#this is for cinnonym also

[elliot-gay-boi]

Okay hi, this is my first time publishing fanfiction so please just leave it if you think this isn't good enough.

But this gif set and cinnonyms tags just inspired me to write a small ficlet.

So here:

Mary Margaret is standing in the kitchen making coffee. It was early enough and she luckily still had a bit until she had to go to school. She really hoped Emma would have a moment for them to talk since lately she felt like she didn't see her best friend at all. Sometimes Mary Margaret wondered if something was up and if Emma was avoiding her. But she quickly shoved that thought aside. Surely Emma would tell her if something bothered her. And besides it was very plausible that work and Henry was keeping her busier than usual.

Mary Margaret took a sip of her coffee looking up when she heard footsteps coming down the stairs. Suddenly nearly choking on her drink when she recognized who was coming down into the kitchen.

It was the Mayor. Regina Mills.

What was Regina doing in her flat?

Why was Regina coming downstairs in the morning?

Mary Margaret head spun.

"Are you alright Mrs. Blanchard? You are looking a bit pale" Reginas voice was as always icy with an unusual tense hint of sarcasm.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine." Mary Margaret answered automatically without thinking.

Despite not feeling fine at all.

However before she could find her footing again and ask Mrs. Mills, Mayor of her town, what she was doing in her kitchen at 6:30 am she heard a second person descending down the stairs.

Mary Margaret suddenly felt like she was in an alternative reality.

Emma came down the stairs her eyes on Regina with a huge smile, looking like she was best friends with Regina despite hating her and only recently telling Margaret what a pain she was to work with and just all around such an unpleasant incredibly smug person.

Additionally Emma was clearly wearing her bed gown, an oversized, hole riddled T-shirt that just barely reached over her underwear.

It took everything in Mary Margaret not to clear her throat to make Emma aware she wasn't alone with Regina.

"Do you want some coffee?" Emma asked Regina easily only for her smile to freeze completely when her eyes (finally) fell on Mary Margaret.

"Oh." Emma breathed.

'Oh indeed!' Mary Margaret thought. She increasingly felt irritated over the sudden closeness of the two and being completely ignored in her own home no less! And anyhow why didn't Emma ask her if she could invite someone over at 6:30 in the morning?

Of course it would have been okay for her, even if Regina Mills would not have been her first guess, however it was about the principal of things! Wasn't it?

"Good morning Emma." Mary Margaret said as neutral as possible. Though it ended up sounding cold since her usual demeanor especially with Emma was always so warm and carefree.

"Why are you alre... I mean good morning Mary Margaret. I thought you have a later class today?" Emma interrupted herself mid sentence only to say something only marginally less rude. Clearly having not expect to see Mary Margaret today in the morning.

Clearly not wanting for her to see Regina Mills leaving.

Regina Mills who, now on a closer look, was not in her usual Mayor attire. It was a tick too... much. Nearly like an outfit one would wear on a date. One that you would wear again in the morning for your way home after ... after staying the night.

Mary Margarets head wiped back to Emma.

"Did you guys, uh....." she let her words fade not entirely sure how or even what exactly to say.

It was so obvious, yet her whole body still felt like that could just not be.

Emma hated Regina.

Emma talked about her constantly how horrible she was, how much of a pain in her ass, how annoying she was about every little detail, how caring she was with Henry, how annoyingly self confident, how infuriating hot she looked in her small red dress.

Now that she thought about it Emma had at some point started to sound more and more like she had a crush on Regina then actually disliking her...

Mary Margaret was not sure what to make with that.

It was sinking in more and more.

Her best friend was in Love with the bossy, over controlling Mayor.

Her best friend had taken said Mayor on a date and then brought her home, home to Mary Margarets house to.... to hopefully only sleep.

But suddenly with growing horror Mary Margaret remembered she woke up in the night because an unusual loud fox was screaming in the back yard.

Mary Margaret closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Okay so apparently, unfortunately, now completely undeniably, her best friend had fucked the Madame Mayor in Mary Margarets flat while Mary Margaret was asleep.

She let out a deep sigh and opened her eyes again.

Infront of her Emma was looking like a deer caught in the headlines. Then put her bright red head into her arms groaning like a teenager who got caught looking at porn.

