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Chapter Text

Regina doesn’t get sick.

Correction: she doesn’t get sick now.

Before, when the curse was still in full swing, before magic flowed freely in Storybrooke, she did get sick. A flu her when Henry got home from school sick and gave his sickness to her. Some seasonal allergies there. The occasional stomach ache when she had indulged in a dish that contained too much garlic.

But after magic entered Storybrooke, Regina became as healthy as a horse. At least physically. The mental part was a different story, of course.

Regina had never been healthier after her magic came back.

Because if she had the flu, she would take a potion for it.

Seasonal allergies? There’s a potion for that.

Stomach ache? Snap your fingers and make the ailment disappear in a matter of seconds.

Over the years, Regina has used her magic many times to cure whatever sickness she might have been about to come down with.

Except for this one, apparently.

‘This one’ is a stomach bug, so stubborn, Regina is at her wits ends when it comes to how to cure it. Of course she has tried various medicine for it. Then she went the alternative route and resolved to magic. But not even that is doing the trick when it comes to this thing. So far, it has been bothering her for two weeks. The first week, she felt sick more often than not. She even vomited a few times. Regina never vomits. Not unless she’s running a high fever, and she isn’t. She has checked her temperature a number of times, and it’s normal. No fever.

There aren’t any normal symptoms either. She doesn’t have that familiar fever chill or achy muscles. She just has an upset stomach.

Or she did last week. This week, it’s fatigue. Extreme fatigue. She is so tired that eating breakfast feels like a marathon, and every time she sits down, she can easily fall asleep right then and there.

It’s an extremely stubborn virus. And it’s highly, highly annoying too. The timing is awful, because Regina is in the middle of packing. She’s about to move in with Gold. She doesn’t have time to be sick, for crying out loud.

But apparently, her body has other plans.

Maybe it’s just stress. The excitement of it all.

She’s about to move in with her partner, after all. That’s a big deal. Despite her many attempts at making it seem like a minor thing, it isn’t. It’s huge. Of course it’s good, but it’s also huge. So yes, it could very well be her body’s way of reacting.

She’s getting sensitive in her old days.

Imagine that.

“Thank you,” Regina says and smiles at Emma who has stopped by. Emma has plenty of time now that she’s on maternity leave from being a sheriff.

And apparently, she even has time to make chicken soup. Which is exactly what Regina is thanking Emma for now. It’s awfully nice of her to bring Regina soup.

“No big deal,” Emma smiles and huffs slightly under her breath, holding her still growing belly as she sits down on Regina’s couch. “Henry told me you cancelled on him and Jacinda yesterday?”

“I did,” Regina confirms and winces. She hates that she was forced to cancel lunch with her son and daughter-in-law, but she was feeling poorly. Again.

“Were you not feeling well?” Emma asks and tilts her head in a way that reminds Regina of Henry. He does the same thing every now and then.

“Not really.” Regina shrugs. “I mean, it was just a bit of fatigue.”

A big bit of fatigue, actually. She was so dizzy she could barely stand. And the nausea was horrible.

“I think our son is a bit worried about you, to be honest,” Emma says. “I could hear it in his voice when we spoke over the phone.”

Regina smiles. “He’s sweet, worrying about his old mom. I’ll phone him later and tell him that I feel better.”

“And are you feeling better?”

“Yes.”

Emma frowns.

“Not really,” Regina amends. “But I’m sure I will soon enough.” Even though this stomach bug is ridiculously stubborn.

“Have you been at the doctors?”

Regina scoffs. “At doctor Whales? No, I have not.” Nor was she planning on going. But she might make another trip to the pharmacy and buy herself some more over the counter medicine if it doesn’t let up soon.

“And you don’t think it should? I mean, how long has this lasted now? Three weeks?”

“Two weeks,” Regina corrects. “And it’s not that bad. Not bad enough for me to be needing a doctor, anyway.”

Emma takes a sip of the glass of water Regina has offered her. “And what does Gold say?”

Regina shrugs. “Let’s just say you’re not the only one babbling about doctors.”

“In that case you should listen to me. And to your boyfriend.”

“I’m fine,” Regina insists. Well, almost anyway. She will be. It’s just a stomach bug. It’s no big deal.

Even though she was forced to call in sick at work yesterday. Which never happens. Her secretary, bless her, had sounded worried.

Emma rolls her eyes. “If you say so. And in any case, maybe this can help. It’s mom’s recipe, so it has to be good.”

She removes the lid on the bowl containing the chicken soup. And as soon as she does it, Regina stomach rolls. Maybe it’s the scent of garlic. Or the scent of chicken. Either way, her stomach threatens to turn itself upside down, and Regina is forced to press her hand to her mouth. She even gags. Which of course is dreadfully embarrassing.

“Oh, god,” Emma says, hastily slamming the lid back on the bowl. “I am so sorry!”

“It’s fine,” Regina croaks, immediately feeling better now that the smell is gone. “I’m sorry. I’m sure the soup is lovely! I just can’t eat it. Now yet, anyway.”

Emma purses her lips. “What can you eat?”

“Crackers?” Regina offers. “Salted crackers seems to agree nicely with my stomach. And this morning I had some yoghurt too. That worked fine.”

“Hmm.” Emma purses her lips some more and frowns as though she is thinking mighty hard about something. “Have you been sick at all? You know, vomiting?”

“How nice of you to ask,” Regina says sardonically and tries not to roll her eyes. “For your information, yes. I have.”

“How often?”

“Do you have a medical degree that I’m not aware of, miss Swan?”

“Just answer the question, please.”

Regina huffs at the invasive question. “A few times.”

“In the morning, or…?”

“Does it matter?” Regina is annoyed now, and can’t hide it. “Sometimes in the morning, sometimes just whenever! Depends on what I’ve been doing or what I’ve been eating.”

Emma goes ‘hmm’ again.

Regina lifts an eyebrow. “What?”

Emma does not answer. She just looks at Regina with that same weird look on her face. Once again she looks a whole lot like Henry. Henry often had the same expression when he was trying to solve a math problem.

“What?” Regina asks again. This time a bit more insistently. She’s in no way in the mood to solve whatever ‘math-problem’ Emma has going on.

She’s much too tired for that.

“Listen, I really, really don’t mean to be an asshole here,” Emma says finally and winces as though she’s in physical pain. “But is it possible that you’re… That you’re uhh, pregnant?”

It feels like everything pauses for a moment. This is more than just an invasive question. It’s more than rude. It stings.

“That’s a little insensitive, don’t you think?” Regina says icily. She can’t help it. This is just one of the things that always will be a sore spot for her.

“I know, I know, I’m sorry!” Emma holds up her hands in defense and winces some more. “It’s just.. Your symptoms, they sound a lot like-“

“I cannot have any biological children,” Regina interrupts and fixes Emma with a stern look. “As you are perfectly aware of, miss Swan.”

“I’m sorry, Regina.”

“Apology accepted,” Regina says graciously and is fully prepared to change the subject.

“You’re not late, are you?”

“Emma!” Regina snaps, because she is perfectly aware of what ‘late’ means in this context.

“Sorry! I’m done now, I promise! Please don’t kick me out. Or blast me into the wall.”

“I’m not gonna blast anyone into any… Wall.” The rest of the sentence almost gets away from her. Because now that she’s thinking about it, she is late.

And not just a couple of days late. And not a week late.

She’s actually very late.

As in very, very late.

Which is odd because her period is never late. It has always been punctual. Almost on the dot, really.

“Regina?”

“Hmm?”

“Are you alright? You’ve gone quiet.” Emma leans forward, guilt etched onto her face. “I’m really sorry about what I said. I shouldn’t have asked you that, it was insensitive of me.”

“It’s fine,” Regina waves her off. “But you’ve made me realize that I actually am… Late.” She cringes because it’s so personal, and while she and Emma are friends, this is not what they usually discuss.

Where are the monsters when one needs them?

“Oh,” Emma says.

“But there could be a million reasons for that,” Regina says briskly. “Maybe I’m just a little stressed out. Or maybe I’m going through menopause.”

Emma raises an eyebrow. “Aren’t you a little young for that?”

Regina laughs darkly. “I’m older than I look.”

“Right, but-“

“You know what, I think I’m feeling a little tired,” Regina says, interrupting whatever it was that Emma was going to say. It’s time for Miss Swan to go. The visit is very much over. And truthfully, Regina does feel a little tired. She might actually take a nap because Rumple comes over later. Not that they have any mad plans, really. They’re just gonna watch a movie. Or a couple of episodes of Antiques Road Show. That’s still their favorite show. And it’s still a deep, dark secret that only Henry knows. And of course he finds it absolutely hilarious. Clearly, he has never watched the show himself. If he had, he wouldn’t be laughing. He would get as sucked into it as she and Gold is. Perhaps she should introduce him to the show at some point.

Or perhaps she shouldn’t. Perhaps it’s fine that it’s her and Gold’s ‘thing’.

Regina likes the idea of that. She likes it a lot, actually.

“Right, right. I can take a hint, Madam Mayor.” Emma laughs as she hauls herself up from the couch. “Feel better. And call me if you need anything. Anything at all.”

“Will do,” Regina assures as she walks Emma to the door. The ‘anything at all’ sounded a little too sincere to be casual. It sounded like she and Emma shared some kind of secret, and Regina understands absolutely nothing of it.

But she’s not about to play guessing games or ask questions about it now. She does not want to be annoyed at Emma.

