The next morning Emma woke up with a terribly upset stomach and felt particularly irritable. She hadn't slept well after the dispute she had with her father the evening before. The shouting and pleading had drained her emotionally and physically. She was tired, she felt sick, her head ached, she was sick of her royal duties, and she was already tired of being cooped up at home - she hadn't been outside since the night before her parents got back, and that had been two weeks ago. All she had to talk to was her family, mainly her siblings. They kept asking her stupid, mindless questions and she desperately wanted to hit them for it. She just wanted to be left alone. But what she wanted most was to be able to see Baelfire, to spend time with him, to be in his arms, have him by her side. But she couldn't, and it frustrated her and made her feel all the more angry and irritable. Instead, she had to stay put in the castle. The large, cold, lonely castle. She was also greatly dreading the discussion she was to have with her parents that morning. She didn't want to talk about her situation anymore. At least not with them anyway. Her stomach started to feel worse. She heard footsteps outside her door, followed by a knock. "Princess Emma?" a voice called out cheerfully. It belonged to Eleanor. She knocked again. "Emma? Are you up?" she called. Emma rolled her eyes. She didn't even want to talk to her right now. "Their majesties would like you to join them and your siblings for breakfast," she added happily. Emma just wanted to be left alone. The last thing she felt like doing right now was eating. She felt dizzy. "I'm not hungry," she answered miserably. Her stomach growled unpleasantly and her head began to swim. She laid back down on her bed, holding her stomach. She felt awful. She started to cry. Her stomach then lurched and she frantically reached for her chamberpot.
"Emma?" Eleanor called again, sounding concerned. "Is everything okay? I'm coming in." She opened the door and saw Emma leaning over her chamber pot. "Oh no! Emma!" she exclaimed as she ran over to her. She pulled her hair back and held it for her while she heaved. "Would you like me to get the queen?" she asked thoughtfully. Emma uttered a miserable groan. She moved her head but Eleanor wasn't sure if it was a 'yes' or a 'no'. Just then, Snow appeared in the doorway. She was quickly by Emma's side and relieved Eleanor of her duty. She comfortingly put her hand on Emma's back. "Are you done, honey?" she sweetly asked her daughter.
"I think so…" Emma answered in barely a whisper as she tried to catch her breath.
"Good." Snow rubbed Emma's back and moved her chamber pot so it was away from her and she didn't have to look at it. "Having a bad morning?" she asked her, even though it was obvious. She was more empathizing than questioning. Emma uttered a small groan as she laid her head in Snow's lap. The warmth of her mother's lap felt good on her aching head. Snow stroked her hair, adding to the relief. Emma closed her eyes and started to cry again. Snow felt her hot tears hit her lap. "Emma …" she said with concern. "What's wrong?" she asked.
Emma sniffed. "My head hurts. My stomach hurts. I feel dizzy and I just want to see him …" she sniffed again and started to shiver and Snow draped a blanket over her.
Snow sighed and stroked Emma's forehead. "I know, honey, but you can't right now." she said softly. "We don't wanna risk anyone seeing you, at least not right now."
"But I'm not even showing yet! And it's not fair if I don't tell him about this."
"I know, but it's just better this way, okay?"
Emma started to cry harder. She felt miserable, and being told she couldn't see the one person she wanted to see made her feel angry. She sniffed as she sat up and wiped her tears from her eyes. She stared out her window and Snow could see that her words failed to reach her. She uttered another sigh and placed her hand on Emma's leg. "Well I understand that this is the last thing you feel like doing right now, but you have to eat something." she said firmly.
Emma gave her a disinterested look. "I'm not hungry." she whined.
"I know you aren't, Dear, but you need to eat something." she began to get firm with her. "You need to get dressed and come down to breakfast. Then your father and I need to discuss some things with you."
Emma sighed. The thought of their upcoming discussion rattled her stomach, making her feel nauseous again. She didn't want to do this. Oh can this day get any worse? She thought to herself.