Next to her Regina took it better. Or what if Mary Margaret didn't know her could have seemed like taking it in stride. But Mary Margaret knew her, sometimes more than she thought made sense with them only interacting as teacher and mother of a student.

Her neutral smile fell for just a moment and then it was back but she looked down and then elegantly found an interesting spot on the counter to stare down on.

It was the most obvious 'yes' they both could have given.

After another moment of uncomfortable uninterrupted silence Mary Margaret spoke up:

"Soooo.... how long are you two already an item?"

Emmas ears turned even redder and she let out a breath but didn't manage to answer.

Regina looked at Emma, realised she was completely useless, cleared her throat and answered herself.

"I'm not sure it's any of your buis- ouch!"

"What Regina wanted to say," Emma quickly took over, after very not discreetly kicking Reginas foot under the counter, "is that this is all very fresh and we... we haven't yet told anyone and... and thought we still had some time to prepare before....... making it official."

After a beat she added a bit too quickly:

"Of course I would have told you first!"

"Of course." Mary Margaret repeatedly slightly sarcastic. Not sure if Emma was telling the truth. Not sure Emma was as close to her as she assumed just moments ago.

"Of course." Regina whispered while rolling her eyes, clearly thinking noone would hear her, only to be hit by Emma again.

Mary Margaret didn't feel any empathy for her. She had it coming.

"Sooooooooooooooo....... what do you think?" Emma asked looking like a beat puppy in desperate need of approval.

"About?" Mary Margaret asked confused for a moment only to catch herself a moment later "Ah. That."

"Yeah that." Regina said with venom dripping from her voice. Clearly not liking her relationship to Emma being referred to so negative.

Mary Margaret shot her a -seriously?- look she usually only used on especially stupid comments from her students.

Which worked surprisingly well on Regina who looked, for the first time Mary Margaret known her, somewhat guilty.

"I...." Mary Margaret decided to be honest with Emma, "I am caught off guard. I didn't expect it. However it also, somehow, impossibly so, makes a lot of sense."

Emmas look turned hopefully and happy in a way Mary Margaret hadn't seen on her, ever.

"I get it's sudden," there Emma laughed and turned to Regina shooting her a fond smile, that made them look so much closer than they physically where, "it has been sudden and surprising for us as well."

At Emmas smile and words Regina smiles the fondest smile, Mary Margaret has ever seen on the stone cold face of the Madam Mayor, at Emma.

It makes Mary Margaret involuntary suddenly also smile. She's always been a sucker for love stories that work out against all odds. She's always felt like hers was somehow still on a path to work itself out, her still being stuck in the difficult before stage where she's alone and unhappy because her second half was missing.

But she was surprised to find that she was genuinely growing more and more happy for Emma and Regina who very evidently have found their person.

Reginas smile fell when she saw Mary Margarets smile, but before her face could turn that venomous cold that she sported so often especially when looking at Mary Margaret, Emmas pleading look to play nice, made her force the smile back again.

"You two make a good couple." Mary Margaret couldn't help but note surprising herself and the other two looking at her shocked.

"You are okay with the two of us being... an item?" Emma asked a insecure look at Regina at the definition of their relationship.

Regina was too busy looking at Mary Margaret completely shocked and stunned. Her mouth slightly open and her eyebrows furrowed.

"Don't get me wrong it was a shock seeing the Mayor walking down my stairs in the wee hours of the day. But I can see that you two," she briefly paused there assessing the two, searching for the right words, "you fit together. You two look at each other with so much care despite both claiming to hate each others guts only weeks ago." she finishes a bit awkwardly.

At her words Emma turns bright red again evading Mary Margaret and especially Reginas eyes.

Regina on the other hand looked like a sculpture. One that blushed ever so slightly and suddenly didn't look quite as challenging at Mary Margaret but rather discreetly looked at the cabinets behind her.

"Thanks." Emma squeaked hoarse, only to look even more embarrassed at her voice failing her.

Mary Margaret chuckled, not being able to stay angry at Emma, and answered warmly:

"You're welcome."

"Just don't have a sleep over again without asking before. I'd like to get earplugs in before I wake up from fox screams again." Mary Margaret adds half serious, half wanting to make Emma suffer at least a bit for surprising her and keeping something so big from her.

Emma looks confused for only a moment until realising just how exactly the fox that sometimes visited their backyard sounded like.

