It took another week before Emma could return to the garage, feeling incredibly impatient to continue as Regina had just passed her 27th week of pregnancy. Despite knowing she still had time, with every day that passed, she got more and more nervous, wanting desperately to take time off work to get back to the cradle. She was over the moon with the knowledge that all she needed was another couple of sessions and she'd be done.
Emma practically skipped to the garage that afternoon, smiling widely as she ran a cloth over the cradle to ensure absolutely no dust or residue was left on the wood before she grabbed her can of polyurethane and a brush. She then began applying a layer to the cradle. She took her time, covering every inch of wood before finally stepping back, satisfied. It would need time to dry, so Emma went home (dodging Regina's questions again as to why she was late) and returned two days later on her lunch break this time, sanding down what she'd applied previously and adding a second coat.
Emma was practically vibrating with excitement as she skipped out on work early again three days later (taking more vacation time), returning to the garage to add a layer of wax, the final step in completing her project. Regina was one day away from hitting twenty eight weeks, and they were a couple of weeks away from the baby shower Snow had been planning with Belle. Emma was eager to give Regina this gift, but she was also relieved that she would be finished after today because she knew that Regina was getting suspicious. Regina was checking in more often, and although Emma was excited to surprise her lover, she despised lying to her. It just felt wrong, especially given the fact that Regina was so honest with her. Not to mention the fact that Emma simply respected the hell out of Regina, and lying to her made her feel incredibly uncomfortable. But she was just about finished Regina's gift, so there would be no more lying, something for which Emma was incredibly happy.
Emma hummed softly to herself, her smile growing wider as she glided the wax along the cradle, heart beating out of her chest (in excitement) when she finally finished. She flipped the cradle back on its right side and simply stood there, admiring her work. It looked beautiful. It looked perfect. And Regina was going to love it. Emma reached out and gave a small tug to the one side, grinning as the cradle rocked perfectly on itself.
Emma glanced up at the clock, realising she still had another hour left on her shift (if she had still been working). She slowly began picking up her mess, putting her things away and tossing the paper towels she'd dirtied in the trash. She wiped her hands on her pants and then reached into her pocket, heart picking up when she realised she had a bunch of notifications.
She hadn't felt her phone vibrate in her pocket, despite the fact that she'd turned the vibrate function on its highest setting. Her mom had been out today due to an appointment for Neal's vaccinations, and so she'd kept the phone on her. She was sure she'd feel it vibrate; she always did. Emma, however, had apparently become too enthralled in her work and hadn't noticed it at all.
Fuck.
Emma swiped at the screen, her stomach clenching when she realised she had two missed calls, a voice mail, and a ton of missed messages from Regina.
-Hello, my love. I was going to come by for lunch. Would you like anything?
-Emma?
-Are you on a call?
-Emma, please answer when you get a moment. I'm worried.
Then:
-I've just called the station. Your father is a horrific liar. Where are you!
Emma opened her voicemail, swallowing hard when she heard Regina's enraged voice.
"Emma Swan, you have a lotof explaining to do. Tell me why your father told me you were at the store, and then retracted that statement to say that you were at Granny's, when Ruby JUST informed me she hasn't seen you in days. I'm heading to the station now."
Emma's stomach dropped, swiping on the screen when a call from her father came through, interrupting the message.
"Dad?"
"Emma, get to the house. Regina was just here and she's furious. She was practically screaming-"
"Fuck-"
Emma interrupted, her father's panicked voice spurring her into action. She immediately raced for the garage door, heart racing as she listened to her father's urgent tone.
"She was demanding to know where you were and asking why you're not answering her messages. Emma, it's not good."
"I know-"
"No you don't. This is bad, Emma. She was talking about how she can't find you lately. Then she started going through your desk, and she saw your timesheet for the week. She saw the vacation hours you put in for. She pulled out her phone and I don't know what she looked up but she started hounding me about why she suddenly sees your vacation days balance has changed and that she never approved any time off for you-"
"Oh my God."
Emma stopped in her tracks, bile rising in her throat. All the blood drained from Emma's face as she stood before her car, terror spiking in her veins. She knew exactly what this looked like, what Regina would be thinking.
"After that, she went to the bathroom and started swearing about the soap. She thinks you're lying to her, Emma. I think she thinks-"
"Fuck!" Emma cut him off, hearing nothing more than the sound of blood rushing in her ears as yanked open her car door, hands shaking as she shoved her keys in the ignition. "This looks so bad, dad."
