Emma heard the wooden floor creak as a pair of feet padded across it. The blonde shrunk in her spot on the couch, green eyes, guilty, fixated on the flat screen of the television. Sunlight shone through the blinds behind it, bathing the room in a pale, golden glow and it was then that she knew what she had done.
The door to the bathroom had clicked shut and she quelled the knot in her stomach for the time being as she focused her attention on the screen and the controller in her hand, mashing several buttons. She lost time as she slowly immersed herself, once again, until a pair of footsteps sounded behind her. The overwhelming presence had her pausing the game that she played and crane her neck to see a very tired version of her wife's smile, already painted a deep crimson.
"Have you been to bed yet?" A croaky voice inquired. "Or were you up all night?"
"Well..." Emma started, her face burning with shame. "I meant to, but I finally beat this one level I've been stuck on forever."
"And that resulted in you playing for... Gods," she said, pausing in thought, "for about eight hours?"
"It hasn't been eight hours, Gina." Emma frowned slightly, slowly doubting her words.
"It's seven, my love. We – I went to bed around midnight. You were supposed to follow me." A brow quirked and the blonde knew she was doomed. But then she smiled, tsking softly as she did so. "It's a good thing that I love you, Emma."
"I love you, too," she squeaked sheepishly.
Regina backed away from the couch, shaking her head with a light laugh, and moved back down the hallway. "Just remember, your parents as supposed to arrive around noon."
"I know!" Emma quickly turned back to the screen, saved her game, and quit, before getting up to follow her wife who had disappeared into their bedroom. "The whole reason why I took the day off."
"Indeed, so I suggest that you get a nap in before then. We have a long day ahead of us." The brunette was stripped of her pajamas and in the closet by the time Emma had found her, eyes squinting slightly as she looked through her clothes – or at least the ones she could still wear.
Emma grinned widely as she watched her precious wife make a face at a certain shirt and stepped forward to slip her arms around her waist, palms flat against her swollen belly, humming when she felt a small flutter. "Oh, I know how much you've been looking forward to this."
The brunette grumbled softly and irritably pushed aside another garment that she lost interest in. "I told you that I didn't want to go shopping with your parents, and what is the first thing that your mother suggests we do after the announcement? I couldn't refuse her, after all," she said softly, finally pulling a crimson dress from its hanger, "it is her grandson and she offered to purchase a few items for him."
"I'm sorry, baby." The blonde started to move her hands, one set of fingers dancing across the soft, warm skin. "I know you think they're insufferable, but they're nice, y'know? It won't be so bad, I promise."
The older woman purred softly and leaned against her blonde wife for a moment, fingers curling into the cloth that she held. "I know. I know..." She only shook her head before pulling out of Emma's grasp and started to step into her dress. The blonde quickly offered a hand to steady her as she did so. "But, so help me Gods, I will flip a table if that woman starts talking about birthing videos, again."
Emma chuckled softly when Regina's dark eyes met hers, a humorless look on the latter's face. "It scares you, doesn't it?"
The brunette's upper lip twitched before she turned around, growling, "just zip me up."
"Oh, my gods, it does." She stared at the dark locks before her fingers fell to the zipper, finding difficulty as she pulled it up. They would need to visit the maternity wear, as well. "I mean, I guess I can see why it does. Mary Margaret basically tied me down to watch one of those freaky ass videos. I probably screamed louder than the chick."
"Good to know that I will have competition in that department," Regina muttered dryly before finding a pair of her black pumps to slip on.
"Baby, why do you torture yourself with those things?" Emma stepped out of the closet and was followed by her wife as she did the same, though she pressed forward to find something that was unknown to the blonde.
"Because," she replied, though gave no further explanation and, instead, perched on the edge of the bed as she stuffed folders into a messenger bag.
The blonde rolled her eyes and followed her as the woman collected her items for the day. "And I won't be... looking down there, probably, when you give birth."
"What?" Regina's head whipped up from her current agenda to look at the blonde who stared at her with a red face.
"That video was enough to scar me for life." Emma muttered, blinking rapidly as she moved to collect a fallen paper. "And I couldn't look at your vagina the same."
The brunette huffed in disgust as she snatched the paper from her wife's hand to stuff into a random folder before she stood, chestnut eyes narrowing on the blonde. "You're disgusting, Emma."
"What? You don't like me talking about your vagina?" She chased after her wife as the older woman made her way out of the bedroom.
"Will you stop it?" She whipped around, nearly causing Emma to bump into her. "You know how I do not like that sort of language."
"You certainly have no problem in the heat of the moment." The blonde heard Regina scoff before she continued, dropping the messenger bag onto the couch as she made her way to the kitchen. "Wait!" Emma quickly grabbed the teacher's bag and shrugged it onto her shoulder, earning a quizzical look from the woman herself. "Since I don't have to work today, why don't you let me take you to work? And maybe we can grab a doughnut and some coffee."
"I can't drink coffee, Emma." The brunette paused, though, placing the box of cereal that she had started to retrieve back into the cupboard.
"Yeah you can, just in small amounts. Or you'd probably have killed me by now." Emma smirked when she smiled and slowly made her way over to the older woman, brows waggling. "You know a doughnut or two sounds good. And maybe they'll have hot chocolate... or a tiny, wimpy coffee size?" Slowly, the smile started to grow on full, crimson lips. "I thought so, cutie. And, besides, it gives me a chance to hang out with my beautiful wife, even if it's for, like, fifteen minutes."
"The compliments are a bit much after you bribed me with coffee and doughnuts." The brunette's smile only widened as she leaned forward to give Emma a chaste kiss, leaving her brain to swim in everything Regina. "Come, my swan, before we run out of time."
"Oh, uh, yeah!" The blonde nodded, collecting her scattered brain, and took Regina's hand to lead the older woman to the front door.
"Which car are we taking?" The teacher stopped to collect the keys on the end table by the door.
"I thought we'd just take mine since I'll be taking you to work." Emma received the keys that Regina had handed her before pulling the door open. Once Regina stepped after her into the hallway, the blonde quickly shut the door and locked it.
"Looks like we will be gaining new neighbors." Regina's voice had Emma pulling away from the door to find a few boxes decorating the hall outside the apartment door across from them.
"Hope they aren't loud." The blonde shrugged slightly and started down the hall. "And I hope they aren't using the elevators."
"Do you honestly expect someone to carry boxes up nine flights of stairs?"
"Well... no, I guess not." Emma muttered softly and stopped before the elevators, punching the down arrow. "We didn't. It's a bitch no matter what, though. I hate moving."
She felt Regina's hand take her own and give it a squeeze. A soft smile curved her lips up as she looked to the older woman, curling her fingers between their counterparts. "Man, I hope it hurries. I want more than one doughnut." Emma muttered, distracted by the length of time it was currently taking for the lift to meet their floor.
Regina opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted by a ding as the doors finally opened, revealing a tall, dark haired man and a girl no older than twelve, both holding large boxes. They offered sheepish smiles as they entered the hall, stepping around the couple as they waited.
"Sorry 'bout that," the man muttered. "You guys live on this floor?"
"Yeah," Emma responded, shifting in her spot as green eyes fell on the open doors. "Across from you, actually."
