A/N + Thank you for your reviews, they're always so appreciated and welcome. I'm real glad that you're enjoying the story so far.
Chapter Three - 'It sounds like fate to me'
Emma followed closely behind Regina and Violet whilst glancing round the room, wary of all the eyes focused on them. She on the other hand, rolled hers and let out a awkward puff of breath. She quickened her pace and opened the door for Regina to help Violet through.
"Thank you Emma." Violet said, giving Emma a rather cute, little smile. It warmed Emma's heart that with everything going on, the thing Violet was focusing on and was worrying about, was everyone but herself.
Emma heard bustling in the distance, the nurses had suddenly noticed what was happening and came over to help. They brushed past Emma and attempted to help Regina with Violet but Regina was in no mood for leniency now and she shot daggers at them, making them retreat.
Regina's expression gave Emma chills, she knew those nurses were no longer in Regina's good books. They'd be lucky if they kept their jobs. Regina helped Violet onto the hospital bed and brought the sheets up to cover her.
"How's that? Better?" Regina asked, brushing some stray hair out of Violet's face.
"I'm fine, thank you Regina." Violet replied. She reached out to grasp Regina's hand and as she did, Regina felt warmth shoot up through her body, straight to her heart. She smiled down lovingly at Violet, who was unaware of the significance of that reaction. Regina gave Violet's hand a gentle squeeze before letting go and with a very, VERY serious face, she made her way over to the group of nurses gathered at the other end of the room. They were awaiting Regina, resembling a group of school girls who had been sent to wait at the head mistresses office. They were just a hand-full of the people who found Regina so incredibly intimidating.
"And what was it exactly that was so damn interesting, hmm? A patient managed to get out of her bed and out of the room unawares. Why were you not doing your jobs?! Do I not pay you enough?!" Regina scolded them and if looks could kill, each and every one of those nurses would be six feet under.
"Madame Mayor, we are truly sorry. We understand that we should have been paying more attention and it will never happen again, I assure you." One of the nurses replied, bravely speaking for all four of them.
"I hope it doesn't, for your sake." Regina responded sharply.
"We will have someone look over Violet in a few minutes." The same nurse assured Regina, bowing her head and leaving with the other nurses trailing behind her.
Emma had kept her distance, but now the nurses were gone she made her way over to Regina once more. She took hold of Regina's upper arm, a little less harshly than last time.
"Are you okay?" Emma asked.
Regina resisted the urge to respond sarcastically and faced Emma. "I am now."
Regina sighed and pulled Emma into her arms and they both turned to look over at Violet. With their cheeks pressed against one another, Emma's hands moved round Regina's waist and they both wondered the same thing.
When are we going to tell her? Are we going to tell her?
Violet was looking to the side, an appreciative look on her face as she noticed that the flower that Dr Whale had placed in the vase in her window was a rose. Unaware that both Regina and Emma were looking at her, her heavy eyes slowly closed and she fell asleep.
"When are you going to tell her?" Emma asked, breaking the silence.
"Well I can't tell her yet, I don't even think I can." Regina responded genuinely.
"Are you planning on bringing her home, to stay with us?" Emma asked as they both continued to watch Violet.
"Yes, if she wants to of course. " Regina replied.
"I think Henry will love her." Emma said, a smile beginning to grow on her face.
"Yes, I think he will." Regina replied, laughing at how believable that was.
Emma and Regina moved round slowly until they were facing each other once more. Emma tucked a piece of hair behind Regina's ear before saying what she thought Regina wanted to hear right now, even though she couldn't be one hundred percent sure of the legitimacy of what she was about to say.
"She will love you, I know she will."
Regina smiled at Emma, hoping beyond hope that she was right. Then Emma's eyes widened.
"Is she asleep?" Emma said, looking worried.
Confused, Regina replied. "Yes?"
"You're not supposed to let people with Hypothermia sleep for a few hours after they're treated. We've got to wake her up!" Emma said, panicking. But before she could finish her sentence, Regina was already beside Violet's hospital bed calling out her name.
"Violet? Violet, wake up!" Regina exclaimed, before taking hold of Violet's face in her warm hands. To Regina's relief, Violet woke up pretty promptly, looking a little hazed.
"Mm, what is it Regina?" Violet asked quietly, she hadn't fully fallen asleep and besides relief, Emma couldn't help but laugh lightly. Violet really was cute, her mannerisms were that of someone so innocent. Her and her mother were like two puzzle pieces that could, in the near future, make each other whole.
Regina smiled fully and gave Violet a proposition. "Would you like to come and stay at my house whilst you're here in Storybrooke?"
