A/N: My cousin managed to, finally, revive my laptop. You do not know how much you are going to miss a thing until it dies. So I will do my best to update on time... Or at least closer to on time.
Thank you to left me nice reviews, whether you like the story or not, I love that you can be kind and courteous regardless if you enjoy my story or not.
So. I get it okay? If you don't like the story, then don't read it. I spend far much too time writing. Does that make me good at it? Well. I'd hope so. But realistically. I don't get paid. So. Yeah. Anyway, I do my best, I love writing. And not everyone is going to like what I write, but going out of your way to make someone who just wants to see their work out there in the world feel like utter and complete crap? Surely you have something to do besides be cruel. If you want off the train, get off, hopefully the next story I write you'll enjoy more. Sorry this one didn't work out. I can be pretty nice. Until your a dick. Then well. I'll just be a dick back. K? thanks. Glad we could clear that up. And now I feel like a jerk for having to say all that sooooooooo. Here's a chapter.
"Wow. I thought for sure you'd change your mind, at least keep. Him" Henry said. Still struggling with Rhydian's existence. His mother was at the town line, her head cocked to the side, like a puppy or his little brother, she was just staring down the road. "So, do you have a plan?"
At first Henry had wondered if she had even heard him, if she even registered his presence. Before he could jump to conclusions, which he knew he was apt to do, he took in the slight difference in her posture after he had spoken. Her shoulders were now squared instead of sagging. Her back straighter. Her hands now balled into fists behind her back instead of just holding onto the other.
"I wanted to, there is no point in denying that. He is my son, my cub. As far as a plan. I have none. Right now. I just feel this. Fire. This almost invincible feeling pumping through my veins. I truly feel like I can do anything. That I could run and catch up to them. Take my baby and just escape" Henry was glad she wasn't looking at him as she spoke.
Normally he hated when she didn't look at him, but right now. He didn't want her to see his pain, he knew he would always come second to his younger brother, twice over, but it still hurt. Henry also knew there was nothing in any realm that he could do to change it. Even if he were to track down the Author of his mother's story he doubted that magic could change the love, and link, she held to her youngest child.
"Yet. You are choosing to stand here." He stated when the silence began to boil his blood, he wanted her attention. He wanted to be the one on her thoughts, for a just a minutes. Henry wanted to help his mom's get back together, so that maybe, just maybe, he could win some of the love Emma locked away for Rhydian.
"Yes. As of now. I am. Because I know that running after them, running after my son and absconding with him. That isn't the right thing for him, or for me. I need to put us first, and for me to do that, I need to stand and fight. The problem I face, is, what exactly am I standing for? What am I fighting?"
Now, of course, Henry wanted to scream and shout that she was fighting for love. He knew that was the absolute wrong thing he could say. Emma was not ready to hear about how True Love cured everything. He knew that was wrong, but that didn't change the fact he thought that, against all odds, he truly believed his parents belonged together and could move past everything that fate had thrown at them.
"How about we grab some breakfast, then we can come up with the plan. Plus, most importantly, a good name for it. I was thinking Operation Cobra V2" Emma glanced at him, he was completely serious about his name choice.
"So unoriginal and overdone" She remarked with a roll of her eyes before bumping her shoulder into him. Causing him to glare at her, the movement proved just how much shorter than her he really was. The only thing quelling his anger and jealousy was that, right now, she was finally paying attention to him.
Inferiority was something that plagued Henry, and it took all his strength to keep up with his mother as they walked back to the Diner. He had wanted to take his car, but no, she wanted the air. Her walk was basically his run and by the time the diner came into view he was ready to fall to his knees and damn well lick the concrete steps in his appreciation of their destination. His mother however still looked ready to run a marathon - or two.
Not so little Red Riding Hood had the good sense to hide in pure fear in the kitchen when Emma had opened the door. They had locked eyes for a single moment, the blonde had shot her a glare that had caused Ruby to leave with her tail between her legs -nearly literally. It was clear that the wolf truly feared Emma, so much that the savior could swear she smelled it.
"Did someone forget to feed you yesterday or did you miss my food this much?" Granny asked, a concerned smile on her face, as she placed a third bacon cheese burger in front of the bottomless pit known as Emma Swan.
"Just a bit hungrier than normal I think, but damn, am I feeling great." Emma said with a smirk. "Sorry about scaring your help, but I think you both know it's best she steer clear, and you got the second best food in town"
Something about Emma's scent was off, Granny just couldn't put her finger on it. She feared that Emma might be high on wolves blood, or worse, well on her way to becoming a wolf. As an Alpha Granny could usually tell from a single whiff. No matter how much she smelled Emma, she just couldn't tell. That alone was enough to make her scared.
"Yes, I do agree. Ruby needs to learn to stay away from you, and what's yours" The sinister half smile accompanied by the look she received from her comment made Granny of all people want to scurry away. She fought back the urge. "I am glad you are feeling better, and sad to see your boy off this morning"
"Indeed, I couldn't agree more. Though, it does seem she's learned her place. I believe I taught her a lesson she'll never forget" Emma chuckled darkly. "As for my boy, he's in proficient hands for the time being. I felt it best he not be here right now."