Upon realising turning red again and hiding in her arms with a long suffering groan.

Regina looked at her, eyebrows slightly knitted until realization what Mary could mean dawned on her. Clearing her throat and trying desperately to keep her voice even, despite her cheeks also blushing, she answerd diplomatically:

"I will make sure to not come by unannounced again."

Emma lifted her head again all embarrassment leaving her as she looked, oh so hopeful at the implications of Regina coming by again, wanting to repeat last night again.

And Mary Margaret couldn't help but smile at the two and feel like something just shifted to the better.

[thatbitchwhowritesstuff]

Okay so I created a tag game because I felt like it and it's FUN and it's SILLY and WHO CARES

Rules are: answer each category by putting a gif of a OUAT character that fits the best (or any other fandom if you feel like it !!!)

Let me go first:

1) Who do you look like most ?

(somewhere between those two)

2) Who's personality do you relate to the most ?

(And I am NOT proud of it)

3) Who's style matches yours best ?

(S1 Ruby specifically, overdressed and whore-ish)

4) Who's backstory do you relate most to ?

(ooooooh she has a complicated relationship to her dad)

5) Who do you feel like you'd get along with the best ?

(we'd be besties I just know it 😔)

Tagging @snowivyimconfusi @avatarena @deceptivelycomplex @lenaluthorssuitcollection and @cinnonym and also everyone who feels like doing it because honestly it was fun to do

(but also NO PRESSURE GUYS I'm just bored and looking for new ways not to work)

[italianbeatrice]

Thanks to @cinnonym for tagging me.

Rules: list the 9 albums that got me through 2024. I don't listen to full album anymore (used to ages ago). I too, am gonna listen those that I listen several songs from or some songs but a lot, in no particular order:

Paris Paloma - Labour

Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft

Chappell Roan - The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess

Carrie Underwood - Blown Away UK version (or any version with bonus tracks or a hit compilation I guess

Hozier - Unreal Unearth (but actually maybe more Reinaeiry covers)

Xana - both The Sex Was Good Until It Wasn't and Tantrums

Miley Cyrus - Endless Summer Vacation

Taylor Swift - The Tortured Poets Department (but maybe more a mix of Midnight... again almost never listen to albums anymore

Melanie Martinez - Portals (but again a mix of all her albums) and so many more, Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks... always makes my hard days a bit less hard, and some mindless country song can lift my spirit... I also would like to listen to some Italian song now and then but YouTube music put me into its neat pigeonhole and doesn't allow me to get out of it without putting the energy that I don't have.

Soft tag to @butimachrldr2 @lumiy-a @highfructose78 @itwasmagic

PS: I admit defeat on linking to the covers. :D. and I am on laptop (i truly admire those who can do that from a cell phone :) )

[zaffiri-saffici]

10 things for 10 people you’d like to know better!

tagged by @wily-one24 (I know this is SO late, I'm sorry. I'm finally getting around to using Tumblr on my laptop to type this out. Anyways, here we go!)

last song: Static Waves by Andrew Belle

last book: something that isn't fanfiction? Oof. The fact I am having a hard time remembering is a good reminder I need to pick a new one up. It would have been Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik.

last movie: The wife and I recently watched Love Lies Bleeding. It was... okay. Not my cup of tea, necessarily, but I understand the appeal. I also expected nothing less atmospherically from the A24 studio team.

last tv show: Wheel of Time! We are being so fed with the new season it should be illegal.

favorite color: Anything teal or turquoise

sweet/savory/spicy: Savory over everything, but I am also such a sweet girl. I love spice, too. Not so much spice=heat but spice=flavors. I just love food, really.

relationship status: Married as of last September, but the wife and I have been together since 2014. She is my everything.

last thing i googled: Best gaming monitors for ps5 (I am going to build myself a streaming setup in the next few months, and this is step one of that)

current obsession: Hah, well, it's a tie between Fortnite and Wheel of Time. I have been rewatching all the episodes of the first two seasons in between playing online with friends. Life is about balance, right?

looking forward to: Getting answers about my health. I've been in and out of doctor's offices over the last few months with no definitive info yet on why I have lesions in my throat and why I'm so much more fatigued now. I'm also looking forward to traveling more after I do get answers because needing to visit a doctor so often means I am more confined to my city, and I am definitely getting an itch to get the heck out asap. The first country I will visit when I do will be Italy to see some of my family and explore more of its southern coastlines.

