"We couldn't be more excited to announce that we are expecting a baby girl! We are finally going to have the family we've always wanted, the one we've always dreamed about. We will finally be complete and have a real happy ending."

Regina's head snapped up. Only years of schooling her facial expressions kept her from revealing her shock at Snow's words. Her eyes quickly darted to Emma, who was smiling at her parents. Regina knew that smile. She had seen it so many times that she recognised the pained expression it was hiding immediately.

She discreetly made her way through the crowd, slipping between the attendees, trying to make her way to Emma. Why the Charmings insisted on following the Old World traditions was beyond her. They were no longer in the Enchanted Forest. There was no reason to participate in ridiculous traditions such as this one. They had been called here by the two idiots for what they claimed was "important news". Their so-called important news could have been told over text in Regina's opinion. There was no need to gather the town at Granny's like this.

In the old world, yes, the royal family gathered everyone for a grand celebration, where they made the announcement that the kingdom would soon welcome a new prince or princess. But they were not in the old world, and Snow and Charming were not royalty, no matter how much they liked to pretend they were. Had Regina known that this was what they had planned, she would have immediately put a stop to it. There was no need to make such a grand announcement, especially not when it would hurt Emma the way that it so obviously currently was.

Regina cursed the people in her way (not literally), as she forced her way through the infuriatingly overcrowded diner. She kept her gaze locked on Emma, who was watching as the townspeople smiled and congratulated her parents. It was obvious she had not been informed of the "good news" prior to this evening.

Damn you, Snow, you selfish brat. You never think of anyone but yourself. Regina's anger continued to rise as slipped past Ruby, finally making her way to Emma's side. She cautiously reached her hand out, angling her body so as to hide her actions. They had agreed to keep things quiet and that included foregoing any and all public displays of affection. Emma wasn't ready, and Regina wasn't looking to pressure her into making any kind of declaration. However, after witnessing this disaster, she couldn't just stand idly by while the woman she loved had her heart broken by the people who claimed to care about her.

She reached out with the intention of holding her hand, but as soon as her fingers brushed against Emma's, the other woman ripped her hand away, seemingly snapping out of her reverie. She bolted from the diner, Regina hot on her heels. They bypassed Emma's parents, neither one stopped when Charming shouted his daughter's name.

Regina ran after Emma, catching up to her once they were about a block away from the diner. Her heart broke as Emma bent over in her arms, clutching her stomach and sobbing. Her body went limp against Regina, unable to hold herself up as the hurt and devastation took over.

"Emma, I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry."

Emma said nothing, unable to speak. She couldn't breathe through the hurt. Her parents, her parents, they were replacing her. Her own… She couldn't breathe. A fresh wave of tears rolled down her face, her body shaking with hurt.

Regina watched helplessly as Emma lost control on the sidewalk. There was no way she would want to be seen this upset, so she made the decision not to wait until Emma calmed before transporting them to the mansion.

"I'm going to bring us home, okay?"

Emma didn't respond. Regina decided to go ahead anyway, holding on tighter as a puff of purple smoke swirled around them. They landed in the middle of her bed, Regina leaning back against the pillows as she pulled Emma more fully into her arms. She rubbed her back soothingly, kissing her forehead as she waited for the sobs to subside. Regina did her best to calm her anger, knowing that her lover would immediately sense the waves of rage rolling off of her as she thought about how incredibly stupid Emma's two idiotic excuses for parents were. But no. She would not think of that. Instead, she would focus on the devastated creature curled up in her arms, the one who did nothing but love and cherish the people she cared about, only to be continually rejected and abandoned by the ones who claimed to love her.

"They're replac-replacing me," Emma finally said, hiccoughing as she fought against the sob caught in her chest.

Regina paused. What could she say? It was the truth. There was nothing she could say to make this any better. Snow had missed out on raising the girl she had given birth to, and she was now looking for a new opportunity to gain what she had lost.

Instead of responding, she clutched Emma to her chest with her left arm, her right coming up to bury her fingers in her wild locks of blonde hair. She brought her lips to Emma's temple, kissing her softly before peppering the top of her head, forehead, and cheek with gentle kisses. She did her best to soothe, to comfort, as the tears continued to fall along Emma's cheeks.

"Why doesn't anyone want me? What is so wrong with me that nobody wants me?"

When Emma looked up at Regina, her eyes swimming with tears, Regina wanted nothing more than to rip out Snow's heart and crush it for devastating her daughter so thoroughly. She fought against the familiar feeling and cupped Emma's cheek, reminding herself of what was important right now. She leaned down and placed a chaste kiss on her lips. When she pulled away, she ensured that their eyes were locked before she spoke.

