CHAPTER 28
"Mary Marg - ," she started. At the rise of Snow's eyebrow and pointed look she amended, "Snow. What are you two doing here?"
Snow scoffed, "Ruby called me." The disappointment that Emma herself hadn't thought to inform her of what was going on was clearly evident in the lift of Snow's chin as she gave her daughter a slight glare.
Emma closed her eyes momentarily and shook her head as a small groan escaped her lips. She should've known. She tossed her head back and stared up at the sky as she first inhaled then loudly exhaled a huge breath.
Snow ignored her theatrics and instead focused on her granddaughter, "well?"
Emma decided to play dumb as she wrapped a protective arm around her daughter, "Well?"
"I want to see my granddaughter!" Snow shrieked.
Emma shook her head before resuming walking. "I need to get her inside. It's cold out here. And I'm not having an argument with you in the middle of the street," she continued on to Granny's with her parents following closely on her heels.
When they entered Granny's this time, Emma's eyes narrowed at the size of the crowd. From her naked eye it seemed as if the crowd had actually grown. She knew that the town tended to reconvene there after Town Hall meetings anyway. But the meeting had been over for hours now and there had been way less people here just half an hour ago. Now all eyes were on the small family as they made their way over to empty seats.
"Excuse me," she pushed through the crowd to the back booth. It was the one that Regina had always sat in and for some reason the townsfolk still tended to leave it empty. Zelena slid into the seat across from her making a big point to sit on the very end so that no one else could sit beside her.
Snow looked curiously between the two women before sliding in beside her daughter, "let me see her." David pulled a chair from the next table over and sat at the end of the booth.
Emma sighed but knew it was best to just rip off the band aid rather than let the misery linger on. She drew the blanket back from off of the top of Blue's head revealing the little bundle that was sleeping peacefully across her chest.
"Oh, Emma!" Snow gasped. With trembling hands, she reached out and ran a finger across the top of Blue's head. Emma couldn't stop the grin that spread across her face everytime she looked at her babygirl. "She's beautiful," Snow gushed.
David nodded in agreement, "she is."
"I made this for sleeping beauty there," Granny came over with a teeny knit cap. It was white with a ribbon that ran around the rim. She'd obviously used the leftover scraps from Blue's baby blanket. It was a perfect match.
"Thank you," Emma gushed as she took in the detail. It amazed her that the woman had thrown this together in such a short amount of time just for her. "Blue thanks you too," she said as she lightly tugged the cap over her daughter's wayward hair careful not to wake her.
Granny flicked her wrist at her, "it's nothing. She's so tiny it barely took me 15 minutes to put together. I'm just glad that it fits," she beamed with pride at the baby. She took in the stack of packages between the pram and the stroller, "and that you got the little princess squared away."
A blush creeped up Emma's neck, "yeah. I may have gotten a little carried away there. But she's worth it," she whispered as she stared down at her daughter.
Emma frowned but didn't want to put up a fight as Snow reached over and began to work the baby out of her carrier. Blue frowned then gave a small cry in her sleep. She sat back fuming as Snow managed to get her out of her carrier and pulled her into her chest, "she was comfortable Snow," she complained.
"She's my granddaughter," Snow fired back at her. "And thanks to that witch this is the first time we've seen her. Now that she's here this is exactly where she's staying."
Emma watched green magic crackle at the tips of Zelena's fingertips. The woman was clenching her jaw and at this moment, if looks could kill, Snow would be 6 feet under. She drew in a breath hoping that she could control the situation before something major happened. She snapped her head over to Granny, "can we order so that we can get out of here?"
Granny waved Ruby over who quickly finished with her customer. "What can I get for you all?"
"I'll have 2 cheeseburgers with 2 large fries and 2 strawberry lemonades. And Regina usually has a salad. Is that okay with you?" she turned the question toward Zelena who was still having a visibly hard time with the situation.
"Make that 2 turkey sandwiches with cheese and extra mustard. And 2 strawberry lemonades sounds fine," Ruby nodded but before she could move on Zelena added, "and 2 order of fries and onion rings."
Ruby smiled and made a quick glance down to the barely visible baby bump but kept her professional demeanor intact. She turned to Snow and David, "and you two?"
"We've had dinner already," Snow informed her as she bounced her new grandbaby on her knee.