Emma took her usual seat next to Ava and was served her breakfast. She didn't know what it was but it would supposedly help settle her stomach. She tried to take a bite, but the sight of it sent her stomach crawling. Instead, she poked around at it. Her head was throbbing. All her vomiting that morning had made it worse. She still felt terrible and the dread of having to talk to her father just made her feel sicker. She pushed her food away and put her head in her hands.
Ava looked over at her. "Are you still feeling poorly, Emma?" she asked. She placed her hand on her back as to comfort her big sister. "You've been sick off and on since Mama and Daddy went away and that was a long time ago …" she added worriedly. She then looked at Charming. "Emma isn't dying, is she, Daddy?" she asked anxiously.
Charming couldn't help but chuckle at his young daughter's question. "No, Ava. She's not dying. But she will be feeling sick for a good while yet." he answered.
"What's wrong with her then?" Robert asked.
Emma lifted her head from her hands and gave her father a pleading look and shook her head.
"She's uh …" he cleared his throat.
"She hasn't been sleeping well lately and its caused her to be run down and overtired." Snow interjected. She winked at Charming. They didn't want their younger children to know that Emma was going to have a baby just yet. She turned her attention to Emma. "Emma," she said sternly. "You NEED to eat. Go on," she coaxed her daughter.
Charming once again cleared his throat and told his younger children to go and get ready for their riding lesson. Emma closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. "Here it comes," she said under her breath. Ava and Robert obeyed and soon it was just Emma and her parents in the dining hall. It's what she had been dreading all night long. She picked at her food, taking small bites.
Charming broke the silence. "So, Emma," he began. "Have you told Baelfire about all this yet?" he asked as he folded his arms across his chest.
Emma looked at her father. "No. When would I have had the chance to tell him?" she asked with defiance in her voice. "You've been holding me captive in my bedchamber like a common prisoner since you've arrived." She said as she pushed her food away from herself again. She had had ENOUGH of that stuff.
"You can cut the attitude, young lady!" Charming said firmly. "I don't care how sick you're feeling! I am your father and you will NOT talk to me like THAT. Do you understand?"
Emma nodded submissively and started to cry. She tried to hold back the tears, but the harder she tried, the faster they came. She couldn't help it. She hated that she was so quick to cry right now. She regained her composure as quickly as she could and wiped her tears on her sleeve. She straightened her shoulders in her chair.
"Now," Charming began again. "Do you realize that you and the boy will -"
"Baelfire." Emma corrected.
Charming returned her answer with a look of annoyance. "What's that, young lady?" he asked authoritatively.
Emma looked down at her lap. "Nothing." she answered quietly.
"As I was saying … you two are going to have to be married."
Emma's tired face lit up at his words. "M-Married?" she asked. She tried to contain her excitement, but this is what she and Bae had wanted all along. Her stomach filled with butterflies at the thought of finally marrying her true love. She could always be with him. They would never have to sneak around ever again. She would have him by her side. She'd have him with her every night -
"Yes. Married. Expecting a child outside of wedlock is a serious thing." Charming's voice brought her back to reality.
"And when?" Emma asked all too anxiously, interrupting her father. This discussion wasn't as scary as she had anticipated at all.
Charming rolled his eyes in frustration. Emma wasn't seeming to understand the seriousness of this situation.
"Well as soon as possible, we hope," Snow answered. "So as to avoid any kind of potential gossip. We just don't want this to cause any kind of uprising."
Emma was confused. "My - this - could cause some sort of … uprising?" she asked, confused. She didn't get it.
"Uprisings have been started for less," Snow answered. "If this falls into the wrong ears, we could all fall into deep trouble."
Emma nodded. "I understand," she said.
