CHAPTER 10
Emma picked Henry up from school and stopped for their usual snack at the diner. Afterward, Emma said, "I think I want to take a new route today."
Henry shrugged and followed. When they walked around the corner and stopped he looked over at Emma. "What's going on?"
Emma grinned at him. "Voila! This is our new place, kid."
"What?"
Emma dangled the keys in front of him. "Wanna take a look?"
Henry ripped the keys out of her hand and opened the door. He ran inside to check things out.
The place wasn't fully furnished but it had the basics which was good enough until Emma could get it fully furnished. There were beds and an old ratty tv set. Emma would finish filling it out later. In the meantime, she thought it was good enough for the two of them.
After they had finished inspecting everything, Emma and Henry collapsed on the sofa. Emma looked over at him and said, "I need to tell you something." Henry turned to her expectantly.
"Those kids- well the older one, Jana. She is your Mom's daughter. And tomorrow she's going to court to officially adopt the younger one. Her name is Brissa."
Henry scowled and looked away, "Are we going to go and get our stuff and move in tonight or are we going to wait until the weekend?"
"We'll probably have dinner with your grandparents and then get our stuff packed and come back here. Also, you have an appointment with Dr. Hopper tomorrow so I'll be picking you up early from school."
"Well, let's go," Henry walked out the door.
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Regina tried unsuccessfully for 45 minutes to get Brissa to take a nap. The child stubbornly refused. After 45 minutes, she called it quits and took her downstairs to where Jana was rifling through Henry's video games.
"I told you she stopped herself from taking naps about 6 months ago. She's too nosy and doesn't want to sleep in case she misses something."
"Well, even if she didn't sleep at least she got some rest. Do you want to help me put your new stuff away?"
"Nope."
Regina shook her head and walked back to the girls' room. She smiled to herself as she went. She loved being able to say that. And tomorrow, they would permanently be hers.
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"What do you mean you got your own place?" Snow said it as if she had betrayed her to an ancient enemy or something.
"I mean, I found an apartment for me and Henry. It's behind Granny's. Henry and I are going to grab our stuff after dinner and go there. Ya know, to live."
"You know you don't have to do this Emma," David said once he was able to find his voice. "Your home is with us."
"It's like 2 blocks away. You can practically look out the window and see us," Emma shuddered at the thought. "I'm not doing anything but getting my own space. This place is too small for all 4 of us. It was never meant to hold that."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Snow was getting that whine in her voice that grated on Emma's ears.
"It means no woman should be sharing a bedroom with a 12 year old son."
"It's still a bit soon don't you think Emma?"
"No, David I don't. I'm 31. I'd say this is long overdue."
David and Snow glanced at one another and then at her and then one another again. They seemed to honestly be at a loss for words.
"Well, maybe Henry could stay here and –,"
"No."
"What?" Snow asked as if Emma was being unreasonable. "I'm sure he wants to don't you Henry?"
Emma angrily pushed her chair back from the table. "This is precisely why it won't be happening."
"What did I do wrong now?"
"Henry is the child. And Regina and I are his parents. You don't ask the child what he wants to do when the parents have already told you what is about to happen. That was over the line Snow. And that's precisely why we need our own space. Henry, go upstairs and get your stuff."
"Emma, I was only –,"
Emma rounded on her before she could finish, "That's the problem; You're always only. But this is wrong. And I can't let it happen anymore," Emma turned and walked upstairs to get her things.
Henry was upstairs slamming his things around into some of the boxes that Emma had brought over for their move. He ignored her the entire time they packed until they pulled back up into the apartment. He took the smaller bedroom and slammed the door.
Emma grabbed a beer out of her own fridge and sank onto the sofa. She told herself the hard part was over. Now it was time to keep forward.
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Regina picked up clothes that had been littered all over the floor. Seems they preferred to run around the house in undies. The second the door closed behind them her girls were shedding shoes and clothes where they stood.
The girls were sleeping in their own bed that night. Regina tried getting them into some of the new pajamas that she had just gotten them but they seemed to prefer their undies.
Brissa had already fallen asleep as Regina entered the room. Jana was tapping away on the new laptop she had gotten Regina to buy for her. Regina made a note to install some parental controls on it.
She tucked the blankets around Brissa and sat on the other side of her smiling over at her daughter. "So the tests are official. You are mine."
Jana just gave her a sideways glance and went back to the laptop.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"Nope."
"Well, are you okay with it? Were there any questions you needed me to answer?"
"No."
Regina took a breath. She moistened her lips and searched around for something to talk about. "So tomorrow the judge will have my name and your father's added to your birth certificate," after receiving no response she continued. "And next week you can start school."
Jana's head snapped up at this. "No."
"It wasn't a question. You need to be in school."
"I'm homeschooled."
"If that's code for sitting around the house doing nothing then you can call it what you like but it's over. You will go to a proper school."
"No, I won't."
Regina didn't want to argue. She held her hand out, "Give me the laptop." At seeing Jana begin to protest, "I'm not taking it away from you except for tonight. It's bedtime. And we have a lot to do in the morning. If you don't give it to me then I will take it away from you for the next week."
Jana weighed her options and how serious she felt the threat was. She handed over the laptop without any further problems.
Regina released a breath. They were going to have to talk seriously tomorrow about how the rest of being a family was going to work out. But, at least tonight she gets to tuck her babygirls into bed and know that they are safe just down the hall from her.
She kissed Brissa then walked around to kiss Jana. She allowed her to do so and when Regina saw no resistance she decided to bend over and give her the first real hug she'd been able to since she was a baby.
"Sleep tight my love." Regina pulled the door slightly ajar before climbing into bed herself. She fell asleep with a smile on her face.