"It does. I think you need to tell her."
Emma nodded at the phone, though he couldn't see her.
"I gotta go."
Emma hung up the phone and tried Regina, leaving her a voicemail to please call her and that she was on her way. She swiped at her screen when the phone began ringing, peeling down Main street as she rushed to get home. Henry's shaky voice suddenly filled the car, causing Emma's stomach to roll with anxiety.
"Ma? Um, I think you need to come home. Mom is crying and she's packing your things. And she's cursing grandpa and talking about everyone betraying her. What's going on?"
"Fuck! Henry, it's fine, everything is fine. It's just a misunderstanding. I need you to go to your grandparents' house, okay? Please don't argue."
Emma sighed in relief when he agreed, yet again trying Regina's cell and slamming her hand against the steering wheel when she didn't pick up. They needed to talk and she needed Henry to be out of the house for this. She had a feeling it wouldn't be pretty.
Emma tore into the driveway, parking the car haphazardly and ripping the keys from the ignition as she stumbled out of her vehicle. She met Henry as he was leaving, kissing him quickly and assuring him again that things would be okay.
Emma raced into the house, slamming the door and ripping off her boots as she jogged up the stairs, leaving a mess in her wake.
"Regina?!" Emma called, heading towards where she could hear movement.
She paused at the threshold when she found Regina in their bedroom, eyes surveying the damage. Drawers were ripped from their dresser, clothing thrown into an open suitcase. Emma spotted her toiletries, pictures, and a few of the hoodies she'd hung up in Regina's closet, all angrily tossed in the suitcase. When she looked up and caught Regina's eye, she could see the woman's mascara smeared along her cheeks, but the tears had long dried up. Regina looked murderous.
"Get out!" she seethed, pointing a finger at Emma and approaching her menacingly. "Get the fuck out of my house!"
Emma swallowed. Regina had never used such a tone before and she'd certainly never sworn at her, not like this. Not in this way. Regina's pupils were nearly black with rage, and Emma could see the magic sparking in her fingers. She looked like she was ready to kill her. A shiver of fear ran up Emma's spine. Even in their first year of meeting, back when Regina hated her, she'd never looked at Emma like this.
Emma needed to do damage control, fast.
"Regina. I swear to God, it's not what it looks like-"
"Oh?! It isn't?" Regina interrupted, practically screaming. "Because I think it's exactly what it looks like! It's pretty obvious, Miss Swan. You're cheating. It's a tale as old as time. Girl gets pregnant, gets cheated on, and is left for a younger, prettier, and more attractive woman. One who is not fat and pregnant and moody! This is so common. I should have seen it coming-"
"Regina-"
"Don't you dare!" Regina raged, throwing Emma's suitcase to the floor. "You've done the same thing, Emma Swan, and I've been blind to it! I'm a fucking moron. And you're very good. You had me. You really did. I really thought you loved me-"
"I do-"
"YOU DON'T!" Regina screamed, throwing a picture at the opposite wall, shoulders shaking with outrage.
Emma was terrified. She'd never seen Regina like this and she had no idea what to do. She wanted nothing more than to reach out to her, to make her believe that she hadn't cheated. That she would never. But Emma was sailing unchartered waters. She had no idea how to proceed in order to reach Regina. She was so far gone, so blind with fury, that even if Emma had known what to say, she wouldn't have been able to get a word in edgewise because Regina refused to stop yelling at her.
"Don't you fucking dare! You don't love me! How could love me if you're cheating on me?! Did you ever even care for me? Gods. You had me so- but the signs are all there, Emma! I was just too stupid to see them. I didn't even know I shouldbe looking for them! Cutting out of work early, coming home smelling wrong, like you've just taken a shower, dodging your girlfriend's-" Regina shook her head, "ex-girlfriend's phone calls and messages. Who the hell is she? I didn't even know who she is. And I'd probably never have even realised if I hadn't gone to the station today!"
Regina turned to Emma, hands balled up tight, face contorted with uncontrolled outrage.