She and miss Swan says goodbye. Regina shuts the door, not sure who she feels the most annoyed at. Miss Swan for being so silly, or herself for allowing that ridiculous little seed to take root in her brain.

She is not pregnant.

She can’t be pregnant.

It’s ridiculous.

Preposterous.

Impossible.

Regina cannot have biological children. That is a knowledge she has lived with for a long, long time now. It’s something she has accepted.

So, she’s not pregnant.

Even though she throws up in the morning sometimes.

Even though she has developed a fondness for salty crackers.

Even though she feels fatigued now and then.

Even though her period is very late.

It doesn’t matter. It’s just a weird illness, that’s all.

She’s probably feeling much better tomorrow.

And by next week, this will just be some illness she had and then hadn’t.

Because she is not pregnant.

To Be Continued…..

Chapter Text

For three days, she pretends.

For three days, she feigns being fine even though she is not.

Still, she holds her head high and insists that everything is absolutely wonderful.

But on the fourth day, her façade is crumbling. Because honestly, she is feeling shitty.

This isn’t right, she thinks to herself and gives an undignified sniff as she slowly lifts her head from the toilet bowl. Her stomach hurts after vomiting three times straight, and she feels so drained all the time. How she has managed to pretend with Rumple all weekend is honestly a bit of a mystery.

Not for the first time, Regina wonders if she actually does need a doctor. This thing has lasted almost three weeks now. And that isn’t normal.

But then she thinks of Doctor Whale and scoffs. She does not wanna see him, and she definitely does not want to be examined by him. No thanks!

Tentatively hoping that she’s done vomiting, Regina slowly comes to a stand. She brushes her teeth. Twice. Then she uses that strong mouthwash that nearly makes her sneeze.

She wanders downstairs and sits down on the couch. Cups her head and wonders what now. Should she lie down and take a nap? She’s experiencing that ridiculous fatigue again. She could definitely sleep if she wanted to.

But she doesn’t want to sleep. She wants to do…. Something.

Regina gnashes her teeth. Because Emma Swan’s ridiculous idea has taken root within her and is now festering. Even though she knows that it is impossible and that there’s no way she’s pregnant, some part of her can’t quite let it go.

Because her period is still late, extremely late, and it hasn’t been this late before.

Not that she is thinking ‘what if’, oh no, Regina is way past any what if’s.

She scoffs quietly and rolls her eyes even though there is nobody here to see it.

She merely wants to put this silly thought to bed so she can focus on finding a cure for her mystery ailment and get better. Fast. She has a dinner appointment with Henry and Jacinda tonight, and she can’t cancel again. Then Henry will really start to worry. Maybe he’ll even bring Whale here, god forbid it.

He means well, of course. Henry, that is. He means well, and he just wants her to be alright. But Regina can deal with this on her own. She will deal with this on her own.

In her own way too, of course.

No more stalling. It’s time that she starts doing something that isn’t vomiting or sleeping.

She’ll be resourceful. Her old self.

Regina stands from the couch and takes a breath. She’s still nauseous, but not as much. Thank god.

Yes, even though it is silly and ridiculous and completely unnecessary, Regina is planning on doing… It. Take a test. Just to verify what she already knows.  

She walks upstairs and puts on her best coat and high heeled boots. Then she leaves the house.

****

Her intention was to go to the pharmacy, but courage deserts her when she spots Snow White coming out of the pharmacy. Snow has some weird ‘Regina-radar’, she just knows when Regina is nearby. She would spot Regina, latch on, worry in her usual Snow White-way. And she would manage to pry everything out of Regina.

That’s another of Snow’s talents.

So the pharmacy is out of the question.

Regina changes direction and might actually hide a little bit to avoid being seen by Snow. Once Snow White has crossed the street, Regina continues in direction towards the grocery store instead. It’s a fairly big store, and amongst the fruit and cereal, the store also happens to sell cosmetics and… and pregnancy tests.

Regina clicks her tongue. She cannot believe she’s actually going to do this.

It’s so stupid. Maybe she should drop it.

No. She has reached the grocery store now. Too late to turn back now.

Regina ducks inside and smiles faintly at those going ‘good morning, Madam Mayor’. Awfully nice of them.

She idles a bit before she oh, so casually walks over to the cosmetic section. She briefly looks at lipsticks before she continues to the shelf with the hygiene products and condoms and… pregnancy tests.

There are… A lot of options. A lot, a lot. So many brands.

Clearblue. First response. Stix. Clinical Guard. Pregmate. And at least ten more brands. 99 percent accuracy, one of them boasts, while another claims ‘we are hundred percent accurate’ and ‘find out your future in just two minutes!’

Why are there so many options? Why are there so many brands? How does she know which one to pick? What if she picks the wrong one? What if the one she picks is a faulty one? Should she buy more than one?

What about two?

Or maybe three?

Four, even?

Or maybe just one of each to be on the safe side.

No. No, this is ridiculous. It’s too much. It’s silly.

She can’t do this. She can’t actually do this.

She’s blowing a simple illness out of proportion. Taking a pregnancy test is quite, quite unnecessary.

Right?

Yes. She should just leave. Go home and make herself a healthy meal full of vegetables. That’ll help.

But she doesn’t leave.

Instead she hovers. And picks up one of the boxes. The one that says ‘Clearblue’ along the side. Regina examines is as though it’s a priced horse she’s considering to make an offer on. There is a smiling woman on the front of the box. Her grin is so wide, it almost seemed stretched. She’s holding up the pregnancy test which clearly shows two blue lines.

Regina looks at the smiling woman on the box. She knows it’s just some model, she’s not an idiot.

But still, the woman looks like she’s bursting with happiness. Beside herself with joy and amazement at the miracle in her belly.

Regina’s hand shakes. And then she drops the box with the pregnancy test. It lands on the floor very softly. As though it’s just a simple box not containing anything that’s even remotely important.

She kneels down and picks up the box. Is just about to set it back on the shelf when someone behind her softly says: “hey there.”

Regina turns around and comes face to face with Emma Swan. She has a cart full of groceries with her. But she’s alone. The pirate is not with her, and Regina is relieved about that. She’s not really interested in this spreading.

“Emma,” she acknowledges and draws her hair behind her ear. Is it worth lying to Emma and telling her that she was on her way to the vegetable section?

No. Emma looks over Regina’s shoulder. Right  at the shelf with the pregnancy tests on display. There is so much kindness in her eyes, Regina sort of wants to cringe. This is all Emma’s fault, really. She is the one who has planted this ridiculous idea in her head.

“I was just…” the sentence shrivels up and dies on Regina’s lips, because what was she just? Panicking? Experiencing her first ever case of shaking hands.

Very much so, actually.

“Feelin a little overwhelmed, huh?” Emma asks softly. Without an ounce of teasing to the words.

“Yes,” says Regina, because it’s true. She is very much feeling overwhelmed.

“Do you need some help?” softly again, no teasing, and not an ounce of judgement.

“Yes,” Regina says again, this time somewhat reluctant, because she still isn’t good at asking for help.

But right now, she does not know what to do. She didn’t come in here with a properly researched plan. She only came in here to grab a pregnancy test and disappear before anyone could notice her.

But she had no idea that there was so many options.

Emma nods once and steps over to the shelf with pregnancy tests and plucks one from the shelf. ClearBlue, it says on the box.

“If I were you, I’d pick this,” she says lightly. “It’s the most accurate one. It’s the one I used back in the day with Henry.”

“Oh.”

“It’s also the one I used for this one,” Emma continues, patting her swelling belly. Then she hands the box to Regina. “Here you go.”

Regina ‘hmms’ and looks at the shelf. “I had no idea there were so many… Options.”

“It can be very overwhelming the first time,” Emma says kindly.

“I suppose so.” Regina scans the shelf once more. After some inner debating, she reaches over and take a second pregnancy test from a different brand.

“In case the first test is… Faulty, somehow,” she says vaguely.

Emma pats her arm and its actually sort of comforting.

“I should let you get on with it,” Regina says and moves the pregnancy tests from one hand to the other.

“No, I’m good,” Emma says lightly. “I was going to stop by your place anyway.”

“You were?” Regina asks, slightly surprised.

“Yeah, I feel like I overstepped the last time, and I wanted to smoothen things out.”

“Oh. I wasn’t mad,” Regina says truthfully. “Just annoyed because your little idea seems to be…. Festering.”

“I’m sorry about that. I honestly didn’t mean any harm,” Emma says and winces softly.

“I know that. You never do.” There’s only a hint of teasing to Regina’s voice, because it is indeed true. Emma Swan rarely do something out of harm. She always means well. Even when she leaves Pop tart crumbs all over Regina’s kitchen table or teaches Killian how to do donuts in the parking lot behind the sheriff station, resulting in a complain to the Mayor from some pissed off bystander who claims the sheriffs of Storybrooke are being ‘irresponsible’.

They have reached the counter, and Regina pays for the pregnancy tests without looking at the cashier. Emma pays for her groceries, and together they leave the grocery store.

Outside, Regina offers to take one of Emma’s grocery bags, and she will not hear of it when Emma tries to insist that she can handle it.

“You cannot, you’re pregnant, you shouldn’t be doing any heavy lifting,” Regina brushes her off and snatches the full bag out of Emma’s hand.

“And uhh… Are you sure you should? Be doing any heavy lifting, I mean.”

Regina turns her head and spears Emma with one of her glares. “Just because I have these tests doesn’t mean that I’m going to take them.”

“Oh, come on, Regina,” Emma scoffs. “Having them and then not taking them sounds like torture to me.”

