*Continuing where we left off :)
And thank you for all the birthday wishes!*
Out and In
As the last box made it in to each of the three Charming vehicles (although mostly in James's truck), Snow started her walk to the school. "You two go on and start unpacking. August wants to be in the apartment tomorrow." She said, wrapping her red scarf around her neck, a small white beret fixed in her hair. The longer Snow's hair got, the more it formed ringlets. "Where's Henry? Isn't he walking with me?" Snow had really gotten used to her grandson walking with her to the school. Sometimes, however, when Grace rode by on her pink bike, Henry seemed to space out.
"I'll drive Henry in a little bit." James reassured his wife as Emma slicked her ponytail back, Juliet resting on her hip as she did so. "He got to bed a little late, I'm going to let him sleep in another thirty minutes."
"What ever YOU did, Charming" Snow found a way to say things brusquely and sweetly at the same time. "never mind, it can wait. I'm going to be late!"
"Mom, do you just want me to drop you off at work? I'm on my way to the station, and dropping Juliet off with Belle until my shift's over." Emma offered, Snow looked back graciously at her daughter.
"Only if it's not out of your way, dear." Snow told her, looking at Emma's glee filled eyes. "James, I want Henry in my classroom no later than eight thirty." And the two lovely ladies walked out and towards the crowded car.
...Snow and Emma get in the car and start their fairly short ride to work...
In the box-filled car, Snow and Emma were kind of cramped in the front two seats, Juliet in Snow's lap. "Mom, are you sure it's okay for you to be teaching these kids? I mean with how many times you threw up this morning... and last night..." Emma warned. Her mom was extra cautious, usually, but now Snow just laughed at her daughter's silly question.
"Emma, some of the children in my class remember when I was pregnant with you." Snow stated matter-of-factly, looking at her daughter. "That's a little weird, you know. My ten-year-olds remembering when I was pregnant with my twenty-nine-year old daughter."
"I will be the first to say that's really strange." Emma chuckled lightly as she pulled up to the front of the school. "And mom, if anything happens, just call okay?" Emma explained as her mom got out of the car and moved Juliet's baby seat to the front seat of the car and put her in. "I'll bring by your lunch later, for you and Henry. Granny's okay?"
"Emma, I'll be fine." Snow said, looking her daughter in the eyes. "And you know I can't refuse Granny's."
"See you later mom." Emma shouted out the rolled-down window as Snow made her way around the car and up the school stairs.
"I love you, Emma." Snow replied, smiling at her daughter as she drove away.
...Henry gets to school around ten o'clock, James comes in to see his wife (oblivious of the fact she's in class)...
Henry walked into the class room and sat at his desk quickly, setting his batman book-bag against the leg of the desk. Grace giggled as he slid from the door to his seat, hoping Snow wouldn't notice. And of course, when you hope someone doesn't notice something that's the moment they notice it. "Henry, how nice for you to join us... two hours late." Snow spat, not even turning from the blackboard she was writing on. When she did turn around to see crimson crawling in to his cheeks, she spoke again. "Where's your grandfather, Henry, he and I need to have a chat."
James appeared in the doorway of the classroom, crept up behind his wife and gave her a kiss on the top of her head. "Sorry, dear, he was just..."
"Charming..." She breathed, then turned to see all the eyes in the classroom on her and James, as though begging for something to happen. "Class, I'm sure most of you remember my husband Prince James."
"Henry's grandpa." Grace added, smiling from Snow to James then to Henry. "Now King James."
"And you're Jefferson's Grace, aren't you?" James asked nosily to the ten year old, who nodded in reply. "Pleasure to meet all my wife's students."
"Pleasure's ours." Hansel said, sitting between Grace and Henry on the front row of the classroom.
"James, can we continue this conversation later? At home?" Snow asked, a little harsher than probably meant. "We're about to have math class." The students groaned, hating math more than just about anything.
"I just wanted to make sure you were okay." James kissed her forehead once more, giving her a hug. She melted in his arms.
"Okay?" Grace asked quietly. "Why wouldn't princess Snow be okay?"
"Grandma's expecting a baby!" Henry burst, everyone looking at him. Particularly Snow and James.
"Congrats, princess." Grace said sagely, hardly realizing that Hansel said the same thing at the same time. They looked at each other wearing identical grins, Henry looked at both and then saw James scoot out the door.
"I'll drop you off lunch." James whispered as he exited the room, she looked back at him before writing problems on the board.
"Emma's got it covered." Snow replied. "But feel free to join us at noon if you're done unpacking." James exited fully with a wave, clicking the door shut behind him. Snow recollected herself, looked at her students with a smile and turned into a teacher again. "And now, turn to page 723, do problems one through fifty one odd with a partner."
...Emma sits at the studio with nothing to do, talking to Grumpy and watching the moments tick by...
"You guys got a new house, I heard." Grumpy mused, looking at Emma skeptically. "And that Snow's pregnant." Emma answered none of these. "Also that Rumple's marrying Belle."
"God, there's a lot of hear-say in this town!" Emma replied playfully, pushing the long-since empty mug across the sheriff's desk. Minutes seemed to move like hours, and hours like days. Ten fifteen in the morning, and Red walked in carrying a paper takeout bag.
"Two tomato soups, and grilled cheeses." She set down the bag in front of Emma. "So, is it true? Is Snow pregnant again?"
"I miss when there was less gossip in this town." Emma scoffed, looking at the curious Red. "And yes, she is. That's why we moved in to the mansion by the toll bridge."
"Jefferson's old place?" Grumpy asked softly. "That house is huge! Ever since he and Grace downsized I've seen them more, but it must've been a change from mansion to suburban townhouse."
"And in other news, Belle wants to marry Rumple since she got a job as a little princess's babysitter, and he doesn't want to get married." Red announced, as she seemed to be a town messenger. "Abigail and Frederick are now living together and engaged, and... Granny's does delivery now." Emma and Grumpy laughed lightly at this.
"Well..." Emma started, grabbing the bag and standing from her desk. "I had best get going. Call me if anything happens at the station."
"Sister, I can handle it. Nothing's happened since you were out, nothing's happened since she died." Grumpy explained, looking at Emma with a smile. "Go have fun with your mom."
"Lunch at ten fifteen? Isn't that early?" Red asked skeptically.
"I have other errands to run before the school." Emma left without another word, thoughts rotting in Red's and Grumpy's heads up until the time they knew she'd come back.
*Ill end it there. Hope you guys still like the story, and you could show me you still do by reviewing!*