Disclaimer I own nothing about once upon a time or john green but how I wish I could have tea with him and discuss my theories on imperial affliction.
WARNING: REFERENCE TO PROSTITUTION IN THIS CHAPTER!
AN: I AM BACK BEAUTIFUL READERS! How I have missed you and to make up for my long absence I give to you a nice long chapter. My finals are over and so far I've gotten 2 A's on them (my crime and punishment paper kicked ass!) I also interview tomorrow for a second job at the local bookstore so fingers crossed I get it cause that would just be the icing on the awesome cake. As per usual read and review I love getting feed back from you all it makes writing these chapters even more rewarding. Now im going to go eat pizza and binge watch orange is the new black in celebration of my success new chapter coming soon.
Ch. 9 Family takes care of each other
For the second time that day Emma awoke to the sound of beeping. With her eyes still shut she thinks "please tell me i'm at the bed and breakfast and that beeping is just an alarm clock." Looking around the room Emma groans when she sees the machines surrounding her and the IV in her arm. To the right of her, she sees Ingrid... no wait… her mom... asleep in the chair next to her bed. Emma looks closely at the sleeping women. They have the same nose and cheekbones. With her hair out of the bun it hanging down around her face Emma realized that she looked just like Ingrid does before she dreaded her hair. There was no mistaking this women for anyone other than her mother. Feeling the pain med's in the IV kicking back in her eyes grow heavy as she drifts back off to sleep.
She is woken up a few hours later by a nurse who informs her that Dr. Whale along with the mayor would be in shortly. Noticing Ingrid's chair empty she asks if she had left the nurse replies "Miss. Michaelson is outside on the phone she said to let you know she'd be back in a minute." Emma nodded in thanks as the nurse left her room. Walking over to the bathroom; she runs some paper towels under the faucet and wipes down her body, not the best way to clean up, but its good enough for now. Looking down at her clothes she found herself wishing she had her duffel so she could change. Wearing the same clothes for 3 days straight reminds her too much of her first month on the streets; they also don't smell the best either. Walking back into the room she stops as she notices Whale, Cora, Ingrid, Mary and Regina all quietly talking waiting for her return. As they hear the door slam close with a bang they all jump and turn at the same time starring at her. Feeling a little nervous with 5 sets of eyes on her Emma jokes "Did you guys practice that head turn thing cause that was both impressive and creepy."
Mary is the first to break the silence "Emma, David dropped off your bag for you on his way home after picking up Henry we thought you might like some clean clothes. We were all so worried when we got the call that you were back in the hospital." "Emma gratefully takes the bag digging out a old t shirt with a microscope a beaker Bunsen burner and pair of goggles whiles boldly stating "STAND BACK IM GOING TO TRY SCIENCE" Regina giggles at the girl standing there, thick rimmed glasses slightly crooked as she takes of the tank top from under the shirt. She looks every bit the adorable nerd and regina feels her heart flutter as Emma sends her a crooked smile with a slight blush. Looking away from her suddenly love struck seeming daughter Ingrid turns to MM and says "What do you mean back at the hospital? Was she here before? What exactly is going on with my kid!" "I will do my best to answer all your questions Ms. Michaelson" said Dr Whale who Emma sees is looking at Ingrid with a kind smile. Emma thinks this might just be the first time she's seen the doctor smile so genuinely and wonders what that's all about whatever it is Ingrid is to busy freaking out to notice. "Emma if you'll allow it Regina is currently interning with me and id like to give her a chance to practice chart reading." "um yea sure go for it" Emma said looking at the girl" "Very well…. Miss Mills" clearing her throat Regina's whole personality shifts as she realizes finally that her mother is in the room watching her closely "Yes, Emma Swan age 16 currently suffering from labored breathing and chest pain brought on by overexertion from physical activity and stress all of this is the result of a severe case of Pericarditis" Regina recites swiftly Emma lets out a whistle wow that was impressive can you do that with baseball stats? Cause if you can remember that much we can make some serious cash." Whale interrupts them, "Thank you miss mills now if you could run down to the x-ray clinic and pick up miss swans records ill leave you in charge of updating her file with the information you just told us" "Yes Doctor" Regina responds still blushing at Emma's comment; She smiles at the smirking teen as she leaves Emma sends her a wink. MM's pager goes off she checks it and looking at Emma say I have to go scrub in for surgery but don't hesitate to call me if you need anything and then kissing the girl on the top of the head walks out of the room. "OK" said Ingrid "What did all that mean, I understand shes sick but what are you going to do?" "Right" said Whale "So Emma we ran an MRI last night; and you're lungs as miss mills stated have been taking a bit of a strain to help fix this I want you to be on a portable oxygen tank for no less than a month." "You mean I have to go full hazel grace" Emma said in a whiny tone Cora and whale looked confused while Ingrid finally cracked a sad smile and laughed. "So its serious" she said though she already knew the answer "yea" said Emma sadly