Thanks for the tag. This was fun. :)

I, too, must tag ten people?! Oh boy. Well, here goes nothing! Have fun, everyone! @imptricks, @viharistenno, @reginasbread, @winged-mammal, @neverforgiveneverforget307, @queer-boo-radley, @v-chase-art, @cinnonym, @waknatious, @girl4music

[dregstrash]

Knife in the Back

a/n: Here it is!! The @grishaversebigbang project I did with the wonderful and talented @wafflesandkruge. This was so much fun to write and I hope you all enjoy it!

Materialki: @chaosvvolf (check out this amazing piece), @throughtheruin (feast your eyes on this beauty), @cinnonym (a 10/10 work of art), @corpsecro (we literally love to see talent), @kayadoodles (her mind is galactic with this one), @saintprivateer (brilliance in a single image)

Summary: Inej is one of the best detectives the city has to offer. As she gets closer to taking down one of the largest crime syndicates in Kerch, a body turns up out of nowhere and it points to Kaz Brekker, one of Ketterdam’s most dangerous hitmen, being the killer. But as Inej investigates the murder, there might be more to it than meets the eye: the murder, the suspects, and Kaz Brekker.

Ao3 Link

Prologue and Chapter 1 under the cut!

Prologue:

It was a dark night in Ketterdam. Not that any light truly ever pierced the dark clouds that seemed to perpetually hang over the city, but under the new moon the stars weren’t strong enough to illuminate the dark cobbled street.

The regular late night revelers seemed more subdued than usual. The air chillier and the wind ripping through any brave soul that stumbled through abandoned alleys.

It was almost funny the things that are able to pass in the dark: guns hidden under coats, hands twitching with an unquenchable craving, and bodies that might never truly wake up. The pale arm sticking out of a hastily placed tarp would have passed completely, if it wasn’t for one drunken man stumbling away from his latest high. The fall came before the scream, and the sound of it echoed down the alley.

True night could have hidden most evils, but even the shadows can choose to offer some truths-- and on this dark night the truth was this: a girl half-covered with a blue tarp, her eyes set in an endless stare, and a hole punctured in the place where her heart should have been.

Chapter 1:

Ketterdam was like most metropolitan cities: busy streets, short-tempered people, and high murder rates. Inej had only been with the police department for three years, but she honestly thought she’d seen it all. Her police academy years were spent doing her regular beats in the Barrel, the sinister underbelly of the pleasure districts of Ketterdam called the Staves. She thought that coming face to face with the broken, destitute, and neglected, she had finally figured out all the little secrets of this dark city. But Ketterdam had a way of keeping you on your toes, and today was proof of that.

“It’s not pretty, Inej.” Her partner, Matthias, lifted the police tape cordoning the crime scene from the curious eyes of the general public. He handed her a cup of coffee and she took a grateful sip. They were in an alley in one of the more run-down neighborhoods, the area dark despite the morning sun.

“Tell me.” Inej said.

Matthias sighed and led her to where a corpse that was being covered with a blue tarp. Inej inhaled briefly at the sight of the massive hole punctured in the dead girl’s chest, and just as quick she exhaled. Later, she’ll give herself time to think about how young the girl looked, or the way her eyes were open and unable to be put to rest. Later, she’ll say a little prayer for the currently unnamed girl. But for now, she braced herself to take in the details, to take in the scene, to look at everything like puzzle pieces itching to be made whole.

“Victim was found at about 2 in the morning, by a drunk trying to find his way home. He tripped over the arm and let out a scream. Neighbors from up there.” He pointed up to a fifth story apartment complex, “Called about the noise complaint, and we had officers on the scene fairly quick.”

Inej opened her mouth, but Matthias beat her to it. “We already interviewed the man who discovered the body, and he’s not a person of interest. He was barely sober enough to remember where he lived, much less murder someone. We’ll have to wait until Wylan takes a closer look before, but it looks like the girl’s been dead for more than twenty-four hours.”

She nodded in understanding and took a closer look at the pale corpse. Inej peered under the tarp, and hissed out a breath.

“Shit.” Inej cursed.

Matthias raised an eyebrow, “You know her?”

