CHAPTER 10

It wasn't until the beating at the door the next morning that she realized there was no more time to waste. Henry was up but sitting quietly reading a comic book. Emma had just rolled over and pushed her hair out of her face while Henry answered the door.

"Grandma, Grandpa," he cried out excitedly. He hoped they were there to bring them home. Then he noticed the boxes in their arms. "What's that?" his voice quivered from worry.

Emma had grunted when Henry announced who it was. She sat up but didn't bother getting out of bed. She sat there using the palms of her hand to wipe the sleep from her eyes. Her head was foggy and starting to pound. She needed to stock up on pain relievers. She squinted over at the clock. For a moment she felt bad. It was 2 in the afternoon. She wasn't sure if Henry had eaten or not. He was still in his pajamas. So she assumed it was a not.

"Regina had Henry's things dropped off," Snow answered while staring at Emma. She was aware that Emma appeared hung over. She knew she wasn't going to take this news well. Snow swallowed and licked her lips nervously as she took in the frazzled state of Emma, the way Henry appeared on the verge of tears, and the overall state of the room. They'd only been there one night and already the place smelled. "She had them delivered to our place. Apparently she's not aware of your temporary change of address. But she has made it clear she's leaving town. For good."

This finally got Emma's attention. She rubbed her eyes again hoping that she was still dreaming. This had to be a horrible nightmare. But Henry's sniffling and his shoulder's shaking made it clear to her that she wasn't dreaming. This was real. "What?" Emma's head was still wrapped in fog but her rising anger was bulldozing straight through it.

Snow stepped over to her holding out a letter to Emma. Emma snatched it from her hand and read it. It didn't take long. It only had 2 words. 'Goodbye Henry.'

Emma leapt up. "Who in the hell does she think that she is?"

Snow smirked at her daughter. "As we've tried explaining to you over and over Regina cares for no one but herself. Maybe now you'll listen."

Emma glared at Snow as she began to pull on her discarded jeans. She bounced around trying to pull the tight skinny jeans up.

"When – when is she leaving?" Henry's voice had lost its arrogance.

Emma just pursed her lips and shook her head at him. Now he was worried about her. After he'd obviously been a big part of the reason she was leaving. Except she was trying to take her baby with her. And that was unacceptable to Emma. She softened as she took in the the lost look on her sons face. "It doesn't matter. I promise you she's going nowhere."

Henry still had hope that the Savior could do anything she wanted. He nodded his head before dropping back onto his cot.

"Emma - ," David began but Emma glared in his direction and he quickly quieted.

Emma walked into the bathroom and went through her morning routine quickly. She jerked the door open and was about to head out when her parents stopped her.

"Where are you going?" David asked as if it wasn't obvious.

"I'm going to talk some sense into Regina. She's not allowed to just leave here."

Snow and David exchanged a look. Emma ignored them and kept heading for the door but again they stopped her. "WHAT?!" she practically screamed. She stood akimbo as she glared at them.

Snow stepped forward and put her hand on her arm. "Emma, we have some news. Some family news." She and David exchanged smiles. They both hoped that this would distract Emma and make her understand that her family was right in front of her. "It's happy news," Snow's voice began to get that squealing quality that she got when she was excited. Well more than her usual excitement.

David and Snow linked hands. They beamed over at Emma. "We're pregnant!" Snow squeaked before launching herself at Emma.

Emma stood there stunned. Leave it to these two to do something so totally boneheaded and selfish. This was just what she needed like another hole in her head. She rolled her eyes and pushed her mother away from her. "I've gotta go," she slammed the door on her way out.

The family sat in stunned silence at the closed door.

Snow turned to David, "What did I do?"

David shrugged. Henry just pulled his knees up closer to him.