2I don't own OUAT. So I wanted to finish this yesterday, but I had work and didn't manage to finish it in the time I had to write :(
Some things; I imagine babies to actually already be capable of a lot of magic (in the once universe that is) because of the golden rule that magic is emotion. And babies don't really think and talk already right ( I mean I am assuming on the thinking front. Maybe they would just see images and stuff instead of actually using words but that is a whole other discussion) so they can't be 'distracted'. They don't have any control over their emotions yet, and they probably focus on them a lot more than most teens/adults do. So that's why my personal head canon is that in the Once universe, babies display a lot of accidental magic. So yeah, you can imagine Robyn wreaking a lot of havoc ; )
I hope you enjoy!
"I am dying. I told you this would happen, I knew giving up my magic would be a bad idea" Zelena groaned, coughing like she is trying to get rid of one of her lungs.
Regina sighed, and tried to not roll her eyes. Fine, tried to not roll them too obviously. " Zelena, it is the chicken pox, not the bubonic plague "
For the sixth time that day , Zelena yanked up her sleeves and gestured hysterically at it" Look at this, my skin is marred. I look more horrifying than my persona in that awful excuse of a movie"
Well-aware of Zelena's hatred for the Wizard of Oz movie ( Henry had showed it to her), Regina kept silent about it and just arched an eyebrow. Zelena huffed. " Thank you for your loving concern, sis" she said, glaring at Regina.
"Zelena, I assure you that you will be fine. I am well aware that Oz- and the Enchanted Forest as well- did not have an illness such as this and that it must be .. worrying for you. But it is nothing serious, no matter how annoying it is. You are far better off than you would have been if you had gotten any of the myriad of magic diseases ingenious to the Enchanted Forest".
Zelena eyed her suspiciously. "Are you carrying any of those diseases?"
"Yes Zelena, I enjoy falling ill and thus have not taken any of the simple precautions one can take against those illnesses" she said drily.
"You are supposed to be nice to someone who is ill. I feel sorry for the munchkin, if this is also how you treated my nephew".
"I have told you to stop using that nickname".
Zelena rolled her eyes. " The little Gryffindor doesn't even mind sis, so I don't know why you would. Also, this is discrimination against munchkins, what do you even have against them? I know I find them abhorrent , but you would think a hero such as yourself would be nauseatingly happy with them" Sometimes, Regina wanted to ground Henry for bonding with Zelena and deciding to introduce her to his favourite movies, tv shows and books. Other times, she was seriously tempted to lock her sister in a tower so she could no longer bond with Regina's son and annoy her to the point of magical incidents happening.
" I have nothing against munchkins, I am sure they are … not as exasperating as to warrant much insults" just because she couldn't stand such glaring idiocy, she added " And Henry is not a Gryffindor".
"Aren't they the heroes? And Henry is annoyingly chivalrous, reckless and slightly thick-headed in the traditional Charming way".
" That is a common mistake. Gryffindor traits are chivalry and bravery yes, but they are not the sole heroic people. And although Henry is definitely brave and chivalrous, he is also cunning, ambitious and stubborn. Obviously, he is a Slytherin".
Zelena cackled. " The boy is definitely not a Slytherin, he is far too soft for that".
"You just have the common misconceptions of what the house stands for. And Henry would campaign against the idiot Pureblood superiority ideas, as well as other 'evil' that the house supposedly has" As Regina has had this discussion many times with Henry, she knows exactly what Henry would do if he ended up in Slytherin.
Zelena chortled. " You're such a nerd. The both of you"
Regina just threw her sister an annoyed look and handed her another glass of water. " Drink. Whale said it was very important that we keep you hydrated".
Zelena groaned. "I already feel more bloated than when I was pregnant"
" Zelena, you want to get better, do you not?"
" Of course, but I already think water will do anything. Unless it is from the lake of Naxos, you pouring water down my throat won't do much".
" The doctors gave me a list of instructions, the same list that you neglected to read and instead threw in the hearth, and it says we need to keep you hydrated".
Zelena looked sullen, but did sip her water. She eyed the glass like she was going to throw it as well, but Regina shot her the same look she would give Henry when he was thinking about getting rid of his vegetables. Zelena rolled her eyes and put the glass down instead.
" The list also says you can use ibuprofen or antihistamine tablets, which are on the nightstand next to you. You can also ask someone to rub emollients into your skin".
"The last thing sounds like it could be fun. What is it?".
" Emollients are soothing creams. They will help with the itching".
Zelena snickered. " Are you going to do that?".
"No, I will leave in a moment".
"Fine by me. You're grumpier than that dwarf honestly".
"I have to take care of your daughter and my son, but I will send someone this way to take care of you".
" As long as it is not Snow" Zelena said indifferently
They both made a face, although Regina's expression had a lot more fondness than Zelena's. " She might actually visit".
Zelena groaned. "Tell her I've died already and you want to spare her the traumatizing experience of seeing my mutilated body".
"That is a horrible idea, and she would absolutely insufferable when she discovered you were well. Not to matter that it would cruel "
" Urgh, you're so boring sometimes. Go, if you won't even do me this teensy-tiny favour".
" Do not forget to take the medicine I left you, and do not scratch unless you want scars".
"Fine, fine. Wait- you are not going to make Snow be the one to help me with the cream thingies are you?".
Regina rolled her eyes. " Annoy me enough and I just might. You know she would be delighted".
Accompanied by threats from her sister, Regina walked away again. She definitely no longer loathed her sister, but the idea that Snow would try to take care of the rather petulant witch was rather amusing.
-SQ-
As soon as Regina stopped softly humming to Robyn, she started crying again. Regina turned around and glared at the intruder, who had slammed the door open and startled her as well as made Robyn cry.
Emma smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, I didn't really have my hands free so I had to use my boot"
Regina walked towards her, humming and cradling Robyn. As soon as she stopped, Robyn started crying softly again. " What is all this ?" Regina asked, immediately pulling Robyn closer to her chest and lifting her a little. The little girl giggled happily as she was now able to grab Regina's hair, and softly tug it as well as chew on it.
