A/N: It may be my birthday, but this is my gift to you :)

Also, I was asked a lot of questions.

I have no clue when this is set... it was supposed to be a one-shot after all lol. Let's just say up to season 5 since that's when I stopped watching.

No Robin or Hook will be mentioned because no thank you.

Not sure who else will make an appearance as I am posting as I'm writing. Request away.

No, I don't think I will be renaming the fic. Unless you guys want it to be renamed?

Emma paced the living room as she chewed on her thumbnail, walking back and forth from one end to the other. She had called her old therapist, the one she'd had in Boston, the one who had helped her through the shit she'd suffered while she'd been a foster kid. He had helped her immensely, had been the first male she'd been able to trust as an adult. He'd been the one who reminded her that some men actually could be trusted. She respected him and his opinion.

So she'd called.

I'm glad you called me, Emma. How have you been?

Emma sat down on the couch, pulling her hand away from her mouth and taking a deep breath.

That must have been quite a shock to you. You sound panicked still. Have you been able to calm down?

Emma shot back up, pacing again.

Have you been writing your thoughts down like I told you when you were seeing me?

She went to her bedroom and threw on her jogging clothes before sticking her music in her ears. She stretched her muscles before exiting the house and hitting the pavement.

You sounded distressed, Emma. I'm glad you called. You've calmed down now, and I'm glad to know you feel better. Now, regarding the news you were given. It's normal to be afraid and it's normal to have concerns. Being a parent is a big responsibility, and it's the most important job you will ever have. We've acknowledged that.

Emma ran and ran, breathing deeply as she pushed her body through the streets of Storybrooke.

It sounds like most of your fears are about yourself though, and not about this child or about your girlfriend. We've repeatedly discussed the fact that you are not the failure you believe yourself to be. Have you stopped believing this of yourself?

Emma rounded the corner that led to the immense hill that led to the back woods of Storybrooke, lungs ready to burst by the time she was even just halfway up.

You made poor decisions as a teenager, Emma, not because you're a bad person but because you were hurting. Because you were lost and you were still finding yourself.

Emma pushed herself, feet slamming down on the pavement as she forced her muscles to carry herself up the rest of the hill.

You are not worthless, Emma. Every life has value, including one as precious as yours. The mistakes you made in the past were just that: mistakes. Poor choices. But you've grown, you've matured, and you've changed your path. You are worthy, Emma. And you are not alone.

Emma stopped at the top of the hill, folding over in two as her legs and lungs screamed for a break. She rested her hands against her knees, heaving in deep breaths of air as the tears that had burning in her eyes spilled down onto her cheeks.

Your child will not become 'fucked up' as you stated simply because it is around you, Emma. You're a completely different person from the broken woman who stepped into my office ten years ago. You have a good job, you've purchased your own home, you are a contributing member of society.

Emma hitched back a sob, swallowing hard in order to keep from weeping right then and there on the side of the street.

You protect the people in your life, Emma. Just as you protected the child in the foster homes in which you found yourself. It is in your nature to protect others. It will be no different with this child.

Emma wiped at her tears as she pulled herself back up, walking in circles to get her muscles moving again.

We've discussed the importance of a good support system, and it sounds like you've found one in your mother, your father, your friends, and most importantly: in Regina and in Henry.

Emma stretched again before turning around and heading back the way she came, jogging slowly so as not to trip on her way down the hill.

You will only fail if you do not try, if you isolate yourself from the people you love. Then you have already failed.

Emma moved to a brisk walk as she made her way back home, calming her racing heart as she neared her house.

You are worthy of happiness, Emma. You deserve to be loved. And Regina, who you've said has lived a difficult life with very little love in it, does she not deserve your best? Does she not deserve everything you have to give her?

Do not allow your fears to consume you, Emma. Do not allow your insecurities to best you. You are strong, you are capable, and you are not alone. You are able. But first, you must be willing.

Emma pushed her way into her house, tumbling into her shower and scrubbing at her skin as she tried to wash away the grime from her body. Dr. Anderson had recommended she restart the exercise routine she had stopped, along with picking up yoga and regular sessions with him again. She felt better, a lot better, now that she'd talked to him. She felt lighter, less anxious and scared. She felt like she understood herself better, understood her reaction to the news. She felt stronger. She was still terrified, but she felt… she felt like maybe she could do this. His confidence and his belief in her helped, and maybe with his help, with Regina's, with her parents' she could. So, yes, Emma felt better.

