Title: The Five Stages of Grief
Chapter Four: Bargaining
Author: snarkysweetness
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Emma, Rumpelstiltskin, Belle, The Blue Fairy, Snow, Charming, Geppetto, Ruby, Henry, & August; Emma/August, Belle/Rumpelstiltskin, & Snow/Charming
Summary: Emma desperately tries to get August back by making deals and trying to use magic.
Warnings: Angst. There is all the angst in the world in this thing. Also some references to sexy things but nothing graphic or explicit.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Author's Notes: Prepare for crazy Emma, folks. Also be prepared for feels. All of the feels. Geppetto feels, Rumbelle feels, medieval chic door lock feels, daddy! August feels, Red Swan bromance feels, Henry feels, Charming family feels, etc. Seriously, this chapter is longer than the other three put together and it's all feels, so don't blame me when you cry, because you will cry.
Then we bargain. We beg. We plead. We offer everything we have; we offer our souls in exchange for just one more day.
Emma lifted her hand and banged her knuckles against the door, knocking loudly. Stepping back, she stuck her hands in her pockets, trying not to fidget. She didn't want to be here. This was the last person she wanted to ask for help, especially since she stilled owed him a favor, but with the Blue Fairy's magic being limited, he was the most powerful being in town. She didn't know what kind of dark magic he'd have available to him, but she didn't care anymore; she was desperate.
"Emma?"
She looked up, not surprised to find Belle standing in the doorway.
"I need to see him."
Belle stepped onto the porch, looking uncomfortable.
"Now's not the best-"
"Now."
Belle watched her for a moment before her unyielding kindness took over and she nodded, leading Emma towards the back of the house. She pushed open the door to the basement and they carefully walked in, the smell of the different herbs making Emma feel woozy.
"Rumpel?" Belle called, clearly uncomfortable being around so much magic. Emma couldn't blame her; the air was thick with it and it sent a chill through her spine.
"Sweetheart, I thought I told you I'd be up-Sheriff Swan, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
Rumpelstiltskin emerged from a hidden work room and crossed to Belle's side, placing a small kiss on the top of her head.
"Can we talk, alone?"
Belle didn't need to hear any of this, especially since she knew how much she disapproved of Rumpel using dark magic, which Emma was sure would be required to accomplish this task.
"Any business you have with me can be said in front of Belle, we have no secrets here. Come, let's go inside and you can tell me why you're here."
Emma nodded, trailing close behind, stopping to stare at some of the potions before hurrying to catch up. If only she hadn't given Rumpel that potion in the elevator shaft…it could have saved Henry and August and she'd have both of her boys.
She entered Rumpel's pink house, trying not to feel weirded out by how normal it all seemed. To anyone who didn't know how deadly Rumpel could be she supposed he and Belle could appear to be a normal, happily married couple; very Stepford Wives, but Emma knew the truth.
Emma took a seat on the sofa while Storybrooke's oddest couple sat together on the loveseat.
"Can we get you anything? Tea, cof-"
"Damn it, Rumpel, you and I both know why I'm here, so let's just get on with it."
Emma sent him a glare and he sat back, shrugging.
"All right then. From what I understand you've tried everything to bring back Mr. Booth, I don't know what you think I can do to help you."
"You've got magic. Real magic. Not the crap we've been slinging around. You could do something to bring him back."
Belle averted her gaze, taking Rumpelstiltskin's hand in the process.
Rumpel squeezed Belle's hand and looked up at Emma, his expression answering Emma before his words did.
"There is no magic that can bring back the dead. There are ways, yes, but it wouldn't really be him, dearie. "
"BUT HE'S NOT DEAD! He's still in there! He's just…stuck…transformed, he just needs the right kind of magic to come back! You just don't want to do it!"
Belle looked up at Rumpelstiltskin, pleading with her eyes for him to do anything.
"Rumpel, isn't there anything you can do?"
"I'll pay whatever the price is, I don't care, I just want him back."
He shook his head sadly.
"I've tried everything I could, Emma."
Emma looked at him in surprise.
"You what?"
"Do you really think you're the first one to come to me? Where do you think the Blue Fairy got some of the magic she used? Master Geppetto came to me weeks ago with his little…fairy friend in tow." Rumpel spat the word 'fairy' and it was clear to Emma helping her had been difficult for him.
"And you agreed?"
"Not for unselfish reasons," Belle accused, glaring at Rumpel.
