Chapter 2
"Emma, I don't understand why you're still there? Can't you come home yet?" Snow was frustrated with her daughter. Emma had been gone for 3 months now. She was hurt when Emma had described Audrey like a mother before she left.
"I can't come home. I'm helping Audrey and I won't leave her. She needs help to keep her business afloat and needs help going to her doctors' appointments. She can't even do simple tasks like clean house or cook!" Emma was frustrated with Snow's nagging which had started the day Emma left Storybrooke.
"How are you able to help her with her business?", Snow kept pressing.
Running her hands through her blonde curls, Emma took a deep breath to try and stay calm, "It's difficult to explain, but I'm the best person for the job. Besides…", suddenly Emma felt nauseous and dropped the phone to run to the nearest trash can. Snow could hear the retching on the phone.
"Emma? Are you okay?", Snow kept asking, hoping would Emma would pick up the phone again.
When Emma was done, she looked over at the phone across the room and heard her mother asking for her. Wiping her mouth with her sleeve, she slowly stood up and gingerly made her way over the phone while holding her stomach.
"I'm gonna have to call you back. I'm not feeling so well."
"Ok, Honey. Just let me know when…" and Snow as cut off by the sound of the call ending. Staring at her cell, she debated on calling back, but knew that would just push Emma further away.
"Emma? Oh my. You don't look so good." Audrey had heard Emma and made her way slowly into the room with her walker.
"So, what you're saying is that I look as good as I feel. Ugh." Emma laid down on the couch.
Audrey slowly sat down next to Emma and put her hand on Emma's forehead. "Well, you're a little warm, but that could be from all the vomiting. I think you should make an appointment with the doctor. You've been having these vomiting spells for a week now."
Emma had her arm over her eyes, "No. It's probably just a bug."
Audrey stared at Emma and debated on whether to say what she was thinking. She finally looked down and took Emma's hand into hers, "Em, do you think you may be pregnant?"
Emma's body stiffened and she swallowed hard. 'Oh, God. It's possible. I was with Killian a few months ago.'
Audrey noticed the color leave Emma's face, "Em, it'll be alright. We can get through this together. You're taking care of me and I can help take care of you."
Tears began to fall down Emma's cheeks. Audrey knew Emma had left her fiancé, but she had no idea why. She just knew that it was ugly. "Emma, talk to me. What are you thinking?"
With her lips trembling, Emma tried to get the words out, "Um, if I'm pregnant then it'll be his. What am I gonna do? He can't know about this!"
"Calm down. First thing you need to do is go to the store and get a pregnancy test. Let's not jump to conclusions just yet."
Emma finally moved her arm from her eyes and nodded to her friend.
"Positive. Shit." Emma grabbed her belly and looked at it intensely. "You may have his DNA, but you are mine. We will be just fine, little one." Emma's eyes grew moist. She walked out to where Audrey was sitting and waiting and then held up the stick, "Positive." She then flopped onto the couch next to her friend.
Audrey just patted her legs, "This will be good for us, Em. A baby will break the monotony of my cancer. It'll give us something to smile about."
"Speaking of, when is your next chemo scheduled? I need to schedule an appointment with the OB and want to work around your appointment."
Audrey smiled at her friend's consideration, "It's next Monday at 9am."
"Ok. I'll go look up an OB in the area and schedule an appointment. Did you want to come with me?" Emma bit her lip and hoped her friend was up for the trip. She needed the support.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world." Audrey then kissed Emma's cheek and gave her a hug. "Are you going to let your family know?"
Emma cringed, "I'm going to hold off. It's still too early in the pregnancy and my mother isn't known for keeping secrets. Besides, Killian is still in jail there and I don't want word of it reaching him."
Audrey nodded, but kept silent. She knew what a touchy subject Killian was.
Emma got up from the couch, "How about I start lunch? What sounds good to you?"
Audrey turned green, "Em, you know my taste buds are messed up with this chemo. Nothing sounds good."
