Ok, so...here we go. I am a pretty terrible writer with very little patience, but this is a story I wanted to read. You know how it goes. Ugh. I take responsibility for any mistakes, inconsistencies and any ridiculous liberties I may have taken with Emma and Regina.
I have no idea what my update schedule will be. I have three "chapters" written, and will try to have one up each week at least. For now, though, you get the ones I have written so far.
Welcome to my lame story, and try not to judge me too much. ;)
"I don't know if I can do this..."
A young blonde woman sat nursing a newborn. A son. Her son.
But, not.
Her fingers were wrapped around his as he grunted and rooted around for her breast. She pulled the baby tight against her breaking heart as though he were a band aid.
"You don't have to...you can still back out. You can still keep him." Whispered the kind-eyed social worker, running her hand gently over the baby boy's slightly conical head, and then brushing the the blonde woman's flushed, tear dampened cheek. "You can still change your mind, Emma."
But, she couldn't. This beautiful little boy deserved so much more. So much more than Emma could possibly give him. She wanted him to have everything he could ever need or want. She wanted the impossible for him. Complete happiness. All of the things she had never had.
As these thoughts crashed around, threatening to destroy her mind, the baby pulled away from his meal, locked eyes with Emma and regarded her in the politely sceptical way that only a newborn could. Emma couldn't take her eyes off him. He was so like her...his eyes, his chin, his scepticism.
"Call his mother."
"Are you sure?"
Emma placed a kiss on a fragrant forehead and handed the baby into hesitant arms.
"I'm sure. Take him. Please." Emma was moments away from a breakdown and didn't want to crack until she was alone.
"OK." The social worker tucked the now crying newborn into the crook of one arm and ran her fingers through Emma's hair. "Things will be OK, Emma. You'll see."
Emma shook her head, disbelief written all over her face.
"Just take him."
All business now, the social worker turned and left the room. Emma watched the baby's shock of dark hair bob further away from her with every careful step the the woman made. His cries echoed down the hall.
"Goodbye kid." She whispered before she allowed herself to split wide open.
Regina Mills navigated the hospital corridors of Boston General Hospital, her excited and flustered state making the task difficult. She'd been instructed to meet the social worker in a room on the maternity floor, but she was hopelessly lost despite all the signage meant to direct her to where she needed to be.
She had resorted to peeking into rooms here and there. A geriatric man watching television. A middle aged woman sipping from a pink, plastic cup. A young blonde woman with her face buried in her hands. Something in the woman's defeated posture made Regina hesitate in that particular doorway.
"Are you all right? Do I need to call someone for for you?"
The woman gasped and looked up at Regina, shocked. Red rimmed green eyes met with Regina's chocolate ones, and Regina's body, on autopilot, was drawn further into the room.
"No. No thank you." replied the young woman, who seemed unable to pull her eyes away from Regina's. "I'll be OK. I've just got a few things to work through."
Without thinking, Regina sat beside the woman on the bed, poured her a glass of water and handed it to her, cupping long, lanky hands within her smaller ones. The young woman gaped at her, and Regina's fingers reflexively tightened.
"I know things will turn out for you. Everything always comes out right. You'll see. There is so much more in store for you than you think." The words came out in an almost whisper, and Regina cleared her throat, wondering where her complete certainty in this woman's fate was coming from. Green eyes burned into hers, and Regina felt herself falling into them, wanting to know more about what was behind them. "I- I have to go. Are you sure you don't need anything?"
"I'm sure. Thank you." The young woman extricated her hands from Regina's and turned away. Regina stood up, reluctant to leave, and backed out of the room slowly, not understanding how such a large part of her could want to stay with this girl when her reason to be at the hospital was so important.
She turned on her heel after one last look into the room, and clicked her way down the hallway with a new found intent before her heart dropped several beats.
Room 502. This was it. Straightening her skirt and smoothing her hands over her blouse, Regina paused at the cusp of the most important moment of her life and then, swallowing, knocked on the door.
"Come on in." greeted a smiling voice, and Regina somehow managed to turn the door handle and step into the bright room. "Hello! Did you find us all right?"
But, Regina was spellbound by a downy, dark head and a perfect little sleeping face.
"That's..."
"Regina Mills, meet your son." grinned the social worker, carefully transferring the baby into Regina's arms.
The baby opened his eyes, and Regina was shocked to find that they were greenish hazel instead of the usual blue. And so very intelligent and inquisitive.
"Hello, Henry." she said reverently, kissing his tiny lips and wondering how she'd seen his eyes before when she'd only just met him. "My little prince."