A/N: Hey guys! Sorry for this late update. Things have been hectic, what with my exams in only a weeks time and me studying (or rather drawing with an open textbook next to me) so yeah. I am currently writing this on one of my 'breaks' but my muse hit and I had to get this out. So here. Oh, one more thing, some people are curious as to where Graham comes in and how Emma knows him and stuff, so this chapter will be about that and I felt I had to add in Graham because, even though he's not on OUAT anymore- RIP Graham- he is one of my fave characters after Regina and Emma of course. Enough of my babbling! Here it is! Chapter 10!
Disclaimer in Chapter 1 (I'm getting tired of typing this but it's necessary *sigh*)
Enjoy!
Emma handed the bass guitar to Ruby before she tackled Graham in a hug. "Where have you been?!" she exclaimed.
"Here and there, but now I'm back home. I've missed you sis."
"I've missed you too! I can't believe you're here!" Emma said, releasing the man from her grasp. "Still got that killer grip I see." Graham said with a smile. Emma returned it with one of her own. Ruby cleared her throat from behind Emma, "Oh, right, sorry. Ruby this is Graham. Graham this is Ruby." Emma said, introducing them. "Hi!" Graham said with a small wave. "Do you wanna come in?" Emma asked. "Yeah, beats being hit with a bass guitar." Graham laughed. Emma just rolled her eyes and moved out the way for Graham to walk in. "I'm gonna go get the others. Tell them it's safe." Ruby said and disappeared through the door leading to the garage.
"Seriously though. Where have you been. Last time I saw you, you were packing to go to California. Did you manage to land the role you wanted?" Emma asked.
"Ah, that. No, I didn't get it some guy called Josh got it. After that I decided that instead of coming back to travel a bit." Graham said, scratching the back of his head, a sign that he was a little embarrassed of something.
"Okay. You didn't write or anything though. I thought you had disappeared off the face of the earth."
"Nah. I was just very... busy..." Graham's face went a dark shade of red.
"Oooo! Who is she? Or was a whole lot of she's?" Emma asked with a smile as her brother went a couple shade darker.
"Only one."
"Graham's got a girlfriend!" Emma chanted.
"Not anymore. She- uh- she passed away a couple months ago. Killed in action." Graham's face fell as he said that.
"Gray, I'm so sorry. She was a soldier?" Emma asked, stepping forward and rubbing his arm up and down in a comforting way.
"Yeah. A great one at that. They told me she died a hero. She sacrificed her life to save her regimen. The one guy had a kid back home and another had just got engaged before he went on his tour."
"And you?"
"We had only just started seeing each other before she left. Em, she was the most amazing girl you'd ever met. Enough about me and my grief, I wanna know what you've been up to."
At that moment, Ruby, Belle, Henry and Regina walked through the door. Henry was sitting on Regina's hip, his face still buried in her neck. Belle and Ruby were walking hand-in-hand. "Momma? Is the scary man gone?" Henry asked, lifting his head from its place in Regina neck. "Yeah kid, he's gone. Actually, the man is your Momma's brother. Say hi to Uncle Graham." Emma said coming up to the boy in her girlfriend's arms. Regina transferred the boy to the blonde's arms when he reached for her. "Jeez, kid. Did you eat a bowling ball in the minutes I was gone?" Emma asked. "No." Henry answered, his face now buried in his mother's neck, not looking to be coming out anytime soon. "Well, it looks like you've been up to a lot." Graham said, his face a picture of astonishment. At hearing Graham's voice Henry looked up from Emma's neck and tilted his head to side as he studied Graham. "You Momma's bwother? You don't look like Momma." he said. Emma chuckled, "Well, I'm not really your Momma's brother, but she is my little sister." Graham said making Henry lift one of his eyebrows in confusion. Ruby couldn't help herself, he looked so much like his mother's girlfriend in that moment, you could have sworn they were related, she started to laugh.
"What?" Graham asked, confused as to why Ruby was laughing. Belle saw what Ruby saw a few seconds later as the boy's eyebrow was still tilted and also burst out laughing. The two brunette's were clutching their stomachs as they watched the boy raise his brow higher, confused as to why his aunts were laughing. "Emma, look at your son." Belle managed to say in-between bursts of laughter. Henry looked at Emma and she too couldn't help herself, the boy's brow was still raised and it didn't look like it was coming down anytime soon. Regina, Graham and Henry watched as the three women laughed. Henry slid out of his mother's arms and stood next to Regina to watch them. "'Gina, why dey laughing?" the boy asked the brunette. "I don't know Henry. Emma what is so funny?" the brunette asked the gasping blonde. "I'm sorry 'Gina it's just-" she burst out laughing again, "The way Henry's eyebrow is lifted, he looks so much like you, that it's hard not to laugh at the similarities." Emma said hurriedly before she started laughing again. Henry looked at Regina and that was when the brunette saw it. She smiled before she shook her head, "I see." she said.
"Okay, okay." Emma said before letting out a long breath, "Let me introduce you all. Okay so you've met Ruby. Well, this here is Belle, Regina and Henry. This is Graham."
