Hey guys, I'm back! I apologize for the delay, I had finals and then I was in a wedding party, so the past few weeks have been very stressful and busy for me. Also, I am visiting home for the holidays, so I don't know how much writing will get done while I am here.
Thanks for all of the feedback I've gotten! I swear, I have the best readers in the world.
A huge shoutout to ladywolf101, who is the best beta ever. Also, here's to two years of friendship and working together! I adore you!
I know that these chapters have been super fluffy lately, but there was a ton of angst not long ago and I missed writing fluff :)
Hope you enjoy!
Emma was wearing a dress, of all things. She never wore dresses. But here she was, in a lacy red dress with long sleeves that had been picked out by her mother. She did have to say, she looked good. That was kind of the point.
"Big day today," Snow chimed in as she walked into the living room. Emma sat on the couch, her knee bouncing up and down as she picked at her finger nails. Snow sunk down on the couch next to her, a sigh of relief escaping as she got comfortable.
"Yeah, it's Christmas Eve."
"True, but we both know what you're really celebrating today," Snow said with a smirk. "The First Anniversary is a big one, Emma. It's an accomplishment to get over the one-year hump."
Emma shrugged. "Well, I wasn't actually conscious for two-thirds of our relationship, but August wants to celebrate any way. He says that even though we were apart, we were still together. That's got to count for something."
"Stop selling yourself short. Today is a big deal, and it's okay to be excited about that," her mother told her with a smile. "Besides, before we were married, your father and I barely spent any time together. We were always so busy with getting separated that getting to know each other became quite difficult."
Emma crossed her legs as she turned to completely face Snow. "That's different. You guys knew that you were destined to be together that entire time. Where with me...I've never had a relationship make it a year. This is the first one. Guys...they've never really wanted a future with me. Not until now."
Snow's face grew sad for a moment, and Emma knew why. Her mother wished at she had been loved her entire life, and knowing that no guy ever stuck around was heartbreaking for her. Regardless, she covered well and continued as if nothing was bothering her. "Well, that makes it even more special and gives you an even bigger reason to celebrate, Emma."
She couldn't argue with that. And even though she hadn't technically spent the entire time with him, she wanted to be proud that they made it a year. She had never really had any serious relationships, and this was the first that she wanted more than anything. She wanted to be with August because he made her happy. He gave her reasons to smile and he made her feel important. She loved being around him, and she didn't like it when they were apart. And even though it had happened quicker than ever, she really loved him. She loved him unlike she had ever loved a significant other before. And she liked how loving him made her feel. She liked how it made her drop her walls, all for him. So she was excited that they had made it this far, because she intended to spend the rest of her life with him. Even though that wasn't destined to be a long time, she still wanted to spend every minute loving him.
The doorbell rang, and her mother's eyes lit up. "Here we go," Emma mumbled as she stood up and straightened her dress.
"You look lovely, sweetheart. Have a good day, alright? You two deserve it."
She smiled at her mother before slowly making her way to the door. She didn't know why she was nervous, maybe it was because she had never had an anniversary before so she didn't know what to expect. She took a deep breath and opened the door, only to have her mouth drop.
He had trimmed his beard to the length she liked and had gotten his hair cut, also to her favorite length. His eyes were bright blue and shining, and they went perfectly with his wide grin. He was wearing a black suit with a skinny black tie, and he looked stunningly handsome. She had only seen him in a suit once, and she had to say, she loved the way he looked.
He held a bouquet of a dozen roses, and after she noticed he flowers, she saw how his eyes were wide and his mouth open in awe as he looked her up and down.
"Wow, Em. Just...wow. You look beautiful," he told her, his voice soft and loving.
She couldn't help but blush and bite her lip. "You look pretty good yourself, handsome." She held the door open wider and moved to the side. "Come on in."
As he walked past her he held out the flowers. "These are for you. I know that you don't like flowers, but it's a special occasion and I couldn't resist."
"Thank you. They're lovely," she told him as she took them from his outstretched hand. She beckoned him to follow her as she walked into the kitchen to put them in a vase of water. She didn't, however, miss the way her mother's eyes completely lit up at the sight of them. She didn't say a word about the flowers, but she could tell how happy Snow really was for her.
"You kids have a good time today, alright?" Snow called out to them as August helped Emma shrug on her coat.
She rolled her eyes, but her smile never faltered. "Thanks, Mom," she called back. "Alright, let's get going. I want to see what you have planned for today."
August smirked as he inched closer. "Well, hopefully I make all of your dreams come true, Emma Swan," he said as he lightly ran his thumb over her cheek. She leaned towards him, completely caught up in the moment, and she was rewarded with a soft peck to her lips. "Happy Anniversary, Em."
"Happy Anniversary, August."
He had borrowed his father's car for the occasion, something about not wanting her to have to ride on a motorcycle in a dress, and soon they were off. He drove her to a side of town that she never really ventured to, mainly because she never went anywhere but Granny's most of the time. The whole ride was spent with their hands interlocked, and she couldn't help but love how right being with him actually was. Before too much longer, he parked outside of a fancy looking restaurant.
August made sure to open her door for her, and as he helped her out of the car, she couldn't keep her eyes off the place. "Bella Notte?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.
He took her hand as they began to walk towards the building. "I asked around. It was actually your father who suggested this one. He said it was the best Italian food in town."