He waved her off.
"I had my reasons, yes. But I have tried all I can, there is nothing to do. The boy is gone. I'm truly sorry, I am, I know how painful it can be to lose the ones you love."
He and Belle exchanged glances and Emma stared at them both for a long moment before standing abruptly, her entire body filling with an uncontrollable rage.
"That's it? You're just going to pat me on the head and send me home with nothing? After what you pulled? Henry died because of you! If you hadn't used that potion to bring magic back, I could have saved both of them! I slew the dragon, not you! You had no right to use it!
So help me, Rumpelstiltskin, if you don't fix this, you'll regret it."
Rumpelstiltskin sighed as Belle glared at him and Emma took some satisfaction in knowing he'd be in the doghouse tonight.
"You can consider that stunt you pulled your favor, because I should kill you for what you did."
Emma stormed out of the house, fuming. She trudged her way back to the apartment, moving with purpose. She pulled her phone out and dialed Ruby's number.
"Emma? Where are you? Everyone's worried sick."
"I needed to take a walk, to clear my head. Can you take Henry home? And pack him a bag; I need him to stay with my parents, I just…"
"It's okay, Emma, I get it."
"Thanks, Ruby."
Emma snapped her phone shut. She knew Ruby thought Emma needed the night alone to cry, but Emma had more important things to do.
Everything in her body felt sick with anticipation. Her chest felt warm, her stomach queasy, and she could taste the B.L.T. she'd had for lunch. She'd felt off ever since entering Rumpel's basement, so it wasn't a surprise when, as she reached the apartment, she had to hold herself against the tree while she emptied the contents of her stomach onto the lawn.
Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, Emma leaned against the tree, cursing Rumpel and his damn potions and herbs.
She entered the apartment and threw her things down, leaving August's jacket on. She kicked off her shoes and moved into the bathroom to rinse her mouth out, wanting to get rid of the taste her vomit had left there.
Emma shed her clothes, changing into a pair of sweat pants she'd 'commandeered' from August. She closed her eyes, imagining the way he'd looked wearing them during the nights he'd kept her company following her abduction.
Hair tussled. Chest bare. Pelvis peeking out from beneath the loose waistband. She'd learned, from bursting into his room one morning, that he liked to sleep in the nude, but he'd been willing to don clothing for her comfort, though she'd been able to tell he still went without the boxers.
Had it not been for August, she would have never gotten through that ordeal and the entire murder investigation. She should have realized then, how he felt, but she'd been too distracted, too jaded to see it.
She slipped his jacket over her tank top and settled into her bed with Henry's book and a notepad, determined to go over every story for something they may have missed.
"Mom?"
Emma had been so caught up in her task; she hadn't heard the door open.
"Hey, kid, come here."
She pulled Henry into her lap and toyed with the hair on the back of his head, thinking it was time for a haircut.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah," she lied. "I'm fine, I just want some time to think about stuff and I don't want you to have to worry about it, okay?"
Henry nodded and gave her a hug and she sent him off with Ruby, giving them a small wave as they went, locking the door behind them.
Her fingers traced the delicate carvings in the lock and Emma leaned against the door, resting her cheek against the cool metal. She hadn't even had to ask August to make the lock; he'd just shown up one day, tools in tow, and a beautifully crafted lock ready to be installed.
She smiled, leaning her head back against the comforting chill of the door, remembering how pleased he'd been with himself.
"You're impressed, aren't you?"
"Oh, I'm something," she replied, resting her hip against the kitchen table as he worked, smirking in her direction every so often.
Emma approached him slowly, leaning into the door.
"So, what do I have to pay for this torture chamber lock?"
August stopped mid-task and leaned down until their noses touched, grinning.
"Oh, I think you paid me plenty for it last night," he whispered, sending a chill down through her spine.
Emma shifted, needing to be away from him, but he caught her around the waist and leaned down, pressing his lips against hers. Her fingers immediately went into his hair as she pressed her body against his, trying not to remember their one night together; she had Henry to think about, after all.
"Hey August, you're still-"
Mary Margaret cleared her throat and Emma pulled away from August, red faced, and turned away from him quickly, but not before seeing the satisfied, smug look on his face.
"Damn it, you smug bastard, I miss you," Emma whispered, toying with the lock for another moment before returning to her earlier task.