Regina mumbles something incoherent under her breath. She refuse to admit that Emma is right. Just the knowledge that the pregnancy is in her house would tear Regina apart.  

“So, I’m guessing that things still hasn’t gone back to normal, huh?” Emma asks gently.

“No,” Regina says shortly.

“Still nauseous?”

“Yes.” Just as shortly. But that’s not all. Now her body has even started to invent symptoms of the impossible. Yesterday her breasts were so tender she could barely put on her bra. Which of course hadn’t made her feel any less paranoid.

First her brain is betraying her.

And now her body is too.  

“I’m sorry to hear that. My first trimester was-“

“Stop,” Regina interrupts. “We don’t have that in common.”

“Right. Sorry.”

They reached the town square, and Regina stops because she is going in one direction while Emma is going in the other direction.

“Do you have time for a quick cup of coffee at your place?” Emma asks and snaps her fingers, sending her groceries away in a cloud of white smoke. “Pretty soon you won’t be living here anymore, so it’s last call.”

“That is true,” Regina nods. “But don’t you have anything better to do?”

“Me?” Emma laughs. “Hell no, I’m just sitting around doing nothing. Why not spend time having coffee with my best friend instead?”

“I’m not sure I can have any coffee, but-“ Regina interrupts herself midsentence and frowns. “I thought your mother was your best friend.”

“Nope,” Emma chuckles. “That would be you.”

“Oh. Well then.”

They’ve reached Regina’s place, and they head inside.

Regina puts on the coffee machine (caffeine free powder for Emma, of course) and Emma settles at the table.

Regina’s phone beeps. It’s a text message from Rumple. He is asking if Regina is feeling any better. He’s quite worried. It’s very sweet.

“Is that Gold?” Emma asks.

“Yes.”

“Figures. I thought I saw a silly-goofy smile.”

After having told Rumple that she is indeed feeling much better (lies, of course) Regina sets the phone down and glares at Emma. “I do not have a silly-goofy smile. I don’t even know what that is.”

“Maybe you don’t,” Emma chuckles and winks at her. “But I’m pretty sure Gold does.”

Regina scoffs and turns around to make the coffee. She’s picking caffeine-free for Emma. And who knows, maybe she too can have a sip or two. Without hurling it back up. That would be glorious.

“You know, I’ve been here enough times to know that your coffee machine takes at least five minutes to make the coffee.”

Regina narrows her eyes. Yes, her coffee machine is an older model. “Forgive me if my coffee machine isn’t meeting your standards, miss Swan. I’ve been a little too busy fighting villains to get a new coffee machine.” She decides right then and there that the coffee machine is going in the bin when she moves in with Rumple. The man has three different coffee machines. Yes. Three. Because the Dark One apparently takes his morning coffee very, very seriously.

“I was just thinking that you could use those five minutes to… You know.” Emma nudges the pregnancy test towards Regina.  

“Now?” Regina folds her arms across her chest.

“Yes, I mean, why not?” Emma’s voice is gentle again. “Wouldn’t it be nice to be with someone when you get the result? No matter what the result is.”

“I already know what the result will be, Emma. Negative.”

“In any case, I think you should find out once and for all. I know you, and I know that this is most likely eating away at you. I can see it.”

“Exactly how can you-“

“You’re jumpy,” Emma interrupts. “And you’re not usually jumpy. And you’re also pale. You don’t look well, Regina.”

“Why, thank you,” Regina says dryly.

“You know what I mean.”

She does. Regina isn’t feeling well, so of course it’s visible physically too.

“But I don’t want to pressure you into doing something you’re not ready to do. Obviously, it’s entirely up to you to decide when you want to take the test. Or if you even want to take it.”

Regina mumbles something under her breath and stares at the ClearBlue box like she’s trying to set it on fire with her eyes.

She’s not, though.

But maybe, just maybe, she should just take that damn test and get this over with.

To Be Continued…

Chapter Text

She is of course reluctant at first. An arsenal of excuses lines up in Regina’s mind.

She’s busy. She’s not in the mood to take the test right now. It’s awkward, taking a pregnancy test with Emma in the house.

But the problem is that none of these excuses are very good ones. She’s running out of options. So she might as well just…

“Fine,” she snaps, standing from the chair and snatching the pregnancy test. “Fine. But I still think this is absolutely ridiculous and unnecessary.”

“Of course you do,” Emma says calmly and not at all bothered by Regina’s tone.

With the pregnancy test in hand, Regina heads into the bathroom. She shuts and locks the door, then follows the instructions on the box. Once she’s done, she thinks to herself that this method is both disgusting and humiliating. It’s so undignified, peeing on a stick. With all the progress medical science is making these days, why haven’t they come up with another way to find out if you’re pregnant or not (she’s not) like pricking your finger or taking your temperature or something. Anything but this.

She leaves the pregnancy test with the display side up on a mountain of tissue paper and then washes her hands in the sink. Twice. Afterwards she’s tempted to stare herself sick at the stick. But she’s not about to obsess over this, so she spins around and leaves the bathroom, closing the door firmly behind her.

Emma is of course still in the kitchen. When Regina re-enters, the blonde looks up and asks: “do you by any chance have any cake or just something sweet in general? I’m feeling peckerish.”

Regina nearly rolls her eyes. The pregnant Savior somehow loves sweet treats even more than the not pregnant savior. Clicking her tongue slightly, Regina opens her fridge and finds the remains of the carrot cake she baked a few days ago. She can’t possible eat any of it herself, but she cuts a generous slice for Emma.

Emma’s eyes starts shining when she sees the slice of cake on the plate. “With cream cheese frosting, oh my god!”

“Yes, you better appreciate it, miss Swan,” Regina quips as she eases the slice onto a smaller plate. She hands the plate to Emma, but then notices that the slice of cake is wobbling. Because the plate is wobbling. Because her hand is wobbling.

“Are you okay?” Emma asks. Of course she has noticed it too.

“I’m fine,” Regina says lightly and sits down next to Emma. She keeps her gaze firmly locked on the table, and not on the big clock on the wall that tells her how many minutes it’s been.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, miss Swan. I’m quite sure.” Regina delicately folds her hands on the table. “This is no big deal. I already know what that test is going to say.” She sighs. “This is… not the first time my body has been… Confused.”

“It’s not?”

“No,” Regina replies and tells Emma something she hasn’t told anyone before: “I have thought that I was pregnant before. I missed a cycle and had a few other symptoms, so…” she shrugs like it’s no big deal. Even though it was. Even though that hope had glittered within her for a while. And then it didn’t.

“When was this?” Emma’s voice is gentle. Kind.

“As I said, a long, long time ago. While we were in the Underworld.”

Emma chokes on a bite of cake. “You thought you were pregnant while you were in the Underworld?”

“Well, I wasn’t,” Regina says flatly. “A few days after Robin died, my period came. So. There’s that.”

“I’m so sorry, Regina,” Emma says quietly. Her eyes does that thing where they go all big and sad, and it reminds Regina too much of Henry.

“It’s alright. That was a long time ago now.” She has worked through the loss of Robin, and there’s no sadness or regret anymore. Only the most tender love for the man who loved her so much he gave his life for her.

But at the time, it had felt like being screwed over by life twice. First she had lost Robin, and then she had discovered that she wasn’t pregnant after all. It had been a rough few months for her.

“If I hadn’t been so hellbent on going to the Underworld,” Emma starts, but Regina cuts her off.

“Don’t do that to yourself, Miss Swan,” she says quickly, yet gently. “Trust me, it’s not worth it. It’s only the direct route to going mad. Nobody forced me to go with you to the Underworld, and nobody forced Robin either. Wondering if you could have said or done anything differently to prevent it, is like sitting in a rocking chair. It keeps you occupied, but gets you absolutely nowhere. All of it was a long time ago. And things… Well, things worked out in the end.”

“Now you have Gold,” Emma says softly.

“Yes, now I have Gold,” Regina agrees with a slight chuckle. “Now who would have thought that?”

“I guess the two of you finally got enough of being at each other’s throats and decided that it was better to set your differences aside.”

“Yes, that is one way of putting it, miss Swan. That is one way of putting it.”

The coffee machine clicks softly, marking that the coffee is done.

“Regina?”

“Yes?”

“The three minutes are up.”

Her stomach swoops. Somehow she had forgotten about the pregnancy test, but now the prickling anxiety returns with full force. She feels nauseated and flushed and it’s ridiculous.

“Alright,” she says neutrally as she stands. “Coffee?”

“Aren’t you going to check what the test says?”

“Sure. In a moment. Milk? Sugar?”

“You know I use both.”

“Right. You do.” Regina yanks the little jug of milk out of the fridge, but her hands tremble horribly, and she ends up dropping the jug of milk on the floor.

She curses softly under her breath as she bends to pick up the broken jug. Her stomach clenches again, and she grits her teeth as she tries to make herself calm down.

The test is negative. The test is negative. You already know that. Don’t start hoping. And don’t be sad about something you never had in the first place.

“Regina.” Suddenly Emma is next to her. Kneeling despite her large baby bump and gently prying the broken glass out of Regina’s hands.

“What?” Regina says and tries really hard not to snap. It’s not Emma’s fault that she’s antsy.

“I think you should go and check the test,” says Emma and snaps her fingers, sending the broken glass jug away.

Regina shakes her head. “Not right now.”

“Regina-“

“I can’t,” she hisses. She doesn’t know how to explain to Emma that it’s too much. That the distance between the kitchen and the bathroom feels a thousand miles long and too short at the same time, and she is nervous.

