A wild RowArk appears, with a new chapter of Reckless Abandon!
A/N: If any of the things in regard to Oz don't fit with canon, it's because I can't really remember what happened with that storyline, and it's not really pivotal to the story anyway, so I didn't go back and rewatch!
Chapter Twenty Eight
"Look," said Emma, grinning as she held up a piece of paper on her way back into the kitchen, where Regina was cradling Hope in one arm.
"What's that?"
"Hope's birth certificate! It came a lot quicker than I expected." Emma held the document up for Regina to see. They'd realized that they really should decide on her full name before the baby shower, and once they'd chosen it, Regina had gone straight to the town hall to fill out the paperwork to order Hope's birth certificate.
It had been a little over a week since Emma had gone out with Mal, and while in that time Zelena hadn't made another appearance, Emma and Regina had thrown themselves head first into shower planning. They'd decided that sooner was better, so that all their friends could finally actually meet their daughter, and the shower was set for the upcoming weekend.
Aside from the arrival of Hope's birth certificate, the morning was about the same as any other was for them these days. Henry went to school, after Regina let him through the door and through the protection spell using Mal's enchanted pendant. Both Emma and Regina had been hesitant to let him return, but they knew they couldn't keep him locked in the house indefinitely. They also knew that Snow was picking him up in the morning to drive him, and that if anything were to happen, Regina was only a poof away.
Still, even though they hadn't heard a peep from Zelena yet, Regina was jumpy from being on constant high alert, and late that morning, when Hope was napping and Emma was taking a shower, she quickly learned she was right to still worry when there was a knock at the door.
It wasn't her house, but she'd gotten to used to living there that it didn't faze Regina to be answering Emma's door, but normally she knew who was coming and when, and they weren't expecting anyone this morning. Her heart was pounding rapidly in her chest, and sank immediately when she opened the door to see Zelena standing there.
However, it wasn't so much the fact that she had shown up - Regina had really been expecting it at some point - but rather the fact that she looked just as bad, if not worse, than when they'd seen her in the mirror. It was clear that her banishment was taking a toll on her, and if it weren't for the hell that Zelena had put them all through, Regina would allow herself to feel bad for her sister.
Instead, she inhaled sharply and forced her nerves down. "Zelena. You can't come in, the house is protected."
Zelena gave a half hearted roll of her eyes. "I can see that, sis," she said, holding her hand up to the invisible barrier between them, that glowed opalescent when her hand neared it. "And I don't want to come in. I want my daughter."
"She's not here," Regina stated, crossing her arms in front of her.
"I'm aware. She's with her father in your house, which I note is also protected, and which, honestly is where I'd expected to find you. It took me a few days to track you down, you know. But I'm not here for a fight, Regina. I'm here, coming to you, mother to mother, to ask for a second chance."
Regina faltered slightly. She hadn't expected this, and she wasn't sure if it was a trick. "You've had a second chance."
"You've had several," Zelena countered, though her heart really wasn't in it and Regina could tell.
It was true, Regina knew she couldn't deny that much, but still she was wary. "Even if I thought you deserved one, it's not up to me, Zelena. Ryleigh is Robin's daughter."
Zelena inhaled sharply, a look of surprise overcoming her as her eyes lit up, ever so slightly, and Regina realized that her sister hadn't even known her own daughter's name until this point.
"Ryleigh," Zelena repeated, "that's what you've called her then?"
Regina let out a sigh. "Not me," she reiterated. "She's Robin's daughter."
Zelena closed her eyes and nodded quickly. "Yes, yes, I know. I just assumed… is that why you aren't at home, then? You and Robin are no longer together?"
Regina shifted uncomfortably. "That's really none of your business."
"It is if it was my fault."
"Isn't that what you wanted? To ruin my life?"
"Not anymore," Zelena admitted, and she sounded utterly defeated. "There was a time when hurting you was all I lived for, but now…"
Regina nodded as Zelena's voice trailed off. She might not have Emma's superpower, but even she could tell her sister was being sincere. Maybe motherhood had changed her after all, even if she hadn't yet gotten to experience being a mother.
"I'll talk to Robin for you," Regina conceded, after a few more moments internal debate. "I can't make you any promises, but that's the best I can do."
"Thank you." The corners of Zelena's mouth curled up in a tiny, grateful smile.
"I need your word that you won't do anything before then. And I'll need to know where to find you."