"How long has this been going on, Emma?! Your father tried to lie for you. How long has he been covering for you?" Regina turned, pacing, not waiting for an answer as she spoke. "I'm a complete idiot. A complete blind, fucking idiot. 'We bought a new soap at work.' How could I be so stupid? I knew that was your mother's hand soap. Your parents are helping you hide your affair as well, aren't they? I suppose this is the perfect way to get back at me for everything I've done. And I thought your father-"
Regina's voice hitched, the pain cutting her so sharply in her ribs that it stole her voice. But she refused to be silenced, even by her own pain. She couldn't believe this was happening. She felt so, incredibly blindsided, but she should have known. Nothing ever worked out for her, and she was an absolute moron for ever trusting Emma, for letting her guard down in this way. It was her own fault. Regina could feel the devastation burning deep inside slowly make its way back to the surface. She refused to cry again though, using that soul-wrenching pain to fuel her anger, just as she always did.
"I stupidly trusted him too, so I'm not surprised he thought I'd believe any bullshit he fed me. I checked your vacation hours. You're short full three days, which is surprising given I'm the one who approves your time off! I can't believe I trusted you! The soap at the station is the same one it's always been, just as I thought-"
"Regina, please-" Emma interrupted, desperate.
She was waiting for Regina to calm, to give her a second to explain, but Regina was only working her up the longer she spoke. Emma had been watching her pace back and forth, arms flailing, eyes giving her a lethal glare. She'd been hoping for even just a second to talk, to explain, but Regina wasn't letting up.
"No, Emma!" Regina snapped. "No 'please'. You do not get to speak. I don't know who she is. Or he is. I don't care who the hell it was. I was a fool! A complete, fucking idiot-"
Regina's breath hitched. She stopped pacing and turned away, wrapping her arms around her stomach as she bit hard on her lower lip, facing away from Emma. She refused to let Emma see her cry.
"Regina," Emma begged, seizing the opportunity now that Regina finally had stopped yelling. She moved further into the room, going around Regina so they were facing each other. Regina wouldn't look at her, but Emma didn't care. She just needed her to listen. "I swear to you, I swear on everything. I wasn't cheating on you. I swear. There is no one else-"
"Save it!" Regina snapped, voice dripping with disgust. "I have nothing further to say to you. GET! OUT!"
"I was making you something," Emma blurted quickly, tears streaming down her cheeks. She was petrified she was about to lose everything, so she willingly spilled the secret she'd tried so hard to keep. "It's why I left work early all those times. It's why you haven't been able to reach me. It's why I smell like I've been showering, cause I have been. I've been making something for the baby. I didn't want you to smell what I was doing. I was trying to hide it, cause I wanted it to be a surprise. My dad is lying cause he knows about it; he's been helping me. I swear to God and on Henry and on me and on our baby and on everything, there is no one else, Regina. Please believe me. I love you and only you. I want no one else. No one. I haven't been cheating. I've been at my dad's garage, it's why I smell like my mom's soap. I've been showering there after I finish."
Regina's chest was heaving, and she was glaring, but she wasn't moving either. She didn't believe her, Emma could tell, so she continued.
"I swear, Regina. I swear to you. I swear on everything. I swear on our children, I have never, ever cheated on you. I would never. Please believe me," Emma begged. "I'm not cheating. I would never to that to you. To our family. I love you. Only you. I don't want anyone else."
Emma was desperate. Regina stood before her, unmoving, her face blank. Emma didn't know what else to say to prove it. She had to show her.
"Please. I'll take you there right now. I'll prove it. We can go right now and I'll show you. Let's go, right now. Please."
Emma held out her hand.
"Please, Regina. Please. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have lied. But I swear on our baby that I'm not cheating. I haven't even looked at anyone else. Please. I've been at my parents' place this entire time. All of these times, working on a gift for the baby. Let me show you. Please, just come with me."
Regina heart was pounding in her chest. She had been infuriated, seething from every pore, the hurt and betrayal threatening to consume her entire being. She had been so convinced. She had been certain. Without a doubt, positive that Emma had been cheating.
But the longer she stood there, the longer she stood before Emma, searching her eyes, the more that modicum of doubt niggled at her. Emma looked so desperate, so eager, so insistent. She looked terrified. Regina had never seen her this way. It made her want to believe her.
Regina debated, staring directly into Emma's eyes, searching.
"Please, Regina. I'm telling the truth. Please."
Regina finally, slowly lowered her eyes to Emma's hand before looking back up.
"Don't touch me," Regina demanded. "I'll go to the garage, but do not touch me."
Emma nodded eagerly.
"Okay. Okay, I won't."
"Let's go."
Regina poofed herself just outside the garage, taking a step back when Emma appeared next to her. She watched as Emma darted towards the door, pushing it open and turning to her.
"Please. It's in here."