Even though she knows that the test is negative.

That’s what she cannot bear.

The disappointment.

That little stab of pain.

Even though she didn’t get her hopes up.

At least not much.

Maybe just a little bit.

A fraction.

Just a tiny glimmer of hope.

“Do you want me to check the result?” Emma asks softly as they rise from the floor at almost the same time.   

“Would you?” Regina whispers. Somehow it feels gentler to get the result from Emma and not unfiltered. The Savior knows how to deliver bad news in a way that doesn’t feel like the world is ending.

“Of course,” Emma says and smiles at her. “Just give me a second.”

With that she heads into the bathroom, and Regina lingers in the kitchen and tries not to vomit. She’s pretty sure it’s a hefty bout of anxiety, though, and not the mysterious illness she has experienced for the past few weeks.

It doesn’t even take a minute before she hears Emma’s footsteps in the hallway.

Regina spins around to avoid seeing the look of sadness and pity on Emma’s face.

“Regina,” Emma says.

“Negative,” Regina says quickly, aimlessly wiping the counter even though there’s not a speck of dust on it. “That’s quite alright.”

“Regina-“

“It’s alright, Emma,” Regina interrupts and closes her eyes for a second. “It’s what I expected after all.”

“Regina-“

“Emma, please don’t say you’re sorry or give me pity.” She grits her teeth now and tries to swallow down the disappointment. “It’s fine. Nothing has changed. I’ve known for years that I cannot have children, and I’ve made my peace with it. I never believed that this even was an option, but it’s good that I took the test. Now that this is out of the way, I can focus on-“

“Oh, my god, Regina, shut up!” Emma interrupts, throwing her hands in the air. “The test is not negative, it’s positive!”

Regina drops the dishtowel on the counter and spins around. “What?” She stares at Emma. “What?”

“The pregnancy test is positive!” Emma nearly shouts, grinning from ear to ear. “It’s fucking positive!”

“But that’s not possible.” Regina rushes past her into the bathroom to see for herself.

The test lays innocent on the bathroom counter. Two blue lines are clearly visible on the display.

Two blue lines.

That means that she’s pregnant. Right?

Regina stares and stares at the test, fully expecting the two blue lines to vanish before her eyes.

They don’t.

The two blue lines remains.

Solid.

Emma appears next to her. The blonde grips her arm so hard it nearly hurts.

Regina has known Emma for long enough that she knows that when Emma is excited she has to physically touch something or someone.

“This is not possible,” Regina says hoarsely and without taking her eyes off the test.

“I guess it isn’t.” A laughter bubbles out of Emma’s throat. “Regina, this is-“

“But how?!” Regina interrupts. She cannot wrap her head around this.

“Let me take a wild guess and say that you and Gold had unprotected sex,” Emma cackles now, acting like a very immature twelve year old. “Or do you prefer the version where there’s a special hug-“

“Shut up,” Regina sharply interrupts and flicks her wrist. The box containing the second pregnancy test appears in her hand. “That test is obviously faulty. Out. I’m going to take another one.”

Emma scurries off and Regina takes the second test. This time she hovers in the bathroom for the entire three minutes it takes for the result to come through. And she also checks the result herself.

‘Congrats, you’re pregnant!’ the interactive little display proclaims as it shows up another set of two blue lines.

“Oh, my god,” Regina whispers.

There’s a knock on the bathroom door. Apparently, Emma has been lurking outside this entire time. “Regina, can I come in?” she asks now. Voice gentle and not teasing anymore.

Without a word, Regina unlocks the bathroom door and let’s Emma come in.

Emma waddles to the bathroom counter and looks at the pregnancy test. After a second she gives a squeal, and then she’s back to gripping Regina’s arm. Hard.

“Regina! You’re pregnant!” she half-screeches. “You’re going to have a baby! You and Gold are going to have a baby!”

Regina opens her mouth. Then closes it again. She doesn’t know what to say. A million thoughts run through her head. 

A baby.

Is this real?

Is this happening?

What will Rumple say? Does he even want to have a child? 

They're solid and sure about each other, yes, but still, it's a huge jump from moving in together to suddenly having a baby together. What if he isn't interested in any of this? Maybe he's comfortable with the way things are, just the two of them, able to do what they want, when they want. He's already done this two times. First Baelfire. Then Gideon, and-

Regina stops herself. It's too early to think like that. She doesn't dare thinking like that yet.

Doesn’t dare to celebrate either.

“Regina, say something,” Emma squeezes her arm again. “You’re freaking me out.”

And rightly so, Regina thinks to herself. Not knowing what to say is extremely rare for her.

She shakes her head as she looks at the two positive pregnancy tests. “You can’t really trust those tests. I need to see a doctor so I can have it confirmed or.. Or denied.”

“Regina,” Emma says very, very kindly. “I think it’s time you start to try and accept that this is real and happening, you know? The idea of not one but two pregnancy tests are somehow ‘faulty’ is extremely rare.”

“But it can happen,” Regina says stubbornly.

Emma just shakes her head. “Ten bucks you’re pregnant.”

“Emma.”

“Twenty bucks.”

“Miss Swan-“

“One hundred bucks,” Emma interrupts, grinning again. ”One hundred bucks and a bag of takeout from Tony’s that you’re actually-actually pregnant, Madam Mayor.”

“You’re on, miss Swan,” Regina says distractedly as she stares at the two positive pregnancy tests. She has a startling feeling that she in fact will end up paying Emma.

Because, however startling and inexplainable it sounds, she suspect that she might in fact be pregnant.

To Be Continued…..

Chapter Text

Regina stalls for one more day. She goes to the store and purchase another pregnancy test and takes it as soon as she gets home. When that test too turns out to be positive, she finally decides that enough is enough, and she picks up the phone and calls the doctor’s office. She speaks to the secretary who is very nice as usual.

It’s Regina whose tone is clipped, almost sharp as she asks for an appointment as soon as possible. When the secretary asks her about the nature of the appointment, Regina nearly stutters when she says that it’s to confirm a pregnancy.

The secretary continues to be just as professional as she books Regina in for an appointment the following day, and when she hangs up, Regina feels strange. It’s all happening so fast. The positive pregnancy tests and now the doctor’s appointment. She has to do a urine test of all things. And bring it to the doctor’s office as soon as possible.

A urine test. It’s so primitive. But fine, she’ll do the damn urine test.

That turns out not to be as complicated as she feared, and once it’s done, she stores the container in not one, not two, but three clear plastic bags before storing the container away in her purse. Then she leaves the mansion. She decides to walk to the doctor’s office and get some fresh air. She’s not feeling nauseous right now, and she needs to make the most of it. Here’s to hoping that feeling fine-ish will continue. She’s eating lunch with Gold at the pawnshop later, and she really, really don’t want to feel sick there. He’s already concerned about her health, and if he starts to get just the slightest idea of what’s actually going on, well…

Regina doesn’t want him to know anything. At least not yet. Not until she’s absolutely certain. And three pregnancy tests aren’t enough to make her certain.

She still doesn’t trust those tests. Not completely, anyway. They could be faulty. Something could be wrong with all three of them. It could happen like that. She could be unlucky enough to buy the only three tests that are faulty.

What she needs is medical confirmation. From an actual doctor with more advanced tools than a stick she pees on. It’s unfortunate that the doctor is Doctor Whale, but she suppose she’ll get over it. As annoying as the man is, he’s also a good doctor, Regina must admit. He was the one who treated Henry when he was a baby and suffered from various child ailments such as fevers and coughs and what not.

Whale was always professional, discreet and sort of kind. He would of course be as professional this time around. To him, she was just another patient.

And honestly, rather him than Snow White’s dwarf friend. Regina shudders. Not that she has anything against the dwarves, she doesn’t, not at all, but she has an inkling that Doc has an abnormally large mouth, and if she went to him, she suspects that Snow White could find out about her condition before Regina is ready for her to find out. It’s ‘bad’ enough that Emma knows. Regina would have preferred to keep things quiet until she knows if there’s anything ‘to know’.

She reaches the doctor’s office and drops off her ‘cargo’ at the front desk where the receptionist receives it and once again confirms Regina’s appointment the following day. Once that’s done, Regina leaves the doctor’s office and feels strange. Her stomach is fluttering. And not just from nausea this time.

Tomorrow felt like another sort of ‘due date’, Regina thinks to herself as she briskly walks down the street. Her entire life could literally change tomorrow.

Maybe.

If the tests (all three of them) weren’t faulty.

“Mom?”

Regina turns her head and spots her son coming towards her. Sometimes it is still strange that she has a fully grown son. A son who is nearly two heads taller than her and has a scruff on his cheeks. He grew up fast.

“Henry,” Regina says, smiling at her son and giving him a one armed hug. “Good morning. “You’re up early.”

“So are you,” Henry says, returning her smile. “But shouldn’t you be resting?”

“Resting?” Regina echoes, suddenly alarmed that he somehow knows.

“Yeah, I mean, you still look a bit pale.” Her son points out.

“Oh. I just haven’t had any coffee yet. I’m doing fine.”

Henry is quiet for a moment. Then he asks: “are you really feeling better?”

“Yes, of course,” Regina is quick to say. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“You’re coming straight from the doctor’s office.”

Damnit. “I was just getting a prescription refilled.”

