"Emma!" Whimpered out a strange woman that no one had seen before. The sound waking everyone from their slumber. She raced across the room, not even taking notice of anything besides the blond on the bed. She dumped two young children onto the floor and grabbed onto one of Emma's hands. "Baby, wake up, please?" She begged. "Tell me why you weren't taking your meds! Tell me, I know you better than anyone Em, you didn't did you? How long have you been off of them this time? I need you" She whispered under her breath, but everyone could hear.
Everyone sat up. Eyes gluing themselves to this strange woman whose eyes were filled with unshed tears. Kissing Emma's hands over and over again. Whispering to her. Begging her to wake up. Finally she yanked a chair so it nearly touched the bed, and fell into it. Pulling the two little boys into her lap. She held onto Emma's hand with her free hand. Staring at Emma's face. Sorrow etched into her own.
It was as if this new lady, who obviously knew Emma, hadn't even noticed that there were other actual human beings in the room. Which, truth be told, she hadn't. She looked absolutely heartbroken. After ten silent minutes of the woman, and the two little boys, just sitting and staring at Emma the heart monitor began to pick up just a little bit. Then a small groan escaped the blonde's lips.
When Emma moved her free hand to her head, letting out another long groan of pain, the woman jumped to her feet. Expertly placing the boys back onto the floor as she leaned over and started kissing Emma's cheeks and forehead. Tears sliding down her cheeks. Watchful, surprised, confused eyes watched the scene before them.
"What?" Croaked out Emma as her eyes cracked open. Taking in the sight of the woman already fretting in front of her. She blinked. "Chaya? What, you aren't supposed to be here. Not after" The freshly named woman placed a finger against Emma's lips. Stopping her from speaking.
Then this strange woman, this Chaya, leaned in and replaced her finger with her own lips. Kissing Emma as if the woman was cold water, and she had been stranded in the Sahara desert. Melding their lips in a way that was certainly too familiar for anyone in the room. Especially Regina. Emma kissed back softly. One hand moving behind the dark haired woman's head to deepen the kiss. Then Emma pulled away, releasing Chaya to push her away slightly.
"You fucking idiot! You complete and utter imbecile" Snapped Chaya as she began to cry harder. "You were off of your pills weren't you!? You are such a moron! How could you do this? You, you move in an apartment and then just fucking disappear on your birthday of all days? Do you know what that did to me?" She demanded, she was clearly hurt and angry.
"SHUT UP!" Roared Emma. "Chaya! Just shut up!" Emma struggled to sit up. "I'm not on anything, certainly not pills. I am perfectly fine. Get out of here, and you take them with you" Emma swung her legs over the edge of the bed and started to rip out the wires, the IV, from her skin. Frantic and glaring at the woman before her, she didn't notice the people boring holes in her bare, and scarred, back.
Silence would have fully enveloped the room if it wasn't for the frantic, and loud, beeping of the machines that had previously held a somewhat erratic but steady rhythm. Now it was obnoxiously screeching. The blonde and the raven-haired woman were glaring at each other as the two little boys clutched onto Chaya's legs. Frightened and confused.
"Are you kidding me? Are you going to actually tell me they don't know?" Was said in complete and utter disbelief. "They don't know you have to be on a special diet? Or that you can't work out, even though you love it? What about the fact you have to be watched carefully? To not allow you any stress? Do they even know you at all?" Chaya demanded.
"NO ONE. NO ONE KNOWS ME" Screamed Emma as she jumped to her feet angrily. "Take them Chaya. You leave this place, please. I gave you everything when I left, so let me lead the life I choose to li-" Emma grabbed onto her chest as she stopped talking. Before falling forward onto the floor. Narrowly missing the three beings before her.
The monitors had been going absolutely insane since Emma had yanked all of the wires and such out. However the nurses chose this moment to race in, grabbing onto Emma and roughly tossing her back onto the bed like she was a sack of potatoes. Chaya moved out of the way, picking up the scared children and bringing them as close to her body as possible.
The nurses ripped open her nightgown, placing the paddles around the fresh incision on her chest as carefully as they possibly could. While another nurse got her pulse hooked back up to the machine. It produced a flatline. The first jolt did nothing, the second only produced a jerk. It wasn't until the fourth hit that her heart started back up again with a weak, erratic, rhythm.