Emma stared at her friend and tried to think of something, "I know. You said cinnamon was the only thing that tasted really good. How about I make some cinnamon toast? I can make some ginger tea to help." Audrey nodded and then Emma left to go to the kitchen. Audrey looked back down at her hand and noticed a drop of blood on it. Raising her hand, she realized that she had a nose bleed and quickly grabbed a tissue to cover it up.
The next day, Emma's cell phone rang, "Hello?"
"Hey, Emma. Is now a bad time?"
"No, it's fine, David. What's up?
David hesitated, his voice seemed shaky, "Um, the reason I'm calling is about Killian. He escaped, Emma."
"WHAT?! Please tell me this is a sick joke." Emma began pacing around the living room. Audrey had walked in after hearing the yelling.
"I'm so sorry. We don't know how he did it. When I came into the department, the cell was empty. I ran to the docks, but the Jolly Roger was gone."
"Fuck! FUCK!" Emma threw her phone across the room watching it smash against the wall. Her hands ran through her hair as she paced and then she drove her fist through the dry wall next to her.
"Emma! That's enough!" Audrey was too weak to approach Emma, but tried to stop her with her words. "Come over here! Sit down. NOW!"
Emma had felt thoroughly scolded and immediately sat down next to Audrey. "He escaped from jail. What if he finds me?"
"Hey, we'll be ready then. We'll let everyone know at the studio and have all eyes on the lookout. He won't get anywhere near you or the baby." Emma nodded and laid her head on Audrey's shoulder.
"Push, Emma! You're almost done. Just one more push. Audrey cheered from her wheelchair and their friend, Sean, held Emma's hand and rubbed her back.
"Ahhhhhhh!" Emma gave it all she had and within seconds, she heard the sound that she longed to hear; a baby's cry.
"You did it!" Sean hugged Emma and kissed the top of her head while Audrey grabbed Emma's right hand and squeezed it.
The nurses cleaned the baby up and brought her back to Emma, "Time to meet your Mommy", the nurse told the infant. She gently placed the baby in Emma's arms.
"She's beautiful, Em. Well done." Audrey choked out between happy sobs. "What name have you decided on?"
Emma looked down at her daughter and kissed her head full of dark curls, "Everyone, meet Tristan Grace Swan."
A collective "Awww" was heard around the room while the doctor cleaned Emma up.
Later that night, Emma fell asleep while Sean stayed awake and watched over his new goddaughter. When Emma went into labor, Sean had the hospital list Emma under an assumed name just in case her ex tried to find her. Because of this, Emma was able to sleep soundly after such a trying day.
"You need to get some sleep, Sean." Audrey whispered from her cot in the room.
"I know, but I can't. I just love them both so much. Emma is like a daughter to us." He stared at the sleeping blonde. "I wonder if Tristan has inherited Emma's gift."
Audrey looked over to Emma and then to the sleeping infant in the bassinet, "Emma has a rare gift so I'd be surprised, but if she did, it would be amazing."
Sean nodded in agreement, "I've always been jealous of her talent. To be able to play any instrument by ear like a professional is incredible. And here I took years of lessons just to play my violin."
Audrey snorted, "It's sickening. I remember when she first came to my studio when she ran away. 7 years old and played the exact song she heard me play minutes earlier. I was speechless. I'm still left speechless when I watch her. She's like the Rainman of music."
"Can Henry do what she does?"
Audrey shrugged, "He never showed any interest in playing an instrument so I'm unsure if he has her gifts."
Sean nodded and then stared back at Emma, "She still hasn't told her family about the baby, has she?"
Shaking her head, Audrey looked at the floor and closed her eyes, "She's terrified. I can't help, but think there's something she's trying to avoid back in Storybrooke, but she refuses to talk about her life back there."
"Does she at least still keep in contact with Henry?", Sean inquired.
"She does. They talk just about every day. Sometimes they FaceTime and other times it's just regular calls. She's always cautious not to show her full body though."
"Good. Henry's a good kid. I bet he's so big now. I haven't seen him since they moved."
Audrey laughed, "He's huge! I wonder who would be taller now; you or Henry."
Both laughed and then stared at the sleeping baby.
