Okay guys, things are going to get really exciting! I had a lot of fun with this chapter and I hope you will enjoy a few laughs as you read. Please come back for the next update. I can't wait to share it with you! This is not the end ;)
As promised, that Saturday, Emma and Henry set out on a quest to find their new house. Unfortunately, as a result of her ex-girlfriend's curse, Mr. Gold aka Rumplestiltskin, the local pawnbroker, owns the majority of the properties in the town of Storybrooke. So, mother and son make a trip to Gold's shop that afternoon to inquire about several houses for sale.
After what feels like hours of negotiating, Emma is almost ready to make her final decision. But first, she and Henry decide to revisit the three properties that caught their attention.
Before mother and son can make their escape, the aging man makes a final request. "Oh, Miss Swan."
Emma turns on her heel, the excitement from their previous conversation about the available properties still fresh in her memory. "Yeah?"
The limping man slowly makes his way around the counter and stops to lean on his cane for stability. He addresses his grandson. "Henry, may I speak with your mother privately?"
"Sure," the excited teenager responds. "I'll be outside, Mom."
"I'll be right behind you, kid." The young mother offers her precious boy a warm smile before he exits. Inhaling deeply to mentally prepare herself for what she believes will be an exasperating conversation, the young woman tries to remain positive and encourages, "What's up? Why do we need total privacy?"
The infuriating man smirks at the young sheriff's casual attitude. Gold always had a way of staring, as if he was looking right through one's very soul. To make the situation worse, he carries a foreboding message. "You don't know."
A sudden chill rushes up the young woman's spine. She braces herself, convinced that she is about to hear the worst news imaginable. I'm dying. I must be dying. Hesitantly she inquires, her tone filled with dread, "What don't I know?"
"When was the date of your last menstrual cycle?"
Fucking pervert! She snaps back to reality. No one gets away with talking to Emma Swan like that without losing a few teeth. However, this is Gold. He knows everything. The young sheriff attempts to disguise the fact that she is unnerved behind aggression. She speaks with a harsh tone, but maintains her relaxed stance. Holding his gaze to make certain that she is understood, the riled woman bites back. "That's really fucking personal, Gold. I would watch it unless you wanna get punched in the face."
Without wavering, the sinister man continues to coolly explain, "I assure you, I do not wish to have that experience. My only desire is to help."
No. This isn't happening. Every inch of her body is screaming, she feels like she has been set aflame. But, she refuses to lose face in front of this manipulative beast. Fighting back the tears threatening her vision, the young woman says through gritted teeth, "What the hell are you talking about?"
"I have no doubt you'll figure it out soon enough." This man is infuriating! It appears as if he is pleased with himself for rattling the sheriff.
If he thinks he can get away with talking to the Savior so candidly, he's got another thing coming. Maybe it's all the time she's spent with Regina. Laced with venom, she spits, "Don't act like you know me. You don't know a thing about me." Her normally piercing blue eyes are almost black with rage. However, the murderous stare has no affect on the eerily calm man.
He succeeds in making the alarmed woman even more uncomfortable, by saying the words that have the ability to unravel the usually confident woman. "Oh, but I do. I know you better than you know yourself, dearie."
Enough is too much. This charade stops now. "Do me favor and stay out of my personal life!" the furious woman shouts.
Unfortunately, her tone has no effect on the heartless man. "I look forward to speaking with you again, Miss Swan," is his matter-of-fact reply.
"Don't hold your breath."
7777777
Luckily she managed to hide the reason for their stop at the local drugstore behind the guise of needing to buy toilet paper for the apartment. Of course, Emma knew her son would never question such matters involving the need for something as fundamental as toilet paper. And, thankfully, Henry decided to remain in the car while his mother ran into the drugstore. She only hopes the people of this small town, who saw her picking out a home pregnancy test, have enough decency to keep their mouths shut.
She had been down this road before and quickly locates a familiar box. Luckily for her, she also remembers the toilet paper.
Later that afternoon, once they are back home, the young woman is sitting on the toilet agonizing about the upcoming test that she is certain to fail.
Okay. Okay. I can do this. Wait. How, the fuck, do I do this? Why won't my hands stop shaking? Calm down Swan. You can do this. You've done this before. All you have to do is pee. Why did I let that fucking pervert get to me?
I really wish I wasn't alone. Breathe. Just breathe.
Okay, I can do this. Finally, her body relaxes.
How long do I have to wait? Three minutes?! How can they possibly expect me to wait that long?!
"Emma? Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Mom." Go away. Please, go away.
I can't do this. What if it's positive? A surprising thought enters her mind. What if it's not?
7777777
The longest three minutes in Emma Swan's life had finally passed. The petrified woman lightly shuts her eyes and, once again, tries to focus on her breathing. She mentally prepares herself to read, what may be, the most important test results she would ever receive.
Shit.