Emma grinned. " Stuff for Robyn, of course! " she held up a teething toy, a plush wicked witch , colouring pencils, toy blocks and some other stuff Regina didn't really know what to make off. Regina started to tell Emma they already had toys and such for Robyn, but Emma was looking happier than Regina had seen her in ages and – " Did you conjure that thing" she nodded at the wicked witch.
Emma nodded. " Yup. You know how much Robyn loves the Wizard of Oz" they had mostly decided Robyn loved it because it was hilarious to see Zelena try to deal with that, although it was true that Robyn made happy sounds whenever the movie was on.
" So you have continued your magic lessons?".
Emma shrugged. " I have been busy with the job and Hook, but it's like riding a bike, right?".
" It is a way of living, one that requires practise " Regina scolded.
Emma clutched the items in her arms tighter. " I'm just busy and- " she swallowed whatever she had to say, but Regina knew. Hook didn't like it when Emma studied magic, especially not when it meant spending entire evenings with Regina.
" I see you were smart enough to not summon an Evil Queen one" Regina changed the subject.
Emma grinned and walked into the living room. Regina called out to not dump everything on the couch ( Emma dumped everything on the couch) and watched as the woman walked over to her, glaring suspiciously at where Emma was holding her hands behind her back.
"Emma- "
Emma took two quick steps, and gently pulled Robyn's hands away from Regina's hair. Before the girl could start crying, she handed her a small plush- " The crone? Seriously?" Regina exclaimed, looking as her nice let out a squeal and said 'buh buh buh'.
" Yup. Look how much she loves it!"
" It is hideous"
" Yeah, but she obviously told us she loved it".
" There is no evidence – actually, you are right" when Emma squinted her eyes suspiciously, Regina smirked. "She made those sounds when you tripped over your own feet as well"
Emma rolled her eyes. "I didn't trip over my own feet".
" Keep telling yourself that".
"And Robyn is the nicest Mills , so she would never enjoy my pain".
Regina arched her eyebrow. " I would think Henry would be the nicest Mills".
" Henry is a Swan-Mills" Emma said
" I did not give you permission to hyphenate our names, Emma. And it would obviously be Mills-Swan".
"No, I actually thought about this and Swan-Mills sounds better".
" Why would you think about this?".
" Because Henry is our son, and it is fine he has your name considering he also has your attitude but I thought he might like to have both our names"
Regina almost reminded Emma she wasn't even called Swan anymore , but held it back at the last moment. She didn't want to think about that, and they definitely did not talk about that. Sometimes, she seriously thought Emma didn't even want to think about that.
" Swan-Mills is tolerable, I suppose" she gave in, immediately rewarded with a bright smile from Emma.
" It's pretty awesome, isn't it?" Emma said happily, then looked down at Robyn. " you know, what is the little bean's last name anyways?".
" She is a Mills" Regina said immediately.
"Robyn Mills" Emma shook her head. " Nope. Doesn't sound right" she looked down at Robyn, cuddling her newest toy. " What about it kid? Want be a Swan?".
Regina snorted. " Zelena will force you to marry another monkey if you attempt to steal her daughter " she arched her eyebrow. " Not that it would not be an improvement".
" I didn't even marry Walsh " Regina was just about to reply when Emma took another step towards her and their shoulders were almost pressed together as they both looked down at Robyn. "She is kind of adorable. Most babies are sort of gross, but she isn't".
" She is blessed with the good looks of our family" Regina said.
Emma chuckled. " I said adorable, not beautiful. But if she really has got your genes, she is going to be gorgeous".
" Are you saying she is not already beautiful?" Regina said, slightly defensively. The friendship she had with her sister had been hard-fought and difficult, but she had immediately loved her niece. In fact, she was almost as protective of Robyn as she was of Henry.
" I mean, for a baby sure".
" Emma- ".
Emma laughed. Regina's heart suddenly sank- when had she last heard Emma laugh like this? During family dinner, perhaps. But those had become rarer as of lately, and Regina suspected it had something to do with how Hook demanded much of Emma's attention.
" You are so protective of her" Emma said, eyes still slightly aglow.
" You do not have to make fun of me- ".
" I am not. Well okay, maybe a little bit but it is really good" she looked at Robyn. " She deserves someone who looks after her, and protects her even if it's a little bit ridiculous" Regina knew Emma well enough to know she is thinking of her own childhood now. It's an awful thought, that Emma has never had something as simple as someone who wants to protect her.
" Every child deserves that " Regina said, careful not to outright state that Emma deserved it, but watching her best friend to see whether she understood what Regina was saying. There was a long stretch of silence before Emma finally looked up, and nodded.
" Yeah"
" Do you not have duties elsewhere?" Regina quietly asked, both to interrupt the heavy silence and because she had been wondering what Emma was doing the moment she more-or-less kicked Regina's door in.
Emma shrugged. "I asked dad to cover for me"
" What about- " Emma's head snapped up. " He has been on my case for ages. Says I work too hard". The pirate. Obviously she does not wish to talk about him.
" He would be right. You have been covering a lot of nightshifts".
" I thought it made sense, as I have a moody teenager that spends most of his time with friends or his other mom and they have a baby who need to be watched constantly"
" So why are you not working now then?"
Emma stiffened. " Do you want me to- "
" That is not why I asked".
" Oh " Emma smiled. " Well, I can hardly let you do the single parent thing again, can I? ".
Regina stared at Emma. " You did not give birth to this child, so we are hardly co-parents. Unless you would marry Zelena, you- "
" We made that promise together"
" I cannot believe it. You – "
Emma flushed very slightly, but kept smiling. " I can help! I sometimes help my parents with their kid as well, and I still sort of have memories of raising Henry. Besides, someone needs to be the fun parent and calm you down when you get really intense"
"Raising Robyn, even temporarily, is a full-time job Emma and you have your job as well as the one-handed wonder that cannot be left alone, lest he attacks another household appliance".
" Listen, this is more important. And we have already shown we are a good team"
"I agree that Robyn is more important than the STD-transmitter you are involved with, but I am not certain whether he would agree- ".