"I would shake your hand, but, as you see, they're a bit preoccupied at the moment." He chuckled softly, his eyes flicking from Emma to Regina, then to their joined hands before he tilted his head down the hall where the young girl had disappeared. "I should get goin'. I'm sure you have places to be. We should talk later."
"Oh, uh, yeah." The blonde's eyes fell away from Regina as the brunette attempted to catch the doors before they closed, jerking her slightly forward. "I'm Emma, by the way, and this is Regina."
"Oh! Nice to meet you," he said, nodding to each, eyes falling to the polite smile on the brunette's face. "I'm Neal. And that was my niece, Wendy. Well, technically she's my friend's kid, but, you know." He smiled in thought, though Emma couldn't help but to miss the sad look in his eyes, but it quickly left as those brown orbs landed on her.
"It's nice to meet you, too." Emma grinned and kept still for a moment, but it was the pulling at her hand that had her finally breaking contact.
"If you would like your doughnuts, Emma, we must go." Regina let her plastic smile widen as her own chestnut hues landed on the man. "Not that I wish to be impolite. It was certainly nice meeting you, Neal, but we really must be going."
"Of course!" He nodded and shifted the box in his arms. "I ought to get the rest of the things up here, anyways. I'll see you later?"
The blonde grinned and was soon tugged at once again as her wife urged her into the elevator. "I might be an arm short, though."
"That won't be good. For anyone, I'm sure." A twinkle shone in his eye.
"Not at all. Can't play video games without 'em!"
"I might have just found myself a new friend."
"Come on, Emma. Will you stop flirting?" A soft chuckle sounded from the man, resulting in a heated glare from Regina.
"See you later!" Neal said before turning down the hall.
Emma finally slipped into the elevator with her wife and frowned slightly, leaning against the bar as the doors closed. "I wasn't flirting, baby. I was only being polite."
"If that's what you call it." Regina huffed softly and watched the numbers as they descended.
The blonde couldn't get angry at her wife's words. In fact, she wanted to laugh at the very thought. She turned to look at the older woman, both her brows quirked. "Is someone, dare I say, jealous?"
"No!" Though, her darkening cheeks had given her away. Emma smirked. "Why would I be jealous of a man?"
"Regina Mills is jealous." Emma teased, forcing more heat to draw to Regina's already pink cheeks, even as the latter had protested the very thought.
"I am not-" She squealed the last word when pale fingers attached themselves to her sides, dancing mercilessly against the red fabric as she squirmed. "Stop! Stop! You're going to make me urinate myself!" Her words were said with laughter; shrill and mirthful.
"Urinate yourself?" Emma chuckled at the thought of the very woman whose aura screamed sophistication to expel her bladder in a mere tickle fight.
"Need I remind you-" She broke off into laughter, using the rails along the wall as support as Emma continued to attack her. "That your son is pressing against my bladder."
"Oh, my son." The blonde stopped, though, for she knew it was true, and she would rather not have to make the shameful trip back upstairs. "He's only mine when he upsets you."
"Yes, that's how it is." Regina attempted to regain her composure, wiping away the small tears in the corners of her eyes. "You're the one that wanted a son to be rebellious like you."
"Well..." Emma pouted playfully and exited the elevator once the doors had opened. "How can I influence him in your womb? Explain me this."
The older woman's nose twitched. "So help me, Emma-"
"What?" The blonde crinkled her own nose and made her way to the familiar yellow Volkswagen, sticking her key in the rusting door to unlock it. "Need I remind you that I'm the one that heeds your every command, you cranky pregnant woman."
"Oh, how very clever, Emma." Regina's sweet laughter filled the Bug as she slowly got into it. Emma placed the messenger bag between them before she joined her.
"Oh, you know that I love you anyways." Emma purred and leaned over to kiss her cheek. "And the little bean that you carry."
"Good," she replied jubilantly.
With a soft hum, and a light heart, Emma buckled herself up and waited for her wife to do the same before she pulled out of the parking space and onto the road. It hadn't taken long for them to arrive at the small doughnut shop a few blocks away; one that Emma had frequented often on her way to work.
"Time for doughnuts." Emma beamed as she got out of the vehicle, taking no hesitation as she made her way around to help her wife out, as well. Regina gave her a look. "Oh, I know. But let me do the thing for you."
"You just cannot wait until I am the size of a blimp, can you?" The brunette asked, eyes narrowed, as she followed the younger woman into the shop.
Emma hummed something unintelligible, immediately taken by the strong scent of coffee and the sweet smell of deep-fried sugar. Her stomach grumbled. "I just might be a blimp if I keep coming here."
Regina chuckled behind her as they made their way to the front counter. "You fit the stereotype of a police officer, dear." The words had Emma chuckling. She couldn't deny the truth.
The blonde knew what she wanted, yet she stood, stumped and in awe, as she looked over the selection, absently licking her lips. If she could stomach eating all the doughnuts they had in stock, she sure as hell would scoop them up and do so. Alas, she could not, thus she ordered her usual (and perhaps something extra) and stepped aside so Regina could place her own order.
After she was through, Emma wore a smarmy grin, and passed over her card to pay for their breakfast. "Three doughnuts? Someone's hungry today."
The brunette's nostrils flared slightly, her lips downturned in an embarrassed frown. "Can you not, Emma?"
"I'm kidding, baby!" The younger woman chuckled and leaned over to kiss her, but the woman had dodged her attempt. "Oh, come on, Gina. You heard what I ordered."
"Yeah, two bear claws, as always." Regina huffed, trying to keep her sour mood, but Emma could see the twitch on her lips.
"And one of those funky ass ones with the cereal on it." She chuckled and turned when her attention was grabbed by the employee. After receiving the box of their breakfast and the two beverages, she turned and found a small table hidden away in the corner.
"I simply do not understand the fad," she said, taking her seat against the window. "I don't expect something soft to be crunchy."
"Oh, don't knock it till you try it." Emma plopped the box onto the table and handed Regina her small coffee before sitting down, herself, immediately attacking the container. Her wife only grunted before plucking out a glazed doughnut. "So, uh, what's the game plan for today? You said we were shopping later, but I thought you wanted to wait until Saturday since my parents are gonna stay overnight?"
Regina looked up from her coffee and shrugged slightly, licking her lips with a displeased look. "Oh, do not remind me." Emma snorted and hid her laughter in her bear claw. "I know that we should, but I enjoy staying home on the weekends with you."
Emma purred at her words knowing quite well that she enjoyed doing the same. The weekends were the only times the two of them could spend together; well, and not be exhausted. "And you like the massages I give you."
"And that," she rumbled, her lips twitching. "I suppose, the more that I look at it, the quicker I want it to be over with. I am not looking forward to listening to your mother squeal every time she sees something that she must have for hours on end."
"And those were just the magazines." The blonde grimaced and sipped at her coffee, eyes on the sparkling chestnut orbs. "So, what, if we went tonight, then it would have to be cut short?"
"Well..." Regina pinched her lips together, those very dark eyes shifting away, finding interest in an abandoned magazine. "Perhaps."
"Perhaps. I guess it wouldn't hurt, but I don't want you to wear yourself out, okay? You should've taken the day off, then." She frowned, despite the desire to smile at her adorable wife. "I don't want you straining yourself, either."
The brunette's nose twitched once again. "You fretful little swan," she murmured, shaking her head slightly. "If I start to feel tired, I will no doubt make it known, and we can go home."
