CHAPTER 7
Henry got up early and crept downstairs. He snuck past his grandparent's bedroom and took extra care to make sure the door made no sound as he closed it behind him.
He was on a mission. He hurried through the streets of the sleepy town. He got to the shop and tried the door handle. It was locked.
"Morning dearie," Henry turned and saw just the person he was looking for. "What brings you here and so early at that?"
Henry stepped up to Mr. Gold. "I need to learn magic."
Gold studied him for a moment. "I see you've learned about your sister."
Henry gasped in surprise. "You know about her?"
"Indeed. I was the one who told your Mother's that she was a product of their true love." As a shadow crossed Henry's face, Gold continued. "And I can see that's what this is about, isn't it dearie?"
"Emma's supposed to be with my Dad. Not the Evil Queen."
Gold took a minute to answer. "Well, I'm sorry to say that I can't help you dearie."
"What? But, you taught the Evil Queen magic. I learn really fast and I'm a good student. I'll do anything you say."
"Regina was born with magic. I just taught her how to wield what was already inside of her. She was my best pupil too. You, unfortunately, were not, I'm sad to say."
"Whatever. If you can't do it, I'll just find someone who can." Henry turned and took off back to the apartment. He crept back into his room. He took his fairy tale book off the bed where he had left it and tossed it across the room. He was sure they were all wrong. The Savior was meant to be with his Dad. It's the only thing that made sense to him.
If no one would help him, he'd figure it out on his own. Just like he had the curse. He could do this. He would save the Savior.
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Emma was once again awakened by her little daughter. This time she heard her as soon as she opened the door. She pretended to be asleep until Angelica had climbed up onto the bed. Then, she flipped over quickly and swooped her up before launching a full blown tickle attack.
Her daughter's laughter bounced off the walls. Emma would never get tired of hearing that sound and vowed to ensure that she heard it on a daily basis.
She got dressed and carried Angelica downstairs. She brought her into the kitchen and over to Regina.
"Good morning Mommy," Angelica said around a giggle.
"Yeah, good morning Mommy," Emma repeated.
Angelica chuckled from inside Emma's arms. "She's not your Mommy, she's mine."
Emma frowned down at her, "No. She's not your Mommy, she's mine."
"Mom!"
"Angelica!"
Regina leaned against the counter and watched the shenanigans over her coffee cup with a smile. "Children, children, we're going to have to get this show on the road if we want to get to our hotel before our reservation expires. Are your things ready to go Emma?"
"Yeah. I'm all packed. Bag's waiting on the bed."
"Well, go grab it and put it in the car. After Tink gets here, we'll head on out. We'll grab breakfast at Granny's on the way." Tinkerbell had become Regina's best friend. She had a room at Granny's Bed and Breakfast but, she was going to housesit at the mansion while they were away.
Tink finally showed up and she swung Angelica around the room. She and Angelica were like two kindred spirits. Angelica was already deep in love with the fallen fairy.
Even with Tink there, Regina insisted on doing a room to room sweep and making sure that everything was turned off even in the rooms that weren't used. They got the bags in the car and headed over to Granny's.
Once inside, Angelica ran over to a booth and Regina slid in beside her. Emma sat across from them both. Angelica seemed oblivious to the looks they were getting from the patrons but Emma noticed and ignored them all.
"Well, well, look what the cat drug in. I've been texting you." Ruby said as she sauntered over. "Good morning, sweetheart." She gave a kid's menu and some crayons over to Angelica then handed Emma and Regina their menus.
"Sorry Rubes. I swear I haven't been ignoring you. There's just been a lot going on." Emma stole a look over at her daughter. "We've been really busy getting our daughter comfortable and all."
Ruby blinked rapidly and looked over at the little girl. "Our daughter?"
Emma was laughing now and nodding. "Yeah. Angelica, this is Ruby. She's Mommy's friend. Ruby, meet Angelica."
'And she, what? Belongs to both of you? You're both her parents?"
"Yep."
"Yep," Angelica mirrored her Mom. They both laughed together.
"Well, I'll have the oatmeal with apples and fried apples on the side." Regina broke in handing her menu back to Ruby. "And some apple juice along with that."
"I'll have my usual."
"I'll have my usual too," Angelica added and continued coloring.
Ruby still seemed a little dazed but she walked away and left the family to their own devices.
They had finished eating and were on their way out the door when the Charmings walked in with Henry. Their eyes immediately went to the little girl who was holding Emma and Regina's hands. Everyone else's eyes in the room all focused on all of them.
Regina pulled Angelica closer in to her. "Hi, Henry," she said at last breaking the silence.
"Hi," Henry responded quietly while nervously alternating between staring at them and looking down at his shuffling feet.
"Hey kid, David, Mary Margaret," Emma licked her lips showing that she was nervous also.
"She's beautiful." Mary Margaret said. "Well, I guess we know now what you'd look like with blonde hair, Regina."
Regina just gave Snow a heavy lidded smirk but said nothing.
"There's some of me in there too," Emma offered up.
She looked at her parents and bent over, "Princess, this is your Grandma and Grandpa. And your brother, Henry," she told Angelica. "And this is Angelica. Say hi to them Angelica."