Graham smiled as Belle and Regina both said hi. Henry just stepped forward and looked up at him, he waved his hand, motioning for the man to come closer. Graham complied and Henry poked his cheek then ran his hands over the man's beard. "Your face is prickly." he stated with a nod of his head. "It is isn't it?" Graham said, running his own hand over his beard. "Yup!" the boy answered before he seemed to lose interest in the new person and ran to the living room where he probably continued to watch his movie.
Emma laughed at her son's short attention span, "Well, he seems to like you." she said with a smile. "How do you know?" Graham asked. "He's not hiding away from you or glaring at you. Trust me, he may have gone back to watching his movie but he likes you. I'd be concerned if he stood here and glared at you." Emma explained. Graham's mouth formed an 'O' when he understood.
"How do you and Emma know each other?" Regina asked, coming up behind the blonde and wrapping her arms around her waist in a way that was most definitely coming off as possessive. Emma smiled a small smile at her girlfriend's possessiveness, they hadn't been dating for long but already she knew that the brunette was silently saying, 'Mine'. "Well, I was in the system and then I was fostered by one family and I think they just didn't want to see me go so they adopted me and Graham became my adopted brother. This was after the family that gave me the bug." Emma explained.
"Don't forget the part where I practically begged for you to stay." Graham added with a smile.
"Yeah, he begged his parents and I guess they too were sad to see me leave and yeah. There's nothing much to it though."
"How come we've never met you before?" Belle asked.
"I had graduated a few years after Emma became part of the family and decided to travel and pursue my dreams of becoming an actor but I didn't get the part in a small movie, so I decided to travel."
"Yeah I only went to Storybrooke High after he graduated."
"Oh, okay." Belle said.
They all stood awkwardly for a few minutes, no one knowing what to say before Graham cleared his throat. "Well, it was nice to see you sis but I gotta go." he said. Emma furrowed her eyebrows, "Where you going?" she asked. "Mars." Graham said, wiggling his eyebrows, "No I'm kidding. I got an audition in New York for a major part. I decided to pop in to say hi before I moved on." he continued.
"When you leaving?" Emma asked.
"In a week. I still need to visit Mom and Dad and a few of my old friends but I'll probably come see you before I go."
"On Friday, go to the White Rabbit and come see us play." Emma said.
"You're in a band?" Graham asked.
"Yeah. I- We are 'Once'." Emma said, opening her arms to attempt to indicate them all but with Regina's arms around her it was a little difficult.
"You any good?" Graham asked with a tone that Emma knew was teasing.
"Come and you'll find out." Emma teased back, before she extricated herself from Regina's grasp and pulled her brother into a hug, "Just remember to call once in a while." Emma said into his shoulder.
"You think I'd forget about my favourite sister?" he asked, pulling away to look at the blonde.
"Shut up." Emma said, punching him in the shoulder. "Now go. Mom and Dad are usually out at this time. Take my key and surprise them. They've missed you Gray." Emma said pushing a set of keys into his hand. "See you sis. It was awesome meeting you all." Graham said before he walked out the door.
"How come you never told us about him?" Ruby asked.
"You never asked." Emma said before turning and walking into the garage. Regina moved to go after her but Ruby stopped her by grabbing her arm, "I know that look. Emma needs some time, to think. Give her a few minutes, she'll come round." the guitarist said. Regina looked at the garage door longingly before she nodded slightly and walked to the living room to join Henry. "What do you think is wrong with Emma?" Belle asked Ruby quietly. "I don't know, but she'll come out of it. This is just like in high school, you remember?" Ruby asked. Belle nodded, understanding what Ruby was talking about. "Come let's go give Regina ad Henry some company." Ruby said, starting to walk to the living room. Belle pulled her back and kissed her hard on the lips. It wasn't desperate or even heated, it was a kiss conveying everything that Ruby meant to Belle. "I love you. You know that right?" Belle whispered. "Yeah. I know." Ruby answered giving her a peck on the lips, "I mean who wouldn't love me?" the brunette said with a smile. Belle shook her head as she let out a soft chuckle.
Hand-in-hand they walked to the living room to go watch The Incredibles with Henry and Regina.
Emma sat down on the couch, grabbed the book that they put their songs, grabbed a pen and began to write.
She must have sat writing the song for around and hour before a pair of footsteps announced she had company. "Hey." Regina said softly, standing at the opposite end of the couch that Emma was lying on. "Hey." Emma said just as quietly. "How are you?" the brunette asked sitting on the arm of the couch. "Good." the blonde answered, which earned her a look from her girlfriend, "Okay, maybe not so good." Emma admitted with a small laugh.