Satisfied, Emma took another hefty bite out of her doughnut and leaned back, enjoying the silence that followed as her wife did the same. It wasn't until the blonde was halfway through her second pastry that she spoke, "When do you want me to pick you up?"
"After school will be fine. It's Friday, after all." The dark-haired woman smiled, lifting the small paper cup to her lips. "I can work on things at home."
A drawn sigh fell from the blonde's lips. "And I guess that I'll have to keep you company, huh?" This earned a soft chuckle from her lover. "We should probably get going soon. Don't want you to be late."
"That would be a shame," said the brunette as she finished off her second doughnut, though despite her words, she pushed her chair away from the small table to stand.
"I thought you liked your job?" Emma collected the container and her cup before she followed the teacher out the small shop.
"I do." Regina sighed softly and waited as her wife unlocked the car before getting in, coffee cup still in hand. "But lately, it's been taking quite a bit out of me."
The blonde frowned at this news and turned to look at the older woman, a hand reaching over to settle on her thigh. "You should have taken the year off."
The brunette, though, shook her head and this time frowned, slowly moving to buckle the seat belt. "I can handle it, Emma, and, besides, we will be needing the extra money for the baby."
"But don't we have enough, right now, from your mother?"
"I don't want to have to rely on that, Emma." Her tone was stern. "Besides, we have, enough, with the clinic bills." She could see the older woman tense in her spot, her fingers curling into her hand.
With a sigh, Emma dropped it and headed onto the road toward the high school Regina taught at. "I just don't want you overworking yourself, Gina," she murmured softly, after a few moments of intense silence. Regina remained quiet, though, her dark eyes on the street ahead as her thoughts clouded her mind.
It was nothing new, though, for they had similar arguments in the past. The two would talk again, rationalize over what they had fought about, and come to terms. Eventually they would be in each other's arms by the end of the night.
When Emma pulled the old, yellow Bug behind a few parked cars in the drop-off zone, she snapped out of her thoughts of fights past, and looked over to the older woman who remained stone-faced.
"Look, Gina, I'm sorry," she finally spoke, her voice soft, as she reached out to the brunette. Those sharp, brown eyes met her gaze and she felt herself relax. "I know how stressed you get during the school year. You're pulling your hair out and sometimes you want to throw things. I just-"
Regina stopped her, hand in air. "Emma, I know. But I will be restless if I stayed home with nothing to do. Just grant me this much, my swan. I promise that I will take the rest of the year off once I am far enough along, alright?"
Emma sighed softly and nodded. "Alright."
"I love you, Emma, know that." The brunette grinned and it dazzled Emma's heart. She couldn't help but to smile herself. "And I must get going before I am late."
"I love you, too, Gina." She closed the distance between them to plant a quick kiss on her wife's lips before pulling away once the other woman opened her door. "I'll pick you up later, okay?"
With a short nod, Regina slipped out of the vehicle and grabbed her bag along with the container that held the rest of her breakfast. "Okay. Have a good day, honey."
"You, too." Emma beamed, even after the door was closed behind the brunette. She watched until Regina disappeared into the school before she pulled away from the curb to head home.
It hadn't taken her long before she was back home and on the couch, resuming her video game from earlier. Though, the longer that she had sat, collecting shine sprites, the more her exhaustion had weighed on her. She knew that she should have went to bend earlier because after her parents got here, she wouldn't have a chance until later that night.
Eyes growing heavy, she resigned to saving and pausing her game, and woke up her phone to check the time. She could sneak in a three-hour nap if she was lucky enough. Pressing her lips together, she mulled over the idea. She knew that she could soldier on without it, but perhaps it would help her through the day. The coffee that she had consumed earlier with Regina hadn't seemed to have any current effect on her.
Mumbling incoherent thoughts, she decided against the nap and resumed her game, too consumed in her current mission to fall asleep now. As the time drew on, though, she felt the familiar pull behind her eyes, and when she closed them for longer than she had meant to, she felt herself falling into the abyss.
A knock had sounded at the door what fell like only minutes later. Emma was forced back from her current dream and brought back to consciousness, suddenly aware of the world around her and the cheerful tune that sounded from the television's speaks along with the sudden weight of something rumbling on her lap. With a groan, she opened her eyes to be met with a sleeping Mario on her screen and a sleeping Milly on her lap, and she chuckled to herself. She wasn't the only one that needed a nap.
It wasn't until another knock echoed through the room did she realized why she had woken up in the first place. Shaking the remnants of her dream away, she stood, placing the kitten that had made a bed of her on the ground, and slowly paced toward the door, her body swaying slightly as if she were drunk from her slumber. When she finally made it to the door and opened it, she was greeted by a smiling set of parents, both immediately hugging her as they entered the apartment with greetings that she couldn't quite process before she smiled in return.
"Hey," she said, a yawn breaking from her.
"You look like you were sleeping," Mary Margaret pointed out after Emma turned from closing the door. "Did we wake you?"
"I just dozed off. It's fine." Emma shrugged slightly, her eyes falling to a bag that the short-haired woman had been carrying. "Wha's'at?"
The schoolteacher lifted the bag with a grin before bringing it towards her daughter, chirping, "it's for you!"
She blinked. "Why would you get me something? Huh?" She took the simple gift bag, regardless, and eagerly looked inside.
It was David who spoke next, leaning against the couch as he faced the blonde. "Well, technically it's something that we found in the closet of your old room. We've been cleaning it out and getting it ready for the baby."
Emma's brows furrowed for a moment as she glanced at the knitted, cream-colored material. When she reached in to grab the soft fabric and pulled it out, did she find herself remembering what it was. "My baby blanket? I thought I lost this. Man... Where was it?"
"On the top shelf of the closet." Mary Margaret grinned when Emma beamed in memory. She hadn't seen the damned thing since she moved in with the Nolans. "You must have stuck it up there and forgot about it."
"Holy shit," was all that she could manage to say, holding the blanket that had once been so precious to her out to examine it. It was just as she had remembered – albeit, a little dusty. Her fingers moved over the embroidery; her name standing out in purple lettering. "I used to always keep this thing with me. I guess I didn't really need it with you guys."
Her mother smiled, wide and easy, as she watched her daughter. "Did we do good?"
"Well, hell yeah! I mean, it's nice to have this relic." She held it up to her face for a moment and inhaled; it smelled sweet and reminded her of her childhood. Tears drew themselves to her eyes suddenly and she brought the blanket away, only to hold in her arms. "Thanks, guys. I really appreciate it."
"Anytime, sweetheart," David said softly.
"You deserve it," Mary Margaret added.
Both her parents grinned and hugged her and, for a moment, she felt like a small child as she enjoyed their embrace and cried. It wasn't long, or hard, or painful; the tears were just of memories and times she wished she had with them.
With a drawn sigh, she pulled away, her face hot and wet. Sniffling, she wiped the tears away and let out a humorless laugh. "Oh, man, I didn't expect that."
"It's fine to cry every once in a while, Emma." Mary Margaret chuckled softly and kissed her cheek.
"I'm totally gonna have to show this to Gina. I don't think I've ever told her about it." With another sigh, she delicately placed the knit blanket on the back of the couch. "Maybe if I'm nice enough, I'll use it for the baby, sometimes."