“Oh. Okay.” Of course Henry doesn’t believe her. That much is evident in his words. And honestly, why should he? It’s a lie, and it’s a horrible one. ‘Getting a prescription refilled’. It’s so stupid, Regina could have kicked herself. Henry knows her, and he knows that she normally avoids modern medicine like the plague. He always teases her about using magic to cure whatever illness she has.

If he didn’t think something was amiss before, he certainly does now, Regina thinks to herself as she eyes her adult son. Is he really about to become someone’s older brother?

If that’s the case… If Regina really is expecting a child with her adopted son’s grandfather, the family tree is about to get even more complicated.

It makes her feel dizzy to think about. Or maybe she’s just dizzy in general.

Either way she stops and takes a deep breath.

“Mom? What’s happening?” Henry asks. And he’s not just asking about why she has stopped in the middle of the street.

“Nothing,” Regina says automatically. “I’m fine. Everything is fine, honey.”

“Liar.”

“Excuse me, young man-“

“Mom, come on,” her son interrupts, rolling his eyes. “I know you. I know when something is wrong, and right now something is wrong. So what is it?”

“There’s nothing wrong,” Regina fibs. Pathetically.

Henry doesn’t buy that either, and his eyes narrow. “Is it grandpa? Are you arguing with him? Did he do something-“

“No, of course not,” Regina interrupts, chuckling softly and shaking her head. “Henry, your grandfather and I don’t argue.” It’s true, they don’t. The two of them have a mutual, silent agreement that they’ve already spent enough time arguing and fighting with each other.

“Then what?” Henry press. “What is it, mom?”

“Nothing,” Regina says emphatically and smiles brighter. “Nothing is wrong, Henry. I promise.”

Henry, however, does not give much for her promise, that much is obvious in the way he furrows his brow. The way he squints at her as though he has x-ray vision and can look right into her brain and see all her secrets.

After a moment, he relents, though. Sort of, anyway.

“Alright then,” he says. “Keep your secrets for now. But I hope that you’ll tell me at some point.”

“I promise, should there be anything to tell, you’ll be the first to know,” Regina says halfheartedly and glances discreetly at her watch. “I’m sorry, sweetheart, but I have to go now. I’m meeting Rumple at the store.”

“Alright.” Henry gives her an unexpected hug. “I love you, mom.”

“I love you too, honey.”

They part ways and Regina feels frustrated with herself as she walks down the street. She didn’t do a good enough job at reassuring her son, and now he’s worried about her. He thinks something is wrong. Damn it. Why didn’t she do a better job at convincing him? She used to be so much better at this. But apparently, not anymore.

Regina stops by Granny’s Diner where she spots Emma. The Savior is looking very meaningfully at her, but she doesn’t approach her. Obviously, Emma cannot ask any of her burning questions right here in the diner.

Regina gives her a half-hearted smile and then turns her attention to the waitress who already has her order ready. Two brown paper bags with containers filled with chicken salad. She and Gold always eat a chicken salad at his store on Wednesdays. Regina isn’t sure when the chicken salad Wednesday tradition started, but she sure likes it.

With the bag secured, Regina crosses the street and walks the few feet to Gold’s pawnshop. The bell above the door tingles gently as she enters, and from somewhere in the shop, she can hear ambient jazz music play softly. Rumple once told her that he played music in the shop to feel less alone after he came back to Storybrooke. But now he does it solely because he enjoys jazz music.

So does Regina. She and Rumple has quite the shared taste in music.

“Hello?” Regina quietly calls into the shop. That is of course a joke. One that she frequently uses every Wednesday.

There is a cloud of red smoke. Then the owner of this refined little shop is standing right in front of her. Looking his elegant self in a three piece suit. He’s chosen black today. With a crisp white button up and a red tie. The red tie gives the whole thing a pop of color, and Regina thinks to herself that she rather fancies that tie. She rather fancies this man. She considers herself very lucky, to be in a relationship with a man she’s so happy with. They are so very happy together.

But her supposed ‘condition’ can change everything. How will Rumple feel about a new baby? What if he for some reason does not want to do this with her? What if he prefers things as they are now? Just the two of them together?

“My dear,” Rumple says, greeting her as he always does. With a sweet endearment and a lingering kiss to her cheek.

“Hello,” Regina says and takes a moment to breathe in the scent of his cologne. Cedarwood. Leather. Bergamot. The scents are familiar. That’s the smell of happiness. Home.

Rumple slides his arms around her waist and pulls her closer. Like he is breathing her in too. It’s a nice feeling, being greeted with an embrace immediately. Rumplestiltskin is a surprisingly tender man, and it is a privilege to be one of the few people who actually knows this.

Both of them are used to wearing these hard façades. Used to putting on a tough exterior all the time. It’s wonderful that they don’t have to pretend to be tough with each other. Not anymore. Here, they can just be.

They kiss each other. Not for an exceedingly long time, but not just a peck either.

It’s really nice, that’s what it is.

Rumple pulls her away and smiles at her. “As always, your timing is excellent.”

“Hungry?” Regina teases.

“Yes, always.” He kisses her again, a sly way of telling her that he might just be hungry for more than just the chicken salad she just picked up.

Oh well. Regina certainly does not mind this kind of hunger either. She’s not opposed to working up an appetite like this. It wouldn’t be the first time that they made some memories on the couch in the back room.

But when Rumple’s hands cups her breasts and squeezes them gently- just like he always do- Regina flinches and pulls back before she can stop herself. That hurt. Her breasts are ridiculously tender to the touch.

“What is wrong?” Rumple asks, his voice a mixture of concern and confused, and his expression a little wounded.

Regina can’t blame him. She too would feel wounded if he was the one flinching away from her touch.

“Nothing,” she says hastily, brushing her knuckles across his cheek in an apologetic gesture. “I’m sorry. I think I’ve pulled a muscle somewhere.”

Pulled a muscle? Seriously? Was that the best she could come up with. Dear god, it’s no wonder Gold looks skeptical.

“Is that right?” he says, frowning.

“Yes. I only felt it now. You made me strain,” she teases, hoping to erase the look of hurt on his face.

She sits on a throne of lies. The fib is a treacherous little seed in her belly.

A seed that possibly is growing into something bigger.

A child.

Their child.

Regina swallows thickly and puts on a smile. “Should we get something to eat? Before we forget all about it, I mean….”

She snatches the brown paper bags and sets up their food in the backroom just as she always does.

Gold follows her, just as he always does. But today he lingers in the doorway and watches her as she sets up their lunch. His gaze is burning into the back of her head. Regina cracks. She turns her head even though she probably should have pretended not to notice that he’s staring.

“Are you quite alright?” Rumple asks and rubs his jaw.

Regina recognizes that gesture. Rumple only ever does that when he’s thinking about something.

“Of course,” Regina says. Her voice is much too high pitched. One octave more, and she’ll sound like Snow White.

Rumple narrows his eyes at her now. “You are acting strange,” he states, matter of factly as though they’re talking about the weather or what to make for dinner tonight. “Care to tell me what’s going on, my dear?”

“Nothing’s going on,” Regina says much too brisky, “I’m fine.”

Rumple doesn’t look like he believes her one bit, and honestly, Regina does not blame him.

“Second thoughts about moving in?” he asks her, and that must be something he genuinely worries will happen. He looks so serious.

It hasn’t even crossed Regina’s mind, though.

“Of course not,” she says, crossing the floor to meet him in the doorway. She cups his jaw and kisses him softly. “Not one bit.”

He relaxes some at that. He kisses her.

But once they’re seated on the small couch, boxes of chicken salad open, he says:

“Deny all you want, but you are acting strange, though, my dear.”

Regina, who convincingly enough has her mouth full of chicken salad, settles for a shake of her head.

But Rumple is of course right. She is doing a remarkably shitty job at acting as her usual self. Because she is not her usual self. And in a matter of very short time she has managed to worry first her son and now also her partner.

There was a time when she was really, really good at swallowing her feelings. At biting down hard at them and forcing them down. But she can’t do that this time.

All she can think about is that god damn doctor’s appointment tomorrow….

****

The following day, Regina is a jittering bundle of nauseous nerves as she takes a seat in Doctor Whale’s waiting room. There are only few other patients, and none of them seems to be too curious about what the Mayor of Storybrooke is doing in Doctor Whale’s waiting room. Regina has received some kind smiles, but nothing more than that.

Regina has never been the type to bounce her leg in anticipation, but on this particular morning, she is tempted to do so.

She doesn’t, though. She settles for munching on ginger crackers. Emma has told her that those keep the nausea at bay, and surprisingly, it’s true.

The door to Doctor Whale’s consultation room opens and Regina recognizes the woman who went by Goldilocks in the Enchanted Forest. The nail technician smiles at Regina and then leaves the doctor’s office.

After a moment Doctor Whale pokes his head out of the consultation room. “Come on in, Madam Mayor,” he calls.

Regina shoots up from her chair as though she has springs in her knees (she hasn’t, shortly after her left knee starts complaining) and she hastily walks into the consultation room.

Doctor Whale closes the door behind her and greets Regina. Regina returns the greeting and takes a seat.

Doctor Whale too sits down. Behind his desk. He fiddles with a few papers. Regina’s medical history, she suspects. There isn’t a lot there. She doesn’t go to the doctor’s very often.

“Alright, Madam Mayor,” Doctor Whale says, shuffling through the papers one last time before looking at Regina. “You handed in a urine sample because you suspect that you’re pregnant, correct?”

Regina scoffs and tries not to wring her hands too badly. “I don’t know what I suspect anymore. But I’ve taken a few pregnancy tests, and they all came back positive, so…” she lets the rest of the sentence float away. She feels a bit lightheaded.