"I'm surprised that he didn't steer you towards the least romantic place possible."
He chuckled as he held the door open for her. "Well, I made sure to check it out before, just I case that was his plan. I think I might have won him over if he suggested somewhere this nice. That or he wants the best for you, which I don't doubt."
Emma could see why she had never come here before. It was completely romantic. It looked like somewhere her parents would go to on their regular 'We-Are-True-Loves-And-Need-Endless-Date-Nights' nights.
The lighting was dim, and there were candles on every table, as well as a single rose. The pure white cloths draped over each table stuck out against the dark walls and wooden floors. There were paintings of Italian landscapes covering the walls, and soft violin music played in the background. A lot of effort had been put into making this place feel like a slice of Italy in order to compliment the food, but the way it had been done was masterful. It wasn't touristy or tacky in any way. It was fancy, yet comfortable at the same time. And above all else, it was a place that thrived on love and romance. She usually found places like this ridiculous and cheesy, but for her anniversary celebration, Emma absolutely loved it.
It was more crowded for lunch than what was probably normal, but Emma assumed that this was due to the holiday. More people spent the evenings at parties or doing family activities, so lunch was more open for dates than dinner. Emma expected that all their future anniversaries would consist of nice lunches rather than dinners, and it took her a moment before she even registered that she actually was thinking about the future and still being with August. Maybe it was the atmosphere, she wasn't sure.
August had a reservation, so they were quickly seated. Once at their table, he ordered them some wine, she noticed that he picked a bottle that she was fond of, and they had the chance to look over the menus. After deciding on lasagna for her and fettuccine alfredo for him, they finally had a chance to just be together and relish in the fact that they had been together an entire year.
"What do you think so far?" he asked, and she could feel his foot gently nudge hers under the table.
She reached across and threaded their fingers together, and her thumb lightly rubbed circles against his hand. "Best anniversary ever."
He smiled and leaned across the table, beckoning her forward. She met him halfway and gave him a quick and soft kiss before pecking his cheek. "I'm glad you like it," he told her as he settled back in his chair. "And more than that, I'm glad we made it to this day."
She picked up her wine glass and held it towards him. "To us. And to many more anniversaries to come."
He clinked their glasses against one another, and she couldn't help but noticed the complete adoration that sparkled in his eyes. "To us," he toasted back before they each took a sip of their drink. As he set his glass down, he cleared his throat and looked back up at her. "Is that why you want? A future with me?"
Emma nodded as she gave his hand a squeeze. "You make me happy in a way that I've never had before. You're the only one that I've ever wanted to have a real relationship with. Before the curse was broken...I liked you but I didn't want to start anything. I wasn't here for that. But after, when I finally got to let my guard down, I got to see who you truly were. And I didn't want to live a life without you in it. Sure, we started off as just best friends who slept together a lot, but during that time, I really fell for you hard, August. And I want a future with you...I want a life with you."
He gave her his big goofy grin that she adored. Slowly he reached towards her and cupped her cheek with his hand. "Then, Em, that is exactly what we will have. I'm not going anywhere."
"Good," she stated as the pad of his thumb ran across her skin.
He took a drink of his wine before shifting in his seat. "Em...I'd like to get married someday to someone that I love and who loves me back. My first marriage failed, and I don't want to go through that again. But, if you feel the same, I'd like to marry you someday," he quietly told her. His eyes looked extremely hopeful, yet should could see the nervousness in them as well. She knew him, and she could tell that he wasn't sure how she felt about talking about marriage already. After all, she could be hard to read.
She had never seen herself as someone who would ever settle down. She didn't have relationships that could progress into a marriage. But, here and now, things had changed. When she looked at August, she could picture marrying him. She could picture being a bride and a wife. She had to say, it was something she wanted. Going to bed next to him and waking up in his arms every day was something she wanted. She wanted the life that would come with marrying him, but more than that, she just wanted him. She needed him. She loved loving him and she loved having him love her. No matter what happened, no matter where life took her, she wanted him by her side until the end.
Emma gave him a smile as she took both of his hands in her own. She gave them a light squeeze, which he returned. "I'd love to marry you one day."
August's eyes completely lit up as he leaned across the table once more. Without warning, he planted a long kiss on her lips, which she melted into. He remained close to her as their lips parted, and he made sure to lightly nuzzle her nose with his own before returning to his seat.
The rest of their meal passed by wonderfully. The food was delicious, and she loved swapping bites with August. Their hands remained entwined, and she didn't have a desire to stop her contact with him. She kept her foot lightly pressed against his under the table, and every once in a while she felt a nudge from him. They talked the entire time, and she would never tire of him. They could talk about everything and nothing, and she always was enthralled by him. She loved this togetherness and complete devotion between the two of them, and she adored every minute of it. She felt herself just wanting as much of it as she could get her hands on.
As they headed back to the car, he looped an arm around her shoulder as she hooked hers around his waist. She leaned her head on his shoulder, and he kissed her forehead. "Thanks for a lovely time, Em."
She looked up at him and smiled. "Thanks for a wonderful anniversary, babe."
He raised a eyebrow. "'Babe', huh? Is that a new thing?"
"I'm trying to find something to call you. You call me 'Em' and I feel like I need a nickname for you," she said with a shrug.
He chuckled as he pulled her closer to him. "You can call me whatever you want, babe."