Regina took a step forward when Emma backed away from the door, her mind swirling with confusion. She'd been riding a roller coaster of emotions all afternoon, and she had no idea what to think anymore. Her doubts were growing, and her belly clenched with the thought that perhaps she'd been wrong about what she'd been so sure had happened.
"See?" Emma said, more tears falling as Regina entered the garage. "This is what I've been making. I've been here the entire time, Regina. I swear to you. I've been here, making this."
Emma's heart was beating out of her chest as Regina stared at the cradle, her face blank. Unreadable. Emma was terrified, her mouth going off without her mind even knowing what it was saying.
"I swear. Thi-" Emma's voice broke, "This is what I've been making. I left work those days because I needed time, and I didn't want you to know. So I took time to come here. I wanted to make something for you, for the baby, and I thought you'd like this. I'm sorry, Regina. I'm sorry. I-I never should have. I should have told you. It was stupid. I was stupid. This was supposed to be a surprise. But I swear to you, Regina, I would never cheat on you. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. I would never."
Emma heaved back a sob when Regina still said nothing.
"Please, please say something."
Regina looked at the cradle, then over at Emma, who was openly sobbing.
"This is why-?"
Emma nodded earnestly, sniffling heavily.
"Yes. I swear to you. It- I wanted to give it to you at the baby shower. I've been here. Only here. I swear it, Regina. You can ask my mom. She annoyed me every time I walked in the door to change and then annoyed me when I went back in to change back into my clothes. She saw me and so did my dad. I was here when you couldn't reach me. I was working, so I didn't hear my phone. I wasn't with anyone else. I was here. The vacation time, the soap, the fact that you couldn't find me… it's because I was here, doing this."
The seconds ticked by. Emma's stomach churched. She felt like she was going to be sick.
"I'm shocked your mother didn't divulge the secret," Regina finally said, turning to face her. "She's terrible at keeping secrets."
Emma stared, swallowing hard, looking into Regina's eyes.
"You believe me?"
Regina finally nodded, her arms lifting in reflex as Emma threw herself forward and yanked her close.
"Thank God. Oh, thank God. I was terrified. I promise, baby. I swear. There's no one else."
Regina nodded, tucking herself into Emma's embrace. She believed her.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"No. It's okay. I get it. It looked so suspicious. I would have thought the same thing."
"No, you wouldn't have. You never would have reacted as I did," Regina said, guilt suddenly churning in her belly.
"I would never cheat on you, sweetheart. Never. I love you so fucking much. So much. I'd never, ever cheat on you. I respect you way too damn much to ever cheat on you. There's no one else, at all. Not even a little bit. I don't want anyone else. I only want you."
Regina began crying, the guilt and the shame of her actions slowly consuming her as she replayed her earlier actions.
"I'm sorry, Emma. I should have-"
"Shh," Emma shook her head, cupping the back of Regina's gently. "We're okay. As long as you're okay, we're okay, honey. I just needed you to believe me."
"I do," Regina whispered, eyes slowly looking over to the beautiful cradle Emma had made. A fresh wave of tears fell as she choked back a sob. She'd ruined Emma's surprise. Emma had worked so hard and she'd ruined everything.
Regina turned, unable to look at the wonderful gift Emma had made for her, guilt consuming her entirely. She then began sobbing as the relief of Emma's non-existent betrayal settled over her and that, coupled with the shame of her unwarranted accusations, hit her deep within her chest. Her entire body shook with the strength of her sobs, and she quickly began hyperventilating, unable to catch her breath.
"Baby? Regina, hey. Take a deep breath, sweetheart. It's okay," Emma pulled back, tugging at Regina's arms. "Come on, honey. You're going to bring on an anxiety attack. Breathe with me, sweetheart. That's it, deep breath, just like that."
Regina's body shook as she sobbed, trying hard to do as Emma's gentle voice urged, taking a slow, shaky, but broken breath in, covering her mouth as she tried to exhale without vomiting. She could feel the familiar black spotting behind her eyelids, and she was suddenly consumed with fear. She did not want to lose it at Snow White's home.
Regina looked up at Emma, weeping into her hand, eyes filled with worry as she looked at her.
"Hi, baby. You're okay. We're okay, just take another deep breath. You're safe. That's it, breathe with me. Come on, that's it. You're doing really well. Again. In, and now out. Okay, perfect. Again."