“I see.” Doctor Whale nods slightly and the corners of his eyes crinkles a bit as he smiles. “Well, we’ve checked your urine sample…”

Regina silently gnashes her teeth. If he says urine sample one more time she might just kill him. Or she would. If she still had been the killing kind. Which she isn’t. Obviously not.

“… And, I am delighted to tell you that you are indeed pregnant. Congratulations, Madam Mayor.”

Regina stares. And stares. She would like to say something, but she can’t quite find the correct words. Her thoughts are spinning, all of them clawing to be the first one, the most important one.

But the first thoughts coming to her aren’t particularly important or profound. It’s a memory. Of a conversation she had many, many years ago.

‘I need a child, Gold, and I need your help.’

‘Well, I’m flattered, but uninterested.’

‘Shut up! Not like that…’

Ha. Ha. Ha.

Not even the author himself could have come up with this bout of magnificent irony.

Regina laughs softly. She cannot help it.

“I take it that this is good news?” Doctor Whale says, smiling.

Regina had forgotten about him for a moment. But now she pulls herself together and says: “yes, absolutely. This is very good news. But are you… Are you absolutely sure, doctor?”

“Yes,” Doctor Whale says. “There’s no question about it. The result was unambiguous. You are pregnant. Meaning that you need to start taking these…” he opens a drawer and slides a bottle across the table towards her. “Prenatal vitamins. And we also need to schedule your upcoming appointments here at the clinic. First, we need to terminate how far along you are. Would you like an ultrasound here and now, or would you prefer having baby’s father with you?”

Baby’s father. Right. Yes. Rumple. God, she has to tell him that she’s pregnant! That they’re having a baby. They’re going to be parents. What will he say? What will he feel? Will he be happy? Surprised? All of the above? Upset? Oh dear god, no. Not that.

“Madam Mayor? Are you alright? Would you like some water?” Doctor Whale asks kindly.

“No,” Regina manages in between the frantic ping-pong of thoughts. “I’m fine. And I think I want to wait with the ultra sound until the baby’s father has been… Informed.” It won’t feel right to see their baby alone. She wants Rumple with her, and she wants him to be happy about this, god damnit!

“Very well,” Doctor Whale says and nods.

“But if it’s possible…” Regina’s throat suddenly feels a bit thick. “I would like to hear the baby’s heartbeat.” She needs evidence. Something that can be heard.

Doctor Whale smiles now. “Of course. Lay down on the couch and lift your shirt. Then we’ll take a listen, shall we?”

Her legs shakes underneath her as she walks over to the couch and lifts her shirt. A part of her brain still can’t believe that this is happening. A part of her is convinced that this is a fib. A trick. This is something that only happens to others. Not to her.

She hisses and nearly cusses when something unpleasantly cold is plopped onto her stomach. She glares at Doctor Whale.

“This is going to feel cold,” the doctor says innocently and is even bold enough to smile at her.

“You don’t say,” Regina murmurs.

Doctor Whale chuckles as he glides the Doppler through the ice cold gel on her stomach.

Regina waits. She is not sure she’s even breathing.

Doctor Whale stops chuckling and goes quiet. For a moment the only thing Regina hears is her own frantic breathing. Her palms are clammy. She’s nauseous. Manages to convince herself that something is wrong.

But then….

Whoosh- whoosh- whoosh. Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh.

The sound of another heartbeat fills her ears, fills the room. Her throat tightens and her eyes get misty. The sound is unmistakable. It’s real. And it’s right there.

Doctor Whale is looking at the screen which he has turned away from Regina. He smiles. “That is indeed a very healthy heartbeat. And you are a bit further along than what I had anticipated, Madam Mayor.”

“I am? How far along am I then?” god, it feels weird to ask him that.

“Well, based upon what I can see and measure on the screen, I’d say you are 13 weeks pregnant, Madam Mayor.”

“13 weeks?! But that’s-“

“The beginning of your second trimester, yes.” Doctor Whale chuckles.

“Oh, my god,” Regina murmurs and can’t quite believe it.

Doctor Whale lets the sound of the heartbeat go on for a little while longer. Then he wipes Regina’s stomach. She sits up and they schedule another appointment in two days where both she and Rumple will be present. The Doctor then advises Regina to get plenty of rest and liquid and sends her off with her bottle of prenatal vitamins.

Regina leaves the clinic. She leaves the clinic with a bottle of prenatal vitamins in her pocket. She came in here with a burning hope but an insistent little voice telling her that this is impossible. And she leaves as a pregnant woman.

Pregnant. She’s pregnant.

She is going to have a baby.

She’s very much distracted and wrapped up in her own thoughts. She doesn’t see or hear anything until she accidentally bumps into someone.

“Oof,” says Emma and cautiously takes a step backwards. Then she smiles. “Regina! Hi! How is… Everything?”

“What are you doing here?” Regina asks and frowns.

“I’m stalking you,” Emma says casually.

Regina lifts an eyebrow.

“I have a scheduled appointment.” Emma rolls her eyes and pats her swelling belly.

Regina stares at it, transfixed. Soon enough, her belly will do that too. Swell with her baby. Her and Rumple’s baby. God.

“So, how did it go with you?” Emma asks. “What did Whale say? Any… news?”

“I have to go home,” Regina mutters. Suddenly there’s a lot to think about. A lot of things to wrap her head around. If that’s even possible.

“Regina, come on,” Emma nearly begs. “Don’t clam up on me. What did Doctor Whale say?”

Regina presses her lips together and says nothing.

Emma’s face falls, and the look of sadness on her face is honest to god one of the most miserable things Regina has ever seen. No wonder she could never say no to Henry whenever he made that face when he was younger.

“Does that mean that you’re not…” Emma looks even more sad now. “But I thought… The tests were….” She doesn’t finish the sentence. Just continues to look at Regina with big, sad eyes.

Regina presses her lips together some more. It doesn’t really feel fair to inform Emma before telling Rumple, he is the father after all.   

But maybe she doesn’t have to say anything at all.

She reaches into her pocket and wiggles out the bottle of prenatal vitamins. Hands it to Emma without a word.

Emma takes the bottle. Looks at it. Looks at it some more. Then a huge grin spreads across her face. The Savior even makes a very slight screeching sound. Undoubtedly adopted from Snow White.

“I knew it,” Emma whispers. “I fucking knew it!”

“Shh,” Regina says, shaking her head. “Don’t tell anyone.”

“Won’t. Cross my heart. But can I at least hug you?”

“Absolutely not.”

Emma does it anyway. Hugs her, that is. A very quick hug, but nevertheless in the middle of the street.

“I’m so happy for you,” Emma whispers as she pulls back. “This is amazing!”

It is, yes. But Regina still has no idea how she is pregnant after having been barren for so long.

But honestly, maybe it doesn’t matter how the curse is broken. The main thing is that the curse is indeed broken.

“I’m guessing you haven’t told Gold yet?” Emma asks.

“Told him what?” Regina teases.

Emma rolls her eyes.

“Not yet,” Regina amends. “But I will.”

“When?” Emma asks, shamelessly curios as always.

“Tonight,” Regina replies. Because why wait? There is no reason to hold back on telling him the most important news of her life.

Emma squeezes her hand. “It’ll go well.”

Regina nods. She sure hopes so.

To Be Continued…..

Chapter Text

Regina has been nervous a handful of times in her life.

She was nervous on the day she walked into Maleficent’s castle for the first time.

She was nervous when she brought baby Henry home to spend his first night in the house on Mifflin Street.

She was nervous that day when she stepped off the Jolly Rodger after she and the heroes returned to Storybrooke after their ordeal at Neverland.

She was nervous that evening when she sought out Robin in the forest and kissed him for the first time.

But never in her life has she been quite as nervous as she is tonight where she’s heading over to Rumplestiltskin’s house- soon to be their house- on a planned date. And to tell him that she’s pregnant.

It feels good to walk. Regina’s been going stir crazy ever since she left Doctor Whale’s office. She hasn’t been able to find rest. She’s jittery. As anxious as a schoolgirl waiting for her phone to ring.

Pregnant. Pregnant. The word keeps echoing in her mind. She’s pregnant. She’s going to have a baby. Her and Rumple’s baby.

God, it’s mind-blowing. And utterly wonderful too, of course.

But what if Rumple doesn’t think so? What if he isn’t interested in any of this?

There’s a big difference between moving in together and having a baby together.

Maybe Rumple is perfectly comfortable with the way things are. Just the two of them together, enjoying their ‘golden’ years together or whatever. Didn’t he once make a passing remark about wanting to go away on vacation at some point?

He did. Regina is sure of it. Rumple spoke of a getaway for the two of them. A chance to see the world without half of Storybrooke breathing down their necks, he’d quipped.

Anxiety threatens to overcome her, but Regina takes a deep breath and forces herself to calm down. She refuse to jump any conclusions or worry in advantage before she has spoken to Rumplestiltskin. She’s not about to pretend that she already knows exactly how he’s going to react. She doesn’t. And if he’s any bit the man Regina has come to truly know and care so much for over the past many months, he’ll be happy.

There is absolutely no reason to assume the worst. That wouldn’t be fair to any of them.

So she shoves the irrational anxiety firmly out of her mind and holds her head high as she rounds the corner, footpath changing from pavement to the packed dirt path leading to the edge of he forest where Rumple’s salmon colored house is. Regina has come to love that house. Which is fortunate because pretty soon she is going to live there full time.