"So you do like 'babe'?"
He nodded as the reached the car. Before opening her door, he turned her towards him and cupped her face in his hands. She eagerly met his loving kisses as her hands pulled on the collar of his shirt. She didn't care that they were out in public and anyone could see. All she wanted to do right now was kiss him, and that is what she did.
After a few minutes, he pulled back and tucked her hair behind her ears. "Let's get you home," he stated as he kissed her forehead a few times.
"How was lunch with August?" her mother asked as Emma came into the kitchen.
Instead of slipping downstairs like she had originally planned, she took a seat in one of the barstools and watched as Snow frosted some sugar cookies. "It was pretty great. He took me to that Italian place that Dad recommended."
Snow smirked. "That's pretty romantic. Even more romantic than the dozen roses he gave you. You hit the jackpot, Emma."
"Yeah, I did," she stated as her fingers subconsciously started to play with the bracelet that he had given her for their first Valentine's Day together, a day that seemed like it happened a lifetime ago.
Snow paused and looked up, her faced softened. "Do you think that you've found 'The One', Emma?" she quietly inquired.
Emma ran her thumb over the little blue star hanging from her wrist as a smile crept onto her face. "You know what...I think that I have. When I'm with him, everything makes sense and I just feel happy. It's like I've been searching my entire life to find something to fill this hole, and when I'm with him, I don't feel empty anymore. And that's what makes me so sure that he's who I'm supposed to be with."
"You know for certain? Why's that?" Snow prompted. Emma could tell the her mother was trying to get as much information out of her as possible, but she didn't mind. She never really was this open, but after celebrating an anniversary with a guy she was head over heels for, she wanted to tell her mom all about him and all about her feelings for him.
She grinned as she leaned forward, resting her chin on her hands. "Because I had a lot of emptiness in me before I came here. Before I came home. And you guys fill those ones, and I know that I belong here in this family. So I figure, if a guy makes me happy the way being with my mom and dad and son does, then he's the one I want to spend the rest of my life with." Emma noticed the tears that were quickly welling up in her mother's eyes, but she didn't say anything as Snow quickly wiped her hands and moved to join her on the barstools.
"This is what I wanted for you, you know. It may have happened sooner than I would have liked, you are still my baby after all, but I think it's just wonderful. Your father and I talked a lot about what we wanted for you and who we wanted you to be before you were born. We always wanted you to find true love, Emma, because its the most amazing thing there is."
Emma didn't know if she would ever get used to hearing how absolutely loved she was, but she was sure that she would never tire of it. "Don't freak out or anything, but we talked about getting married today," she stated before chewing on her lip.
Snow's face completely lit up, and Emma could tell that her mother was actively trying to reign in her excitement. "That's...really really great," she slowly said, her voice light and thrilled. "I'm so happy for you, Emma. That's a big step."
"It's not an engagement or anything, and I honestly don't think a proposal is coming too quickly, but we talked about it. He told me that he is in for the long run, and he would like to see a marriage in the future. And...I told him that I would too, and I meant it. I think it's big enough to accept the fact that we are both in it for the long haul, because I've never had this before."
Her mother reached out and placed her hand on Emma's cheek as she gave her a big smile. "My baby girl is growing up."
"Well, lucky for you, you should have an actual baby girl within the week," she teased, causing Snow to laugh.
"Tell me about it. I am so ready to have this baby...I mean, I love being pregnant but it's exhausting," she told her as she moved to rise from her seat in order to resume making cookies.
"Mom, let me finish those up for you. Take a seat," Emma instructed as she stood and moved around the counter.
Snow rolled her eyes. "Like father, like daughter. I can't wait for the day when you two no longer act as if I'm made of glass and incapable of doing anything."
"I'm just trying to give you a break," Emma told her. And, despite her mother's insistence that she was fine, she could tell that Snow was relieved to be off her feet. Her mother would never admit it in a million years, but she was tired and sore and everyone in the family knew it. Snow was so stubborn that she had been resisting any attempts to make her more comfortable or to help her out for the past few weeks. Even though they weren't great in the kitchen, Emma and her father often found themselves offering to cook while being carefully instructed by Snow.
Emma hadn't realized what she had signed up for until she was actively frosting close to a hundred cookies. She knew that they were for Granny's big Christmas Eve party tonight, but she had not been informed that her mother was planning on bringing this many. She discovered, however, that she didn't mind. While it was tedious work, she liked helping out Snow while getting to just talk to her mother. Her time away had really opened her eyes to how much she should treasure times like these, and that's what she wanted to do.
It didn't take long for her to finish up, and soon she was washing dishes with her persistent mother at her side. She had tried to fight that, and had ended up compromising, leaving her to wash and Snow to dry.
"Is August going to be at the party tonight?" Snow inquired as she placed a dish in a nearby cupboard. "I thought you two would spend more of the day together."
"Well, we got together at the party last year, so we didn't want to miss it. Plus with it being Christmas Eve, we didn't want to make the day all about us, since it is a family holiday you know?"
Snow nodded before pausing for a moment. Emma heard a light gasp, causing her to turn towards her mother. "When you two went missing at the party last year, that was when you were becoming boyfriend and girlfriend," she exclaimed, causing Emma to chuckle.
"We were outside making out on the street, and you had no idea."
