Who: Caroline & Regina What: A dream-related pregnancy scare from Caroline When: Today Where: Regina's home Rating/Warnings: Low Status: Complete!
Another night dreaming about being pregnant. Only it turned out that there was some weird cloaking spell on her womb concealing the pregnancy from even her. So of course it didn’t show up on tests or even the ultrasound until the spell was taken off.
She woke up panicked. The pregnancy test she had taken with Peeta the week before meant nothing. She could be pregnant. Honestly she had no idea if pregnancy was the type of thing that carried over from the dreams. But if any type of pregnancy did it would be her magical one where the babies from Jo’s womb got transported or some shit into Caroline.
There was no way she was going to tell Peeta about this. She had already freaked out on him once, plus with his dreams reeking havoc on Orange County she wasn’t the last thing he needed to worry about was her maybe being pregnant. There was one person she could talk to about it though. One whose dreams sounded just as bizarre as her own. Not to mention the only person she knew that would be able to tell if there was some sort of cloaking spell on her.
She quickly got dressed and headed for Regina’s house. Not even bothering to stop to bring by coffee or pastries like she usually did. Standing on the porch to Regina’s house Caroline rang the doorbell twice, not caring if she woke her up. Just as she pressed the button for a second time the blood rain started again. Of-fucking-course. The smell of blood, combined with the fact that Caroline had skipped her morning feeding in her rush to Regina’s, caused her vampire features to take over. She tried her best to control it, but when Regina opened the door she was greeted by Caroline’s vampire face, red veins under her eyes, fangs out and all.
Blood didn’t do any wonders for her lawn. Or yard. Or house, for that matter, which was an immaculate pearly white caked in splotches of scarlet. Once this freak ‘weather’ was over she’d have to hire an entire company to pressure wash it professionally, get all her greenery properly treated - it was an expensive mess, and she needed to petition someone to start coming up with home insurance that would cover Orange County travesties.
There wasn’t anyone Regina had been expecting when the doorbell sung through her home. And the last thing she did expect was to face what initially looked like a beast on the other side; a blonde haired youth, face distorted in such an animalistic way that her instinct was to be on the defense - and she was, fingers curled before her, with the threat of fire or a telekinetic blast for an unfortunate in case scenario.
“Caroline,” carefully warned the queen, stepping to the side. “Come in, get out of that - but if you get chompy with me, I will snap your neck. Understood?”
If Caroline wasn’t already so frantic she would probably take offense to that. Regina should know that she didn’t bite her friends. Unless they let her and even then she felt guilty. But now wasn’t the time to argue with the witch. She was here to ask a favor after all, plus defending her reputation was honestly the last thing on her mind. “Sorry,” Caroline said stepping inside. Once the door was shut behind her the smell wasn’t quite as strong and she was able to calm her instincts and gain control of her hunger and the effect it left on her face. “It’s the smell,” she added sheepishly once her face was back to normal.
Now that that was out of the way. Time to figure out what the hell was going on with her womb. And Caroline didn’t waste any time. “Do you know how to tell if there is a cloaking spell on something? Or a person. Like me? Or well my womb,” she blurted it all out still standing just inside the doorway. “Because I think I’m pregnant,” the words were rushed together, barely understandable. But there it was.
Yes, Regina did know she had no intention of purposefully snacking on friends, but accidents happened and there was an abundance of literal blood being dumped from the heavens. Precautions were taken out of responsibility. But she was pleased to know her resolve was steely, and Caroline’s face soon became recognizable.
Though the purpose of the visit was…
What?
“If you were pregnant, why would a cloaking spell be on you?” There must be a story there, somewhere. Didn’t that, ah, babymaking plumbing not necessarily work for vampires? Talking and walking simultaneously, she led the living Barbie Doll to the living room - the fireplace was lit, and the television was more like white noise in the background. “Go on. Take a seat.”
How was she even supposed to explain all this? It was so complicated. She barely understood it and they were her dreams. She followed Regina to the living room and sat down on the couch before opening her mouth and blurting everything out once again. “Because, Alaric’s wife was dying at their wedding so her coven did some spell to transport her babies into my womb and then they cloaked it so her killer wouldn’t find them. They were cloaked even from me. I took all these tests and even did an ultrasound and nothing showed until Valerie took the cloaking spell off,” the words came rushing out. Hopefully Regina understood that was all dream related because Caroline wasn’t pausing to explain that part.