" Come on! We're team mom. We already raised one kid, and look how well he turned out"
I have officially lost my mind. It must be the prolonged exposure to the Charmings. "Fine"
" I knew you would see it my way! I am going to get my stuff".
" You do that, I will- wait. What stuff".
-SQ-
Henry Mills is used to crazy or inexplicable things happening around him. When he was ten, he found out his mother was the evil queen and his sleepy little town was magically created as part of a curse. Peter Pan, his great-grandfather, has tried to kill him by using Henry's heart to become more powerful. During family dinners, Rumpelstiltskin, Belle, the Evil queen, Snow White, Prince Charming and captain Hook are all there.
( his mom is married to a guy she has gone to the Underworld for, even though he was only there because he tried to kill her family)
Even after all the crazy things that have happened, he is still surprised by what he sees when he walks into the room.
The normal tidy place is now littered by several plush toys ( he is especially traumatized by the one that looks like him, the one that Robyn has in her mouth), colouring pencils, clothing, bottles with something green, a tiny birdhouse, equipment for laser games, a Ravenclaw toothbrush, a gun and what he thinks might be a cleaning kit for a gun. On the couch, his mom is stretched out with Robyn laying on her chest, happily saying 'puh puh puh' while Emma tells a story animatedly. The entire room smells heavenly, and he realizes it's because mom is in the kitchen.
" Mom?" he questions, slowly approaching Emma. She waves at him, and continues telling the story to Robyn. He waits until she is finished, pushing her feet off the couch so he can sit at its end. As soon as she has finished the story, she gives him a bright smile.
" Hi Henry, was everything okay at the stables?".
" Yeah. Uh what is all this?" he gestures at the room
" Stuff for Robyn, and for me"
" Are you moving in?".
" Not really. Just here to take care of Robyn".
" Wasn't mom doing that already?".
" Yeah, but I am going to help her obviously. Your mom will never have to raise a kid on her own again".
" I don't think she minded "
" But it was difficult, and we're a good team. We did a good job with you, right?".
" Sure. Although I did get kidnapped a couple of times- I am sure that can happen to anyone".
" True, this town is crazy"
" So uh did you discuss this with mom?".
" No, but she was there when I promised Zelena we would take care of Robyn is something happened, so it was pretty obvious".
" Okay, but how did she react?" he is going to sneak upstairs later to ask Zelena about this interesting conversation where his moms apparently decided to co-parent another child.
"She started muttering in Spanish and walked towards the kitchen. Then she put on music, and she tried to steal my gun" they both look at the gun. "She claimed it was unsafe".
" It kind of is mom, you could accidentally shoot someone " he says, rolling his eyes
" Yeah, but I am careful "
He arches his eyebrow. "You once forgot the safety pin was on. You have tripped over it more than once".
"Only when I have had a nightshift, and I am dead tired"
" I am going to ask mom whether she is all right. Adios"
Shaking his head, he walks into the kitchen. He is barely faced by the sight of ingredients everywhere, several finished dishes on the counters and his mom aggressively cutting something. There's flour on her face, and he wipes it off before kissing her cheek.
" Hi mamá" he says
His mom exhales slowly. " Your mother is insane" the knife makes an indent in mom's cutting board. " First she marries that completely undeserving – " he eyes the knife warily "narcistic pig, then - " really, what if she cuts herself accidentally? " she starts missing family dinners " he tries to take the knife from her " and I have attempted to be supportive , because if this is what she wants then who am I to stay in the way – she would not listen anyways, as her entire family is too stubborn for their own good- "
He gently manages to take the knife from her. " Mom. Breathe"
She inhales deeply. " Perdón, mijo".
" It's okay" he puts the knife down. " Are you all right?"
" I am fine, she just- "
" I know, it sucks. I don't like it either mom, but she has to see it herself you know? "
"I don't see that happening. After the debacle with the darkness, I thought she would surely put an end to it" Mom laughs, and he swallows. "Instead, she went to the Underworld to return him ".
" I don't understand it either "he says, leaning against his mom. "I asked Archie why my mom would want to be with someone who treats her like crap, and he said that it might be because of her childhood. He says that people with a childhood like mom often accept the smallest bits of attention. And that her being the saviour also likely plays a role".
" What else did he say? ".
Henry shrugs. "That I can't do much, but be supportive" he looks at his mom meaningfully. " That she might be able to let him go if she realizes she loves someone else , someone better more".
Regina sighs. " Henry, your mother does not return my - "he has known for months, but she is still hesitant to admit it, claiming that it could ruin everything. "feelings"
" I think she does. I know she loves Hook, but they're not good for each other. They're not anything like grandma and grandpa, like true love"
"Not everyone can have true love".
" But you can. I know you are afraid mom, and think you should be happy with what you already have. But this situation, this whole thing- it is wrong and it sucks"
"Henry, your mother needs to be free to make her own choices "
"But they're terrible to each other!"
"Yes, and sometimes relationships are like that. But I can't – she is happy isn't she?"
" You can't lie to yourself mom, you know she isn't. She might love him, but they keep hurting each other and they can't let each other go"
Regina immediately approaches him, and hugs him. He hugs her back, slowly calming down. His mom has a way of making him feel safe and secure, like nothing bad could really touch him. " I don't want my mom to hurt anymore" he whispers.
She gently pulls back, and wipes his hair away from his eyes. " Life always hurts Henry, and I wish I could protect you from that"
" You deserve to be happy- you've been through so much, both of you, and you have lost so much and you deserve to be happy".
"It is not about deserving. When I was .. young, I would have deserved something good, because I had committed no wrongs. So if it was about deserving, I would have gotten my happy ending then Henry"
" People shouldn't have to be pure and good and never hurt anyone to get some happiness. People make mistakes, right?".
" Yes, but there is a difference between making mistakes and wilfully committing murder" Regina smiles sadly. " Which is why I think you are completely right, and Emma does deserve that happy ending. After the childhood she had because of me, and fighting all these years for the town, she deserves something worthwhile"
"Mom has changed" he says, swallowing. It's odd, how quickly a person can grab on to another person, and change them so much that their own family thinks 'where have you gone'?