"A few pieces of your strawberry cheesecake would be nice though," David threw in as he slipped his finger into his granddaughter's palm. The baby scrunched her body up while smacking her lips but thankfully continued to sleep.
"To go please. And if you could put a rush on it I'd be forever grateful," Emma yelled after Granny and Ruby who had departed to take care of the order.
"And who is this?" Snow asked while pointedly looking over Blue's head at Zelena. She was certain she knew everyone in the town by now but for the life of her she couldn't place this one's face.
"Zelena. She's Regina's sister," Emma answered while fidgeting around uncomfortably.
Since coming back home, Emma hadn't really had the chance to get into the whole Cora is alive and Kathryn skipped town to be with Regina's family thing. She had mostly been concentrating on getting herself straightened out so that she could focus on her kids. Now she was just silently praying that they could make it out of the diner without her taking out everyone inside.
"Since when does Regina have a sister?" Snow was confused as to what all was going on. But she knew there was nothing about this situation that she liked right now. She and Emma really needed to have a long talk about everything.
Zelena put her elbows on the table and propped her head up on her hands while giving Snow the kind of look a predator gives to its prey minutes before closing in, "since I'm the oldest I guess that would mean her entire life."
"She was my stepmother before she decided to turn into a homicidal maniac. Why is this the first time I've ever heard of this?"
Green flashed in the depths of Zelena's eyes and the tips of her fingers before she curled them into claws. She gave a sneer before leaning across the table, "Maybe if you weren't so busy conniving to send my sister to murder our Mother while pretending to be the victim in the situation you would've taken notice of someone and something other than yourself. And if that sputtering oaf you call a daughter hadn't been busy kidnapping her child then she would be able to get her head out of her arse and focus on something and someone other than her own pure selfish greed."
Emma looked horror stricken as her head swung back and forth, "I never - !"
"Don't even think of lying," Zelena hissed through her teeth. She pointed to where Archie sat just a few feet away from them at a table he shared with Marco. "The insect might be disgusting. But he doesn't lie."
The diner gasped as their eyes followed her finger. Archie's face flamed the same shade of red as his hair as he became clearly flustered. "I – it was – um - ," he sputtered as he reached up with one finger to push his glasses further up his nose.
"Bombastic simpleton," the redhead scoffed as she shook her head at the buffoon.
"Henry wanted to be with me," Emma tried to justify as everyone's eyes in the diner turned to settle back on their table. "And Regina poisoned him. He almost died."
Zelena turned her heated gaze back toward Emma before spitting out between clenched teeth, "That was merely a sleeping curse. And she broke her own curse in order to help get bring that miserable weasel back. And you knew damned well that was about you and not him. Still she allowed you to dictate to her what happened to a child you have no business with. Which is a lot better than you deserved from any Mother whose child you've decided you had some right to even when you know you're wrong. The only regret is that it failed."
Now she folded her arms on the tabletop and leaned over them toward Emma. She narrowed her eyes at her with suspicion written clear across her face, "and how exactly did that happen anyway? It was specifically set up for you. So how did that horrid child come across it?"
Now it was Emma's turn for her face to become beet red as she stumbled around for something to say. She really had no answer to that. Henry had told her it was poisoned. But instead of just tossing it in the bin or even stepping on it he took a huge chunk out of it. Watching her son fall had spurred her into action which eventually led to the breaking of the curse. But she herself didn't understand why he would go to such lengths just to prove himself right.
Then again he did hate being contradicted more than anything. He became almost hostile when someone or something didn't make sense to him. It was one aspect of his personality she honestly didn't care for. Not that she'd ever admit that to anyone.
She sat for a moment breathless as if the air had been knocked out of her because she hated to think of there being something wrong with Henry at his age. Yes she'd been stubborn and should probably have listened to him more. But did he really have to go to those lengths to pit her against his Mom? The waves of hostility coming off of the redhead were practically tangible. She knew without asking that she'd have nothing but more ammunition to use against him if she ever acknowledged such a thing.
She glanced nervously around the crowded diner where all eyes seemed to be centered on them. Her eyes bulged as she took in the curious faces around her and realized that this could only end badly, "Umm – why don't we just get our food and take this up back at home? I don't think this diner is the right place for this private conversation. And – oh thank God. Ruby you're a lifesaver!" she rushed out as she began to shove her way past her Mother.