"Speaking of, have you thought of any names, yet?" Her mother asked as Emma rounded the couch to sit down. She gestured for them to do the same and they soon joined her.
The blonde nodded slightly in response, her attention on the television as she quickly saved her progress and quit the game. "Yeah, we have." She turned toward them, unable to keep her excited smile at bay when she thought of her son growing inside Regina. "Since it's a boy, we're thinking about Henry."
"Henry?" Mary Margaret echoed, grinning, as she tasted her grandson's name. "Why Henry?"
"After Gina's father." Her mother seemed to nod quietly. "I'm the one who thought of it."
"Well, that's sweet." The older woman chimed softly.
"What about you guys? You never talked about a name, yet." The blonde shifted slightly, curious now to know what her little brother's name would be.
"David?" Mary Margaret turned to her husband, offering him a warm smile.
David nodded and spoke, "we were thinking about Neal."
"Neal?" Emma nodded slightly, wondering why the name sounded oddly familiar. "Any reason?"
He shook his head and shrugged, making a slight face. "No, not really. We thought over a few names and we liked that one the most."
"Hm." She narrowed her eyes slightly. It wasn't anyone that she knew within the family. With a slight shrug, herself, she grinned. "Neal. I like it." Her eyes fell to Mary Margaret's swollen stomach and she grinned, leaning down slightly to speak, "hi Neal! I'm your big sister, Emma. I can't wait to meet you."
Her mother seemed to respond jovially to her speech before making a soft noise, a hand falling to the side of her stomach. "Oh! I think he hears you!"
Emma's mouth formed an O as she looked up at her mother, surprised. "Really?" When she nodded, and took the blonde's hand to place on her stomach, she could feel a rhythmic movement. It was a little stronger than what she normally felt with Regina. "He's wanting to come out now, huh?"
"Oh, I hope not! We would have some serious words. He needs to grow for a couple more months." Mary Margaret's words had the blonde laughing.
"Kinda the opposite with Gina. She wants Henry the hell out." Emma murmured, straightening back out. "I mean, I guess she doesn't mind, sometimes. But, she doesn't really get much sleep and she's in the bathroom a lot. Peeing or vomiting, that I don't know."
The brunette frowned slightly at this. "I have a few remedies to help her out. We'll have to talk later."
"Bet she'll appreciate that." The blonde leaned back and stretched slightly, her drowsiness absent for now. She was sure it would return later.
A few moments of silence passed before David broke it, hooking a thumb toward the door. "Is someone moving?"
Emma scrunched her nose up for a moment as to what he meant before she remembered this morning and the man the two had run into on their way out. It was then where she knew the familiarity of the name. "Yeah. Some dude. His name is actually Neal. I was wondering where I heard that from."
David chuckled softly. "Interesting. Does he seem nice? Good neighbor material?"
"Yeah, I guess. He's around my age. Maybe a little older. He doesn't look too much of a party guy. He had a little girl helping him, but I don't know if she's living with him." Emma pressed her lips together slightly. She and Regina had lucked out on the last neighbors that had lived across from them. It was an old, married couple; no kids, as far as she had known, though, they never really conversed.
"Hopefully he won't be too bad," her father added.
"Yeah. Our last ones were a dream and we haven't had any since. So, I hope not." The blonde shrugged. "He said he likes video games, so we'll see. Maybe I'll make another friend."
"It's always good to befriend your neighbors!" Mary Margaret beamed. "You never know when you might need their help."
"True, I guess." Emma nodded slightly and blinked when she felt a weight fall on her legs. Her eyes slid to her lap where Milly now resided, blinking up at her with jade eyes and a soft mew. "This cat."
Mary Margaret, though, seemed more pleased with the feline's presence as she reached out to scratch her behind the ear, giggling softly. "She's so cute, Emma."
"Yeah, well, maybe you should take her." The blonde grumbled, though a finger moved to stroke the purring cat's puffed out chest.
"Oh, no, why?" The brunette paused, frowning at her daughter.
"She peed on my clothes, like, three times now. And I have countless scratches because she decides to do this thing where she tries to launch at you, only to dig her damn claws in, and realize she can't make it." She glared at the small cat, but, for some reason, she just couldn't bring it to herself to hate the sleek-pelted animal.
"Have you not trained her?" Mary Margaret resumed her strokes to Milly's head.
"She has a litter box that she uses, but sometimes she likes to shit in Gina's heels." Although, that one, she couldn't help but to snort at, attempting to keep her laughter at bay. It was hilarious when, one day, the brunette had gone to put on the shoe, only to notice a little gift left for her by their furry baby. She fumed for a while and damn well near threw the poor cat outside until Emma calmed her down enough and stuck the cute, furry creature in her face.
Why they tolerated that cat, they didn't know, but they loved her regardless.
David wore an amused grin, but his wife kept frowning. "Have you told her not to do that?"
"What?" Emma blinked. "What am I supposed to say to her?" She looked at the cat curled up in her lap and drew the feline's attention before mock-scolding her, "you are not to poop in the pregnant, hairless, two-legged cat's high heels, do you understand? Next time you do it, may the cat Gods help you."
Even that struck a humored grin on her mother's face. "Well, you know what I mean."
"Cats aren't dogs. These furry babies with razors on their feet do not give two fucks what you think." She shook her head and, as she said that, the cat jumped off her lap and trotted over to her food dish. "See?"
"Has she done it again?"
"Not yet, but then again, we learned to keep the closet door closed. And the bedroom door when we aren't in there." She let her gaze drift from the cat and land back on her mother. "I guess she's just preparing us for a baby, or kids, kinda. I mean, I hope our kid doesn't shit in our shoes, though. There will be stern words."
Her mother merely shook her head, giggling softly. "Who knows? But, I do have books with tips on what and what not to do, or teach, your toddler. And quite a few that I had picked up from the book store the other day. I brought them with me!"
As she was preparing to dig those very books out of her bag, Emma looked desperately at her father, as if asking for some way to stop the nightmare that was about to be wrought upon them, but he only shook his head, sympathetic.
Unfortunately, that's how Emma had to spend the remaining hours until she could pry herself away to pick up Regina. Of course, she did learn a thing or two along the way, and thankfully, there weren't any gross pictures provided, so she didn't mind too much. Although, she knew she would no doubt have to suffer through it again when Mary Margaret would show Regina. And the only reason why she knew that was because the pixie-haired woman had enthusiastically stated so.
That wouldn't be until later, though, because, as of now, she was currently leaving to pick her wife up from work, her parents in tow. The two had decided to follow Emma in David's truck while she drove her Bug, as per the only reason being, if they were to go shopping tonight after dinner, there would be no room to put their purchases. Also, she was glad to have at least a little time away from Mary Margaret's constant talk about babies and birth, which both terrified and grossed Emma out.
She almost had second thoughts on having this baby. Almost.
By the time her thoughts had finally cleared of Mary Margaret and her creepy facts, Emma was parked behind a row of cars outside the high school where Regina taught. Here she thought she could have gotten away from those thoughts, but, of course, her luck was not that great, and neither were the noisy teenagers as they hung around the schools, fooling around and chattering with one another.