The numb woman rests on the edge of the tub, still clutching the positive test. Honestly, the results do not come as a surprise when she thinks back to all the signs of early pregnancy that she had dismissed. Though she is now in her thirties, she still feels like that frightened teenager sitting in her jail cell. But this time is a little different. What happens next surprises her. But, she cannot deny, that it feels so natural.
"Hi, baby," she whispers. Instinctively, she cradles her abdomen with both hands. "I'm your mommy." The love she feels for her unborn child, is the purest thing she has ever felt. "I'm so glad you're here, baby. I promise to always take care of you and never let you go."
The young woman doesn't understand why her thoughts keep drifting to a certain brunette. Regina?
The young woman makes a startling realization. Up until now, she hadn't given a single thought to the paternity of her child. No. This isn't possible.
7777777
The tormented woman slowly emerges from the bathroom and into the kitchen where her mother is currently occupied with the task of baking, what looks like an apple pie for an after dinner treat.
Me want apple! What?! Where did that come from? Evidently, her unborn child is as much of a fiend as she is. Shush, baby. Now is not the time. I need to talk to your grandmother. She hesitantly begins, "Mom?" When will the pie be ready? Damnit, not now!
"Are you okay?" The young mother's level of concern rises, when her daughter remains unresponsive. She notices Emma's breathing become increasingly labored. "Emma, honey, what is it?" She quickly wipes her hands and rushes to her daughter's aid.
As soon as she feels her mother's gentle grip on her biceps, the anxious woman timidly voices her confession. "I'm pregnant." Saying it out loud makes the situation even more real. The frightened young woman collapses in her mother's forgiving embrace.
"Okay. It's okay, Emma," Mary-Margaret whispers as she rubs soothing circles on her daughter's back.
I'm so scared, Mom. Please help me. She is too overwhelmed to speak. She only continues to cry harder for reasons unknown to her.
"It's okay." The young mother only wishes she knew what her daughter needs. "Honey, why are you so upset?"
"I'm scared." Although, she honestly doesn't know what she is afraid of.
"Honey, it's okay. I'm here now. You don't have to do this alone."
That's all she needed to hear, a reminder. Emma hugs her mother tighter and brings up her greatest source of guilt. "I gave my son up."
Recognizing the origin of her daughter's fear, Mary-Margaret attempts to chase away the demons of Emma's past. "But, you are not going to give up this baby. I won't let you."
"I can't." I don't know how to be a mother.
"I promise, Emma, I will never let you let go of this baby." Mary-Margaret stands firm, determined to make up for that incredibly dark time in her daughter's life, when she was absent.
Strengthened by her mother's conviction, Emma breaks their tender hug. "Mom?"
"What is it, honey?"
It's Regina's. But, the younger woman is struck dumb. How could she make such a bold assertion?
"Did you just find out?" The young woman slowly nods her response. "Well, we need to make an appointment with Dr. Whale to see how far along you are."
I have to know what she's thinking. "Are you mad?"
Mary-Margaret cannot believe what she's hearing. "Of course not. How could you even think that?" But, as soon as she says it, she realizes that her daughter did not grow up in a home surrounded by love and warmth. She has only known fear, abandonment, and shame.
I'm so glad you're here. "I missed you Mom."
Her daughter's acceptance only cuts the young mother deeper. "I should have been there." She holds her daughter firmly, determined to never let her child feel that pain of abandonment ever again. "I would have never let you give Henry up."
I needed you. I needed my mother.
"But, I'm here now. And, I will always take care of you and my grandchildren."
"I wished for you for so long." She didn't mean to say it out loud, but she is immediately grateful that she did.
Biting back tears, Mary-Margaret checks in with her precious girl. "Are you okay?"
I'm so glad you're here. "I'm okay." Emma offers her mother an honest smile.
"It's okay to be happy Emma." Her greatest hope is for her daughter to be happy.
"I am happy." I get a second chance. "I want my baby." I also want an apple.
"You are going to be a wonderful mother Emma. You already are."
Smiling feels natural again. "Thanks Mom." Can I have an apple now?
"When are you going to tell Killian?"
Fuck. I'm not ready for this. "I don't know."
7777777
The young woman cannot stand still. She shifts her weight from foot to foot and nervously chews on her fingernails as she eagerly waits for her son to conclude his agonizingly long conversation with his brunette mother.
This is a bad idea. But, I need to talk to her. Maybe it's the pregnancy, but I need to hear her voice. She's the only thing that calms me. "Hey, kid. Before you hang up, let me talk to your mom."
"Um…Mom? Emma wants to talk to you."
The brunette woman's heart soars. Maybe, just maybe, it isn't too late.
The younger woman's palms immediately begin to sweat. "Regina?"
"Emma."
"Hey." I'm pregnant.
"Hey." I love the sound of your voice. "So, he's pretty excited about the new house."
"Yeah. I am too." And, I'm going to be a mother again.
"I'm really happy for you." You deserve to be happy.
"Thanks." I want to tell you that I think I'm carrying your child.
