Chapter Twenty-one

Tamara

After Regina, Henry, and Robin left, Emma had phoned Neal and got him to meet them at Granny's at 12:30. It was now 12:00 and Emma was worried that she wouldn't be able to tell Neal about the visitation days.

"Love, you alright?" Killian asked his wife as she paced around the living room while he sat on the couch.

Emma nodded. "Yeah. I'm perfectly fine."

Killian stood up. He went and stood in front of Emma and put his hands on her arms. "Hey, what's wrong?"

Emma shook her head. "I said nothing."

Killian pulled her into a hug. "What's wrong, Emma? I know when something's bothering you."

"Killian… I just… what if Neal gets mad that he gets so few days to be with Henry and Lia? What if he tries to get custody of-?"

Killian pulled away and looked her in the eyes. "Hey, that's not going to happen. I'll make sure of it."

Emma smiled. "Thanks, Killian."

Killian smiled and nodded. He gave her a quick kiss and then pulled her into another hug.

"Mom! Dad! We need to go!" Lia yelled, running down the stairs.

Emma and Killian pulled away.

Emma laughed. "Lia, it's 12:05. We don't need to leave for another 20 minutes."

"Can we just go? Please? Henry said he was going to be there early," Lia begged.

Killian laughed. "Alright, fine. Get your shoes on."

"They are! I'll be in the car!" Lia ran to the garage, grabbing a jacket on her way out.

Emma laughed and looked at Killian. "She has you wrapped around her finger. You know that, right?"

"She does not!" Killian defended.

Emma laughed and put a hand on Killian's shoulder. "Keep thinking that, buddy." Then she laughed and walked out to the car.

Killian had barely parked the car when Lia had ran out of the car and into Granny's.

"Why is she so excited?" Emma laughed.

"I have no idea, but I'm guessing we'll find out when we get inside," Killian explained.

Emma nodded and the two got out of the car and headed up the stairs.

When they entered Granny's, Emma and Killian saw Lia, Henry, Regina, and Robin in a booth and saw Neal in the back.

"I'm going to go talk to Neal," Emma said.

"I'm coming with you," Killian insisted.

Emma shook her head. "I'll be fine."

"No, Swan, I'm coming. You're telling Neal about the visitation days, so I'm coming."

Emma smiled and the two headed over to Neal.

"Hi, Neal," Emma said, sitting across from Neal. Killian sat down next to Emma.

Neal looked up at her and smiled. "Hi."

Emma leaned back and crossed her arms. "We decided the dates that you can see Henry and Lia on."

Neal smiled and nodded. "What are they?"

Emma explained the dates.

When she was finished, Neal smiled. "Thank you so much, Em!"

Emma smiled. "We're going to the courthouse tomorrow afternoon to make it official, so you need to be there at 12:00, sharp."

Neal nodded. "Alright. I'll talk to Tamara." Neal looked behind him and called, "Tamara!"

A woman wearing a plaid shirt and jeans came over and sat by Neal. The woman smiled. "Hi, I'm Tamara."

Emma didn't know what to say. She did not expect to meet Neal's new wife and she didn't want to. This was really awkward. Emma put on a fake smiled and said, "Um… hi. I'm Emma Jones, Neal's-" she paused, then said, "Nevermind."

Killian squeezed Emma's hand.

Tamara smiled. "It's fine. I know who you are."

Emma smiled and nodded.

There was a silence the fell over them, then Killian decided to break the silence. "I'm Killian Jones, Emma's husband."

Tamara smiled at him. "Hi."

Killian nodded.

"Have you told Lia and Henry?" Emma asked.

"Have I told them what?" Neal asked.

Emma gestured towards Tamara and lowered her voice. "That you're married and are having another baby?"

Neal looked down. "No."

Tamara looked at Neal. "Neal, why didn't you tell them?"

Neal shrugged. "There wasn't ever a good time."

Tamara frowned. "Go tell them right now. I'll stay here."

Neal nodded and Tamara let Neal out of the booth. Emma and Killian got up and followed Neal over to the table where everyone else was.

Emma and Killian sat down next to Lia, while Neal stayed standing up.

"Neal has something to tell the kids," Emma said.

They all looked at Neal, waiting for him to say something.

Finally, Neal spoke up, "So, Lia, Henry… I didn't tell you everything about what happened in the past 11 years."

Lia nodded. "Of course you didn't. It was 11 years. We don't expect you to give us every detail."

Neal nodded. "Yeah, I know. But… this is something you need to know… 4 years ago… I met a woman named Tamara. I ran into her on my way to work… and, well… we're married now and we're expecting a baby." Neal looked at Tamara and she walked over. "This is my wife, Tamara."

No one said anything.

Lia just stared at Tamara. She has a stepmom? She didn't know what to think about this-

Lia's thoughts were interrupted by Emma saying, "This is Lia and Henry."

Tamara smiled at the twins. "Hello, I'm Tamara."

Neither Henry nor Lia said anything. They both just sat there, thinking about what to say.

Finally, Lia spoke up, "Hi, I'm Lia."

Tamara smiled. "Hi, Lia."

Lia nodded and looked back down at her hands.

"I'm Henry," Henry said.

Tamara smiled and waved. "Hi."

They fell into a very uncomfortable silence. No one knew what to say.

I'm going to have a little brother or sister? Lia didn't know what to do. What should she do? Lia stood up suddenly and ran outside, slamming the door behind her.

"Lia!" Emma called after her. She ran after her and Killian followed.

"Lia!" Emma called again when she got outside. Lia was running across the street and down the sidewalk at full speed. Emma ran after her and Killian followed. When they finally got caught up to her, Killian and Emma grabbed her arms and pulled her to a stop.

"Let me go!" Lia yelled. Tears had damped her face. She shook her head violently and tried to pull free from her parents grasp. "Please!"

"Lia, Lia," Emma said, putting a hand on Lia's cheek. Lia started to calm at her mother's touch. Eventually, after a few minutes, she had calmed almost completely down. She looked down. Emma and Killian pulled Lia into a hug and she gladly hugged them back.

"What's the matter?" Killian asked, rubbing Lia's back.

Lia shook her head. "It's just-" she pulled away, but still held Emma and Killian's hand "-I just found you guys and then I found my dad and then I found out I have a stepmom and then I found out I am going to be a big sister. It's just… so much to take in."

Emma nodded. "I know, Lia. it's a lot to take in and I'm so sorry you have to go through this."

Lia nodded. "I don't want to go back. Can we go home?"

Emma nodded. "Yes, of course. I'll just go tell them-"

Lia held Emma's hand tighter and shook her head quickly. "No, don't leave me."

Emma gave her a sad smile. "Okay. You and me will go in the car and wait for Killian while he tells everyone we're going home."

Lia nodded. "Thank you."

I hope you enjoyed it! By the way, there is one chapter left before the epilogue. Please review!