Chapter 12- A Day in Storybrooke

It was a bright, sun soaked Wednesday in Story-brooke and for David and Mary-Margaret Nolan. Life couldn't be sweeter.

"Higher! Daddy! Higher!" Emma proclaimed joyfully from her purple swing throne. A day at the park, filled with fun and games was on the agenda. Summer break.

Mary-Margaret giggled a blossoming baby bump evident under her soft pink summer dress as she turned Neal in his stroller so that the happy nearly eight month old boy who was, a complete blend of them both with blonde hair and her eyes could watch.

"Oh! Look at Daddy and your big sister." she cooed as her son looked up and smiled at her, his growing hands waving adorably. "Say... love you Daddy and Emma." she encouraged excitedly as he babbled trying his best to mimic his mother. His sun hat was red and had Mickey and Minnie on It however; it was falling off his sweet head. She needed to take action.

"Come here sweetie. There we go. Do you want your babba?" "Let's get you your babba."

Getting up, she moved behind the stroller and shook the baby bottle containing his milk; it was cooler but, for luckily them. Neal wasn't too fussy.

David had been happily pushing Emma on the swings as he caught the sight. Neal sucking away on his bottle while his stunning wife beamed at them.

"Mommy! Mommy! Are you watching?" Emma asked, her tiny denim jeans already dirtied from playing but, other than that, she was completely fine.

"I am. I'm watching you angel." Pride filled them both as David gave a final few pushes before admitting he needed to rest as the swing came to a halt.

"Okay Daddy."

"Come on you two it's time for lunch."

They both smiled and then Emma hopped off the swing and bounded to her mother and Neal while David, now completely out of energy took a little longer to get to them.

"Hey handsome, you okay there?" she felt his fore-head as he breathed in and out raggedly. "Yeah, yeah. Just a little- phew!" The poor man was absolutely worn out.

"Now you know how I feel after the ball pit." Kissing his cheek softly she lead him to their children and the picnic she had packed up. "Let's eat."

Chicken and pepper fajita wraps with the tiniest bit of salsa and fresh guacamole for three while Neal got a blended version minus the salsa with some pureed fruit for dessert. Smoothies and water to quench their thirst as they sat huddled together on a bench their containers and Emma's Dora lunch box at the side of them.

"Mmmmm. That was yummy!" Emma said having finished every last bite. She loved flavour and so, wasn't afraid of a little spice. "What do we say to Mommy?" David prodded knowing his wife always put major thought and love into everything she prepared for them even though, they were 50/50 in everything they did.

"Thank you Mommy."

"That is okay Princess." "I'm glad you…" she then exchanged a loving look with David before continuing. "And Daddy loved your wraps."

"Did you and Neal like yours too?"

Attention back on Emma, she bobbed Neal gently before asking. "What do you think Neal was that good? MA!"

"Yeeee!" he chuckled. "We loved it Emma."

Then, David had an idea. "How about we pack all this away and get some of Granny's SUPER DUPER chocolate fudge cake?"

"I don't know Daddy, do you think they have enough room in their tummies for SUPER DUPER chocolate fudge cake?" his wife teased.

"Yes we do!"

The adults shared a cheeky glance and then nodded. "Alright, to Granny's." they both said.

"Three pieces of SUPER DUPER chocolate fudge cake, a mini hot chocolate and cinnamon and two regular ones for Mom and Dad." Ruby said after placing the food down taking a moment to kiss her godchildren/niece and nephew.

"Thanks Rubes." David was grateful, but, she refused the ten dollars. "Don't even try it Nolan, you know it's on the house."

"Ruby, that's too much." Mary-Margaret replied, "You can't spoil our kids and not expect us to pay."

"The heck I can't. It's you and David that got us out of the red. We wouldn't have a diner if it weren't for the money you gave us. Your fans visiting. The menu re-pricing Regina did."

"It was nothing."

"It was everything. Now, enjoy your dessert before Aunty Ruby gobbles it up."

Emma gasped. "NOOHOO! Aunty Ruby!"

"MA! I love you kiddo. Enjoy your cake."

"I love you too." Emma called as she watched the manageress leave to deal with incoming customers. "YUM!"

"Ha." Her parents howled as they watched Emma dive into it. Her happy face covered in glossy, milk chocolate home-made whipped cream and chocolate icing with her baby brother doing the same when he was fed it minutes later.

Their mucky pups.

When Regina Mills was five years old she could already do two lengths around a pool. Lessons in every-thing from music, to dance but, not for the fun of it, no never for that. To prepare her. To be the best.

It didn't matter what she wanted or what her dear father protested, Mother got her way.

So, when Robin suggested they go swimming at Aqua as a family she was excited but, also… haunted.

"Regina?" "Darling are you alright?" Robin asks, swimming over to her having noticed that she isn't doing anything except watching Roland splash around a few feet away despite, her gorgeous body being semi- immersed.

"Yes."

"Regina…" he warned, in his "I know you better than that tone"

"I am." she laced her wet arms around his warm neck resting her fore-head against his. Nose to nose, heart to heart. "Truly."

"Then what is it?"

Taking a breath she pulled away ever so slightly. "I was never allowed this. If I went to a pool, did anything extra-curricular it was to impress others, defeat others. The only time I ever did anything for myself, was when I moved in with Daniel and you know how well that went down."

"I do." "But, you don't need to feel guilty for enjoying love." Robin rubbed her shoulders consolingly.

"I don't. I just don't want our son feeling this way." "He already lost one mother I don't want him losing another."

"He won't. I promise you."

"Mommy! Papa! Come on the slide with me."

"I think our little prince is summoning us." she quips, completely forgetting her worries

Pressing a kiss to her fore-head and a slightly more than chaste few ones on her lips he confirms: "I think he is."

So, they swim to their prince the emotionless woman cast from their minds

It was eight o' clock at night when Belle poured herself a glass of red wine. She didn't usually drink but, after the day she had had. She needed one.

"Rumple you need to leave her." she had shouted. Milah Gold was an abusive, lying, drunk cheat. The only reason her boss was still in his marriage was because that woman had happened to have given him the sweetest boy she had ever known.

Bae.

"Don't you think I know that?" "She threatened to take sole custody. Says this Killian Jones will raise MY boy if I try."

Belle was at a loss. The shop, was the reluctant near lovers battle ground.

"You can't just give up. Being her slave while she beds another man. That's no life for you. That's no life for Bae." she sobbed.

Belle took another generous sip as she painfully remembered, the alcohol burning at the back of her throat. She really didn't drink.

"And what would you know of life?" "You- live in fantasy. In fairy-tales."

"At least I fight for what I want." Belle retorted.

"And what's that?!"

Her face fell. "You really don't know do you?"

"I want you. You silly man. I want you." When he didn't reply, she ran out of the door and didn't look back.

Stupid. Stupid, stupid love.

Then, when she had given up all hope her phone buzzed.

A text, it read: I love you.

R

Hope. At last