CHAPTER 10
Henry had been sent upstairs while Emma and her parents talked. Emma hoped he hadn't heard any of the nasty things that were said this time. He had gotten dressed and went into the kitchen where he found Emma and Regina on the floor. She had collapsed there once her parents had left. "What's going on?"
"Nothing," Emma quickly covered. "I was just waiting for you to get ready so we could go and get breakfast at Granny's."
Henry knew something was seriously wrong. After what he had heard while they were upstairs and the tension that had been in the room once he left earlier, he knew things weren't good. "Are you going to get dressed first?"
"Oh. Right," Emma smiled at him. "We'll be right back," she ruffled his hair as she walked past him with Regina on her hip.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
As soon as they stepped into Granny's, Emma knew that her parents had been there. The entire diner went silent as they came in.
Henry automatically went for the booth that was in the back of the diner. Ruby hurried over to greet them.
She laid down menus for Emma and Henry. She gave Regina some crayons and a children's menu. "Hi li'l pup," she ran her hand through Regina's curls. "Emma, can I talk to you for a second?"
"Yeah. Sure," Emma followed Ruby a short distance away so that she could continue to keep an eye on Henry and Regina.
"I just wanted to let you know that your parents just left. They were talking about handling," Ruby motioned with her head toward the table, "the situation."
Emma sighed. She'd hoped that her parents would get over themselves. Apparently, that was just wishful thinking. "If anyone comes near her, they're going to have to get through me."
Ruby nodded her head, "And me."
"And me," Granny added in. She didn't have the wolf gene but even in her advanced years, her eyes and ears missed next to nothing. She walked over to the two women, "Don't worry. I have my crossbow ready. No one starts anything in my place."
Emma was a little surprised. She'd thought everyone was after Regina's scalp. It had been a couple of years since the curse broke but she soon found out that fairy tale characters had serious mental health issues. They'd get a mob started over any little thing. And they never seemed to be satisfied. Emma almost kinda agreed with Regina. They were a bunch of idiots who deserved being cursed.
Her surprise must've shown on her face because Ruby continued, "The curse was, for us, a blessing. If I had've stayed in the Enchanted Forest, eventually I would've been hunted down. Regina gave us a new beginning."
"And a new life. She could've separated us. She didn't. And she gave us this place. We owe her a debt. We promise you, no one will hurt that child as long as I'm alive," Granny added hugging Ruby close.
"Thanks," Emma nodded her appreciation and resumed her seat. "So, let's eat," Emma picked up her menu to see what looked good.
She knew things were far from over. But, for now, she was going to push her parents to the back of her mind and enjoy the time spent with her family.
XOXOXXOXOXOXOXOXOXXOXOXOXOXO
"So, kid, what do you think we should do with your – erm Mom here?" Emma asked glancing at Regina sideways.
Henry took his time deliberating. He thought back over the fun times when he would see his Mom at her happiest. She, in general, wasn't an upbeat person. But, those times when her face would light up and laughter would bubble up out of her, were always something to be treasured.
Emma watched his face thinking that even though he was her biological child, he would still always be Regina's too. There was always going to be the gulf of memories that were the first ten years of his life that she knew nothing of. And it was times like this, when his face held different expressions that Regina's fingerprints on his life shined though the most.
Henry got a mischievous look on his face. Yep, definitely Regina, Emma thought. "Well, she's been stuck in this town for a while. And it might be good to get out, ya know, so that we can keep her safe."
Emma smiled and nodded, "Uh huh. And where do you think that would be ya know, safe for your Mom?"
Henry fiddled with a paper napkin. "Well, there's the new entertainment center over in Limerick," Henry had his head tilted to the side and a grin that said pure imp.
Emma couldn't stop her laughter from boiling over. "I have to pay first. Then, we can get out of here," Emma flagged Ruby down.
Regina's eyes were the size of saucers, "You have to pay?"
Emma chuckled. "Yeah, that's how it's done in this land. You have to pay for everything."
Regina became nervous and looked like she wanted to cry. Before Emma could ask her what was wrong, Ruby came over with their ticket. Emma studied the bill and began pulling money out. She forgot about Regina's weird reactions.
Henry had already run ahead and was waiting for them at the door. Emma grabbed Regina's hand and pulled her outside and over to the car.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
The entertainment center had been just what they needed. The hour long drive to get there was filled with rock music blasting away and Henry and Emma trying to outdo one another with the radio. Henry had wanted to play laser tag but Emma knew that the lights would freak Regina out so she steered him towards the bumper cars.
They played there for a while and then headed to the arcades for a breather. They ate a quick lunch at the snack center before heading over to the paddle boats. They finished the day at the center with a few of the carnival style games.
After the Entertainment Center they headed over to a fast food place. Henry and Regina were both equally lost and Emma shook her head at their sad childhoods. To be deprived over the joys of fast food was akin to child abuse in her opinion. She loaded them all up on milkshakes of every flavor to share, of course, greasy cheeseburgers, and chicken nuggets with all of the different sauces. Henry became a fan of sweet and sour while Regina preferred the sweet chili.
They grabbed some ice cream on the way out of town and headed back home.
Once they got home, Emma sent Henry to bath and bed. She got Regina into a quick bath and then bed before getting herself ready. She walked in and said goodnight to Henry before retiring herself.
Emma had thought that Regina was asleep as she laid in bed next to her, scrolling through her picture and video gallery. She was glad that she had gotten a larger SD card because she had been able to record the entire day. It had been a great one.
She was so engrossed in her pictures that she never even felt Regina stir. All of a sudden, Emma felt something brush the apex between her thighs. She practically jumped out of her skin.
She jumped out of bed and switched on the light. There was little Regina curled up.
"What the hell kid?!"
Regina began to cry hysterically. She grabbed ahold of one of the corner bedposts and held on. "I'm sorry," was all that Emma was able to make out of the sobbing mess.
"No, kid. I'm not mad," Emma tried to soothe the child. "I'm just – umm…. What were you doing?"
Regina looked up at her with tears pouring down her face. Her little body was shaking and Emma was sure if she kept the crying up she was going to end up making herself sick. "Mother's going to be mad that I did it wrong," she finally managed to hiccup.
Emma blinked. She continued trying to console the child. She still couldn't wrap her mind around what had happened. "Mother's not going to know. It's our secret. I promise."
Regina looked at her with such hope that Emma's heart broke. She cursed the woman again and wished she could bring her to life so that she could kill her all over again.
Regina finally allowed herself to be calmed. Emma held her to her and rubbed her back.
"Do you want to tell me what you were doing?"
"You said we had to pay. It's how we pay for our keep. I'm a very expensive little girl."
Emma continued rocking Regina even as her mind put the pieces together. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. I meant that I had pay the bill," at the confusion on Regina's face she tried another way of explaining. "In this land, we use money. And I go to work to make money. And you and Henry play. That's your job. Just… to be happy. That's the only thing that I want from you two. And you did that today, right? You had fun right?"
At Regina's nod, she continued, "You don't have to do those things here Regina. You're safe. Nothing and no one's going to hurt you. Your Mother was wrong."
At this Regina gasped audibly. She looked around as if saying those words were going to conjure the woman up.
Emma held her up and looked into her eyes. "I've got you. No matter what, always remember. I've got you."
Regina finally began to relax. Emma continued to hold her until her eyes grew heavy and her breathing evened out.
She didn't know how much longer she stayed awake. She only knew that when she did, her own demons would soon be there to snatch at her.