But, as she towelled down and looked at herself in the mirror, mind still going over Dr. Anderson's words, she was consumed by an all-together new emotion since she'd spoken to her therapist: guilt.

David waited until the following day after his talk with Regina to confront his daughter. He'd known there was something going on between the two of them, had suspected they had had a fight. He knew Emma, knew her looks, knew the way she withdrew when something was upsetting her. When Regina was suspiciously M.I.A. at the same time as his daughter, he knew Emma's upset had everything to do with the brunette. His talk with Regina yesterday in the living room had only confirmed his suspicions.

Regina had been incredibly subdued, her eyes slightly swollen, her skin dull, her usual biting comments completely absent. She had only sent two jabs Snow's way, and they had been weak at best. Regina was in a bad way, as was Emma. David was going to get to the bottom of this, and he was going to help them fix it. Because as weird as it was to think of Regina and his daughter together, it also made sense. They made sense together, and they worked. They made each other happy. And his daughter's happiness meant everything to him, so he was bound and determined to get to the bottom of all of this.

David knocked on Emma's door, taking a step back and waiting for her to answer.

"Dad? What are you doing here?"

"Hello to you too. It's also nice to see you."

Emma gave a sheepish smile.

"Sorry. Hey. Come in," Emma offered, stepping out of his way. "What's up?"

"I should ask you the same thing."

"What do you mean?"

"Regina came to visit yesterday."

Emma's eyes widened in guilt.

"Did she?"

David smiled softly. Emma was trying for a casual tone and failing miserably.

"She did. Wanna tell me what's going on?"

"Not really," Emma said honestly, moving to the couch and flopping down on it. "She didn't tell you?"

"No. She said I should talk to you. That whatever was going on, the explanation should come from you."

"She did?"

"She did," he confirmed, taking a seat next to his daughter on the couch. "So, are you gonna tell me what's wrong or should I start guessing?"

Emma let out an empty laugh.

"You'd never guess."

"So then why don't you save us both a lot of time and just tell me?"

Emma hesitated.

"Regina gave you the okay?"

"She did."

Do not shut out the people who love you, Emma. Let them help you. You cannot do this alone. You've tried, remember? And you remember the consequences of attempted to survive on your own. Allow the people who love you to support you.

Emma was quiet for a long time. Her thoughts consumed her, and she sat in silence, trying to work up her courage to speak to her father. She glanced at him, thumb caught between her teeth. She should open up to him. He was a good listener and she respected his opinions. He gave good advice, and he wasn't emotional about things like her mom. She'd never tell her mom about this, about what she was going through because Snow wouldn't get it. She wouldn't get that Emma was terrified. Snow would think only of herself, of the fact that she was to be a grandmother and she'd shriek and cry and dance around, hugging Emma. She wouldn't actually listen to what Emma had to say, to how she felt. But her dad would, Emma knew that. He always did. But she was also scared of his reaction, scared of his disappointment. Scared of what he'd think of her and her reaction to the news Regina had given her.

Emma was just… she was petrified. Of this whole situation. But she swallowed her fear, letting Dr. Anderson's words wash over her to give her strength.

Those who love you only want the best for you. They will do everything in their power to give it to you. Let them help you. Do not shut them out.

"Emma?"

Emma took a deep breath and just blurted it out. Like a band-aid, right?

"Regina's pregnant."

There was a resounding silence in the room following the confession, the two of them taking a moment to absorb the two words spoken.

"Regina's pregnant," Emma repeated, "and it's mine."

David took several moments to recover.

"Wow. Uh, you're right. I never would have guessed that. Wow."

"Yeah."

Charming, absolutely floored at the information (he really, truly never would have guessed), simply sat in silence for a few minutes as he digested the news.

"And, you guys are not handling the news well?"

"No. I uh, I might not have taken it as well as I could have," Emma admitted, "but I was really taken off guard."

"What happened? What did you say to her?"

"I just… I said that I wasn't sure this is what I wanted, and that this like, wasn't in my plans and stuff. Having another kid I mean." Hearing herself say the words aloud made her wince.

"Ouch. She couldn't have reacted well to that. How did she handle finding out she was pregnant though?"

Guilt ate at Emma, and she gnawed harder on her thumb.

"Emma?"

"I don't know," she finally confessed.

"You don't know?"

"I didn't- I didn't ask. I was too busy… freaking out. So I don't know how she is. Probably not very good."

Emma's voice was laced with remorse.

"I see."

There was no judgment in her father's tone, but Emma knew he was disappointed.

"I'm sorry."