Crinkling her nose in disgust, her forest eyes searched the crowd for a familiar face; for her wife. She couldn't see her just yet. Sighing, she decided to check her phone as she always did when bored, searching for messages that weren't there and webpages no longer available. She was pulled from her mindless boredom when the door had opened and Regina started to enter the vehicle, her bag dropping between her feet.
"Hi baby!"
"Hi, my love."
Emma hummed, leaning over to give that woman a quick kiss before she put her seat belt on. "How was your day?"
Regina's face seemed to light up at her lover's words and shrugged, clicking the seat belt into place. "Not too bad. My feet ache and I'm sure my ankles are swollen by now, but I'll survive."
The blonde frowned slightly at this as she shifted gears to pull from the curb. "Oh, no, baby... Do you want me to give you leg rubs when we get home?"
The brunette seemed to purr at the thought. "That would be lovely."
As Emma pulled back onto the main road, she saw David's truck pull slowly in behind them. "My parents are here."
"Of course. How are they doing?"
"No too bad. They're behind us." She chuckled softly when Regina had twisted to look behind them.
"So, they are."
"Are you still up for shopping tonight, or should we wait until tomorrow?" The blonde started off toward the restaurant they had chosen the night before. Sure, it was early, but she was hungry. At the thought of food and the sudden rumble of her stomach, she realized that she hadn't eaten yet.
Regina was quiet for a moment, and in that moment, Emma turned her gaze to look at her, frowning slightly. The brunette sighed softly. "I didn't really want to do the shopping tomorrow."
"Baby, if your ankles are swollen and you're uncomfortable, don't force yourself to walk around any more than you should." She reached over with one hand and sought out her lover's hand, smiling when she found it actively find her own and squeeze.
"I know, my swan, but-"
"Gina, no buts." She squeezed the brunette's hand before quirking a brow at her, though it didn't last long as she brought her attention back to the road. "We'll go eat dinner, then we'll head home. If you feel up to it, maybe we can go out later, okay?"
"Alright." The brunette's lips twitched despite the defeated sigh. "If I feel like putting up with your overprotectiveness."
"I love you." Emma grinned.
Regina muttered her words in response, "I love you, too." Though, even as she tried to remain ticked by Emma's insistence, the smile on her face couldn't seem to be hidden.
"I see that smile starting." The blonde pulled to a stop at a red light and turned her gaze to her wife, smirking. "C'mon. Let me see it." The brunette couldn't help but to let the smile expand, digging into her cheeks and reaching her eyes, a helpless giggle following. "There it is!"
"You need to stop your unfair advantages," the older woman rumbled.
"What unfair advantages?"
"You make me smile." Regina's nose twitched slightly. "Even when I do not want to."
"'Cause I have that effect." The blonde smirked, again, and took off once the light had changed.
"Sure, dear."
With a hum, Emma turned into the restaurant's parking lot. She figured by this time of day that there wouldn't be many people here, though, she found that she was soon wrong. It took her several moments to find an open parking space, and then some, as she waited for her parents to do the same.
Once everyone was settled, the four of them entered the restaurant and were, luckily, able to be seated right away. They caught up as they ate, speaking of work and the disinteresting things that happened during. When they had finished their meal, the four decided to head back to the apartment, going against the idea of shopping that night (much to Regina's dismay and Emma's delight).
"Oh, yeah, Gina!" Emma exclaimed when they finally arrived at the apartment, her eyes landing on the blanket that lay abandoned on the back of the couch. "I completely forget. Mary Margaret and David found it."
"Found what, now?" The older woman looked lost as she followed behind her wife when the blonde move toward the couch to grab said object.
"My baby blanket." She grinned and turned to show the brunette the knit blanket, Mary Margaret smiling behind the two.
Regina looked at it for a moment, a hand moving to touch the fabric as her brows knit, a slight frown on her face. "You have a baby blanket?"
"Yeah," she replied, shifting it to show her name stitched in purple. "It's the only thing I have from my birth parents."
"You never told me about it." She looked thoughtful as she continued to gaze at it before her chestnut hues lifted to emerald.
Emma pressed her lips together, guilty, as she moved to spread it out on the back of the couch. "I guess I never thought about it. It slipped my mind when I misplaced it." She shrugged slightly, turning to look at the older woman. "I used to carry it around with me everywhere when I was younger. And I used it most every night when I slept. I just guess I grew out of it."
Regina's lips twitched slightly as she moved forward. Emma soon found herself engulfed in a sea of spicy perfume. "That's cute," she purred, pressing a soft kiss to the corner of her mouth. "Perhaps I should make one for Henry, hm?"
The blonde found herself grinning at the thought and she nodded, leaning into her wife when the woman remained. "That would be so cute! I could see him running around, using it as a cape, or something."
The brunette chuckled. "Is that what you did?"
"I... uh, I honestly don't remember." She frowned slightly, and when she did, so did her wife. "I just know I was attached to it."
"No mind," she murmured, touching the younger woman's cheek. "Why don't we get settled. You still have leg-rubbing to do."
Emma gladly accepted the subject change, keeping her mind from falling into the darkness of her childhood. "And listen to what Mary Margaret learned from her books." She exchanged a quick smile with her mother as the woman perked from her spot after hearing her name. Though, when she looked back to Regina, she saw the look of impending dread on her face. She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing.
"Of course. I simply cannot wait to hear what you have learned." The English teacher looked behind her to the pixie-haired woman and forced a smile. She gestured toward the sitting area. "Have a seat."
Emma kept her smirk hidden as she watched David take the loveseat as she and Regina took the couch, the latter removing her heels with a soft grunt while they waited for Mary Margaret to gather her books. When her stockinged legs were settled on Emma's lap, she frowned, noticing the indents that her footwear had left. Gingerly, she traced the creases, her emerald eyes meeting the familiar gaze of her lover's.
"How did you survive all day with those on? It looks like they were becoming one with your feet."
Regina giggled softly at the tentative touches, squirming, and merely shrugged. "I get used to them. Maybe they go numb. And, sometimes, I take them off while I am at my desk."
Emma snorted softly and started on massaging one of her wife's feet, earning a soft purr from the woman.
"That feels nice."
"I bet. Get some feeling back into 'em." The blonde worked her way up, gently massaging the older woman's leg. Gods, she was definitely on the fence about carrying a baby, herself, with what she had witnessed from her wife thus far. And on top of all what Mary Margaret had shared with her, her wits were at an end.
Shaking the thoughts away, she drew her attention up to her mother who had finally joined them, books in hand. David helped her as she took the open spot next to him.
"Alright! I got everything here. Regina, you can look through the book." Mary Margaret beamed as she leaned forward as much as her swollen belly would allow to hand Regina one of the books. Emma pressed her lips together, attempting to keep her twitching lips from curling into a devious smile. Regina merely received it with a bland look, though Emma could see the curiosity shining behind her dark eyes.
Mary Margaret began to explain what she had told Emma earlier as Regina flipped through the book, engrossed by the several photos that the blonde couldn't see. By the end of the night – or at least Mary Margaret's elaborate detail of a baby from conception to birth, and parts thereafter – Regina was, to say the least, horrified (much to Emma's utter amusement).
"Why do you let her say these things to me?" The teacher spoke to her blonde wife after Mary Margaret and David disappeared to the guest bedroom to retire their items.
She smirked and answered, "Because she told them to me and it's only right that you should suffer, too."
