Get it while you can
Chapter One: Make a wish
Emma had a long day at work. It was Christmas holidays and the bar had been more crowded since they decided to add the new room. Three months before, August was telling her that he was bored to live literally in the same building of his business. So, he used his old
room to build a brand-new dance floor. And it wasn't quite a bad idea. Unless they had to work double shift if they wanted to pay back the rent.
It' s been two years that August had accepted to hire her and she could say that he had saved her life in a way. Thanks to him she was settled, had her own place and she was paid enough to have a normal life.
She lived only a few blocks away from her work, but she liked to take her yellow bug a few times a week. It helped to remember she has things that she had bought herself, with her own money. So, she went down the street, humming lightly along the music playing on the radio. And she parked her car in front of the building. She picked up the few groceries she bought after work she had left on the front seat before heading to her apartment. When her foot hit the third floor, she mechanically took her keys out of the right pocket of her red leather jacket. That's when she saw him. A little boy, brown headed sat against her front door, with his backpack clenched in his arms. He seemed pretty comfortable aside of the fact he was on the floor. But where the hell were his parents? She had never seen him around. Or maybe he was her new neighbour's child? If we don't take for fact that they look not older than twenty. She figured that she couldn't stay and keep staring, then she tries and took a step forward. She was never a child-type of person. So, this situation was awkward, and she was starting to feel awkward. She tried to be gentle and shook him by the shoulder. He hmphed and shifted a little before his eye started to open. He looked a little confused and tired. When he looked up at her he seemed to realise where he was. He shook his head like if it was going to help him to wake up. And in a sec, he was standing in front of Emma and his eyes were wide-opened, his backpack still in one of his hand, and his mouth open. Emma nearly thought he was planning to catch a flea.
"Hey kid, are you alright?" Emma chuckled with a little much care in her voice that she wanted.
He still looked a little bit shocked. "Hum, ye-yeah!" He scratched the back of his head and he smiled. "Are you Emma Swan?" he asked with a little tilt of his head.
Emma narrowed his eyes. She had a feeling that this wasn't her neighbour's son and it seemed that he had no plan to let her go to her place without an answer.
"Maybe, - ". She answered cautiously, "but the real question is, why a kid of your age is doing sleeping on my porch? Don't you have parents or something?"
"I have a mom. But I wanted to find my real one. So, I took a bus, and a taxi, and I've met the old lady on the first level and she asked me who I was, so I told her that I was your son. And she was nice enough to let me in, but I've gotta say, she looked creepy with her messy hair and her voice all cracked like she's been smoking. Does she smoke a lot? Anyway, do you have something to eat? I'm starving." He looked at her with a proud smile and as if all those words were meaning something to Emma.
She must be tired of her day, or maybe a customer had put something in her glass of water before she left the bar? Well, in any case, if this was a joke, she wasn't going to take it well.
She was now standing in front of her mirror, her hands clenching at each side of the sink in her bathroom. She was trying to process what was happening. She closed firmly her eyes, trying to hold back the few tears who were trying to escape. She splashed some water on her face and look up at her relief. Some memories came playing in the back of her head but she held them back. There was no time for this. And she took a big inspiration before finally unlocking the door. She wasn't going to break down now that some ten-years-old was probably doing a mess of her kitchen.
She found him sitting on his knees on a barstool of the kitchen island. He was happily drinking some orange juice directly at the bottle. Emma swallowed hard and took a tentative step. She waited for him to put the bottle stopper back and tried to compose herself and pressed her lips together.
"Okay kid, you must know that you shouldn't be here and I assume that you ran away, so I 'll just ask you the phone number of your parents. They must be worried sick. I'll just-." She was now looking for her mobile. She was certain that she had put it in her purse. She tried her back pockets of her jeans. But it was nowhere to be seen. She heard the boy chuckled a little. She snapped her head up, and saw him with her phone in his hand. "What the – ". She watched him in disbelief, he seemed quite proud of himself "Oh come on kid, we have to call your parents, and you really shouldn't be capable of stealing, that's bad, you know that." Her tone was firm as she stared at him.
