Hey, so here is the next chapter. Hope you like it.I was fast. And as this chapter was meant to be together with the other one, it actually counts as one ;-)
And to whoever requested the Wicked Cricket in this story: I love you! This ship is so great and I just can't stop writing about them. Maybe after this story is finished they'll get their own story.
Chapter 9: Welcome to this crazy family
Everyone seemed to be dancing and chatting and laughing. Regina looked radiant in her wedding dress. And she and Robin seemed so much in love. They only seemed to have eyes for each other. Robin looked at his new wife like she had hung the stars.
Zelena wanted to be happy for her younger sister. But deep down, she was miserable. Here she sat, in her beautiful dress, wearing her killing hot black stilettos. And no one seemed to care.
She watched Mulan and Tinkerbell holding hands and stealing sweet little kisses. She watched Belle dancing with Gold and he occasionally caressed her slightly bulging belly. She watched Killian and Emma making eyes with each other, even if they were on opposite sides of the room. She even watched two dwarfs dancing and kissing their girlfriends.
And she was just all alone.
"Excuse me, but such a beautiful woman as you should not just sit at the side and watch everyone have fun." She looked up to see Archie Hopper standing in front of her.
"Well, it seems no one sees me as beautiful." She sighed. Regina had told her not to push Archie, because he would just feel uncomfortable.
Archie sat down next to her, getting as close to her as he could. "Then they are all blind. But maybe it's good. So I can have you all to myself.", he whispered in her ear.
She looked at him, unbelieving and a bit shocked at his sudden forwardness. Then she sniffed and smelled alcohol.
"Archie, are you drunk?", she asked concerned. He wrapped his arm around her waist and drew her forward him. "No. Maybe a bit tipsy. You see, I had to work up the courage to approach you. Since the time you asked me to perform the ceremony, I've been thinking about you. I couldn't stop. But I was too scared to ask you out. What would a beautiful, strong, gorgeous, independent woman like you want with a fearsome, old cricket like me? But tonight I put myself together and loosened my tongue. And here I am! Did it work?"
Zelena couldn't hid her smile. So her feelings were not one-sided. And he was kind of cute when he was drunk. But she really liked his confident side. "Well, first of all, you haven't asked me something. Second, I would prefer it for you to be sober to ask me out. And last, despite that, I wouldn't say no to a dance."
"So if I asked you out on a date, you would say yes?" He looked at her unbelieving, trying to make sense of her word.
"Yes, I would. And tomorrow, when your hangover has passed and your embarrassment is weakening, you can call me and ask me out.", she explained calm. Though she was really tempted to use this situation to have fun with him.
"Well, then I should probably do something I can be embarrassed about in the morning." And with that he pulled her to him, pressing her body to his and slipping his tongue into her mouth. After a moment of shock and a second of thinking she should really push him away, she decided that she might as well enjoy it. And she really did.
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"So, welcome to the family, I guess.", Emma said as she was dancing with Robin. "I didn't realize you belonged to Regina's family.", he stated amused.
"Yeah, this family is really big. And it involves three generations, four if you count Regina as my mom's stepmother, and about 300 years, a lot of past hatred and way more love. Though, I guess, you were already part of the family since you started dating Regina. But now, you're officially one of us." Robin chuckled. "Well, this family is a bit strange." "Oh Robin, that's putting it really nicely. But if you think this is crazy, I can't wait what the future next generation will add to this family. Maybe someone will be the grandparents of a mermaid."
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Snow was just getting herself and David some punch as Ruby approached her. She was really glad as she hadn't seen her best friend much during the preparation of this wedding.
"Red, how are you? Do you want some punch?" Her best friend smiled at her.
"Not if there is alcohol in it. Snow, I have so greet news. I'm pregnant."
Snow placed the glasses to a nearby table and went to euphorically hug her best friend.
"Oh my god, Red, this is so amazing! You're having a baby!", she exclaimed.
Now Ruby's huge smile grew even bigger. "Actually, we are having twins. I'm so excited. I need to get back now, but tomorrow we have to meet and I will tell you everything."
After another great hug, Ruby went back to her boyfriend. Leaving Snow to her thoughts.
"Mary Margret, is everything alright?", David asked, who had obviously been looking for her after he had called the babysitter to make sure Neal was fine.
"Yeah, Red is pregnant. With twins.", she reported her husband a bit absent minded.
"Wow, Red, Anastacia and Belle. There must be something in the water. Hopefully Emma doesn't drink it." His wife was still staring in open space. He put his hand to her shoulder and pulled her into his arms. "Are you sure you're alright?"
After a pause she said: "Do you want another baby?" This question caught him off guard. "What? Why? Are you pregnant, too?" "No, calm down. Your reaction said it all." She freed herself from his embrace and went to get her punch.
"Mary Margret, wait! That's not what I meant. It never crossed my mind. We already have those to great children. And we are always so busy, that I just never thought about it." "And now that you think about it?"
He went to her and wrapped his arms around her again. She was really tense. This seemed to mean a lot to her. He had to be careful not to say something wrong.
"If you want my honest opinion, I have to tell you that I don't want more children. At least not right now. Neal is still so little and I want to enjoy that as long as it lasts. If we had another one, we would have less time for him. Maybe in a few years. But not now." She sighed. She loved her babies and she would love to have more, but she had a point. They didn't get to enjoy this time with Emma, so they should cherish it with Neal.
"Well, it was not a 'no'. So I think I can live with that.", she mumbled into his chest as he was planting a kiss on her forehead.
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At dinner time, they sat down at their tables, enjoying the buffet. "You did a really good job picking this out, Emma.", her mother praised, enjoying the duck pate.