"Is everything alright?" What do you want to tell me?
I want to tell you about our child. "Yeah, actually." I want this to be your baby. "Everything is better than alright."
"You sound happy." Something wonderful has happened.
"I am." I'm carrying your child. "I guess I might as well tell you...because, this affects Henry." What the fuck am I doing?
"Tell me what?"
"I just found out…that…I'm pregnant." I think it's your baby. "Regina?" Oh, no, I killed her.
"I'm here." It's over. It's really over. "I just…wow." I lost her.
"Yeah. I know." What do I say? "It wasn't planned, but…I'm really happy." Especially, if this is your baby.
I want to die. "Congratulations."
"Thanks." I'm so glad I told you. "You're the first person I've told besides my mom." There's still a chance this baby isn't Regina's. I shouldn't get my hopes up. It's probably not Regina's. That doesn't even make sense. "I haven't even told Killian yet." It wouldn't be the worst thing if a pirate was the father. This is still my baby. "I'm just worried about Henry. I don't know how to tell him."
I've lost her forever. She'll never be mine. "I could talk to him, if you'd like."
This could be a good thing. Maybe this baby will bring my family closer together. "Maybe we should both sit down with him. He needs to know that we're still a family."
I may have lost her love, but I will not give up on my family. "We are. We are a family. I appreciate you telling me."
She's upset. "How are you?"
Sick. "I'm good."
"You're upset." I can see right through you, Regina Mills.
"No, I'm…I'm not feeling very well." I'm seriously going to be sick.
I have to ask. "Is he good to you?"
"What?" That came out of nowhere.
I need to know. "Robin. Is he good to you?"
"He's very good to me." That's the truth.
"Do you love him?" I didn't mean to say that out loud.
How do I even answer that? Anything I say will be a lie. But, she can't ever know the truth. "I wouldn't be getting married if I didn't."
I'm going to be sick. "I'll make sure Henry's back by dinnertime tomorrow."
"Thank you." I will always love you. "Emma?"
"Yes." Care to drive the sword deeper?
"You're going to be a wonderful mother." I only wish the baby was mine.
I'm so glad I told you. "Thank you." I wish this baby was yours. "That means a lot."
"Goodnight, Emma." I'll never regret loving you.
"Goodnight, Regina." I wish this baby was yours.
Maybe it's silly, but the blonde woman is instantly comforted by the presence of her unborn child. I'm so glad you're here. Now, how about some pie?
7777777
The man cohabitating the mansion notices a sudden change in his fiancé's mood as she concludes her most recent phone conversation. "Darling, what's the matter?"
The sudden reminder of this man's presence further nauseates the queen. "I'm going to be sick."
She barely reaches the bathroom before losing the contents of her stomach. She clings to the porcelain as if it is the only thing keeping her afloat in this sea of torment. How, the queen wonders, had she fallen so far? All she wants is to be alone with her misery, but the ever persistent woodsman isn't easily dissuaded. He is immediately by her side.
"Regina? Are you alright?" When he doesn't receive a response, the concerned man attempts to pry the crying woman's shaking hands off the toilet bowl; without hurting her. The desperate queen releases her grip and hopelessly clings to the only person available. "Darling, what's wrong?"
As soon as she can breathe, the hysterical queen voices her sorrow. "I can never have children."
Of course he has no idea where this is coming from, but Robin decides instead to focus on the absurdity of the statement. "What?! Of course you can."
The queen doesn't have patience for brainless optimism. Robin's thoughtless words might as well have come from that goody two-shoes Snow White. "No. No. I cursed myself." The queen only hopes her explanation will sink in. "I took a very powerful potion to…to punish my mother. I made it so I could never bear her grandchildren."
It breaks the man's heart that he cannot fix such a bleak situation for the woman he loves. "Darling, it's alright." Please, not more optimism. I've already vomited once this evening. "You are still a mother." Unexpectedly, his words have an effect. "You have Henry…and Roland. My son needs a mother."
"I do love Roland," the broken woman admits. She always did have a soft spot for children.
"And, he loves you." He can see the queen struggling to smile, but it becomes clear that she doesn't have reason. Realizing that there is nothing within his power that he could do to make things right for his beloved, Robin offers some comfort. "There's something I've been wanting to ask you and I think now the timing is right." The queen grants the outlaw her full attention. "After we're married, will you adopt Roland?"
"Of course I will." This boy needs a mother, and the queen has so much love to give. However, she accepts the fact that her heart will remain forever broken. She ruined the greatest relationship she has ever had with another person and her chance at true happiness. The former Evil Queen had let fear be her motivator.
"Roland will be our son," Robin confirms.
Now, the queen recognizes, even if she wanted to get back with Emma and begin their life together, she could not. A baby changes everything and…she resigns to the fact, that this baby is not hers. Completely desolate, the queen surrenders to the grim reality of her own making. "Robin…I'm ready to set a date."