"Get some sleep, Aud. We'll take our girls home tomorrow and you'll need your energy.", Sean winked. Audrey just smiled and then laid back down and closed her eyes.
Four years later, Emma had the Music Hall at its most successful. Because of the success, Audrey had enough money for her radiation, chemo, and surgeries. The doctors had given her a year to live, but she beat the odds. The cancer was now in remission and there was no medical explanation as to why. Audrey and Emma knew better.
"I'm thirsty, Mommy.", Tristan tugged on Emma's dress slacks. They were at the Music Hall listening to auditions for a new trumpet player. Sitting in the middle of auditorium in the velvet recliners were Emma and Tristan while Sean escorted musicians on and off the stage for their try-outs.
"I know, Sweetie. Look in Mommy's lunch tote for a bag and we'll put some in your cup."
Tristan put her iPad down that she was playing games on and went digging into Emma's insulated lunch tote. "Here ya go, Mommy." Tristan pulled out a bag of blood and handed it to Emma and transferred the contents to a child's cup for her daughter. Being seated in the middle of the auditorium gave them privacy since there were 10 rows of chairs in front of them.
Tristan drank it eagerly and quickly went back to her iPad game while Emma listened to the auditions. "That guy just missed a note, Mommy."
Emma turned to her daughter and smiled, "Yes he did, Sweetheart. Good ear!"
By the end of the day, Emma was stiff from sitting for so long. "Hey, Turkey!" Sean yelled from the stage.
"I'm not a Turkey! I'm a Tristan, Mac!" Sean loved getting a rise out of the child this way. She called him Mac because Sean was difficult for her to pronounce when she was a year old. Since his last name was McCloud, it just made sense.
"Are you sure you're not a turkey?"
Tristan just giggled and then ran up to Sean and launched herself into his arms.
"Ohhh I guess you're right. You are a Tristan. What was I thinking?" Sean stared into her emerald green eyes. "Emma, you're gonna have your hands full when this one gets older with all the boys chasing her."
Emma snorted, "Don't I know it."
It was then that Emma's cell phone went off and she saw that it was Henry, "Hey, Kid! How are you?"
"Not so good, Ma. Grandpa Rumple passed away today. They said it was a heart attack."
"What?! Oh no!" Emma was in shock. Even though Rumple was no longer a Dark One, she always thought that he'd live forever. "Henry, I'm so sorry. I know how much you loved your grandfather. How are you holding up? How is Belle?"
"Belle is having a difficult time, but Ruby is helping her out. As for me, I just wish you were here. Can you come home?"
Emma's heart raced, "Henry, you know about Tristan. How am I going to explain that? And what about Killian? We still don't know where he is!" Henry had visited several times after Tristan was born and promised to keep her a secret for their safety.
"I know, Ma, but don't you think it's time to tell everyone about her? You have magic and once you're here, you'll be able to use it again to protect her. Besides, Grandpa left a will and Belle said that you're in it which means you need to come."
'Shit.' Emma swallowed hard, "Ok, kid. I'll come, but I need to make arrangements first."
"YES!"
"Henry, I need you keep my return quiet. I don't want to make this a big deal. Your grandparents will be furious enough as it is when they find out I've kept Tristan a secret. I just need to think about how best to approach them."
"Ok, Ma. Can I at least tell Mom that you're coming home?"
'Home. That's not my home.' "Sure, Kid. It's not like she cares anyway." Emma huffed.
"Ma. You know that's not true. She asks about you all the time." Henry knew of Emma's feelings towards his other mother. He witnessed the True Love's kiss magic when they kissed all those years ago, but when he tried to tell Regina, she wouldn't hear it.
"Whatever, Kid. Look, I'm still at the Music Hall. I'll call you later this evening once I have my travel arrangements made."
"Ok, Ma, sounds good. Give Doodlebug a hug for me." Tristan had so many nicknames and that was Henry's for her.
Emma just smiled at that, "Will do. Love you."
"Love you, too, Ma. Bye!", and the call ended.
Emma looked at her daughter being tossed into the air by Sean and giggling. 'Your life is about to change, Sweetie, and I'm so sorry.'