"She's in my bed."

Regina had no idea what had come over her. She had never really planned to come out at all and especially not in such a direct way. Whatever it was though, aside from her time with Emma, this was the most exhilarating thing she had done in months.

She wished more than anything she could see the look on Mary Margaret's face. As the silence stretched on, so did her smirk. She wanted to laugh out loud but couldn't let herself ruin this delicious moment. By the time Regina had paced the hallway a third time, there was finally a response.

"That's a very funny joke Regina." Mary Margaret's voice contradicted the words as her nervousness played into her tone.

"Oh my dear, as funny as I do find this whole conversation, I am not joking about Emma. Your daughter is sleeping comfortably, tucked in my bed right where I left her." There was another moment of silence where Regina realized that as much as she wanted to get back into bed with Emma, she was really enjoying herself right now.

"What have you done to her?!"

"Oh I really don't think you want that answer dear. It would most certainly keep you up at night." Yes she was definitely enjoying herself immensely.

"That's it…we're coming to get them! Emma and Henry! Whatever you've done to them to make them like you, or make them stay…whatever you've done we will undo it!" Mary Margaret sounded nearly hysterical and the smirk instantly left Regina's face. Without conscious thought, those words made Regina's blood boil and she reacted in full force.

"You will not take my family from me!"

"You're family?! We are her family and we're coming to bring her home!"

"She is home! You didn't want her, didn't appreciate her. Well I do! I want her! She's staying with me!" Regina was reacting purely out of her instinctual possessiveness and hadn't realized just how loud she was yelling. Not until she stopped and then heard a soft gasp. Jerking her head to the side, she saw that Emma was standing in the bedroom doorway, her mouth hanging open. Regina stood stunned.

What the hell did I just say?! What did I just do?! Oh my God…

Regina opened her mouth to speak but stopped suddenly when she saw him. Her eyes widened as Henry took a step out into the hallway, looking back and forth from Regina to Emma. Both women were mimicking the actions as all three people stood in a triangle of complete silence.

Whatever Mary Margaret was yelling went completely unnoticed as Regina slowly started lowering her arm and closed the phone absentmindedly. Emma looked completely shocked but what was baffling Regina was the look of amusement on Henry's face. Both women turned to him, each deciding he was the first priority.

Henry, for his part, took in the almost panicked look on his mother's faces and decided to put them out of their misery.

"Well, Thanksgiving dinner is gonna be awkward." He joked as he walked down the hall past both of them, ignoring their shocked expressions. "Can we have pancakes for breakfast?" He was so casual and Regina barley managed a small nod. He smiled before bouncing down the steps without a care. He was just out of ear shot by the time he could no longer hold in his laughter.

"What just happened?" After a long silence, Emma recovered her voice first. She took a few steps towards Regina, her face still pale in shock.

"Apparently we're having pancakes." She let out a single laugh, trying to work though all that had just occurred as well. She had no explanation for Henry's actions but seeing how the boy was obviously not upset, she decided to focus on Emma for the moment.

"He didn't even…I mean he just…did he know?" Emma's head was spinning and Regina took a step closer now until she was standing directly in front of her.

"Take a deep breath, we'll talk to him in a minute." She shifted her feet nervously. "What are you thinking?" She asked a little timidly now, the opposite of the confidence high she had been on a few moments earlier.

"Did you just come out to my parents?" Regina took a deep breath and placed her hands on Emma's shoulders, sliding them all the way down her arms until she reached her hands, taking them in her own.

"Yes." Regina said simply and Emma blinked a few times.

"I thought you didn't want anyone to know. What changed?" Some of the color was coming back to Emma's face to Regina's relief. She let out another deep breath before answering.

"I didn't. I honestly have no idea what just happened. I guess it was just…waking up with you in my arms. It was just so perfect…so right. Then your mother called. Always there when I start feeling too happy…" She trailed off, looking away almost shyly. "Are you mad?"

"Did you mean what you said? You know about…about wanting me…to stay?" Now Emma was the shy one as she couldn't quite meet Regina's gaze. Regina let go of her hands to wrap them around Emma's waist, pulling her closer.

"Yes." The confidence was rising again in Regina and Emma heard it in her tone. They locked eyes now and both felt their lips start to pull into soft smiles.

"Really?"