Three cups of coffee later, Emma's eyes began to droop. She'd gotten nowhere in her quest, but she was determined not to give up. She had hours before the funeral and she refused to stop. If she couldn't save him by the funeral…
Well, she didn't want to think about that.
Emma flipped through the book once more and then set it aside. She looked through her list, crossing out things they'd already tried, before adding things to the list. The book had been a bust.
Maybe it was time to accept that he really was gone?
The thought of never seeing August smile again sent a lurch through her stomach and Emma barely made it to her trash bin before retching again.
She wiped at her mouth and coughed, groaning in protest. She brushed her teeth and wiped her brow with a cold cloth, placing a hand over her sensitive stomach. As much as she wanted to keep working, she couldn't deny her body rest any longer. If she kept at it, she'd kill herself from stress before morning came.
Emma set her alarm for the crack of dawn, giving her a few short hours of rest, before cuddling into her pillows, trying not to cry as memories of sharing her bed with August flooded her mind.
August splayed his hand over the fabric of her too tight shirt, slowly lifting the fabric until he exposed her flesh to the chilly air.
"August," she protested with a small whine, wanting to say cocooned in the warm sheets of their bed.
He ignored her and instead pressed his lips against her rounded stomach while still running his hands over her skin.
"Don't listen to mommy; she's just grumpy in the morning. Yes she is. I hope you don't inherit that, I don't think I could handle the two of you yelling at me every morning." He kissed her belly again before murmuring unintelligible things to their unborn child.
Emma shook her head and leaned back to watch him, slipping her fingers through his hair, smiling as she did so.
The alarm blared through her ears, pulling her out of her dream. Emma groaned, stretching as she opened her eyes, blinking away the sleep in her eyes. She threw her legs over the side of the bed and ran her hands over her face, willing herself to wake up.
Three hours and five cups of coffee later, Emma stood in the shower, still lacking a real plan. She lowered her head and let the hot water shower over the back of her neck, wanting to release the tension that had settled in her muscles due to the stress she'd been inflicting upon herself.
Dressed in her funeral outfit, Emma parked the bug, tapping her fingers on the steering wheel as she tried to think of what she'd say. Deciding she was okay with not knowing what in the Hell she was doing, as long as it was something to try and get August back, Emma emerged from the car, and walked towards the entrance of the convent.
The air seemed too quiet to Emma, the only sound she could hear was the sound of her heels crunching on the pavement. As she approached, Blue emerged from the building, as if she'd been expecting to see Emma.
"Your Majesty," she gave Emma a small nod of recognition and Emma had to resist the urge to roll her eyes. She would never get used to this Princess thing.
"Blue, do you have a minute?"
"Of course, there's an hour still until Astrid and I plan to meet Geppetto."
Emma leaned against the railing and let out a small sigh. They both knew why she was here, so there was no use in stringing it along.
"Have we really tried everything?"
Emma could feel the pathetic gaze she sent over the head fairy's way, but she didn't care.
Blue sent Emma a sympathetic smile before nodding.
"I wish there was something, anything, we could do, Your Majesty, truly. I used great magic to bring him to life and then to make him a real boy and I wanted nothing more than to see him live a long, happy life, but…Regina brought us here to take away our happy endings and I suppose she succeeded in many ways."
Emma let out a shaky breath, not wanting to cry, not today.
"I should have done more; I should have listened to him. I know he blamed himself, but-"
"He didn't make the decision to come here, Geppetto and I made it for him. He didn't turn back into a puppet because he left you, Emma. Yes, it was a poor decision, but he was too young to be put in such a situation and I should have never let it happen.
He turned back because the only magic in this land was tied to the curse and when you came to town, you began to weaken it, taking the magic holding it together away. If the two of you had stayed together, it would have started when you came to break the curse. It was inevitable."
Emma felt the air leave her.
"It really is my fault, then."
"No, don't. It's all Regina's fault. All of this. The two of you should have grown up back on our land, but she destroyed everyone's lives. Don't blame yourself, Your Majesty. You saved us all."
Emma blinked away tears.
"No, I didn't."
She hadn't saved Graham and she hadn't saved August.
She'd failed.
"Your Majesty, are you okay? You don't look very well."
Emma covered her mouth, trying to fight off a wave of nausea. She choked it back and shook her head.
"I'm…thank you; I need to get ready for the…thing."
