Reset

Emma nodded and went to prepare for bed, quickly getting changed into her white sleep shorts and t-shirt and brushing her hair, washing her face and brushing her teeth. When she was done she sat nervously on her bed and waited for Regina to come in. She felt embarrassed now the time was getting nearer, she felt as if she were foolish to ask for such a thing, like she was a grown woman asking for a bedtime story. There was part of her that felt like she was waiting for a medical procedure and she could feel her pulse racing.

Suddenly there was a gently knock on the door and Emma called out for Regina to come in, some of the nerves disappeared at the sight of the older woman in her dark blue silk pyjamas and matching robe. Regina smiled, "are you ready?"

Emma nodded and took a deep breath as she sat still on the bed waiting for sleep to come and knock her out.

"Maybe you should get into bed and lay down?" Regina suggested gently.

Emma quickly pulled back he covers and pushed herself into the cool sheets and looked up at Regina with a nervous look.

"You don't seem sure about this," Regina pointed out.

"I'm fine, I just know it's coming this time," Emma laughed softly.

Regina smiled, "goodnight, Emma."

"Goodnight," Emma nodded and closed her eyes.

Regina slowly waved her hand over the blonde's face and when she saw the stiffness in her body finally relax she turned off the bedside lamp and left the room.

Chapter 57

The sound of a baby crying pulled Emma from her deep sleep as it had done a few times that night but now it was morning and the early morning sun was beginning to show itself through the bedroom blinds. Although she had slept through the majority of it she knew that Grace had been awake a lot the previous night and Emma was thankful that Regina had sent her to sleep with a spell or she knew she'd be feeling terrible from the broken sleep.

She kicked off the covers and quickly made her way to Grace's room, she wasn't in all-out crying mode yet and Emma wanted to see if she could calm her before she managed to wake a, probably, exhausted Regina up again.

Entering the room she quickly closed the door again behind her in an attempt to muffle some of the sounds, "shh, Gracie," she soothed, "Mommy's sleeping so you'll have to make do with me."

She picked up the baby girl and held her close to her chest, she had heard somewhere that babies liked to hear your heartbeat as it reminded them of being in the womb. She had no idea if it was true but Grace seemed to settle a little when she was picked up and Emma held her close and cuddled into her yet she still snivelled.

"Wow, you're unhappy, is this because I moved in?" Emma laughed softly, "I hope not, maybe it's because I haven't been reading Oliver Twist to you?"

Grace continued to occasionally cry and splutter but her noises were calming a little as Emma walked around the room.

"It's okay, I'll read you some more later," Emma promised, "I know we left at a tense place but don't worry it all works out in the end. Well," Emma considered, "it actually gets much worse.."

Grace let out a little sob and Emma quickly held her tighter to her chest, "but it works out in the end," Emma added, "everything works out just fine. Books are weird like that, no matter how bad things are they always seem to work out a solution in the end."

Emma looked down at Grace's screwed up face and kissed her forehead, "come on, Sweetheart, you need to quieten down or you'll wake your Mommy and after all your crying last night she is probably exhausted."

Emma walked Grace to the window and looked outside as she rocked Grace, "your Mommy put me to bed last night and you don't see me crying," Emma started to ramble, she'd also read that talking to a baby who was held against your chest helped to soothe them.

"And you got milk and a bedtime story," Emma continued, "I didn't get any of that, no, just a spell or something and I was asleep."

Grace started to fidget and let out a new, loud cry and Emma quickly rocked her again, "it's fine, I don't mind," she whispered but Grace cried again, "she wouldn't do that to you, you'll always get your milk and a bedtime story, lots of kisses and cuddles, no sleeping curse for you. She doesn't do that anymore. See? I'm proof, ta-dah!"

Grace let out a giggle through her tears and Emma laughed, "oh you like that do you? Ta-dah!"

Emma tickled Grace's feet softly and then made the sound again and the girl let out a small giggle again, "you're easily pleased," Emma noted before she made the sound again. But then Grace started to cry again and Emma realised her ta-dah trick was at an end, "okay, no more of that," she cupped Grace's diaper with her hand, "that doesn't seem to be a problem, you can't be hungry because I heard Mommy give you a bottle a couple of hours ago, what is it Princess?"

"She's teething," Regina said from the doorway and Emma jumped a little at the sudden interruption.