"Are you the doctors?" Chaya said angrily. Chin held high. The two doctors, who had just rushed in, looked a ther. Even though they knew that a strange, new, woman was headed for town they hadn't actually expected her to show up. Strangers didn't come to storybrooke. "Answer me!"
"We are. However, who, exactly, are you?" Whale said as kindly as he could manage. While he had been the one to call her he hadn't gotten her name, she had demanded the address of the hospital in a tone that had rivaled Regina's. He'd told her, then she had promptly hung up on him.
"I am Chaya Swan. Emma's wife" Was spoken as the nurses filed out of the room, scared for their lives. Nine jaws dropped at the admission from their places on the air mattresses. "Are either of you aware of her lifelong heart condition? or did she hide those records from you as well? Do you know if she's been taking any of her medication? I doubt it. I believe she was on seven when she disappeared."
Whale and Doc stared at her. Blinking. Mouths open, as if about to speak, however, no words came out. They didn't know what to say. Trying to figure it out, while also trying to get over the shock of not only a random outsider being in their town but being Emma Swan, their dying Savior's wife. A wife she'd told absolutely no one about.
"Mommy" Whispered the slightly bigger boy as he yanked on the woman's shirt. Breaking the near silence of the room. "Mommy? Is that really Momma?" Jaws fell even further towards the ground as the little voice belonging to a little boy with white blonde hair and emerald green eyes.
"Yes my love. That is really your Momma. Right now you and your brother really need to be very quiet. Mommy needs to talk to the doctors so they can fix Momma and make her all better. Can you both do that for me?" The two little boys nodded and buried their heads into her legs.
"As far as hospital records, and the city's own records, Emma Swan has had no medical issues of any kind. As far as we knew she was the epitome of health. Considering what has happened we have come to believe she had greatly falsified this information" Whale said as he found his voice.
The woman glared at him. One fist clenching tightly. Whale wondered if she was going to punch him. Doc pushed up his glasses uncomfortably, wondering the same thing. The room was tense, the woman was livid. Even with her children there many wondered if she could start breathing fire and roasting the doctors for dinner. It was unlikely, but she reminded them all of Evil Queen Regina with how she was glaring.
"Open heart surgery four times! Emma's had heart issues since she was a baby! Though, it was around three that the true severity was learned. According to some of the best Doctors across the globe it was a miracle the medicine allowed her to live as long as she has!" Was spoken angrily, and sadly.
"I am sorry to have to tell you this. However we highly doubt that Emma is going to survive the week. Her heart continues to have attacks. Really, there isn't anything we can do medically. All we can do is keep her as comfortable as possible until the end" Was spoken grimly as Whale glanced at the floor.
"Then you find her a heart transplant. Immediately." It was spoken like the demandment of a god. The tone sending a chill down everyone's spine. Like there was absolutely no question, she fully expected them to get Emma a heart and she refused to take 'no' as an answer.
With baited, but hopeful, breaths the people watching from the ground waited for their answer. Whale had said it wasn't possible, but maybe he hadn't thought of it? It was highly unlikely, but that didn't stop them from praying to gods they knew didn't exist that a heart transplant had slipped past both his and Doc's mind.
"Not only is that list very long, but given that she hasn't been taking care of herself and has refused medication the likelihood of her being approve, let alone in time, is very slim" Whale explained slowly. Scared that this mere woman was about to whoop his ass as her eyes narrowed into thin slits.
"Boys, I want you to cover your ears so tightly you can't hear what Mommy is saying" Chaya spoke firmly. The twins did as they were told immediately. Their little hands covering over each others ears. Chaya stomped over to Whale. "I don't care what you do, you play jack the ripper and kill someone who matches her if you have to. I'll pay whatever necessary for the trouble." was growled.
Shocked everyone stared at her. Even Whale seemed overly stunned. The woman was cold. She was suggesting murder, that she'd pay for. Everyone agreed, unknowingly, that it was murder for a good cause. However. Murder was murder. Right? Unless. It could work. Then. They wondered, would they allow it to happen?
"Trust me when I say that I would kill if it meant that she had even a slim chance of survival. However. Emma. Mrs. Swan. There isn't any possibility she would survive the transplant. All one would put her into even more pain, and she'd likely flatline on the table" His words were honest, but they didn't calm the woman.
