Trials and tribulations of Princess Emma Swan
DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything to do with once upon a time. Wish I did because if I did season 2 would be starting Sunday.
SUMMARY: Emma's past, present and future.
PREVIOUSLY: Emma started the bug. Left out of town, right the way home.
POLICE STATION CAR PARK
Home Emma thought. She had never really had a home. There was that dream once, the one where she could see herself in a house cooking and cleaning and god knows she hates anything domestic, the foster family she had been with had made her do enough of that growing up. But that was her dream the house the chores and then the sound that had made the dream the most wonderful she could have imagined. MOM in her dream she had kept the Kidd she had always wanted to but he had found her and that dream had then ended because she knew she had to do what was right, right for her Kidd.
Since coming to storybrooke she had wanted that dream back she had wanted henry, but now she had a chance to have more than just that dream but her hearts dream, from childhood. Her family.
Emma shook her head. There wasn't a choice here, she put on her indicator and made the right turn. The turn to go home. Even if she had turned left with the curse broken did that mean Regina and go… rumple could leave storybrooke. Would she be running with henry from them? The safest place for henry was with family. She smiled family wasn't just her and henry anymore but it was a real family.
SNOW AND EMMAS APPARTMENT
Snow was imagining all sorts of things. Emma running Emma hurt Emma scared, Emma being pissed and braking/try to fix something. The one thing she could imagine was Emma dead. Even if Regina had gotten her she wouldn't, couldn't be cruel enough to hurt henry like that. She just wanted her daughter home, even if it meant that Emma hated her for everything, sending her through to this world alone, or arguing with her. She could live with Emma hating her but now she knew everything and had met Emma she knew she couldn't live without her. Not again.
James was feeling apprehensive, he didn't know where his child and grandchild was and his wife was stuck in her own thoughts grumpy was where he usually was when it came to snow and her turmoil. He was by her side. James was worried but he had faith in his little girl. She had found them after 28 years and had no knowledge of her home world, or magic. Yet she still found a way to save them all. His fear was that as David she hadn't liked him very much. He had hurt snow. No not snow Mary-Margret whom she had grown close to without her ever knowing that their true relationship was mother and daughter. He hoped she could find it in her heart to forgive him James for sending her away, even though he had to but also to forgive him for the mistakes he had made as David.
Emma had heard noises coming from inside the apartment and knew instantly it would be Mary-Margret and David. So she took a deep breathe to prepare herself for what was to come. But before she had a chance to do that properly henry had grabbed her hand and opened the door. He was so oblivious to what was happening all he knew was she was his mum and that snow white and Prince James where her parents, his grandparents and nothing else mattered. As he pulled her into the room she saw everyone turn to her. She froze, couldn't speak, couldn't move the only thing she seemed to be able to do was watch henry smile and continue to walk towards the others. God she wished she could be as at ease with this as he was.
Snow, James and grumpy all turned towards the door as it had begun to open. James was ready to fight if it was necessary, grumpy too, for he had left snows side to join James who was closer to the opening door. But snow all snow did was hold her breathe, a breathe she hadn't realized she was holding until she had seen henry coming towards them from the open door and Emma stood so still just inside the doorway. The breath escaped her as naturally as her feet had started to propel her towards Emma.
James felt snow moving before he actually saw her and smiled she needed this for the past hour or so she had been frantic in the confines of this home waiting and wondering and worry about Emma, and for Emma. Nothing not even the queen could interfere with this. As soon as henry got close enough he pulled him towards his body. He cradle the boy, because although he was closer and could have embraced Emma first he had to let snow be the one to do it. To ease her fears and her mother's worries. So he used henry as a substitute, a grandson in his arms not his daughter. At least not yet.
Grumpy watch and as solemn as only he could be the scene before him if tugged at the corners of his mouth, a smile was gonna break through. He just knew it. James holding henry so close but henry didn't seem to mind he just turned his head from his grandfather to watch his grandmother wrap her arms around his mum. Grumpy wasn't sure if he understood what was happening but he knew James and snow did. For as soon as snow had gripped her daughter and pulled her into a mother embrace, Emma had stiffened, her back had gone ramrod straight, her eyes wide in shock or fear he wasn't sure, and at the moment he wasn't sure if she was even breathing, but one thing he was sure of was that Emma trying as she might to relax just couldn't. He wanted to shake her, the little girl who should be his god daughter, the woman who stood there stiffly whilst breaking her mother's heart. Snow had enough heart ache in her years she didn't need it from Emma.