"Good. In the meantime I am going to go talk with …" Charming swallowed before saying his name, "Baelfire after I finish with you." he said. Emma detected some spite in the way her father uttered her love's name and she didn't like it at all. She glared at Charming when he looked away toward Snow. "But," he continued. "Until you two are married and until your mother and I have announced your husband, you are not allowed to set foot outside this castle." He noticed the look of disappointment flash across Emma's face. "Do you understand?" Emma looked down at her lap and didn't answer. "Do you understand, Emma?" Charming asked again, this time with more force. Emma hated when he used this tone. It always made her feel like a small child. She swallowed hard. "Yes," she answered slowly.
"And," he added. "If you have to leave this castle for ANY reason, you MUST have an escort of at least twenty guards." Emma winced at this command. That's a ridiculous amount of guards for one person. This must be her punishment for betraying her father's trust. She then looked at him in the eyes. It took all of her strength just to keep from glaring at him and to hold back any defiant comments. "Yes, Daddy." she said dryly.
"Very well." Charming nodded his head once. "You may go back to your bedchamber now." he told his daughter. Emma got up from her chair and headed toward her room.
Later that morning, Charming and his small entourage rode to Rumplestiltskin's large cabin-like house. He obnoxiously pounded on the door. "OPEN UP!" Charming bellowed.
The door opened slowly. "To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?" Rumple asked sarcastically. Charming stepped inside, shoving the Dark One off to the side in the process. Rumple was offended by Charming's rudeness. "It's actually your son that I'm here to talk to," he answered authoritatively. "Where is Baelfire?"
Rumple looked puzzled and a little worried. Why in the world would the king be asking to speak to Bae? "Why?" he asked.
"I want to talk to him is all. So do you know where he is?" Charming asked again.
"He went with Belle to the village. They should be back soon." he then offered that Charming sit down.
"Mm, no thank you, I'd rather stand." he said defiantly. For all Charming knew, he could have rigged the chair he offered him. Just then Belle and Baelfire came through the door. They stopped and stood still when they saw that the king was standing near their table. Belle was wide-eyed with wonder. Bae looked at Rumple accusingly. "Papa, what did you do?" he asked desperately.
Rumple threw his hands up in the air. "I didn't do anything!" he snapped at his son.
"ENOUGH!" Charming interjected. "I'm actually here to talk with YOU, Baelfire." he looked him in the eyes.
"Me?" he asked in disbelief. He wondered if Emma had told her parents about their relationship. He swallowed. "Is everything ... okay?"
"I need to ask you if you've been secretly seeing the princess…" Charming said flatly.
Baelfire felt everyone's eyes on him, making him feel more nervous. "P-Princess Emma?" he asked.
"Yes. Princess Emma. HAVE you been seeing her secretly?" Charming repeated his question. He knew the answer, of course, but he wanted to hear the answer from him.
"Yes." Baelfire answered him nervously. He heard Rumple utter a gasp.
"I see," Charming said as he crossed his arms. "And how long has all this been going on?"
Baelfire's mouth went dry. "Two years," he answered. He tried to conceal his nervousness. "We - we met and talked a little at Princess Ava's birthday celebration. We continued to meet with each other as often as possible after that. We fell in love over that time and we planned on marrying. We were going to tell you eventually, but -" he trailed off, feeling like an idiot. Who was he to even think that he, a mere peasant, but worst of all, the son of the Dark One, had a shot at happiness with Princess Emma? He exhaled as quietly as possible. He looked back up at Charming. He expected to see anger on his face, but instead he saw a look of kindness. Baelfire took a deep breath. "I… I promise I was always gentle with her. I would NEVER hurt her. Is, is the princess alright?" he asked anxiously.
"She's okay but she's been feeling ill during these last few weeks." Charming answered.