She made it half a mile back into town before pulling over to expel the coffee she'd had this morning. When she finished heaving up her breakfast, Emma leaned against the steering wheel, taking a few deep breaths.
What in the Hell was wrong with her? She'd never reacted to stress this way before. Hell, she never even got sick like this. She couldn't remember the last time she'd thrown up without the aid of a lot of alcohol.
Hell, she hadn't puked while sober since…
Emma sat up, gripping the steering wheel as she stared ahead at the road, trying to remember the last time she'd gotten a period. When she couldn't remember, she racked her mind, trying to think how in the Hell this could have happened.
"Goddammit, I'm coming!"
Emma had nearly been asleep when the pounding at the door started. Halfway down the stairs, she sent Mary Margaret back to bed, happy to chew out whoever was here at this hour. She flung open the door, annoyed.
"August, what are you-"
He quickly closed the space between them, his lips finding hers desperately as his fingers moved into her hair.
"What the Hell, August?"
Emma pushed him off of her but he kissed her again, slowly backing her up against the door, shutting it in the process. She tried to break the kiss, but she found herself kissing him back and pulling him towards her bedroom.
"What are we doing?" She asked as she pulled him towards her bed. "And have you been drinkin-"
August killed her again and Emma decided it didn't matter what had brought him to her so desperately. She'd spent months fighting her attraction to him and she was more than willing to fully indulge in a moment of weakness.
As desperate as his kisses were, his love making hadn't been. He'd taken his time while whispering all of the things he felt for her in her ears, bringing her to tears.
Afterwards, she lay in his arms, eyes closed, with her head resting against his chest. August held her tightly, his lips pressed into her hair. After an hour of lying together, when he must have assumed she was asleep, August finally spoke.
"I love you, Emma."
She'd pretended to be asleep, unable to deal with his admission, and now she would spend her life regretting it.
Emma replayed that night in her head over and over and she cursed when she realized they'd been so caught up in one another, they hadn't even bothered to use a condom. She buried her face in her hands, trying not to freak herself out.
She couldn't be pregnant, it was crazy. She was on the pill and they'd only had sex the one time.
You only had sex with Henry's father once too.
With a shaky hand, Emma pulled her seatbelt back on and started the bug. She didn't have time to deal with this right now, she had to go finally say goodbye to August while trying to keep it together for her kid.
"Emma, are you sure you're okay?" Ruby whispered.
A distracted Emma, turned to where Ruby leaned into her from her seat in the row behind hers and nodded, turning her attention back to Geppetto, who was giving a tearful speech about his son. Emma squeezed Henry's hand and wrapped her arm around him as he leaned into her.
She felt someone take her hand and she glanced over to her father who was watching her with a sad look on his face. Emma gave him the best smile she could muster and he returned his attentions to a crying Snow.
Emma kissed the top of Henry's head and stared ahead, pretending to pay attention.
Her mind reeled as she tried to decide whether or not she could be pregnant.
Did she even want another kid?
Sure, she supposed she could handle it, now. And Henry would be happy. She glanced down at him, wondering if it would be so bad to get to do the mom thing the right way. She loved Henry so much and it seemed impossible that she could love someone else just as much, but the more she thought about it, the more the idea seemed less frightening and more desirable.
"Mom?"
Emma pulled herself out of her own head and looked for Henry, finding him standing in front of her and most of the funeral guests gone.
"Hey, kid, come on, your grandma and I need your help taking some food over to Geppetto's, okay?"
Henry stood, still staring at Emma, but Charming led him away and Emma glanced to her right to find Ruby sitting with her.
"I'm sorry, I spaced out, I guess."
"Spaced out? You looked like…it was scary, Emma, you spent the entire service just sitting there and then when it was over…" Ruby sighed.
"You're not okay."
"I'm fine," Emma whispered, looking towards the Mausoleum.
Ruby followed Emma's gaze and took her hand, helping her up.
"Come on, everyone's gone, you can say goodbye."
"I don't think I can," Emma muttered.
"Yes, you can. And if you don't take a minute to cry, you're not going to make it through the rest of the day."
Ruby stood outside as Emma entered the place the dwarves had built to be August's resting place. She placed her hand on the glass coffin, staring down at him. It didn't take her long to be reduced to a weeping mess. She couldn't even find the words to say goodbye to him, she just cried until she couldn't cry anymore, and when her dry sobbing became too much, Ruby helped her back to her feet, holding her until she calmed herself enough to be driven to Geppetto's, where she spoke to no one, she just held Henry's hand, averting her gaze so no one could see how red and puffy her eyes were.
