Chapter 4:

"So…." Snow said, coming up to Emma, back in their apartment, and sitting next to her, with a smug smile on her face.

"What?" Emma asked.

"What's up with you and Pinocchio? I always thought you and August had a thing, and now I know for sure that you and Pinocchio do."

"What are you talking about?"

"Let's just say you aren't at subtle as you think you are. Even your father noticed your little interlude with him today when he came storming in, insisting that he go with you."

Emma groaned. She never liked talking about men with anyone, especially with the person she just discovered was her mother. "Great," she said. "The last thing I need right now is everyone knowing about my personal life."

Snow gave her a small smile. "You're royalty now. Get used to it."

Emma sighed, but grinned back. "That's going to take a while."

"I know. Whenever you want to talk, let me know. About anything, being royalty, men, anything." Snow couldn't hide the hope and enthusiasm from her voice.

"I told you, I'm not good at talking about my feelings. Going from foster home to foster home, only to have your hopes crushed does something to your ability to trust people. I've built up a wall that I don't think will ever come down; it's become part of who I am." Emma was surprised to hear herself say everything out loud. She never talked about her life in the foster system, and she never thought she'd ever talk about it with her mother.

Snow gave her a searching look, hoping against hope that Emma was finally ready to open up to her. "I never heard you talk about the foster system. Was it really that awful?"

Before Emma could respond, there was a knock on the door, and James walked in. "I tried getting Henry to join us, but he insisted on staying with the Blue Fairy. He said that we have catching up to do, and he'd just get in the way."

Emma laughed, that sounded like her son. Henry really was too perceptive and smart for his own good. She then glanced at her parents, and noticed that they were giving each other the same nervous look. It was then that she realized it was the second time that day that the three of them were alone. They both looked anxious to finally get the chance to know the daughter they lost for 28 years, and it was only fair that they get that chance. "You guys might want to sit down," she said.

"Are you sure you're ready?" James asked. "You don't have to tell us now if you don't want to."

"I'm sure. If I don't do it now, I probably never will."

James nodded his understanding, and sat down next to his wife on the couch. She grabbed his hand, and they both turned their attention to their daughter.

"I was found on the side of the road. Wait, that's what I was told. Apparently August went through the portal with me, and he took me to this restaurant, where we both were put into the foster system. I was with my first family for only 1 year, and then I was moved to another. The longest I stayed with any family was three years, and they kicked me out when they found out I was pregnant. Then, um, I stayed in a shelter until I went to prison, and that's where Henry was born. I had no choice but to put him up for adoption; I was in no way ready to be a mother. Plus, I was still going to be in prison for another 2 months, and a baby doesn't deserve being raised in a prison. When I finally got out, I got my act together, went to school, moved to Boston, and became a bail bonds person. I've been doing that ever since."

Snow had tears in her eyes. "Oh, Emma, I'm so sorry. We had no idea what life we were subjecting you to. All we knew was that you were going to save us, and we had to give you your best chance."

"Two questions: Who is Henry's father? And why were you in prison," James asked.

"Henry's father isn't important. I haven't seen him since, and I doubt I ever will. I went to jail for vandalism. It's not like I did something horribly wrong."

"Well, I guess that's a good thing, but back on the other subject, Henry's father is important. I don't know the details, but the fact that he's Henry's father makes him important. Henry deserves to know who his father is.

Emma sighed. "I met Joseph Bae when I was 17. Part of what I told Henry was true. I was waitressing, and he would come in for pie and coffee, and we would talk. We eventually went out, and one thing led to another. When he found out I was pregnant, he left. He didn't think he had it in him to be a father. He said something about not having a good father, and he was sure he'd turn into his father. So he left."

James looked livid. "That's still not a good reason. He had a choice; he could've had a part in his son's life. Do you know what I would do to get that chance again?"

Emma looked into her father's eyes. "What's done is done," she said. "Not even you can change it. Besides, I don't think me coming to Storybrooke and breaking the curse would've happened if Henry hadn't been born. Everything happens for a reason."

This calmed James down a bit. "Well, if put it that way. But if I ever meet this Joseph Bae, I'm going to kill him."

"Please don't. That will ruin your "charming" reputation if you kill someone," Snow told her husband, trying to calm him down. "It was 10 years ago, ancient history."

"Thanks, Snow," said Emma, happy that at least her mother understood. "You know, I oddly feel better, talking to someone about everything. I've never talked to anyone about any of this before."

"I'm glad you were able to open up to us. It's a start of becoming a proper family," Snow answered with a warm smile. "Would you like some coca?"

"With cinnamon?"

"Of course. James, would you like some?"

"Well, if you insist."

"So what's the story on your end?" Emma asked. "August said I came through some sort of portal."

"Well, I don't know how or why Pinocchio came through with you, but that is how you came to this world," Snow responded, as she was getting the cups ready. "Gappetto created a vessel from a tree that transported you to this world. The Blue Fairy said it only fit one. The plan was for me to go through the portal before you were born, and I would raise you. However, you were born early, and literally the day that the queen enacted the curse. After you were born, your father put you in the portal, and minutes later, we were sent to this world."

Emma could only nod. It sounded so unlikely, but yet it made complete sense.

"Believe us Emma, we wouldn't have abandoned you unless it was absolutely necessary. Parents, at least good parents, never abandon to part with their children," James chimed in.

The tears that Emma was fighting to keep in finally came spilling out, and she went willingly into her father's arms. "Daddy," she choked out, as she cried into his shoulder.

James' heart swelled, and he wrapped her in his arms, vowing never to let her go again. Snow watched the scene before her, silent tears running down her face, and she quickly turned to finish making the coca. "It's ready!" She announced.

She passed the cups of steaming hot coca to her husband and daughter, and the three Charmings sat around the table, reveling in the joy of being together as a family.