Mom's eyes show his pain. " She has. That sometimes happens to a person, if they have to fight for too long and they get attached to something toxic"
"She still thinks you deserve a happy ending- that hasn't changed"
He is looking down, and Regina gently pulls his chin up so she can look into his eyes. " Neither has her love for you. She will always love you"
"She loves you too" he insists
"Henry-".
" Why is that so difficult for you? " he cries out. " Why can't you- she sacrificed her life for you. She protected you. She stood up for you, and against you when you were being awful. She trusted you , to save her but also to make the most difficult choice if needed. That's something people in love do. Taking care of each other- but also stopping you if you do something shitty "
" Because that is your mother" Regina cries out, stepping away from Henry. "That's who Emma is, this brave, crude, empathic person who might hurt people and overstep but who in the end, just wants to save people from everything she has felt. That is not love, that is just who she is- ".
"No! She isn't. Mom- " he shakes his head. " She wouldn't do that stuff for just anyone, especially now. But before, she would've helped people yeah and she would step in if she thought someone really couldn't fight their battles on their own but- there is stuff she would only do for me or you. Stupid stuff, like agreeing to eat Kale salad or sit on a horse. But also the important stuff, like punching a man because he hurt you , or taking on the literal darkness because she thinks you deserve everything"
"I can't – I can't take anything else from Emma, Henry, I just can't "
" You wouldn't take anything, you would heal something" Henry shakes his head. "I already noticed at first, that Hook was changing her, but I was like you. I decided to let it slide, and focus on the times she was happy because of him, right? But mom, this past year- it has been so much worse and – "
"Henry, we cannot force Emma. I know you still think these operations of yours fix everything, but- ".
" She is here, and not with him. She offered to raise another child with you, without hesitating to think what it means. Just think about that, mom. Even you can't deny that" he is angry, but he still kisses her cheek before striding away from her.
She almost wonders whether he has a point, but even if Emma loves her-
They are so many reasons why Emma deserves better, why it is safer, that Regina would never even dare to love her freely and openly. As soon as Regina realized she was in love with Emma, she decided she would never actually tell the woman, to protect her.
After, Emma isn't just good enough for Hook.
-SQ-
Turns out, raising a baby with Emma is exhausting. Not just because the woman is childish herself, but because every time Emma walks in with Robyn in her arms, Regina pines . It is really a perfect sort of torture, the type she is immediately addicted to, because Emma is so much more like herself when she is playing with Robyn or running into the kitchen, claiming Robyn is hungry. And it such a perfect image, Emma Swan( never Jones. Regina refuses to call her that in her head) with her dirty boots throwing her gun on the counter and taking Robyn from her arms. Laughing when Regina scolds her, and spinning Robyn around and joking.
Regina just wants, and tries to hide it. It's an insane thing, wanting Emma Swan. It includes rolling your eyes with a smile at the dirty socks you find ( on the staircase, by the door, balled up next to the laundry basket), being woken in the middle of the night because your foolish live-in saviour comes barging into your room with her gun drawn, scolding the two people having a lively discussion with food in your mouth, being cajoled into trying odd food combinations (melted chocolate on a cheese pizza, she will block Emma's access to that BuzzFeed site if it is the last thing she does). It includes many things, new things every day and happiness.
It also includes receiving many apps, including abbreviations and spelling mistakes and too many emoticons. And receiving them on the most random moments, when her best friend is on night patrol or just can't sleep , and the moments where she knows Emma is doing it on purpose. She has a meeting right now ( Emma is definitely doing it on purpose)
SHE JUST SAID MY NAME
YES
I WIN
TAKE THAT
A rather regrettable incident has taught her to never ignore Emma's apps, so she quickly types a response in the middle of some speech about the 'advantages of tending to your sheep'. Actually, that doesn't make sense so there is a slight chance Regina just missed part of what the woman in front of her was saying.
I am in the midst of a meeting, do not text me
Nice try, but blatant denial doesn't help here. SHE SAID MY NAME FIRST.
Regina are you dead?
Please don't be dead
I will even lie and say Robyn didn't say my name first
I did not answer for fifteen minutes because I am in a meeting. I am hardly at opportunity to suddenly die, unless either of the people in front of me have been hiding some measure of intellect as well as an enormous aptitude for magic. Highly unlikely, I assure you
This is Storybrooke, for all we know Izma is going to show up and turn either of us into a lama.
You would be more tolerable as a lama
Those things spit, and bite. I would not be more tolerable as a lama. Anyways, please don't die, turn into a lama ( or any animal really) or lose control of your magic and turn someone else into anything. Actually, it might be better if me and Robby come to Town Hall.
If I promise none of those things will happen, will you stay away? And I forbid you to use that nickname
Can't forbid me anything.
I will withhold my cooking from you
REGINA
One inane emoticon, and I will destroy your happiness
I will go to Granny's
That will never satisfy you the way I can. Regina stared down at her own text with no small amount of annoyance and mortification. She had made the innuendo automatically. This happened more often lately, as Regina and Emma were often in each other's company or at the very least contacting each other so they could properly care for Robyn.
You can't threaten me, I am immune
I will send your mother that picture of when Robyn accidentally magicked your clothing into something else
"DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT" the man that was talking suddenly shrieks, someone falls of their chair, someone else curses furiously as their knee slam into the table, another person accidentally throws their coffee on the person next to them, and Regina flinches as the loud voice appears out of nowhere.
She glares at Emma. "What did I tell you about transporting with Robyn in your arms?".
"She loves it, she does it all the time" she points at Regina. "And you're not going to send that picture".
" We were in the middle of a rather important- ".
" Oh cut the crap, it's – and I am quoting you- 'just another weak fond for petty complaints and pettier ideas '. And you know Snow would be unbearable, and get all misty-eyed and – ".
Regina holds her phone up. " I will not allow you to interrupt my meeting- "
"Regina, I swear I will paint your room green – ".
" It is completely inappropriate, what kind of example are you setting- "
" Hell, I will turn your hair green- " .