"But… I just found you, don't you want to get to know me? And by the way, I have name, it's Henry. And I have no parents, just a mom who doesn't love me. Don't call her … please?". He tried to look cute, she knows that. She looked at him. He had this little twinkle on his eyes when he looked at her and she didn't want to give him false hope.
"Look, kid, Henry, whatever, you seem to be a smart kid, you know that I can't keep you, give me the phone" Her tone was firm but gentler than earlier." He frowned, but he gave it back to Emma.
"Okay, but can't you just drive me home?" he tried.
"Where is home?"
"Storybrook."
She looked at the clock behind Henry, 9:56 p.m. The idea of driving him home didn't sound good. If someone saw her with the kid, or worse if she got arrested, this could be bad.
"Give me the number of your mom, we'll say her that you are here, so she can decide what option is better for you to go home since the bus is not even a possibility."
"Does it mean that I've got to stay here?" he grinned. Hope in his brown eyes.
"Kid, the phone number?" Emma started to get a little annoyed by this situation. And this boy wasn't really making things easier. And how on earth did he find her?
"Okay, okay, there it is", he got the mobile back and put a number of it. He looked disappointed and his little trip of the day wasn't going to be as good as he must have thought. He handed the phone to Emma and watched her hitting the green symbol.
At the first ring, she heard the cracked sound of the phone. "Hello?" A low, worried voice of a woman picked up.
"Hi, I'm sorry to bother you, but I think that your son is in my apartment. And I figured that -". She didn't get the opportunity to finish her sentence when the other woman cut her off. Her voice clearly louder than before.
"How is he? And who are you woman? How on earth can you think that a ten-years-old got to be on his own?" Well, she was yelling by now. And Emma didn't need to see the woman to know that she was upset. But the weird thing was that she seemed to be angry against her, like she has kidnapped her son or something.
"Ma'am, your son is ok" She said calmly. She looked over Henry who was now eating a grilled cheese she had reserved for her diner. She wasn't hungry anyway. "He is a little bit tired, but that's all. Can I text you my address? Or do you prefer me to drive Henry to your place? Storybrook, that's it? "
She heard the woman sniffle quietly and her voice was lowered again. She cleared it and spoke. "I suppose that my son was the one to divulge those informations, just know that it won't be necessary for you to memorize them. And, yes, I could use your address. I'll be on the road when I'll have your text. May I speak to my son, now please?" She nearly heard the flick of her tongue while she spoke, she sounded very formal, like she was speaking of her lawyer or a politician. And for a moment, Emma understood why Henry had run away. This woman seemed to be a hard ass and she has a capability to make others feel guilty. it was quite impressive how Emma felt like she'd been caught of something she'd never done in a fraction of second.
"Yes, I suppose" She buttered out.
She quickly sent her the address and handed the phone to Henry. He took the phone and closed his eyes preparing himself to whatever was going to happen. "Hi mom".
Emma crossed her arms in front of her chest and sighed. She couldn't hear everything on the other end of the phone but according to the new shy composure of the boy, she assumed that someone was in trouble. His cheeks were red, and his eyes started to be wet. "I just wanted to find my real mom." He said with a tiny voice.
"Yes mom." His lower lip starting to quiver.
"Yes, I promise" He sniffled.
"Yes, I'll tell her". He looked disappointed. He looked up to Emma with guilty eyes.
"I know mom, see ya' "He hooked off, put the phone down and looked directly at his hands while he was playing with the plate still in front of him.
Emma waited for him to say the first word.
"My mom said that she'd be here in an hour." He was pouting now. Why all the children need to do that when they are upset? She frowned a little.
Emma went around the island and sat next to him trying to not making eye contact yet but clearly knowing he was looking at her. She cleared her voice. She had to tell him something. And he has to know that she is not ready to have him around. It's been ten years, and she decided to giving him up for a reason. She wasn't ready back then and she isn't ready now.
But in the other hand she didn't want to break his heart. So, she took a long inspiration and start to talk. She was fixing an invisible point
"Kid, you know that if… If I've let you when you were little – ". He cut her off with a sweet voice.