"Well then" Ingrid says fighting back the lump in her throat; we'll just have to make the best of the time we got, our little infinity." she says with a laugh "my thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations" Emma says back laughing as well "then sobering slightly she turns to Cora and whale who look at the two confused, but, happy to see them bonding (at least that's what they think they're doing they're not to sure) "So doc how much of a limited infinity are we talking here?" Doctor whale looks to Ingrid who looks at him with pleading eyes and with a cough he says "yes um well its difficult to tell really, we're of course going to put you on the transplant list for a new heart right away but if you lungs take anymore damage i'm afraid it would put to much strain on the heart and cause your body to go into rapid heart failure. That said assuming we cannot find a match... I say a year... if we're careful." "Mmmmhhh" says Emma thoughtfully then asks "OK well how long till I can get out of here I got a list to start on. There's Yankee tickets out there somewhere with my name on them…..but wait…...I have to pay my bills first how much do I owe you Doc?" Cora and Ingrid looked to each other and with a kind of understanding eye contact agreed that Emma would obviously not be paying a dime for anything. If one year was all they had it was gonna be the best damn year of this kids life. Clearing her throat Cora says "Miss Swan stop your money is no good here." Emma looks up with panicked eyes fumbling desperately with a sock of what seems to be fully of cash as shes all but cries out "But its real money! I swear if it's not enough I can get more I just need some time or or i'll figure out I promise." " You misunderstand me I mean Miss Swan, I'm saying we don't want your money." "Emma stares at Cora before her face goes blank as she says "I see…..when and where do you want me." "I'm not sure what you mean" Cora replies looking at the girl in confusion " its obvious you paid for everything; which means I owe you so what do you want and when do you want it." "That's not what I.." "Look" said Emma cutting her off I've done this before OK just tell me when and where and i'll be there." "Miss Swan are you implying that... that..." "If that's what I need to do then yea" says Emma not meeting Cora's eyes " I've done this before Madam Mayor I know how this works some scratches your back you scratch their itch I can take care of myself." she says though it seemed to be more as a reassurance to herself then to the affirmation of anyone in the room. "Miss Swan" says Cora strongly "You will not under any circumstances ever have to do that again I paid your bill because I care about you and you and no other reason and even if I didn't pay it your mother has already stated she would cover all of you medical expenses" Cora swallows hard as she's continues "You've been through a life none of us can even begin to understand but I want you to know that you are safe here I told you in the car that Storybrooke is a family you are apart of that family now and family takes care of each other."
Emma sits there tears of shame and sadness embarrassed that, that was what her mind jumped to first the women was married, to a man! Of course that wasn't what she meant god! Emma thinks, I'm all kinds of fucked up. Before she can stop them the tears begin to fall heavily down her face. Never in her life has anyone ever wanted her. Wanted to care for her just because they wanted to. To everyone she has always just been a burden to expensive to keep and and not worth the trouble. When she voices this it is Ingrid who rebuts her this time. She stand there staring at her little girl in heart broken horror at what her life has been. Gathering her into her arms she holds her close and feels the warmth she felt so many years ago when she would spend long nights awake singing gently to her little girl. Looking at the broken girl in her arms she replies "That's not true. I want you Emma. I've always wanted you. You're my daughter and no amount of medical bills, tattoos, trouble, or past secretes will change that. I don't know what you've been through I hope one day you'll feel comfortable enough to tell me but I promise you. You will never go through anything else alone." Turning to doctor whale she says "Victor is it alright for me to take Emma home its been a long day and I think we all just need to relax and process everything." "Of course Miss. Michael" says whale "I'll go get the oxygen tank set up and prepare the take home kit so long as Emma doesn't do anything strenuous for the next few days she'll get fine to stay an outpatient." Turning to Cora he says "I trust the paperwork for transferring care of Emma has been taken care of. If you can give your approval that it's in the process I can release her into Miss Michaels care." "Yes" says Cora "The paper work is already being filed. I called in a favor with Gold as soon as the details of Emma's parentage were discovered." Whale nods and leaves to prep Emma's oxygen tank.
Cora looks to mother and daughter pair still locked in an embrace and seeing Ingrid humming gently to her daughter as she rocks the silently crying teen back and forth She is filled with a desire to gather her own daughter into her arms and hold her close, something she hasn't done since Regina was a young girl. Clearing the thought from her mind for now she says "Ingrid, Emma, would you mind if Regina and I stopped by later tonight we could drop off the rest of Emma's things from grannies and bring you some dinner. Unless this isn't a good time I'm aware its been an emotional day and you guys need time to recover…" "No" says Emma softly her body no longer shaking and wiping the tears from her face " I'm alright I promise. I've cried enough what's past is past and there's nothing to do about it but move forward." She turns to Ingrid and asks "Can they come over later maybe bring MM David and Henry too.I need some help with something." Ingrid looks into her hopeful daughter's eyes the exact same color and shape as her own and says "Of course they're your family and family is always welcome." Turning to Cora she says "I have no idea how to repay you for the kindness you've shown us." Cora locks eyes with Ingrid and says "don't worry about it like I said we're a family in this town and family takes care of one another."
AN part 2! There you have it beautiful readers let me know what you think. Now survey time what things should be on Emmas buck list Give you answers in the reviews and let me know! I'll pick at least 10 of them.
Keep on being amazing!