"We both know I'm not the person you should be apologising to. How did Regina respond to your reaction? What did she say?"

"Not much. She answered my questions and explained why she was able to get pregnant. I thought she couldn't," Emma explained, when her father looked over in confusion. Ah, he responded. He didn't need to know those details. "She just cried when I got upset. I said a lot of stuff I shouldn't have."

"Like what?"

"Like, that I didn't think I wanted this, to be a parent," she confessed, looking over at him. "And I might have said that I was angry with her for not being honest with me and telling me before we had sex that I could get her pregnant."

David looked at her, incredulous.

"What? Why did sheneed to say something? Didn't you ask her if it was a possibility?"

"No. She had… she had told me that she'd drank a potion, as the Evil Queen, that made her barren. She couldn't have kids after that."

"The Evil Queen disappeared a long time ago. Regina isn't that… isn't her anymore."

"No, but I thought the potion was still- that it still made her unable to have kids."

"You assumed it."

"Yeah."

"You didn't ask her though. You didn't double check before having sex with her that you could get her pregnant."

"No," Emma admitted softly.

"And then you blamed her when she did."

"I did."

Emma sank into the couch, feeling worse and worse about herself. She'd already had these feelings; she already knew she had been horrible, had reacted terribly. But to hear her father's words, his accusations… Emma felt like an asshole. Dr. Anderson had helped her to realise her mistakes, how wrong she had been, but his conversations had been neutral. She hadn't felt any of his disappointment, if he felt any. But her father, she could see it clear as day on his face.

"I don't need to tell you how terrible that was, do I?"

"No, but you probably should anyway. I deserve to hear it."

Charming shook his head, incredibly disheartened that Emma would react so poorly to what should have been such happy news. Or at least considered Regina's feelings before reacting so impulsively. Then again, this was his daughter. She acted first and thought later. Always.

"Just tell me what you're thinking, dad."

"It takes two people to create a child," David said calmly, "and you were just as responsible as she was for getting her pregnant. You had the responsibility to check that you couldn't in the first place."

"I know. I know that. I should have. I've spent the last five days doing nothing but thinking about this, thinking about her and about our conversation. Thinking about the things that I said. Talking to my old therapist about it.

"I was… I was really unfair. Because I was scared. I am still. This- it terrifies me. And I reacted really badly. I was mistaken. I shouldn't have- I made a mistake."

"As did she. Maybe she should have told you that potion was no longer in effect (this was news to David, he had had no clue that Regina had taken such a potion), but you should have asked as well. You should have checked instead of assuming. You're not a kid, Emma. You know how this stuff works. You know that you need to ask your partner, that you need to have these types of discussion before you have sex. You were wrong. So was she. You're both to blame here and it wasn't fair of you to only blame her. Did you even admit any fault?"

Emma shook her head in shame.

"No."

David took a deep breath, sighing heavily. The room fell quiet, both father and daughter taking a long moment to reflect before David spoke again.

"I've known Regina for a long time, Emma. Longer than most people here. I've gotten closer to her than she'd like to admit, and I know her. Not as well as you and Henry, but I still know her. She's not good right now, not herself. Yesterday, she looked like one harsh word was gonna make her burst into tears right in front of us. Regina never lets herself look that vulnerable, so whatever it is that happened between you two has her really shaken up. You guys need to talk.

"I don't think she planned this pregnancy (she didn't, Emma whispered). There you go, she didn't plan for this, so this is just as overwhelming to her as it is to you. No. Even more so. Your part is over now, Emma. You had the easy part. You had an orgasm, and now you're done. She's going to have to do all the work now. She's the one who has to grow that child, who has to live with it inside of her for the next nine months or eight months or however long she has left. She has to be careful as to what she eats, she'll be the one worrying about if it's developing properly, and she's the one who will feel entirely responsible if anything goes wrong. She's the one who's gonna lose sleep when the baby gets too big and she gets uncomfortable, she's gonna get the stretch marks and the swollen feet and the fatigue. She's the one who has to give birth and then deal with any complications that come along with it, whose body is going to suffer for months afterwards. And right now, she thinks she's going about it alone. When she herself didn't ask for this either. You can just leave, but she's got to stick around because someone has to take care of that child. Are you really going to be this person, Emma? Are you really going to be a coward like this?

