Merry Christmas Eve Eve, everybody! My present to all of you, finally updating this. This is possibly the last chapter I'll be updating on Fanfiction. If you missed the announcement, after the New Year, I am moving strictly to AO3. For more of an explanation, check out the last chapter of my Charming Family fic "All I Want For Christmas". Also, if you haven't already, check out the Christmas future shot for this series, chapter 2 of "I Knew I Loved You".
Chapter Eleven: Yellow Bugs
Mary and David sat on the edge of Neal's bed, watching him carefully. They had gotten home from the hospital earlier that day and he had been so exhausted, he had willingly taken a nap for the first time since he was a toddler. They watched him sleep, his chest rising and falling. They couldn't help but stick by his side. They weren't sure how they were going to let him out of their sight ever again. A trip to Archie was definitely necessary, but for the time being, it was just them.
"Guys, this is overkill," Emma mumbled.
David smiled down at her, they weren't letting her out of their sight either, adult or not. She was curled up into David's side, who had an arm around her. Mary had a hand on her stomach, clearly thinking that'd protect both her and their grandson. She was putting up a fuss, but obviously didn't care too much.
"Suck it up," Mary said. "You're our babies. We're spending our first night back home together."
"You're lucky that dad is comfortable," she replied, letting out a content sigh.
David chuckled, ruffling her curls. "Seriously, Princess…how are you feeling?"
"I'm fine."
"Really?"
She sighed again, this one not as happy. "Honestly, I'm just glad he's away. Hopefully the prison won't be so stupid to let him out again."
"We won't let that happen. He'll never be able to hurt you or Neal again."
Mary watched as Emma's eyes drifted shut, rubbing her back. It wasn't long before she began softly snoring. She couldn't help but giggle at that.
"She somehow gets that from you."
"I don't snore," David protested.
"Um, yeah, you do."
He rolled his eyes. "It's weird the little things they seemed to inherit from both of us. Neal's love of books from you, Emma wanted to become a cop like me, they're both stubborn just like you…"
"Hey, that's a trait from you, mister."
"I'd beg to differ. Look at you."
Mary looked down at Emma, smiling softly. "Nah, she was stubborn from the moment she got here. Remember how long it took her to actually accept our help?"
"I thought she'd kill herself with the dishwasher."
"Can you believe how much she's grown since then? I don't just mean emotionally." She frowned a bit. "Sometimes I look at her and all I see is that little girl."
"I know, I do too. Now that little girl is having a baby."
"She's going to be an amazing mom."
"Well, she did learn from the best."
Mary smiled, pecking his lips and leaning into his other side, pulling Neal a bit closer in his sleep.
"We're going to have another baby around here soon," she mused. "We've never had an actual newborn here."
"We used to babysit Gideon when he was that age."
Mary gave him a look. "It'll be a bit different from babysitting. Though, I guarantee that Miss Stubborn here is going to insist on doing most of the work herself."
"Of course she will." He paused for a moment. "Do you ever think about reaching out to Bae?"
"You mean to kill him?"
"I just want to talk some sense into him is all. He's young, maybe he doesn't realize what his reaction is costing him. Maybe, he's changed his mind. I've known him for years, I really got to know him once he became friends with Emma. This just doesn't seem like him."
Mary frowned. "It doesn't, does it? But you know what they say, babies either bring people together or tear them apart."
"Still...after all his mother put him through…it just doesn't seem like something he would do"
"What are you trying to say? That he was taken over by an alien?"
"Look, I get what you're saying. This isn't the Bae we know, I doubt it's the one his parents do either. At the same time, how much have we really seen of him since he took off to see the world? Sometimes people change, David. It sucks and I wish it didn't, for our daughter and grandson's sake…but it happened. All we can hope is that in time, he sees the error of his ways and that Emma will let him around when he does. Your father came around for you."
"I just hope it doesn't take that long for Baelfire." He chewed on his lip. "So, you don't think we should reach out to him?"
"No. Emma says she plans on telling Belle and Ralph, let her do it in her own time. They can decide what they want to say to their own son about it. I think we know that we'd have something to say to Neal if he was acting this way."
"I guess you're right."
David kissed her temple and leaned against Neal's headboard. He knew Emma was putting on a good front, but also knew that all of this had to be killing her. There were so many things in life that he could fix for her, this wasn't one of them and it was killing him.
Emma rubbed her hands together, a huge smile on her face. She had finally gotten her appetite back for grilled cheese and was celebrating by eating the biggest one that Granny's had to offer, along with a large side order of onion rings. The kid had also stopped his grudge against hot cocoa it would seem, so she was able to enjoy it again.
It had been 2 months since the kidnapping. Life hadn't been easy, not by a long shot, but they were adjusting. Both she and Neal had been seeing Archie for their trauma and it seemed that Neal was slowly getting through things. He still struggled with his fears of turning into Ed and as Archie put it, he had a hero complex to get over. He wanted to save people, he didn't want them to get hurt like his sister had. It was sweet, but it could lead to him getting in trouble down the line. He was learning when to step up and when to ask for help.
