father." Emma's eyes widened. She had always assumed the fortune came from Regina's drug dealing days. "This house is in excellent condition with a secure garden for the child to play in when he grows up. The future nursery is next door to the master bedroom with easy access to a bathroom. I have already, somewhat prematurely I am aware, purchased security gates to prevent a crawling toddler gaining access to places he shouldn't be. I want to-,"
"That's all well and good Miss Mills," Judge Blue interrupted. "But I am here to assess you as a person, not your house. I am aware that you are able to provide financial stability. But what about emotional stability, love, compassion, moral guidance. Right now you are simply asking me to sign over a baby to a rich criminal."
Regina gritted her teeth and took a deep breath before answering.
"I have made mistakes in the past, I know that. I am also rather young, Miss Swan too. But none of that takes away from our ability to provide a stable, loving home for this child. I want to raise this baby more than anything else in the world. I am meeting weekly with a counsellor to deal with any emotional problems stemming from an attack I was a victim of whilst in prison. I am working every day to become a better person. I know I don't deserve a child. The attack proved that. It left me without the ability to bear children myself. Maybe that was God's way of telling me I wasn't supposed to be a mother. But that doesn't mean I won't be a great one. I know what bad parenting is. I grew up with an abusive mother and I have promised myself I will never be like her. I will give this child all the love he could ever want. And I believe that, with Emma by my side, this child will live a happy, safe, content life."
"I've read about the attack, and I am sorry for your loss," Judge Blue said, looking through her notes but not sounding sorry at all. "Does your inability to have children of your own have any bearing on what you are doing here today."
"Not at all," Regina said, shaking her head. "I am here today for Emma and for her baby, not myself. Miss Swan wants to have this child and she wants to care for it. Unfortunately, due to actions taken by the baby's father resulting in Miss Swan's incarceration," Regina worked hard to keep the anger out of her voice, "she is unable to be the amazing mother I know she will be until January. I have offered to care for the child until she is released and will be able to take over the role she will sadly be unable to perform for the first four months of his life."
"And what of the baby's father?" Judge Blue asked. "Is he aware of the proceedings occurring today?"
Regina glanced at Emma. The blonde nodded slightly. "May I direct this question to Miss Swan? I think she would be best suited to answering this," Regina said.
Judge Blue nodded and turned for the first time to look at the woman whose child's fate she was ruling on.
Emma got to her feet, her pregnant belly in full view as it rose above the front of the bench.
"Good morning, your honour," Emma began in a shaky voice. "The father of this baby is no longer in the picture. I'm not exactly sure where he is but he was complicit in the crime for which I was convicted. Even if I knew where he was, I would not wish for him to have any contact with the child and I do not think he would want it either."
"Is there any way to check whether this man has been apprehended on the charges alluded to?" Judge Blue asked, directing her question to Booth.
"Yes your honour," Booth said, standing up beside Emma. "We have in fact already researched this matter and it turns out Mr Cassidy is serving a five year stretch near the Canadian border for related charges."
Emma and Regina both turned to stare at the man as the information tumbled from his lips.
"Why didn't you tell me that?" Emma asked in a hushed whisper.
"Not now," Booth muttered.
"I see," Judge Blue said. "Well that makes this slightly less complicated. And Miss Zimmer, have you had a chance to visit Miss Mills' delightful new residence for an assessment yet?"
"Yes, your honour," Zimmer said, standing once more. "I visited last week and Miss Mills is alarmingly well prepared for this infant's arrival. The house is comfortable and well equipped. I have also spoken to her parole officer. It has only been a few weeks but Miss Mills has yet to miss a meeting and all her spot checks for drugs and alcohol have come back clean, as they did throughout her stay at FCI. Despite the way this case appears on paper, it is the recommendation of myself and my office that Miss Mills be granted temporary custody."
Regina, Emma, and Booth breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Judge Blue looked momentarily at Zimmer before her gaze slid over to Regina. The brunette's heart was thumping in her chest but she tried to maintain her composure despite the beads of sweat dripping down her back. After a few seconds, Blue's eyes moved to Emma. She had sat back down as her ever-expanding stomach meant standing was uncomfortable now. Her hands were resting protectively over her bump. The blonde wasn't even aware the judge was looking at her, so transfixed was she by the new, confident, commanding, sexy, and completely beautiful version of her girlfriend who was stood before her.
"Very well," Judge Blue said after a few moments. "In that case, I shall grant Miss Swan's request to sign over temporary custody to Miss Mills on the condition that she continues to meet with her parole officer, stays clean, and accepts to having random on sight inspections of the family residents until January."
"Yes," Regina replied. "Of course! Anything. I promise you won't regret this."
"I hope not," Judge Blue said. "A baby is a new chance for you two. I expect you to make the most of it."
"We will," Regina said, with a quick glance to a positively beaming blonde. "Thank you."
"Thank you," Emma mimicked, realising she ought to say something.
"Good luck," Judge Blue replied before she got to her feet. Everyone else in the courtroom hastened to follow suit and remained standing until the judge had disappeared.
"Can I-?" Regina asked.
"Just for a moment," Booth nodded.
Within seconds the brunette was stood in from of Emma, her arms wrapped tightly around her girlfriend despite the front of the bench and Emma's stomach making the move awkward. Emma didn't care and hugged Regina back.
"We did it," she whispered. 'We're going to be a family."