I received a tumblr prompt about Henry having a twin. I hope you enjoy the result!
"Make a wish!" Amelia exclaimed as the group finished singing "Happy Birthday". Henry squeezed his eyes closed before opening them and blowing out the two candles that read "16" on top of the cake. The small party cheered and congratulated Henry, when suddenly there was a knock at the door.
"I'll get it," Emma said, "take as many embarrassing photos as you can." She then handed the camera to Regina and kissed her cheek as she went to answer the door. When she opened it she was met with the sight of a young girl with blonde hair and brown eyes. "Hey there. What can I do for you?"
"Does... Emma Swan live here?" the girl asked. Emma knit her brow in confusion.
"I'm Emma. Is something wrong?" Emma questioned. The girl stared at her with interest before snapping out of her daze.
"Um..." she faltered, scuffing her foot on the porch, "there's not really an easy way to tell you..." Emma gave her a confused look.
"Alright, out with it. You're freaking me out," Emma informed her. The girl blushed and took a deep breath.
"My name is Mercy, and I'm your daughter," the girl told her. All of the air rushed out of Emma's lungs as she took a step back.
"That's- you're- no. Nope. That's not possible. This is a sick joke," Emma said, shaking her head.
"You had a son, too. I- I don't know much more. I just know that my birthmother is Emma Swan. It took me years to track you down! You've moved quite a lot and the trail ran cold for a long time before I tracked you here," Mercy told her. Emma swallowed and stepped outside, closing the door behind her. She motioned for Mercy to sit on the step with her.
"I gave birth to twins sixteen years ago today. A girl was born first, and then a boy. I refused to see either one, but the doctors informed me that the girl didn't survive anyway. I couldn't be a mother. I put the boy up for adoption. I bought a flower in mourning for the girl after I was released from prison. I tried not to think of either of them until ten years later a small boy showed up on my doorstep telling me he was my son. He then brought me here and I've been here ever since," Emma told her. Mercy soaked in Emma's story.
"But I didn't die," Mercy whispered, "I'm still here."
"What... where did you end up?" Emma asked. Mercy wrung her hands.
"I ended up being shuffled around a few foster homes. I didn't stay in the same place very long. Went to juvie twice," Mercy shrugged, "I started looking for you secretly about two years ago. For awhile, I was in a foster home, so I used their internet, but I was kicked out a few months ago. I've been actively moving around and looking for you ever since."
"You were kicked out? They didn't send for a social worker?" Emma questioned.
"They did, but I ran away that night. I won't go to another group home," Mercy told her firmly. Emma nodded slowly.
"I guess I understand that," Emma said quietly. She looked over to Mercy, "what was their reasoning? Not that it was likely a valid reason." Mercy took a deep breath.
"I... I wasn't careful enough and I... I'm pregnant." Emma was shocked into silence. She was utterly speechless.
Emma had been gone longer than Regina expected, so she came to investigate, finding her sitting on the front step with a young girl who looked striking like Emma.
"Emma? Is everything alright?" Regina asked. Emma snapped her head up to look at Regina. Emma tried not to let the panic affect her, but Regina sensed it immediately. "What's wrong?" Emma stood slowly, leaning against one of the white pillars, her hand acting as her anchor. She opened and closed her mouth several times before gesturing to Mercy.
"Regina, this is Mercy. Mercy, Regina," Emma introduced. Mercy hopped up and gingerly shook hands with Regina. Regina looked to Emma, confusion evident. Emma swallowed and sighed. She turned to Mercy. "How long have you been wearing those clothes?"
"A few weeks?" Mercy guessed.
"Emma?" Regina questioned.
"Regina, could you make sure everyone inside is occupied before meeting me in the study?" Emma asked. Regina made a move to protest but, seeing Emma's face, refrained and did as she was asked. Emma beckoned Mercy inside and took her to her and Regina's room. "My clothes may not fully fit you, since you've been on the street. I doubt you've eaten much. Stealing has gotten harder, I bet."
"You know?" Mercy asked incredulously.
"Your life mirrors mine, Mercy. The only difference is I was left on the side of the road and you were born in a hospital," Emma informed her, "even getting pregnant before you're ready." Emma pulled out sweatpants and a t-shirt. She knew that wasn't party etiquette, but she didn't exactly plan on unveiling her... daughter... at the party. "I have to go talk to Regina about this. Stay here, okay? You're welcome to sleep. I'm sure you're probably exhausted." Mercy simply nodded as Emma exited the room, closing the door behind her. She hurried to the study and locked the door when she was inside.
