Emma waves Ashley goodbye from the front porch of Henry's house, before she lets herself in quietly. With a sense of déjà vu, she hears the murmuring voices of Henry and Nikki. This time it comes from the living room. Once again she pauses in the hallway, not wanting to ruin the moment yet at the same time wanting to know what's going on. She hears muffled hiccups of sobs and decides against her urge to wait.
"Hey, I'm home," she mutters quietly as she steps into view. She wasn't expecting the megawatt smile plastered across Henry's features or the tears dripping down his cheeks. She also didn't expect him to bound over to her and squeeze her into a bear hug that lifted her feet from the ground as she was spun around. She squealed lightly in surprise, chuckling as he placed her back down. "I'm not as young as I used to be, kid," She jokes. She glances quickly and curiously between the two beaming faces. "What did I miss?"
Henry moves to Nikki, who has a hand to her mouth, covering her smile as it turns to tears. He takes hold of her hand, kissing pale knuckles before kissing her properly. When they pull away he turns to his mother, placing a soft hand against Nikki's belly. "Ma," he chokes out.
Nikki places her hand gently atop his and her emerald eyes meet Emma's confused blue ones. Her voice comes out quiet, something Emma never expected from the seemingly strong-voiced brunette, as she finishes Henry's train of thought, "You're going to be a grandmother."
"I'm what," Emma croaks, eyes wide. "You're pregnant?"
"I confirmed it with Doctor Whale this morning," Nikki confirms.
Emma's mouth hangs open as she looks between the couple in front of her. She shakes her head, trying to clear the spider webs fogging her brain. "But, you're just a kid, Henry. You can't be a father, you're still a kid."
"Ma," Henry asks as his features twist into hurt and confusion. "I'm not a kid anymore."
Emma shakes her head again as her son moves closer. "You're not allowed growing up, Henry. Be little again, please. I don't want to miss out again, please."
Henry wraps his arm around her once more, squeezing tight. "I know, ma. But you're here now, so don't miss out on this too. Please be happy for me, for us. Mom would be."
"Actually mom would probably find a way to curse your girlfriend, before eventually warming up to her." Henry chuckles as Emma continues, "I am happy for you, for both of you. Nikki," she beckons the dark haired woman. "Thank you for taking care of Henry for me and Regina. She would have loved you."
"Thank you, Emma," Nikki replies. "That means a lot to me."
Henry release Emma from his hold and she moves to hug Nikki. Shaking shoulders alerts the blonde before a few rough sobs escape from the dark-haired girl. "It's okay," Emma soothes. "It's okay."
The three of them stand huddled together in the living room, for at least another five minutes before moving to more comfortable positions lounging around the room. They put on a movie before calling it a night, Nikki staying over and Emma's lips quirking up into a smirk as she watches as the couple disappears into the master bedroom.
"Don't keep me up all night," she calls through the wall, an indignant 'MA!' from the other side causing her to crack up in laughter.
Eventually she settles down in the warm bed, tossing and turning for another hour or so before she falls into an uneasy slumber.
"Emma, open your eyes," a gentle voice commands.
Her eyelids are heavy as she tries to do as the woman asks. Peeling them open a tiny crack, she sees a curtain of dark hair. "Regina?"
"Would you open your eyes, Miss Swan," Regina's voice comes a little harsher and Emma snaps her eyes open quickly.
Her breath rattles in her lungs, sounding more like a sob than anything else. The dark-haired woman stands in front of her in a dark blue, knee-length dress, hands poised on her hips, and lips tightened into a thin line. "Regina," she breathes.
The brunette holds out a hand, which Emma grasps firmly to pull herself up. She gasps as she finds the hand beneath hers solid, before she's launching herself at the former mayor to wrap her in a tight hug. "Emma," Regina says, standing rigidly beneath the blonde's touch.
Emma pulls away then, noticing the faraway look on Regina's face. She scrutinizes the brunette's features for what seems to be wrong. "You're not really here," Emma whispers, gazing longingly at the woman seeming to disappear before her eyes. "This is a dream, because I know you're dead."