Snow scoffed but thankfully got out of the way allowing her to jump out of the booth and grab the take out bags from Ruby. She handed them and the drinks to her Father before grabbing the pram and making her way to the counter to pay for their order.
Snow and Zelena exchanged loaded glares before following her. Emma quickly paid and left a generous tip for Ruby before turning back toward Snow and wrangling her daughter out of her arms. She put her back into her carrier and made sure that Blue was wrapped tightly in her blanket before making her way out the diner. Zelena strolled behind her leaving David to grab the stroller and follow them and his wife out the door.
She quickly led the small group back out. She practically sprinted back to the apartment making it in record time. She exchanged the food and drinks that David carried with the pram and left it up to him figure out how to get them upstairs.
After making her way upstairs and unlocking the door she made straight for the dining room table. She placed their meal down on the table and took a moment to relax. Her heart was beating in her chest triple time as she heaved a deep breath glad that she was finally back home and away from prying eyes.
There had been a lot of accusations thrown around tonight. Having her family business publicly aired was never something that she was okay with.
Despite Zelena's allegations otherwise she knew had done the right thing by taking Henry to live with her. Henry had been over the moon about being able to be a part of the good guys. He'd even started calling her Mom.
So she had been right. It was best for Henry to be with her. Everyone said so. No one tried stopping her. And Regina really didn't put up much of a fight either. Henry wanted her and she wanted him. It was as simple as that. Then why did she feel so heavy?
"Where is Henry?" Snow asked as she strolled in behind Zelena as David hefted the stroller into the place. He turned and walked back out after leaving it in the middle of the living room presumably to go back for the pram.
Instead of answering, Emma turned to her bedroom door. She quietly cracked it open and peeked her head inside. Her breath caught in her throat at what she saw. Henry had Regina in a pretty tight vice grip around her neck and a leg thrown over body. She remembered Regina to be a light sleeper and knew she must've been really exhausted if she hadn't woken up from that.
Then a tendril of green magic snuck out. Instead of being cuddled against his Mom, Henry was thrown back to the opposite side of the bed. He ground his teeth but as a heavy sleeper he barely noticed the disturbance. Emma however turned to glare at the woman behind her.
Zelena just gave her a haughty smirk before sticking her nose in the air and making her way to the food containers. Emma threw one more saddened glance back into the room as she protectively placed a hand around Blue's head and began to bounce walk her over to the table.
Zelena washed her hands then began to pull out and sort the food while David brought up the pram and used his foot to kick the door shut. Snow sat frowning as Emma outright ignored her Mother in lieu of a seat at the table. She was one who could always eat – and right now she was starving.
"I'll take her," Snow reached across and again without asking started to wrestle Blue from her carrier. Blue began to squawk a protest making it clear she wasn't okay with the arrangement.
"You could've just waited for me to let her out Snow," Emma grumbled as she watched Snow trying to console her daughter. Blue eventually quieted down and instead stared up at her parents as if they were aliens from another planet.
As they ate each of them retreated into their own thoughts. Snow and David sat cooing over their grandbaby. Zelena glared her hatred at them as she ignored her sandwich and instead plowed through both of the fries and one of the crates of onion rings. Emma was lost in her own thoughts as she too ignored her sandwich and went straight for the ketchup drenched fries.
She was miserable. And she had been for some time. Though living through misery had been a constant theme in her younger years, she'd finally reached adulthood. And sworn that would never be the case again.
After getting out of prison, she'd sworn to live life by her own terms. And she had. She had her own little slice of life and it had suited her just fine. But she had been lonely. And still so unhappy. That was … until Henry.
She had thought she'd found her forever with him and Regina. When they were together everything was perfect. But then they'd have to crawl out of their love cocoon and go back to the real world.
That's when Henry would remember. He hated his Mother. And he and Emma were really heroes that belonged with the good guys. He'd start pressuring Emma to be who he had decided she was meant to be. And she had been torn in between wanting to keep her son close to her and loving a woman who had difficulty showing and proving that their love was on equal ground.
Emma had hated being caught in the middle of the two of them. She loved Regina but she also loved her son. She tried her best to straddle both relationships. Trying to make Regina understand she wasn't trying to take Henry away from her while trying to make Henry see that there was more to his Mom and his life than stories inside of a big pretty picture book.