Zelena nodded quickly. "Yes, absolutely. You have my word," Zelena swore, before relaying to Regina the location of the cottage she'd been staying in.
Regina sighed as she closed the door once her sister had left. Of all the things she'd been expecting, a heartbroken Zelena wasn't on the list, and she wasn't sure how she was supposed to feel about this right now.
And she really wasn't sure how she was supposed to advocate for the sister she'd banished, now that she was back.
At Emma's suggestion, Regina opted to wait until after the shower to attempt to approach Robin about the Zelena situation. She sent him a quick text to relay that she'd seen her sister, and that while she didn't believe she posed a direct threat to him or the children just now, she advised that he stay at her house, still.
In the midst of picking things up for the shower, Regina also stopped by Zelena's cottage. Her sister looked slightly better than when she'd last seen her, but Regina found it really did hurt her heart to watch the hope fade from her eyes when she told her she didn't plan on talking to Robin until next week.
She did, however, bring photos of Ryleigh, which Zelena took, but opted not to open the envelope just yet. Regina chose not to comment, though she wondered if her sister was planning on holding on to them so she'd have something, just in case Regina couldn't convince Robin to let Zelena see Ryleigh.
Regina wasn't sure if it was true concern, or just guilt, but she found herself asking Zelena if she had enough food in the cottage or if there was anything else she needed. Zelena rolled her eyes. "I didn't come here in search of a babysitter, you know," she said, not bothering to hide the annoyance in her voice. "Whatever I need is just a flick of the wrist away."
"Right," said Regina, nodding. "How did you get here, anyway?"
Zelena let out a short, mirthless laugh. "I had to relinquish my control of Oz to Dorothy," Zelena explained, spitting out Dorothy's name like it tasted vile in her mouth. "I gave up everything in return for a ticket out. Oz means nothing to me now. It's nothing without my child. Regina-"
"I know. I will talk to Robin on Monday."
"But why does it have to wait so long?"
Regina shook her head. "With the baby shower on the weekend, it's too much. He's going to be less receptive knowing…" Regina let her voice trail off as she watched the look of confusion wash over Zelena's face, and suddenly remembered that her sister didn't know about Hope.
"Baby shower?" Zelena repeated.
"I, uh, yes. It's a long story, and it's kind of the reason why I ended things with Robin. Well, one of many reasons, but either way, it's not the best time. No matter what, he sees you as a threat to his child, and he will likely see you as such for quite some time. Asking him to let you see her right before a celebration of my own child, I just… I don't think it will be well-received."
"I see," said Zelena, nodding absently, and Regina knew she had a lot of burning questions she was just dying to ask, but she opted to stay silent, and Regina knew it wasn't the time for that, either.
So she left the cottage with a little more hope for her sister - the most she'd had, ever - that she really did only come for her daughter, that she really might be willing to change for her and that letting her meet her daughter really would be the best thing, for Zelena and for Ryleigh.
The three days that lead up to the shower involved a lot of cooking, decorating and running out for last minute things. Stress was high in Emma's house, but for the first time since she'd started seeing Archie, she went for her session at his office, willingly leaving Hope at home with Regina while she was gone. Even after her breakthrough nearly two weeks ago, though Emma now admitted she really was beginning to finally bond with her daughter, the anxiety was still ever-present, so Regina knew that leaving Hope at home with her for the longest time ever was another big step for Emma.
And Emma's anxiety was in overdrive on the days leading up to the shower, especially every day that passed in which her package she'd ordered with Hope's outfits didn't arrive. By Friday, she was in a full blown panic, having no idea what she was going to dress her daugher in, but on Saturday, when all hope was nearly lost, the package finally arrived.
Finally, Sunday arrived, and while Regina took care of the last minute food preparation, Emma took Hope to the nursery to get her ready for her shower.
Hope was nearly six weeks old now, and gaining much more control and strength in her neck muscles, and Emma smiled at the way Hope's big, nearly brown, eyes followed her around the room as she got everything she needed to change her and then get her dressed. Hope turned her head from side to side, watching Emma's movements as she laid in her bassinette.
"Alright, time to get dressed," Emma announced, once Hope's diaper was changed. First came the little onesie, pale green with the words "My Mommies Love Me" on the front in a kind of shimmery purple font.
Next, she pulled on a pair of purple leggings, nearly the same shade as the lettering on the onesie with little frills on the butt. Emma wasn't overly fond of the frills, but she knew Regina liked those sort of things so she guessed she could handle them, for today. No one was really going to be paying attention to the frills, anyway.