They both shut up at the same moment. Because they can't talk anymore, so they're limited to facial expressions. Unlike the people around them ( the ones who don't have burns are looking at them with an expression best called confused terror), they immediately look at Robyn accusingly.
"n-n" she says, which probably means 'I don't like it when you argue'.
Regina sighs, and slowly sits back in her chair. She conjures another one for Emma, who sits down into it after a short hesitation, and hands her Robyn. Regina cradles Robyn, and watches Emma grab one of Regina's pens, and conjure a piece of paper. She writes something down, then shoves it to Regina.
I am going to turn your hair green
I will simply turn it back to its original colour
I am sure Gold has a thing that makes it permanent
I am far more adept at revenge than you , do you honestly wish to risk my wrath?
You suck at revenge. You couldn't beat my mom after THIRTY years. And then you became her friend, and protected her a bunch of times, saved her son, and even made sure she still had true love.
I am friends with your mother, and it is very easy to convince her. And my sister would be more than happy to help
I have Ruby and my dad
Your dad will be of little help, and I can easily deal with the wolf
They're interrupted when someone clears their throat, and then promptly stumbles back into their chair as both women look at them. Clearly, they manage to terrify people even when they aren't speaking and one of them has a smiling baby in their arms. They terrify everyone so much that they don't even speak when Emma looks at Regina for a moment and starts to stand up. In fact, the last thing they see before they teleport, is the relieved faces around them.
"How come you can teleport with her in your arms?"
Regina ignores Emma, and instead walks towards the kitchen with Robyn in her arms. " Clean the mess in the living room"
" You haven't even been there, how do you know it's a mess? "
"Because whenever you are watching Robyn and I am not there, you make a mess. So clean it".
" Fine. But only if you make me a snack".
"I am not your personal cook"
"Yeah, I know that" Emma starts walking towards the living room. " I would love some grilled cheese "she calls back.
Regina looks at the girl happily smiling in her arms. "Can you believe that woman? She just assumes I will make her something " The fact that Regina actually does constantly make things for Emma, recipes she knows Emma loves or things she think Emma might like, is of little importance. She is just trying to make the saviour eat healthier, so Henry does not have to miss a mother because the idiot gave herself a heart attack gorging on anything grease-filled.
She summons a high chair, where she carefully places Robyn in. She puts on some music, as she has learned that is the only way to keep Robyn from fussing if she is in that chair. The girl really is the human version of a tornado sometimes, always wanting to crawl and babble and hating things like chairs or her crib.
Regina hums along with the song as she grabs a bottle, and places it in the microwave. She hesitates for a moment, but finally sighs and start making a grilled cheese as well. She is almost finished when Emma's voice startles her.
"I like that"
" I do not possess the ability to read minds. You like what?"
" That you sing when you cook. You didn't use to do that, did you? "
"I sometimes sang when I allowed Henry to help in the kitchen, but that has been ages ago" Regina says, automatically smiling when she thinks of their son.
"Too bad, you've got a good voice " Emma says, still leaning against the doorway.
"Thank you" they're both silent for a while before Regina breaks that silence again. " I have never heard you sing to Robyn. Why not?".
Emma snorts. "Because my singing voice is awful"
" Oh really?".
" Yup. This one time in high school, I had this idea of becoming a star so I taught myself to play the guitar and wanted to try for the talent show right? Except I hadn't really paid attention to my singing, just to learning to play the guitar. The jury was really horrified"
" But you can play the guitar?".
"I can "
"Where did you get your guitar? Did one of your foster families give it to you?"
"Nah. There was this girl in my class who was pretty bad at math, so I made a deal with her. I would tutor her, and she would teach me to play guitar"
"I did not know you were good at math".
" I am- or was. I didn't always pay attention , but math was one of the subjects I usually got high marks for"
"would you play for us sometime?".
Emma nods. " Sure. Would you sing?".
Regina finishes the grilled cheese and hands it to Emma, who eyes it like it is the sorcerer's stone. She gets the bottle from the microwave and carefully hands it to Robyn. She keeps an eye on the girl when she faces Emma to answer her question.
"I might be willing, yes. Did you clean the room?"
Emma nods. " Uh-uh" she mumbles, chewing happily on a gargantuan bite of the grilled cheese.
Regina chuckles, and walks towards her. She summons a napkin, and starts to wipe Emma's cheek. " You are worse than Henry, honestly "
Emma just shrugs. "I just enjoy food. Also, my face will be dirty again in about a minute, so you're just wasting napkins now"
"The horror" Regina says drily. She grimaces when Emma takes another gigantic bite, and walks towards Robyn to pick her up. " It is unsafe to hold Robyn with only one arm"
Emma flexes her muscle. " She is really light, and I can bench press like ten times her weight, so calm down" to Robyn she says "Your mother worries so much"
" Aunt. I am her aunt, Emma. Sometimes I honestly suspect you wish to steal Robyn from my sister"
" Fine, we are her aunties then. And I just like the little bean, that's all. She has grown on me, despite the horrible magical incidents"
" You seemed very happy with some of those magical incidents".
Emma's lips twitch. " It was pretty funny when we were bathing her, and she apparently decided she wanted her aunt to bathe as well".
" Fu- do you have any idea how much that outfit cost?"
" I am going to guess it is somewhere between a lot and a fuckton"
"Emma " Regina hisses, taking Robyn from her arms.
Emma rolls her eyes. " She is a baby, she doesn't even know what I am saying".
" If you curse around her, she will learn curse words and use them".
" Regina, it will be- "
"Do not curse around her"
Emma holds up her hands mockingly. " Fine"
" Now, please go and get our son. I am going to make lunch for him as well"
" Can I have another- ".
" I was already going to make that, as I know from experience you are-
Emma grins. " This is why we're friends"
"Don't run up the stairs" is all Regina says, even though it is completely useless. Half a minute later, she hears the expected sound of Emma thundering up the stairs ( which she only does when they are going to eat)
Regina can't quite suppress a fond smile.