Then the crack. Because something always has to give. Henry fell to Regina's sleeping curse. And then his heart had stopped. She woke Henry up with true love's kiss. And she'd gained parents she never even knew existed before. But she lost everything else she loved in her life. Because the universe was out to get her.
She was forced to embrace her new reality. The one that included them living in a magical town full of fairy tale folk, her parents being younger than her, a son who only saw her and his grandparents as perfect and his Mother as pure evil, and the woman she'd fallen in love with leaving her behind forever.
But in all honesty now, she knew she hated this town. And the way that everyone here already had her and her life defined for her. She was their Savior. Her parents were their rightful king and Queen. And the townsfolk were their loyal subjects. Just the thought of it all was sickening.
She knew what she wanted. And that was for her kids to be happy. But Henry was just as sullen, defiant, and angry as he'd been since she'd met him. Except now it was directed at her since Regina wasn't there to deal with it. And Blue was living halfway around the world from her. This – just wasn't working for her at all.
She knew what she needed to do. Now she just needed to find the courage inside of her to get it done.
She turned toward Zelena, "do you mind if we have some time alone?"
Green magic zapped out and the next thing everyone knew Blue went from Snow's arms to lying nestled in her Aunt's. Blue gave a small smile as she stretched her body out fully before sighing in contentment and relaxing again. She blinked up drowsily at her Aunt who grinned down at her baby niece before lightly kissing her cheek, "Not at all. You may leave now."
Emma saw the protest written across her Mother's face before she even opened her mouth and she hurried to divert her attention. "I think we should talk in your place," she fumbled with the keychain she'd pulled from her pocket until she found the key to her parent's apartment. Without bothering to wait for them she left her place and unlocked their door before strolling into their living room and waiting on the two of them to catch up.
"Emma!" Snow's voice had taken on a sharpness that let Emma know she was close to losing it. "We cannot let them just take our baby. She belongs with us. We're her real family."
Emma didn't even bother putting any of her energy toward that crap at all. Instead she momentarily closed her eyes and inhaled a deep breath. "We're leaving," she announced quietly.
Snow and David's eyes widened almost comically, "WHAT?!" they screamed together. David stepped beside his wife and dropped his hands onto her shoulders as the two of them leaned into one another.
Emma walked around the sofa forcing her parents to move around with her. She swung back around until she was the one nearest the door and squared off against them. "Henry and I are leaving. I'm not going to have my daughter half the world away from me. I need to be able to see her and know that she's alright. I need her with me. And that's not going to happen here. Regina's made it absolutely clear she has no intentions of staying here. That leaves only one solution. Henry and I are going to move to France."
Of course Snow was the first to recover. She regarded her daughter suspiciously, "so that's what this is all about then," she nodded her head knowingly.
Emma forehead scrunched in confusion, "huh?"
Snow planted a fist on her hip, "Emma, look at you. Can you even hear yourself? That woman destroyed our entire lives. Now you want to live with her again? After she tried to kill your son!" She huffed an exasperated breath. "I just don't get you Emma. First you have this – this breakdown at a town meeting. And now this!"
Unshed tears stung the backs of Emma's eyes as she faced the truth that they were and maybe would always be on opposite ends of the spectrum from one another. She pursed her lips and took a deep breath before answering, "I don't expect you to understand." She looked away from them as a lone tear made its way down her cheek. She sniffled, "You gave me away to have your happy ending." She ignored their gasps as she continued, "but I never agreed to that with my baby. I need her. She's the only thing that makes me feel real right now. And I can't – and won't – be away from her for another minute."
David strode forward. His face was a mask of incredulity, "Emma – we had no choice. We sacrificed our happiness so that one day we could all have a happy ending together."
Snow stepped up beside him. The two of them clasped hands as they looked at their daughter in horror. Her chin jutted upward as she sniffled and stared her daughter down, "what we had was hope. Hope that despite everything we'd have to endure in the meantime, we'd one day all be together again. It's hope that brought us through the darkness. And now here we all are!" she spread her arms out to encompass the room. "Together at last."
Emma angrily swiped at the track the tear had left down her cheek while trying her best to keep the rest of them at bay. "No. You wanted your happy ending. And you didn't think for a second about what that meant for me."