Regina moved the blonde's legs and sat next to her. "Hey you think you could help me?" the blonde asked. "Of course." the brunette answered. Emma got up off the couch and went to fetch the violin sitting just behind the couch. She gave it to Regina, "Just play whatever melody you feel is right." Emma said. "RUBES! BELLE! Come down here for a sec!" Emma shouted. A few minutes later Ruby and Belle appeared in the doorway. "Yeah?" Ruby asked. "I got us a new song. Could you help with the melody?" Emma asked. "Sure Em. Do you have a melody planned or are we gonna do it the usual way?" Belle asked. "The usual." Emma said rifling through a box. Ruby and Belle picked up their instruments and waited for Emma. A couple seconds later Emma appeared holding some bells. She took her seat behind her drums and knocked the bells a few times before she found a sound she liked. "Ruby could take the keyboard? Regina is going to be playing on the violin. Belle could you play what I just did on these bells?" Emma chuckled a bit, "Belle's playing? Tapping? Bells." Belle smiled and took the bells whilst Ruby took her place behind the keyboard. "Okay I sorta have the way I want it to go... but it's in my head and I can't really explain how it's supposed to go so we'll wing it." Emma said with a smile.
"Belle start with the bells and Ruby play an E minor quickly." Ruby complied and Emma made a face, "Try a G minor." Ruby tried a G minor and Emma smiled, "Not exactly but close enough. Okay so that's how it starts and that's all I got. We'll have to figure it out along the way." Emma said. The other four women in the room nodded and they spent the next two hours trying to make a melody which sounded just right for the song.
When they got the melody just right Emma pumped her fist into the air. Henry came down and sat on the couch, his new movie probably finished. "Hey kid, wanna hear our new song?" Emma asked her son. Henry nodded vigorously making the five women smile at the boy's excitement. "So you guys wanna start?" Emma asked. Regina readied her violin bow, Ruby stood ready over the keyboard and bell held the bells ready. "Ready kid?" Henry nodded with a gigantic smile on is face.
Belle started to play on the bells and Ruby played a few chords on the keyboard. They repeated it twice before Ruby played a single note quickly in succession. Emma started to sing.
"I pirouette in the dark
I see the stars through me"
Regina played on the violin, her eyes closed, lost in the music. She keeps on playing.
"Tired mechanical heart
Beats 'til the song disappears"
Emma starts playing on the drums and continues to sing, coming to the chorus.
"Somebody shine a light
I'm frozen by the fear in me
Somebody make me feel alive
And shatter me
So cut me from the line
Dizzy, spinning endlessly
Somebody make me feel alive
And shatter me!"
Ruby stops playing for a few seconds and Emma beats on her drums as Regina makes the violin drop. Henry looks at the band, his mouth hanging open in awe. Emma continues to sing.
"Shatter me!
Somebody make me feel alive
And shatter me!"
Regina stops playing the violin like she had and resumes with a tamer sound. Belle plays on the bells and they all close their eyes, lost in the music for a few seconds.
"If only the clockwork could speak
I wouldn't be so alone
We'd burn every magnet and spring
And spiral into the unknown"
The chorus starts again and they get ready for the drop.
"Somebody shine a light
I'm frozen by the fear in me
Somebody make me feel alive
And shatter me
So cut me from the line
Dizzy, spinning endlessly
Somebody make me feel alive
And shatter me!"
Regina makes the violin drop and sways to the music. Her head swaying from side to side quickly as she played. Emma began singing the bridge. Regina kept playing exactly as she had been.
"If I break the glass, then I'll have to fly
There's no one to catch me if I take a dive
I'm scared of change, and the days stay the same
The world is spinning but only in gray
If I break the glass, then I'll have to fly
There's no one to catch me if I take a dive
I'm scared of change, and the days stay the same
The world is spinning but only in gray
(Only...)"
Emma stopped singing and Ruby "La-la-la'ed" while she played the keyboard. Emma started to sing again, starting soft and growing louder. She beat the drums hard and Regina let the violin drop for a few seconds before she carried on with the chorus' melody.
"Somebody shine a light
I'm frozen by the fear in me
Somebody make me feel alive
And shatter me
So cut me from the line
Dizzy, spinning endlessly
Somebody make me feel alive
And shatter me!"
The violin dropped again and Emma held her note.
"Me...!
Shatter me!
Somebody make me feel alive
And shatter me!"
They stopped playing and looked to the small brunette for approval. The boy jumped up and ran to Regina. "DAT. WAS. AWESOME!" he yelled as he jumped into the brunette's arms who had to quickly catch him with the violin in her hands. "Gina you is awesome." Henry said with a beaming smile. "Thank you Henry." Regina said with a smile. Emma came up behind them, "And what about Aunty Rubes, Aunty Belle and I?" Emma asked. "You is awesome too." the small brunette said with a shrug. "Are Munchkin. You are awesome." the blonde mother corrected. "Tank you Momma." the boy said with a shit-eating grin. "You little rascal." Emma said with a laugh. Henry just smiled wider. The blonde pulled in Regina and Henry in for a hug. Ruby and Belle looked at this with small smiles on their faces. Unbeknownst to the trio, the guitarist and bassist both took sneaky pictures and began posting them all over their social media. The trio's bubble couldn't be popped from the outside, only by the inside. This is what Ruby and Belle knew to be family.
A/N: Okay so you know what to do. Reviews are love. :) I don't know when exactly when the next update will be but I hope, for all our sakes, that it will be sooner rather than later.