Finally, the thing Emma had been most excited for: Hope's little sweater. She'd missed the chance to bring her home from the hospital in the dragon sleeper she'd wanted, and though she'd ordered that online as well, she didn't feel a sleeper was the most appropriate attire for Hope to meet the people of Storybrooke in, for the first time. Instead, she'd managed to find a little dragon sweater, green and printed with a shiney dragon scale pattern. It had a hood, and dark purple spiked that ran from the top, all the way down Hope's back, and down the little tail affixed to the bottom of the sweater. There were two soft little horns at the top, and Emma thought it was perfect.
The dragon tail on the sweater mostly covered the frills on Hope's little bottom, but Emma decided to go with the little white socks with the frills on the ankle to complete the look anyway.
"Alright, baby girl, let's go see how your party looks!" Emma cooed, as she moved to pick Hope up, but stopped in an instant, her heart skipping a beat as Hope did something she'd never done before.
Emma felt tears burning in her eyes as a big grin came over her face. For the first time in her short little life, Hope smiled.
"Oh my," Emma whispered as she picked her baby up and held her close. "Everything might not have gone as planned, but I still got your first smile!"
Emma surveyed the living room as she walked in with Hope. Perhaps they had gone a little overboard with the decorations - streamers in purple and green all over, sparkly big balloons in all the corners, and a giant sign that read WELCOME BABY HOPE, along with way too much food already out on the dining room table and a cake that was way too big - but Emma didn't care. She'd never had a baby shower before, and she was quickly learning that when it came to parties, Regina spared no expense.
Emma didn't even get a chance to tell Regina about Hope's smile before guests began arriving. Snow and David were first, not surprisingly, with Neal looking dapper in a little suit. Henry was with them, since he'd gotten sick of shower preparations and opted to spend the night at his grandparents' instead. Snow immediately took Hope off Emma's hands and headed to the kitchen to help Regina. Soon after, Ruby, Granny, Archie, Tink, Ashley and Aurora with their families - Emma knew it wasn't generally tradition for men to attend baby showers, but nothing about this so far had been conventional and she wasn't about to start now.
More and more people arrived, but Emma's face lit up when the door opened to reveal Mal and Lily. It had been weeks since she'd spoken to Lily, but her friend stood there with a sheepish smile on her face.
"Hey," Lily said, once Mal had said hello and set off to find Regina.
"Hey."
"So…" Lily started, biting her lip nervously.
"Yeah, I know."
Lily nodded. "No, let me say it. Emma, I'm sorry. I was out of line and… I suck."
Emma shook her head. "No, we were both kind of out of line. We both suck."
"Well, I'm trying to unsuck, if that makes a difference?" Lily said, raising her eyebrows in expectation.
"Me too. I'm, uh, I'm seeing Archie, actually. No one really knows, except Regina obviously, and my mom and your mom. But… it's helping. I'm a little more… me… again. I think."
"That's good," Lily said, nodding. "It really is. I, uh, I met my sister."
"Oh!" Emma's eyes went wide for a moment. In the rush of sending out invitations, she'd completely forgotten that Aurora was Lily's half-sister, and she'd invited them both. "How's that going?"
Lily shrugged. "She didn't take it well at first, but… we're coming along. She and Philip invited me over for dinner the other day and it was… it was nice. Having a family - like, a real family who care about you and invite you to things - it's nicer than I would have expected."
Emma smiled and nodded. "Yeah. It is. And hey, I'm glad you came. Hope missed her Auntie."
"Hope," Lily repeated. "My mom told me you'd named her. I can't believe I haven't seen her since then. I'm so sorry."
"I know. Come on. Let's go mingle."
When Emma re-entered the living room, Mal had Hope in her arms and was headed straight for them. "This is adorable, Emma!" Mal said, running the fingers of her free hand over the little soft spikes on Hope's sweater. "Lily, if you ever have a child, be prepared for it to dress like a dragon, always. I didn't even know they made clothing like this…"
Lily grinned and shook her head. "She's an actual dragon and she's amazed by what people can do with fabric."
After a while of greeting and making polite chit chat with their guests, Emma went to fetch Hope from Granny, who had her now, and found Regina so that they could make their formal introductions of their daughter.
