A/N: after this chapter there will be a slight time jump. please leave a review it keeps me motivated.
Disclaimer: I don't own OUAT.
Chapter 10:
The last three weeks had gone well, Emma had been working at the diner with the regular visits from Neal. he had for the first two weeks trying to get Emma to go out on a date, and every time Emma would reject him, having a different excuse, then on his last attempt Emma got fed up and simply punched him in the face, "I have a fucking girlfriend, stop trying to get in pants already!" yelled Emma after she had given Neal a black-eye. He of course laughed it off and in the last week he had settled to the idea that Emma wasn't interested in him. But that didn't stop him from being friends with her.
Regina had been hard at work, both at her office and by cracking the books hidden away in a secret compartment in her vault. Never forgetting to ring Emma during her lunch break and then again just before bedtime so that they could fall asleep to the sounds of the other voice and tell-tale sign of heavy breathing, often on those nightly calls they would indulge in phone sex.
Although this morning felt different to Emma, for today Emma woke up feeling like she was going to throw up. She had to hold it back at least three times before she made it to the bathroom, heaving up what remaining contents of her stomach into the toilet bowl until it became to the point of dry heaving.
Meanwhile in Storybrooke Regina had also woke up with the feeling of needing to throw up, but unlike Emma she found that nothing was going to come up. Which had her curious as to what brought on the feeling. It was similar in feeling as to how she felt when she had crossed the town line almost 4 weeks ago now.
Regina then sat up in bed like a shot, as she had just done the mental math. 'No she couldn't be, but then we did somehow create magic, in a realm that is supposed to be without magic. I better call Emma and see if she is alright and confirm my theory while I am at It.' thought Regina as she reached for her phone.
Regina then dialled Emma's mobile number and anxiously waited for Emma to pick up the phone. After what felt like an eternity to Regina Emma finally picked up on the fifth ring. "Hi Regina, ugh, I don't feel so good." Answered Emma, her voice a little scratchy from throwing up just before picking up the phone.
"You don't sound good, are you coming down with something?" enquired Regina trying to gauge what Emma was feeling and as to what she thought might be the reason for the nausea. "I don't know, I just woke up with the intense need to throw up the entire contents of my stomach. I have no idea why, it's not like I ate anything bad or off lately." said Emma.
"I will have to take your word for that dear, though just out of curiosity when was your last menstrual cycle?" asked Regina. Sitting up a little more in her bed. "Uh, you know, it was four days before our first time. Why do you ask? Do you think it has something to do with why I had to vomit this morning?" Replied Emma. As she moved away from the bathroom going to sit on top of her bed as she waited to hear what Regina's response was to her last question.
"I do, yes think your recent vomiting has to do with your menstrual cycle, but when are you next due?" responded Regina. Emma looked to the calendar she bought not long after moving in, that she used to mark the days between each period. And also what days she has work and what days are her days off. Upon noticing that she was actually past the date of getting her period by three days. Her eyes bugged out just slightly as she did the mental math. "Um Regina, is it possible by any chance that I could be pregnant? Because I am actually late with my period by four days as of today." asked Emma her voice having the panicked edge to it.
"It is possible, but whether or not you will believe me when I tell you how it is possible is my main concern." Said Regina, trying her best to stay calm and collected. "Why wouldn't I believe you babe?" asked Emma.
"Because, in the 'real world' two women can't get the other pregnant without the help of artificial insemination. And I know we didn't go to a sperm bank a month ago. It's not like you would ever cheat on me with another man, so the only possibility is that somehow I got you pregnant." Said Regina. "But how is that even possible?" asked Emma, getting rather curious as to how Regina was going to be able to explain the miraculous pregnancy.
"Do you remember how we saw all those colourful sparks around us when we were at the Italian restaurant on the last day we spent in Boston?" asked Regina. "Yeah, I remember, do they have something to do with it?" replied Emma. "Yes I believe so, but I think it occurred in the morning when we woke up, and you and I declared our love for each other before we made love. Do you recall feeling intense sparks erupt all over your skin at all? Because those sparks came from our fingers and lips. You see the sparks are magic, the kind of magic that stems from light magic, when two people who have magic, they can create life together if love is involved in the process." Explained Regina.