-SQ-
Bath time with Robyn is complicated. Their girl usually likes it, but she does tend to make the weirdest things happen with her magic, and when she doesn't want to bathe it is a nightmare getting her into the tub.
Right now, she is gurgling happily and clapping her hands as she makes the water float around in bubbles that look like they have tiny rainbows trapped inside. "Gina !" she says, pointing at the light that bounces off Regina's hair. By now, Robyn has actually said 'Gina' a lot of times, so Regina doesn't jump up and film it like the first time it happened. Instead she just smiles and leans forward.
Emma snorts when Robyn immediately slaps the water, and Regina gets a face full of soapy water. Emma stops smiling when Regina waves her hand, and there's immediately a rainstorm above her head. "Cold cold cold " she chants, glaring at the smirking woman next to her.
"You were asking for that" Regina says, still smirking. It is probably why Emma does the thing she does next: she throws her arms around Regina, and pulls her tightly against her. The rain stops after several seconds, and Regina tries to get away but Emma just holds on. "You're not going to make me wet again" she says
" what? ".
" If I let you go, you will immediately start the invisible cloud thing again " Emma laughs.
Regina tries to teleport, Emma can tell by the way the woman pressed against her suddenly starts to heat up , but Emma forces her own magic to keep Regina there. She doesn't even know how she does it, just focuses on the emotion inside her and tightens her grip subtly. Regina lifts her head and Emma is already expecting the glare when she sees Regina isn't glaring at all. She is looking- Emma can't make anything of that expression, that is sort of panicked and in pain no matter how much Regina tries to hide it, and mostly succeeds.
" Re- " she suddenly realizes the woman in her arms is unnaturally still, and stiff like a statue. She realizes Regina's chest is moving like she is taking great, gulping breaths of air ( she is), and that she can feel how Regina's heart races.
She steps back and starts to ramble. " Shit shit- is this about the or Cora or- fuck Regina, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable, I am so sorry – it was just a stupid thing, I will never just grab you again- ".
Regina slowly swallows. " It is fine"
Emma shakes her head. " No, it isn't. I know you've probably got issues- I have seen it with some kids in the foster systems – and I just grabbed you"
"That wasn't – just let it go, Emma".
"You are my friend, of course I am not just letting it go" Emma goes to touch Regina's shoulder when she drops her hand.
Regina rolls her eyes. "I am not made of glass , I will not break if you touch me".
" I don't want to – "
They both turn their heads very slowly when Robyn starts to cry loudly. When they look at her, she has her face scrunched up and is slapping the water and moving around. They both move towards her at the exact same moment, Regina already muttering things in a low voice while Emma makes silly faces. It doesn't work, as Robyn is still crying.
"What is it, why is she doing that? " Emma hisses, while still making the silliest face she can think off
Regina shakes her head. " I don't - perhaps she thinks we are fighting again. She loathes that".
" We are not fighting, Robby, it's all right" Emma tries to reassure the girl.
Regina glares at her when Robyn keeps crying. "That is not working" she turns to her niece. "It is fine, nena, the foolish woman was just being nauseatingly chivalrous"
" You are unbelievable" Emma grouses
"Well, you- " it is the last thing Regina will say for a while; they both made the mistake to look away from Robyn, and thus missed her hands turning a pistachio colour, and the light that apparently caused it shooting towards them. As soon as they are enveloped by the light, their bodies shrink and they're dropped into the bath. Emma immediately starts kicking and breaks the surface, but Regina hits her head against the tub-
Emma swims to her. " Why- " she narrowly avoids swallowing water " is my " Regina is sinking now, so Emma kicks again " life " she is almost there "so fucking ridiculous" she grabs Regina's arm, and tugs her against her. She almost chokes as she accidentally swallows two mouthfuls of water, but she refuses to die like this.
"Come on" she mutters, trying to focus on her magic. Which is kind of impossible, as she is terrified. Not just because Regina hit her head really fucking hard and that alone is terrifying, but also because there is a giant-sized baby in front of her.
Focus. Emotions. She looks at Regina, and she feels her stomach roll uncomfortably again. I want her to be safe, she needs to be okay. I just want to- it's like she is trying to watch through fog for a moment, and then her magic dissipates and she is leaning over a normal-sized Regina. She immediately places the heel of her hand on the centre of Regina's chest, and presses down two inches. She does 30 chest compressions, all that jack her stupid teacher that she had when she decided she needed to learn first aid, talked about.
"Come on, don't you fucking dare, I will have Henry get a mohawk and tattoos if you die Regina"
Emma finally decides this shit isn't working, so she hopes she didn't follow first aid lessons in what free time she had for nothing, and pinches Regina's nose closed. She is just leaning in, inches away from that lip scar actually when the body beneath her lurches and Regina very nearly headbutts her.
" What- " she coughs rather furiously " do you- " there is water dribbling down her chin now " think you – " Emma waits patiently until the last bout of coughing stops. " are doing?".
Emma thinks Regina is just shocked, partly because of almost drowning in a bath tub, but then the woman actually freaks out badly and doesn't calm down and it changes into bickering-bordering-on-an-argument, and suddenly Emma is looking at the door slamming closed.
She slowly turns to Robyn. " What the hell was that about?".
" Gina" Robyn says sagely.
-SQ-
Maybe Emma should stop waking Regina up in the middle of the night. Regina definitely thinks so, judging by her expression.
" What is this? " Emma questions, waving the bunch of papers she just happened to see in Regina's office in Regina's face. She kind of regrets it when Regina gives her a look that is somewhere between furious and hurt.
" Private documents that you apparently stole from me".
Emma plops down on the bed. " You're adopting another child? Why didn't you discuss this with me?".
Regina freezes. " I am under no obligation to ask for your permission, miss Sw- sheriff" she hisses
" That's not- " Emma hesitates, but then says " I thought we could co-parent, that you would share things with me".
Regina's laugh is incredulous. " Are you offering to co-parent all future children I may have, then? ".
"I just don't want you to do this alone".
"I am more than capable of raising children without a significant other" Regina pushes out through gritted teeth.