"There is nothing wrong with you, Emma Swan. You are a wonderful, beautiful woman. You are the most incredibly loving person I have ever met, and I am so lucky to have you in my life. You have been mistreated by so many, Emma, and yet you still see the good in every person you meet. You're the best person I know, and I will always want you. Always. What's more, I need you. I need you in my life to remind me how to be good. You keep me sane, you keep me happy. You are my happy place.

I'm sorry for what your parents did to you tonight. It was thoughtless and cruel, and this never should have happened. But know, Emma, that there is nothing wrong with you. Nothing. You are perfect."

Emma's lip trembled as she listened to Regina, soaking in every sentence, latching onto every word like a lifeline. She felt so small, and she was filled with so much pain. No matter how old she got, no matter how many people she met, she was still so alone, so unloved. She had been abused, neglected, and abandoned her entire life. She had spent 28 years by herself, until one day she was brought to a place and told that she had a family, that she had parents who had always wanted her. She was promised the one thing she had wanted more than anything in the entire world, and she had felt a familiar feeling that she had long ago abandoned: hope.

She had met her parents, and they had seemed so loving, caring. They welcomed her with open arms and for once she actually felt smothered with love. She found them to be a little overbearing, but after a lifetime of going without, it was a welcome change. She enjoyed being their daughter, and she thought they enjoyed being her parents. She finally felt like she might belong, and then Mary Margaret had dropped a bomb on her: she wanted another child. And suddenly Emma's world came crashing down around her. They had had a second child, and now they were having a third. They were going to have a girl this time, to replace what Emma should have been.

We couldn't be more excited to announce that we are expecting a baby girl! We are finally going to have the family we've always wanted, the one we've always dreamed about. We will finally be complete and have a real happy ending.

Her mother's words rang in her ears, replaying in her head over and over again. And what was worse, it was done in public in front of the entire town. They had gathered everyone at Granny's diner. David and Mary Margaret had stood in front of them all, looking so proud with Neal standing by their side. Emma had not been invited to stand with them. She had not been told what news they were announcing. She had found out at the gathering, just like everyone else, like one of the townsfolk. Like someone on the outside.

"Hey," Regina said softly, pulling her from her thoughts. "Get out of your head. It's not a good place to be right now. Stay with me. I love you."

The corners of Emma's lips twitched, as though they were considering a smile. The words and comfort were helping to alleviate the crushing weight of the evening. Regina did love her. She knew that. She loved Emma as intensely as she had hated her when they had first met, ironically enough. She was constantly reassuring her, touching her, holding her, soothing her pain. Even when she teased her, insulted her, it did not have any kind of sting to it. She cared for her in a way that Emma had truly never expected.

"Talk to me," she urged, Emma's silence unnerving her a little.

Emma took a deep breath before beginning.

"I'm trying to listen to you, but I can't stop this sadness. I am never going to be enough, Regina. My parents want me to help them, to help the town. Everyone wants a saviour. Everyone expects me to solve their problems and I do my best, but it's never enough. They always want more. I'm not enough, even as they call me their saviour, and apparently I'm not enough as their daughter either. I thought it hurt-" her voice caught in her throat as she tried to say the words. "I thought it hurt when they announced Neal, but at least… at least he was a boy. I could pretend that she would be happy, you know? That they had a son and a daughter, me."

Emma shook her head.

"I was stupid. I wasn't what she wanted. I'm not what she wanted. Now she'll have her daughter and her son. And not me. She doesn't want me. She'll never want me. Nobody ever does."

The tears started streaming down her face again as she buried her face in her hands. She tried pulling away from Regina, but she found herself being held in place by strong arms.

"Your mother is an idiot and what she did tonight was unforgivable. But you, Emma Swan, are a wonderful daughter and an incredible mother. We are lucky to have you in our lives. I am so much better because you are in my life, a part of me. I want you in my life. I need you in my life, as does Henry. And I will continue to tell you that until you finally believe me. We are your family, Henry and I. He wants you. I want you, Emma. I want you."

"Why, Regina?" Emma suddenly asked, looking up at her. "Why do you want me?"

"Because, Emma, you are everything I have always wanted. You are kind, loving, supportive, sweet. Yes, you can be incredibly brash, impulsive, and you are notorious for making stupid decisions," she added softly, smiling at her to soften the words, "but I love you because despite everything, you have nothing but good intentions. Everything you do is for the greater good. You sacrifice so much for everyone and you are always trying to do the right thing. You think of everyone else before you think of yourself. You have the purest heart of anyone I've ever met, Emma. You are the good in my life, the reminder that not everyone is out to hurt me. You love me in a way that I thought nobody would ever love me again, in a way that I thought nobody ever could. I need you in my life, and I'm not letting you go. And if you try to leave, I will drag you back and chain you to this bed."