"Wow that sounds like a little crazy fairy tale kind of thing. Seriously magic exists?" asked Emma. Regina, was feeling a little exasperated by Emma not being able to quite believe her. "Yes Emma magic does exist. Just to be sure though I think you should buy a pregnancy test from the chemist. And go see the doctor to get it confirmed and to check that everything is alright." Said Regina.
"Ok babe, I will do that today. I really wish you were here with me for this." agreed Emma. Feeling saddened at the notion of having to go through with buying a home pregnancy test alone without the love of her life right there with her. "I wish I was too dear, please let me know how it all goes. I better go, have to get ready for work. I will call you in my lunch break to see how everything is going. I love you Emma." Replied Regina.
"I love you too my beautiful goddess. I look forward to your call, have a good day at work." Said Emma before hanging up. After hanging up Emma went into the kitchen to pour herself a glass of Apple juice, for she had this craving for Apples in any shape or form. Once she had gotten the juice she gulped it down as fast as she could without choking on it or spilling any.
After she had finished it, Emma placed the now empty glass in the sink to wash it later. She then went back into the bathroom to take a shower to get rid of the smell of vomit from her body and to get ready for the day ahead. Just as she was walking out her door she bumped into Neal who was just about to knock on Emma's door.
"Hey there beautiful." Greeted Neal, with a flirtatious wink. "Neal, how many times do I have to tell you not to call me that? What part of I have a girlfriend do you not get?" asked Emma, getting rather frustrated with the constant flirtations that come from Neal. No matter how many times Emma tells him she isn't interested, he still insisted on trying to win her over.
"Well why wouldn't you want a piece of all this?" replied Neal, as he gestured to his body to emphasise his point. "That would be because you are not my type in any way possible. For you aren't my beautiful goddess of a woman, that I get to call my girlfriend. What do you want Neal, we didn't have any plans to hang out today." Said Emma, as she continued to walk towards the yellow bug parked in the reserved parking space for her apartment.
She got into the car hoping that Neal would get the hint and leave her alone. But apparently Neal had chosen to ignore the hint, and got into the passenger side of the car. "So where are you off to right now? Mind if I tag along?" enquired Neal. Rather than answer him she got the car started and pulled out of the parking lot to head to the nearest chemist, then she needed to go purchase some apples, preferably honey crisp ones, more juice and other top up groceries.
Neal took the blondes silence as acceptance, and fiddled with the radio until he found the station he wanted to listen to. 'What is Emma's deal today? She looks kind of pale. I wonder if I can get her to pick up the watches I stole and stashed away at the local train station locker? Damn those feds and their need to nab me for stealing those watches. If I get Emma to pick them up, I will make a false promise to help her get to this so called 'Storybrooke' she keeps talking about. Perhaps if I say I can get her there she will willingly take the fall for the theft. That should get that August fellow to keep his mouth shut about my Enchanted Forest identity. He seems to think that Emma is the so called Saviour, why does it have to be her?' thought Neal as he silently looked out the car window.
Once Emma got to the chemist, she browsed the isles looking for the home pregnancy tests. 'Ugh, why did Neal have to tag along with me? The shop assistant is so going to think he was the one to get me possibly pregnant. Which is so not the case. Regina is the one who just might have done so, but magic? I don't know if magic can really contribute to one getting pregnant. Like how is that even logical? I am so not ready to be a mother. I am not even eighteen yet, and I'm supposed to just be expected to know how to raise a kid?
Hopefully Regina will know what to do with child raising? I seriously don't know what I was thinking being friends with Neal, I mean it's not like he does anything to earn any money. So how in the hell does he afford his apartment? I'm lucky I got work and Regina to help me, hmm he does get five finger discounts as he calls it quite often and he somehow manages to convince me to help him with them. He taught me how to pick a lock and the easier way to steal a car. He had me practice on the bug.
But none of those things are going to prepare me for motherhood, all that is going to get me is a one way ticket to jail. Now which one of these tests should I get? That one is for checking to see if you're ovulating, ah yes this one for early testing.' Thought Emma as she picked up the correct test. Emma then took it to the counter to pay for it. The shop assistant gave Emma a curious look, but she paid no mind to it.