"Don't worry, I know, you were trying to give me my best chance. And it's ok, I don't blame you." He smiled lightly at her and she could notice again this little twinkle of his eyes.
She stared at him wide eyes. She was definitely not prepared to that answer. "Hem, yeah, for sure." Her throat felt suddenly dry. "I wanted to give you the chance to have some people who were capable of taking care of you. People who actually could offer you what I couldn't. Do you understand? I can't be what you want me to be, kid, I 'm sorry." She leaned across the table and took his hand. She was now looking right in his big brown and full of hope eyes. "Look, I'm sure your mum tries her best for you, you have to let her try."
This situation started to be a little bit overwhelming for Emma. She wasn't really the touch-kind of person and she was holding his hand for far too long. She took back hers and buried it in her pocket. He didn't seem upset, he was just looking calmly at her, it was like he was planning something. But right now, she didn't want to think about it. It was her birthday after all.
She chewed the inside of her cheek and thought of something to do. She figured that it would be easier to do something fun than to stay here in this awkward situation. "Hey, how do you feel that we make pancakes for dessert?" His eyes went bright as his grin grew wider.
Forty-five minutes later, they were lazily down on the sofa, bellies filled of whip cream and pancakes. Henry had passed out a minute ago. It must had been a long day for a kid of his age. She was pretty tired too but the click of the clock reminded her that in a few minutes someone was going to probably storm in her apartment. To be honest, Emma was a little anxious of what was going to happen. She wasn't completely aware of the reason that Henry had run away and she didn't want to guess some wrong ideas about the lady. But she didn't seem to be the easiest to live with. She just hoped that this little boy (who had decided to reposition himself with his head on her knee), was going to be okay.
The sound of the interphone ringing came to interrupt her thoughts. She extracted herself off the weight of the little boy and got up quietly. She pushed the first button "Emma Swan hearing".
"Miss Swan, would you have the amiability to open the gate? In that way I could have the opportunity to take my son back?" Her voice was firm and high in disdain. Well, this was going to be fun.
Emma debated if she should wake the boy or not. In one hand, she wanted to go back to her normal life as soon as possible. But if his mother was as stubborn as she had sounded earlier, she didn't want him to assist to the scene that was probably going to happen. So, she opted for the second option and closed the door of her living room before pushing her back against the wall beside the front door. And she waited patiently.
Three minutes and half precisely. It was the needed time for the short, thin brunette to knock 4 times, loudly. And another five seconds to go through the now opened door, fire in her eyes.
"Suit yourself" mumbled Emma before closing the door. "Where is he?" she wasn't quite yelling but her voice was strong enough to startled Emma. "Where is MY SON?" her heels were reasoning on the floor as her eyes went everywhere like Henry could actually hide on the wall or behind the shelves.
"Could you… Could you lower your voice firstly please?" Emma try to steady the pick of anxiety she was feeling as she blinked rapidly.
"Oh, sorry if your ears are sensitive Miss Swan, but I came here for a reason if you recall." She was now looking directly in Emma 's hazel eyes. Her tone punctuated with disdain, and her face tensed in a tight smile. But Emma could feel the little shake in this low voice meant to scared her.
"He's in the other room, he is asleep, I figured that maybe we could talk" She pursed her lips and tried a smile. The older woman took a step toward Emma, her perfect make up contouring her deep brown eyes made her look even more scary. Her stare was tough and she titled her head a little. It was nearly in the same manner Henry had done a couple of hours ago.
"Well, talk, you have one minute, after that Henry and I will be out of your life. Isn't it what you wanted ten years ago when you gave him up?"
Emma greeted her teeth, the woman before her wasn't going to be easy to talk. She took a step back, needing her comfort zone back. She took a breath before looking up again. "Alright, that was not fair but I will do as if I didn't hear it." She swallowed and her gaze went down at her feet before looking up again.
"Look, Henry seem to be a great kid, and I have no plan to take him from you. I just wanted to be sure he was ok; he looked a little frightened when I found him." She struggled to maintain the eye contact. There was something in that look that she didn't quite understand, a sort of conflict of emotions or maybe that was just hate.