Emma hated seeing her baby brother go through hard things. She just wanted him to be a kid. He could be, to an extent, but there were these fears looming over his head. Ed had stolen a part of his childhood, just as he had stolen all of hers. It was a sad reality and one neither would ever really be "over". They were lucky to have each other to lean on. Their parents were supportive, but they'd never fully understand. They spent many nights cuddled up together, discussing everything. Emma told him parts of her childhood that she felt he could handle, Neal shared his fears.
They had a decent age gap between them, but they were still close and could still go to each other. Emma was really grateful for that and she knew Neal was too. She wouldn't trade the bond they had for the world.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden binder being dropped in front of her. She blinked a few times before looking up and finding her mom standing there, a huge smile on her face.
"Mom?" She raised an eyebrow. "How'd you know I'd be here?"
"I called the station and your dad told me you would be."
"Oh." She smiled, it had been awhile since they'd had lunch together. "What's this?"
"It's just some ideas I've had," Mary explained, sliding into the other side of the booth, beaming. "For your shower."
Emma groaned, rolling her eyes. "Mom."
"Oh come on, it won't be so bad. Every mom should have one for her first child."
"You didn't have a shower," Emma pointed out, cheekily.
Mary rolled her eyes. "Well, they don't have showers for sarcastic teenagers."
"And somehow you survived and were able to become a mom. I will too."
"It's not just about the gifts, it's about celebrating the fact that you're bringing a life into the world."
Emma sighed. "Look, I'm not entirely opposed to the idea for that. I just don't want anything too cutesy. Nothing blue or gender specific, yes he's a boy, we don't need to make a whole fuss about it." Mary flipped forward a few pages of her binder and she cocked an eyebrow. "What's that?"
"Just a little something I've thrown together, it's ideas for your shower."
"When did you put it together?"
"Maybe a little after you told me you were pregnant, it doesn't matter, does it?"
Emma couldn't help but laugh. This was her mother, a planner to the very end. She started looking through some of the designs her mom liked. They weren't really her style, but she was trying to keep an open eye. Then, she found a cool idea that stuck out to her.
"I like the yellow bugs," she said.
Mary grinned. "I picked that one out before we found out you were pregnant."
"I think that'd be cool…especially using yellow as a jumping off point. It's a neutral color and you know I'm partial to bugs."
"So, you'll go with this one?"
"Yes, but I really don't want it to be a huge production, small guest list."
Mary Margaret nodded, starting to take notes. "That's fine. Who were you thinking?"
"Dad and Neal, for one. I know guys normally don't come, but I don't like that rule."
"Neither do I, go on."
"Well, Lily, Regina and Ruby, of course. Granny and Mal, too."
"Uh huh."
"And I guess, um…Ralph and Belle."
Mary Margaret set her pen down. "You do know that requires telling them that you're pregnant, don't you?"
"Gee Mom, no. I thought I'd just invite them and let them think it was for you."
She gave her a look. "Emma."
"I know, I know." She sighed. "I've put it off long enough. I avoid them as much as possible, I've gotten everyone to keep their mouths shut. I guess I'm just scared."
"Scared of what?"
"What if they side with him? Or think that the baby's not his? I've known them a long time…I already lost Bae…I don't know if I could lose them, too."
The truth was, Belle and Gold had been just as much of her childhood in Storybrooke as her friends. Mal and Granny were the same way. They were adults that helped shaped her life. Seeing Bae with Belle had given her hope that adoption could work out, that a parent could love a child that wasn't their blood. They were still such a huge part of her life, becoming friends with her parents, Gideon was Neal's best friend.
It had hurt her to keep the secret from them, just as much as it would've to keep it from her own parents.
"I know Belle and Ralph," Mary Margaret said, squeezing her hand. "I think at the end of the day, they'll just be disappointed with Bae. They'll still want to be there for you…and the baby."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because I'm a mom, I know everything."
Emma gave her a look. "Mom."
"It's just a super power we have." She kissed her forehead. "And no matter what, you know that I'm always here for you, right?"
She nodded. "Even if I don't deserve it."
"Hey, don't say that."
"Mom, I know this is the last thing you and Dad need right now. You have a grown daughter and a son that'll be a pre-teen in a few years. Now, there's going to be a newborn around…"
"And we couldn't be happier. Emma, we love you kids more than anything on this planet. We want to be there for you."
Emma wasn't sure if it was talking about Baelfire or the pregnancy hormones, maybe a combination of both, but she started to tear up. Sometimes it was just too much to remember how unconditionally she was loved. Her parents were so amazing and she didn't feel deserving of them some days. Mary saw the tears in her eyes and squeezed her hand.
"Oh sweets," she said, softly. "Don't cry."
"It's the hormones," Emma sniffled. "I love you, Mom."
"I love you too, baby." She kissed her cheek. "Now go on, enjoy your sandwich."
"You want some onion rings?"
Mary smiled and nodded. "I'd love some."
Emma stood on the steps of the salmon colored house, running her fingers through her hair. It had been far too long since she had been by. When Bae was in town, he typically stayed in the loft above the pawn shop and Emma would visit him there. It hadn't changed much over the years, the only real difference was the bike leaning against the garage. It seemed to get bigger every time she dropped by, a reminder of how fast time was going for Gideon and Neal, a bittersweet thought. She wanted to freeze time.
