A/N: I'm not even attempting to write the birth, sorry! There is no way I could do it justice so I decided to skip over it for the sake of keeping the story quality high (self aggrandising or what?) I fear this chapter is yet more emotions and sadness. But it's a happy story overall, don't forget that.

"What's the time?" Boyd asked.

"Just gone half eleven," Snow replied as French covered a yawn. The three women had gathered in Emma's bunk after Booth had shooed them away from outside the infirmary with the promise he'd come and tell them as soon as the baby was born.

"It's been ten hours," French murmured. "I wish they would have let us stay with her."

"I know," Snow said. "I hate thinking about her being in there all alone."

"She's got Booth," French amended.

"It's not the same as friends, or Regina," Boyd added.

"True," French said.

The women fell into silence once more, waiting. Just as Boyd began to re-read one of Red's old magazines for the umpteenth time, heavy footsteps echoed through the dark corridor outside the bunk and all three women stood up immediately.

Booth entered the room and smiled tiredly at Emma's friends.

"He's here," he said.

"Yes!" the women said in unison.

"How is he? How's Emma?" Snow asked.

"Both are doing great. Labour was pretty long but the birth itself went really smoothly and Swan is recovering now. The baby is with her."

"And Regina?" French asked.

"She's here too," Booth replied. He'd phoned the brunette as soon as French had raced into his room earlier in the day. "She's not allowed in to the main prison but she's waiting for the paperwork to be completed so she can take him home."

"Can we see them?" Boyd asked.

"I'm afraid not. Emma is too tired now and our main priority is to get the baby where he is supposed to be. He's not able to stay in FCI much longer. As soon as Emma signs the custody papers, I'll be taking him through to Regina."

"Tonight?" Snow asked.

"Yes," Booth nodded. "Anyway, now you know Swan is ok, I suggest you three head to bed. Your friend is going to need your support more than ever over the next few days."

Emma gazed down at the baby in her arms. Her baby. His eyes were closed and the fine blonde hair on his crown fluttered slightly as she breathed. His tiny nose and perfect pink lips, his minute ears, topped with fuzzy hairs Emma knew would soon drop off, the young woman took in every detail, remembered every moment with her son. She was exhausted but she hadn't dared close her eyes for fear of missing even a second of their time together. He was wrapped in a soft blue blanket, nestled close to her chest. She'd already breast-fed him once after reading that some of the nutrients the first feed provides for the baby is incomparable to any formula. It had felt strange. An intimate sensation as his lips fumbled to gain purchase for a few minutes before he finally latched on and sucked eagerly. Emma leaned down and placed a soft kiss to his forehead. The baby stirred but his eyes remained closed.

She pulled him closer to her body, unwilling to miss a second of the short time she knew they had together. Booth had told her Regina was here, waiting. She had begged him to let the brunette visit but he had reluctantly refused. Emma didn't even have it in her to be angry at him. He had been fantastic throughout the birth and she didn't think she would have got through the past ten hours without him. She knew she'd see Regina at visitation the following Saturday anyway. With their son. She just wished she could hand him to the brunette herself. And tell her the name she had chosen.

Regina insisted Emma had final say over the baby's name after the two women argued for hours about different names, unable to come to a decision. Despite Emma being adamant that it was their son and that they were co-parents, she had conceded if they were unable to decide together, she would choose. Emma thought Regina would be happy with her final choice. She'd have to be: the ink on the birth certificate was dry.

A whimper from her baby snapped Emma back into the present. His mouth was ajar as a small spit bubble expanded there. The blonde smiled wider as his eyes cracked open. Brown orbs blinked slowly, the infant's limited vision deciphering shapes and some colours. Emma watched as his gaze moved to her face, the pupils dilating slightly.

"Hey Shrimp," Emma said, her voice choked with emotion. "I'm your mum."

The baby's mouth opened a little more, a gurgling sound coming out as he wriggled more violently against the tight bind of the blanket.

"You hungry?" Emma asked, shifting him slightly away as she pulled her hospital gown up to expose her breast.

It took him much less time than before to work out what to do and within moments, a hungry mouth was covering Emma's swollen areola. She winced slightly as his gums closed over her nipple. Glancing down, she saw his eyes were closed again, content to be pressed against his mother's skin, feeding once more as he felt her warmth and inhaled her scent.

There was a knock at the door.

"Come in," Emma said without tearing her eyes away from her son.

"Sorry," Booth said. "I didn't mean to disturb you. Do you want me to give you some privacy?"

