Chapter Text
“Ms. Swan, please get him to stop crying. How are you going to help me stop an ice curse if you can’t even pacify a baby?” Regina asked with a groan.
They were on her couch in the living with spellbooks strewn all over the coffee table and floor.
“I’m trying,” Emma whines while lightly bouncing her baby brother in her arms. "Nothing I do works.“
Regina sighed and looked over the book in her hands. Blocking out the wails, she focused on the text in front of her with ease. As a mayor and mother, she learned long ago how to work with a crying baby.
After flipping through a few more pages, she threw her book down in disgust. It was no help at all.
"There is nothing here that can help us! I’m starting to think that we won’t ever find the answer in these books. Maybe if we asked nicely, the Snow Queen would reverse it,” Regina suggested.
A moment went by, and she received no response. Turning to look at her son’s mother, she saw that Emma was still struggling with Neal.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake!” she said and took the baby from Emma’s arms. She held Neal against her chest and patted him lightly.
“Hey! I was working on it,” Emma protested. She reached for Neal, but Regina glared at her. Dodging a flying spell book, she returned the glare.
“That’s the last book I have. Find something in there!” Regina ordered and cooed to baby Neal.
Emma narrowed her eyes but flipped through the book.
It took her a few minutes, but then she realized that the room was quiet. Looking at Regina, she saw Neal sleeping peacefully in her arms with a content look on his face.
However, that was nothing compared to the endearing look that Regina had on her face. Emma watched as the former Evil Queen made silly faces at the sleeping boy.
“Wow, you’re really good with kids,” Emma murmured, and she saw the truth in her words.
“Of course I am, dear. I raised Henry after all, and he turned out pretty well,” Regina said with a hint of annoyance.
Emma shrank back and remembered all the times where she denied that Regina was Henry’s mother. She remembered after Archie’s supposed death how broken Regina looked when she threatened her. She didn’t even think the incident with Robin Hood could ever hurt Regina more than when she told Regina that Henry was not her son.
Regina had been there for Henry all of his life except for that one year, and Emma almost felt bad for intruding. She had wanted to be a mother to the son she gave up, and she hurt Regina in the process. The woman who raised her son and loved him.
Now, she watched Regina with Neal and was satisfied to see Regina happy for once.
“Maybe we should have another one,” slipped from Emma’s lips.
Regina’s face snapped up to look at her. "What?!“