She took a step back while looking around the apartment that was meant to be her first home with her parents, "I'm not happy here. I don't think I ever have been," she shook her head sadly. "The only time I feel any peace at all is when I'm holding my daughter."
The tears she'd been holding back began to run free down her face as she allowed them to go unchecked, "I – I know everyone wants us to have this big happy family now. And maybe one day we can. But that day isn't going to be today." She backed up to the door and opened it. She looked back at them before walking out, "You wanted a Savior more than you wanted a daughter." She held up a hand to stifle their protests. This wasn't about them. This was something she needed to do for her. "And I want nothing more than to watch my daughter grow into the beautiful woman I know she's going to become more than I want to pretend to be happy here when I'm not."
"I'm sorry. But I can't be what you want me to be." Before anymore words were said, she turned and fled out the door.
RQ
Regina startled as she woke. There was an unfamiliar weight pressed against her and deep, heavy breathing in her ear that ended in a soft snore. The fog of sleep was instantly lifted as her heart began to speed.
She had been woken up like this various times back in the Enchanted Forest. Most nights she was able to enjoy the peace of her own bed. But there were some nights when Leopold was feeling extra needy. Instead of leaving after he was finished with her, he'd instead choose to spend the night in her bed. She'd spend the remainder of the night cramped under the weight of his body as she prayed for daylight to come and the soreness that ran through her to ease.
She lay for a moment confused as she tried to get her bearings. The weight pressed against her now was definitely lighter than Leopold's bulk. She kept her eyes closed as she turned her head slowly so as not to startle the intruder. She slowly opened her eyes as she began to feel the tingle of her magic burning just beneath her fingertips instantly at the ready. It took her a couple of seconds more before her eyes were able to adjust to the low light in the room. But eventually she was able to make out the outline of her son's features from the moonlight that streamed through the curtains.
It still took her another minute to process what was going on. Eventually she remembered where she was and why.
It had been a while since she'd seen her son face to face. She'd viewed the videos that he'd sent her once but had stopped it a few seconds in. She hadn't wanted to be reminded of the past then – or now.
The last time she'd actually spoken to Henry at length was just before the Netherland incident. The curse had been broken for a few weeks and there were still people baying for her blood. But her magic had been returned to her and they knew it was in their best interests to keep their distance.
She had spotted Henry with Snow leaving the store and had run over to them. She'd bent over to hug her son only to have him forcibly push her back. Though she should've been used to it by now since he'd spent the past year being nothing but purely venomous to her, the pain it stirred inside her struck her to her very core.
She'd tried to talk to him but he'd only glared and shouted how much he hated her and how much he wanted her out of his life. She'd almost broken down as she watched Snow smirk at her before throwing her arm around his shoulders and leading her son away. She had known that in that moment she had lost him forever. And there was no turning back.
He was her son. That bond had been established not long after she'd brought him home from the adoption agency. She remembered being at her wits end with his nonstop crying. She had no idea why. His diaper was clean, he wasn't hungry and he'd been burped. Still the crying persisted. She was positive he was telling her that she was the worst mother in the world and she was moments away from throwing in the towel and agreeing with him. In a moment of desperation she screamed at him to please stop crying. Their eyes locked onto one another's and just like that – he did.
Time stopped as she stared into her son's hazel eyes. She knew in that moment that they were going to be okay. A love that she had no idea ever existed blossomed inside of her. And over the years it just continued to grow.
Love never dies. It only grows. Though she knew she still and always would love her son that love was now displaced. It was locked away in the same place that held her love for her Father and until recently Daniel.
He was no longer the boy who'd grin at her cheekily with a face full of chocolate after burying his face in the baking bowl as he lapped up the last bits of chocolate that had eluded his spoon and finger. He wasn't the toddler who'd jabber Mama Mama happily as he made his way over to her on wobbly legs as he gave her a proud toothy grin. That Henry was gone.
He'd been replaced with a sullen and secretive boy who didn't hesitate to spit bullets at her every chance he got. Her beautiful boy was gone. And this one – was definitely a Charming.
Her son had been a small thing. But as she took some time to study him, she could see all the changes that were evident. His cheeks were no longer covered in baby fat. Instead they were becoming more defined.