After they had finished with Emma's errands, they went to the nearest Café to where the local free clinic was located. She had the blood test and general check-up done and was now awaiting the results. Emma and Neal took a seat at one of the tables at the far end of the café. "Hey Emma, what is the deal with the pregnancy test? I thought you had a girlfriend?" asked Neal sarcastically, as they read the menu.
"That is so none of your business Neal. Who are you to tell me I can't cover all bases when I am not feeling well?" replied Emma, getting defensive towards Neal. After five minutes had passed since they had sat at their table a waitress came over to take their order, "what can I get you?" asked the waitress, who blatantly gave an appreciative wink in Neal's direction.
"Have you got any non-alcoholic apple cider by any chance?" asked Emma. Getting the waitresses attention. "Sure thing hon, would that be sparking or still?" replied the waitress. "Sparkling please, and I will also have the warm Lamb salad and a side of wedges." Said Emma. "Certainly, and you sir?" replied the waitress as she wrote down Emma's order. "I will have the burger special with a large coke." Ordered Neal, the waitress wrote down his order then took the menus with her as she gave the kitchen their order.
"I'm not anyone to judge you Emma. I was just curious. Anyway, I was wondering if you could do me a huge favour?" responded Neal after the waitress had left them alone. Emma sighed, and tilted her head to the side trying to figure out what he wanted before he even said it. "What would this favour entail?" Emma finally answered after five minutes.
"Nothing much, just was hoping you could pick up this bag a friend from out of town dropped off for me at the local train station? I would go myself, except I was spotted on their cameras getting one of my five finger discounts at one of the newspaper stands located there." Asked Neal, plastering his trade mark smile that would often get him his way.
The waitress brought over their orders just as Emma was about to answer. Then as soon as the waitress was gone again did Emma finally answer to Neal's loaded question. "Seriously Neal, you and your five finger discounts. Alright fine I will go get your stupid bag at the train station, We can go later after I have been home first, I want to change out of these clothes, they smell like all kinds of nasty." Replied Emma, easily giving into that cocky smile of his.
"Great thanks Emma, I owe you big time." Said Neal as he took a big bite of his burger. Emma had dug right into her salad and wedges, moaning quietly as the multitude of flavours hit her tastebuds. They continued to eat their meals in silence, Neal keeping quiet so as not to push his luck, knowing Emma could just as easily change her mind about doing him that favour. If he were to say the wrong thing. Something he was more than prone to do.
When they had finished their meals, they each paid for their own meals and placing an equal share for the tip. They got up and quickly left the café to get into the bug. Emma put the car in gear and took off back to her apartment complex, wanting to desperately get out of the top she was wearing as fast as possible. Her sensitive stomach churning at the repugnant smell of the free clinic clinging to it.
As soon as Emma had changed her top, Emma sent a quick text to Regina letting her know she had seen the doctor and was now just waiting for the results to come through.
To Regina from Emma: hey there my beautiful goddess, back from the doctors at the free clinic, just waiting for results to come in. how is work so far? Missing your sexy self. Love your Emma xoxoxo.
She then walked into the lounge room where Neal was waiting for her. "Are you right to go now?" asked Neal as soon as he noticed Emma had joined him in the lounge room.
Emma just wordlessly picked up her keys and bag before walking passed a seated Neal to head out the front door. Neal having noticed Emma's quick pace dashed out of the apartment so as not to get locked inside.
This time it was Neal who drove the bug to the train station, parking it the first available parking space outside the station, in the parking lot reserved for the station. He then turned to face Emma so as to give her the locker number and key for said locker. "Here it is locker 61, I will be waiting for you when you get back." Informed Neal as he placed the key in Emma's waiting hand.
Emma then took the key, and got out of the car, she slipped her backpack over her shoulder and walked into the station, Emma took no notice of the cameras or the security guards patrolling the station and walked directly to where all the lockers were. She then walked along the stacked lockers looking for the right one. Once she found it she put the key in turned it and pulled out the slightly small black bag out of the locker and shoved it into her back pack.
Emma then casually walked out of the station out into the parking lot where Neal was waiting in the car. As soon as Emma got in he pulled out of the parking lot and drove towards a quiet street so that he could retrieve the bag from Emma. When he pulled over, he turned off the car and turned towards Emma expectedly. "Here you go one bag of whatever it is that is in here." Said Emma as she handed over the smallish bag to Neal. Neal opened the bag to make sure everything was in there still.