"Yes. Emma there is a reason you end up here every time you're sad or lonely. It's because this is your real home. This is where you belong. Henry and I…we're your real family. Will you stay?"

Those words hit Emma harder than anything Mary Margaret had ever said. In fact they had a bigger impact than anything any of her previous families had said. Only this time they evoked completely different feelings in her. She had waited to hear that her whole life and now, after all that time…she was completely speechless.

After the silence had stretched on much too long, Regina realized she must have come on too strong. She took a small, hesitant step backwards while looking down at the floor, trying to hide the burning cheeks she knew would be visible. She had just laid everything bare and now she would have to face the consequences. Taking another step back, she started racking her brain for any possible way out of this.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to overwhelm you. You don't have to-"

"I love you." Emma interrupted as her face stretched out into an impossibly large smile. Regina's turned to a look of shock. "And yes. I would love nothing more than to stay."

"I love you too." With watery eyes, Regina started smiling back.

Emma couldn't wait and moved forward, closing the distance. They pressed their lips together and as they had gotten so used to, didn't waste any time. Regina put her hands to Emma's waist again, backing her against the wall. Emma smiled, lifting her own hands to the brunette's face and opening her mouth to accept Regina as she deepened the kiss.

Neither were shy anymore. This was an area they both had only confidence in. Regina leaned into Emma further until their bodies were flush and the blonde grew bolder as well, letting her hands begin wandering down over the body of the woman she loved.

"Hey I thought we were making breakfast?!"

As Henry's words hit their ears, both women pulled back with a laugh. Emma lifted her hands and wiped away the small tear that had fallen from Regina's eye and landed on her cheek. They smiled warmly at each other for a moment, feeling happier than either could remember.

"We're really doing this?" Emma asked, a thrill building higher inside her. She couldn't wipe the smile off her face even if she wanted to.

"Yes my love." Regina leaned in for one more quick kiss. Emma knew she would never tire of hearing Regina call her that.

Walking down the steps, Regina took Emma's hand, intertwining their fingers. There was something so exhilarating about their new found freedom. Emma felt almost slap happy in her excitement. In only moments, her entire world had shifted. She didn't think anything could wipe off her smile. With a deep breath, the couple walked into the kitchen.

"Henry?" Regina started first, still a bit confused at the casual behavior of the boy.

"Mom." He stated simply, looking up from his comic book.

"Hey kid, can we talk to you?"

"About what?" He asked innocently. He let them off the hook upstairs to ease the tension but he couldn't just give them everything. The women locked eyes before looking back to the boy.

"About what you heard upstairs."

"Okay." He was repressing a grin and both mothers could tell.

"You're not going to make this easy are you?" Emma asked, rubbing her eyes. Now he did grin and shake his head.

"You know. I know you do, I just don't know how, or when you found out." Regina leaned on the counter next to Henry, studying the boy. He sighed and placed the comic on the table.

"Of course I do. Who do you think sent Ruby?" He full on smirked now and Emma could see so much of Regina in him that moment. The realization brought a comfort to Emma that surprised her.

"Okay I'm confused." Emma shook her head, sitting in the other side of their son.

"Well I wanted you to see that it wasn't such a big deal. Ruby is one of the "good guys" but she never cared. She's known something was going on since the beginning." He used his fingers for air quotes. Over the months, the boy had matured enough to see that good and evil were pretty relative terms now.

"And you don't care either? You're okay with this? All of us together?" Regina looked at him uncertainly but he smiled reassuringly back.

"I wish you would have just told me. But yeah. I really like our family." Regina smiled and took his hand. They both looked over to see that Emma seemed ready to cry.

"Sorry." She said, trying to shake out of it.

Henry and Regina made eye contact again before both getting up and pulling Emma into a three way hug. All three of them realized this was one of their happiest moments and none wanted it to end. When they separated, they immediately started getting breakfast ready. All of them still had lingering smiles on their faces when the pounding at the front door stopped them all in their tracks.

"No, not again. You have to be kidding me!" Regina reared around towards the door and Emma groaned.

"Well that lasted a whole minute." Emma pressed her eyes closed and her fingers to her forehead. Before she knew it, Regina was bounding towards the front door. Emma glanced at Henry. "Hey keep stirring the pancake mix okay? We'll be right back." He nodded but didn't look too reassured.