"Are you sure you don't want him to stay with us, just for a few days?"
Emma sat with her knees pressed against her chest and shook her head.
"No, I'm his mother and I don't want to be separated from my kids ever again," Emma muttered, glancing up towards the loft from her spot on the couch.
"Emma?"
Emma pulled her eyes away from where she knew Henry lay sleeping and focused on her mother.
"Mom?"
"Is there something you want to tell me?"
Emma blinked at her, confused.
"You just said 'kids'. It's very hard to keep a secret in this apartment, I know you and August-"
Emma held her hand up, shaking her head.
"I um…" She sighed. "No, I mean…maybe. Crap. I don't know, mom, I'm going to wait to take the damn test before I freak out about it or whatever."
Snow reached out to stroke Emma's hair.
"That's probably best; I don't want you to get your hopes up."
"About a baby I probably won't know how to take care of?"
"No, about having August's baby. I would hate to see you in even more pain than you're in right now."
Emma opened her mouth to speak but her fathered emerged from the overhead.
"He's asleep. Now, Emma, if either of you need anything or if you change your mind about moving in-"
"Dad."
Emma gave him her 'no' face and he sighed, leaning down to kiss the top of her head.
"Can you blame me for wanting more time with the both of you?"
"No, if I could, I'd spend every minute with Henry."
Charming kissed her again and grabbed his jacket.
"Come on, Snow, I'm sure Emma's exhausted."
Snow took Emma's hand and sent her a pleading look.
"I'm fine, go."
"Are you sure?"
Emma nodded.
"I'll call you tomorrow. And we'll…you know."
It seemed weird to think she'd need her mother with her to take a pregnancy test, but at one point she'd also been Emma's best friend and sometimes it was nice to know she could have her be both.
Wrapping her quilt around her shoulders, Emma saw her parents to the door, locking it behind them.
She stared at August's lock, realizing that aside from the jacket and the few odd things of his still lying around the apartment, she really had nothing left of him.
Well, unless…
She placed her hand on her flat stomach, wondering if maybe she'd soon have something else of his to hold on to.
It hit her then, that if they did have a child, a part of him would still be alive, in their child.
A small sob escaped her and she pushed the thought away from her mind. Getting attached to the idea and then having it not come to fruition would be too heartbreaking for her to put herself through.
Emma flipped on the television, tuning it onto some crappy cooking show and huddled under a few blankets on the sofa. She knew she should sleep, she had had a long day and she was exhausted, but she wanted to stay up, just in case Henry needed her.
Plus, all her bed did was make her think about August and she was trying not to think about him or babies or anything but making sure Henry was okay. She hadn't been the only one to cry today and she'd been far too distracted to be there for Henry today and she was determined to make up for it by making sure he got through this with her help.
Emma began to nod off when she heard footsteps on the old metal staircase. She sat up, finding Henry lingering at the foot of the stairs, unsure of himself.
"Bad dreams?"
Henry nodded and Emma pulled back her quilt. Henry joined her on the sofa and Emma pulled him against her, throwing the quilt over them. Emma kissed his temple and changed the channel to something they could both watch.
"Want to talk about it?"
Henry shook his head and Emma smiled before giving him a squeeze. He was her kid all right. Stubbornness seemed to run in their family.
Family.
"Hey kid?" Emma whispered, resting her chin on the top of his head.
"Yeah?"
"If…If I ever…Would you…" Emma sighed. "If you ever had a brother or sister, would you resent me for it?"
It was a fear she knew she shared with her own parents. She wasn't sure how she would feel; watching them raise another child when she'd grown up without them, and she knew Henry would probably struggle with those same feelings.
"No, I know…I know you wish we'd been together and it would nice to have a big family," he said quietly, as if he feared hurting her feelings with the reminder that she'd given him away. "Why?" Henry pulled away from her and looked up at her, his face hopeful.
Damn it, he was too smart for her own good.
"Nothing, I just…" Emma sighed and looked down at him with a small smile. "You're a great kid and sometimes I think it would cool to have two of you," she teased.
Henry smiled.
"I am pretty cool, huh?"
"Yeah, you are."
He smile faded into a frown.
"I'm never going to be a big brother, am I?"
Emma's heart clenched and she tried not to let her pain show.