Emma guided Regina through their breathing exercise, smiling and nodding as her girlfriend slowly began calming down. When Regina finally dropped a shaky hand, cheeks tinged red with humiliation, Emma reached out again, pulling Regina into her embrace. She wrapped one arm low around her back, the other cupping her head protectively.
"I love you so much, Regina. I'm sorry for hurting you like this."
Regina immediately shook her head.
"You did nothing wrong, Emma. I'm so sorry I ruined things. I ruined your surprised. I accused you-"
"No," Emma said firmly, cutting her off before Regina could spiral again. "You ruined nothing, and you never would have thought the worst if I hadn't kept secrets from you. I will never do that again, baby. Never. I'll tell you next time I'm planning a surprise for you, okay? I just won't tell you what it is. I never wanna make you go through this again. God, you were so upset."
Regina nodded.
"I was. I'm sorry for thinking you could do it, Emma. I should have known. I do know. I know you. You'd never-" Regina halted, her breath hitching in her throat.
"I would never," Emma confirmed, kissing her temple, "but I get why you came to the conclusion. It seemed so obvious when you added everything up, especially the shower thing."
"I thought your parents were covering for you."
"They would never. They love you, especially my dad. Regina, he'd kill me. Seriously. Even if I had wanted to, which I don't, ever, at all, he'd never let me get away with it. And my mom, she'd never cover something like that up. She couldn't. She can't keep a secret. Definitely nothing like that."
A small, wet laugh fell from Regina's lips, and she nodded.
"Yes. She'd have blurted it immediately."
"She would have," Emma confirmed against her cheek, swaying Regina gently, taking great comfort in holding her now that they'd both calmed down. "You scared the shit out of me, Regina. I thought for sure I was going to lose you."
Regina squeezed her middle.
"I was so devastated, Emma. It felt as though my entire heart had been ripped from my chest and crushed into a million pieces. I was so convinced. I'm so relieved it isn't true. I was terrified and I was so hurt-"
Regina's voice hitched, and she turned to bury her face in Emma's shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Regina."
Emma felt like kicking herself. With everything Regina had gone through, with everything she had survived, she should have known. Everyone in Regina's life had used her, betrayed her, hurt her. Everyone except for Daniel, and he'd ended up dead. She should have known that Regina would think she'd yet again been fucked over, because everyone since Daniel and up until Emma had done exactly that. Decades of deception and betrayal had made it incredibly difficult for Regina to trust, and Emma knew exactly what that was like. She shouldn't have tried to hide this from her.
Regina clung to Emma, slowly shifting her gaze back to the absolutely, incredibly beautiful bassinet she'd made. Regina stared, eyes raking over every single millimeter of the most stunning piece of woodwork she'd ever seen, because it was made for her, for her baby, by Emma. It was the most perfect gift she'd ever received.
Emma could feel where Regina was looking, and she slowly pulled away from their hug.
"Did you wanna look at it?"
"Have I ruined it, Emma?"
Regina looked at her, and she looked so vulnerable and so devastated that Emma's heart lurched. She immediately shook her head.
"You've ruined nothing, baby. I'm still just as excited as I was yesterday and the day before that and the day before that to give this to you. In a way, it's almost better. I probably would have died if I had to keep this quiet for another two weeks."
Regina looked at her skeptically. But Emma looked right back at her, willing her to believe her because it was the truth (about being just as excited, not about dying). Emma kept her expression open, letting Regina look over every part of it, until she nodded, leaning into her as she looked over at the cradle.
"I don't have the words to describe how perfect this gift is, Emma."
Emma's stomach clenched in happiness. She gently guided Regina forward until they were close enough to touch it.
"Go on, try it. Push on the side."
Regina reached out, her fingers trembling still, and gently tugged down on the side. Her breath hitched in her throat when it rocked perfectly.
"Oh, Emma," she turned, throwing herself in her arms. "Thank you."
Emma smiled into her hair.
"I was hoping you'd like it."
"I love it. It's perfect."
Regina pulled away, turning back to her gift, grin wide on her face as she let her fingers graze over the heart at the foot of the cradle.
"I love this. This is wonderful, Emma. The baby is going to sleep so well in here. You really made this?"
"I did."
Regina looked at it in awe, her fingers trailing over the sides and up to the matching heart at the head of the cradle.
"You spent so much time…"
Emma shrugged.
"Wasn't a hardship. You know how much I like touching hard wood. My favourite part was when I got to stroke it."
Regina paused, biting hard on her lip as her shoulders shook. Emma's heart soared.
