A/N: Henry's role will be, obviously, slightly different here, due to his age.
After this chapter the next ones are still only plotted, so it may take some time before I post anything more.
Togetherness
Emma's pregnancy did mess up their plans rather thoroughly. In fact, there were only a few points they agreed on - starting with the most basic one, that they were going to keep the child.
After a big discussion they decide to call "it" Henry, or Irene, depending on the outcome. Elena was suggesting "Harry", but Elsa pointed out that kids with "book names" are often picked on at school. Henry was close enough and a good, short name with no fuss. Elsa secretly wished for a girl, but Elena was more partial to a nephew. Emma just wanted to stop puking at some point.
"Have you considered your options?"
Emma blinked at the nurse behind the desk.
"Yes, we've already chosen the name."
It was nurse's turn to blink.
"I meant, have you considered - termination, adoption? There are secure ways to give a child away for adoption, and there are agencies that facilitate this. You could even get some money…"
The door behind Emma didn't slam, as she had to energy to slam things any more.
Elsa wrapped the blanket around her and handed her a steaming cup of cocoa.
"They are…" Emma inhaled shakily. "They are just nasty."
"They are following a script, really" Elsa sighed and sat across from her sister. "I suppose they get a ton of women our age, trying to get out of the situation. They are supposed to accept the first answer though, so she should have shut up the moment you said you chose the name. Also, she should not have mentioned the money."
Elena leaned on the kitchen door frame.
"We'll go with you tomorrow. Hopefully that will make them more restrained."
Emma had to give up volunteering at the support centre and had trouble finding an appropriate job, but Elena managed to get a position on her first interview, to the envy of her sisters. Proofreading of historical journals was perfectly suited to her preferred mode of working from home.
Elsa's job hunt took slightly longer, but companies needing a paralegal were abundant, she just had to pick the right one.
Emma's spirits were so low she could barely make it out of bed and into the kitchen in the morning.
"Here" Elena dumped a stack of paper in front of her pregnant sister.
"What is that?"
Emma struggled to sit upright.
"Money. You read this, you mark errors, they pay. I know you hate picking on people's errors, but these are sociological articles and I hope you can focus better on them than you would on some of mine."
Emma picked the first sheet up and pushed her glasses up her nose.
"Why did you pick up these? I know you hate proofreading on paper…"
"But your laptop is half-dead and these had been delivered printed out anyway. I asked in the office if they had any backlog and picked some of these, by the topic. If you don't like them, I can find some zoological ones and I'm almost sure I saw some about childbirth…" she smirked. "Now, you remember the correct notation?"
Emma shrugged.
"Hope so. Thanks, sis" she smiled slightly at Elena.
With the due date a month in the future, they never expected Emma's waters to break in the middle of a shopping mall. Fortunately the car was just at the front of the mall - Elena had an uncanny knack of finding good parking spots. They half-carried Emma into it and earned Elsa several tickets on the way to the hospital. At least they didn't try parking in the ambulance bay, like some parents they've seen, as Elena supported Emma in her march to the door and Elsa could park the car safely and correctly. She barely made it inside with her sisters.
Despite three or four attempts at separating them or removing at least one from the birthing room, they managed to stay with Emma for the whole 20-hour ordeal. Elsa was alert for every manoeuvre of the staff and Elena never let her nephew out of her sight, once he was washed and wrapped in a blanket. She was having a slightly bad feeling about all around them, but putting a finger on it seemed to be a challenge.
"We're not leaving him in the hospital" Elsa felt that if she had to repeat that sentence one more time, she'd kill someone with her bare hands. "Some people... I just can't. Just can't."
Elena pressed her hand briefly.
"We'll get there."
Elsa sighed.
"I hope so. I'm just a bit... why does everyone assume that three women can't raise a kid?"
Henry was just adorable - if one could ignore his unfortunate resemblance to Neal. Emma was more than happy to do so. She sat on her bed, exhausted, sweaty and hoarse from screaming and her son was the very sweetest kid ever. The fact that his father failed at his basic task of being a decent human being did not affect her love for him one bit.
"So, dear, it's the time to sign the papers" the nurse smiled in a way that unsettled her. "the quicker you do this, the sooner you can be on your way."
Emma blinked, pulled brutally out of her reverie.
"What papers?" she coughed. "The doctor said we need at least one more day in the hospital. I didn't..."
"Yes, you did" the nurse frowned. "You must sign these papers right now."
"What is this..." Emma's voice trailed off as she scanned the document. "I'm not giving Henry up for adoption! Are you crazy? Elsa already told that stinky lawyer to stay away from me! You're not getting my son!"
Her tirade gained in volume as she pushed the pad of documents away and down from the bed, trying to get up.
"You will be a good girl and sign the blasted papers or you will learn how badly I can hurt you with just the stuff I can inject into your IV."
Emma gestured with both her free hands.
"I have no IV!"
Big hands immobilized one of hers.
"Now you will, no worries."
"And this is my clue to ask you to step away from that bed, write down your name and get you reported to the chief."
"Elsa!"
"I kind of had a feeling they won't give up that easily."
The chief of the maternity ward squirmed in his seat as Elsa watched him with cool interest. Finally, having re-stacked the papers, organised the pencils and opened and closed the windows twice, he managed to look at her.
"We were asked to provide a boy, of certain characteristics" he uttered. "Your nephew fits the description. I'm so very sorry for my staff's behaviour, but the possibility of a hefty bonus must have clouded some minds."
"I don't really care. You can now work out where you are going to find all the money I'm going to sue you for. I'm quite sure your insurance doesn't cover 'employees being stupid craps'."
It was, indeed, rather satisfying to be finally able to defend themselves against the world. Elsa found it refreshing to be the one in charge and in control, so she happily pushed the case until a healthy sum was deposited to Henry's "school account".
Proper lawyer-y detachment be damned, that was family.