Reviews are inspiring, as well as a muse who laughs at my parallel parking skills. Or lack thereof. The more you react, the more I know where to go with this crazy wagon of a story. I'm enjoying it immensely, and I hope you are too.
One more to go.
Henry felt the air charge around them the second they climbed down the bus. Maybe he should have told his moms that Amy would be coming along, but well, it was not even like she was his girlfriend or anything. And he was getting a kick out of hearing her squeaky and sigh with the view. She was really a bucolic freak.
He spotted his grinning mothers in the middle of a small crowd, and he just smiled at the sight of Emma running and dragging Regina by the hand, and the way Regina actually made an effort to run just because he was standing there.
Only when they caught him in their arms Henry realized how much he missed that powerful thing that his mothers emanated – something that combined their voices and the scent of their hair and the way they looked at him, saying he was all grown up and what is this ridiculous beard, kid?
After the three minutes long hug, he caught some sort of… gap between his parents, and what was stranger, they were both looking so happy. It didn't look like they were doing that just to spare him from noticing they were in the middle of a fight or something.
Then, on their way home, he finally realized that his beautiful hometown was sizzling with magic, and so were his mothers. When Emma parked the Mercedes on the driveway and went quickly towards the trunk to pick their bags, Henry took his chance. It would be much easier to approach Emma, but he knew it was Regina who got the answers.
He opened the front door to his Mom and the back door to Amy. Emma winked at him, looking proud. He chuckled, shaking his head as he noticed Amy insisting on Emma letting her help with their luggage.
"It's only two backpacks, Mrs. Swan-Mills-"
"Oh God, call me Emma. That made me sound like I'm seventy-"
Amy started to laugh awkwardly, and then Emma threw one of the bags at her and immediately said something to make her relax.
Henry let them interact as he followed his other mother towards the dining room.
"You're not telling Ma the truth about your exams, and she's terrified to ask you the reason why. She thinks you're dying. Or something."
Regina blinked. She was not surprised that their son was sharp enough to figure that all out just by sitting in a car with them, but she thought Emma hadn't noticed anything.
"Literally dying? Are you quoting her?"
Henry showed Emma's last text.
I'm gonna kill your mother if she dies. Okay. I need a hug. Come home soon, kid.
Regina smiled, and her eyes watered instantly. She had the best family in the world and she was not even sure she deserved them. She was going to break Emma's heart when she told her the truth, because hell, how do you explain an unplanned pregnancy when you're married to another woman?
"Mom, really. I know you're trying to buy time, but there's no need to lie to me."
"Sweetie, I-"
"No more stalling," Emma said, bursting into the room with Amy behind her back. "I want lasagna. Can you believe your mother didn't let me have a bite yet?"
"I'm sure you had anyway," Regina smiled fondly at her, and took advantage of the crowded room to place one hand on Amy's shoulder. "Why don't I show you the guest room while my knights in shining armor set the table?"
"Oh, thank you, Mrs. Swan-Mills-"
Their voice trailed off as they went away; Emma was smiling goofily when Henry looked at her.
"You just love when she calls you that, don't you?" he teased.
"I am her knight in shining armor, kid," she said with fake contempt, but quickly she rearranged her flattered expression into a worried one. "So… Did you get anything?"
"I was about to, but then you guys came in-"
Emma hung her head. "Fuck."
"Hey, she'll have to tell us, Ma. Just… give her some time."
"I gave her time!" the blonde hissed, reaching out for silverware and plates. "It's been two days now!"
"Relax, Ma. She doesn't look sick at all. Just… you know," he made an awkward pause and his face became instantly red as he arranged the glasses.
"What?"
Henry made a gesture with his arms and lifted his shoulders, like a balloon being filled.
"Fat?" Emma hissed frantically. "Your mother's not fat, for God's sake don't let her hear you say that!"
"Not fat, just a bit more-"
Emma noticed he was trying to talk about the front volume, and that was hilarious.
"Yeah, they are a little… But anyway, what does it have to do with the fact that she's sick or not sick?"
