Author's Note: Okay, so I will probably be writing this for myself but I just couldn't get it out of my head. It's an AU story and I should probably note that Emma was never arrested at 18 and didn't have Henry until she was 26 (her age in this first chapter). Hope you like it x
An early morning in January found one blonde and one brunette woman wrapped warmly in their beds in their small two bedroom apartment. Snow was lightly falling outside their windows blanketing the sidewalks. But it was whimpering from the small, worn bassinet in the corner of the bedroom that started to rouse the blonde haired woman. Groaning as she turned onto her back she couldn't help but wish for just one morning where she could sleep in.
As the whimpering grew in volume she sat up in her bed and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "Okay, baby. I'm awake." She spoke gently in the direction of the bassinet. Although this did nothing to ease the babies whimpering. If anything it only made it worse as the baby then decided to start crying. Emma quickly got out of bed and took the few short steps to her baby's bassinet. She picked up the crying baby and cradled him to her chest.
"Hey, what's all this noise for, Henry?" Emma asked the little boy in her arms. "Shh, we don't want to wake Auntie Ruby do we." She told Henry. Thankfully, Henry calmed down after this and was content with playing with his mother's blonde curls.
Noticing he was calm now Emma took this opportunity to looked over at the calendar hanging on her bedroom wall. 15th January. "You're five months old today, Henry." She informed the oblivious little boy. He was more bothered with the blonde hair in his tiny little hands then what his mother was saying to him. "Come on, little man. Let's go get you some breakfast."
Emma walked out of her bedroom door and was immediately in the living room. She was just now mentally praying Henry didn't start crying again. Ruby didn't need to be woken up just yet and Emma always felt guilty when Henry's cries woke her, even though Ruby insisted she didn't mind.
A few steps further and Emma and Henry found themselves in the kitchen. Emma tries to gather Henry's bottle and formula but found it difficult with the boy in her arms. The blonde placed the infant in his bouncer, with his favorite stuffed toy, which she then moved on top of the small kitchen table so she could keep an eye on him while she continued to prepare his bottle. Henry for his part was content in chewing the rabbit that had been placed in his bouncer with him. That was until he saw the bottle in Emma's hands and grew impatient for his breakfast.
Emma couldn't help but cringe at how loud Henry was being. She knew Ruby would now be awake once again due to her son's impatience and inability to keep quiet. The blonde went back to preparing her son's bottle completely missing the brunette who had appeared from her own room.
The brunette didn't speak until she was lifting Henry out of his bouncer. "Oh Henry, what have we said about waking Auntie Ruby this early?" She asked the infant who was more interested in playing with her hair.
Having finished with Henry's bottle she turned to find her son in the arms of her best friend and room mate. The sight bringing a smile to her face. Ruby smiled at the blonde and gestured for the bottle. Emma handed it to her with no hesitation, trusting her friend implicitly. "Sorry Henry woke you." Emma apologized as Ruby began to feed Henry his bottle.
"He didn't. I was already awake reading." Ruby assured her friend. The brunette hated lying to her friend but she knew Emma always felt bad when Henry woke her up.
"Yeah and that's a blatant lie." Emma stated, causing both her and Ruby to smile. Ruby loved Emma and visa versa but Ruby hated how Emma could always spot a liar. Even people who they didn't know in the diner. The blonde could always tell if and when they were lying about something. Emma always called it her special power and Ruby always fondly rolled her eyes but sometimes the brunette was sure her friend was some kind of psychic.
The pair made small talk until Henry was finished with his bottle. "Your working today right?" Ruby asked her friend as she took a now fed and burped Henry from her arms. Emma simply nodded her response as she noticed the time. She was going to be late for work and Henry would be late for daycare if she didn't get moving now. "Cool, well I'll see you after dropping off the little one then." The brunette said, before kissing Henry's little head and practically skipping back to her bedroom. Emma smiled fondly but couldn't help but shake her head. Her best friend was just too much sometimes. How she could be this happy first thing in a morning astounded the tired blonde.
Mother and son headed back to their own room and as Emma sat on her bed she looked around and started to panic. It wouldn't be long before Henry out grew his bassinet and would need a proper crib but there was simply no room for one in here. She was already struggling to pay her way with Henry here and yet eventually as Henry grew older Emma would either have to move somewhere bigger and more expensive with Ruby or get a place of her own for her and Henry. Either way she would be paying out more every month. She had never been more happy for having a possible second job.
Emma shook herself from her thoughts and concentrated on the task at hand, keeping Henry still while she changed his diaper and got him dressed for daycare. Thankfully Henry seemed to be in a rather good none fussy mood and the task was completed in around three minutes. A record for the mother/son duo. Usually it took half an hour if you count the amount of time Henry spends grabbing his mother's hair, turning onto his stomach and throwing up all over his clean clothes.
The blonde smiled happily as she handed Henry a rattle while she quickly got dressed herself. She threw on a short sleeved white shirt and her red skirt, before quickly tying her white apron around her waist. She loved Ruby's Granny. She had taken Emma in when she had run away from the teen home she was in and treated her just like she did Ruby. Granny had also offered her a job as a waitress at the diner after she had left high school since she couldn't really afford college and for that Emma would always be grateful but sometimes it was like this outfit had a sign welcoming unwanted attention from guys. It was exhausting.
Once Emma was set and Henry was in his car seat she headed out. Deciding to walk and not take her yellow bug today. Henry was wrapped in his clothes, warm coat and fluffy blanket so with the daycare center only a few blocks away she decided to introduce Henry to the snow. The blonde smiled at the curious and bewildered look on her sons face.
She hadn't even realized how far they had walked until a familiar voice pulled her from her thoughts. "Hey Em!" The voice greeted her. Emma quickly turned and found the owner of the cheerful voice.
Emma's eyes settled on her other best friend. "Hi, Mary Margaret." She greeted the other woman. Mary Margaret had curly black hair that fell half way down her back and a very pale, almost white complexion. Emma embraced the woman, best she could holding Henry's car seat, once she was in reach. "You okay?" Mary Margaret nodded to her blonde friend before she took Henry's diaper bag and car seat from the blonde mother.
"Still need me to watch him tonight?" She asked Emma.
Emma nodded. "Yeah please. I need to get this job." She explained. She had told Mary Margaret about her job and why she was going for it but had yet to tell Ruby. It was hard not to tell her but she had to do this. She couldn't keep relying on her friends to help her, she had to stand on her own two feet and start supporting herself and Henry.
"Why don't you just explain it to Ruby? You know she'll understand and will gladly help you. We all will." Mary Margaret explain. She was hoping to make her blonde friend see some sense. She let out a sign as the blonde shook her head before Emma turned and left. "Your mommy is a very stubborn person." Mary Margaret told the infant. Henry simply stared at her for a few minutes before his attention turned back to the snow that was still falling.
Author's Note: Okay so I hope you like this chapter. Please leave a review and let me know what you think x