"Don't worry," Emma said softly. "After today, I don't think you and I have anything private left."

Booth smiled and moved further into the room, standing beside the bed and grinning wider as he saw the little family before him.

"How's he doing?" he asked.

"He's perfect," Emma sighed, her voice tired but happy.

Booth hesitated before breaking the news he knew he needed to deliver. "Emma," he said, waiting until she was looking at him before continuing. "I've got the paperwork."

The blonde nodded mutely.

"I'm so sorry, but we're going to need to pass him over to Regina."

Emma nodded again before turning her glistening eyes back to her still suckling son. As Booth watched, several tears fell onto his head. Emma lifted a shaking hand to wipe them away.

"Can we wait until after he's finished feeding?" Emma asked in a choked voice.

"Of course," Booth nodded. "I'll come back in a few minutes."

Emma nodded, trying with all her might not to break down further in front of her counsellor. She heard the door close and was unable to stop the sob that wracked her body. The baby mewled as her frame shook and his mouth was dislodged from her breast.

"I'm sorry," Emma cried, guiding his lips back as she tried to control her anguish.

Taking several steadying breaths, Emma tried to focus. Focus on the baby, on the feel of him in her arms, on the way he smelt, on the noises he made as he fed, on her son.

"I love you," Emma whispered as she tightened her arms around the tiny bundle.

He stopped feeding a few seconds before Booth knocked on the door. Emma looked up from straightening her gown and her heart began to beat faster.

"Already?" Emma asked.

"I'm afraid so," he nodded.

Emma took a deep breath and nodded. Placing one more kiss to her son's forehead, she raised him up and held him out for Booth to take, which he did in surprisingly gentle arms. As soon as the comforting weight of him was gone, Emma closed her eyes, turning away from her counsellor and curling up into a ball. Cries filled the room. Booth hesitated before turning away and taking the baby out of the room.

Her impatient fingers played with the silver disc, twisting it on its chain and running the pad of her finger over the swan engraving. Regina stood up as soon as she saw Booth, dropping the necklace back to where it nestled against her chest. She gasped as she saw the tiny bundle of blankets in his arms. Before she knew it, he was in front of her.

"Are you ready for this?" Booth asked.

"I've never been more ready for anything in my life," she replied.

"Good," Booth said. "Because Emma is trusting you with him. I'm trusting you with him."

"I know," Regina nodded. "I'm going to be the best mother in the world, until Emma gets out and claims that title."

Booth smiled and extending his arms. Regina took the baby, looking into his face for the first time. He was sleeping. He was perfect.

"She's just fed him," Booth explained. "Do you have formula." Regina nodded. "And your car has a seat fitted for a new born?" More nodding. Apparently something about this baby made his mothers mute. "Ok then," Booth said. "If you just sign this paperwork you two can be on your way. Here's his birth certificate," he said, handing over a piece of paper.

"Thanks," Regina said, glancing briefly at it. Just as she was sitting back down in her chair to go over the paperwork, her eyes snapped back to the name on the birth certificate. "Er, Booth?" she asked.

"Yes?" Booth said, rifling through his file to find the sheets Regina needed to complete.

"Is this a mistake?" she asked.

"What?" Booth asked.

"His name."

"Oh, that reminds me," he said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a letter. "Emma asked me to give this to you."

Regina took the envelope and fumbled it open with one hand, the other arm occupied holding her son. As soon as she got the letter out, she unfolded it and began to read:

Dear Regina,

We did it. Well, I did the messy bit but anyway, here we are. We have a son. We have a family. Without you, I would have had to give up my child. I would never have the chance to know him, watch him grow up, laugh with him, cry with him, make memories with him, and love him every single day of my life with every single piece of my heart. You are the reason I can do this. I will do this. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be a mother.

And it's because of the person you are that I fell in love with you. So completely and utterly in love, Regina. You make me happier than I've ever been in my life. You make me feel safe, important, valued, special, loved. You are such an incredible woman and I am so happy you are going to be raising our son. I wish I could be alongside you right from the beginning but I know you'll take the best possible care of him until I get out and can help you. You know what a bad parent looks like, but you also know what a good parent does for their child. Your father is a big part of who you are today, a big part of nurturing and caring for the woman I fell in love with. Which is why I would like to introduce you to Henry Swan. My family aren't worth recognising, nor is your mother. But Henry Mills? I think he is the perfect person to name our son after.

Take good care of him and yourself, Regina. Never forget how much I love you and how grateful I am for all you are doing for me, for us.

I love you,

Emma x