“So last week Peeta bought a test and it came back negative but that was before I knew about the cloaking spell. What if it transferred over?” Caroline couldn’t sit anymore, she stood up and started pacing. “Everything else has transferred over, my vampirism, turning off my humanity, why wouldn’t a magical fucking pregnancy? I can’t be pregnant. I’m a vampire! And I’m only twenty-one, or well twenty I guess cause I’m never going to age,” now she was just beginning to ramble, while still pacing back and forth in front of Regina’s couch. “And how would I even tell Peeta? He was so great the first time, but now his dreams are invading this whole place and the twins wouldn’t eve be his. Or mine!” Now she finally paused to take a breath, turning to face Regina. “So, um, can you tell if there is a cloaking spell on my womb?”
That discombobulated nonsense spewing out of Caroline’s mouth could only be something from the dreams - the context in this life didn’t make sense, and Regina had no choice but to take a seat on her sofa, cross her knees and listen. Dark, umber eyes watched her pace back and forth with a patience usually reserved for her son. She was distressed, she clearly needed to expel everything in one big whoosh of intel.
“Alright,” she began slowly, taking a deep breath as well. “Yes, I can tell if there’s a cloaking spell on your…” Her brows furrowed, gaze honing in on Caroline’s stomach. “Womb.” That had to be one of the strangest stories of conception she’d ever heard, but dream logic was always a bit merciless. “Come closer. Calm down. Arms to your sides.”
Caroline sighed in relief. This was the first step. And if she was pregnant well then she would figure out some way to deal with it. But honestly the not knowing and the worrying was driving her insane.
She wasn’t exactly sure how calm she could get. But she did as Regina asked standing in front of the witch and dropping her arms to her sides. “Thanks,” she attempted a smile, but she was lacking her usual sunny disposition this morning.
Cloaking spells were specifically designed to keep things hidden. Its energies were subtle, barely detectable - but all magic still had a zing, even hidden, and she’d dealt with enough cloaking spells in her lifetime as reigning Bitch Queen of the Enchanted Forest and Mayor of Storybrooke. Slowly, Regina passed her hand over Caroline’s stomach to listen. To feel or even hear that quiet, almost ghostly buzz of magic.
But there was nothing. Not even the most minute traces.
“No cloaking spell.” Regina smiled a little, sympathetic. “Trust me, you’re clear. You don’t even have the energy of someone with child.”
Caroline stood perfectly still while Regina did whatever the hell she was doing to Caroline’s stomach. She needed this to work. Needed to know. It felt like ages that Regina was concentrating on her womb. And then finally it was done.
Well that was a relief. Or at least it should be. As much as Caroline so was not ready to have a baby right now, she’d be lying if a part of her didn’t want a family at some point in her life. And deep down she knew this was her only hope.
“You’re sure?” she asked quietly, her voice almost a whisper.
Regina didn’t know what to make of that question. Was that disappointment she was sensing? Caroline seemed so against the idea, but the vampirism she was afflicted with now wasn’t by choice - she never knew if she wanted a family of her own, or if she had time to….oh, who knows, freeze her eggs for future possibilities?
Just thinking you were pregnant brought a window of doubts, an array of confusing feelings, imagining every possible good and bad scenario that could be. She’d been there.
“I’m sure,” she promised. “Care for a drink? I think you could use one.”
Caroline nodded at Regina’s question slowly sitting back down on the couch. The past week had been an emotional fucking rollercoaster and now she didn’t know how to feel. It wasn’t exactly over with. At least the whole pregnancy issue was taken care of. But there were still Peeta’s dreams to deal with. And then a bunch of other stupid crap with balancing out her life and being pulled a million different directions at once. Sometimes it felt like no matter what she did it would never be enough. And she tried so hard.
“Something stronger than wine?” she asked. it was a little early in the morning to drink but whatever. It had been a hell of a night.
Regina liked to think that her living room was well furnished; everything was stylish with a sense of coziness, and nowadays looked a little more lived in with the family that came in and out. Along with it came the necessity for a little bar on wheels in the corner, with wine and spirits. Mainly tequila, which seemed to be her guilty pleasure - she recently had gotten an espresso-based one, which went down dangerously smooth.
It’s what she poured for Caroline in a rocks glass, the liquid dark and rich, and offered it. “It doesn’t have a bite like you’d think it would - try it. It’s easy to swallow. Quick to get you whoozy, though…” A tilt of her head. “Your vampirism makes it a little tough for you to get drunk easy, doesn’t it?”
“Thanks,” she said accepting the glass and downing it in one swift motion.
“Yeah,” Caroline nodded in response to Regina’s question. “I have a higher tolerance now,” it was either a perk or a downside depending how you looked at it. Because times like these? Times where she actually wanted to get drunk? She’d have to drink a whole lot. “One of the many perks of vampirism,” and yes there was a hint of bitterness in her voice. Odd for Caroline but she was just tired of being the optimistic one that kept everyone together all the damn time.