"I thought it was suspicious, but I never thought you were taking that big of a step. I mean, you barely dated the guy," Snow stated as she hung up her dishrag. "I knew that you liked him but you two never made a move on each other until suddenly you were just together."
Emma shrugged as she turned towards Snow. "Oh, we made moves at each other. Just none I told you about." She smirked as her mother's eyes widened. "We may or may not have had a few...adult sleepovers if you know what I mean."
They heard a groan from behind them, only to find David standing in the doorway of the kitchen. "Now that was something I never wanted to hear," he stated as he set his armful of grocery bags on the counter.
"What didn't you want to hear about?" Henry asked as he entered the kitchen, causing Emma's cheeks to redden.
"Nothing, kid," she told him as she took his bags and set the to the side. "How was your day with Gramps?"
As Henry launched into a detailed description of the day, David and he had been going around and helping some families for Henry's service project at school, Emma put away the groceries while actively listening to her son. She also couldn't help but notice that her father and mother were having one of their silent conversations in between exchanging several kisses.
Once Henry finished listing all of the driveways that he had cleared of snow, he bounded upstairs to his room to go finish his report for his service project. Emma couldn't help but be proud of what a good student her son was, especially during the holidays.
"Thanks for taking him out today, Dad," she said as she closed the fridge and walked towards the counter. "He seems like he had a really good time."
David nodded as he looped and arm around Snow's shoulders. "He's a good kid with a big heart, and we had a great day today. You should be proud of him, Emma," he told her with a soft smile.
"I am."
"How was the anniversary lunch?" he inquired.
She grinned. "Well, I loved the restaurant you recommended."
"It's his favorite," Snow stated as she looked up lovingly at her husband. "He always gets the lasagna."
"That's what I got, it was delicious," Emma told him, earning a high five from her father.
"I'm glad that you had a good time, Emma. You deserve it," he said. "After everything that has happened, it's good to see you finding your happy ending. You've waited long enough to find it." His loving words were accompanied by Snow nodding in agreement, and Emma couldn't help but see the complete love and adoration filling her parents eyes as they looked at her. She would never get used to that, but she really loved it.
But, at the same time, she felt guilty. She knew what her parents wanted for her, and she really wished that they would get to see her find her happy ending. Sometimes she found herself wanting to tell them the truth about everything, because she hated this burden. She hated seeing everything in her life coming together and getting better when she knew that it could never last. She wanted everything that her parents wanted for her, there was no doubt about that. She just wished that it would happen, because if she had the chance to really live her life, she knew that her future would have been a good one.
Emma shoved her thoughts away, as today was Christmas Eve and her anniversary and it was a good day. She had a limited supply of these happy moments left, and she wasn't going to waste them by dwelling on her impending fate.
However, thinking about the future made her want to be more forward about her love, so she walked to her parents. Without any hesitation, it was long gone now that she had accepted them as her mom and dad, she flung her arms around the two of them. She instantly felt arms encircle her, and the feeling that came with that was one that she had craved her whole life. It seemed that her parents always found a way to make her feel more loved than ever, and she was addicted to that.
After a moment, pulled away and gave them each a loving smile. "I love you guys."
She would never tire of the look on their faces when she told them that.
"We love you too, Emma," Snow stated.
"So very much," David added on.
With that, Emma moved towards her bedroom door in order to go get changed for the Christmas party tonight. She had barely made it down a few steps before she heard a loud gasp come from the kitchen. Curious, she turned around only to see her father giving her mother a disapproving look as he crossed his arms.
"What was that?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.
Snow turned to face her, and Emma could instantly see that something was off. "Nothing to worry about, just some Braxton Hicks that have been off and on. Honestly, I'm fine," she stated as she shot a look back at David.
"You haven't had one that bad," he mumbled as he narrowed his eyes. "Don't be stubborn Snow, not now."
"I'm siding with Dad on this one," Emma announced as she kept her eyes trained on her mother. "I've been with you for a good chunk of the afternoon, and you've looked fine. But Mom, right now, I can tell that that was no Braxton Hicks and you know it."
She guiltily looked down at her hands as Emma gave her a suspicious look. "It's really not that bad, I'm okay. Let's just get ready for the party and have a good time tonight without making a big deal out of the fact that I'm a little uncomfortable."
David swore under his breath. "Snow, I didn't make a big deal this morning, but I am now. I can read you better than anyone, and I know that you know that it's more than that. Let's go to the hospital.
Snow stood and started to leave the kitchen. "I will tell you when I need to go to the hospital, and right now, I'm fine."
Emma shared a look with her father before watching her mother leave the room. They only had to wait a moment before Snow let out another gasp, and she entered the kitchen once more after a few seconds of silence.
"Snow-" David started as soon as he saw that her expression had completely shifted.
She held up a hand to stop him. "Honey, my water just broke. The baby's coming."
Emma had been born fairly quick, but it seemed as if their second child had other plans. They had rushed to get their things and get to the hospital, but now, roughly six hours later, it was evident that they had been in a hurry for no reason. Because while Snow was definitely in labor, this baby was no where close to being born.
David had been annoyed at his wife's stubbornness earlier, but now, all was forgotten. She was in a lot of pain and completely miserable, and he wished, more than anything, that there was a way to take that all away. They had been preparing for this moment for months, plus delivering a baby was something they had gone through before, but he was now discovering that each time was completely different. And from what he had seen so far, this was going to be a rough night.
