Emma grabbed her back pack and placed it on her bed, emptying her binders. Finals were finally done, and she needed to pack for Christmas break. Going over to her dresser she picked out a few outfits. She knew when she got home her mother was going to want to go shopping, so there was no need to pack entire month's worth of clothes.
Once Emma packed her backpack with a good amount of clothes, and her everyday needs, Emma left her dorm and headed outside. She had already pulled her car outside, towards the front of her building. When she reached her car and unlocked it, she heard a couple of guys speaking loudly, causing her to look up, distracting her. When she looked up she saw a couple of guys carrying a few bags and gaming equipment, all laughing. She felt her whole body hurt when she saw Neal walking with them, carrying only his backpack. He looked over and saw her, waving slightly.
Emma got in her car and started to drive away, without looking back over to him, but felt his eyes on her. When she knew he couldn't see her anymore, Emma placed a hand on her stomach rubbing it softly. She was still pretty small, but was noticing small changes, unable to wear skinny jeans now. She still hasn't told Neal or her parents about the baby. She was going to tell her parents over the break. She was debating on when to tell Neal. Shaking her head and refusing to think about him any more she continued to drive down the road to the local diner, to see her friends.
When she parked her car and got out, she suddenly felt arms wrapped around her top half with an excited Ruby calling her name.
"Hi Ruby." Emma said happily.
"Emma! Oh, gosh I am so excited to not have class for a few weeks! How did your finals go?" Ruby asked, finally letting go of her.
"I think they went well." Emma stated, seeing Regina and August walking towards them, both smiling.
"Hey guys, excited for Christmas?" Emma said, half joking.
"So excited." Regina said, rolling her eyes, as they made their way into the restaurant.
"Regina, why do you hate Christmas so much?" August asked, once they were inside.
"Well, I don't hate Christmas. For one, I don't like how cheery everything is, it's unrealistic. Also, the idea of Santa, come on that guy is a creep. He watches you and breaks into your house. Also, with the snow, everything is so bright!" Regina exclaimed, while they waited to be seated.
"Wow, tell us how you really feel." Emma said, smiling.
"You are the one who asked." Regina stated, but couldn't help but smile along with her.
Once they were all seated and had their food, they were all talking about their winter plans.
"I, for one, am excited for this break. Besides the fact of no longer having to deal with the drama of school, I will be staying in a nice warm ski lodge, while skiing almost every day." Regina exclaimed, her face lit up with excitement. Skiing was one of the few things Regina fully enjoyed.
"Well you can keep your cold days, I however will be going to Florida, spending my days on the beach. Maybe see a cute guy or two." Ruby said, smiling at the thought.
"Yeah, maybe you will drown in the ocean." Regina joked.
"All to be saved by a hot lifeguard. I think I would be okay with that." Ruby laughed.
"Well while you guys are freezing to death and drowning, I will be doing a 6-week internship at my hometown library." August said proudly.
"Nerd!" Ruby said, sticking her tongue out.
"What about you Emma?" August asked. None of them asked the real question they wanted to. Are you going to tell your parents about the baby?
Emma swallowed the food in her mouth and began to speak. "Well, I am going home. Probably going to stay at home for a bit, but on Christmas we might go to my grandparents, but who knows."
"Anything else?" Regina pushed.
"My mom will probably take me to the mall and buy me a whole new wardrobe." Emma smiled.
"In what section." Regina muttered, but Emma caught it.
"Regina!" August scolded.
"What? I'm sorry, I'm not good at beating around the bush. Emma, are you going to tell your parents?" Regina asked, a bit harshly.
"About the baby? Yes. I keep coming up with ideas to tell her, but none of them seem right. None of this seems right. I feel like I should be married and telling her things, or at least with the father. I would even settle for being older. I am scared I might disappoint them." Emma rambled out, her lower lip began to tremble, but she refused to cry.
"Emma, I think you should see a doctor, you know, to make sure everything is okay." Regina asked.
"Yeah, I made an appointment tomorrow, mid-afternoon. I am going to tell my parents either today or tomorrow before the appointment. I am not sure I can go there alone" Emma said.
"Emma, if you want, I can change my plans and be there with you tomorrow." Ruby offered.
"No, really it's okay. I need to do this. I will call and tell you guys everything, I promise." Emma stated.