"Hi Grandpa, Hi Grandma, hi Henry," Angelica waved to them all.
"You think you can give them a hug?"
Angelica ran over to her grandparents who smiled as they each hugged the little girl. When she got to Henry, he stood stiff while she engulfed him in a bear hug. She walked back over to her Moms and Regina pulled her close to her again.
Snow's face was lit up. "Hi sweetheart. Aren't you the cutest thing." Snow bent down to Angelica and ran her hand along her cheek.
Regina wanted to smack her for her impudence. Instead, she turned to Henry, "Emma tells me you're going out with Neal this weekend. I hope you have a good time," Regina said to Henry hoping he'd speak to her about anything.
"Yeah, it's a boy's weekend out. My Dad is meeting us here in a few minutes," Henry said quietly to explain why they were there. He wasn't sure how to handle this situation. It was one thing to think of his Moms having another child in the abstract. It was something totally different to see her face to face.
And everyone was acting like this was the most normal thing in the world. From what he could make out of it, the girl was pure magic. And that smile on his Moms and grandparents faces was just killing him. Where did he fit in anymore?
Snow was encouraged by Angelica's calling her Grandma. "Can I hold her for a moment?"
"Sure," Emma said smiling.
"No!" Regina practically screamed while picking Angelica up and moving her to her hip that was farthest away from the Charmings.
They all looked at her startled.
Emma was a little embarrassed. "She only asked to hold her granddaughter."
"We'll wait in the car for you." Regina started to walk out with Angelica then stopped and bent over and gave Henry a hug and a kiss on his temple before she walked out the door.
As she walked out, Neal walked in.
"Dad!" Henry ran to him. "Mom made a magic kid. They say that she's true love. But, I don't think so. I think she's under a spell or cursed or something. She has to be right? Because you and Mom have true love. And the Savior can't have true love with the Evil Queen."
"Henry!" Emma took a deep breath because she had yelled louder than she had meant to. She was glad Regina and Angelica didn't have to witness this. "I will not have you going around saying things like that," she scolded. "Angelica did come from true love and our magic. And I do not have true love with Neal. I never did."
"I think you need to kiss her Dad," Henry kept going as if Emma hadn't been talking to him. "Go ahead, kiss her," he pushed Neal in Emma's direction.
"What's going on Emma?" Neal asked with a bewildered look on his face. He seemed a little nervous about what he had just walked into.
Emma shook her head. Just looking at Neal's face pissed her off. She couldn't believe she was still having to deal with this. "Regina and I have a daughter who's the product of our true love. And your son is having a hard time accepting that. Or the fact that I have feelings for his mother," Everyone in the diner gasped.
Emma ignored them and continued, "I need you to talk with him this weekend and try and straighten him out. I'm going to New York with Regina but I should be back by Tuesday and we can deal with this more then. I'll have my cell phone. Call immediately if he continues to be a problem."
She put her arm around Henry, "I know this is hard for you kid. I know how much you hate to be wrong. But, you're going to have to get on board. You have a little sister. You're supposed to be setting an example for her on how to behave. I'm a little disappointed in you right now. But, no matter what, I still love you. And so does your Mom. And Angelica does too already, I could tell. I'll see you when we get back on Tuesday. And you can be sure we're going to have a lo-ng talk about this kid. Have a nice weekend. I'll be calling and checking in. Bye." She gave him a kiss and waved to her parents and began to walk out to the car when Mary Margaret stopped her.
"Emma," she called. She needed to let Emma know that she was on her side. Her and David had digested all that Blue had told them yesterday. They just wanted their family to stay whole together. And if Emma really did love Regina then who were they to keep them apart?
Emma turned and waited.
Mary Margaret walked over to her and put her hand on her shoulder. "She is beautiful, just like you said. We don't know where to go from here but," she turned chewing on her lower lip to her husband and then back to Emma, "we're definitely on board. If she's your daughter, then she's our granddaughter. And we want to get to know her. Please bring them by for dinner when you get back. And maybe send us some pics?"
Emma smiled brightly. She looked over at David who smiled back nodding his head. "Pics?"
"Yes pics." Mary Margaret rolled her eyes. "I know what the internet is Emma. I do have a cell phone. I even have a facebook."
"Well, facebook is for old people. You really need to step up to at least twitter. Maybe even an instagram." She hugged Mary Margaret and then David. "Thanks guys. I'll send you the pics now." She waved and walked out to the car.
She sent her parents the videos and pics she had collected of Angelica so far. When she got to the car Regina was standing outside it with Angelica already strapped inside. She wordlessly handed her the keys and hopped in the backseat with Angelica.
Emma got into the car. "I know what you're doing. And it sucks. We're still going to talk about this," she told her as she buckled her seat belt.
"What do you mean, dear?" Regina took out some books for Angelica and put her car tray across her lap. She opened the containers of crayons and held up coloring books for her to choose from.
"You never let anyone else touch this car. You baby this car more than you do our kids. This isn't over." Emma started the car and looked in the mirror at Angelica. "You ready, baby?" When she nodded her head she put on some rock music and said, "Well, let's go."