"Then I will take her somewhere else. I will hire a team of Doctors who will perform the transplant. I can have a jet here in less than an hour with a qualified medical team ready to take her to a real hospital, with real surgeons. As obviously, you are neither" Spat the angered woman.
Wounded Whale just stared at the woman as she ripped out her cellphone and began tapping away. Clearly making plans. Regina blinked, and stood up. Shaking the fog from her mind as she continued to take in the sight of the boys, of Emma, and of this woman who claimed to be Emma's wife. One she had never, not once, mentioned.
"Now you wait just a moment. Sheriff Swan is not married, never has been married" Regina spoke harshly as a scowl covered her features. She stormed over so she was standing across from Chaya, the bed between them. Glaring at this woman who thought she had some sort of claim on her sheriff.
"Not that her marital status would ever be any of your business in the first place" Chaya spat as her eyes roamed over the, admittingly, breath-taking woman. As if noticing her for the first time, then her eyes flickered to those behind her. "Who are you, and what are you doing here? This is a private room"
"Contrary to your belief it is my business. I am her employer, friend, and the mother of her only child. Acquaintance of her mo-sister and brother-in-law" She was barely able to stop herself from calling Snow Emma's mother. "If any medical decisions are to be made it is by myself" After a second Regina added "in conjunction with Mary-Margaret"
"I was her wife for eight damn years, two months, and fourteen days. We divorced because I wanted children and she did not. Emma gave me everything in the divorce, I am the mother of her twins. You are not. The son named after her, and the son whose name she chose. So don't you ever dare to tell me you have more right than I do" Was spat at Regina like a poison.
Too stunned to speak Regina just glared. Debating heavily on whether or not she could get away with strangling the woman to death, or better yet, burning her alive. She could use her as fireball practice until her whole body was alight. Regina took a deep, steadying breath and opened her mouth to yell at the woman since she knew that, realistically, she couldn't kill her.
"STOP. Just fucking stop fighting" Groaned out Emma. "It's enough to wake the mother fucking dead" Was added before another groan. The woman was attempting to yank the wires and things back out of her arms when she realized her arms were strapped down. "Seriously ladies? Bondage? Aren't I the one who's supposed to tie you down?"
"Do NOT even make me start with you in this moment Emma Ashden Swan" Hissed out Chaya. "Make these. People. Leave so I may discuss with you things of a private matter. I can put headphones on the twins, alright." It was clearly a demand, not a debate, and nothing was up for discussion.
Letting out a whine of disapproval Emma clenched her eyes shut and dropped her head back down onto the pillow. Wishing she could throw an arm over her eyes and pretend this whole fucking pile of shit wasn't happening. But it was. So. She opened her eyes held her head up and balanced on her elbows as best she could.
"Screw the headphones. Have Dad watched them" Emma glanced around waringly. Her brow furrowing as she did. "Wait. Chaya, where is dad? Surely if you brought them with you he would have come as well" Emma moved her gaze to Chaya's sad expression. Her heart beginning to ache, and her stomach filling with dread.
Dad? Emma was willingly calling some Dad? She didn't even call David by that when she had thought they were going to die. Snow had gotten a grand total of one 'Mom' during their four nearly deadly missions. And this man they'd never heard of already had two? David ground his teeth together and Snow felt betrayed.
Carefully Chaya sat on the bed. Leaning over Emma to stare down into her eyes as she fell back down on her back. She stared sadly down at her, trying to find the words to say. Silence fell as they looked at each other. Not knowing what to say. Fear and sadness in Emma's eyes, the same reflected back at her.
"Honey, Emma. Dad. Baby. He died last year. We tried, so hard, to find you. God, ever since you disappeared. And Dad. He asked for you, but in the end. He just couldn't hold out forever. This town, did you know it doesn't even technically exist? Must be why you know it, you knew my money wouldn't be able to lead me here" She touched Emma's face softly.
"No" Choked out Emma. "Dad. Our Dad. He was so strong." Her voice cracked as she spoke, horror splashed against her face. "He can't have. He's my dad, Chaya. Our dad. He can't be gone. Not without saying goodbye." It was beyond clear she was distraught by this information. One hand clutched onto the woman staring sadly down at her.
It took all of Regina's strength not to roast the woman's hair off as she kissed Emma softly. Before pressing her forehead against hers. Staring intently into her eyes. Before placing another small kiss upon Emma's lips. She reverted back to her original position. Holding Emma's hand tightly.