He had been sent out, again, for ice chips. Sometimes when her contractions were really bad, Snow started directing her pain at him. She was the toughest woman he knew, but he could tell how much she was hurting. And at the moment, her current state was yelling that this was all his fault and that he did this to her. He knew that he would be showered with apologies as soon as this was over, but for now, he would take it. Anything to get her mind off things. But, she had asked him to leave when he had inquired what he could do to make her more comfortable. And he was now rewarded with snickering as he passed his family on the way to the ice machine.
Emma and Henry had gladly been in the waiting room this entire time. He couldn't imagine that this could be fun for them, but they hadn't complained once. This certainly wasn't how any of them had planned to spend their Christmas Eve, yet, here they were. And those two had been in the best spirits. He had noticed that they had been playing games and watching movies on Emma's laptop to pass the time, but no matter what, they never seemed bored or tired of being here. August had even joined them, bringing food and well wishes from Granny and Red. David had politely declined anything, he wasn't going to eat if Snow couldn't, but Emma and Henry had been thrilled that they weren't stuck with things from the vending machine.
It seemed that at the moment,the three of them were engrossed in a card game, but not too focused to miss him walking by the waiting room. Hence, the laughing.
"She really isn't your biggest fan right now," Emma commented, earning a snort from Henry. "This is the third time she's thrown you out."
David filled up the cup with ice and turned towards the group, who were all seated on the floor. "I volunteered to go, so joke's on you."
Henry shook his head as he placed a card on the pile in the middle. "Nope, you always look guilty when you come out. Grandma is mad at you."
He sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "Hey, she can be mad at me all she wants right now."
"I bet August ten bucks that she will send you out four times. And, by the looks of it, someone is going to have to pay up," she said as she winked at her boyfriend.
David rolled his eyes. "Go back to your game and let me worry about that," he told them as he headed back towards the room. He knew that they all were really concerned and hoping that everything went well, but he had to admit, it was a little comedic how much he had been banned from the room. He also couldn't help but think of how Emma had compared him to a 'kicked puppy' last time, and he knew that he must have been quite a sight at the moment.
He reached the door to Snow's room, and he took a deep breath before pushing it open.
She was pacing the floor again, her hands resting on her lower back. Her face was bright red and there was a line of sweat forming at her brow. Her eyes were closed as she took deep breaths, and she looked absolutely miserable. He knew that there was a joy in childbirth, but at the moment, he ached for his wife.
She looked up at his return and held her hand out to him. "I need those," she mumbled as she gestured towards the cup of ice chips. He walked towards her and kissed her forehead before she took the cup from him.
"How are you doing?" he questioned as he tucked some hair behind her ear.
She sank down onto the bed, and he took a seat beside her. "There should be another one coming any moment."
He looked over at the nurse who was busy with the monitor, and she gave him a quick nod. David started rubbing his wife's back, and he could feel the tension radiating off of her. She set the cup on the nightstand and gripped her knees, and he could tell that a contraction was starting. He held his hand out to her, and she immediately took it and started squeezing as hard as she could.
"Hey, I'm here. Just breathe, Snow, it'll be over in just a moment."
Finally he felt her shoulders relax, and she leaned against him. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. "I can't do it, Charming," she whispered, her voice small and shaky.
He tilted her face up to look at him, and he could see the tears pooling in her eyes. "Are you kidding me? If there is anyone that can do this, it's you," he told her, his voice gentle and soothing. "I'm scared too. But I'm going to be right by your side this whole time, and you're going to have this baby. You are so strong, Snow, and I know that you can do it."
"But, what about what comes next? I can't be a mother to a baby, I don't know how. I've never done it before and I don't think I can do it-"
"Shh, shh, it's okay," he said as she tucked her head under his chin. "You're going to be a wonderful mother, Snow, and you have nothing to be afraid of. Sure, it's going to be scary and it isn't going to be easy, but we will do it together. Okay?"
She nodded against him, and he reached down and wiped some of her tears away. He had a million different thoughts and feelings running through him, but right now, those could be shoved to the side. His wife needed him to be strong and to be a rock for her right now, and he would be. They were going to have a baby tonight, and he would do anything that he could to help her get through this.
Everything hurt, and it had been like this for hours. She had no idea how long they had actually been here, but it felt like an eternity. It felt like it would never end, and that the pain would only get progressively worse, which so far, it had.
She had done this before, so she should have known what to expect. However, technically it had been thirty years since she last gave birth to a child, and it was completely different this time. It was frustrating how long this was actually taking. She knew that she couldn't rush things along and that the baby would get here when she decided, but she just wanted it to be over. She had been miserable for hours, and she was beyond ready for this baby to be born.
Charming had been wonderful, just like last time. She knew that there had been times where she had taken her pain out on him, but she also knew that he would never hold her to anything said while she was in this state. And no matter what, he was always at her side holding her hand through the worst of it, and she loved him for that. If he had a choice, there wasn't a doubt in her mind that he would take all of her pain away. She knew that he hated seeing her like this, and he had dutifully done everything in his power to make her as comfortable as possible throughout this entire labor. She had no idea what she would do without him, and she was so thankful to have him as her rock right now.
It was the middle of the night, and she could tell how exhausted everyone really was, not to mention herself. She didn't know if she even had the energy to deliver this baby. Charming was exhausted, but he hadn't left her side for quite some time. She had a firm grip on one of his hands, while his other one was wrapped around her. She leaned completely against him, with her head in the crook of his neck.