"Why would you say that?"
"Because you loved August and…everyone else has their True Love."
Emma wasn't sure about love or even 'true' love, but she got what he was saying, there was no one left for her to be with, even if she could bring herself to be with someone. But Henry wasn't done.
"He was your True Love, mom. If the curse hadn't happened, you would have grown up together and-"
Emma cut him off.
"If there hadn't been a curse, I wouldn't have you. I love you Henry and…you're my True Love, okay? I don't need someone to take August's place and I don't need a great romance, you're the only thing I need, okay kid? You broke the curse and you're the only man I need in my life. And someday, you'll leave me for some adorable girl or boy and have your own family and I'll be okay with lots of grandkids. Or none. Whatever you want, kid. As long as you're happy, I'm happy."
Henry wrapped his arms around her and rested his cheek against her middle.
"I love you too, mom."
"You'd better because you're stuck with me. I keep killing boyfriends, so no one would have me even if they were available," she teased.
"That's true. And mom…it's okay to be sad. I know you'd be happier if August was here."
"Kid…"
Emma shook her head and held Henry until they both fell asleep.
She dreamt again that night, this time of Henry chasing after his little sister, a miniature version of his mother. She did her best to not get attached to the idea of being pregnant, but by the time her mother arrived with her father for dinner, the idea had completely taken root in her brain and heart.
Emma wanted another chance to be a mother and to do it right, while giving Henry the family he deserved. And she wanted to have a piece of August with her. And Geppetto…she wanted nothing more than erase the pain he now lived with every single day. How happy would he be to have a grandchild? Not to mention, she knew her parents wanted nothing more than to make up for everything they missed out on with her.
Snow tried to keep Emma from getting her hopes up, but it was too late, the hope had taken root and it wasn't going anywhere. Emma was either in for another broken heart or for her own version of a happy ending.
"Emma, it was only one time," Snow muttered as they watched Henry and Charming play with fake swords in the backyard.
"Well, I was only with Henry's father once and look how that turned out. Sometimes once is all it takes."
Snow sighed.
"Then just…let's go see Whale or get you a test and get this over with. It's been three days and the longer you wait, the more it's going to hurt if you're not pregnant."
Emma said nothing. She knew her mother was right, but a small part of her didn't want to have this tiny glimmer of hope taken away. It was the only think keeping her together for Henry. She'd done her best to avoid grieving August and she knew once she started, it would be months before she stopped and Henry didn't need to see her go through that, not when he was going through it himself.
Snow seemed to read Emma's mind and stood.
"Emma…you need to know for sure. And if you don't do it by tomorrow, I'm telling your father, and do you really want to have the awkward sex talk with him?"
Damn, woman was cold.
Emma pouted and followed her mother into the house.
"That's a Regina move, mom."
"I know," Snow told her smugly, handing a box over to Emma.
"Seriously?"
Emma held up the pregnancy test, annoyed.
"Oh Emma, I know you too well, did you really think I'd wait for you to do it yourself? Now get in that bathroom and if you don't come out with results in five minutes, I'm telling your father you let Pinocchio defile you."
Emma made a face.
"When you put it like that it sounds wrong and dirty. Fine. Just…keep Henry away, will you? I don't want him to know anything unless there's something to know."
Snow nodded and Emma locked herself in the bathroom, huffing as she did so. She leaned against the door and stared down at the test shaking in her hand. She could do this. If it was negative she'd just…focus on Henry. No matter what happened, she'd still have Henry, so…
"I don't hear any peeing going on!"
Emma jumped, bringing her hand to her chest.
"Damn it, mom! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"
"Emma!"
"I can't do it with you listening!"
"Fine, I'll be in the kitchen."
Emma emerged a few minutes later and checked to make sure Henry was still occupied outside before handing the test over to her mother. She couldn't look and since her mother was so invested in this, she could wait for the damn results.
She took a seat at the counter and closed her eyes, repeating to herself that Henry was what mattered while Snow set the kitchen time to three minutes.
A ding filled the kitchen and Emma took a few small breaths. A quiet gasp from her mother sent a thrill rushing through her body, but when she opened her eyes, that thrill turned to dread.
"I'm sorry, Emma," Snow whispered, confirming what her face had already told Emma.
Emma's heart fell to her stomach and an ugly sob escaped her chest. Snow wrapped her arms around Emma as she convulsed into a fit of tears.