2
Birth & Family
The midwife was coming more often and a doctor also arrived to verify everything was okay with her child, and according to both people, her child would be just fine. It was a relief, Emma believed that both she and her child weren't going to survive, but she did. They were both going to be fine, and it was thanks to Victoria. The woman was a godsend, so it was only fitting that she became the child's godmother and Chas became the godfather. Over the last three months, Charles became like a sibling just like Victoria did. Charles also admitted that she was their sister about a month back.
Emma was coming from the Hen House getting the eggs Vicky needed for dinner. Vicky was trying to teach her how to cook which was a difficult task, Emma was much better at knitting than cooking.
As she walked in, Vicky and Charles were talking and laughing. Emma spent time with both of them but she felt it was best to let the two siblings have time to speak without her being around. She walked through the living area quickly to get to the kitchen when Chas's voice stopped her.
"Emma? Where are you going?" He asked almost hurt.
"I… I was going to put the eggs in the kitchen, and I wanted to give you both time to talk without me being around," Emma responded without making eye-contact.
"Emma. Go put the eggs in the kitchen and come and sit with us." Emma started to protest Vicky's request, but the woman stopped her. "Nonsense, we want you to sit with us and talk." Emma conceded, she walked out of the room to return a few minutes later she came back in the room sitting down with her arm resting on her pregnant stomach.
"Why were you trying to hide from us?" Victoria asked almost hurt.
"I wasn't trying to hide from the two of you. I was just giving you, I don't know… sibling time. You two haven't seen each other in over five months. You don't need a pregnant eighteen-year-old hanging around." Emma said still not looking at either of them.
"Emma you are family to us. You are our sister." Charles said causing Emma to look at him confused, and he smiled. "Yes, you heard me correctly, when I first met you Vicky told me that you were like her little sister and I completely agree with her. In the short time that we have both know you, we have accepted you into our family, Emma." Charles said making Emma speechless.
"Chas is right. We love you Em, you are our sister blood-related or not."
"That… Wow. That means so much to me. I thank you, you both have made me a part of your family, and I will forever be grateful." Emma said as the two older people came over to hug her.
They were terrific, she was treated amazingly. They loved her, and she loved them. They where her new family, and she couldn't wait for them to meet her child and she could wait to meet Liam and his brother. They would be arriving in a few months so the former will be the first to happen since she is expected to go into labor in the next few days or the next week.
OUAT
It was time, her little babe is coming. Emma woke up a few hours earlier than usual, she didn't think anything out of the ordinary until she felt a terrible pain in her abdomen. That is when she felt liquid on her legs, and she knew that she was going into labor.
"VICKY! Victoria!" She said through the pain, her friend ran into her room already asserting herself.
She adjusted Emma on the bed and ran out of the room to get the necessary supplies and notify the midwife. What felt like hours later but was just a few minutes later, Vicky and the midwife came into the room. They both were taking care of her while also comforting her. The midwife left causing Emma to panic.
"Vicky?" Emma said with tears. "Where is she going?" Emma felt small like really small she hadn't felt that way for the last five months while living under Vicky's roof. Her friend took her hand and looked her in the eyes.
"She is waiting. The little babe isn't ready to meet us yet. She will be back in a few minutes to check again. She is also trying to notify Chas. He told me he wanted to be here when the little one decided to show up." Emma closed her eyes and nodded. All she could do right now was breathing through the pain.
The midwife came back every few minutes until it was finally time to push. I was draining, absolutely draining. Emma pushed every time they told her too. The pain was excruciating, but soon the room was filled with cries. The cries of her newborn, the midwife cleaned up the child and wrapped them in a blanket Emma made a few months back. Emma was so happy that her baby was crying that she didn't hear Vicky's voice until she said her name.
"Emma. You have a son. Congratulations." Vicky said setting her newborn son down on her chest. The little boy was there in her arms, and he was healthy, her little baby boy was healthy. All the pain and heartache was mended just by holding her son. It should scare her now that he was born, but she wasn't. He was the best thing to ever happen to her.
Emma was so wrapped up in watching her son that she didn't notice that the midwife and Vicky finished cleaning up the room and the door opening. She didn't know anyone was watching her until she heard Chas's voice from her door.
"How are you doing, Em?" He asked coming into the room followed by his sister. He stayed standing while Victoria sat down on the foot of her bed.
"I am physically sore, but this little boy is the best thing ever. He has my chin. He is perfect." She smiled at the two people in her room and then looked to her son.
"Have you picked out a name, Ems?" Vicky asked. To which she nodded.
"Yes, I have had a name for him for a while now." She paused looking at her son and let out a deep breath. "I would like you to meet Henry David Swan." She didn't look to see their expression because she looked to her little boy. "Henry, baby, these great people are Victoria and Charles. They love you just like I do." She then looked up to see appreciation in their eyes.
"Henry. Like after our father?" Charles asked to which Emma nodded.
"Yes. From the stories that you both have told me, he seems like a wonderful man, plus he did raise you both to become the people who helped me get to this point in my life. Then David is after my father, I only had him for a few years, but he loved me and would never have chosen to leave." They both nodded. Vicky had tears in her eyes when he came over to the little boy. She looked at her and Emma knew she wanted to hold him. Emma nodded handing little Henry over to her older sister. The woman walked over to Chas. They both stared at the boy in awe.
