Hey guys! So everyone's back in Storybrooke! I through in an Emma and Sarah moment for all those missing the mother and daughter team. Like I said before I am now going back to being super busy with deadlines so I won't be able to post as much as I have been doing. Please be patient and I will update as soon as I can. Thank you so much for the continued support my lovelys.
'I tell you what I haven't missed,' Emma began as her and her kids walked through the streets of Storybrooke. 'Going grocery shopping only to buy sweets and junk food,' the blonde sent a glare to Henry.
'Hey, it wasn't me,' the boy defended looking at his sister who was already eating a chocolate bar.
'What?' the teen questioned as her mom and brother stared her down. 'I have been through a traumatic experience my body needs sugar,' Emma just rolled her eyes at her daughter but couldn't help the slight smile. She had missed this.
'So, I've been thinking,' Emma continued as they got close to the loft.
'That must have been a new experience for you,' the teen smirked her mom giving her a light jab in the ribs.
'As I was saying, you should invite Josh to the party later I haven't had chance to see him since I got back,' Emma noticed her daughters silence and the way Henry stared down at his feet. 'Something I should know?' Emma asked as they entered the loft. Before Emma could push the subject any further they noticed Snow and David in bed.
'My eyes,' the teen moaned reaching up to cover her gaze while Emma just stared traumatised while Henry stood clueless.
'What are you guys still doing in bed? It's the middle of the afternoon,' Henry's innocent mind questioned.
'The trip back was tiring, and I needed to rest,' Mary Margaret couldn't help the smile on her lips.
'And I needed to… help her rest,' David quickly added his cheeks turning red.
'I bet you did,' Sarah mumbled earning a death look from her mother.
'Uh, let's… let's go make the tacos. We have to make a lot, because there's going to be a ton of people at Granny's welcome back party tonight,' Emma stuttered not sure what she was saying.
Henry gave a nod heading into the kitchen while the teen stayed observing the train wreck. 'We thought you were going to be back later,' Mary Margaret whispered.
'So, this is our fault?' The teen exclaimed. 'You're the one who picked a home with no walls,' Sarah held her hands up looking around the open plan loft.
'Maybe next time, you could put a tie on the door, or send a text, or… you know what? I'm… I'm… going to go make some tacos,' Emma turned away refusing to deal with the situation.
Emma grabbed the teens arm dragging her along with her. 'Mommy I'm blind,' the younger Swan moaned as they headed into the kitchen.
'It's impressive that we can still provide her with a few traumatic childhood memories at this stage of the game' David smirked earning a laugh from his wife.
After a few moments in the kitchen Emma had to walk away needing a minute to herself to get over the embarrassment of her parents. Sarah and Henry continued to make the tacos in silence both wanting to say something but not being able to think of the words. Eventually the giggles from their grandparents became too much and the teen needed a distraction.
'So, about that thing you saw yesterday,' Henry just stared needing more information. 'You know Gold's… fall.
'Fall?' Henry raised an eyebrow.
'Technically he did fall,' Sarah argued. 'Why haven't you told Emma?'
'About you having magic?' Sarah just nodded. 'I figured you didn't want me to,' Sarah gave a sigh of relief continuing with the task at hand. 'Why don't you want Emma to know?'
Sarah thought about it for a moment before responding. 'The only magic me and Emma have seen is bad. It's the thing that broke up her family in the first place. I don't know I just…' the teen trailed off not knowing what to say next.
'You know it won't change anything, right? Emma will still love you the same,' Sarah gave her brother a soft smile.
'I hope so,' she whispered as she stared at the tacos.
'Oooh something smells good,' Zac entered the loft with a smile Josh trailing behind him. Zac walked over to the food reaching to take a bit but his hand was soon swatted away by his daughter. 'Hey, where's the love for your dad?'
'It comes and goes,' the teen smirked while the man just grumbled.
At that moment, Snow and David joined the family now fully clothed. 'You guys look happy,' Zac smiled causing the married couple to giggle once more.
Zac gave his daughter a confused look but the teen just shook her head. 'You don't want to know.'