Baelfire's eyes went wide. There was another gasp. He looked back to see Belle with her hand over her mouth and Rumple staring at him in an angry, horrified stare. "Bae, what did you do?" he asked his son. Baelfire didn't know what to say. He just stared back at Rumple, making him angrier. "The PRINCESS, Baelfire? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?" he started to corner Baelfire, causing him to freeze. "I -" he looked over at Belle, and Belle looked pleadingly at Charming, tears in her eyes. "How could you do this?!" Rumple shouted at his son.
Baelfire stood his ground and stared a cold, hard stare. "Because we love each other." he shouted back.
"Get out." Rumple ordered him.
"But, Papa -" Baelfire protested.
"You're just like your mother." Rumple interrupted him.
Baelfire was taken aback by his hurtful comment. He opened his mouth to speak but his father cut him off once again.
"Get OUT!"
Baelfire looked at Belle. She was crying, her face read compassion and anger. She glared at Rumple. She was angry with the way he had just treated his only child.
Charming thought for a moment. As much as it pained him to admit, he had developed a sudden admiration toward this boy. He greatly respected the way he had told the truth, even when there was a possibility he could've been severely punished. He looked at Baelfire and saw the hurt in his eyes. He then looked at Rumple and saw the look of anger on his face. He didn't feel right leaving Baelfire to possibly face the wrath of his evil father. He inhaled deeply and cleared his throat. "Baelfire? I'm afraid you're going to have to come along with me."
Baelfire looked worried, but he obeyed. He stepped away from the wall, eyeing sadly at Rumple. He didn't want to leave things on this note, but he knew he also had to obey King David's orders.
Charming escorted him out of the house and led him to the carriage. "You'll be riding with the queen," he told him as he opened the carriage door and Baelfire climbed in, feeling incredibly awkward. He looked up to see Snow White giving him a warm smile. He returned her smile with a small, uncomfortable one.
Snow reached over and took his hand. She was always so kind to everyone. "It'll be okay," she said softly as one of the knights closed the door. She gently squeezed his hand. Baelfire looked in the direction of his home as the carriage jerked into movement. He wanted to ask Snow how Emma was but he thought against it. After all, Snow White was kind, but she was still the queen, and he was a peasant. For all he knew, he could be awaiting punishment at the castle for what he did with the princess. He kept his head up and looked out the window. He felt Snow's green eyes on him. She watched him curiously. Despite his effort to hide it, she could tell the young man was nervous. She tried to make the experience less terrifying for him. "Do you love my daughter?" she asked him kindly.
Baelfire respectfully came to attention and held eye contact. "With all my heart." he replied. "I meant what I said. We were going to tell our families but -" he paused a moment. "We feared their reactions."
Snow continued to look at him thoughtfully. She could instantly see why Emma loved him. He was honest, respectful, and kind. She couldn't believe he was related to the Dark One. She gave him another one of her warm smiles. He was so tense she wished he'd just relax. She gently placed her hand on his again, hoping that the kind gesture would assure him that everything truly was going to be fine. She giggled. "You can relax, you know," she started. "If Charming thought of you as a criminal, do you really think he'd let you be in the same space as me?" she laughed, hoping to lighten the mood.
Baelfire laughed uncomfortably and shook his head, "No." he answered her.
Snow smiled at him again. "See? You'll be fine. Trust me." she told him, still smiling. "Now, PLEASE! Try to relax a little!"
He tried, but he was still nervous. He thought of Emma and how she must be feeling. He hoped he'd be able to see her when they reached the castle.
Meanwhile, as Snow and Charming were going to talk to Baelfire, Emma was in her bedchamber, laying on her bed and still feeling miserable. There was a knock on her door. "Come in," she said. Her door opened and Emma lifted her head to see who was coming in. It was Ava. Emma rolled her eyes. Great, she thought. "I don't feel like playing any games right now, Ava," she said as she laid her head back down on the pillow.
"I know." she replied happily as she climbed up to Emma's bed. "I just wanted to keep you company. I finished my riding lesson and Regina said you're not contagious." she placed her hand on Emma's hip. "I'm sorry I told on you. Daddy asked. Are you still mad at me?" she asked.