They all sat at the biggest table: They married couple, their sons, Snow, David, Emma, Killian, Zelena, Belle and Gold. Snow at been so wise to seat Gold and Killian as far from each other as possible. They still couldn't stand each other. 300 years of hatred didn't go away like that.
As Robin had taken Roland to the buffet, Henry spoke up to his mothers. "Mom, Mom, there is a thing I wanted to ask you. I know that Roland was meant to stay with Little John and Will when you are away. But, Roland kind of asked me, if he could stay with me. As we are brothers now." He turned from Regina to Emma. "We have a guest room, so he can sleep there. And Little John could watch him during the day while I'm in school and you're at work. I'm sure we can make this work. Please say yes! Otherwise I wouldn't see my little brother while you're away. And the first time is the most important one to bond."
Emma had to suppress a laugh. Henry and Roland had been living together for some time now and they just loved each other. No bonding needed.
Regina was so touched by Henry calling him his little brother and insisting to stay with him that she even looked passed his not so subtle attempt to manipulate her. "It's not my decision. I'm glad you care so much about Roland. But Emma is the one you need to ask." Now he turned back to Emma.
"Please mom, I'll take good care of him. You won't even notice he's there. I already talked to Robin and he's okay with it. Please say yes!", Henry begged.
Emma exchanged a quick look with Killian and then smiled at her son. "It almost sound as you asking for a puppy. And before you ask, we are not getting a puppy. But Roland can stay. It's still two days before Regina and Robin leave. I'm sure we'll work this out."
Henry quickly hugged both Regina and Emma and then ran off to tell Roland the good news.
"I'm so happy how this family grows together. Henry calls Roland his brother. Roland calls me mommy. And Robin even told Henry he could call him dad, if he wanted to.", Regina explained her unusual happiness. Before Gold even could glance, she added. "Relax, we all know Henry has more than one mother, why not more than one father. It won't make him love Neal any less. And henry told Robin that he is not there yet." Robin just came back to the table, carrying a plate for his wife.
"It seems our boys will be spending the time together?", he asked after he had placed a delicate kiss to Regina's cheek.
"Yeah, Emma allowed it." "Well, that is really kind. Thank you. If you ever need a babysitter in the future, I owe you one." Emma just laughed. "Nonsense. That's just what family does."
Now Snow approached Robin. "Robin, I think it's so sweet for you to offer Henry to call you dad."
"I just hope that one day I might be worthy of this title to him.", he explained. This earned him a big kiss from Regina.
Just now the boys came back to the table. Roland carried his overloaded plate to his place and began to eat.
Henry just grabbed his own plate and got ready to leave. "This is awesome. They just brought the crab cakes and the mini burgers. Got to hurry, before the good stuff is gone. Come on, dad!", he exclaimed in a hurry to leave, eying the buffet.
Everyone at the table froze. Just now Regina had explained that Henry didn't want to call him that just now. Had they just heard the first time he said that to Robin? They stared at him in confusion.
Everyone expect for Killian. He looked with embarrassment at the way Robin was exchanging looks with Regina, not believing what they just heard.
The impatience took over again and Henry turned to look at Killian and repeated: "Dad, come on. Let's go."
Trying to avoid the confused looks, Killian got up carrying his plate and went with him.
"Lad, you know it's an honor that you call me that. But maybe you could not call me that in front of your grandfather.", Killian said as they reached the buffet. Henry was busy loading his plate with as much food as he could get onto it. "Oh, yeah. Don't want him to murder you. Maybe I should wait with calling you that in public for after you and mom get engaged."
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He didn't know what he had suspected as Emma's reaction for her son calling him 'dad' in public. But it had absolutely not been that.
Regina had insisted on Henry spending the night at her place. Despite it being her wedding night, she would be leaving in two days for a whole month and she wanted every moment with her son she could get.
So Emma and Killian had their apartment all to themselves.
That was good, because the poor child would be traumatized by the way his mother was practically ripping off his clothes, moaning in his mouth whenever his hand or mouth moved on her body.
"I know this is weird, but seeing you in this suit and Henry calling you 'dad', does things to Me.", she explained as threw him to their bed, climbing on top of him.
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"And you're sure you have everything?", Regina asked for the tenth time. She cupped both her boys' heads and put them into a tight hug.
"Yes, mom. We are well taken care of. Emma and Killian will not let us starve and Will and Little John will not lose Roland in the woods while watching him. We will be just fine, mom. And hopefully so will you. I hope you have a nice trip. And we will call you every evening at 8. Just like you wanted.", Henry said a bit tired. He felt like he had told her a million times.
Regina hugged the again, barely fighting the tears in her eyes.
Emma went to freeing the boys from Regina's grip. "Everything's fine. We have your numbers, the number and address of the hotel and you have the scroll and the other magical things Belle gave you. You will get back and we'll still be here. But you should really leave now. You two deserve a vacation. A long one. One without children." She winked.
"But if anything happens, just call and we'll come back instantly.", she insisted.
Now Robin was by her side, after saying goodbye to his friends. He turned to hug both boys and made them promise to be good. Then he practically dragged Regina into the car and they left.
Emma lay her arms around the two boys and said with amusement: "Oh poor kids. Your mom is totally gonna call you every hour."
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So sad, I'm the only one who gets the mermaid joke. Because, actually someone will be grandparents to a mermaid. In fact Belle and Rumpel. But that's another story.
Really sorry, but no Captain Swan or Outlaw Queen twins. But as Snowing is out of the baby running for the story and the next pregnancy revelation will follow in the next chapter, it's either one of this ships who will reveal to be pregnant.
Don't know when I can post that. As it will end with (kind of) a cliffhanger I want to finish the chapter after it, so I can post it a day after the other one.
There was actually no Henry/Grace in this chapters. Maybe in the next I'll get in a bit of it.
Hope you liked the chapter and I'm always happy to know how you liked it.