Having no more reason to stay by her customer, nor having anything else to say Granny allowed Henry to begin babbling once about Operation names and Emma to half listen as she devoured another burger. All they had done since they had arrived an hour before.
"Kid, I appreciate all the help you are trying to do. But I don't know what I need to do, and I am sure it's nothing a child should hear or know about their parent. I promise if I have something not emotionally scarring for you to help with, I'll let you know." Emma had told Henry as she paid the bill.
He had protested at first, vehemently, but in the end when his mother brought up the words 'adult' and 'activities' he had gone red in the face. Going so much as to raise his hands in surrender before he had sputtered he understood and let her leave unhindered. Even a grown man wants to know absolutely nothing about his parents bedroom activities.
Even feeling as. Invincible, incredible, downright amazing as she felt. Emma had absolutely no fucking idea what she was supposed to do. Sure, it felt like she could do anything. That didn't mean she really could. Okay, she felt like she could walk on water and walk through fire. Didn't mean she should go try it out.
So. She decided she'd just walk. As she did she noticed sounds she had never stopped to listen to before, noticed sights she'd never stopped to truly see, smells she'd never smelled. At one point she had even caught a falling leaf and it had felt. Different in her hands. Nothing bad, just new, and Emma, being Emma, chalked it all up the power pulsing through her.
A power she felt was nothing but the determination and desire to, once and for all, work through whatever bullshit was holding her back from having a life. Whether in this town, or out in the world. With someone she already knew, or someone she hadn't meant. Emma knew she didn't want to be alone forever, but she also didn't know if she could ever trust Regina again.
When those thoughts landed Emma looked up from the grass she had been enchanted by to see that she was in front of none other the Archie's building. So she had cocked her head to the side before bursting into a fit of uncontrollable laughter. When Emma had started walking she had trusted her feet, and sure enough, they had brought her where she needed to be.
Archie had been startled, as she had simply knocked on both doors at once. His apartment magically, and his office with her knuckles. It wasn't Emma's fault he used one apartment as an office, and the other as his office. It just made it that much easier for her to find him when she wanted him.
Being someone's conscious was never an easy thing. Especially when it was someone you had believed would never come seeking your assistance. So Archie had just spend the first ten minutes staring at Emma, dumbfounded that she had come to him of all people. He had always seen her as a punch first ask questions never kind of person.
He listened. Patiently, and without judgement as Emma told him everything he already knew about what had happened. Listened carefully as he gained new information about her life away from storybrooke, and listened with a face so red you would think he was bob the fucking tomato as she spoke of the sex - if you could call it that - she had with Ruby.
Then, surprising even Archie, she had gone on to explain that, if she had just confronted Regina the first time she had known about the affair instead of acting like a child. Had simply told her of Rhydian at that point. That no one would have ever thought of a way to defy all magic and bring her son back to life. That, at most, they would have moved on from her cheating and had another child at some point down the line.
Explained that what had happened. As horrible, nasty, and life altering. Ultimately. All of that pain, anguish, and suffering had led to the rebirth of her son. Admitted. She would have gone through all of that twice as long. As long as it meant she had her baby back. Admitted even now she would go back in time and live through it a billion times as long as in the end Rhydian woke her up.
All of that left Archie staring at her, his mouth hanging open, his mind reeling as it processed the information given. Trying to find a single flaw in her thought process, but, no matter what he came up with. It wasn't plausible. Emma Swan was one hundred percent correct in her conclusion.
"Yes. You are right. If you had done as you say and confronted your wife the first time around, you wouldn't have had Rhydian back. It's very. Good that you don't dwell to long on could of, or what if's as we can not change the past." He said as he leaned forward. Hands clasped together.
"Yeah Arch I got that" Sighed Emma as she leaned back. "Even still. I am still so fucking angry, in so much pain. So what is it that I do? I know I am supposed to be using this energy drink on crack feeling that I got going on to stand and fight, but what am I supposed to be doing?"
Silence enveloped the room as Archie thought long and hard on what to say next. He knew what needed to happen, and he knew who else needed to be in the room with Emma right now. The man turned cricket turned man just didn't know how to say it without Emma strangling him, so, rather than be quiet for all eternity he finally just said it.
"Sheriff, sorry, Emma. I think if you are ready, and she is ready. Then you and Regina should come and see me at the same time. Talk to me at the same time." He spoke gently, gauging Emma's reaction as he did so. Hoping for the best, but fearing the worst.
A/N: Originally I was going to have Emma do THIS ONE THING. Uh. But. You know. I changed my mind. So now. Therapy. With Archie. Go Emma? Lmao. Let me know your thoughts, bad or good, but if their bad be nice and tell me why their bad. K. Thnx.