If things works out, that is.

She scoffs, and pushes that thought out of her head. Of course things are going to work out just fine. She and Rumple are good together. They’re good at being partners, and they’ll be good at being parents together. Henry is wonderful and Gideon is a fine young man. Their children turned out beautifully, so Regina can’t see why this new baby shouldn’t.

New baby. She thinks of that strong whooshing sound she heard at Doctor Whale’s office. The baby’s heartbeat. Seeing that she’s not Henry’s birth mother, she has never gotten the chance to hear that before, and now she’s not sure that she’ll ever be the same, to be honest. That sound may or may not have altered something within her. She can’t think of anything except the tiny little life she’s carrying under her heart.

She has reached her destination, Rumplestiltskin’s- their- house, and she takes a deep, steadying breath before she knocks on the door.

The last knock has barely dwindled before the door is opened. Rumple is standing on the threshold, wearing his usual three piece suit and familiar smirk.

Little does he know that Regina is here to change his life.

“My dear,” he says, greeting her in his usual fashion. One kiss on each cheek. Then a warm, surprisingly tender embrace.

Regina returns the hug and breathes in his masculine, rather expensive scent. She has come to love these embraces. She wouldn’t have pegged Rumple for being the hugging-type, but she’s quite grateful that he is.

Contrary to what Snow White believes, Regina has always liked physical affection. She likes being hugged, kissed, touched. All of it. In fact she has come to realize that she is quite touch-starved. And now she knows that Rumple is too. It’s quite fortunate that the two of them found each other, really.

Rumple kisses her lips. A soft, lingering kiss that gives Regina a pretty good idea of what sort of wicked plans he has for her later. A shiver trails down her spine.

Rumple bids her inside. The house is warm and cozy, and from the kitchen Regina can smell something delicious cooking.

“Veal with potatoes and mushroom sauce,” Gold reveals upon having been asked.

That sounds positively mouth-watering. Thank god she’s not feeling nauseous right now and can actually eat something.

Rumple gallantly helps her out of her coat, and as Regina quickly smoothens her dress, her fingers grazes her stomach, and she feels another twitch of anxiety. When should she tell him? After the dinner? During it?

No, not during it. The timing would be off, she supposes.

After the dinner, then?

No. Rumple always has some kind of dessert ready. If she tells her news in the middle of dessert, both of them will probably be too distracted to eat anymore, and-

“Regina?”

“Hmm?” Regina snaps out of it. It’s so rare for Rumple to say her name, so she’s immediately alert and back in the present.

“Are you quite alright?” Rumple asks calmly.

“Yes,” Regina says quickly and smiles. “I’m fine.”

It’s Rumple’s turn to ‘hmm’, and even though he doesn’t address it, Regina knows that she’s doing a shitty job at feigning being fine. She’s distracted. Pre-occupied. How can she not be? She’s pregnant.

 The dinner is delicious of course, but Regina can’t really focus on it. Nor can she focus entirely on her conversation with Rumple even though she tries her darndest. Her thoughts are elsewhere. All she can think about is the whooshing sound of the baby’s heartbeat she heard earlier.

“My dear?”

“Yes?” Regina says quickly, acutely aware that it’s the third time during the dinner Rumple says ‘my dear’ in that way he always does when he’s trying to get her attention. Damnit. She’s really failing at pretending that everything is fine and dandy, isn’t she?

“I was just wondering if you would like to have a glass of wine?” Rumple says, clearly repeating a question he’s already asked her.

“Oh. No, thank you. This is fine.” Regina raises her glass of sparkling water slightly.

“Are you sure?” Rumple frowns softly. “You always have a glass of wine for dinner.”

“I’m not really in the mood for wine,” Regina says lightly. That’s only half a lie. She actually isn’t in the mood for wine.

“I see.” Rumple is definitely suspicious now.

Regina smiles at him and hope it’ll be enough to soothe whatever worries he has.

But she can see that she’s not doing such a good job. He smiles back, he does. But there’s still that little tension between his eyebrows. That slight hint telling her that he’s still worried.

“When do you think Gideon will come to Storybrooke again?” she asks in the hope to lift his spirit a bit.

It works. Rumple lights up at the mention of his son, and he tells her that Gideon might be coming to Storybrooke next weekend already. It’s clear that he’s excited to see his son, and Regina smiles and does her absolute darndest to participate in the conversation.

And yet her thoughts soon drifts to that whooshing sound. That little life she’s carrying in her belly….

****

Not only has Rumple made dinner, but he has also made dessert. A gooey chocolate cake that looks absolutely delicious, and normally Regina would have been utterly delighted.

But unfortunately, she cannot force down even a single bite tonight. Her stomach twists and that nausea threatens to resurface. Oh dear god.

“That looks delicious,” she says, “but I think I’m full after the dinner.”

“Well, this certainly can be eaten tomorrow or another day,” Rumple says. He snaps his fingers and the piece of chocolate cake, and the plate disappears.

He’s suspicious again, Regina can see it in his eyes. He knows that something is up. Of course he does. He’s an intelligent man, after all.

Just tell him, her little inner voice whispers. Just tell him, and everything will be fine. He will be happy. Her inner good conscience. Which for some reason sounds alarmingly like Snow White. Very disturbing, really.

Regina shifts. They’ve moved from the dining room to the living room and are sitting in Rumple’s ridiculously large couch. The scene is sat. There are candles in the window sill. The remote control is laying within reach, already waiting for the television to be switched on so they can watch the next episode of Downton Abbey. No, they don’t only watch Antiques Road Show. They also watch British historical dramas. It’s honestly the best time. Regina has come to love all of it. Being snuggled up on the couch, watching television. Sometimes they even fall asleep like that because they’re not as young as they used to be, and they are allowed to fall asleep on the couch.

“Regina,” Rumple says, and now it’s Regina’s turn to frown. It’s so rare for him to say her name. It’s always ‘my dear’ or some other sweet endearment.

“Will you please tell me what on earth is going on?” Rumple says, his voice is almost stern now.

Regina winces. She has done a truly awful job at pretending everything is fine.

“And don’t even try and pretend that nothing is going on.” He cheekily wags a finger in her face. “Because that would be to insult both our intelligence.”

“You’re right,” Regina says finally. She stands from the couch because she’s too fidgety to stay seated. “Something is going on, and well… We need to talk.”

“Entirely as suspected. What is it?” Rumple steeples his fingers together under his chin, looking at Regina expectantly.

“It’s… It’s, uhmm..” Incredible. She can’t say it. She actually cannot say it. She’s even ‘uhmm’ing’.  Regina never ‘uhm’s’.  She has always prided herself in being well-articulated, well-spoken.

But right now, when it matters the most, she cannot find the correct words to say what’s on her mind. Who is she even?!

“Has something happened?” Rumple asks softly.

Regina nods. Because that part is correct.

“I see.” Rumple stands too, comes towards her. His fingers grazes her shoulders lightly.

“And is this ‘something’ a change of heart, perhaps?” he asks in that low burr of his. Hic accent grows thicker. Something that only happens when he’s feeling strongly about something, or when they’re in bed together.

“Do you no longer wish to move in with me?” Rumple asks. He sounds steady enough, but Regina can hear the raw emotion bubble just below the surface.

“Has it gone too fast?” he continues, and now he sounds very worried. “Or it is perhaps worse than that? Are you having second thoughts about all of it? Do you no longer wish to be with me, my dear?”

“What? No!” Regina says firmly, shaking her head. “That is not it at all!”

“Ah.” Rumple relaxes some, and the wrinkle between his eyes smoothens out. “Well, one tends to expect the worst when your partner says, ‘we need to talk’.”

He tuts at her. Wags a finger, and even though Regina rolls her eyes in response, she feels a bit guilty too. She shouldn’t have said ‘we need to talk’, that was clumsy of her.

“Well, I am quite glad to hear that you are not having seconds thoughts, my dear. Because I think that you and I go quite nicely together,” Rumple says as he turns his back on her to move one of the candles slightly.

“We do,” Regina agrees and licks her dry lips before continuing: “but in the future it won’t just be you and I.”

“Whatever do you mean?” Rumple asks. He still has his back to her.

“I’m pregnant,” Regina blurts. There. She said it. The cat is out of the bag or however that sentence goes. She does wish that they had been face to face when she said it, but oh well. The truth is out now.

Rumple sort of freezes with one hand still reaching for the candle. His shoulders go rigid. It’s very odd. Regina don’t think she has ever seen Rumplestiltskin freeze.

She’s not sure whether she should be amused or alarmed. Or perhaps both.

“I didn’t think it was possible for me,” she says, because she feels like she has to say something. “But I’ve been feeling sick for two weeks, so I took a pregnancy test- actually I took a few- and well, they were all positive. So I went and saw Doctor Whale and-“ she cuts herself off mid-sentence when she realizes that she’s rambling. She should probably stop that. She’s not the rambling type either.

“Are you sure?” Rumple asks tonelessly.

“Yes,” Regina says quietly and tries not to be alarmed by his tone. She can’t read it. She has no idea how Rumple feels about it, and her first impulse is to get defensive. To tell him that if he’s not interested in this, she can handle it on her own, thank you very much.

She doesn’t though. Instead she keeps her mouth shut and waits.

Rumple turns around and comes over to her. He looks a little paler than usual. But quite composed. Regina doesn’t know whether that’s good or bad.

“Are you absolutely certain?” he asks her.