“She’s one of my informants. A girl I knew from when I was younger. She was helpful in some of my bigger cases, but I hadn’t heard from her in the last six months. I just assumed she finally got out of the city.”

“And you have no idea who she would be working with that could have gotten her killed?”

She shook her head and then started looking at the crime scene itself, “There’s no blood here.” She began to pace the length of the alley. “Not on the ground or on her clothes. So we can rule out robbery gone wrong. We need to find out where she was killed”

Matthias followed closely behind her, she could feel him thinking. People always accused Matthias of being a stoic brick wall, and while Inej might agree, she almost relied on that solid silence. After being her partner for almost two years, she knew that he would only speak up if all the facts aligned and made sense. He wouldn’t waste words on any conspiracy.

“This would have to be multiple assailants.” Matthias said contemplatively. “Or one highly organized individual. We haven’t seen anything like this for a while.”

Inej swept her eyes on the crime scene and she sighed, “And we have no word on any sort of wallet or phone?”

“Hasn’t been seen, but we’re going to try to get some facial recognition off the CCTV to try and identify her.”

Inej nodded and turned over the minimal amount of detail surrounding the crime scene. There was something achingly familiar about the set up. Dead body. Simple covering. Dumping ground. For all intents and purposes, it was minimalistic and clean-- sort of like the case form three years ago-- the one with--.

Inej’s eyes widened as a realization dawned on her.

She scanned the alley more closely taking in the position of the victim, the loosely tied tarp, the time of discovery, and its location. She remembered the details of another case she had spent hours and hours pouring over. She remembered the frustrating all-nighters, and barged in at Wylan’s office at any given moment demanding he review the evidence that was submitted. It was a case that had joined the thick folder in Inej’s desk titled “Cold Case.” And while most detectives had their own grief about their stack of unsolved murders, Inej’s problem wasn’t never finding the killer, her problem was that the son of a bitch was a snake that always slithered just out of her reach.

“Okay, Matthias let’s wrap up and send the body to--”

Inej’s voice cut short as she caught sight of a chillingly familiar object unceremoniously dumped in a heap of garbage three feet away from the corpse.

She took out a rubber glove from her pocket, and approached the pile of trash with careful precision.

“What is it?” Matthias asked.

She didn’t answer. She stepped over some rotten fruit, and reached for the lone black glove that was too clean to have been thrown away, and too nice to be a forgotten clothing item.

Inej held the glove up, “See anything, detective?”

He gave her a skeptical look, but obliged by leaning in and studying the simple black glove. 

“It’s been worn a lot, but it’s not dirty. The leather is high quality, and still in good shape.”

“So why would anyone throw this away when winter is coming? Or better yet, why has no one taken it yet?”

Matthias shrugged, while Inej’s gears turned and turned. There was no way he would have been so careless. He’s never made a slip up like this before. But then again, maybe this was a message. Maybe he was finally tired of the shadows, and wanted Inej to find his glove as some sort of taunt-- or challenge. 

And he knew she would take him on it.

“Take the body to Wylan, and get the autopsy report as soon as possible. I’ll catch up with you later.”

“Inej, what--”

“Also, there’s a marked folder in my desk. Grab it, and we’ll brief when I get back.”

“Where are you going?’

“I need to talk to someone.” She said distractedly.

She grabbed an evidence bag from one of the forensic agents, and stuffed the glove inside. She handed it back to the agent. “Get that tested, immediately.”

“Don’t do anything stupid without backup, Ghafa!” Matthias called after her.

She waved a hand behind her, but she was past being cautious. She folded herself back into the car and started inputting a familiar address into the GPS. If she was right about the glove, then she wasn’t letting Brekker get away from her. Not this time. She didn’t care if he was one of the deadliest assassins Ketterdam had ever seen. All men had to face justice someday, and it looked like Brekker’s time was drawing near.

[awtetsuya27]

My piece for the most chaotic fic of the @grishaversebigbang​! A Modern Monopoly AU? Yes 

Check out the story because between the Jesper-Nina banter, Inej’s inner monologues and the rest of the gang’s “done-ness”, you’ll have a really fun time. And also check out the other artists’ drawings, they’re all really skilled! Thanks for this team because I had such a nice experience with my first online project :) 

Title: BITCH BETTER HAVE MY MONEY

Synopsis: Chaos, Shakira jokes, and ended friendships; A novel. Join our favorite murder of crows as they play a game of Monopoly that’ll test their loyalties, quick-wittedness, and ability to take their turns without snapping someone’s neck- verbally, of course (at least we hope). I, the writer, apologize in advance for any and all brain damage this may cause you, however I ran out of waiver forms a while ago.