Emma ran to catch up to the brunette just in time. Regina opened the door with force but before she had the chance for the first word, Emma slipped right in front of her, making Regina halt immediately. Emma spent just a second taking in the furious and shocked looks of her parents before plastering on a smile and saying the first thing that came to mind.

"We're starting breakfast. Why don't you join us?"

"What?!" Three voiced yelled together.

It seemed Regina and the Charmings could agree on one thing. They were all deeply confused by that. Emma reached back and squeezed Regina's hand. The small gesture did not go unnoticed by Mary Margaret, a fact Emma was a little irritated at. Apparently now her mother was paying attention.

"Obviously we have some things to talk about. Now it is breakfast time and I'm hungry. Henry is waiting so come on." With that, Emma spun on her heel, holding very tightly to Regina's hand, forcing the woman to stay with her and not do any physical damage to her parents. Not that Regina would ever do such a thing of course.

When an almost dazed looking David moved to take a step inside, Mary Margaret grabbed his arm.

"What are you doing?!" She looked at him in disbelief but the man just shrugged.

"She said come on."

"That women has obviously done something to Emma, we have to get her out." She whispered angrily, eyeing the foyer like the walls were going to come alive and grab her.

"And how exactly are we supposed to do that while standing outside the door?" He asked simply and Mary Margaret rolled her eyes. "Plus, Emma doesn't look like a captive. I mean she's wearing pajamas." He shrugged again and Mary Margaret stood stubbornly for another moment before finally taking the slowest and most hesitant step forward.

"What are you doing?!" Regina looked at Emma in disbelief but the blonde just shrugged.

"Making pancakes." She said simply. Henry looked up the moment his mothers reentered the kitchen.

"They threatened to take you away! Now we're just inviting them for breakfast?!" Emma stopped and turned to face her.

"Take a deep breath." She instructed just as Regina had done earlier. She also rubbed her hands up and down Regina's arms soothingly and smiled.

"They are still my parents. And it's not like they can just throw me over their shoulders and carry me out. I'm a big girl. It's about time I started acting like it. You too." She gave her sideways smile Regina always had a hard time resisting. They started leaning in towards one another.

"What are we having?" Mary Margaret interrupted the moment, wholly uncomfortable with the sight. She was covering her swollen stomach with both hands and staring down Regina. The older brunette had a hard time not growling.

"Pancakes." Henry spoke up happily. He sensed the tension and once again, did his part in soothing it. Emma moved over and squeezed his shoulder with a grateful smile. She took over getting the mix ready and Regina walked to Henry. She wrapped an arm around him, though which one of them was providing the comfort was an item up for debate.

The best way to describe the next few moments would definitely be uncomfortable. Mary Margaret and Regina were practicing their death glares on each other with Henry trying to casually ignore them both in between. David seemed oddly fascinated by his own feet and Emma was feeling the same way about the pancake mix.

No one had any idea what to say or how to start. Mary Margaret and David didn't even know what question to ask first. They felt like they were in the twilight zone. Regina couldn't stand the silence but was too stubborn to break it. Emma was racking her brain for any way to explain this to her parents, knowing they would have seen absolutely none of this coming. Henry just wanted peace but felt like he was holding a live grenade in his position and wasn't about to go down.

Finally, Emma had a plate full of pancakes and Regina and Henry gathered the rest of the items, all of them moving to the dining table. Emma just motioned her parents to follow. The husband and wife couldn't hide their astonishment as they watched the other three move. They had shared enough meals at this table together now that they had their own system. It was simple, but the obviously habitual routine gave the couple their first indication of how familial they had become.

When it came to the seating arrangement, Regina was especially careful. She had Emma on one side, separating her from Mary Margaret and Henry on the other to keep a barrier from David. Henry seemed fine but Emma was less comfortable.

They spend the first few minutes eating in silence though there wasn't much of a secret about their feelings. All of them knew though that someone had to finally grow a pair and speak first. In the end it was the decidedly most mature member that finally broke the silence.

"And here I thought a family meal would be awkward." Henry joked with a small laugh. Emma and David joined in but the other two continued the stare down.

"Well sweetie we're not really all a family here." She looked pointedly at Regina.

"Mary Margaret!" Emma started and even David looked a bit surprised at the comment. Regina lifted a hand and rubbed over Emma's back.