There was another sharp pain, one of the worst ones yet, and she threw herself forward with a yell. Her husband kept a firm grip on her, and she was aware that he kept whispering encouraging words into her ear, even though she couldn't exactly focus on what he was saying. She wasn't sure when she had started screaming, but it had been pretty frequent for the last little while. She was also aware of the constant tears running down her cheeks, but she never made a move to wipe them away. As soon as the contraction ceased, she collapsed back into the bed and back into her husband, only to prepare herself for the next wave that would be here any moment.
"Doc, do something," Charming stated, as he dabbed her forehead with a cold rag. He turned his attention to her as he cupped her cheek and ran his thumb across her hot skin. "You're doing great, Snow, you're almost there. She'll be here any moment."
She locked her jaw as she felt another coming, and she squeezed his hand with all her might. "I can't do it," she breathed as she prepared for the worst.
Charming said something to her, but she couldn't hear it. She couldn't focus on anything but how much this hurt. But, right when she was starting to give up, Doc told her it was time. And even though she felt like she couldn't do it, she found herself pushing with all her might.
She had no idea how long it lasted, all she knew was that she was screaming and crying and in so much pain. And yet, the world seemed to stop moving when she was overcome with a sense of relief, and then another scream mixed with her own.
And it was one of the most beautiful sounds she had ever heard, rivaled only by the cry she had heard when Emma was born.
She opened her eyes and saw Doc holding her daughter in his arms. Charming placed a few kisses to the side of her face, and she could tell that he was smiling into them. She watched as he let go of her hand and walked toward their baby, their second child. He had tears in his eyes as he touched her tiny hand, and she watched as he helped cut her cord and then take her into his hands. She was so little in his arms, and he cradled her head with so much love and protectiveness that she felt tears prickling in her eyes just watching her husband and child.
Charming had the biggest smile as he brought their little girl over and placed her on the blanket on her chest. She felt her lip quiver as a tiny hand wrapped itself around her outstretched finger.
"Hello, sweetheart," Snow said as she met her daughter for the first time. The baby opened her eyes, and as she gazed at the perfect face of her little girl, she was completely overcome with emotion. She was a mother again. She was this child's mommy as much as she was Emma's. Charming and she had created this tiny little person, and she had brought her into the world. This little girl was her responsibility. She was going to care for her and love her and give her the world, and that was exciting and terrifying, and so wonderful.
"She's so beautiful, Snow," Charming told her as he kissed her temple. One of his hands reached towards their baby, and he softly ran his thumb up and down her little arm. "Shh, it's okay, princess. Your mommy and daddy are here."
"Yes, we are. We've got you, baby girl," she stated, her voice already finding a soothing rhythm that hadn't existed before. Their daughter had already started to calm, and she felt amazing just knowing that their daughter felt at peace in her arms.
Snow looked up at him, and she felt a surge of love for him as she looked into his eyes, and she felt the same coming from him. This man was the father to both of her daughters, and there was no one that she would rather have by her side. She knew, without a doubt, that he was the best father a child could ask for, and she was honored to be able to share this life with him. He leaned forward and lightly kissed her before reaching forward to help her swaddle their child in the hospital blanket.
As she nestled the baby in her arms, she had a wave of emotions hit her. There was so much love for this child, there was no doubt about it. But there was fear and sadness. She kept feeling like she was moments away from having to give her child up. While there was no curse or Evil Queen approaching, she was afraid that this child was going to be taken from her just like the first time. That thought terrified her, but it also made her grieve. She mourned the missed opportunity with her first daughter. As she held this baby in her arms, she couldn't help but think of another that hadn't had the chance to bond with her parents before it was too late. She had known that having another child was going to be difficult, simply because it was a painful reminder of all that had been stolen. While she felt so many things inside, she found the strength to ignore the negative thoughts in her head. Instead, she focused on the life in her arms and the adoration that she felt within her.
After a few moments of just staring at her baby, a nurse asked to take her away to be examined. Snow's arms instinctively tightened around her child, but before panic could set in, Charming rose to the occasion, as he always did.
"I'll stay with her the entire time, and I'll bring her right back to you," he promised with a kiss to her cheek and the baby's head. While she hated having her daughter leave her arms, even for a second, she was put at ease knowing that her husband wasn't going to let their baby out of his sight.
They were just across the room, but it seemed as if they were a world away. Still, she noticed that Charming's finger had a hand wrapped around it, and that gave her a sense of relief. As she finally started to calm down, she was able to focus on herself for a moment, painfully aware of the fact that she still was completely sore.
After the doctor examined her and proclaimed her to be in good health, it didn't take long for her to be joined by her husband and daughter, who had also been established as perfectly healthy. Also, nineteen and a half inches, and seven pounds three ounces.
The room had already started to calm, and Charming crawled up on the bed with her. Their child looked so small in his arms, and she knew that she would never tire of seeing him cradle their babies. Because, after all, he had held Emma the same way thirty years ago.
Their little girl was now clothed and wrapped in her specially made blanket, plus she had a little pink hat covering her head. She held her arms out, and Charming gently eased the bundle into them, and she held their child close.
