Second Chance

88

Emma Swan -

No... this can't be. She was perfectly okay after delivering Hayden and now suddenly she out cold on the bed. "Someone help her" i cry hysterically as the nurse hands my baby girl to the midwife who then checks her and covers her with a towel.

"She's needs oxygen" they rush to gather the equipment they need and soon lift her head to apply the oxygen mask.

She's not even laid eyes upon our daughter or been able to properly hold our son. This isn't fair. She was okay after Hayden, she said sore but that's understandable. I guess she wasn't strong enough for the two.

I just don't understand, we've been to plenty of scans and only seen our little chunky boy covering the screen, they midwifes have measured Regina and told her she's shockingly big to be carrying one baby but little did we know there was two curling up in there. Clearly our little Hayden here likes to be centre of attention and likes to grab our attention more than that little sister of his.

"Regina baby, wake up; our babies are waiting to meet you" I coo, and like clockwork she is waking from her unstable faint. Her eyes scan the room and finally land upon mine, before she's reaching for the mask and taking it off. "Oh no, I think maybe you should keep that on"

"Emma, I'm okay, I was just shocked and wasn't at all expecting to be delivering a second child" she says in her hoarse voice. "Now let me see my babies" she coos, holding her hands out for Hayden because I am standing right beside her, and soon the nurse brings over our little princess. "I can't believe we had a girl, you're dream it was right"

"I know, I so knew we was having a girl deep down and I had hope that someday we would have a girl"

"Hope" Regina repeats which is a little unusual, maybe she's still a little foggy from fainting moments ago.

"Yeah?"

"No, Henry, Hayden and Hope" she whispers, looking down at our son and back up to our little princess that I angle ever so slightly for Regina to see.

"I love it" I cry, letting my tears drip as I peer down upon our beautiful family.

"Can our family come in now?" Regina calmly asks.

"Madam mayor I think it's best to have a little rest first given-"

"Now!" She snaps louder and automatically the nurse is nodding and opening the door for our family.

They all rush inside like a herd of bulls fitting through a small arch way at once. Until they all screech to a stop assessing the two children in our arms.

There's Regina laying in her bed holding Hayden while I'm leaning beside her holding Hope as everyone just stops and stares at the end of the bed, not one person saying a word. Seriously... anyone...

"Is anybody else counting two babies?" Zelena pipes up, causing everyone else to nod as they still stand utterly shocked. "And was anybody expecting two babies?" She asks again as everyone shakes their head left to right in unison. "Okay good, I thought someone forgot to inform me"

"Everyone meet Hayden and Hope" Regina grins widely and finally everyone curls around the bed. "Funny story- I thought I was about to deliver the afterbirth until the nurse told me the Head was almost out" Regina giggles but everyone just stands utterly flabbergasted, just as we was.

Cora races to Regina sides and brushes her strands out the way and soothingly caresses her cheek. "Are you okay?"

"She fainted after delivering Hope" I announce and straight away I feel Reginas eyes burning a whole in the side of my head.

"Regina that could have been dangerous, you need to rest" Cora rushes to get the wet cloth and place it upon her head and dab the cool material along her cheeks but Reginas trying to take in the moment and only growing frustrated my her mother.

"Mother I'm fine" she quips, pushing her mother away. "Henry, come meet your little brother and sister" straight away henry rushes over and sits on the side of the bed between Regina and I. I hand over Hope and direct him to hold her head securely.

"Hello Hope, I'm your big brother Henry and I'm going to protect you forever and ever" he coos and places his adorable sloppy kiss to her cheek. "Now that you remember mom are you going to move back in with us?" Henry asks with eyes on me.

Of course I'm going to move back in with my family and raise these two beautiful babies with their big brother and Regina in my arms.

I look to my mother who, of course, is crying. My dad is fighting back his tears with that soppy grin of his but we can see his tears threatening to fall. Cora is smiling like crazy and cannot take her eyes off of Hayden and Hope. Zelena is whispering little things to Robin about her and Hope being the best of friends.

I can see it, Henry and Hayden playing rough and tumble, play fighting and sword fighting with their wooden sticks. Hope and Robin giggling and painting nails, obsessing over boys... some day... in the far far future that is. No way am I letting any boys near my daughter until she is at least thirty five. Okay that's exaggeration but beside the point, they grow up too quickly and I want them to be little children forever so they don't have to worry about this big world.

"Emma...?" Regina wakes me up from my day dream, I was so caught up in admiring our family that I forgot to answer the question. "If you don't want to then th..."

"Marry me?" I blurt out, turning my attention back to her with glossy eyes and a wide soppy smile.

"What?!"

"Marry me Regina Maria Mills?" I ask again feeling all eyes on me as our family gasp but what better moment than now? Regina was passed out and it scared the life out of me. I heard so many cases of mothers dying while giving birth and I broke down there and then. What better time than now, with our entire family complete and in this one room.

"I thought you'd never ask"