Dark brown eyes snap to blue ones. "What are you talking about? Of course I'm here, I just helped you up."
The blonde's features pinch. "No, it's a dream."
"Emma," Regina says, mouth twisting into a frown. "Emma?"
"What?"
"Emma."
"Would you stop saying my name?"
"Emma, wake up." Brown eyes bore into Emma's. "He's trying to wake you up. He's worried."
"Regina, no," Emma begs, as the woman becomes transparent, giving way to the abandoned field surrounding her.
"It's time to wake up Miss Swan; our son's waiting for you. Tell my little prince I love him."
"But there's so much to tell you."
"I'll be waiting Emma. Right here, for you."
"Ma," Henry's voice breaks through the fog of sleep clouding her mind.
Pushing covers from her sweat slicked body, she shoots up, ramrod straight and breathing hard. "Henry," she whimpers, pulling him closer into a crushing hug. His name becomes a mantra on her lips, as she breathes in his scent, cinnamon and apples, a pang shooting through her at how much it's a mixture of both his mothers.
She doesn't notice the tears leaving tracks across her cheeks until he brushes them gently away. His fingers thread through her golden locks in a soothing gesture. "I love you, ma."
"She's gone, Henry. I'm so sorry."
"I know, ma. But you'll learn how to live with her gone."
She nods into his shoulder, arms wrapped tight around him. "I love you, Henry."
Nine Months Later…
Henry sat in the rocking chair by the window. He cradled in his arms his baby, swaddled carefully in a pink blanket.
"Hey, kid," Emma knocks gently on the doorframe. "How's my favourite grandbaby doing?"
He rolls his eyes at her smirk, before looking reverently back at the bundle in his arms. "She's sleeping right now," he whispers.
"Your mom would have been proud, kid," Emma murmurs as she kneels beside the rocking chair, shifting the blanket to stroke a soft cheek.
"Do you want to hold her," Henry asks hesitantly, reluctantly as though he doesn't want her too. "I should probably go check on Nikki."
Emma nods, scooping her granddaughter gently from her son's arms. "If she's sleeping leave her be," she warns. "I swear she has your mother's temper."
He chuckles, kissing his mother's cheek. "I'll be careful."
As soon as he left the room Emma sighed. She gazed down into the face of the sleeping baby. "Your Grandma Regina would have loved you, Maria." She pauses, leaning in closer to whisper against soft hair. "But I'll love you enough for the both of us."
…
"Grandma Em," a sweet little voice shouts, as she sees the aging blonde woman pulling open the door with a brass 108 on it.
The dark haired girl slams into her grandmother's knees. "My Maria," Emma replies, swinging the girl into her arms. "How are you doing, my sweet girl?"
Maria giggles as her grandmother kisses her cheeks. "Daddy says I'm coming to stay with you for a few days," she says excitedly.
"You are," Emma agrees. She smiles at Henry as he walks up with a bag under his arm and a grin on his face.
"Thanks for watching her, ma," Henry says, handing off the bag.
Emma grins up at him, "of course. Don't come back until I have another grandbaby to dote on."
He smirks. "I'll call as soon as I can."
"Let's go get you settled in," Emma whispers to Maria. The dark-haired girl giggles, her arms wrapped tight around her grandmother's neck.
…
"Maria, don't be so rough with your sister. Olivia, it's not nice to call Maria names," Emma tries placating, the two little girls running circles around the blooming honey crisp apple tree.
"But grandma," Olivia whines. "She took my doll."
"Maria," Emma scolds.
Maria looks down at her feet and holds out the stolen item. "Sorry Olivia," she apologizes.
She looks up hopefully to her grandmother, who smiles gently at her. "That's better."
…
"You okay, ma," Henry asks, as he appears by his mother's side. She's stooped over a little and wheezing, leaning against the couch for support.
She nods. "Yeah, I'm just not as young as I used to be."