"Emma, you are the best, here let's put this watch on you as a big thank you from me." Said Neal as he placed one of the fancy watches onto Emma's left wrist. "Whoa, seriously Neal? Fancy watches? Do I even want to know how you really got a hold of these?" exclaimed Emma.
"You really don't want to know. Alright thanks Emma again I will just take these to my waiting buyer and I will see you later alright? Does a movie night at my place sound good?" asked Neal before he got out of the car. "Ah sure Neal that would be great but can it be at mine instead?" responded Emma. Moving into the driver's seat. "Yeah, sure thing. I will see you around 7pm sound good?" said Neal, who upon seeing Emma's small nod took off like a light, then as soon as he got around the corner out of Emma's sight line he pulled out his mobile phone and dialled the local police station to give them an them a tip about where the watches he had Emma get from the train station for him where now located.
Emma had only just pulled into her reserved parking space when she was surrounded by the local police force. "Step out of the vehicle and put your hands above your head." Stated one of the police officer's using a megaphone. "Ah shit!" whispered Emma before doing what the police officer had instructed her to do. As soon as Emma stepped out of the bug one of the police officers pushed her against the car bringing Emma's hands behind her back in reach of his handcuffs.
"You are under arrest for suspicion of grand larceny." Said the officer as he continued on with reciting to Emma her Miranda rights. Emma who didn't want to get herself in any more trouble than she already was simply complied with the arresting officer following his directions to the back of the police cruiser.
'You have got to be kidding me seriously? That jackarse Neal set me up! No wonder he gave me one of the watches. Seems the only person I can trust is Regina. Now that dream of me giving birth in prison makes a hell off a lot of sense now.
Oh I do hope Regina can get me out of this mess somehow. Or at least get me a reduced sentence. This is crazy though how in the hell did they know that I got the watches in the first place? I bet the fact that I am a runaway foster kid is going to be held against me.
I really need to pay more attention to my instincts, I could've avoided this situation. What is Regina going to think of me now? I am a political scandal for her now. Why would she want me to come to Storybrooke now? I wouldn't want me, why should she?
This is all fucking ridiculous I so don't belong here in jail. I didn't even get to take that pregnancy test. They better fucking give me that phone call I have the right too!' thought Emma as she was driven to the local police station. The police officer driving took frequent looks in his rear-view mirror, he was baffled as to why this girl was so quiet.
Usually the perpetrators he picks up are rather quite vocal about the injustice of it all. It was bothering him as why this girl was so resigned to the arrest. Sure she was shocked at first, which was plain to see. But she just did as she was told, no struggle and no complaints. She was probably fuming on the inside, but outwardly she seems so over it; there is no other way to explain the girl's facial expression.
As soon as they arrived at the station the officer directed Emma through the arresting process, taking her mugshot, fingerprints and the like, taking the flashy watch as evidence. Emma went through it all in a resigned silence, she didn't see the point in causing a fuss. It wouldn't get her anywhere so what was the point of creating more trouble for herself.
It wasn't until she was taken into the interrogation room, did Emma finally speak up. "Hey can I get my phone call now?" asked Emma as she starred into the two way glass at the officers watching her behind it.
"What was she like when you arrested her?" asked the detective in charge of the case. "She was rather quiet sir, she just did what she was told and hasn't said a word until now. She looked shocked, then disappointed in herself, then she got this sad and despondent look in her eyes. It was almost like she thought she was done for. I get the impression that she might be a kid of the system." Replied the arresting officer.
The detective seemed rather unimpressed with the arresting officer's assumption. The detective Hale, had read through all the information he could find on the girl. She was indeed a child of the system, but up until now she hadn't done anything wrong since her earlier juvenile petty theft, when she was running around with a young brunette girl that was about the same age.
Detective Hale sighed before he took the gathered file and walked into the interrogation room and sat across from the young blonde. "Now Miss Swan, can you tell me who put you up to stealing the luxury watches?" asked the detective.
"I am not telling you anything until I have had my phone call, please detective I need to let friend know what is going on. She calls me regularly and she will freak out if I miss her call." Emma pleaded, desperate to contact Regina.
"Honestly I am surprised you haven't been given your entitled phone call yet. What is the name of the person you wish to contact and her number?" responded Detective Hale. As he poised to dial the number on the phone on the desk that is situated between them.