Emma reappeared in the room finally feeling calm noticing Josh hovering in the doorway. 'You can come in you know we won't bite,' she smiled but Josh's gaze remained at the group. 'Hey,' Emma touched his arm Josh finally looking at her. 'Don't I at least get a hug,' Josh rolled his eyes playfully pulling the blonde in for a hug. Emma had known the raven-haired boy since he was 6 years old and always considered him part of her family. When they finally broke free Emma studied, his face knowing something was wrong. 'You okay?' the blonde questioned in concern.
'Uh… yeah,' Josh took one more look at Sarah before slowly backing out the door. 'I have to go but I'll see you later.'
'You're coming to the party later right?' Emma quickly asked before the boy could bolt.
'Sure,' he smiled. 'Good to have you back Emma,' with that he left.
'I see you've finally recovered,' the teen smirked heading over to her mother.
'Just,' the blonde sighed causing a laugh from the teen. 'So, what's going on with Josh?'
'What?' Sarah looked uncomfortable at the question Emma sensing the girl knew what was happening.
'He just bolted out of here like he did when we tried to make him watch the Miss Congeniality for the tenth time,' the blonde raised an eyebrow at her daughter.
'I don't know,' Sarah quickly deflected. 'Well those tacos won't make themselves,' Sarah quickly went back to the kitchen leaving a suspicious mother in her wake.
The party was in full swing with everyone taking it in turns to hug the trio that had been lost for so long. Sarah couldn't remember the last time she felt so happy with her parents by her side.
Interrupting the laughter David raised his glass to make a speech. 'I just wanted to, uh, thank you all for joining us tonight. Mary Margaret and I – we have a saying… that we will always find each other. And, while I believe that with all my heart, I'd like you all to raise your glasses and join me when I say… here's to not having to look for a while. To Mary Margaret, Zac and Emma!' Everyone smiled and raised their glasses happy to cheers to that.
The moment was soon over as Regina entered the diner food in hand. 'Sorry I'm late,' she smiled while the rest of the room glared at her.
'What is she doing here?' Leroy growled grabbing a knife.
'I invited her,' Emma explained. 'We're celebrating today because of Regina. She helped us get home. No matter what she did in the past, we owe her our thanks now.'
'Didn't you think to tell us about it?' Mary Margaret questioned a frown on her face.
'I did, but you two were a little busy this afternoon,' Emma shuddered at the thought.
'Can we not relieve it,' the teen winced. 'Look Regina saved your life,' Sarah knew why Mary Margaret was hesitant but she had to give the Mayor a chance.
'She's trying to change for Henry and Sarah,' Emma looked at her daughter who gave her a soft smile. 'They believe in her. And, right now, that's enough for me. I couldn't have changed if I wasn't given a chance, so… she gets one, too.'
Sarah gave her mom's hand a squeeze before heading over to Regina who was now sat with Henry. 'Hey,' the teen smiled.
'Hey,' Regina's eyes lit up at how friendly her daughter was being. Henry took a piece of lasagna as a crowd gathered at the food. 'Oh, I made a lasagna,' Regina smiled at Leroy.
'What's the secret ingredient? Poison?' The man snapped.
'Red pepper flakes. Gives it some kick,' Regina squinted an evil look in her eye.
'But I promise you there will soon be poison in yours if you carry on offending my mom,' the teen growled with the same look Regina had causing the man to walk away. Regina gave the teen a grateful smile happy to finally have her on side.
As the party continued Sam soon arrived taking the teens attention. 'Young love,' Regina thought to herself with a smile and shake of her head. The Mayor sat at a booth watching everyone ignore her clearly not wanting her around. Henry was busy chatting with the rest of the town not noticing his mother's loneliness. Not being able to take it anymore Regina grabbed her jacket heading for the door Emma being the only one to notice.
'Archie made a cake,' Regina turned around hearing Emma behind her. 'You don't want to stay for a piece?'
Regina gave a soft smile but shook her head. 'I'm fine, thank you.' Emma stood awkwardly but decided she had nothing else to say turning to head back inside. 'Thank you,' Regina took a step forward the blonde turning back round.
'You already said that,' Emma shifted on the spot not knowing how to talk to the woman.
'F-For inviting me,' the Mayor was new at the whole being nice thing but she was trying her best.
'The kids wanted it,' Emma quickly explained. 'I'm glad you guys got to spend some time together.'
'Me, too. I'd like to see them more. Maybe you'd consider letting them stay over some time. I… I have Henrys room just… just waiting for him and I would love to set up a room for Sarah at mine,' Regina's face looked hopeful.