Snow had seen Emma stiffen as soon as her hands reached out for her, but she didn't stop she need to hold her daughter and with everything Emma had been through, not just since storybrooke but the small glimpses Emma had revealed of her past, she knew her daughter need it as much as she did. Even if Emma didn't want it she did need it. The one-sided hug last but a few moments, before snow's mothers instincts truly appeared.
"Emma I am telling you now don't ever, and I mean ever do that again, I was worried out of my mind. We got to the hospital after you had left and doc said you were bringing henry home. You weren't here Emma. I couldn't find you. Then… then I thought you might have taken my grandson to Regina's, and that she could have… that she could have…" snows voice had started to break and she could finish the sentence.
Henry might not have understood what was going off before but know he knew something was up and the way Emma had just stood there not moving not even acting as if she was a part of this world had him trying to break free of his grandfather and go to his mother.
James knew that look. He could only see Emma's face and had watched her as snow had started to yell at her daughter. Their daughter, he had to smile he had wanted to lecture her for scaring them all but snow, oh his wonderful snow hadn't even given it a thought it had obviously just come out. For he had seen the way her body had reacted. But that face, Emma's face she had some of his features but the expression she wore was snow's that fierce determination. He felt henry trying to escape his grip but he knew something was about to explode in Emma. He had seen snow do it to many times not to know THAT LOOK. So he held on to henry and didn't release him.
"Let's cut the crap Mary…snow…whatever you wanna be called. Worried that Regina had killed me is plain bull and you know it. You thought I had done what I do best and ran. You know what I should have, I should have left taken my son and kept him safe, as I have tried to do since before he drew his first breath." Emma was pissed and although consciously she knew she shouldn't her instincts took over. In foster care if someone hurt you, you lashed out to hurt them because no one was there to protect you. So her mouth ran away with her "your just pissed at the thought that this time…this time it might me, me who ditches you not you who ditched me. I thought that together we could overcome whatever gold has done. Even doc said together we could do anything. So I stayed. I may have endangered my son but I STAYED HERE, BECAUSE YOUR ALL THE FAMILY I HAVE. AND BECAUSE…CAUSE… BECAUSE. OH SCREW THIS. YOU DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT ME I AM NOT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY; I NEVER HAVE BEEN YOUR SAW TO THAT WHEN YOU THREW ME AWAY. I'LL BE GONE IN THE MORNING AND NO HENRY AND I WILL BE SAFE. HE WILL HAVE ME AND I WILL HAVE HIM AND STORYBROOKE WILL BECOME A GOOD AWFUL NIGHTMARE NOTHING MORE." Emma had started almost screaming towards the end. Emma knew she had hurt snow she saw her face and she knew it. She didn't mean to but after the day she had she could stop it anymore that she could change the fact snow and James had saved her from a curse by sending her away. She was however angry and she had meant that she would leave. So she turned away from snow from her family and went upstairs to her room.
Emma had started to move her stuff down stairs before henrys turnover incident. But in the corner was the one box she had yet moved the box which had her blanket in.
Henry was in tears, when James let him go. As James moved to comfort his wife his grandson, a boy he may never see again after tomorrow ran up the stairs to comfort his mother.
"Snow" James barley managed to whisper. He saw the tears streaming down her face. He felt his own unshed tears threatening to fall then but he knew he had to be strong, strong for snow.
"What have I done, charming. What did we cause to happen to her" snow sniffed then continued "I love her more than life, I had begun to love her as family before the curse was broken, oh James what have I done"
The tears James was holding back began to fall. Not just because he had seen the pain and guilt in Emma's eyes but also because had had felt his wife's. He wished he could stop the tears she need him to be strong. She had called him James.
"Emma. Can I come in" henry whispered he could see her laid on the bed curled around a wooly blanket and she was crying he had seen her shoulders shake. And heard her sniff and try and stop them when he had first spoken.
"Sure Kidd. You don't need to ask, just come on in." she had smiled at him but he could see the tear stains. And he knew she had seen his. He'd had wiped his eyes before speaking to her but her didn't like seeing her like this.
Emma held her arms open to him, it was the first time if you don't count the hospital, the first time she was starting an embrace it was usually him who hugged first. He went to her without a second thought and laid in front of her. She had turned on her other side away from the blanket so he had room. She held him tightly as if he was her life line. She told him everything would be ok, as she kissed his head. She closed her eyes and just laid there holding onto him. The only thought she had before complete exhaustion took over was.
WHAT HAVE I DONE?