"You're an asshole, Emma Mills." Regina's lips twitched despite her narrowed eyes.
"Hey! I gave you leg rubs."
"That still does not make you any less of an asshole." A smile broke wide across her face, though. She sighed softly, setting the book that she still held aside. "Why did I agree to carry this baby?"
"Because you said it would be a wonderful experience and you're getting old? Ow!" Apparently, that was the wrong answer. She glared at the older woman. "There's no turning back, so stop hitting me."
Regina submitted herself to a soft sigh and ran her fingers over her protruding belly. "I'm sorry, my love. It's... frightening the way your mother speaks of things."
"I know. I'm freaking out and I'm not even the pregnant one." The blonde's lips twitched when her lover chuckled, but it was short live. A soft sigh fell from her lips as she shifted, one of her own hands falling to Regina's stomach, her fingers following olive ones. "It won't be so bad, baby. It hasn't really been this far, right?"
"Well, I cannot say that it has been the easiest of rides so far. But, I suppose you're right. I'm just letting it get to my head." She merely shook her head, a smiling lilting her lips as she watched Emma's fingers and caught them with hers to lace together.
"It'll be worth it in the end, yeah?" Emma grinned, squeezing her wife's hand. "We'll have a cute little baby."
Regina sighed softly and nodded. "Indeed, my swan. And we'll gain our own experiences with him."
"Right? We already have." Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Like when you were craving pickles and made me go to the store to get some. And when I got home, you said they were the wrong kind, and cried until I kissed you just to shut you up."
The brunette's lips twitched at the memory. "You know, pickles do sound good right about now."
"Oh, no. I am not going through that again."
"Oh, come on, Emma. Please?"
The blonde narrowed her eyes. Regina looked at her with a slight pout on her crimson lips and a soft sparkle in her eye. "We're supposed to be watching a movie."
"The store isn't that far away." The brunette tilted her head slightly, smirking. "I will give you kisses?"
Emma snorted. "Really? Kisses?"
"Well, fine. Be mean to your pregnant wife. Need I remind you that you're the one who did this to me." Regina's arms crossed over her chest and Emma couldn't tell if the woman was being serious or playing.
"Wait, what? Last I recalled, I didn't have a penis." The younger of the two quirked a brow.
"Yes, but you are the one that put the-"
Emma held a hand up, eyes widening. "Okay, okay. I guess I did knock you up... in some way. Just..." She sighed softly, reluctant to leave her wife's side for pickles of all things. Why couldn't Regina crave something like tacos or ice cream? Emma could certainly dig her hands into that right about now.
Regina's lips parted as if she were to speak, but instead, she leaned forward to claim Emma's own. The blonde was taken aback at first, but immediately responded, melting into the sweet gesture. She could never tire of her wife's soft and intoxicating lips.
She could feel the older woman grin as she merely continued to kiss her, her tongue soon invading the blonde's mouth, leaving Emma with the minty taste of the gum Regina chewed not an hour before. Emma resigned herself and got lost in the kiss, a soft groan drawing from her as those spicy, full lips moved against her own and a pair of hands explored her curves.
The blonde didn't know when it had happened, but as she ran her hands over her wife's plump rear, she found that Regina had made it onto her lap, straddling her thighs. She could feel the curve of her stomach as she pressed against her and the flutter of her heart, matching the pace of her own.
Her lips detached from her wife's only to trail along her cheek and jaw, quickly finding solace at the crook of her neck, which had earned a few delicious gasps as she nipped the tender flesh. She felt lips moving along her own jaw, soon enough, but the connection hadn't lasted long when she heard someone clear their throat.
Flushing with embarrassment, Emma pulled from her hiding place to see her father standing there with an equally as mortified expression. Emma quickly removed her hand from her wife's thigh and attempted to tug down the fabric that seemed to have shifted up, only to find resistance.
"We can, uh, leave you two alone for a bit. We can watch the movie tomorrow." David's voice broke the awkward silence.
"N-No, no," Emma began, eyes falling from her father to her wife, who had remained in her lap. It wasn't until she noticed that her arm was wrapped around the woman did she realize why the brunette hadn't moved. Once she released her grip, Regina carefully shifted into the spot next to her, wriggling slightly as she pulled her dress down. "I'm, uh... I've got to get some pickles from the store."
Regina turned her attention to the man, a hand moving to wipe around her mouth. "I apologize. It's my fault. I was convincing her to make the trip for me."
Emma only shrunk in her spot at the woman's words, wishing she could disappear in that moment.
But David only laughed as his wife finally joined him, coming from the bathroom. "I see. Well, that's no problem. We can wait."
"Wait for what, now?" Mary Margaret asked, moving beside her husband who still stood awkwardly beside the couch.
"Emma's making a trip to the store for pickles."
"Oh." The schoolteacher smiled and nodded, her eyes landing on her daughter. Then her brows furrowed as they fell to the blonde's lips. "Uh..." She looked back to her husband and the same look he still wore, putting the pieces slowly together. "Oh."
Emma quickly wiped at her mouth, silently cursing the lipstick, and popped up from her spot. "So, uh, yeah. Do you want anything?"
"No." Mary Margaret shook her head and David followed suit. "I'm alright. We'll just, ah, wait."
When Emma nodded, her cheeks still red, the two found their spots on the loveseat again as the youngest of the group made her way towards the door. "I'll be back."
Emma had tried her very best to hurry with the trip. She made it in minimal time to the store only a few blocks away and collected every damn kind of pickle they had on their shelves. The cashier had given her an odd look and Emma vaguely remembered muttering about having a pickle party before she hastily ushered herself out with the several plastic bags of clinking pickle jars.
She would have estimated it to be a half hour later by the time she was struggling with the bags as she attempted to gather them all from her car. The soft clink of the glass banging against one another worried her, hoping that she hadn't broken a jar or two. The damn bags were heavy.
"Do you need any help?" A voice queried behind her and her cheeks were set aflame.
"Oh, uh..." Emma couldn't find her words and, instead, thanked her new neighbor, Neal, as he took a few bags from the car, despite the duffle bag strapped to his shoulder. "Thanks.
"Man, what do you have in here?" He asked, a lilt of humor in his voice.
"Uh... pickles." She muttered the last word before locking her Bug up and moving toward the apartment.
At the answer, the man lifted one of his arms to peer into the bags, eyes widening. "All of 'em are pickles?"
Emma punched the elevator button and waited for it to arrive, her smile tight as she turned her attention to him. "Oh, uh... yeah."
Neal stood there for a moment, quiet, as if he were attempting to process it. One the lift had arrived and the two entered, did he finally speak, bringing the imminent question into the conversation. "Do you really like pickles or something? Like, why so many?"
The blonde hit the button for their floor and leaned against the elevator wall, stretching her arm slightly as it grew sore from the weight. "Well, I do. But, uh, not that much." She shrugged, eyes on the numbers as they passed each floor. "My wife was craving them."
"You wife?" He blinked, a look of surprise on his face, and maybe a hint of disappointment behind his brown eyes.
"Yeah. The woman I was with earlier. I introduced you to her." She shifted slightly when the sound indicated their arrival to the tenth floor. The two exited and started down the hall.
