troubled teachers

Chapter 41

Whilst paternity leave was a thing, girlfriend-ity leave was not. However, somehow, miraculously, Mr Gold had agreed to give Emma the week off following Imogen's arrival. It was a period of adjustment; Regina getting used to having a baby completely dependent on her for everything, and Emma remembering how it had been with Henry the first time around.

The crib had been set up at the foot of their bed and Regina found herself getting up every hour to check on Imogen. Emma assured her she would be fine but the brunette didn't listen, needing to make sure her precious child was still breathing and sleeping soundly. Imogen cried every few hours, wanting her mother's milk. Regina would sit in the nursing chair in the corner or climb back into bed beside Emma, holding their daughter to her breast and watching as she suckled. It was a peculiar sensation but one she was quickly getting used to. Imogen was a good feeder, filling her belly every time and rarely spitting up afterwards. Nevertheless, there were already muslins strewn throughout the house and the washing machine was constantly going, full of soiled baby grows and dirty cloths.

Henry was infatuated with Imogen and as soon as he returned from school, he wanted to hold her. They'd sit on the sofa together, Henry's eyes flicking from the television to her face and back again until she cried for a feed or a nappy change. Zelena had offered to pick Henry up each morning and drop him off after school and Emma and Regina were grateful for the help.

It was full-on, constant job, having a new baby, but together it was becoming a steady routine.

"I just wish I could get up to feed her so you could sleep," Emma said from her pillow as she heard Regina climb out of bed one night when Imogen started to cry.

"Well I'm afraid your breasts wouldn't be much good to her, lovely as they are," Regina replied as she carefully lifted the baby from her crib and carried her back to bed.

"You must be exhausted," Emma said, helping Regina tug her pyjama top aside as the older woman settled against the pillows and brought Imogen's lips to her nipple.

"I am," Regina replied. "But I don't mind."

"When she's a little older, perhaps you could pump some milk and then I can take my turn," Emma suggested, stroking the top of Imogen's head where the fine black hairs lay.

"Of course," Regina nodded. "But we don't need to do that just yet. I'm sleeping enough."

It was true. Despite waking several times each night, thanks to Emma being off work Regina was able to sleep when Imogen slept during the day. The two would nap together as Emma tidied the house and cooked their meals. Not that Emma wasn't tired either. It was rare for Imogen to wake without Emma being disturbed too. But she could fall back to sleep whilst Regina waited up, feeding their daughter.

On Sunday night, when Imogen was eight days old, Emma and Regina were curled up on the sofa together, Imogen asleep in a bassinet on the floor.

"I wish I didn't have to go back to work tomorrow," Emma murmured, tugging Regina a little closer to her and placing a kiss to the crown of her head.

"Me too," Regina replied. "I'm going to miss having you around to help me. You've been so amazing, Emma. I don't know how I'd have got through this week without you."

"I'm sure you would have," Emma said. "You're a natural mother and you're doing fantastically with her. I've just done this before so was able to give you a few pointers. Even without them you'd have picked things up pretty quickly."