"It's alright darling, she has a point." Regina spoke casually, enjoying the clenching jaws of the husband and wife. They didn't miss or appreciate her hand or the term of endearment aimed at their daughter.

"Okay that's it." Mary Margaret placed her utensils down none too gently. "What exactly is going on here?"

Emma followed her actions but much more calmly and took a deep breath. No one noticed that when her hand disappeared under the table, it found Regina's instantly.

"Regina and I have been seeing each other." She was calm but to the point. Regina squeezed her hand, proud of her for the honest answer.

"Seeing each other?" Mary Margaret tried to stay calm as well but couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Yes."

"And when exactly did you two start seeing each other?" Her face was turning a bit red now and David had his teeth clenched next to her.

"A little over eight months ago." Emma was a bit startled at how severely her parents' eyes widened. It would be funny if they didn't actually look ready to explode.

"Eight months?!" David finally spoke up and not at all quietly.

"How is that even possible?" Mary Margaret's tone had lowered a bit now in total disbelief.

"The real question, Mary Margaret, is how it's even possible that you haven't noticed?" Regina shook her head at the shocked pair.

"You were obviously sneaking around, how was I supposed to?!" The younger woman defended.

"Oh I don't know. Maybe if you had the ability to look anywhere beyond your stomach, you could have seen what was right in front of you!" Mary Margaret's jaw dropped and Emma squeezed Regina's hand this time, trying to calm the woman. She truly didn't want to lose anyone in this fight.

"I pay attention to my daughter!"

"Oh is that so?! You don't even know what bed she sleeps in!" The parents gasped and Emma rose her free hand in the air.

"Whoa okay. Henry?" Emma looked over to the boy with a sympathetic smile and tilted her head towards the steps. He sighed but stood up.

"Fine, but I'm taking my pancakes." He did and ran up to his bedroom.

"Okay let's all take a deep breath." Emma realized that seemed to be the motto of this rather emotionally intense day.

"Emma you have no idea what you're doing. This woman is a witch. We have acknowledged her part in Henry's life but you two can't be together. It's just wrong." She looked disgusted at the thought and while Emma was feeling her anger rise, she decided to try one last time at the calm approach.

"This is the most right I have felt in my entire life." Regardless of the tension, Regina smiled at that. "This woman is not a witch, or Evil Queen or anything else you can come up with. I do in fact know exactly what I'm doing and we can and will be together." The finality of the statement played out clearly in her tone. Although one person was filled with warmth at that, the other two felt a bit differently.

"Why are you doing this to us?" Her mother's words made Emma's jaw fall open. Looking next to her, she saw Regina had the same reaction.

"This isn't about you. I am sorry we didn't tell you before, but this is exactly why. I know it's hard to understand but Regina makes me happy." Regina appreciated the words but hated the sad tone Emma was taking now. She just wished these people would leave and never return. She started rubbing her thumb over Emma's knuckles, her silent show of support.

"We don't want this for you."

"No. You just want me to leave. But then not go where I am genuinely happy. You're asking me to be alone because this is it. Regina or nothing." She was getting angrier now, the never ending stubbornness wearing her thin.

"It's not that, we just want-"

"Everything." Regina interrupted in a disbelieving tone, her patience completely depleted. "You want absolutely everything. But you already do. You have everything! You have your perfect happy ending, now let your daughter have hers."

"Happy ending? When did we go from seeing each other to your happy ending?" David wasn't as emotional but he still wasn't wrapping his head around it.

"When I realized I was in love with her." Once again the few words had a radically different effect on the room's occupants. Although she was expecting that, Mary Margaret still surprised her.

"Oh God!" She gasped and paled a bit but before anyone could respond, she spoke again. "My water just broke."

"Of course it did." And Regina rolled her eyes.

"So you told her you were in love and she went into labor?"

"Henry it's not funny." Emma turned in the passenger seat to give him a pointed look but the boy still laughed a little.

"It's a little funny."

"Regina?!" Emma turned to the smirking brunette driving. After a moment though, she couldn't help but laugh as well. "This has got to be the craziest day." She just shook her head. No one could disagree.

"Did she have the baby yet?" Henry asked, not caring about the drama, just excited about the baby.

"I think so kid, or almost. David said she was almost here an hour ago."