"Yeah, yeah. Dark hair, a little impatient, maybe too formal. I remember her." Neal nodded slightly, the bags crinkling as he shifted them. Emma grinned, amused, at his description of her wife. "I didn't take her for a pickle person, but, then again..."
"She's pregnant and that's all she's been really craving, aside from a shit ton of doughnuts." The blonde snorted. "Nice to know what you think of her, though."
"Oh, no! I didn't mean anything by it." He offered a sheepish smile and stopped when Emma searched her pocket for a key. "She seems... er, nice."
"She really is. You just have to get to know her... and not get between her and her coffee and doughnuts." It took her a moment to fish the key from her pocket, the plastic bags making her fingers sore.
"Then we might have to get together some time."
"Yeah." The blonde nodded and struggled with the lock until she felt the door – and her arm – get pulled away as the very woman in subject opened it. She offered her a sheepish smile and held the bags up. "Hi, baby, I got your pickles."
But those animated brown eyes were narrowed and Emma could sense the sudden emotion pouring off her. "What is it you were talking about?"
Neal, still behind Emma, merely grinned as if he hadn't noticed the hostility toward him, the bags in his hand getting offered to the brunette. "I was just telling Emma that the three of us should get together sometime in the future."
"Uh-huh." Regina slowly nodded and took the bags from the man before stepping back to allow her wife inside. Emma pressed her lips together and crossed over the threshold, stepping into the brunette's personal bubble. She could feel the older woman's warm breath against her skin.
"Come on, Gina. You know that I'm only yours."
"It's not you that I'm worried about, my swan."
"So, I'll, uh, just get back over to my place." Neal cleared his throat awkwardly and stepped back, drawing Emma's attention to their neighbor. She offered him an awkward smile. "If you need anything, you know where I am."
"Yeah. Thanks for the help, by the way. Appreciate it." He nodded at her words before exchanging a tense goodbye. The door closed behind him per Regina's doing.
"What?" Emma asked after an intense stare from her lover.
"He's going to be a problem," she replied, heading toward the kitchen with her bags of pickles. Emma followed suit, setting the bags onto the counter with a soft hiss. She looked at her aching fingers, finding the unpleasant indents left by the plastic handles.
"Why?" She unloaded the pickles, but she didn't receive an answer as Regina had done the same, her eyes widening at the amount of pickles displayed before her.
"How many jars did you get, Emma?"
She felt blood rush to her face as she played with a jar that she held, looking absently at the label. "A lot because I couldn't remember what kind you liked and by doing this, you won't cry again and you'll have a shit ton of choices. I mean, we have bread and butter ones, and we have sliced, and we have dill, and we have whole, and here are some that are kosher." She held the jar up that she had and gave her an innocent smile.
Regina could only sigh before taking the jar, inspecting it as she turned it over in her hands. "Thank you, honey." When she met Emma's gaze, the blonde could melt, especially when she saw the soft and sweet smile on those pink lips. Her mangled fingers were definitely worth it. "Well, I do quite like the whole ones, the most. I'm not very fond of the sweet ones."
The blonde smirked. "'Cause you look perverted sucking on 'em?"
"Wha- Emma. No." The brunette glared at her. "We are not going through this again."
"Oh, fine." Emma wrinkled her nose slightly before making her way fully into the kitchen so she could put away the excess jars of pickles once her wife had taken interest in a certain jar. "I'll have to see if my parents want some, then." She paused to turn toward the living room expecting to find the two where she had left them, but the seats were empty.
"They decided to head to bed, dear." Regina answered the unspoken question, her words a soft grunt as she started to open the jar. She was quickly denied as much when Emma took it from her and did so herself, setting the now-open container in front of the flustered brunette. "You know, I could very well do that myself."
"I don't want you straining yourself, baby." Emma kissed her cheek before going back to her previous duty.
"You keep saying that about everything, Emma. Next thing I know, you won't let me wipe my own ass because it's 'too stressful.'" A dry look was shot her way but Emma quickly turned, attempting to hide her smirk. "I am still me, darling."
"I know. But..." She frowned slightly and closed the distance between them, her arms slipping around Regina from behind as the older woman started nibbling on a pickle. "It's my job to fret over you, my cute little panda bear."
Regina huffed softly but leaned against her anyways. "I have no other choice but to accept my fate, do I?"
"Nope. You're stuck with me." She beamed like an idiot and nosed her soft, raven locks, unable to help inhaling the sweet scent that she had grown to know as Regina Mills.
"Out of everyone in the world, I'm glad that it's you that I am stuck with." There was a soft crunch as the brunette bit into her pickle and Emma couldn't help but to let out a soft giggle.
"Good, 'cause I wouldn't want it any other way," Emma purred, her hands resting on her wife's belly. She sighed softly and let the silence consume her, knowing the brunette was smiling even though she couldn't see her. She was grateful for the woman in her arms and the life inside her. If something happened to them, she didn't know what she would do.
...
"Why did I agree to this ridiculous idea, again?" Regina asked as she followed Emma and her parents through a brightly lit, pastel-themed store, pushing a small cart before her.
This was their third store of the day. They had woken early in the morning to set off on their journey to several shops; both big and small. If it wasn't enough to be woken at the godforsaken hour of six, her back was starting to ache and her feet were already killing her while Mary Margaret's insufferably cheery voice squealed every time she saw something that she had to have.
She had nothing against the woman, though, her enthusiasm was sickening. Regina was excited, herself, of course, but she just couldn't bring herself to smile through the exhaustion that tugged at her with every step and the migraine forming behind her left eye. Her ideal shopping trip for the baby was with her wife and her wife only, but alas, as everything was, she had gotten roped into doing this with the Nolans.
Emma's voice was distant, drawing her from her thoughts. "Gina? You okay?"
"Huh?" She blinked slightly, noting that they had stopped before a display of cute stuffed animals.
"You look like you were spacing off or something." Emma's amused grin curved her thin lips.
"I am," she admitted, leaning against the cart with a heavy sigh. "I'm still tired."
"Me too," her wife mumbled, those soft, emerald eyes moving from Regina's gaze to follow her parents who had disappeared a few aisles away. "Donno why we had to get up so damn early."
"Because your parents wanted to return to Storybrooke before nightfall." Which the thought had Regina digging through her purse for her cellphone to check the time. It wasn't even ten yet. She sighed.
"Are you okay, though, Gina?" Emma stepped forward, no doubt noticing the discomfort on her face when she shifted, a sharp pain in her back that soon settled to stiffness.
"I'll make it," she said, smiling inwardly at her lover's concern. As much as she had complained, she did take appreciation in her doting wife. The woman truly was a sweetheart.
"Are you sure, baby, because we can go home. They won't mind." But Regina merely shook her head, leaving Emma to sigh. "Fine." The blonde turned her attention to the display before her own squeal filled the air.
The brunette had to double-take to make sure she wasn't Mary Margaret before finding a stuffed animal thrown in her face. She blinked slightly before she noticed it to be in the shape of a panda with soft colors and large eyes.
"It's so cute! And it's a panda." Emma pulled the toy away to play with it before handing it over to the brunette. "We should get it for Henry 'cause panda."
"Because panda." Regina clucked and turned the stuffed panda in her hands, reveling in the soft material it was made from. She couldn't deny that it was cute and the more she stared at it, the deeper she fell in love. With a soft sigh, she set it in the basket. "We haven't picked many stuffed animals out yet, so why not?"