His limbs were gangly as they splayed out around him. His wrists stuck out of his shirt sleeves making it clear that it was time for him to go up another size. Or two. But that was no longer her place to deal with. Because this wasn't her son. He was Emma's.
She knew he would be fine with Emma. And the two of them would have to figure out a way to move forward together. But she would not be a part of that. Though that was a pain she knew after losing her Father and Daniel that would never go away. It was one she was prepared to live with.
She would bear the burden of holding it in because she wasn't blameless in this situation. Though the extremes that were taken that got them to this place were not completely her fault, she was no innocent either.
Losing a child was a price that no mother should ever have to pay. But she knew now – with her entire family by her side – she would be okay. With their help – and with Blue and Daniel's – life had once again been breathed into her. And she knew despite any evil past deeds, it was possible for her to still be happy. She was still worthy of and capable of having and giving love. And that was what was most important.
Voices and movement from outside the door drug her out of the headspace she was currently in. With one last loving look at her son, she shook off her musings and left the bed. She walked into Emma's bathroom and threw some cold water on her face to help wake her up. The nap had helped but she really did need a few more hours of uninterrupted sleep. She used the restroom and washed her hands then left the room to find her sister and her baby so that they could get back home.
When she walked into the living room, her sister's gaze tore away from the baby bouncing in her arms to meet her smile with one of her own. Blue was now fully awake. As if she sensed her presence, her head turned and her eyes and face lit up as she began to wave her arms and kick her feet around excitedly.
With just as much exuberance blooming inside her, she strode quickly across the room and reached for her baby. Zelena released her to her Mother with a smile across her face. Seeing them happy always made her happy. Though the joys of being and having a family were still new to all of them. This was definitely something they would never get tired of.
Regina raised Blue above her head and peppered her face with kisses as the baby squirmed happily. She brought her back down with an exaggerated swoop that made Blue's face split with a grin from ear to ear.
"My love," she held her daughter close. "Mummy missed you." She laughed as Blue gurgled in response.
She turned her grin toward her sister, "where's Emma? You didn't turn her into anything did you?"
"Not yet," the redhead deadpanned. "Her parents on the other hand – blech!" her face twisted in revulsion.
Before they could say anything else, the apartment door opened and Emma walked back in. One look at her tear streaked face made it clear that something big had just gone down. When their eyes met, the part of Regina that still and always would hold love for Emma rose up inside of her. She broke eye contact with her as she attempted to regain her composure.
Emma stood for a moment staring at the woman she had once pledged undying love for. Her throat worked furiously as she cleared it in hopes that she could get through the third hardest conversation she'd had to have with someone she cared about in less than 24 hours. Once she was sure she'd be able to speak without embarrassing herself she managed to croak out, "can we talk?"
Regina squelched the sigh that threatened to erupt at the question. She wanted to just say no so bad. But she'd known since finding out that she was pregnant with Emma's child that being put in awkward positions would just be part of something she'd unfortunately had to live with until Blue came of age to deal with Emma on her own. That didn't mean she was happy about having to accept it though. She hung her head while taking a deep breath, "sure."
Emma led her the few steps away that it took to separate the dining room from the living room. They stood in front of the sofa but neither made a move to sit down. She licked her lips nervously as she searched for the right words. When nothing came to mind she did what she did best- blurted out the first thing that popped into her head. "I've decided that Henry and I are moving to France."
Regina's eyes blinked rapidly in surprise. "O - kay," she said slowly. That was completely unexpected. She didn't bother to point out that she didn't live in France. It was Emma's life. There was nothing for her to say about the situation.
At seeing none of the resistance she thought she would get, she nodded before moving forward, "I want to be near my baby. I can't just stand by and watch her leave and never know when I'm going to see her again." At the continued silence she began to fidget. Regina was wearing her Mayor mask. The one that made it nearly impossible for her to figure out what was going on inside her head.
She put her hands in her back pockets and began to rock on the balls of her feet, "we could get a place near where you live. That way I could maybe take her for a few hours so that you can sleep. It would be a win-win," she smiled shyly and shrugged hoping to use whatever charming gene she had to make Regina feel less threatened and hopeful that this could work.
Regina huffed out an incredulous laugh. When she saw the seriousness on Emma's face she shook her head vigorously.
"No."