"Regina Mills is her name, you will find her number in my mobile phone contact list. Please if you call her, and let me talk to her I will tell you anything you want to know." Pleaded Emma.
The detective stepped out of the room to get the number from Emma's phone. He wrote it down before bringing the number back into the interrogation room where Emma was waiting. The detective dialled the number and on the third ring Regina answered "Hello? Who may I ask is calling I don't recognise this number." asked Regina, the tone in her voice was slightly frustrated, she had a rather irritating meeting with the Pawn Shop owner Mr Gold.
"Good afternoon Ma'am, this is detective Hale of the Portland Police main headquarters. I am calling on behalf of a Miss Swan." Said the detective. "Is she alright? I was just about to call her phone. Is she there with you right now? Is she safe?" asked Regina her voice going up an octave in her worry over her young girlfriend.
"Miss Swan is Safe and unharmed. Yes she is here with me. I will hand you over to her so she may speak with you, but you need to be aware that she has been arrested, on suspicion for grand Larceny." Answered the detective. He then passed the phone over to Emma. "Regina, I am sorry. I let Neal convince me to do something for him, and he set me up." Said Emma, her voice cracking up a bit as tears streamed down her face.
"Emma, it's going to be alright I promise. I will hire you the best available lawyers in Portland. They will not keep you locked up for long. Not if I have anything to do with it. Did you take the pregnancy test today before you were arrested?" said Regina trying her best to calm Emma down and to try and find out if Emma was pregnant or not.
"No, I didn't get the chance to take the test I bought them. Neal came with me to the chemist to buy them and some light groceries, we then had lunch; it was during lunch that he asked me to do him a favour. I asked him what the favour was. He told me he just needed me to get this bag from a locker at the train station, he couldn't do it himself because he said people were after him. I felt sorry for him so I said yes. I had no idea that what was in the bag was stolen watches. I got the bag out of the locker with the key he gave me, then brought it back to him where he was waiting in the car of his.
He then opened the bag and took out one of the watches gave one of them to me as a thank you. He told me he was going to take the watches to a buyer of his then meet me back at my apartment for a movie night. He let me borrow the car to get myself and the groceries home. I drove back to the apartment and was surrounded by the police. Can you ever forgive me?" explained Emma.
"Of course dear, you didn't know he would betray you like that. From what you said the most the can hold you on is accessory to the theft, and aiding and abetting. At most the can hold you for nine months. Then you will have at least two months' probation." Replied Regina, she was holding back her need to kill this Neal person for hurting Emma. At the same time trying to reassure Emma that she didn't blame Emma for anything that happened.
"Okay, do I need to wait to tell the police what I just told you? Or can I just tell them and then wait for the lawyers to negotiate my sentence?" asked Emma.
"Comply with the police, and the lawyers I hire you will make sure you only get the time I mentioned. I will get your things from your apartment and bring them to my place so that you will have them when you get out of prison. I will come visit you on visitation days don't worry. I love you Emma. We will get through this I promise. Once at the prison they will do a full medical check-up on arrival, so they should administer a pregnancy test, if not I will bring one with me when I come for the first visitation day." Said Regina.
The detective gestured to Emma that it was time for her to hang up the phone. Emma nodded her head before she spoke again to say goodbye to Regina; "Regina, I have to go, I love you too, I will see you soon." Said Emma. "Bye sweetheart, I will see you soon, stay strong." Replied Regina before hanging up.
When Emma had hung up the phone the detective took it from her and then gestured for Emma to come through with what she had promised if she was able to speak to Regina. She then told the detective everything he asked her, not leaving out a single detail. Emma told him everything she knew about Neal Cassidy and everything that happened with the watches. When they were through they took Emma into one of the jail cells underneath the station.
Meanwhile Regina, upon hanging up with Emma; moved quickly to get a hold of the best lawyers she could find in Portland Maine, it didn't matter how much it was going to cost her, for to her Emma was worth it. They agreed to meet with Emma at the Police station where Emma was being held. First thing the next morning they will go there and make sure that Emma got the lightest sentence possible and considering that Emma was still under eighteen, she would be tried as a minor which would work in their favour.
For juveniles records are kept sealed, and they would make sure this didn't go onto Emma's permanent record.