Title: Chasing the Cosmos, Part 2

Author: Bladed Darkness

Category: Once Upon a Time

Summary: "It's Regina," Snow blurts out before Emma can even sigh or get her bearings to evaluate the level of awake she needs to be, but Regina's a nine on her crisis meter.

Pairings: Swan Queen

Length: 750+

Rating: T

Regina is nearly seven months along when Robin shows up one morning.

Emma crinkles her nose and tries to ignore him, having just barely settled back into her usual role after that fiasco a few weeks ago, the one she and Regina have been steadfastly ignoring and resolutely non-verbally agreed not to talk about.

It stings just a little bit, like an echo of Regina's words from that night, but Emma shoves it deep down inside, biting the inside of her cheek until it aches just the same.

Robin disregards her presence entirely and focuses immediately on Regina and her stomach, almost as if he is stunned, and Emma wonders why the population of the woods seems to be so far removed from the gossip of the seaside town. They're murmuring in low voices and when she can't stand to watch out of the corner of her eye anymore, Emma heads upstairs to drag Henry down.

She finally manages to rouse him enough to brave stumbling downstairs in his half-asleep state just in time to be greeted by Regina's bright smile, but of course it's not directed at her, or even Henry for once. Robin is holding her hand loosely and standing just barely far back enough to be decent in a way that probably won't get him in trouble with his wife, maybe.

It bothers Emma, the way Regina's hand fits so elegantly with Robin's, as if they need just a tiny shove to click together. She looks away because the image makes the back of her eyes throb, little pinpricks of pain that she can hardly feel against the ache in her mouth, and her heartburn is back again.

Regina has always looked at Henry like he is her sun, but she looks at Robin as if he might be another part of her universe. Emma curls her shoulders inward as they walk by, compressing herself against Henry's side, as if a little bit of his light will rub off on her and Regina will see.

Henry is already scarfing down eggs as Regina walks Robin to the door, only looking up when she stands in the entryway to the dining room. If Emma pulls her head up from her mug slowly it's only because it's a damn fine cup of coffee.

"Robin and Marian are separating."

Emma bites back a curse and tries to soothe her burned tongue. "Seriously? Now?"

"Yes."

Her ire spikes, loosening her speech. "And he couldn't leave his wife six or seven months ago why?"

The disapproval radiates off Regina, oppressive and heavy. "Marian decided that their marriage was not recovering and that it was best that they pursue their lives separately."

Emma hates it. She didn't notice before Ruby pointed it out a few days ago, but Regina's scent has gradually shifted over the months of her pregnancy. Cloves had given way to wintergreen with a hint of pine as her body changed. Emma grunts. "Good for Marian." She doesn't ask about Robin, or what that means for Regina and the baby, and Regina doesn't elaborate.

Emma doesn't want to know how soon she is going to be replaced entirely (or perhaps she was the replacement all along).

She carries on as she has been for the last few months, just a bit more sulkily. Robin seemingly turns up around every corner and Emma clenches her jaw. He starts taking over the duty of bringing Regina's groceries in, and Roland looks at Henry (and his storybook) with a starry-eyed look whenever he is around, time split between Robin and reconnecting with his mother.

The final straw is when Snow appoints Robin as deputy. Her and David have been managing just fine by themselves. Even Regina had found no fault with the father-daughter duo manning the station.

"He needs a way to support his family, Emma," Snow tries to rationalize.

"They managed just fine living in the woods before and having a tab at Granny's."

"I'm not talking about Marian and Roland. I'm talking about Regina and Hen–"

"THEY ARE MY FAMILY!" Emma spats out, choking on the great gulp of air she takes. She shudders, and Snow's eyes widen at the low tone that comes out next, "Mine. Henry and Regina are my family. Not his."

"But the baby is," Snow shoots back, and Emma storms out, because oh how she wants and wishes for that which is just out of reach once again.

She would claim this child in a second if Regina would let her.