'Oh… I'm… I'm not sure that's best,' Emma tried her best to keep her tone nice but her words still brought anger to the surface of Regina.
'Because you know so much about parenting in the five minutes you've been with him,' Regina snapped.
'I think you're forgetting about the 9 years I've taken care of your daughter,' Emma snapped back losing her patience.
'Talk to David. At least he took care of them while you were away. Like I did, during the ten years you were away the first time,' Regina snapped.
'Just like me and Zac took care of Sarah for the fifteen years you were gone,' both woman looked at each other knowing neither of them could win this fight. 'Okay. Thanks for coming,' Emma sighed sick of fighting.
'No, wait. I'm sorry. I… I'm… I'm sorry,' Emma paused against her better judgement. 'Snapping at you – I shouldn't have done that. Will you accept my apology?'
Emma thought for a moment before nodding. 'Okay. You're right. Archie said you were trying to change. And, well, you are.'
A look of betrayal went across Regina's face: she knew she shouldn't have trusted the cricket. 'Dr. Hopper said I was trying?'
'He said you came to see him. That you're trying not to use magic, that you're trying to be a better person. You understand, I was hesitant to invite you. I asked him, and he thought it was a good idea,' Emma smiled but this seemed to bring no comfort to the brunette.
'Thank you. It was. I should be going,' Regina span on her heels storming off.
Emma stood staring at the empty space where Regina had just been before heading back into the diner. Up until that point she hadn't noticed Sam and Sarah together but she did at that moment as she was greeted by Sam placing a kiss on her daughter's lips. The blonde wasn't the only one to notice as she saw Josh stare at the pair for a moment before storming off. Turns out Emma had missed more than she thought.
Emma woke up early the next morning deciding her and the teen needed a catch up. The blonde made coffee, not completely stupid, and headed up to the girl's room. 'Rise and shine,' Emma whispered putting the coffee on the nightstand and lying on the bed next to the teen.
'No rising, no shining,' Sarah moaned burying her head deeper into the pillow.
'Come on' Emma shook the girl. 'I've been gone for ages you'd think you would want to spend time with your mother.'
'You know part of me is now missing the long distance we had going before,' Emma smiled knowing the teen didn't mean it.
'Hey, at least I brought coffee,' Emma grabbed the mug seeing the teen finally sit up slightly at the thought of caffeine.
Sarah took the mug quickly taking a sip. 'You know you are taking your life in your hands waking me up this early?'
'Yes I do,' Emma nodded. 'I'm still recovering from the biting incident of 2008.'
'Hey you shouldn't have put your hand that close to my mouth when I was trying to sleep,' the teen defended. 'So why have you got me up so early?'
'I thought we could meet Henry for breakfast,' Emma smiled.
Sarah stared at her alarm clock. 'And you thought it would take me 2 hours to get ready?' The teen raised an eyebrow.
Emma sighed knowing she had been caught. 'I may have seen you with Sam last night.'
'So?' Sarah questioned not getting the point. 'You saw me with Sam plenty of times before you left.'
'Yes, but when the curse broke you two seemed to call things off,' Emma suddenly felt awkward never really talking about boys with the teen before.
Sarah felt the same discomfort sitting up slightly. 'Well we decided to see how things go.'
'I see,' Emma paused looking at her daughter. 'Do you want to tell me why Josh bolted out of there when he saw you and Sam together?'
'He did?' Sarah asked surprised she hadn't seen him.
'I thought as your best friend he would know you're with Sam,' Emma pushed.
'He does,' Sarah stared at her coffee finding herself unable to look at her mother.
'What aren't you telling me?' Emma knew her daughter well enough to know when she was keeping something from her.
'Josh may have said something to me,' Sarah began.
'Go on,' the blonde demanded.
'He told me he… that he… loved me as more than a friend,' Sarah quickly rambled the last part Emma barely hearing her.
'Josh loves you,' now it was Emma's turn to be surprised.
'Yes,' Sarah sighed.
'And you didn't feel the same?' Emma had always known the pair was close and she had often joked that the best friends would end up together someday.
'I like Sam,' Sarah explained simply.
Emma rested her head on the pillow staring at the ceiling quickly discovering the situation was more complicated than she thought. 'So, what should I do?' The younger Swan asked.