"Emma, what's going on?" Regina asked as Emma heavily sat down next to her on the sofa. Emma sighed.
"Once Upon a Time, I was a dumb teenager who thought I was in love. I tried to help him steal some watches and got caught and put in prison," Emma started. Regina knew this part of the story and was confused as to why it was relevant, but she stayed silent and let Emma continue, "one day, I found out I was pregnant. I was scared and alone in prison and definitely not ready to be a mother. On the day that I gave birth, I had a little girl. She was rushed away immediately and I didn't know what that meant, but I didn't have a lot of time to stop and think, because I then gave birth to a little boy. The doctor tried to let me see him, but I refused. I asked about the first baby. They told me she didn't make it. I figured it shouldn't matter anyway, I wasn't going to keep either of them. I put the baby boy up for adoption and went back to prison for a few months. You know the rest of the story." Chills ran down Regina's spine.
"You never told me you had twins," Regina said softly, placing a hand on Emma's.
"I liked to tell myself that I didn't," Emma replied.
"That must've been hard for you," Regina mused. Emma shrugged.
"What difference did it make to me at the time? I put Henry up for adoption. It was one less kid to put into the system," Emma told her.
"But Mercy?" Regina questioned.
"She made it, Regina. They lied to me," Emma said bitterly, "and her life mirrors mine. In and out of foster homes, juvie, and..." Emma swallowed, "and she's pregnant." Regina let out a shuddering breath.
"Oh," was all she could manage. Emma shoved the palms of her hands into her eyes, her elbows on her knees.
"I failed her, Regina," Emma said, her voice thick with the unshed tears she was holding back. Regina lightly rubbed Emma's back.
"You didn't know, Dear. You can't fail someone you believed to be dead," Regina soothed.
"The same thing could've happened to Henry," Emma whispered, "if you hadn't adopted him he would've ended up just like her... just like me."
"Emma, you know you did the right thing. You gave him his best chance and he got it. Mercy wasn't given that chance for who knows what reason. You didn't know. You had no control over the situation," Regina told her firmly, "it's not your fault." Just then, there was a soft knock at the door.
"Mommy?" Amelia called. Regina brushed back a section of Emma's hair and pressed a kiss to her forehead before going to the door. Four-year-old Amelia stood there looking up at Regina.
"Mommy, Henry wants to know when he can open presents," Amelia said, "I want him to open mine first!" Regina bent down to Amelia's eye level.
"Tell Henry to wait ten minutes and I'll be there, okay, munchkin?" Regina told her. Amelia nodded and scampered back to the dinning room where everyone was finishing up their cake. Regina turned back to Emma who was bent over, elbows on her knees, her fingers tangled in the hair around her forehead, leg bouncing furiously. Regina crouched in front of Emma, placing her one of her hands on Emma's bouncing leg and the other on Emma's cheek. "What do you need?"
"I don't know if I can handle this, Regina," Emma whispered.
"You handled it when a ten-year-old boy showed up at your door. This is no different," Regina told her softly. "I'm here for you this time, Emma."
"I can't go back out there," Emma said, her anxiety clear.
"Then don't. I'll take care of them, you take care of yourself," Regina replied.
"And Mercy?" Emma inquired.
"Settle her into the guest room just down the hall and we'll all sit down and talk about it after the guests leave," Regina decided. Emma nodded and slowly stood. Regina gave Emma a quick kiss on the cheek before going out to take care of crowd control. Emma made her way upstairs and found Mercy sitting stiffly on her bed.
"You should get some sleep," Emma commented.
"When can I meet my brother?" Mercy asked.
"In a few hours after you've slept and had a good meal," Emma informed her, "we have guests over and I'd rather you meet people in small groups. It'll be easier on everyone. I know how terrifying it can be to meet large groups of people all at the same time."
"It's for his birthday, isn't it?" Mercy questioned. Emma nodded. "Who was that other woman?" Mercy asked out of the blue.
"She's my wife," Emma told her.
"Oh," Mercy uttered. Emma nodded, a bit uncomfortably.