Emma sighed. Well how could she be mad at her now? "No," she answered as she tried to sit up so she was facing her sister. Her head started to swim again.
"You don't have to sit up if you don't feel good, Emma." she told her sister. She started to rub her back. "Here. Mama said this might help you feel better."
Emma smiled lightly and laid back down. Her little sister was being so sweet. She suddenly felt bad for assaulting her the way she did on the day she had tattled on her . "I … I'm sorry I treated you like that after you told on me," she apologized. It was hard for Emma to apologize.
"I'm over it," she said. "You weren't feeling well. I feel mean too when I'm sick." Emma couldn't help but giggle at what Ava had just said. Ava thought for a moment before finally asking, "Emma? What does your secret boyfriend look like?"
"What? My secret boyfriend? Ava, he's not really a secret anymore, remember?" she then thought about her father's errand and wondered if he was there yet or not. And if he was, she'd hoped her mother had kept him from doing anything hasty. The thought of things possibly going wrong made her stomach twist again.
"Right. But what does he look like, Emma? I wanna know. I only saw him once and he was far away and it was dark out."
Emma smiled as she thought about him. "Well he has a very warm smile. That was one of the first things I noticed when we met. He has hazel eyes, and his hair, oh my goodness, his hair is just perfect. It's not too long, but it's not too short - perfect for running my fingers through," she added with a sly smile.
Ava smiled at her sister. "He sounds handsome, Emma!" she said happily.
"He is," she replied dreamily. "And not only that, but what makes him so special is that he's sweet, kind, caring, respectful, and so gentle." she suddenly started to tear up. WHY am I starting to cry? She frustratingly asked herself. She knew why. She was pregnant, she felt miserable, and she wanted him by her side and talking about him to her sister just made her miss him even more.
"Did he know you were the princess when he met you?" Ava asked.
Emma smiled as she recalled their first meeting. "No," she shook her head. "He thought I was a peasant girl." she giggled. "And I continued to let him think that too - even if it was only for a few minutes."
"So he liked you right away then?"
"I think so." Emma answered. "He seemed to. When he readily told me his name I felt guilty for lying to him so I told him who I was." she giggled again. "I thought the poor thing was going to faint. Oh, his reaction was so cute. He was so embarrassed. Then he actually listened to what I had to say and when he empathized with me? He had my heart then."
"And you've been sneaking out to see him EVERY night?" Ava asked, eyes wide with wonder.
"Goodness no, not EVERY night! Only one or two, sometimes three nights a week if it was possible!" she smiled again as she recalled all the nights they had spent together.
"Where'd you two go all those nights?"
Emma looked at her sideways. "Oh … somewhere secret …" she answered with a sly smile.
"You can't tell me?" Ava asked with a pout.
Emma shook her head. "If I told you what and where it is, then it wouldn't be secret now would it? Besides," she added. "It's Baelfire's secret place so I really have no right to tell."
They suddenly heard the sound of horses outside her window. "Are they back already?" she asked Ava as she slowly sat up. Ava and Emma made their way over to the window and looked out. They saw their mother and someone else climb out of the carriage. Emma's heart fluttered when she saw who it was. "I didn't know they were bringing him HERE!" she said excitedly as she looked at Ava. Ava poked her head out the window. "THAT'S Baelfire?" she asked.
Emma quickly nodded. "Yes," she answered. "Now, be a good little sister and help me freshen up."
"What if Daddy doesn't let you see him yet?" Ava asked her sister.
A look of annoyance flashed across Emma's face. "He BETTER let me see him." she replied bitterly. "He can't expect us to be under the same roof and NOT see each other."
"Not if Daddy says so," she said in the infamous younger sibling tone. "Because if he does, and I see you two together, I'm gonna tell."
And just like that, Emma hated her sister again. She glared at her. "Just help me freshen up, please."