"I'm trying to say she doesn't look unhealthy, Ma. There. God."
The blonde almost smiled at his awkwardness. It was like a boy version of herself, and she could never get tired of that.
"So, listen, you and Amy…?"
"Why are you doing this?"
"It's so much funnier than over the phone-!"
"You're an ass," he grinned, picking a comic book from his backpack. "Here, latest edition of Deadpool-"
"Cool," Emma whistled, going through the pages. "I can't wait until your mom falls asleep so I can read that."
"Why do you have to wait until she falls asleep? I thought you both read together in bed."
"She's having a hard time falling asleep, and I snort every time I read those. I don't wanna wake her up."
"Why don't you read somewhere else?"
"Because she won't sleep if I'm not in bed with her."
"You guys are very… ew."
"And here I was, thinking that college was going to improve your vocabulary-"
Henry laughed, listening to his mother and Amy returning from the guest room, chatting excitedly.
"I wanted to pursue the political career when I was younger. I mean, my mom wanted me to."
"Well, I'm sure being Mayor to New York City would be nothing like handling Storybrooke, dear."
"But I do like small towns better. I was born and raised in NY, and all I really want after college is some peace and quiet-"
"To write a village novel," Henry completed for her, rolling his eyes, because it wasn't the first time he heard that story. "You don't need to live in a small town to write about it."
"But I want to. Is he always so grumpy like that?" Amy asked Regina.
"Oh, never mind him, he got that from Emma-"
"He did not get that from me-"
Amy was laughing and Henry was happy his mothers met her expectations. They kept their banter as they ate, and except for the fact that he knew something was off, he was happy they were still head over heels for each other.
XXX
Regina had finally fallen asleep, when Emma decided to sneak out of their bedroom. On her way downstairs she heard noises in the kitchen, which made her instantly hurry to investigate. To her surprise, Henry was there, finishing the dishes in the middle of their half dismantled kitchen.
"Whose idea was this?" he asked, pointing his finger full of soap at the cracked tiles, noticing Emma had the Deadpool copy with her.
"Your mom's, of course. Do you think she would let me plan anything that involved our kitchen looking like it was hit by a wrecking ball?"
"Was she that desperate to change the house?"
"Desperate to have extra problems so she could forget a little 'bout you."
Henry smiled sadly. "That does sound like her."
Emma sighed. She loved to make out on the central island and now all there was left was a fine piece of furniture covered in dust and debris. "So… Amy's funny. I liked her. Did she go to bed yet?"
"Yeah, about an hour ago she said she'd hit the shower and didn't come back."
"So… Are you guys-?"
"Ma!"
"I have to ask!" Emma shrugged. "Soon rumors will spread and everyone will know you're back in town, and I won't have another second of privacy with you to talk about it. Everyone misses you, they'll eat you alive-"
"Once. We did it once. Okay? Happy? And I was safe, mom taught me how to!"
Emma slumped down one of the stools. She had not expected such a blunt, easy confirmation.
"Oh," she went through the first few pages of the magazine. How the fuck was she supposed to go on with that conversation now that he plainly admitted it? "And were you… nice… to her?"
Henry looked back at her with murderous eyes and then returned to the dishes. "It was my first time," he mumbled. "Not hers."
"Oh," Emma nodded, regretting with every fiber of her being the moment she decided to step into Regina's shoes and do that. Regina was supposed to lead that horrible conversation, not her. "And are you, like, what-?"
"We're friends, Ma. She wanted to meet Storybrooke. I invited her to come. End of story."
"Oh," she nodded, concentrating on the colorful page in front of her. "Cool. That's cool."
"Let's keep those 'Embarrass Henry Time' moments just over the phone, okay?" he said quietly.
"Yeah. It seemed more fun in my head. This is your mother's area, definitively out of my league."
Henry chuckled, shutting off the sink and wiping his hand on a piece of cloth. "Thanks for caring, though."
"Yeah, no problem, kid," she smiled at him. "Want some cocoa?"