"Hi, everyone," Emma said, standing near the table with the giant cake, Hope's head resting on her shoulder as Regina stood beside her. Their guests fell silent as they turned their attention to the two women. "Regina and I just want to take a moment to thank you all for coming and spending this day with us and our little girl."
Emma smiled as she looked around the room of people smiling back at her. She'd been so disappointed that she didn't get the shower with all the games like guessing how big her belly was, but right now, she realized that this really was better.
"And, now that she has a full, legal name, on paper and everything, allow me to formally introduce our daughter," Emma said, turning Hope so she was facing the group of shower guests. "Everyone please help us welcome… Miss Sarah Hope Swan-Mills."
Emma watched how Henry's eyes lit up when he heard his sister's full name.
"You used name I picked?"
"Of course we did," Emma said, with a smile. "You're right. Sarah's a good name. We'll still be calling her Hope, but it's only fair that your name choice was used as well."
"Princess Hope," Henry said, grinning at his sister.
Regina was the next to speak, standing close to Emma as she addressed their guests. "There's a second announcement that Emma and I would like to make," she started, pretending not to notice the sudden looks of unmasked intrigued on Henry's, Snow's and even Mal's faces, knowing that they were likely expecting some sort of announcement about Emma's and her relationship status.
She cleared her throat to refocus.
"This has been a long, and not always easy, journey for Emma and myself, as you all know. There were a lot of difficulties to overcome, and through it all, even before I, or even Snow, knew what was going on, someone was here, taking care of Emma and taking care of everything. Mal, you are my oldest and dearest friend, and without you, Emma and I might not have even been standing here, introducing our healthy, happy little girl. We owe you more than we could ever repay, and as our sincerest thank you, to you, we'd like to ask you to be Hope's godmother."
Mal's smile changed into a look of complete surprise. "You're sure?"
Emma smiled. "There's no one else better suited," she said. "Hope adores you, and like Regina said, we owe her life to you."
Mal nodded as she smiled again. "Then I would be honoured."
The shower continued on into the late afternoon, everyone eating and chatting and passing the baby around. Lots of pictures were being taken, but amidst the noise and movement in the room, Regina quickly noticed that someone had gone missing. Henry, who'd spent most of the party chatting with Grace, was now nowhere to be seen and Grace was busy chatting with Nick and Ava.
Regina slipped silently from the room and headed off in the direction of Henry's bedroom, where sure enough, she found him sitting on his bed, staring at his hands in his lap.
"Hey," Regina said softly, as she entered the room. "What's wrong?"
Henry shrugged. "Nothing, I guess."
"Something's bothering you," Regina said, coming to sit beside her son on his bed. "I'm your mother. Talk to me."
Henry shrugged again, and twisted his hands in his lap. "It's stupid. And childish."
"Henry, whatever it is, just tell me. You know I won't think anything that's bothering you is stupid. Did something happen with Grace?"
Henry shook his head quickly. "No, no it's not that. It's… Mom, you know I know how much you love me right?"
"Yes…"
"Okay, I just… do you ever wish that I was your biological son? Would… would you think of me differently if I was? I mean, Hope… she even looks like you."
"Henry!" Regina wrapped her arms around Henry, hugging him tight. "There is no way I could possibly love you more. I don't care who you look like, given the chance to change your biology, I wouldn't. Without you being exactly who you are, the curse never would have been broken, Emma wouldn't be here and Hope wouldn't even exist. I don't care what your genes say, I've been your mother since you were three weeks old."
Henry nodded and smiled against Regina's shoulder. "Yeah, okay. This day just kind of got to me a little, I guess."
"That's okay, Henry," Regina reassured him, placing a small kiss on his forehead. "These past few weeks have been a huge adjustment for all of us, but I think things will start to settle down now."
Henry nodded again, and Regina turned her eyes to the wall in front of her. Things would surely settle down for Henry, she had no doubt in her mind, but now that the shower was over, she not only had her sister's dilemma to deal with, but she and Emma were going to have nothing to distract them from the inevitable conversations they needed to have about their future.
And, if she were being honest, she realized she no longer wanted the distraction, anyway. She wanted the future.
Thanks for sticking with this story, even during that long hiatus. There's still more to come, I promise, and I'm going to try really hard to not make you wait so long for the next chapter, which will feature Emma and Regina making some decisions about their future!
Also, as always, you can find me on tumble as rowark-sq … come send me asks about this story, or any of them, really, because talking about them really does motivate me to write more!
Until next time!
RowArk