"And you want to go in too Mom?" He asked a little skeptically.

"No Henry I do not, but unfortunately your other mother does not have her car and no one drives my Mercedes but me." She smirked but Emma smiled, enjoying the casual use of her title by Regina.

"Alright kid come on." Emma started unbuckling as Regina pulled in and parked in the hospital parking lot. "Will you come?" She looked over to the brunette who slowly turned her head. Emma knew the answer without hearing it.

"I will wait here."

"Okay. We shouldn't be long." She leaned over and gave a quick kiss to Regina's lips. After she pulled though, she gave a smile that was matched by the other woman and leaned in for one more, a little longer this time. "We should have come out sooner."

"Oh yes because it went so well." Emma rolled her eyes but went in for another kiss.

"Yes here I am. Right behind you. Your son. Henry. Right here." The boy looked straight out the window, not at all interested in seeing his parents making out.

"Sorry kid, come on."

The happy and casual demeanor the two had when walking in the OB wing only lasted a second. The energy of the floor was completely chaotic and Emma immediately pulled Henry closer. The further they walked, the more nervous Emma grew. Rounding a corner, she grabbed a nurse by the arm.

"Hey what's happening here?"

"A newborn is coding." Was all she said before running down the hall. Emma's heart dropped. Storybrook was a small town. She knew who it was.

"Henry go get your mom. Now." Her tone left no room for argument and the boy obeyed immediately, taking off down the hall. She ran to towards the delivery room to find David running as well.

"Emma?" He looked panicked and was nearly hyperventilating.

"What's happened?" She placed her hands on his shoulders, trying to keep him steady.

"The baby she's…she's not breathing. Mary Margaret is crying. I don't know what to do!"

"Breathe. Just breath." She was trying to stay calm. It wouldn't do to have them both hysterical. She had an easier time when Regina's figure came into her peripheral vision.

"Coding?" Regina started, repeating the word Henry had yelled through the window.

"She's not breathing. Is there anything you can do? Any…I don't know…healing magic?" Emma looked into Regina's eyes as the brunette racked her brain. "She's my baby sister." Saying it made it so much more real and suddenly nothing with her parents mattered. None of her own personal problems or feelings mattered. Her little sister was dying and saving her was most important. Regina's eyes flashed up.

"Where is she?" Regina spoke to David, who now looked like he wasn't breathing at all.

"David, where's the baby?!" Emma got in his face until he snapped out of it and started moving.

Running into the room, Emma saw things were even more hectic. A large group of nurses and Dr Whale all working together surrounding the tiny infant. Regina just pushed though like she owned the place and only faltered a second at the sight of the blue tinted skin.

"Hands off, everyone." Most of them didn't listen and Emma shoved though.

"Back off!" She pushed at everyone's hands but before anyone could vocalize their objections, Regina moved in.

She placed a hand on the baby's forehead, the other on her chest. Regina immediately started muttering something under her breath and slowly, a light pink glow began emanating from her hands. Everyone stood still with wide eyes and opened mouths as the pink glow encased the entire child. When she stopped, the light died down and Regina removed her hands. No one moved. No one even breathed.

Then they heard a cry.

The sound was one of the most beautiful things anyone had ever heard. Everyone including Regina gasped in shock. She hadn't used magic in many months and she had certainly never tried bringing air back into the lungs of an infant. She swayed a bit, having expelled more energy then she was used to. Emma was right by her side though and wrapped her arms around the brunette's frame, steadying her.

"That was seriously the most incredible thing I have ever seen. You are amazing." Emma kept an arm around Regina and walked them over to Henry by the door while the hospital staff got to work checking all the baby's vitals.

"Yeah Mom that was so cool!" Henry chimed in, supporting Regina from the other side.

"Thank you both." Her tone was a bit weakened as well and after they departed the room, Emma walked them over to an available bed, having Regina sit on the end.

"Are you okay?" Usually Regina was the comforter out of the two of them but Emma didn't miss a beat, standing in front of Regina, placing her hands on either side of the brunettes face. She examined Regina's pale skin and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"I'll be fine. Just exhausted." She smiled and Henry sat down next to her.

"Okay, I'm gonna go check on them but I'll be right back and I can take you home." She kissed her one more time but when she moved away Regina grabbed her hand.