"Do you have to ask?"
Emma reached out for the ingredients inside their out of order pantry. "So… How do you plan on introducing your grandparents to Amy tomorrow? We need a consistent story, so everyone can say the same thing."
"She knows, Ma."
"She knows what?"
"Everything."
"Everything?"
Henry sipped his cocoa and closed his eyes. "They don't make those in New York. Anyway, yes. She saw the book on top of my desk, and she was surprised I had a copy. She said she loved this one, that she would spend hours in the public library just reading it. So I sort of joked about it, saying my entire family was in this book, and she sort of bought it. Then she asked if I was serious, and then I began telling about the day I went looking for you in Boston when I was ten, and-"
"Kid, you just sound like someone who came up with the most brilliant 'story' to get into someone's pants. The Enchanted Forest is the new Tibidabo!"( *)
"Okay, I don't get the reference, but still, stop."
"C'mon, can't I be happy for you?"
"Not for this reason, no."
"Okay, Mr. Prude. But seriously… Amy just… believed you?"
"Why do you think she wanted to come? Mom is her favorite character, she loves misunderstood villains-"
"I'm the product of True Love, how come I'm not her favorite?"
Henry laughed, but all of a sudden he felt really eager to go to bed. He didn't need to put up much of a show by yawning, because Emma was actually looking forward to read Deadpool by herself, and he could get out without raising suspicions.
The best part of being in his old bedroom was the access to books he could only find in Storybrooke – he had 'borrowed' them a long time ago and forgot to return. If Belle didn't miss them, well… He would keep them a little longer.
He consulted the index of the first one and located the topic he wanted. As absurd as it might sound, his Ma had just given him a very impossible idea…
XXX
"He got that from me," Emma admitted out loud, softly stroking Regina's hair as they both lay on the couch.
The brunette was reading the morning paper and Emma was trying to solve the Sudoku challenge over her shoulder, but then she gave up because Regina's ass pressed against her crotch was too distracting.
"Got that what, dear?" Regina asked, turning back to look at her.
"He's too slow. Did you know that Amy knows all about us and our family and the Enchanted Forest?"
"Are you serious?"
"You're her favorite character!"
Regina chuckled. "Of course I am."
Emma rolled her eyes. "Really. Isn't she, like, the perfect girl for him?"
"Well, just because she's a believer, it doesn't mean they're meant to be together or anything like that."
"They're having sex."
Regina snapped her neck to look all the way back towards Emma.
"Are they?" she mumbled, turning slowly towards the corridor that led to Amy's room.
"Not right now," Emma scoffed. "They have New York all to themselves , Gina, do you really think they-"
"Hello!" Regina sat up, smiling when Henry showed up in the TV room. "Good morning, sweetie."
"Hey, Mom… Hey, Ma."
"You look tired," Regina frowned as he sat in the armchair in front of them. "Did you sleep well?"
"Oh, I got caught up with some reading, I didn't really get much sleep."
"Where's Amy?" Emma asked.
"Her room's still closed. She sleeps a lot."
"Well, why don't I try to get started with breakfast, huh?" Regina suggested, standing up and instantly regretting it. Emma was warm, her body just fit into hers, and now she missed the contact greatly.
"I think we're out of milk," Emma said quietly.
"And eggs," Henry added.
Regina placed her hands on her hips. "I should have known you'd make food trips in the middle of the night… Well, can you go to the store and get milk and eggs before Amy wakes up?"
Before Emma could protest, Henry stood up. "Sure! Can I drive?"
Regina frowned slightly at his odd morning disposition, but nodded as she offered him a wink. She left the room to get the car keys, and Henry turned quickly towards his other mom.
"I have a theory and I want to discuss that with you."
"Oh okay," Emma nodded, comprehension downing on her face. "Let me go get dressed-"
As usual, Regina kissed her son and wife on the cheek and waved them goodbye. After they left, she went upstairs for a quick shower, and on her way she noticed Henry forgot to open his curtains.