Emma felt chuckle form in her chest. It didn't quite make its way out, but her lips finally formed a small smile. She still felt down, but Regina's words, her presence, were helping to alleviate the weight on her shoulders. She stayed quiet, head resting on Regina's chest as she listened to the rhythmic thumping of her heart. The overwhelming hurt and sadness she felt earlier were no longer consuming her, but the feelings of rejection and inadequacy remained. They were feelings that had stayed with her her entire life. Every time she was returned from a foster home, every new family that stated she just wasn't the "right fit", those feelings grew. She had managed to build a life despite those inner feelings of inadequacy, but tonight, her parents had brought those feelings right back to the surface.

Regina looked down at Emma, watching as a myriad of emotions passed over her face. She softly stroked her knuckles along Emma's cheek, pressing her lips to her forehead. Emma squeezed her middle in response, her fingers sneaking under Regina's top to find the warmth of her skin. She pressed a kiss to the breast beneath her head, snuggling into the soft skin as she attempted to bury her nose in Regina's cleavage. She both heard and felt the other woman's giggle, a small smile forming at the sound. Regina would never admit to anyone that she giggled, but Emma knew. When they were alone, Emma could pull all sorts of sounds that Regina hid from the rest of the world, including girlish giggles. The knowledge that she got to see this side of her reminded her that she was special, at least to Regina, and that made her smile.

However, the respite from her feelings of heartbreak was short lived. As Emma lay there, unmoving, her thoughts returned to plague her once again. She tried to block them out, but it was difficult. She would start to feel better, replaying Regina's words in her head, but then her parents' words, her foster parents' comments, her past would come out, stronger, and stomp on all the good things her lover had said to her. She needed something louder, something stronger to block out all of the negative in her mind.

"Emma?" Regina asked, worried. She could feel Emma tensing up in her arms. "What's wrong?"

Emma pulled out of her embrace, moving to straddle her thighs. She cupped Regina's cheeks, only speaking when their eyes met.

"Show me."

Regina observed her quietly, searching her eyes.

"Show me, Regina. Please. Show me why you love me. I can't… I keep hearing why I'm not good enough, why nobody wants me. I can't stop the voices of everyone in my life telling me they don't want me. Everyone telling me I'm not enough. I want to be. I want to believe you. I want to believe that you want me, that you love me. You tell me all the time, so please, make me believe you. Take over. Take over my thoughts."

Regina licked her lips, hesitating. Emma looked so desperate. She wanted nothing more than to soothe her desperation, but she was hesitant.

"Show me that you want me. Show me that I belong to you."

Regina paused. That was the sentence they had agreed Emma would use when she wanted her to take control of her. Was this a good time? Should she, given that Emma was so upset? She reached up and firmly grasped Emma's chin, deciding to give a small test for now. She held her head so that she could not look away.

"Take a deep breath." She watched as Emma did. "Now you're going to sit calmly for a minute, and you're going to really think about what you are asking for. I want you to decide whether or not this is what you want. We will not be doing this if I don't feel this is what you truly want or need. There are other ways I can make you believe me, Emma. This is not the only way."

"I know. But this is what I want. I need you to take over. I can't… I don't want to think anymore. I don't want to keep hurting because of their words. I need you to make me feel better. Please."

Regina let go of Emma's chin before slipping out from underneath her. She stood next to the bed, looking down at Emma as she spoke.

"Okay. I'm going to take a short walk while you take a minute to think about it. I want you to think about whether or not this is what you truly want. Understood?"

"Yes, Ama."

Regina raised an eyebrow, but she did not respond. Ama was the name they had decided on together, the one Emma would use as an indication that she wanted a scene, that she wanted Regina to take control of her. It was a fitting title, given that it translated to "owner". That was the second request she had made, and Regina was starting to seriously consider it. If this is what Emma needed, she was happy to oblige. She knew the pressure Emma put on herself, and this was the one way that she was able to let go. It was also the way she dealt with the pain of rejection, because in these scenes, Regina took control of her body and reminded her that she did in fact belong to someone. She belonged to Regina.

After walking out of the bedroom, Regina made her way to the guest bedroom and headed to the closet. She quickly stripped down, replacing her slacks and sweater with a black skirt and crisp blouse. She removed her underwear, debating whether to wear or not the garter belt and thigh highs. It only took a second to decide to put them on. They drove Emma crazy, and given how upset she was tonight, Regina thought it might be nice to surprise her with them. She would only show them to her after she earned it, of course. She then slipped on her favourite heels, pulled her hair back, and made her way back to the bedroom.

She paused, hand on the door handle. She schooled her facial expression and took a deep breath, getting into character. She was no longer Regina Mills. She was now Emma's Ama. Her demeanour shifted entirely as she became her role, opening the door with confidence.