'I… don't know,' Emma wished she had some words of wisdom for her daughter but she wasn't any good at relationships herself.
'Are you kidding?' Sarah looked down at her mom. 'I have waited all this time to ask for your advice and that's all you got? I would have been better to ask Henry,' the girl sighed putting her coffee on the side and lying back down.
'One thing I do know,' Sarah turned facing her mom. 'You don't want to lose your best friend,' Sarah knew the blonde was right but she was running out of ways to get Josh to listen to her. The teen hugged her mom both of them laying there in silence enjoying being around each other again.
'So, what was it like? Over there?' The two Swans met Henry for breakfast all of them choosing to order fries Emma really missing them after her stint in the enchanted forest.
'Well, let's see. There were ogres, the dead rising, people trying to kill me. And…more ogres,' Emma looked up at her kids sat opposite her.
'So, I'm guessing you saw some ogres,' Emma stuck her tongue out at the teen.
'Believe it or not they aren't as loveable as Shrek,' Emma sighed remembering the beasts.
'Awesome,' Henry smiled.
'Kid, we got to work on your sense of awesome,' Emma laughed before looking at her watch. 'Come on. It's time for school. I'll walk you to the school bus.'
'It's okay. I can go on my own,' Henry insisted as all three stood up.
'I know that you can. That doesn't mean that you should,' Emma countered.
'David let me,' Henry argued.
'And how often did you actually make it to school?' Sarah looked down at her brother with a smirk.
'Well, I'm not David,' Emma argued not backing down.
'You used to let me.,' Henry pointed out.
'Well, I am not me,' Emma retorted.
'Oh no did we bring clone mom out again,' the teen sighed earning an eye roll from Emma before the blonde turned her attention back to Henry.
'I'm walking you, because that's what mothers do. And I'm doing it,' Emma put an arm around both kids leading them out the diner. Sarah couldn't help but smile at the blonde happy to see her finally embrace her motherly instincts towards Henry.
Outside the diner, Pongo ran over barking at the trio. 'Hey, Pongo. It's okay. It's okay,' Henry insisted as both kids stroked the dog.
'Where's Archie?' Emma looked around not seeing the man.
At that moment, Ruby appeared worry evident in her face. 'Emma, something's wrong.'
'How do you know? Never mind. The wolf thing. You know what? Eleven is old enough to walk to the bus stop. I'll pick you up later,' Emma pushed Henry towards the street. 'Check he gets there okay,' Emma turned to her daughter.
'Are you sure I can't help?' The teen questioned.
'You would be helping a lot by watching out for Henry,' Sarah was going to argue but thought better of it as she led Henry away.
Sarah stayed near the school most of the day her mom asking to check he didn't try and break out during a break. The teen went around to Sam's to break up the time but she had a sick feeling in her stomach knowing something wasn't right. The teen was right to worry as Emma went through an emotional rollercoaster. The blonde had so wanted to believe Regina was innocent for her kids' sake but she couldn't argue against what she'd seen with her own eyes. Emma stormed through town her parents close on her tail trying to calm her down but it was no use. No one messed with her kids. Snow insisted they needed a plan but Emma couldn't think of anything.
'So, what do we do?' Emma huffed abruptly stopping.
'Even if the dwarves construct a cell to hold her, we need a way to contain her magic until then,' David looked at Mary Margaret for a plan.
'Fairy dust. Leroy said they were processing a new batch of it.'
Emma turned her attention to her mother. 'Will that stop her power?'
'It has before. The problem is, she'll see us coming,' David sighed.
'Leave that to me. Trust me – we're locking her up,' Emma growled.
Emma pounded on the Mayors door anger bubbling inside of her. When Regina opened the door, she wasn't the least bit surprised to see the Charming clan. 'Miss Swan. I assume you're here to apologize.'
'I saw you do it,' Emma got straight to the point.
'What?' Regina was now confused.
'I saw it. You choked the life out of Archie,' Emma growled feeling bad for her friend who was now gone.
'What are you talking about? How is that even possible?' The Mayor exclaimed.
'Magic,' David explained simply.
'I saw what happened, and it was you,' the blonde added.
'Gold. He helped you,' Regina was finally piecing it all together. 'You're going to trust him, of all people, when he's probably the one behind this?'