The short-haired woman crossed her arms protectively on her chest. "I don't know what Henry told you but you'll be happy to learn that he has everything he needs." Her voice still tough but lower than before. She took a condescending behaviour and raised a brow "Now if the interrogation is over, I would like to see my son."
"Is he alright?" Emma's voice was tiny, she wasn't even sure that the other woman had heard her.
"I beg your pardon?" her brows were now raised and her eyes were opened widely. The vein of her forehead almost ready to pop.
"I mean… Is he happy?" She tried a little louder, uncertainty in her eyes.
"Of course, he's happy." She stated. Frowning at the memory. "We went on a fight last night and I have no idea how he managed to find you but he did. And I may not be the best mother of the world but be sure on one thing: I do love him." Emma saw in the brunette's eyes some wetness threatening to transform in tears. But it was quickly rectified by a blink. She was definitely telling the truth.
"Okay" Emma smiled lightly, not sure if she should say something else.
She decided to move, and walked past the other woman. Their momently proximity permitted Emma to noticed a surprising soothing scent of vanilla emaning from the brown hairs. She opened the door of her living-room and the petite brunette stepped inside.
Emma was pressed against the doorframe by her shoulder, arms crossed. She was witnessing the interaction between Henry and his mother. She wasn't really sure to be wanted in the same room of the two brunettes before her so she stayed quiet. Funny thing, taking the fact that it was her apartment.
"Henry, you can't do that ever again, you understand me?". The older woman was kneeling in front of him, hands clasped around his. Her voice was nearly pleading and still filled with emotions. She had awaked him a few minutes ago and he was still emerging, sitting on the edge of the sofa.
"Yeah, mom." He supressed a yawn and extracted his hand off his mom's to scratched his eyes. "Did you meet Emma? She is really cool, and she had let me help with the pancakes!".
His mother looked across the room toward where Emma was standing, and looked back to her son with a tight smile. "Of course, she did." She stood up elegantly, smoothing her skirt and regaining her perfect demeanour and offered a hand to Henry. "We are going to spend the night at your grandmother's tonight, so gather your things and we will go, she is waiting for us." She helped him to get up, and he ran toward the hallway to take his shoes.
"I think he has regained some energy" Emma stated with a chuckle.
And here was the hard-ass queen back with her dark redded lips pursed in disdain and her brow raised in defiance. "You really have a gift to guess such obvious things, don't you?" she said as she walked past Emma.
Wow. Well, did she just tried to do a joke? Emma hadn't had the time to think too much about it when she heard the other woman asked to Henry if he was ready to go. "Yeah." He nodded, "Can I say goodbye to Emma?" He looked hopefully up to his mother, his shoes on and his backpack on his shoulders. "Yes, you can." And before Emma could process a thing, his body crashed against hers and he wrapped his little arms around her abdomen. She nearly fell from the sudden move. She wasn't used to that kind of affection, so she just patted gently his back, not sure of what else she should do.
"Henry, time to go." The low voice resonated in a firm ton.
"It was nice to meet you Emma" He said with a grin. And in a blink of an eye he was gone. "Goodnight Miss Swan." was the only words she heard by the low voice quickly followed by the sound of heels hitting the floor and the click of the door. She thinks that she had managed to buttered "'Night" but she wasn't sure that it had be heard by anyone but herself.
She buried her hands in her back pockets of her jeans trying to process what had just happened. And what was – she felt something in her pocket. She frowned, and extracted a little card, a visit card more precisely. The name "Regina Mills" in the middle of it followed by a phone number. That kid was definitely clever.
She was now in her kitchen, in front of the only pancake left on plate. Henry had told her that he had learn by a TV show that in UK they always saved the last piece for the queen. So, they had left it in the middle island. The voice of the little boy staying in her mind, she sat down on the barstool.
It had been quite a day. At least, she hadn't spent her birthday night alone. She got up and went to the cupboard behind her and opened it to find a candle and some matches. She disposed the candle in the centre of this ridiculously little sized pancake and she kindled it. She put her elbows on the grey table, and put her face in her hands. She closed her eyes and took a big inspiration before blowing out the single candle.