Before Henry can retort Maria and Olivia come bounding into the room, almost knocking their grandmother over in excitement. "Girls," he shouts in warning.
They blink up at him in unison, hurt clouding delicate features. Emma scowls up at him as well. "They're fine Henry, stop worrying about me. That's my job."
Henry sighs, kneeling in front of his daughters. He takes hold of one hand for each daughter, making sure to hold their attention. "Girls, I am sorry for yelling at you, but you need to be careful with grandma."
"Why," Olivia asks, tilting her head to the side.
At the same time Maria asks, "Is grandma hurt?" She turns to the old blonde woman who offers a smile.
"No I am not hurt. Your father just worries too much."
"Silly daddy," Olivia giggles.
Emma chuckles, "yes, he is silly isn't he?"
…
"Henry, girls," Emma says quietly, from her hospital bed. The now thirty-two year old Maria and twenty-eight year old Olivia are curled into their grandmother's sides, the three all slim enough to fit on the uncomfortable hospital bed.
The tears in Henry's eyes have not been shed, though they had been present since his mother called to inform him where she was. "Ma," Henry hiccups.
His daughters' heart break at both seeing their father so upset and watching their grandmother slowly deteriorate. Emma sucks in a rattling breath before speaking, "Can I talk to Nikki alone please?"
The dark haired woman looks up at the blonde in surprise. The three others look to Nikki and when she nods hesitantly Henry gestures to the girls. "C'mon girls, let's give them the room."
Maria and Olivia each give their grandmother kisses on the cheek before sliding carefully from the bed and leaving. Henry kisses his mother's temple, whispering, "I love you," against her hair.
"I love you too, kid," she rasps.
Once he had vacated the room Nikki pulls her chair closer to the hospital bed. "Emma," she starts.
The blonde interrupts before the darker haired woman could continue. "I want to thank you, Nikki, for taking care of Henry when his mother and I weren't able to, and thank you for doing it again when I have to go. Thank you for taking care of him. I'm sorry for putting all this on you, but please help him move on. I especially want to thank you for giving me such amazing grandchildren. They are truly beautiful. Just thank you," Emma finishes, breathes hiccupping in her chest.
Nikki, overcome with emotion, leans over and envelops the old woman in a hug. "Thank you for giving me such a wonderful man to love, Emma."
Tears leak down Emma's cheek onto Nikki's shoulder. Pulling away, the two share a watery chuckle as the younger woman wipes at the tears on Emma's face. "I barely raised him, it was all Regina," she admits softly.
"Well, than tell her thank you for me."
"Do you think I'll see her again," Emma's voice is wistful as her eyes mist over again.
Nikki nods, giving Emma's hand a squeeze. "Of course you will."
Emma smiles as she replies, "Can you send the girls in?"
Nikki nods again and leaves the room.
Maria and Olivia are crying when they enter together. "Hey grandma," Maria sniffs.
"Maria, honey, none of that now. You will be okay," Emma replies gently, beckoning her grandchildren over. "You will both take care of each other, for me, yeah?"
They curl up onto the bed, latched onto either side of the frail woman. "Okay," Olivia murmurs into a sharp collarbone.
"I love you girls so much, I hope you know that."
"We do," Maria carefully responds.
"We love you too," Olivia adds.
The frail blonde woman sighs, content for a few moments. Henry walks in a few minutes later to say his own goodbyes, gently nudging his daughters from the room.
As soon as they leave, Henry hurries back to his mother, pulling himself carefully onto the bed and under her protective arm. It was like he was eleven years old again, looking up at the blonde with stars in his eyes.
"When I was younger I never imagined I would die surrounded by family," Emma admits quietly. "When I gave you up to give you your best chance, I thought I was condemned to a life lived alone. You changed that Henry. I love you so much. You brought me home."
"You are my home, ma," Henry replies. "Grandma and Grandpa agree, but they couldn't watch you dying. Why did you have to go be the hero again?"