"It's nice to meet you, Henry. We are your Auntie and Uncle." Vicky said, and the little boy made a noise, causing everyone to laugh. "That's right. The wonderful woman on the bed is your mommy and our little sister."
Victoria gave the boy back to his mother. Victoria and Charles left the room giving Emma more time with her son. She was in awe of the little boy in her arms. When she first found out she was pregnant, she was terrified. She had nothing and no one, she believed that she wouldn't make it through giving birth if her pregnancy lasted that long. Now, this little boy in her arms was here, the misery she went to lessened, and now she felt complete.
OUAT
Victoria soon came into the room to put Henry into his bassinet while Emma sleep. Sleep took her over quickly after the pain she went through to bring Henry into the world. She dreamed, for the first time in a long time of the life she would have with her son and her adopted siblings.
OUAT
Henry was a fantastic child. Whenever Emma put him down to sleep, he fell asleep quickly and stayed asleep. That gave Emma time to practice recipes Vicky was teaching her; apparently, Emma was getting better at cooking. Whenever Emma wasn't cooking, she was either knitting more blankets to sell or reading books to her son while he slept.
OUAT
Emma took Henry into the marketplace a few times to sell her blankets over the last few months, her little boy was now almost five months old and thriving. Emma now had a few regulars who came to visit her in the marketplace, every one of the visitors was awed with the little boy that Emma had with her. Whenever Emma and Vicky were in the market, they would stop by Chas's tavern. Most of the regulars in the tavern know her as Charles little sister.
Emma has a good amount of gold, silver, and copper from selling her hand-knitted items, but not enough to live on forever. That is why in a month's time she will be working the night-shift at Charles's tavern. Emma will work nights having to have Vicky watch Henry at night, and Emma has him in the day when Vicky is on the market. Emma wanted to protest having her friend have to watch her son at night, but Victoria wanted to do it, she apparently thought of it as Auntie-Nephew-bonding time.
OUAT
Emma had her first day on the job today. It was lucky for her that most of the people already knew her, most already thought she was a waitress. Emma was supposed to drop Henry off with Victoria before going into work. Emma is finally going to have a job, not that it's one she would have expected but she was glad to have it and the incredible people in her life.
Victoria's face lit up when Emma walked up to her booth. Henry was good with faces; Emma, Victoria, and Charles were all recognizable to the little boy in her arms. Emma didn't want to leave him, but it would only be a few hours, and she was doing it to get money to give her son the life he deserved.
"Henry; Baby, are you ready to spend the night with Auntie V?" Over the last few months, Emma was taken to calling Vicky, 'V' when she talks to Henry.
The boy in her arms started babbling but recognized the name with Vicky's face reaching for his aunt. The six-month-old boy reached his arms towards her best friend. Emma handed her son over to her sister and best friend. The boy got comfortable in the other woman's arms but still looked to Emma but didn't cry.
"I will be back Baby when you wake up I will be there." The small boy clapped his hands slightly, something he has been doing the last few weeks. Emma came over to kiss Henry's forehead and then hugged Vicky.
"Bye, Ems. You will do great!" She started and then continued. "Do not worry. Henry will be fine. I guaranty that he will be asleep by the time I make it home." Emma nodded and thanked her once again.
Emma made it to the tavern. She fell into a rhythm quickly bringing food or ale from one table to another, cleaning off tables, and collecting payment from the patrons. Many patrons, knew of Henry and seem to be kind in giving her more gratuity then she deserved.
Emma finished her first shift at the tavern. Charles told her a few months to go about the second room above the tavern because he gave it to her to rest after her shift. He didn't want his little sister to walk home through the woods in the dark.
OUAT
The next morning, Emma woke up and made her way home quickly. She couldn't wait to see her little boy. Emma had the few pieces of silver and copper gratuity from the night before in her pocket along with a few blankets she had in the room to sell at the market before Vicky came with Henry as she ran down the stairs, giving her brother well morning wishes. She knew that she was going to meet Vicky in a few minutes when she brought Henry with her to the market.
Two of her blankets sold by the time Vicky and Henry showed up. Her baby immediately reconsigned her reaching out for her. Emma quickly grabbed the boy from Vicky's arms and held him with all she had. The boy babbled and made noises that could be interpreted as a laugh.
"Hello, my little Henry," Emma said to her son then looked to her friend who was setting up her booth. "Thank you so much, Vicky. How was he?" The woman smiled looking up at Emma.
"He was great. He was asleep the moment I put him to bed. He woke once this morning, but I was already up making tea. How was your first day, Ems?"
"Wonderful. Most people were great. A few were not my favorite, but Charles dealt with them. Your family is just so amazing. Thank you." She gave Victoria a hug with her free arm.
"You are part of our family. I bet you if my parents were alive they would have taken you in just like Charles and I did. Now, go home and spend the day with Henry. By the way, the food you prepared yesterday was delicious, you are getting the hang of cooking." Emma smiled. She thanked her adoptive sister once again and bid her a farewell. Making her way home to spend time with Henry.
Thank you all for reading. It means a lot that people are interested in something that I have created.
Come back next Saturday for the next installment...
Sneak Peek:
"Chas. You were supposed to…" She stopped mid-sentence seeing two men at the front door. It took her a minute to notice their Navy uniforms which made her know who they were.