When she entered his bedroom, she saw a noticeable quantity of books scattered on his bed. Smiling, she bent over to close them and put them back on his desk, when she noticed those were not his college books. Those were Storybrooke's library books.
And by the notes and titles he selected… He was definitively not slow.
XXX
"Watch out for Pongo!"
"Ma, he's a hundred feet away from us-"
"He sets to a run whenever he feels like, don't you know him?"
Henry rolled his eyes. His Ma was never going to give him a break with driving, and they were not even using her precious bug.
"So, about that theory-"
"Kid, park first. Seriously."
Sighing, Henry found a spot close to the grocery store and turned off the engine. "Happy?"
"When did you learn to parallel park?"
"Not with Mom."
They burst out laughing as they climbed out of the car and crossed the street. It was difficult to get inside because a lot of people stopped Henry on the sidewalk, so Emma just gestured that she would go ahead and they could meet inside.
She picked eggs and milk and decided to get something to help Regina with the uneasy stomach. She seemed to put down some weight at the same time she looked more… busty.
Emma shook her head. That was a terrible word.
Her wife was plain hot, and well, she added a new letter to her bra. It could never be a bad thing.
Emma remembered her mother suggesting pears, so she picked a full bag of them, and then she moved to the vegetables counter. She had noticed beets on most of the hospital trays, so she decided to get some, too.
"She's already anemic?"
Emma turned around, a little startled with the voice.
"Nadia. Hi."
XXX
Henry was shaking hands with Archie, when he looked up and his smile fell. Violet was staring directly at him, and then her new boyfriend stared at him as well. He didn't look pleased, and Violet placed both hands on his chest to get his attention.
Next thing Henry knew, the boy was gone and Violet stood next to him.
"Hi, Henry."
"Violet," he nodded. "Hello."
"I didn't believe when I heard people talking yesterday that you were back."
"Yeah. I came to see my moms."
"So… Are you staying?"
"Just for the weekend. We have to get back on Monday."
"We?"
Henry blinked.
Don't be a fool. She doesn't care. She has a boyfriend.
"A friend that came along."
"And where is he?"
"She" Henry cleared his throat "is still sleeping."
"Oh. So there's a girl in your house. Meeting your parents."
Henry thought it was low, and he thought Amy would be hurt if she found out he was using her to get back at Violet.
"Yes. She's my best friend and she's writing a novel about a small town, so-"
"So I was right. How long did it take for you to meet someone more interesting while I stayed here? A month?"
"Well, it was definitively not as fast as you. How long did you take? Two weeks?"
Violet flushed; she looked down at her shoes, and then back up at him. "It was good seeing you, Henry," she muttered, turning around and running away.
XXX
"How are you doing, Swan?" Nadia asked with a small smile.
"I'm good, thanks. You?"
"Oh, I'm fine… So… It's cute to see you so… domesticated."
Emma laughed nervously, suppressing an eye roll and a scoff. "Yeah, well, it suits me. I have to get back to-"
"Of course. The first month is always the worst."
"Yeah, it is."
"But you'll have eight more to get used to the idea of a tiny little thing growing inside Regina, don't worry," she winked, strolling away with her cart.
Emma blinked.
What?
Wasn't that conversation about Henry moving to New York?
What was growing inside Regina?
Eight more months?
What.
No.
No, Emma scoffed goofily.
That just didn't make any sense…
Right?
When Henry showed up, he was fuming.
"Can we go home?"
"Sure," Emma said slowly, moving on autopilot to pay for the groceries. They walked towards the car and Emma let Henry drive even though he seemed too nervous for that.
When they parked in front of 108, Emma remained silent, holding the paper bag in her lap and staring at the windshield.
"Ma?"
Her expression was blank when she looked at Henry.
"You don't think your mom's pregnant, do you?"
Henry was caught completely off guard, and his reaction was to instantly reach out for his mother's hand to calm her down – which backfired.
Before he could say anything, Emma disappeared into a cloud of smoke.
(*) Friends, S08E04, if you're interested.