Emma was already grinning before taking her wife's hand, the other preparing to push the cart off in the direction of her parents. "What else do we need, anyways?"
"Not too much," she responded, though quietly, as she pondered. They had already found the perfect crib at the second store. It was something sturdy and expensive, made of dark wood that was curved and smooth. A rocking chair was found at the same store, as well, something that matched the crib in both color and design. They had picked up necessities from the first store and a few cute toys that Emma had found. "Perhaps a few blankets. They seem to have a few good ones here."
"Oh, yeah. 'Cause I'm not letting mine go." Emma smirked as they met Mary Margaret and David who were looking at a baby swing.
Regina chuckled softly at her words. Of course, she wouldn't. She knew instantly with the way Emma had looked at that old blanket. It reminded her of her old, ragged panda still packed into a box hidden in her closet. "What do we have here?" Her eyes fell upon the objects displayed that David was currently showing to his wife, reading off words from the packaging.
"Swings," Mary Margaret answered brightly, a smile on her face as she turned to Regina. "A nice way to entertain the little one while you're busy."
"I've seen these, yes." She murmured and examined one. It certainly would be helpful and she could imagine a dark-haired baby boy smiling widely or snoozing peacefully as he swung.
"You should get one!" The brunette enthused before turning back to David, giving him her approval of the latest one he looked over.
"We just might." She nodded her agreement before moving toward the brand David had picked out. It looked the worthiest out of the selection, so she bent to pick it up, only to be stopped by a hand on her back.
"Baby, let me get it." She was gently ushered away from the shelf by her wife as the blonde woman took her place. With a few swift movements, the box was placed in their cart.
"You know, I could have done-"
"Nope!" Emma stopped her, a finger pressed to her lips. Regina blinked. Well, that was new. "Don't make me spank you."
"Wh-What?" The brunette was taken aback by the blonde's words, her cheeks immediately flushing as she felt an unwelcome tingle shift down her spine.
"I'm kidding, Gina. Don't look so shocked." The younger woman smirked and moved away. "Where to next?"
"I, uh, blankets." She stumbled slightly as she took control of the cart. The four soon found themselves in the next aisle where a large display of baby blankets and too-cute toys greeted them. Emma was squealing just like her mother as she showed Regina each of the large-eyed plush dolls and the animal-shaped toys.
"And-look-at-this-one!" Emma chimed, a bright smile on her excited features as she shoved a soft, plushy blanket into her arms. Regina looked down at the pattern of small turtles in soft greens and blues. But her attention wasn't on it long before a second blanket was thrust at her; this one was pale yellow with little firetrucks and police cars.
"I- Okay." She blinked slightly and held them. They were soft and warm, and she felt the need to curl up and sleep.
"It has a police car and it's funny because I am the police." Emma's large grin could have stopped time. Regina couldn't help but to smile in return, her desire for slumber dissipating and the brief thought of luck crossed her mind.
"So, I take it we're getting these?" She asked, finding her brain to put the blankets into the cart. "They're adorable, admittedly."
"Good!" The blonde hummed. "Anything catching your eye?"
Regina shrugged because, honestly, she hadn't been paying much attention to the items and instead her all-too-adorable wife who fluttered around the baby products. Wearing a smile of her own, she found her eyes moving over the products. She was about ready to go home and curl into her wife. She had seen way too many things at three too many stores today; the ache in her back told her just that.
"Not particularly," she finally said, returning her gaze to Emma who seemed to have disappeared within those few seconds. It was only a moment later before she popped back up, smirking, with another stuffed toy; this time it was a small bear with the letter "H" on it.
"Sorry, baby. I saw this behind you and I nearly shit myself." Regina laughed. "What do you think?"
The brunette took the teddy bear from her wife and held it close. It was soft and pale and adorable, like many of the other products. But, as she held it, she felt a soft flutter in her abdomen and couldn't help but to chuckle. H for Henry. "He seems to like it," she murmured, bringing the bear closer to her stomach, even though she knew there was no point.
"Really?" Emerald eyes widened at her words and the brunette nodded, an easy grin splitting her face.
"He started to kick me." She chuckled softly and placed a hand over the spot she felt the movement, pleasantly surprised in the greeting she received. "Or he's just about as done as I am with shopping."
"See, I knew it." Emma snorted softly, a fond look in her eyes. "You want to go home."
"I wanted to go home before we even left, my love." The brunette chuckled and set the teddy bear in the cart. When she looked for Mary Margaret and David, the two were long gone from the aisle, though she could still hear the schoolteacher's shrill voice somewhere near.
"Well, I can tell 'em we're done." The blonde merely shrugged and fell into step with Regina as the latter left in search of the other two. She felt a hand on her lower back and smiled, unconsciously shifting closer to the younger woman beside her.
"Oh, there you are." Mary Margaret grinned from her spot, cart sporting a generous amount of supplies. "We were worried we lost you."
"We just got caught up in the blankets." Emma explained, her hand falling from Regina back as she moved. The brunette immediately missed the contact. "Gina's a bit tired. We were thinking about heading back home."
"Oh?" There was a spark of disappointment in the pixie-haired woman's eyes, but she smiled regardless, shrugging. "That's fine! I think we've spent enough. Right, David?"
"Yeah," he agreed with a chuckle. "And I think we got the basic things, so we should be good."
Relief flooded over Regina like a tidal wave. She could already feel the warmth of her bed. "Shall we?"
It was Mary Margaret who nodded as her husband pushed their cart toward the register, Emma following with their cart. It took longer than Regina felt comfortable with to check out and return home, but once they had, she was relieved and immediately kicked off the heels she regretted slipping on in the first place. Emma had told her to wear something more sensible, but she argued that she could handle it. Boy, had she been wrong.
Emma had made the numerous trips with their items with help from David and Regina couldn't find it in herself to argue this time to help. Her back was already killing her and the few small bags she carried were contribution enough. She was collapsed on the couch with Mary Margaret by the time Emma and David made their final trip with the crib, both murmuring about something she had missed in conversation.
"And that should be it." David announced, returning from the spare room – nay, Henry's room – Regina corrected herself.
"Thank Gods." Emma said, coming out from behind him a few moments later. "Now, to set it all up is our next task."
"You can do that alone." Her father chuckled. "I have to do that at home."
"I know." The blonde grumbled and dropped next to her wife. Regina hummed at the familiar presence and immediately shifted against her, body relaxing despite the soreness. "I'm probably gonna wait until next weekend or something."
"Me too." The sheriff joined them. "So, how about that movie before we leave?"
"Sounds good to me." Emma grinned.
Regina frowned when the younger woman parted from her embrace. She took the moment to check her phone for the time. It was close to noon. With a soft sigh, she melted against Emma's comforting being when she returned, getting lost in the sweet scent of her honey hair.
"Hey, baby, lemme see your legs." Her lover's sweet voice filled her senses as she murmured the words into her ear, sending a pleasant shiver down her spine.
She complied, shifting slightly to lay her legs across her lover's lap and as soon as she had, she felt Emma's hands go to work, lulling her into the ultimate relaxation. The movie was soon a blur as her eyes grew heavy with each passing minute; the day's toll was catching up with her and, along with the gentle massages, she soon found the world growing dark.