Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time

XLVIII

Eight Months Later

Henry paced the waiting room of Storybrooke General. "When will they be out?" He asked. No one responded, so he stopped in front of Victor, "Uncle Victor," he nudged the doctor's knee, jostling him awake, "you're a doctor, why aren't you in there? And when will they be out?"

Victor drew his gaze from Ruby's sleeping form and looked down at Henry, "Well, Henry, I'm not that kind of doctor. Besides, I'm pretty sure you mom and dad don't want me in there for this."

Henry sighed impatiently, not pleased with the answer, "Fine, but when will they be out? I want to meet my brother."

Victor chuckled, "Henry, this could take a long time." He murmured, "Having a baby is not easy."

"I understand that, but when"

"Henry," Grace rested her hand on his shoulder, "Uncle Victor just doesn't want to admit that he doesn't know. You know he likes to always have an answer."

Victor scowled, "I do not."

"Yes you do." Regina deadpanned, her fingers running through Roland's hair as he slept on her lap. "Now, come here you two. Let's not bait Uncle Victor to stooping so low as to fight with the two of you." She waved Grace and Henry over, the only two children who were awake, "You two need some sleep. This is going to be a late night." She patted to the sofa next to her just as the clock chimed midnight, ignoring the low grumble from Victor as he settled back into the sofa he and Ruby were on, trying to sleep.

"I'm not tired. I'm worried." Henry continued to pace. Grace sighed and took a seat on the sofa.

She watched Henry pace for a moment before she finally said, "Henry, come sit with me. We can worry over here." She suggested softly.

Henry studied Grace for a moment before nodding and moving to sit next to her. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, the way his dad does to his mom when she's worried and gently slipped his fingers through the tips of her long hair. Jefferson's eyes tiredly narrowed in on the scene from the opposite side of the waiting room. He scowled and grumbled, waking David up. "What happened?" David asked, yawning.

Jefferson leaned back sulking, "They're seven going on eighteen and it makes me nauseous." He pointed to Henry and Grace.

David rubbed his eyes and checked quickly on his very pregnant wife and their sleeping son before following Jefferson's gaze, "I'm glad Neal is still more interested in hanging out with Roland right now."

"Lucky bastard." Jefferson muttered.

Philip and Sean came in carting to-go cups of coffee, "Granny's on her way in with food. She says she can't sleep she's so excited to have more great-grand babies floating around." Sean passed out the cups to the adults who were awake as he spoke. "Any news?"

Jefferson shook his head, "No, Killian came out maybe ten minutes ago to tell us there have been no drastic changes."

"Anyone allowed in there?" Philip asked.

"Killian said Emma didn't want anyone right now, but he thinks she may let the girls in soon. She's just frustrated and ready to be done with it."

"Does anyone blame her?" Graham mumbled tiredly, "It looks miserable to go from being as skinny and fit as she was to carrying a human around."

Mary Margaret murmured, "It's not that bad. It's pretty cool, actually." She nudged her nose back into David's stomach as she turned over, "Except sleeping is hard." She admitted with a tired groan.

David ran his hand over her large belly, a tired, yet satisfied grin spreading across his face, "Well, we'll both get to not sleep soon enough." He promised her.

She let out a hum, her hand coming down over his, their fingers twining over her stomach, "Sounds good."

"Hey," Killian came in the room again, tugging off a scrub cap, "Emma said that anyone who wants to come in can come in. The doctor thinks this is going to be longer than she thought. If you guys want to go home"

"Not at all," Mary Margaret rolled over, attempting to right herself. "come on, let's wake everyone up." She waddled to the nurse's station, "When Granny comes in, can you send her to Emma's room with the food?" The nurse on call nodded absently as Mary Margaret walked away, leading the way down the hall deeper into the maternity ward. She pushed the door open and poked her head in, "How you doing?"

Emma let out a groan, "Killian is finding the machine that tells us when a contraction is coming way too amusing." She muttered, trying to find a comfortable position as a small contraction rocked her. "He keeps warning me and he's telling me if he thinks it's going to be big or not. I hate him. I want to punch him. Or kick him where it hurts. They all hurt. Why do they all hurt? I don't remember them all hurting."