Violet was slightly shocked, the thought of someone being so welcoming towards her was one of the best feelings she had ever felt. But it didn't over-shadow her polite nature. "But, I couldn't just-" Violet began to protest, until she was cut off by Emma who had come to stand on the opposite side of the bed.
"Regina isn't the most patient of people, she won't ask you again." Emma added jestingly, making Violet laugh.
Violet had already come to the conclusion that Emma and Regina were a couple. It was obvious to Violet, by the way they looked at each other. Violet had never had any problem with same gender couples, she couldn't fathom why anyone would. So Violet smiled gently at Emma, who was willing her to say yes.
"I'd like that." Violet answered.
Regina resisted the urge to kiss her daughter's forehead, and the urge was strong. She turned around, preparing to leave and sign the paperwork to have Violet discharged and left in her care. She smiled to herself. She'd got her daughter back.
Violet and Emma both watched Regina as she left the room to talk to Dr Whale, then Emma turned back and sat beside Violet, making herself comfortable. Emma planned to fill Violet in on herself and Regina relationship before hand, she felt it uneasy but necessary.
"Violet, there is something I need to tell you before—" Emma began, but this time it was Violet who interrupted Emma. Her hand placed itself on top of Emma's, making Emma pause.
"I know what you're going to say." Violet stated, making Emma raise her eye brows questioningly.
"I know that yourself and Regina are together, and don't worry. I am completely fine with it, in fact I find it really heart-warming." Violet finished.
"Okay then." Emma said, feeling relieved and a little awkward. She shook her head and moved on to the next subject.
"Regina has a son, an adopted son and well he's my son too. He found me and it was all very complicated but-" Emma started to babble, before stopping as she was sure that she was confusing Violet perfectly. But Violet pieced it together herself and responded rather sweetly.
"It sounds like fate to me."
Emma looked up at her, pleasantly surprised at how wonderful Violet made it all sound. "Yes, maybe it was." Emma replied.
"Henry, come and sit with me for a minute please, will you?" Emma said, gesturing him to sit next to her on the sofa.
"I can't, I've gotta get started on my homework before mom gets back!" Henry replied quickly.
"No, no Henry it's fine. I need to tell you something, your mom's coming back early so she won't expect it done yet. Just, come and sit next to me." Emma protested, so Henry dropped his school bag and made his way over to her.
"Someone is coming to stay with us for a while, here at the house." Emma started, and Henry tilted his head curiously.
"Who?" He asked curiously.
"A girl, her name is Violet and your mother offered to look after her for a little while." Emma continued.
Henry raised his eye brows, a little surprised. "What? Why?" He asked.
"Well she- I'm not quite sure, but Violet isn't from Storybrooke and has no place to stay." Emma finished quickly, unsure of what to actually tell him. She should of planned out what she was going to say before she approached him. She had never been the best improviser.
"They'll be here soon, so I'd like you to be here to welcome Violet okay?"
Henry took it surprisingly well, and simply replied. "Alright."
Emma smiled at him gratefully and stood up to walk away, then Henry called her back. "Is she nice? Have you met her?" He asked, looking intrigued.
"Henry, you don't need to worry about her. I've met her and she seems lovely. I think you'll get along, she's only eighteen so just think of her as your temporary older sister." Emma said cheerfully, before she realized what she'd just said.
Then the door opened and the two of them heard Regina's heels as she took her first step into her home.
"Henry? Emma? I'm home!" Regina called.
Emma tapped Henry on the shoulder, urging him to go into the hallway and meet them. Henry headed nervously towards the hallway and Emma followed him clumsily. Henry emerged from around the corner to see Regina and Violet making their way in. Regina had one arm placed sturdily around Violet's waist, just cautiously. Violet was actually feeling a lot better, but she still hadn't eaten in a while.
Regina looked up and smiled. "Henry, I'd like you to meet Violet." Regina introduced them and Violet looked up at Henry.
Henry came over all shy and he couldn't help but smile as he thought how pretty she was.
"Violet, this is my son Henry." Regina continued.
Violet beamed down at him. "Hello Henry." She said gently, holding out her hand.
Emma nudged Henry gently with her arm, before Henry realized that he should shake hands with her. They shook hands, and Violet turned to see Regina giving him a stern look for not making conversation.
"You'll excuse me if I look a little rough, won't you? I usually look much more vibrant than this." Violet asked kindheartedly.
"You look fine. You look great." Henry managed to finally say something, making Emma smirk to herself.
"Don't worry dear, you can have a bath and freshen yourself up when you feel up to it." Regina suggested. "Go get started on your homework Henry, while I show Violet to her room. Dinner is at seven, okay?"
Henry nodded and ran off, the Emma stepped forward and apologized on Henry's behalf. "Don't mind him, he was just a little apprehensive about meeting you. He'll be fine later."