Emma smiles down at Henry. "I wouldn't change anything I did. I lived a good life these past few years and dying because I saved the town again is just how I imagined going out. It's a heroic death for the savior of Storybrooke."
"I don't want you to die, ma. Please don't use the savior title as an excuse for your death."
"I'm sorry, kid."
He burrows himself closer to her. "Please don't go."
The blonde gives a long sigh, her arm tight around her son. "There's no choice for me, but you will go on. You have Nikki and Maria and Olivia, you have to be strong for them."
"Okay," he murmurs quietly into the crook of her neck. He kisses her cheek before untangling himself from the sheets and his mother. "I'm gonna go get the girls, I will be right back. Don't leave yet," he pleads.
"I'll stay for a little while longer," she promises.
Henry calls softly into the hall, ushering the girls and his wife into the room. Once they are all settled in their various spots, Maria and Olivia curled into their grandmother and Henry and Nikki leaning against each other in two chairs, Emma speaks again. "Tell us a story Henry," she requests.
He smiles softly at her, his head bobbing as he contemplates which story to tell. His smile widens into a grin when he thinks of the story he hadn't told in a long time, his children too old for these bed time stories, and too young to understand the meaning behind them.
"Okay," he croaks out. "Let me tell you about the story of the Princess who loved the Queen. Maria, Olivia, listen close.
Many, many years ago there was a young girl who did everything she could for a son she thought she would never know. She wanted to give him his best chance at his life and so gave him to the forlorn Queen. These two women had never met but already shared a bond deeper than the two would ever understand. They would never know how much they truly loved each other until it was too late…"
…
Emma opened her eyes to see a blinding light. As it dimmed she took in the green field surrounding her and hard bark against her back. She glances up, catching sight of apples as red as blood and the most sinful lipstick.
Throaty laughter fills the air and her head whips around to find its source. A cloaked figure approaches fast on horseback. Emma watches enraptured at the laughter floating towards her.
The black stallion slows to a stop, rearing onto hind legs. "Emma," the feminine voice calls.
Emma jumps up, grabbing hold of the horse's reins to allow the rider to dismount. The blonde grunts as the figure threw themself at Emma, wrapping strong arms around her neck. "Took you long enough Miss Swan," is murmured into a pale neck.
"Regina," Emma breathes.
Said woman pulls away, drawing her hood back from her face revealing a wide grin. "Who else," she question, grin falling into a smirk.
The brunette tries to pull away but Emma holds tight, hands squeezing toned biceps. A pleased smile falls across her features. "Have we ever hugged before this," Emma asks quietly.
"I'm not sure we have," Regina admits with a chuckle. "We should do it again some time."
Emma's features fall serious then, gazing at Regina with hard eyes. "Am I dead?"
Regina nods, pulling Emma in for another hug. Her breath tickles against the blonde's throat as she replies, "Henry will be okay." There's a brief pause where they both just breathe each other in. "The girls will be okay to, they all loved you dearly."
"They would have loved you," Emma's whisper is carried away on the breeze
The vibrations of Regina's voice ripple goose bumps along a sharp collarbone. "I'm sure."
Calloused hands tighten around a slim waist. "I never let them forget you Regina. I made sure they knew who you were."
"An evil Queen," Regina snorts. The hands around her waist tighten even further.
"No," The blonde refuses sharply. "I told them how much of an incredible friend and a devoted mother you are. Our granddaughters will always remember you, I made sure of it."
Regina tilts her head up to catch Emma's eye. "Our granddaughters," she murmurs, "Maria and Olivia."
"I never got to do this before you died," Emma starts, fingers pulling under Regina's chin. Parted lips welcome each other gently, hesitantly. When she pulls away, blinking rapidly her features split into a wide grin. She declares to Regina what she should have long before, when they were both younger, alive and all was as well as it could get.
I love you.
…
"But the Queen and the Princess found their love for each other, and eventually found their happiness after happily ever after."
A/N: And we've reached the end of our tale.
~Ali