Mary Margaret chuckled lightly, pulling a chair over to settle next to her bed, "I broke David's hand when we had Neal." She admitted.

Emma shuffled herself up and grinned at her, "Really? Maybe I can break Killian's." She thought.

The brunette patted her hand, "I'm just glad you have him here."

Emma let out a long breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, "Me too." She glanced at the still shut door, "I keep having these flashbacks to having Henry." She murmured. "It was so awful. I was all alone and I was only eighteen and I just" she closed her eyes, "I guess I really never got over that."

Mary Margaret stood and settled herself next to Emma on the bed, the two very pregnant women barely fitting. Pulling Emma into her arms, she did her best to cradle her against her chest. It was a bit of a trick with the two of them being at the end of their pregnancies. "It's okay, Emma. You're not alone this time. You've got Killian, Henry, August, you've got all of us." She pressed a kiss to the top of Emma's head, "We're all here and we're not going anywhere." Emma let out a sob she hadn't even realized was inside of her, "Oh, sweetheart, it's okay. I know it's all so much, but this time is different, this time you have a support system. You don't have to worry about this baby like you did about Henry." Emma nodded against Mary Margaret's shoulder, "And for the record, I know that was hard, but you did such a good job with him. He's the most amazing kid, his spirit is incredible. You did that. He's incredible and resilient because of you. So it may have been scary and hard, but you won. You did it and you won."

Killian leaned in the doorway, "Aye, love, you did do it. And you did it better than anyone else could've." His arm was wrapped around Henry, "Henry, I think Mum needs a little love right now."

Henry nodded and bounded over to Emma's bed. Mary Margaret slid off and settled back in her chair as Henry climbed up next to Emma, "It's going to be okay, Momma. I promise." He wrapped his arms around her belly. "Everything is going to be okay, and Peanut will be here soon."

Emma bit her lip and nodded as the room was suddenly flooded, "I was thinking, I think I have a name."

Killian rolled his eyes, "We've all thought we had a name and we've all failed." He motioned around the room. Over the past few months everyone had come up with names for their son. And no one had been able to agree on anything. Nothing seemed to fit. Henry had shot down every name without so much as a second glance. Grace said he was too picky and that there were only so many names in the world, he had to pick one.

Emma nodded, "Liam." She said quietly, "I was thinking we should name him Liam."

Killian's eyes widened and his mouth opened slightly. It took him a moment and Henry's worried voice calling to him to get his feet moving towards the bed, "Are you sure, love?"

Emma nodded, "What do you think, Henry? Naming Peanut after your Uncle Liam? He was a hero, you know. A real life hero."

Henry considered it for a moment, "I like it." He agreed. "Stories about Uncle Liam are the best. And if Peanut is anything like Uncle Liam, then he'll be very brave and very strong. And that's important." He commented wisely.

"Me too, love." Killian pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Liam would like it, too. So would my Mum. And you're right, Henry, your Uncle Liam was very strong and very brave, much like you are."

"Liam it is, then." Emma agreed.

"Oh, here comes a contraction." Victor broke the serious atmosphere, "Don't worry, it's not big." He pointed to the screen, a grin on his face.

Thirty seconds later, Emma let out a long groan, "Out." She motioned to the door, "Anyone who has the gall to tell me whether or not a contraction is going to be big or small does not get to be in here."

Ruby chuckled as Victor took a step away from Emma and the monitor, "Okay, Victor, come on, let's see if Granny is here with the food."

Killian chuckled and brushed some hair out of Emma's face, "I think he's terrified, love."

"That goes for you too, Mr. Jones. I'm in this bed, hooked up to that machine, feeling like someone is trying to rip my body in two because of you." She threatened. Victor chuckled even as he stood next to Ruby, her fingers tightened in his sweater as she hauled him through the door, ignoring his grumbling.

Killian grimaced, "Sorry about that, love." He pressed a kiss to her brow, "No more contraction watching, I promise."