"Emma," Regina admonished, but her voice was filled with laughter. She finally let out the giggle she'd been holding back, looking up at her lover. Her spirit felt light now that she knew Emma hadn't betrayed her. "Thank you."
"Anything for you, sweetheart."
Regina's eyes filled with tears again. She walked over and pulled Emma into another tight hug.
"I'm sorry, darling."
"I'm sorry, too."
"Do you forgive me?"
"Nothing to forgive, baby."
"Emma. Please."
Emma nodded.
"Okay, honey. I absolutely forgive you. You forgive me for lying?"
"You didn't lie."
"I sorta did. I deceived you."
"Well, I'm sorry for not talking to you and for jumping to conclusions."
"The evidence was pretty damning."
"But I know you better than that, Emma. And instead of speaking to you, I accused you of the worst-"
"I get it, Regina," Emma insisted, pulling back to look her in the eyes. "Literally everyone in your life has fucked you over, one way or another. I get why you thought I'd done the same thing. It's hard to believe I wouldn't do that when literally every other person in your life has. And then when you started adding up all the facts, it's really damning.
"I took vacation days randomly and without telling you. I lied about being at work and I wasn't where I said I would be. I wasn't answering my phone. My parents were lying about my whereabouts. I was coming home smelling weird. And some days I was freshly showered. Sweetheart, I don't blame you. That sounds exactly like someone who's been cheating."
Emma reached up, stroking Regina's cheek.
"I took days off to come here and work. I didn't hear my phone when the saw was going and sometimes I was so in the zone, I didn't hear my phone because I was too focused. I showered because I didn't want you to smell the products I was using or the sawdust. There was an explanation for all of it, but I didn't tell you everything. You jumped to the most logical conclusion."
Regina closed her eyes and leaned into Emma's hand. She still felt so incredibly guilty. Emma wasn't them, the people of her past. And yet she'd been unable to think otherwise. She'd been positive Emma had deceived her. And the way that betrayal had devastated her…
"You are the most beautiful person in the entire world to me, Regina. I mean that genuinely. You're fucking gorgeous. You're so funny. You make me laugh so much. You make me feel safe and happy and loved. I was terrified earlier because I can't lose that. I don't want to lose that and I'd never do anything to jeopardise what we have, certainly not by cheating with someone else. No one else measures up to you. You've ruined me for anyone else, sweetheart."
"Good," Regina finally replied, after a moment of silence. "You're mine."
Emma grinned. She definitely liked the sounds of that. She leaned forward, stopping just shy of Regina's lips, giving her the opportunity to move away if she wanted to. Regina tilted her head up, meeting her lips easily. They kissed slowly, languidly, the kiss meant to reconnect, to heal, to apologise and to forgive. They kissed until they were dizzy, until they couldn't breathe, until they were desperate for air, breaking apart at the same time and resting their foreheads against one another. They giggled against each other, Emma reaching up with one hand and stroking her fingers along Regina's cheek.
"I love you so much, baby."
"I love you too, Emma."
"I think we're gonna need to go explain to my parents and to Henry."
Regina's heart sank.
"Henry," she said, guiltily. "He saw me pack your things. Emma, I'm so sorry. I packed your things."
Regina's gut clenched. Emma had found a home with her, had thought she'd be there forever, and Regina had packed her things. Like so many others in her life. She was going to toss Emma out of her home-
Regina's breath hitched. She looked up at Emma, eyes watering.
"Hey, we're done apologising. None of that. We're gonna unpack my things as soon as I get home."
Regina nodded vehemently.
"Everything. We'll unpack the second we walk in the door. I'm so-"
"Don't, Regina. We're good."
Emma held out her hand, squeezing Regina's in encouragement.
"I never meant for Henry to witness any of this."
"It's not necessarily a bad thing. Relationships are messy sometimes and miscommunications happen. That's all this was. It'll be a good lesson to him about how to communicate better. If I'd just told you, none of this would have happened."
"If I'd just spoken to you instead of-"
"Hey. Don't be accusing my girlfriend. She's wonderful. And she's pregnant. She gets a pass."
Regina rolled her eyes.
"She made a very big mistake. She deserves a little accusation."
"I'll hear none of that," Emma admonished, gently guiding Regina up the stairs to the loft. When they were standing in front of the door, Emma turned to Regina. "Ready?"
Regina took a deep breath. No, she wasn't. But she knew they needed to do this.
Emma raised her hand and knocked.