"I understand that you're worried and scared. I get that change scares you (and he did, she had suffered too many painful and harmful changes as a child, and now she liked predictability, safety). But you're not alone in this. You have me, you have your mother, you have Regina, who will be with you the entire time, every step of the way. But only if you get your head out of your ass and you talk to her and beg her for forgiveness. You couldn't hope to find a better mother for your children, your own mother aside (though Charming did respect each woman's parenting abilities), and you're damn lucky that Regina is going to be your co-parent. Step up, Emma. You need to stop letting your emotions control you. You're running, and it's time to stop."

"I'm not running," Emma argued. "I'm still right here."

"In your house while the mother of your children sits at home, doing her best to cope. Alone."

Emma looked down.

"What if she doesn't take me back?" Emma finally asked.

"Then you do right by her, and you respect her decision. Because at this point, she's got every right to hate you and want nothing to do with you. If she doesn't want you back, then you give her the space she requests, but you support that child and you care for it. You had a hand in creating that life and now you need to take responsibility and care of it."

Silence reigned over the room, Emma still wiping at the tears that continued to fall down her cheeks. She was a mess, and she really, really wished Regina were here so she could talk to her. How she gotten to this point?

"Do you want this, Emma?" David finally asked. "You haven't even told me."

Emma took a deep breath.

"I wasn't sure… I didn't- I didn't think so. But I think…" Emma trailed off before admitting in a whisper, "I think because I think I was scared. Of what it meant. Of fucking up. Of fucking the kid up. But I talked to my therapist… and he- he helped me a lot. Helped me see look down the right path again instead of going back to the dark place in my head. It's just… hard. Because I can't stop thinking that I'm just… I'm not parent material. That I would be no good for a kid. That I'd be a shit parent and the baby would be better if I didn't help raise it. Because how can I raise a kid when I had such shitty people raising me? I don't know how to raise a kid. I have no fucking idea how to be a parent. Parents are supposed to be role models. And I'm no role model."

She's been scared of the change in her life too, upset that she'd be giving up her freedom, her independence. But she'd been free these last five days, had had no responsibilities, no ties to anyone, and she'd been fucking miserable. And lonely. And she'd been reminded of her time in Boston, how fucking alone she had been all the time, and she quickly realised she only liked her freedom when that freedom included both Henry and Regina.

"You've done a spectacular job with Henry," David started, interrupting her thoughts.

Emma scoffed.

"He was pretty much raised by the time I came into the picture. That's all Regina."

"But you did an amazing job with him since then, Emma. And with your brother. And you won't be doing this alone. Regina will there the entire time, as will your mother and I. Let's be honest, Emma. If I had had to raise you or your brother alone, it would have been a complete disaster. We are all helpless without our women. And Regina, she's a great woman. Your great woman. As long as you finally get your act together and go see her."

"I know," Emma said softly. "She is a great woman. Really great."

"You need to talk to her."

Emma took a deep breath and nodded.

"Yeah."

"You need to tell her all of this."

"I know."

"Any more doubts?"

"A ton," Emma said, small smile on her lips. "But none about her."

Charming nodded before slipping over to his daughter and pulling her into a hug.

"Congratulations, mom."

Emma smiled, warmed at the words.

"Thanks," she said, a small flicker of pride sparking inside her belly. Mom. Would she be mom, if- when this all happened? Probably not. Regina was mom. And mommy. Emma was ma. Maybe she would be mama this time.

"Why are you smiling?" David asked when he pulled back.

"Just thinking."

"The smile is promising. What were you thinking about?"

Emma smiled sheepishly.

"Thinking maybe this one'll call me mama. It's silly but, I like it. Henry was too old for that by the time I stepped into the picture."

David nodded in understanding.

"It's not silly. There's nothing better than hearing your kid call your name, especially after you've been away at work. They come running at you, screaming your name, like you're the best thing in the world. And you are, in their eyes."

Emma smiled to herself, envisioning her future child running at her after she'd worked a long day at the station. Maybe… maybe she wouldn't fuck it all up. Maybe the kid would love her. But, Emma knew it took more than just love. She needed to become better. For this child.

For now, Emma would tease her father. She'd worry about that stuff later.

"Should I start doing that to you, old man? Run into your arms when you get home?"

"I'd appreciate it. Frankly, I'm offended you haven't offered before today."

Emma chuckled, looking over and smiling happily at her father.

"Thanks, dad. For your advice. I appreciate it."

"Any time, kiddo. Now, are you ready to talk to Regina?"

"Yeah. I really need to do that."

"Yes, you do. But first, we need to go shopping. If there's one thing I've learnt from being married, it's that you never return home after a fight empty handed."

A/N: Feel free to let me know what you want to happen. I haven't written the next chapter yet.