Emma nodded, "Okay, baby," she struggled with Henry wrapped around her as another contraction came through, "I'm sorry, but you can't be in bed with Momma right now." Emma grunted as she shifted, "I'm going to need you to get down."

Henry nodded, his hand connecting with her stomach as he slid off the bed. She bit back a moan, "Okay," Mary Margaret stood up, "I think all the little monsters should come with me. I think Granny is here with grilled cheese and chocolate milk. We need to give Aunt Emma a little bit of privacy and let her get some rest."

Grace linked her hand with Henry's, "Come on, let's go eat and then we can check on your mom." She advised.

Emma and Jefferson simultaneously scowled at the scene, "Next thing you know they're going to be getting married." Killian muttered.

"Shut up, Jones!" Emma and Jefferson growled together.

OUAT

Thirteen hours later, a tired Killian fell into a waiting room chair, "Liam Charles Jones." He murmured. "Emma and I want you to come meet him."

"He's here?" Elsa rose, "Finally, come on guys." She roused the tired children and led the way down the hall.

Emma smiled as the door opened and the room was suddenly filled with people. She felt silly for her breakdown in Mary Margaret's arms hours before. She wasn't alone anymore. Ruby was the first by her side, taking the little boy from her arms, "Oh my, you're so handsome." She cooed softly, "I'm your Aunt Ruby and I will always have chocolate milk." She promised.

Emma patted the bed, and Henry climbed up, "Just be careful, lad." Killian reminded him, settling on the edge next to Henry, leaning over to press a kiss to Emma's tired forehead, "Love you." He whispered.

Emma turned her head up to catch his lips in a brief kiss, "Love you, too." She felt truly content for the first time in her life. She had her three boys and her friends. She would never need anything more than this in life.

Emma turned her attention back to the room, watching as everyone passed her youngest son around. Drawing Henry into her side, she leaned back against the pillows, "Can I hold him, Mom?" Henry asked.

Emma smiled down, "Of course, he's your baby brother. You can always hold him." She glanced up, "Regina, can we have him?" Regina nodded and placed him carefully in Henry's arms, "Just support his head." Emma murmured, adjusting Henry's grip slightly, "There you go."

Ruby sighed, "Okay, now I get it." She admitted. The other women turned to look at her with raised brows, "What?" She held up her hands, "It was bound to happen some time."

Victor smiled softly, "You look good with a baby." He commented. At her arched brow, he held up his hands, "Just saying, you'd look even better with a blonde baby." He winked at her.

She grinned, "No babies until I have a ring." She informed him.

"Oh, I understand." He nodded. "Well then," he dropped to a knee and the entire room fell to silence, "Ruby," she sucked in a breath, "we've been trying to figure out that next step for a while now, and I know what it is, it's the rest of our lives. I love you, Rub, I love you more than I thought possible and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. So, will you marry me?"

Ruby took a shaky breath, held out her hand and nodded, "Of course, Victor, yes." The room erupted in simultaneous applause, 'awws' and 'ewws' as the Victor pulled her in for a kiss that got a little out of control.

"Little eyes are in the room." Regina reminded them.

"Please, like you and Robin are ones to talk." Killian snorted.

Emma smacked the back of his head, "I basically mounted you when you proposed. We don't get to comment either."

Henry looked up, "What do you mean by 'mounted?'" He asked.

Emma flushed, "Okay, you know what, ask me again when you're thirty." She glared up at Killian who flashed her a cheeky grin.

"Okay everyone," a nurse came in, "momma needs to get some rest and so does our little Prince Liam." She accepted the baby from Henry. "I want everyone to get some rest and come back later, okay?"

Killian lifted Henry up, the little boy yawning and fluttering his eyes closed as he hugged arms around his father, "We'll be back later. I'm going to feed the lad and we'll change."

Emma nodded and leaned back, "Don't stay gone long?" She requested.

"One hour, an hour and a half tops." He promised, brushing his lips over her forehead. "Sleep, my love."

"Aye." She agreed, her own eyes closing, a soft smile on her face.

OUAT

XOXO

MAS