Etherialki (Author): @tessavioletandchill ill​ (you can check the fic here!)

Materialki (Artists): @bluedelladraw ​ (here and here), @sassysaltysarcasticstupid (here and here), @cinnonym (here), @murderspoonz​

Corporalik (Editor): @nolu

[italianbeatrice]

Nooooo…. why do you do this to me?? it's like tapping "Shave and a haircut" to Roger Rabbit. These are not "my all time favorites", I mean they are all favorites of mine, but not all of my favs, just the first ones that pop to mind and mostly recent ones, so also less likely to be already known or to be suggested by someone else…

The "Human Equation" by questar, a study on Dark Emma if you want to seriously put your stomach in a blender in a good way but her recent "Be still, my (divested and detached) heart" is great too (as all her other works, actually)

the very recent "A Time for Miracles", Xmas themed SQ from teasage, right from the bat I knew I'd love her writing

"Displaced" by cheshire6845 with Knight Emma that turns modern AU

"Bound" by LuxEterna is another great Knight Emma but in the Enchanted Forest and not AU (iirc)

"The Magic of Theathre" by acautionarytale is an Hogwarts AU

"de capo" by stardipped, sort of a soulmate au novella

"take me back to the start" by pretty pony, in my notes file I wrote "bellissimo!", lovely voyage in regina's mind

"The City in the Sea" by KaterinaDeAnnika, advertised as a "pulp novel" IIRC but it reads also like a movie

"Undone" by zaffiri_saffici was recently mentioned and I thought it was great, a Camelot fix-it

"SQ Advent Calendar: “Our Isle of Misfit Toys” series by Butimachrlder2 if you want something to keep you company a little bit every day, with lots of fluff, and insight in all kinds of different subjects, including serious ones, but all with a light (but not shallow) touch

I stop at 10, but I have to add these 2 that I can't dislodge from my mind at the moment:

"i trust you (a terrible decision really)" by IrishBella (each day I have to fight the urge to reread it), it's a perfect package of everything

and I wouldn't be myself if I didn't mention "Kintsugi" by wavesketcher because I'm obsessed with her writing and the atmosphere in this one

Oh! And I am making my way through all of cinnonym(s) work spurred by this ficlet here on tumblr "

I surely forgot some recent loved ones and I purposely stopped and not listed a lot of all time favs.

DROP UR FAV SWANQUEEN FIC !! (i want stuff to read)

[italianbeatrice]

Personally I started using it because @cinnonym mentioned something like seeing and hoping for a big renaissance of the SQ fandom in 2025 (IIRC). And since I am late to the fandom and missed the golden era, I very much enjoy that so much new content is still being made, including your gifs.

I hope I am not "mis-crediting" the tag; so they can confirm if they came up with the idea (if they want to, no pressure).

Also I personally mostly use it for recent/new content, not simply reblogs of old stuff, but reblogs too if there is new material added.

That's just me, though.

i need to know if i'm missing something with the sq25 tag bc there's multiple people using it, does it mean something or are more than one person just coincidentally using it to track which swan queen posts they share in 2025

[jelach]

Ok, so I've always felt a bit uncomfortable and weird about magic!baby, but the autofill gods have spoken. It's exactly 1000 words (do I get extra points @cinnonym ;) ?) and I wrote it in like 1h waiting in an airport to head home, so it's unbetaed and I'll probably come back to edit later.

Anyway, enjoy!

That day, Emma and Regina were going to the hospital to see if they were pregnant.

Admittedly, the two pink lines that Emma had nervously watched appearing spoke of an almost definite “yes,” but it was almost too improbable to be true. So improbable in fact, that if Regina - wise, perfect, expert-on-all-things-magic Regina - hadn't confirmed it was possible amidst a bout of happy tears, Emma might have been more sceptical.

Initially, Emma hadn't been quite so “happy tears” about it, because it - they, the baby - had come as a complete shock. And Emma had thought herself pretty much unflappable. She had seen a lot of surprising things over the years since she had come to Storybrooke, but this really took the cake.

