She's sick again. Ugh.
She doesn't get it. For the past couple of days nothing's been staying in her stomach, and she can't even say it's because she's sick of Granny's food. Every week Killian goes to the docks to get fresh fish and prepares them the most delicious and creative meals 300 years at sea could make him think of, but not even that has been doing the trick lately.
He's been incredibly worried, either making her eat jello all the time (one of these days she's gonna have to tell him the truth about that, but he's just so damn adorable about the whole thing) or insisting, fruitlessly, that she goes to the hospital to see Whale. Right. As if she's gonna let Doctor freaking Frankenstein put his hands on her because she's been barfing (he's had sex with her mother for crying out loud, ew). No, it's probably just some food poisoning and she needs to purge whatever her body's rejecting. She'll be fine within the next 24 hours, she's sure. Whatever else could it be anyway?
It's tiring though. Sure, Elsa stopped being a threat after her sister Anna got to Storybrooke from Arendelle (which, really? For god's sake, she'd taken Henry to watch Frozen in New York only a couple of weeks before Killian showed up, how do these things even work? if anyone ever thought that would help her be completely cool with living with and being related to fairytale characters, they were wrong), but without a steady energy intake her everyday responsibilities at the station are starting to take their toll on her. Killian and Henry try their best to take care of her, bless their hearts, but they can only do so much when she herself doesn't even know what she really has or how to cure it, so she decides she needs something else tonight. She needs her mom.
She's figuring out how she's gonna break it to her boys when Regina walks in the station, all impeccably tailored mini suits and smiles. It's sure been weird seeing her so happy since Robin finally got the strength to tell Marian it was she he was in love with - a good kind of weird, sure, but weird still.
"Emma!" God, one day she'll get used to not be called 'Miss Swan' by the mayor, but not today. "Emma, listen, Robin is taking Roland on an overnight camping trip tonight, are you okay with Henry coming along?"
Up until this point she's hidden from Regina's view by a pillar, and decides not to shout her answer to save some energy. That's how awful she feels. Once the brunette takes a look at her, she gets worried. "Oh my God, Emma, you look awful!"
"Yeah thank you for the compliment, Regina", she quips sarcastically.
"Oh do you really think that's what I mean? Honestly, Miss Swan..."
Emma smiles. She genuinely loves this new happy, reasonable and friendly Regina, but she'd be lying if she said she didn't find riling her up sometimes a lot of fun. Huh. Maybe she shouldn't be so mad at Killian when he does it to her.
"I know, I know, I'm just picking on you", she concedes. "I haven't been able to keep anything down for a couple of days and it shows."
"Food poisoning?"
"Having a hard time trying to come up with a different explanation here."
"Rest assured, I had nothing to do with it...this time!" Now both women are laughing, and it's as nice as it is unfamiliar.
"About Henry...it's probably good that you don't have to take care of him tonight then, right?"
"Yeah, it really came at a perfect time! I was thinking of something to tell him because I feel like having my mom pampering me this evening. Actually...would Robin be interested in taking two more kids? They look like grown men, but trust me, they're children."
"You mean the other two stooges? Don't worry, mine will be delighted!"
A couple of hours later, Robin's truck stops outside the station and four very excited boys pop out. Inbetween Henry anticipating how awesome their trip's gonna be and Roland being the most adorable little boy in his father's arms, Killian gets close to her with a worried expression.
"You look so tired, love", he whispers with his forehead touching hers and his hand on her cheek, "are you sure it's okay for me to go? I can stay and take care of you, you know I won't mind not going, right?"
"I know you won't, but I will. Go, you should be with your mates and have fun, I have my mommy to take care of me!"
"Ah, look at that, Swan, you and your mommy have come such a long way! Who would have thought, hmm?"
"You would" she says seriously before capturing his lips with hers and kissing him deeply until Robin honks them apart.
"Would you lovebirds move along? I'd like to have our tent up sometime before the sun goes down...unless the pirate has decided not to go!"
"Oh, bugger off, you bloody git! You'd be the same if your madam mayor was here!"
"Oy! Mind the kids, will ya? But you do have a point, so hop back in before I decide to just go back home to Regina!"
"Nooooooooooo, papa, you promised!"
"Don't worry, Roland, your dad and Killian are just being big babies", says Emma, cutting in. "Now get out of here, all of you!"
"Mom, get in the car...we're going to get grandpa anyway!"
"Okay, I'm going to accept the lift. The bug can stay here until tomorrow. Shall we, boys?"
She can't believe what she's seeing. David Nolan, Prince Charming, ruler of the freaking Enchanted Forest, in full camping gear. She tries not to say anything because he looks so damn excited, but when all the boys burst into laughter she laughs right along with them.
"What? We'll see who's laughing when the mosquitoes come and none of you is prepared!" He then turns to Emma with the same concerned expression she's getting used to get from everybody. Sigh. "Emma, I'm going with these guys but if you need anything you call me, okay? My phone will be on any time of day or night!"
"Not that I'm as familiar as you with this world's particularities yet, mate", interrupts Killian, "but wouldn't you need a power source to keep that phone on that long?"
"Do you wanna stay in town, pirate? Because I'm an authority, you know!"
"I would, but your boss ordered me to go!"
"Gee, I wonder why!"
"Hey hey hey you two!" Emma knows they're just teasing each other, but if someone doesn't break up their banter they can go at it for ages. Boys. "You're both giving me a headache, so go. I'll be perfectly fine with my mom and my brother. Now Roland", she says, turning to the little one. "Do you and Henry promise me not to let the big children get in any trouble?"
"I do, Em, I do! We will keep them in line!", he answers slowly and solemnly, like he's been practicing. Such a cutie. Everyone but her moves to get back in the car and she stops Henry on his tracks to give him a kiss goodbye.
"Don't worry, mom, those guys are all talk! But if they do get in trouble...that's okay, we know the sheriff!"
"Hey, aren't you getting cheeky! Go on kid, have a great time!"
"We will. I'll see you tomorrow, mom!"
She finally goes up to the loft when the truck disappears along the road. Before she goes through the door, she gets a text from Henry's number.
Wouldn't wanna use up the battery on your father's phone, so I borrowed the lad's. Please tell your mother to give you some jello, will you? See you tomorrow, love. Stay well.