In fact, she wanted to go back in time. She wanted to be 16 again and to be pulling her bug in the driveway to hang out with Bae. Sometimes they'd be watching Gideon, stealing kisses when he watched a movie. Other times, they'd hang out in the garden, their fingers intertwined with each other's. All the times they managed to make love up in his bedroom…
Quickly pushing the thoughts out of her head, she rang the doorbell. A moment later, Ralph answered the door. He was dressed in one of his trademarks suits, a lopsided grin on his face. It faded a bit upon seeing Emma.
"Miss Nolan, how may I help you?"
"I um…I needed to talk to you and Belle."
"Belle took Gideon to see her father."
"Oh." Emma knew the complicated relationship Belle and Gold had with Maurice. "Well, you then."
"Does it have anything to do with the pregnancy you've been hiding for the past few months?"
Emma blushed. "What…I…how…"
"Emma, you've always been a skinny thing." He looked her up and down, shaking his head a bit. "It became quite obvious when you got bigger and then tried to hide behind it."
"Does Belle know?"
"Yes. I haven't told her about what I know, however."
Emma tilted her head. "What you know?"
"I remember about 6 months ago, finding you in my shop before hours, coming out of Baelfire's loft."
She cringed. "That." She had done all she could to erase the memory of that morning from her mind, it hurt too much.
"Considering that Bae hasn't called me, I've assumed that you didn't tell him."
"Do you really think I'd keep this from him?"
"What am I supposed to believe? That my son just wouldn't tell me he was to be a father?"
Emma's lip formed a firm line. "Maybe because he doesn't want to be one!"
Gold raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
"I told him that I was pregnant, I e-mailed him a sonogram. He told me that he didn't want a thing to do with me or the baby, to never contact him again."
Gold stared at her for a few moments and she knew he was trying to tell if she was telling the truth or not. It was a look he had given her early on in her relationship with Baelfire. One thing they always joked about was having equally overprotective fathers, who didn't trust their child's significant other. They didn't want them to be hurt, no matter what the cost. Heck, they had both spied on their first date. It had been something they laughed about for years. Emma understood Gold's hesitance, but her hurt wasn't allowing her to handle the situation diplomatically.
"You expect me to believe that my son, the one who was abandoned himself, would abandon his own child?"
"It's the truth."
"How do I know that you're not lying so you can keep his child from him? How do I know that you're not just deceiving me? This doesn't sound like my son."
"I know it doesn't. That's partly why it hurts so much."
"Do you love him?"
Tears brimmed in Emma's eyes. "You don't think I love him?"
Gold shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know what to think anymore."
"I love him, I've loved him since I was 14 years old. That's why it hurts every time I see him, because I never stopped." She bit her lip, shaking her head. "But he doesn't love me, not anymore. I've had to accept that." She wiped away her tears, not wanting to break down in front of him. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to work."
Gold watched Emma briskly walk away, letting out a small sigh. Digging through his pocket, he pulled out his cell phone, pressing 2 on his speed dial.
"Baelfire Cassidy Gold, you have a hell of a lot of explaining to do."
A few days later, Emma sat next to her father on the floor, examining the instructions laid out in front of them.
"I've read Latin text that makes more sense than this," David muttered.
"Give them to me," Emma said, taking it from him. He had insisted that she not worry about it, that he could put the crib together, but this was her baby after all. "Alright, it says take screws E with washers D…through bar C…" She watched her father pick up the bar in question. "Using wrench F…" She squinted to read the small print without her glasses. "Which is not provided." She sighed in frustration, dropping the parts in her hands.
"We could always call Marco," Mary said from her seat on the couch. "He's a carpenter after all."
"No!" Emma and David exclaimed at the exact same time.
Mary rolled her eyes. "Stubborn, party of two."
"Annoying, party of one," Emma quipped back, throwing a piece of bubble wrap her way.
She chuckled, hearing the doorbell ring. "Neal, can you get that? Your father and sister are too busy trying to drive me crazy."
David and Emma focused back on the crib, managing to find a wrench of his that would work. Just as they were getting the first part together, Neal's footsteps could be heard coming into the room.
"Emma?"
Emma focused on what she was doing. "Yeah, kid?"
"Baelfire's here."
Emma was about to tell him how not funny that was, until she noticed a familiar pair of work boots. Her eyes slowly went up the body and she found Bae's face staring back at her. The parts fell out of her hand and her eyes widened. Bae rubbed the back of his neck, looking just as surprised as she was.
"So it's true," he said. "You're pregnant."
She didn't know what to say at first. There stood the man that she had believed to have torn out her heart and stomped on it. She stood up with the help of her father, who seemed to be wanting to go off her lead before he went to protective dad mode. She walked over to him, a protective hand on her bump, the other out to keep a barrier between them.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
Next chapter is a lot of screaming, crying and revelations. As always, tell me what you want to see and what you think. =) Until next time, friends.