"Would you like to get settled into another room? It's just down the hall," Emma held open the door. Mercy got up and followed Emma to another room. Emma pointed out the bathroom and told her she could shower if she wished. "If you need anything you can find me in the room we were in early. It's mine and Regina's room."
"Are you not going back downstairs?" Mercy asked.
"No, I... I don't think so," Emma replied as she slowly turned and headed back toward her own room. Emma returned to her room and flopped down onto the bed, a thousand thoughts swirling around her mind.
Her baby was alive. She was pregnant. She had suffered. What comes next?
About an hour later, Regina came up to find Emma.
"The guests are leaving. They wish you the best in recovering from your migraine," Regina told her. Emma chuckled.
"Nice cover," she told Regina.
"I thought it was pretty good," Regina joked. However, she then turned serious. "Henry deserves to know about Mercy, Emma."
"I know, I should've told him years ago," Emma said, her voice muffled by the pillow she was pressing her face into.
"It was a surprise to you that she lived, Emma. You didn't want to burden him with the knowledge that his twin had died," Regina reasoned. Emma sighed.
"I'll get Mercy ready to meet him," Emma decided, "Have him in the living room in half an hour. Could you make sure Amelia and Lydia aren't there? I want Henry to have this to himself first." Regina agreed and went to get the younger two out for a few hours. Emma padded down the hall toward the guest room that Mercy was in. She was relieved to find her still there and sleeping. She seemed to have taken a shower already. Emma felt bad, but she gently shook her awake. "would you like to meet your brother?" Mercy woke immediately.
"I've wanted that my whole life," Mercy said seriously.
"Well, come on," Emma replied, jerking her head toward the stairs, "he doesn't know you're coming, but he's sitting down in the living room." Mercy followed Emma down the stairs and into the living room, spotting Henry immediately.
"Hey Ma, who's she?" Henry asked. Emma motioned for Mercy to sit and she did, Emma doing so as well.
"Henry, when you were born, I was told your twin died in childbirth," Emma started, "but today I've found out that this was not the case."
"You mean...?" Henry pointed to Mercy. Emma nodded and looked to Mercy to say something.
"My name is Mercy and I've been looking for you for a long time," Mercy informed him. Henry gaped at her, unable to speak. He wanted to call her a liar and to stop, because she was obviously hurting Emma, but Mercy looked too similar to his ma that every accusation died in his throat.
"My name's Henry, it's nice to meet you," Henry replied politely. He turned to Emma, "is she staying?" Mercy fidgeted.
"Probably not for long," Mercy blurted out. Emma opened her mouth to say something, but changed her mind and said something else.
"As long as she needs to," she settled on.
A few hours later after the first uncomfortable introductions, Henry and Mercy were both in their respective rooms and Regina and Emma were putting the younger ones to bed.
"She said she probably wouldn't stay," Emma told Regina. Regina frowned.
"Why not? She's been looking for you," Regina said.
"She's a runner, Regina. She's just like me. When I first met my parents it was great, but it was strange," Emma reminded her.
"That's because they're the same age as you," Regina pointed out.
"That's another thing," Emma remembered, "we'd have to tell Mercy everything."
"Oh dear, that would be complicated," Regina agreed.
"She'd eventually come around," Emma reasoned, "I did." Regina nodded.
"I'll be right back," she promised. Regina headed down to Mercy's room and knocked on the door. She seemed startled to find Regina on the other side of the door, but allowed her inside.
"Sorry... about all this," Mercy apologized.
"No need to apologize. I remember when Emma first came to town six years ago Trust me, you're already off to a much better start," Regina assured her with a warm smile. Mercy smirked. Regina then turned serious, "however, I'm saddened to hear you might leave."
"I don't really stick around," Mercy said.
"It's something more though, isn't it?" Regina guessed. Mercy sighed.
"Henry got everything I ever wanted. A good home and time with our mother," Mercy confessed.
"It's natural for you to be jealous of that, Mercy," Regina told her, "but, if you want to stay awhile, you could have just that." Mercy mulled it over in her mind.
"I guess I can stay a week," Mercy decided. Regina grinned nodded. She bid Mercy goodnight as she headed back toward her and Emma's room.
Mercy may have only agreed to a week, but Regina knew of a certain other blonde who had said the exact same thing six years ago.
Tell me what you think!