'We didn't trust him. That's why Emma used magic instead,' Mary Margaret stayed back knowing Regina's rage was about to take over.
'You can use magic… the saviour. Of course,' Regina had so many emotions going through her but he first thing that popped into her mind was her daughter. If Emma had magic now as well what would the teen need Regina for? 'Well, I can only assume he warned you, then.'
'About what?'
'That magic always comes with a price,' Regina didn't feel she needed to remind Emma of when Sarah died.
'Yeah? Well, that's a price we're both going to pay,' Emma snapped.
'How's that?' Regina could feel herself about to explode.
'Henry and Sarah. They believed in you. Their hearts are going to break. That's both our prices,' Emma's anger soon turned to sadness as she thought of her kids. They were finally starting to get some happiness back in their life and now it was about to be ripped away from them.
'No. I will not let you poison my children against me,' Regina took a step forward.
'It's an interesting word choice, since you already did poison your daughter,' Emma scoffed before walking away.
'I want to see them,' the brunette insisted chasing after the blonde. 'They deserve to hear my side of the story! They're my kids!'
That was all it took for Emma to spin back round never feeling this level of rage before. 'They're not! They're mine!' Emma screamed. 'And, after this, you're not getting anywhere near them! Do it!'
At that moment blue stepped out of the shadows throwing fairy dust Regina's way but the queen was too fast for them grabbing the magic in her hand. 'Did you really think that would work again?' Regina growled at David and Mary Margaret. 'You… you will not keep my children from me,' Regina raised her hand sending Emma flying. Mary Margaret quickly ran to her daughter aid helping her up. 'So much for fairy dust. Maybe some of your newfound magic can save you now.'
'I don't need it. I already won. There is no way Henry and Sarah will swallow your lies about Archie now. You can pretend all you want, but we know how you are, and who you will always be,' knowing there was nothing else to say Regina disappeared into purple smoke.
'Sarah and Henry will be off the bus any minute,' Emma stood looking up and down the street waiting for her kids to arrive.
'You can do this,' Mary Margaret said softly from behind the blonde.
'Tell my kids that someone they loved was killed by someone else they care about? I don't know if I can,' Emma span round panic evident on her face. 'Yeah, I don't think I can do any of this. This is like real parent stuff. How can I be a parent if I never was one?'
'You were a parent to Sarah,' David argued.
'Yeah but Sarah was easy she practically raised herself. All she ever needed was caffeine and her allowance,' Emma thought back over her years with her daughter knowing how easy Sarah was to most kids. Apart from getting in a spot of trouble every now and then Emma and the teen always had more of a friendship than a strict mother and daughter relationship.
'I've been asking myself how I'm going to do this too,' David gave a smile but the blonde soon protested.
'Oh, no. You guys don't have to… It-It's different.'
'No, it isn't,' Snow cut her daughter off. 'And yes, we have to. We can figure it out. So can you.'
'You don't know me. You don't know what I was before Storybrooke. Just ask Sarah she can back me up. I made us move every few months, I always worked too much, I was never reliable,' Emma ranted.
'Yeah, but we know who you are since you've been here,' David's voice was soft and calming.
'What if I revert? Regina did,' Emma could feel anxiety taking over at the thought of being a full-time mom to both her kids.
'You're not going to. And the Emma I know was great with Henry,' David wasn't about to back down.
'I was his parent for five minutes,' Emma raised her voice but it didn't seem to affect the man.
'And I was yours for five minutes, too, but things are different now – for all of us. We don't have to go through any of it alone. We're family,' the blonde calmed slightly at the thought.
Before she could say anymore Emma heard her kids behind her. 'Hey mom,' the teen smiled Henry by her side.
'Something happened, and… I want you to hear it from me first,' Emma got straight to the point both her kids looking at each other for some clue about what was happening.
'What is it?' Henry questioned as Emma led them over to a nearby bench.
Regina watched from her car as Emma sat her kids down and began to tell them the story. It didn't take long for Henrys eyes to well up with tears as he fell into Emma's arms. Sarah just sat there trying to process what she had been told, her face going from confusion to disbelief to anger. Regina couldn't help but shed tears of her own. This time she was sure she had lost her kids for good.
So Regina's kids have been turned against her again... this wont be good! Check the next chapter to see what happened. I hope you enjoyed it guys!