"I know he was honey. It was just his time, his life. He'd lived one he'd loved. Please don't blame yourself, don't be angry with yourself either. Don't blame yourself, please. He never would have wanted that" Squeezing Emma's hand as she spoke, soothing Emma as best she could with her words.
As if sensing what Emma needed Chaya unlocked the straps over her wrists. Emma surged upwards and grabbed the woman tightly. Wrapping her arms around her and burying her face in her neck. The woman rubbed her back softly as Emma held onto her as if she'd fall into a million tiny shards if Chaya let go.
"If I had known, you know I would have come home. I would have seen him. I would have stayed with him until the very end. I would have done that for him a thousand times over. I would have done almost anything for him. Dad knew that. Right?" Emma begged, her voice pleading. Her head in Chaya's chest, but everyone heard her muffled words.
Evidence that these two indeed knew each other intimately was piling up. That did not stop most people in the room, Regina more than anyone, from hoping that they were just friends. Nothing more. That Emma wouldn't have hid a wife, or children, from them. Or in Regina's case, just the fact that she had married someone else. Loved someone else. That hurt far deeper, and Regina didn't want to know why.
"Dad was a smart man hon. He knew you would have, he knew" She stressed. "And he never, not once, was angry with you. Never stopped loving you, just like I haven't. He'd absolutely hate what you are doing now, he tried to wait for you to come home to us. I swear." Her words were like a promise.
"I hope so" Emma said as she clutched onto Chaya's shoulders and moved to look her in the eyes. "I love him, I can never stop. He was the only dad I ever knew. The only one I would, could, ever want" Emma closed her eyes. Not realizing how her words cut at David's heart. Not that she'd really care if she did.
Then Emma initiated the kiss. It was slow, heated, familiar, and loving. It made Regina's heart stop. One of Emma's hands was behind Chaya's head, the other arm wrapped around her waist holding her close. Then she pulled their mouths apart, pressing her forehead against the other woman's and smiled sadly.
"You haven't kissed me like that in far too long" Said Chaya breathlessly. "I missed you so much. We've all missed you too much. I needed you, Dad needed you and you weren't there." She said as she grabbed onto Emma's face and kissed her again.
Once again they kissed slowly. Emma allowing the other woman to lead. It wasn't the kind of kiss you give your mother, but it wasn't a kiss that would lead to them having sex right there in the hospital. It was a kiss that spoke of the past, of a love that went beyond the physical, of years spent together.
"I'm so sorry. I really am. I loved you both so much. But you need to leave Chaya. Take them with you. Go wherever you want. Go back to Paris, to Tokyo, London, Cardiff, anywhere. Be happy with them, but don't ever come for me again" Emma told her with a stern voice, her eyes apologetic.
"I won't ever leave you to die! This. This. This is just you giving up, killing yourself. I love you Emma! I always have! I stood by you after that rotten Neal raped you! I was the one to nurse you back to health. I fought for you to be allowed a late stage abortion due to the rape and your heart condition. I visited you twice a week in prison. I have always been there for you, the only time I wasn't was because you ran from me. I was pregnant and I needed you. And you just up and left. On your birthday of all days" Chaya said angrily.
"Can't tell Henry that. Chaya he can't know. Henry can never know who his dad was" Emma said as she slumped against the darker haired woman. Her eyes fluttered shut. She hadn't noticed the other people, hadn't noticed Henry watching and listening. Staying quiet and small so he wouldn't get kicked out. "No one knows about Henry"
"Stay awake. Emma I need you. Emmett and Asael need you" Chaya said as she laid Emma down. Her eyes fluttered open, but quickly shut. "Baby, tell me who Henry is. Stay awake love" Emma's head flopped to the side. "Emma, stay awake and tell me about this Henry. Look at me baby. Don't fall asleep" She choked out.
"That man's son. Regina's son. Neal's son. Henry is Neal's boy" Emma whispered as she managed to look up at Chaya one last time. "He can never know" Her eyes slammed shut, and this time the monitors started to go crazy as her heart came to a stop, the nurses coming rushing inside. Ripping Chaya off the bed.
A/N: I hope you enjoyed the second installment. As always please leave thoughts, good or bad, if you have the time. The next chapter will be out next thursday.