" That isn't what I meant- it's just really difficult, and you deserve help from people who care about you"
Regina inhales in that special way she has when she is trying not to throw a fireball at something. "What are you even saying, Emma?".
" I am saying that I am here for you and that kid. If she is yours, she is one of us and I will be whatever you want. I can be her crazy aunt or godmother or co-parent or whatever"
" So you are supporting this decision of mine"
Emma smiles, it's not necessarily a happy smile but it is a beautiful one. " Of course. You're a great mom, some kid is going to be incredibly lucky to have you".
" I – thank you".
Emma shrugs. "It's true"
" Why are you offering this?"
"I told you- ".
" You are married. You have a husband, who is already very cross with you because you have been spending nearly all your time with Henry and I. Do you not wish to build a family with him?".
"I already have a family. You, Henry, my parents, my brother and even Zelena and Robyn"
" If you don't want more children, then why are you offering to co-parent again?".
" I never said I didn't want more children. It's not like I really want it, like I am thinking of getting pregnant or adopting or whatever. But I sometimes think it really sucks I missed such a large part of Henry's life, and I think about my own childhood and how there still must be so many kids that weren't as lucky as Henry was - " Emma shrugs again . " I would like to be there for such a kid"
Regina wants to point out the obvious flaws in that offer, the most noticeable one being that Emma is married, but Emma speaks before she does. "What age are you thinking off?".
Regina shakes her head. " I beg your pardon?".
" The kid we are adopting, what age are you thinking off? Do you want to adopt another baby, or one of the older kids?".
" I do not really have a preference"
" What about an older kid? They're the ones who don't really have good chances of being adopted" Emma suggest, obviously trying to appear nonchalant even though she really isn't. She is usually far better at hiding or suppressing her emotions so Regina knows it really is that important to her
She nods. " That seems like a good idea".
Emma smiles, an exact copy of the very first time Regina saw her smile. " Okay. So we are going to start the process?".
Regina nods, and smiles as well. "I wanted to start tomorrow".
Emma nods. "Perfectly fine with me" she yawns, and slowly starts to stand up. " Sorry for waking you. See you tomorrow".
As soon as Emma has left the room, Regina allows her body to fall down on her body again, and stares at the ceiling with a smile. Even when Emma is interrupting what little rest she manages to snatch for herself, it is still wonderful somehow.
She sits back up again when she realizes Emma has just talked her into co-parenting another kid together. Again.
-SQ-
They're sitting on the couch together, Robyn asleep behind them, when Henry walks in. He takes one look at all the papers around them, at Regina's ramrod-straight position that looks painful and the way Emma keeps fidgeting and slowly closes his eyes.
"Are you adopting another child?".
" Henry, you know we- ".
"Love you, I am irreplaceable, I am special, your love for me will never lessen et cetera. I know, mom has given me that speech already. I mean, are you, both of you, you together, adopting another child?".
Emma nods. " Yeah. We were thi- " she stares as Henry slides his backpack off, and throws it on the floor. She frowns when he throws his hands up and screams " I HAVE HAD IT"
"Uhm Regina, should we- "
Henry approaches them, glaring at the both of them. " You people are so estúpida "
He turns to Emma. " Mom is in love with you. She is so incredibly in love with you that she didn't say anything about how Hook is in the top ten of worst candidates for boyfriend ever because she thought he made you happy. She is so ludicrously, hopelessly in true love with you that she didn't destroy you when you hurt me. She is so incredibly stupidly in love with you that she went to the Underworld for you, and refused to leave you. She is so much in love with you that she constantly gazes at you when you're not looking and she gets these ridiculous expressions around you"
He takes a deep breath – " Don't say anything, I am not finished" – and continues. " And YOU are just as bad, except worse because you don't even seem to realize you love her. You sacrificed your soul for her, constantly loudly exclaim you believe in her, are completely terrified of hurting her and generally seem about a billion times more alive around her than you do around Hook. You're so much in puppy love with her that you get really fixated when she is mad at you, and you constantly bring her things and look like you have just won the Olympics whenever you manage to make her laugh"
He gestures wildly. "When Robin was still around, you would glare at him whenever he touched mom. Every. Single. Time. Once, I mentioned him because I thought it was cool that Robin Hood was around, and you looked like you were going to barf and destroyed our waffle maker. You tethered yourself to the darkness after telling mom she 'had worked too hard to have your happiness destroyed' with tears in your eyes but that was apparently just friendly? Just two people being very friendly and risking everything for each other like good friends?".
He takes one last deep breath. " And I dislike Hook. I didn't want to say anything because you love him, but you two belong together and if one more person ask me whether you've already gotten together or I have to hear one more stupid comment from some stupid person who thinks you are hot, I am going to get my author's pen and write your happy ending myself"
"Henry, you – we aren't- Regina couldn't – sure, she is very attractive, face-wise and funnily even personality-wise and I've – but that's " Emma shakes her head. She slowly looks at Regina. "Regina? Can you help- ".
When Regina just stares at Henry and swallows slowly, Emma bravely tries again. " Listen, I know we have risked our lives a bunch of times for together, but that's just a side effect of living in Storybrooke. And I know there was a lot of invading each other spaces and Regina does that weird thing where she stares at you really inappropriately , but that's .. I have other friends who look at me that way. Maybe. Probably not. And I know I have sworn I would find her happy ending, but that is because she really deserves one because her mother pretty much messed her up and was married to that two-faced jerk and then was manipulated and used by a bunch of shits I still need to punch and- " Emma slowly trails off, then shakes herself. "And I love Hook. I do. I am actually attached to him, and he actually had reasons for the shit he did. Even if I was a dark one as well, and I didn't really give in to any of the dark urges- " for some reason, he doesn't know anything he won't think about why nope , Emma glances at his mom and licks her lips " yeah urges I had. But that's probably all the light magic or something. So uh have I properly explained why we are not madly in love".
Henry just gives her a Regina-like look, the little shit. " Listen- " she looks at Regina again. " Say something?"
Regina shakes her head. "Go to your room. We will talk later".