It's not like it had been some kind of immaculate conception or anything. No, in that respect they'd certainly been trying, and often at that. But neither had thought that such a thing would have been possible, biologically speaking.

But then, Regina had been so warm and joyful when she had explained to Emma that True Love was a powerful force capable of things beyond their control, beyond their comprehension, even. Emma had expected a fight, Regina screaming at accusing her of infidelity because that was the only rational explanation. But Regina had calmly taken it in her stride and offered the impossible as an explanation right away. And somehow, Emma had started to feel like maybe it was a good thing. So despite her general misgivings about pregnancy, she had swallowed her worry down for Regina's benefit and played back a warm smile. Somewhere underneath, the concern broiled angrily, a bubbling pot left unattended on the stove and ready to explode. A million scenarios surfaced - where she wasn't ready, where she would mess it all up, or worse screw up their child. Rationally, she knew Henry had turned out perfectly, but a small voice reminded her that Regina had done most of the heavy lifting, and there was also the fact that Henry's entry into the world had been anything but perfect - a chasm away from that ideal, in fact.

Regina, of course, had called Emma out on her micro-spiralling right away. The woman had a sixth sense for Emma's distress, and she refused to relent until the words tumbled from Emma as if the pot lid had been lifted and there was nothing to contain it anymore. Hot, vicious self-doubt had spilled from her, and Regina stayed quiet until she ran herself dry. But then Regina had reminded Emma that Henry was a product of both of them, too, and that he was perfect, so they had nothing to worry about.

Of course, it had been impossible to deny that, and Emma had felt reassured by Regina's words and tone. It wasn't that all of her concerns had disappeared immediately, rather she knew right away that any challenges this child brought to them, they would face together. The thought of it - of them - a child that would look like her and Regina, like both of them… well, Emma couldn't speak for an extended moment.

Fortunately for Regina, Emma's silence was also reassuring, as her face had morphed into liquid joy, and she had hauled Regina into a crushing hug for good measure.

~.~

So they found themselves, not pacing nervously as they waited to be seen for Emma's first scan. True Love magic was a powerful thing, but not even Regina had evidence of a baby born to two mothers before, so they were both anxious to see what it was that was growing inside Emma. And it would need to be a resilient little thing, what with the whole world of crazy that would be thrust upon it - them. Emma chuckled at the thought, and then replayed it aloud for Regina's benefit.

“I don't think they're going to have to worry, love,” she replied softly, in that all-knowing tone that would convert anyone into a believer.

At Emma's unspoken request for clarification, Regina continued gently.

“They have True Love on their side,” she scoffed, barely containing her laughter at the ridiculousness of it all. The Evil Queen having an accidental True Love baby, of all things!

“In all seriousness though, Henry's going to make a marvellous big brother. And I don't think they're going to be short of loved ones to help them through the crazy,” she expanded.

Regina's certainty was a rich and terrifying thing, and so far from anything Emma had known before. So instead of letting the reassurance wash over her, Emma felt thick with melancholy, a heavy, leaden feeling that stole the fleeting joy of the moment. Because Regina was right - a small voice cried that she always was - this kid was going to have all of the things Emma had wished for Henry, and in so doing, they would have all of the things she could only have dreamed of. But then again, if she listened hard enough, Emma heard the small voice that sounded an awful lot like Regina in her head. And though her throat got thick when she dwelled on it, she knew that she was going to have everything she had once dreamed of too.

The word family got stuck in her thoughts as though her mind was drowning in the syrup of it all.

“Yeah,” she said quietly in lieu of everything else. “Yeah, we're gonna make sure of that.”

“I love you,” Regina offered gently, instead of digging for the source of Emma's disquiet. It was probably the exact same as her own. Regina's feelings of inadequacy were trounced by her excitement, but they were still there, even though the self pity felt strange when the self in question was so far in the past that she was a stranger. All she could do was look forward and thank her lucky stars that her future looked so different.

And when Emma said “I love you, too,” Regina revelled in the promise of that sparkling future.

Crack Fanfic Idea:

Short chapters that are called after a specific pattern. For example:

The day Emma and Regina...

But instead of clever ideas you use autofil and see what's going to happen that day. You probably need help with different algorithms, but I think it could be so fun and silly.