Oh, she knew bitterness. It was something Regina carried often, often irrationally - a little hard to draw the line between emotions of this reality and another. She lowered the volume of whatever was on TV, which was some kind of guilty pleasure reality show that was terrible (yet oddly fascinating, she blamed the pirate), and leaned back against the couch.
“Go on,” she gestured. “Something’s wrong. You’re bursting with it. And dare I say you sound disappointed finding out that you’re actually not pregnant due to a strange dream hijinks?”
Of course Regina could tell she was upset. It wasn’t often that Caroline strayed from acting like everything was fine, from being everyone else’s rock but with everything going on lately it was difficult to keep herself together. Especially with dreaming about a magical pregnancy.
“I just..” she paused. She wasn’t sure what exactly was wrong. “I don’t want to be pregnant. Not right now, not from dreams. But,” another pause, tears stinging her eyes. “It’s my only chance.”
So that was the problem. Regina pushed wisps of dark hair behind her ears, the couple of seconds of silence perhaps necessary - because she could relate to an extent, but finding the words for it had been a challenge.
“There are other ways to begin a family if that’s what you’re aiming for,” she carefully began. “You have lifetimes ahead of you. You might not be able to experience all the heart burning wonders of pregnancy, but in the end you can still have a child you can love with all your heart - that’s what I have with Henry.” The dynamics were a bit different, yes - she didn’t raise him here, but the love of a mother wasn’t something to be disputed. Blood or not, she’d always treat him like he was hers. And he would always come first. “But it is also okay to be upset that you can’t experience what you should be able to.”
Deep down Caroline knew all this. She had plenty of time to worry about having kids, to adopt or have a surrogate or whatever. She had an eternity. This wasn’t even something she wanted right now. She was so young. She was in college still, she hadn’t even been with Peeta that long. A few months and although they were kind of serious it was nowhere near ‘let’s have a baby’ serious. Still dreaming about being pregnant, the possibility that she actually could be and knowing that she never would? It was a lot to take in.
“Yeah,” Caroline finally said quickly wiping her few tears away. “It’s stupid I know. I shouldn’t complain. I have so many gifts. And there is so much else going on right now.”
“That’s not what I’m saying, and you’re not complaining,” Regina assured confidently, taking her hand to squeeze - she always had a bit of that maternal kick when it came to some people. “Being upset is natural, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. But know that the you can still have the outcome of the whole experience. And that’s someone you can care for and love like they’re your own.”
It was a heavy reality to take in. Women dealt with it in their own way, and it was maybe one thing that was natural to be bitter about, but she’d come out content with her own circumstance. Henry was everything she could ever want even if he’d come into her life almost a teenager. Hell, she’d even get to experience the infant experience somewhat when Emma and Neal brought their second one into this world - she’d be there for them.
There was a box of tissues on the coffee table she set on the vampire’s lap, for obvious reasons. “You’ll make your own family one day. Blood doesn’t need to define it. It’ll all come from your non-beating heart,” she chuckled a little. “But if it’ll make you feel better to cry on my couch and watch the horrible concept of reality television with me, you’re more than welcome to.”
Right, Regina wasn’t one of her roommates. She wasn’t out to make Caroline feel guilty for having her own problems to deal with. She didn’t always have to put up this brave front. Regina was one of the few she would actually let her guard down in front of, be vulnerable with. Evil Queen or not, Caroling found her comforting, maternal even.
“Thanks,” Caroline said attempting a small smile. She picked up one of the tissues to wipe away the rest of her tears. “You and Henry are kind of an example of that.” That story was pretty insane too, her adoptive dream kid being alive here and sharing him with his two biological parents from both worlds. Complicated and insane.
“I’m sorry for coming over all crazy like that,” she added apologetically. “But I think I’ll take you up on your offer to watch TV for a bit. I need to calm down before I head back to Peeta’s.” He had enough to deal with right now without her insane dreams.
Complicated and insane. Two accurate words to describe the situation. But it all worked out, didn’t it? Regina wouldn’t have it any other way. “Kick your shoes off, get comfortable,” she insisted with a grin, curling her feet under herself. It wasn’t a typical rainy day, but it was pouring nonsense outside and she’d treat it as a ‘stay-in-do-nothing’ sort of thing, which she was dressed quite comfortably for. “And say as long as you want. I don’t mind the company.”
It’d help take Caroline’s mind of the situation, even if it was just a little bit.