Baby Saviour - OUAT
Regina had seen a lot in her life. A lifetime surrounded by dark magic had certainly curtailed her ability to be surprised. While she had been surprised a few times since Emma's arrival in Storybrooke, this definitely took the cake.
Because, for some reason even the Dark One couldn't seem to explain, the Saviour had turned into an infant. A crying one, at that. Snow was trying to soothe her daughter but her soft rocking seemed to do nothing to pacify the baby. Her husband's attempts to cheer the baby up were no more successful.
Normally, Regina would probably have found the Charmings' failing and fussing hilarious but the wailing child and the fretting pirate put a damper on her mirth.
Killian was pacing up and down the loft, hand missing up his already messy hair. Every cry that left his girlfriend's lips seemed like a dagger in his heart. Regina felt almost sorry for him, especially with the Charmings' fussing only making Emma cry more. That her parents had started arguing didn't really help in calming the infant down.
Killian, it seemed, had enough. With a long-suffering groan, he marched over to Snow and all but pulled Emma from her arms.
"Pass her to me"
The moment Emma had passed from her mother's arms to the pirate's, the wailing stopped.
Huh, would you look at that.
"Thank you" Her dry words gained Regina a glare from Snow, not that she much cared. Jones had just saved her from a terrible headache, she could take Miss Holier-than-thou glaring at her. The Princess of Misthaven was about as intimidating as a kitten throwing a hissy fit.
"It'll be alright, love. We'll find a way to fix this. I promise you." Killian meanwhile told the baby in his arms.
Now that Regina could finally hear herself think again, the importance of Emma's reaction to Killian occurred to her. The blonde had been obviously (and vocally) uncomfortable with her parents but immediately relaxed with the more threateningly appearing pirate. The only way this made sense was if Emma… still understood… who people were to her…
Regina couldn't help herself. She laughed heartily. From the corner of her eye she could see Gold smirk. He, too, seemed to have figured out what exactly had happened. They hadn't considered it, because it was a blessing spell, not a curse and on top of that this was not how she had thought the spell was supposed to work.
"Whatever is so funny, Regina?" Snow asked. The bite in her voice was almost endearing, considering what Regina had experienced from her mother.
"Other than the one-handed wonder being better at calming your daughter than you and Charming together?" Maybe she was gloating a bit, but really, Snow deserved it. "Emma will be fine. She should be back to normal in a couple hours, no worse for the wear. I would advise against getting too close though. The more she's riled up the longer it will take. And very obviously you are not making her calmer."
Snow was puffing up like an angry finch - and looked about as threatening. David on the other hand looked pensive more than anything.
"Why?"
"Because, Charming, Emma still has all her memories, they just don't compute right in her infant brain. She's only getting the base emotions, the impressions, not the context or the full memories. And Adult Emma might rationally understand why you did what you did but all that Baby Emma understands is that you're strangers and that you left her."
Snow deflated like a popped balloon while her face pulled into something that dangerously resembled a pout.
"But why can Hook calm her down so easily then."
Regina was sure her eyebrows were trying to hide in her hairline.
"Are you serious? Captain Guyliner's devotion to her passed 'ridiculous' a good long while ago. And Emma knows he loves her. That he won't leave unless she sends him away. Whether she wants to admit that to herself is of no matter, because as an infant she doesn't have the mental capacity to try and deceive herself. And Emma loves him. I am not quite sure how that translates, but it certainly doesn't hurt."
David seemed to have moved past being hurt over his failings as a father and his surprise at being told so plainly that there would be no-one better for Emma and well into acceptance of the situation.
Good for him , Regina thought.
"What about True Love's Kiss?"
If she had ever had doubts about Snow White's mental capabilities, they felt validated now.
"Really, Snow? First, this was a blessing, not a curse, no matter how unorthodox the outcome. True Love's Kiss won't do a thing. Also, did you really just suggest the pirate kiss a literal infant? Do you even hear what is coming out of your mouth?"
Snow looked like she wanted to object to the dressing down she'd gotten but before she could, they were all distracted by the soft singing coming from the corner of the room.
" Idir ann is idir as
Idir thuaidh is idir theas
Idir thiar is idir thoir
Idir am is idir áit
As an sliogán
Amhrán na farraige
Suaimhneach ná ciúin
Ag cuardú go damanta
Mo ghrá "
Regina hadn't known Killian could sing, let alone that he had such a pleasant voice. Looking at the child cradled ever so gently in the pirate's arms, she had to smile. Emma had fallen asleep. Yes, the saviour would be alright. And likely a lot more relaxed upon returning to being an adult. That at least was the goal of the spell used.
With a nod to Killian Regina took her leave. Now that this situation was resolved, she had some last Christmas shopping to do. (And though if asked she would vehemently deny it, the irony of a woman hailed as the Saviour being turned into an infant only days before Christmas Eve was not lost on the so-called Evil Queen.)