" Mom. Don't be a coward, okay? She loves you back, I know because everyone knows. There is a whole forum about the newest gossip about the two of you, and I am pretty sure the only ones who don't know right now are grandma and the fly strip himself "
" Fly strip? " Emma questions.
" Because he stinks. Being from a place where people did not know taking baths was good for you, and personal hygiene kind of very important, does not excuse only wearing the one outfit and seemingly brushing your teeth with rum" Henry takes a deep breath. " I am really sorry mom, but it has been ages and you're both unhappy. Also, if he makes one more 'traditional pirate breakfast' I am going to start a mutiny".
He walks over to them, kissing first Regina on the cheek and then Emma. "I love both of you, even if you're really oblivious" he walks over to Robyn's crib, and picks her up. " Come on, we will let them talk"
As soon as Henry is gone, the tension in the room rises. Emma slowly gets up. "Do you want cider? I want cider".
" I thought you preferred other beverages"
"It seems like a cider kind of evening" she gets a bottle and two glasses, but now Henry's stupid ideas are in her head. And they make her go over every single interaction between her and Regina. It just keeps repeating , driving her crazy. And then she finally realizes, Regina's hand holding hers and 'no, but I can give you one', working on operation Mongoose together and seeing Regina laugh and all those other moments
"Shit" she hisses. Luckily, Regina probably thinks it is because of the glass she has just dropped. The one that is immediately restored with a lazy hand gesture by the woman Emma has just realized she is totally non-platonically romantically eternally in love with. Shite. And sure, she knew she loved Regina and that she thought Regina was attractive and that Robin was an ass for treating her like that and – oh for fuck's sake .
"Emma?".
Okay, so Emma has fought dragons and hell beasts and darkness. She has been on the ground with an ogre screaming in her face and lost in the past after messing things up so badly that she could've prevented her own birth. So she is used to adrenaline brought on by fear. But this is worse, so much that she actually shakes and spills cider on Regina's carpet.
"Emma?"
Okay. You probably need to discuss this. Right? She kind of doesn't want to , but then she thinks about how determined Henry was about Regina being in love with her. She feels like running around and screaming at the thought ( in a good way)
She can hear Regina stand up, and probably approach her. And she is a Gryffindor ( despite Henry's insistence that she actually a Ravenclaw or a Hufflepuff) , so she slowly turns around and faces her. "Is it true?".
" I still have not created that mind-reading device, Emma"
It is probably the most reckless, risky thing she has ever done. " Are you in love with me?".
" That is what Henry thinks".
"That's not an answer" Emma says, thinking holy shit.
Regina swallows. " What does it matter? You have him"
" That's not everything Henry said. He also thought I was pretty crazy about you".
Emma takes another step towards Regina, and another. Regina stares at her, and slowly starts to smile. It's incredulous and hopeful and anticipating. Emma really hates how it is crushed when she stops leaning in to mutter 'wait'
"Right. You are in love, and I am – " Regina laughs bitterly, and Emma holds up her phone with a grin.
"Nope, that's not it" she quickly types something, and turns it around to show Regina. At the top, it just says Hook, with his number beneath it. The thing she typed was I am breaking up with you( on the grounds of you treating me like crap, and me being in love with someone else more) We kind of destroy each other. You still have your boat, so maybe that's your happy ending? You were right about that one thing btw, thanks ; ) " You are not going to be the other woman again. So, now that I am officially a free woman- oh wait" she grabs the ring and starts to tug it off, except then Regina takes over, and has to burn it because of course.
And before Emma can even finish her eye-roll, there are hands grabbing the neckline of her shirt and pulling her into a kiss that only lasts two seconds because there's blinding light and-
"True love- but there are no curses to break, so why- " this time it is Emma who pulls Regina in a kiss, only pulling back briefly to mutter " Maybe think about magical theory later?".
"Right" Regina agrees with a smirk, leaning in to nip Emma's lips. Emma is kind of proud at herself for not immediately turning this up a notch, as there are two kids upstairs. Instead, she gives as good as got, kissing Regina back hard which turns into a competition because of course until it gentles. Emma sighs into the kiss , and Regina makes this noise she can't even describe but she already knows she wants to hear again, and again, and again-
She wants to suggest they give Henry enough money to spend a couple of hours at Granny's with Robyn when there's an audible click and they both slowly pull away. Emma wipes at her mouth awkwardly, like that means there won't be any evidence. Regina, on the other hand, looks ready to magically start another earthquake, throw fireballs and throw every sharp object in the direction of that click.
Zelena holds the phone up, grinning wickedly. "This is going online immediately " She disappears before the earth starts to shake. They don't manage to catch her, but they still find out what she has been up to later that evening.
On the Storybrooke blog, there is a sudden influx of pictures, posted under idiotsinlove. There is one of the time they fell asleep on the couch, one during bath time with Regina in the tub , one with Emma playing the guitar and looking at Regina (whose eyes are closed as she sings) with this expression best described as 'puppy love' , the kiss and even a close-up of the adoption application they were filling in.
Snow's status has suddenly been changed to 'so excited for the new grandchild!' with a bunch of bird emoticons added to it for some reason. There is apparently an online betting pool, with such lovely reactions as 'no I bet as well that they would start boning sooner, so I win'. A picture of them in their sheriff and mayor garb pressed together, that they had no idea even existed, is suddenly added to the truelovecouples list.
They're everywhere on the internet, and Emma finally suggest they just stay inside for a couple of weeks. In the bedroom. Sadly, Regina doesn't listen. They're still fun weeks, filled with family dinners and Swan-Mills selfies and the comments online exploding when Henry posts "another child coming. Excited to be picking up my new sibling. We will leave town tomorrow " with the caption 'Team Magic Moms'
It's truly a fairy tale, except it isn't a happy ending. It's a happy beginning.
Sites I used for info about babies/adoption/Spanish/CPR:
articles/163933-how-does-the-adoption-process-work
.com
first-year/vowel-sounds/
first-aid/drowning-treatment jemimaskelley/you-monsters?utm_term=.grNr066rV0#.wk3EnZZEPn
post/162789146998/poor-henry-season-sevens-gonna-break-our
0_introducing-solids_