"Ruth Isabelle," she murmured as her daughter gripped her finger once more. It seemed as if that was quickly becoming their daughter's signature action. "I think that name is quite fitting for our beautiful little girl."
Charming nodded. "Hello there, little one," he softly greeted as his finger ran down the baby's cheek. She made a soft noise that sounded content, and Snow couldn't help but grin.
"She knows that you're her daddy, and that you love her very much."
He leaned his head against her own, but he didn't look away form their child once. "I sure do. Snow, do you want to count her fingers and toes?" he quietly asked.
She gave a short nod. They hadn't had time to do this with Emma, their first bundle of joy that had felt exactly the same nestled in her arms.
They counted them three times, just to be sure, and Snow realized that this might be her new favorite game.
She wished that she could freeze this moment, just her, Charming, and their new baby. They hadn't had a peaceful moment like this the first time, and that is what she had always desired from the moment she met Emma. And while there were a lot of emotions and issues to deal with, Snow decided to push those to the side and take a moment to be happy. She had just had another baby, and now, Charming and her were parents to a tiny, perfect little girl.
Snow knew that Charming was her soulmate and True Love, but she believed that True Love could be extended beyond that. Because as she looked down at her baby, she felt it completely.
A mother's love for their child.
Emma was tired, yet she didn't have any urge to sleep. She wanted to wait up along as she had to in order to see her new sibling.
Henry had passed out around midnight, and he was currently stretched across two and a half hospital chairs. He was using his backpack as a pillow and her coat for a blanket, and he managed to look peaceful in his makeshift bed. She knew that he had wanted to stay up until the baby was born, but he had eventually given into his exhaustion. After all, he had been running around Storybrooke doing good deeds all day, plus they had been playing games the entire time they had waited at the hospital. The kid had had a busy day, and she was glad that he had found a way to get some sleep.
August had been nodding off for a little while, and he now had his head resting back against the wall, completely drifted off. She was still holding onto his hand, even though his fingers had loosened as he fell asleep. She knew that he wasn't comfortable sleeping in a sitting position, and she was tempted to wake him and force him into a makeshift bed like Henry's.
She hadn't expected him to spend the night here with them as they waited for the new member of their family. But, when he had shown up with plates of food and a smile on his face, she couldn't help but be excited to see him. He had offered her an explanation to ease her mind, he said that he had swung by the party and had spent the rest of the day with his father but he wanted to be with her on their anniversary, and she couldn't blame him. It may have been a holiday, but it was also their special day, and she was glad they he wanted to be with her.
She hadn't heard anything from her father for a while, so she assumed that her sister would be born any minute. She couldn't hear anything in the waiting room, so she hadn't had a clue all night as to how far along her mother actually was. There had been one brief visit to the room, but Snow had insisted that she didn't want Emma to see her like that, so she had spent the rest of her time out here. Not that she minded. She enjoyed spending time with August and Henry, but now that they were asleep, she had time to really think.
Emma was excited to meet her sister. After meeting her other siblings, she couldn't wait to be a big sister. There would always be a missing spot in their family that only Leo, Michael, and Eva could fill, but they were still in her heart. She loved the feeling that she got when she thought about them, because love between siblings was something she had never really felt before. And she couldn't wait to feel that when she looked at her baby sister for the first time.
There was a part of her, however, that was a little sad. From this moment on, everything would be different. Their family dynamic would completely change. No longer would her parents spend all their time focusing on building their relationships with her. Now they would have a baby to take care of, and there was bound to be times when that had to come first. She didn't doubt that they would love her any less, but now they were going to be Mommy and Daddy to this little girl, and she was jealous of that. She had grown enough to be able to push those feelings aside, but a part of her yearned for all that she had lost, and everything that this child would get.
Instead of focusing on what she had ripped from her, she pushed herself to think of what she was gaining. She was becoming a big sister. She wanted to be someone that that baby could look up to throughout her entire life. There was so much love that she could give to her sister, and she couldn't wait to learn what it truly meant to be an older sibling. She hadn't had a lot of practice, but she knew she could do it. She knew that her brothers and sister wanted her to be the best sibling possible, and that is what she would do. She didn't have a lot of time left, but what she did have, she would spend it loving her sister as much as she possibly could.
Her thoughts were interrupted by her father entering the waiting room. He had bags under his eyes, his hair and clothes were disheveled, and his eyes were red. But, despite it being evident that he had been enduring a ten hour labor, he looked so incredibly happy. She knew, without a doubt, that her sister had entered the world.
"Merry Christmas, Emma."
With all of the excitement, she had almost forgotten that it was Christmas Day. "Merry Christmas, Dad."
David took a seat across from her and gave her the widest smile he could. "She's here."
Emma stood and shifted out of August's hold on her hand, careful not to wake him. She took a seat next to her dad, and she leaned her head against his shoulder while putting an arm around him. "Anyone could see that from a mile away, you look so happy."
He chuckled before turning towards her. "Your mother is exhausted, but she's doing great. And your sister is perfectly healthy, and strong. Nineteen and a half inches and seven pounds three ounces."
"That's how much I weighed," she whispered, her throat suddenly feeling tight.
"I know," he told her, his voice sounding sad and distant. She could tell that he had already thought a lot about what could have been had they kept her as a baby. He kissed the side of her head, and she noticed that he lingered longer than he usually did. "She feels the same as you did in my arms. Looks like you too. Same wispy blonde hair, same little nose and chin. I think she has your mother's eyes though."