“Yes,” Regina says firmly. “I heard the baby’s heartbeat at the doctor’s office, so there’s not really any doubt-“ she pauses again, now very focused on Rumple’s hands. They’re coming closer. Towards her.

He takes her face in her hands. Cradles her cheeks very gently. Regina’s anxiety melts away as quickly as it arrived.

“Are you happy?” she asks. Which feels unnecessary, because a smile is spreading on Rumple’s face.

“I think…” Rumple smoothens his thumb along her cheekbone. “That this is the greatest news I have ever heard.”

Regina’s knees buckles under her. She’s getting misty eyed. Honest to god, she’s getting misty eyed. Her. The queen of composure and poise. What has the world come to?

“I could not be happier, my dear.” Rumple takes her in his arms then. He cups her face and kisses her tenderly. Sweetly. Then his hands are sliding down her body. His arms wraps carefully around her waist. He lifts her, and this man, who has absolutely no business being this romantic, spins her around. There is so much unbridled joy in the gesture, it takes Regina’s breath away. She gasps, surprised and so, so happy.

Rumple sets her on her feet once more. But he does not let go of her. He embraces her again. Arms around her and cheek pressed against hers.

“Thank you,” he whispers in her ear.

“I haven’t done anything,” Regina hoarsely points out. She honestly hasn’t. She doesn’t even understand how she can be pregnant.

“You’ve given me another chance at happiness,” Rumple murmurs. He moves slightly so they can look at each other. He cups her face once more. “After Belle died I thought that my life was over. I thought I was going to be a mourning widower for the rest of my long life, and now you tell me that I am to be a father once more.” He takes her hands and kisses her knuckles tenderly. Once, twice.

“You have given me a new purpose,” he tells her.

Regina smiles because she feels the same way about him. She never would have seen it coming, the two of them being together, but it is one of the best plot twists of her story so far.

Rumple’s hand slides down to her belly. He gently caresses it, and that right there is almost enough to bring Regina to her knees. It’s so utterly romantic it almost doesn’t make sense that it’s happening to her. This is a Snow White and Prince Charming gesture. But what the hell, a little stealing never killed nobody. It can be their gesture, her and Rumple’s too.

“If I may make a request,” Rumple says. His fingers are still on her belly.

“Yes?” right now Regina is just about ready to grant him anything.

“Would it be possible for you to speed up the moving in process and move in here tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow?” Regina laughs, shocked and amused. “That’s a little sudden, don’t you think?”

“Perhaps,” Rumple agrees. “But I would like to be here for all of it. I do not wish to miss a thing.”

That makes sense. He didn’t get to experience Belle’s pregnancy. For various reasons, but the majority being that Regina’s ‘twin’ sped up Belle’s pregnancy.

Regina feels a lick of shame and hangs her head a bit.

Rumple immediately tilts her face upwards. “None of that,” he says, voice mildly stern. “Past sins have nothing to do in the present day, alright?”

“Alright,” Regina echoes. And silently agrees with him.

“From now on everything is about you and I. And our baby.” Rumple splays his fingers wide over her belly once more.

Our baby. The tender feelings threatens to overwhelm her entirely. “I’ll move in tomorrow,” she tells him.

He smiles like a man who has found a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. “Good. Now tell me, how far along are you, my dear?”

“Thirteen weeks,” Regina says and smiles too.

“Thirteen weeks already.” Rumple puts his free hand on her cheek. “I’m going to start taking care of you from now on.”

“Is that a threat or a promise?” Regina teases.

“Both,” Rumple drawls. “Always both.”

Regina laughs. She’s so happy she could combust right then and there.

Rumple kisses her, and before Regina can blink, they’re in his bedroom, and she surrender to his touches.

He’s so tender with her it nearly brings a tear to her eyes….

The following day Regina is back at the mayoral office at the Town Hall. She has a few reports to go over, nothing too strenuous. But she is still lazy and not in the mood to do any of her mayoral duties. What she really wants to do is retire. She wants to stop working and live a quiet, comfortable life with Rumple and their child.

But first she has to find an appropriate candidate that can take over for her. Regina is aware that she’s quite the good mayor, and so it’ll be difficult to find someone who can fill out her shoes, so to speak. She has briefly considered Snow White, but honestly Snow White didn’t do a very good job during her brief stint as Mayor. Storybrooke’s finances were in shambles when Regina returned. Snow White had spent the towns money on the most ridiculous things. Such as new flower beds on every corner. It had taken Regina months to sort everything out.

Snow White is out of the question as Mayor. No doubt about that.

Regina has also considered miss Swan. She would be a good and fair Mayor. She wouldn’t spend the town’s money on ridiculous things like her mother. But realistically, it can’t happen. With a baby of her own on the way, Emma has more than enough on her plate.

Who then? Regina absentmindedly nibbles on the end of a pencil as she considers it one more time. Of course there’s always Zelena should everything else fail.

But honestly, Regina isn’t quite sure that her sister is up for the responsibility. Zelena isn’t as ditzy as Snow White (nobody is!) but still, Zelena does have the tendency to get carried away. She would probably make an annual ‘Celebrate the Green’-day or something like that.

No, Zelena isn’t a good bid either. Regina will have to think creative. She’ll have to think of someone entirely new. Someone she hasn’t thought about yet.

It’ll come to her. She’s sure about that. She has always been good at thinking creative.

There’s a knock on the door, and Regina says ‘come in’ to whoever is out there. She’s more than happy to be distracted. Especially if it’s Rumple.

It’s not, though. It’s Emma. And she’s armed with a brown paper bag from Granny’s Diner.

“Miss Swan,” Regina acknowledges, happily shoving the stack of papers away.

“Hi,” Emma says, smiling as she holds up the bag. “Lunch?”

“Always,” Regina says. “Close the door, will you?”

Emma closes the door behind her and comes fully into the office. She sets the bag on the mayoral desk. Then she plops herself down on the edge, grunting slightly as she holds her still growing belly.

Regina opens the bag from Granny’s Diner and finds a greasy burger wrapped in brown paper and a bag of French fries. That’ll be Emma’s lunch. She also finds a green salad and a chicken sandwich. There is something heart warming about having a friend who knows exactly what you want for lunch.

“Wonderful,” Regina says as she first unwraps the sandwich and sinks her teeth into it. It tastes so good. Her stomach might have turned on chocolate cake for the time being, but she could eat an endless amount of Granny’s chicken sandwiches.

Emma too digs into her own food. She takes large bites of her burger and chokes slightly, coughing under her breath.

“Slow down,” Regina scoffs. “It’s not healthy to inhale your food like that, miss Swan.”

Emma snickers, wipes her mouth on the napkins she just found in the bag. “Sure, mom.”

“You’re horrible,” Regina says and wrinkles her nose in disgust. “Don’t ever call me that again.”

Emma just laughs at her. The cheek. Regina glares. Which doesn’t make much of an impression. Perhaps Regina isn’t doing a good enough job at glaring.

Honestly, she’s not really in the mood to glare at anything or anyone these days. She’s lulled too deeply into a sense of comfort. Everything feels soft and wonderful. Regina wouldn’t mind if things stayed like that. For good.

“So,” Emma says, crunching a French fry between her teeth. “I saw Gold on my way here, and I swear he’s strutting around like he’s the king of Storybrooke. No, scratch that. He’s strutting around like he’s the king of freaking everything.”

“Is that so?” Regina smirks a little. She’s thinking back to their extended morning. They spent hours in bed, laying as close together as possible, legs tangled together, and Rumple’s fingers splayed wide over Regina’s abdomen. Now and then he had dipped his head to brush a kiss against her stomach. He even spoke to their baby, and the more he spoke, the thicker his accent grew. It was a beautiful moment. Regina can’t wait for the upcoming doctor’s appointment tomorrow.

“You’ve told him, haven’t you?” Emma asks, grinning from ear to ear.

“I have.”

“And? What did he say?”

“Well…” Regina takes another bite of her chicken sandwich. She carefully chews and swallows before saying: “he asked me to move in immediately because he doesn’t want to miss anything.”

“Aww,” Emma coos. “If that isn’t the sweetest thing, I don’t know what is.”

Regina settles for mhmm’ing in agreement.

“So, are you moving in with him immediately?”

“Obviously.” Regina shrugs lightly. “Why wait?”

“I love that for you,” Emma says, treating herself to another French fry. “So when are you guys going to announce it to the town?”

“Announce it?”

“Yeah, I mean… Aren’t you gonna make some kind of official announcement about the baby?” Emma lifts an eyebrow. “It’s a pretty big deal. And we both know that it’ll devastate my mother if you keep it to yourself for too long. She’s obsessed with your happiness. And I’m sure our son would also like to know that he’s getting a sibling, you know?”

Regina mmhmm’s again as she considers it. Yes, she suppose that at some point she and Gold will have to make some kind of statement.

“Well, maybe I can announce it when I tell everybody that I’m stepping back as Mayor,” she says casually.

Emma chokes slightly on a French fry. She coughs, then goes: “shit, really?”

“Yes,” Regina confirms. “It’s time for me to hand over the keys to someone else. I just want to have a quiet life where my phone only rings because it’s a member of my family calling me, and not some mayoral emergency.”

“Good for you,” Emma says with emphasis and smiles at her.

Regina returns the smile and nods. Yes, good for her indeed. She cannot wait to retire and enjoy a peaceful life with Rumple, their baby and the rest of her family around her.

But first she has to find a new Mayor.

And apparently, she and Rumple also have to announce that they’re having a baby.

Regina winces because she can already hear Snow White screech in her head.

To Be Continued….