"You're not driving my Mercedes." She spoke as sternly as she could but Emma just grinned.

"Yeah okay beautiful." Emma kept her grin as she walked away and as Regina was rolling her eyes, she caught her son with an expression mirroring his blonde mother's.

When Emma made it to Mary Margaret's room, it was just in time to see David placing the new infant in her arms. The look on her mother's face, that look of total relief and love did make a small smile pull at Emma's lips. She walked in slowly, gaining the attention of both parents.

"Emma, come here." All the arguments of the morning seemed to be temporarily forgotten to Emma's relief. She approached them and sat of the edge of the hospital bed. Lifting her fingers, she let them graze lightly over the baby's warm skin.

"She's beautiful."

"Eva." Mary Margaret started with a small tear. "We're naming her after my mother."

"Well then little Eva, I'm glad you're okay." She rubbed the baby's cheek before looking up to see her parents locking eyes.

"David said that Regina had something to do with that." She spoke hesitantly.

"She saved her life." They all took a moment to let that absorb. Emma could see the conflict in both her parents' eyes. The one person they had no problem hating had just saved their little girl. Mary Margaret looked back down at her baby, leaning to place a gentle kiss on the pink skin.

"Maybe we could…try again." She looked up shyly and slowly, David nodded in agreement.

"Thank you." It wasn't everything, in fact it wasn't much at all. But it was something. Emma guessed she couldn't really expect them to go from hate to love in one day. She sighed lightly and stood. "I'm gonna go home with Regina, but I'll stop by tomorrow and maybe we could talk."

"You know we didn't mean to hurt you." Emma stopped walking to look back at her parents.

"I know. We'll talk tomorrow."

"Tell Regina…tell her we're grateful."

"I will." After that, Emma left the room.

There was still that small amount of jealousy as she saw her parents dote over little Eva. But the second she rounded the corner and saw Regina look up, matching smiles forming on both their faces, there was such a warmth and comfort that overcame her and she knew exactly where she belonged. Those feelings increased ten fold when the brunette stood and took Emma's hand, intertwining their fingers.

"Ready to go home?" Regina's simple question broadened Emma's smile and the blonde could only nod, her emotions making her voice untrustworthy.

After a long, somewhat ridiculous argument, Emma managed to get the keys from Regina. It was when Regina swayed on her feet again while trying to hold them off that Emma had won. She liked taking care of the brunette for a change and did the job happily.

Even though Regina was back to herself by the nighttime, Emma still waited on her. Regina certainly couldn't complain when Emma was "helping" her out of her clothes and into the shower. After drying off, Emma lifted the covers for Regina and laid down next to her so the pair were facing each other on their sides.

"Feeling better?" Emma was pretty sure of the answer after what had just occurred in the shower.

"Very much. You are quite the white knight aren't you?" She smiled, threading her fingers into blonde hair.

"Well just for you. Not just anyone gets the royal treatment, your Majesty." She winked and Regina laughed in response. When she calmed down, she moved her hand to cup Emma's cheek.

"I'm really happy you're here." Emma was elated to note only honesty in Regina's words.

"I'm really happy to be here." They had moved close enough that Emma just had to lean a few inches to press her lips against Regina's. It wasn't long, but still full of love and comfort.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

Emma realized then she would never tire of saying that. The words still didn't seem enough. Regina done for her what no one else ever had. She had taken care of Emma in a way she had always needed. Gave her a family and a home she has always wanted. Filled a void in her Emma thought would always be there.

The knowledge that she wasn't alone anymore filled her with so much emotion. In an attempt to keep it all under control, Emma closed her eyes, wrapping her arms around the brunette. Regina sensed the mood and like usual, pulled Emma against her, letting her own heart beat soothe the younger woman. Like the night before, she leaned down and whispered into Emma's ear.

"Welcome home my knight."

This was the longest chapter i have ever written for anything! I didn't want to cut anything out though. I hope you all enjoyed this story! Like i said in the beginning, i got more reviews for that first chapter than anything else and that's what turned this one-shot into a four part story.

The support was amazing and i want to thank you all! Especially to blondiecsi and kaylee214 for reading each chapter first and making sure they were okay! Thank you all so much!

And hey, you all know how much i love your reviews so if you wanted to drop one in for me that would be just awesome! :D