"How is Mom doing?" she asked, and it was evident that he knew exactly what she was implying.
"Snow is very happy, but also very sad. She's been thinking a lot about you, especially in the past few weeks, and it's hard for her to hold another little girl without dwelling on everything we lost with you. What we have with the baby is different, but we love you two the same. It's just...not going to be easy."
She grabbed his hand and gave it a light squeeze. "I'm choosing to focus on what we are gaining now instead of what we lost all those years ago."
David nodded as he gave her a small smile. "I'm proud of you. Out of everyone here, you have the most reasons to be upset, and yet you haven't voiced any of them."
"That's for another day and time, because they are there. One day we can sit down and discuss everything, but for now, let's just be a family."
He kissed her forehead before standing and holding out his hand. "Would you like to meet her?"
Emma nodded as her father helped her stand. She quickly checked on her two sleeping boys before following David to her mother's room. She took a deep breath as her father pushed the door open, because from this moment forward, her life was never going to be the same.
Snow was sitting up in bed, and while her lack of sleep was written across her face, she was glowing. Emma didn't doubt that her mother had had the same loom on her face when she was born. David crossed over to his wife, and after kissing her, he shifted his attention to the little bundle in her mother's arms.
Emma remained frozen in the doorway, but as her mother looked up, she felt her feet start to carry her forward.
"Is that her?" she quietly inquired as she came closer to the hospital bed.
Snow shifted the baby, but didn't tear her eyes away from Emma. "This is your sister, Emma."
She moved to look at the sleeping baby, and her mouth dropped open as she beheld the face of her little sister. She was so small and so beautiful, and she was overcome with how much love she already felt for this baby girl.
Her mother lightly grabbed her hand, and she shifted her focus to Snow's eyes. She could see the sadness her father had talked about swimming in them, and she couldn't imagine what her mother felt at the moment. "Are you okay?" Snow questioned, her voice soft and soothing unlike she had ever heard it before.
"I am," she told her with a nod. She was always amazed by how her mother put her first no matter what. And not only that, he was amazed by how much she actually meant what she said. She was okay with this, even though she had every right not to be.
Snow gave her a loving smile before tilting her head to the side. "Do you want to hold her?"
She hadn't thought about that part yet, and she felt her eyes widen a bit. Her mother's face fell, and she quickly regained her composure. "I'm sorry, I just...I haven't held a baby since Henry was born."
"You don't have to hold her if you don't want to, Emma, we understand," her father said.
"No...I want to. I want to hold her," she stated, more to herself than anyone else. She took a step forward as her mother held the baby up, and she gently pulled her sister into her arms. It was amazing to her how perfectly she fit in the crook of her elbow, and as she looked down at the baby, she felt a wave of emotions that she had only experienced three times before when she had met her other siblings.
This was her little sister, and she completely adored her the second she laid eyes on her.
The baby reached up and grabbed a loose strand of her hair, and Emma brought her hand up to run her finger across the tiny knuckles. Her sister had a content look on her face, and for some reason, Emma knew that that little girl felt safe in her arms. Even though this was the first time they were meeting, it was as if she knew that Emma was her big sister. As she looked down at the bundle in her arms, she felt tears forming in her eyes. This tiny human was a part of her family and was someone she would do anything for. She felt a surge of protectiveness, and in that moment, she decided that this girl would have the best life possible. She wouldn't know pain and suffering, and she would always be loved. She would know where she belonged, and she would hold a place in people's hearts. And, most of all, she wold be given the world, by her parents and now, by her big sister.
"Hi there, Ruthie," she cooed as she started to rock the baby back and forth in her arms. She looked up at her parents, only to see tears in both of their eyes as they held hands. "Is it okay if I call her that? I figured that she needs a nickname from her big sister."
"'Ruthie' is wonderful," Snow breathed as she wiped at her eyes.
Emma gave her parents a smile as she looked back down at her sister. "Well then, that's who you are, kid. My little Ruthie. Because guess what? You're my little sister. But more than that, I get to be your big sister. And I'm going to be the best one that I can, alright? That's a promise. I may be a really really big sister, but I'll still always be there for you. No matter what. Because I love you, Ruthie. I may not be perfect and I have a lot of stuff to deal with, but at the end of the day, I really do love you. And you will never ever have to wonder about that, okay? That's another promise," she whispered, her voice small and gentle. She felt a little hand loop around her finger, and she leaned down and placed a quick kiss to her sister's head. "I'm so glad you're my sister, Ruthie."
She heard a sniffle, and she turned to see her mother's cheeks lined with tears and her father was wiping at his own eyes.
"Oh, Emma," her mother started as she moved closer to her parents. "You're going to be a wonderful big sister."
All she could do was grin as she looked around at her family. She may be the same age as her parents and she may be thirty years older than her sister and her son may be twelve years older than his aunt, but in her eyes, this family was perfect. This was all she had ever wanted, and even though getting here had been a long road full of twists and turns, they were together. And they loved each other.
In Emma's eyes, this was the best family in the world.
Yes, it's a girl. But, I must say, you never know what the future will hold. I love baby Neal, but this is a completely off-canon story that has been extensively planned out for quite some time. Sorry if this upsets anyone.
Hopefully I can get the next chapter out to you quickly!
Happy Holidays to all of my wonderful readers!