When they had finished eating they all gave each other hugs and wished each other Happy holiday and safe travels, they all got in their cars and drove away. Emma decided to stop by her job and pick up her paycheck. Pulling into the lot she noticed another car. It looked like her favorite coworker's car, Killian. He had moved from Scotland when he was in high school and decided to stay in the United States to finish his schooling. Emma and him met when she first started working as one of the bookkeepers for the financial aid office about 2 years ago. Killian was her trainer, they hit it off immediately. He was one of the reasons she loved working here.
Entering the building she went straight to the office, looking for the box of paychecks. "Guess I'm not the only one who needed the extra money." Emma jumped hearing a deep voice with a thick Scottish accent. Looking over she notices Killian leaning against the door frame.
"I thought that was your car in the parking lot. Can't get away from here?" Emma asked, leaning on a nearby table with her hip, crossing her arms across her chest.
"Well you know me, a workaholic with no friends." Killian jokes.
"What am I? Chopped liver?" Emma joked, her face painted in a fake shocked expression.
"You are the only exception." Killian said causing a giddy feeling flutter through Emma. Pushing it aside, knowing they are just friends.
"Well, I am just cooler than everyone else, and I don't fall for your tricks." Emma laughed.
"My tricks?" He asked, stepping into the room.
"Oh come on! You must know that girls are falling in line, just to hear you talk to them."
Looking around the room, Killian stood in front of Emma. "Well I don't see any girls here."
"Just call me one of the boys." Emma joked, pushing him slightly, laughing off the fact that his aftershave was making her nauseous. She found the box that the checks are held in and pulled out her check.
"Well, I would love to stay and chat but I have a two-hour drive ahead of me." Emma said, turning around, facing Killian again.
"Well, happy holidays, and drive safely." Killian said stepping aside. "Doing anything fun?"
"Not really, just going home to see my parents. What about you?" Emma asked.
"I'm actually going to stay here and work online until the school year starts up again."
"You are not going home for the holidays?"
"Not this year. My parents and I don't have enough money for a round trip, but I will see them in a few months, not a big deal." Killian said, shrugging his shoulders.
"Well, if you don't want to spend Christmas alone feel free to drive down to my parents house and at the very least have dinner with us. No one should spend Christmas alone." Emma offered.
"Well, I will think about it. Thank you, Emma." he said, his eyes lingering on Emma for a moment.
"It's really not a problem, but I really do have to go. Please text me if you are coming and I will send you my address. Bye Killian!" Emma said as she left the office. She could hear him say "bye" as she turned the corner heading for the front door.
After about two hours of driving, Emma finally pulled into her parents' driveway, the sense of home began to consume her. She loved coming home to her parents. She was the most comfortable here.
Before she could even get out of her car, she saw the front door swing open and her mother came rushing out with a big smile on her face, her arms already spread open. Smiling Emma got out of her car and was instantly wrapped in her mother's embrace.
"Oh Emma! I am so glad you are home!" Her mother says, swaying her from side to side briefly.
"Hi mom. I need to breathe." Emma joked, but was relieved when her mother let go. Looking over she says her dad is standing at the doorstep smiling at her. "Hi dad!"
"Hi Honey! Come on in, you two are going to catch your death out here, it's so cold." He said, gesturing inside. Emma grabbed her backpack from her car and made her way inside, her mother on her heels the entire time.
Later that night, Emma had taken a bath and was in her comfy pajamas, getting ready for bed when her mother knocked on her door.
"Hey Sweetie, I just wanted to come in and say good night."
"Actually mom, do you mind getting Dad? I have something I need to tell you both." Emma said, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Oh sweetie, your dad already went to bed, is there something that only I can help you with?" her mother asked, walking into her room.
"No, it's okay, it's not super important, it can wait for another day or so." Emma said, slightly relieved she didn't have to make her announcement yet.
"Speaking of, I am taking you to the mall tomorrow! I think we should get matching Pj's for Christmas morning!" Her mother squealed, clearly excited about her idea.
"Yeah, sure mom, whatever you want, but I have a doctor's appointment in the morning, so can it wait till the afternoon?"
"Sure, but why do you have a doctor's appointment? Are you sick?" Her mother asked, walking over to sit on her bed.
"No, I'm fine. Just getting a check up done, the school is requiring one more." Emma impressed herself with how fast she came up with the lie.
"Oh, okay. As long as you are alright." Her mother said, patting Emma's knee, for leaning over and kissing her forehead. "Now get some sleep. I will see you in the morning, I love you."
"Love you too." Emma said, as her mother left her room, feeling a sense of being alone. She knew she was going to have to tell her parents tomorrow, she couldn't keep lying to them.