Chapter 2- Birthday Visitor
Jessica sat on the couch later that night, watching for the millionth time since last year, "Alice in Wonderland." It was the part where the Cheshire cat pretends to be Tarrant Hightop at his execution and reveals himself wearing Tarrant's hat. "Down with the bloody big head!" Jessica cheered with the people in Wonderland. The door came open to reveal Emma, wearing a fancy red dress. Jessica paused the movie.
"So, how did it go?" Jessica asked as her mother kicked off her pumps.
"As expected. He was cheating on his wife," Emma said as she sat down on the couch next to her.
"Well, at least he should be in jail, right?" Jessica asked.
"Right. Clueless like most men. They never learn not to mess with me," Emma said. Jessica snorted as she went over to the kitchen counter and pulled out a small bakery box.
"The guy tried to bolt, didn't he?" Jessica asked, quirking an eyebrow.
"Like a rabbit," Emma said. Jessica groaned.
"At least you put the lock on his car as most idiots try to run by driving away," Jessica said. Emma smiled, the wordless smile revealing everything Jessica said was true
"So, Alice in Wonderland, huh?" Emma asked, changing the subject.
"Yeah. I love this move. Happy birthday, Mom," Jessica said, taking out a cupcake with a candle on it.
"Oh, thank you. It's beautiful," Emma said, kissing Jessica's cheek.
Jessica took a matchbook and lit the candle and started to sing "Happy Birthday" to her. "At least you aren't singing a "Merry Un-birthday," Jessie," Emma teased, Jessica snorted. Usually before watching the live-action "Alice in Wonderland" Jessica would watch the cartoon. At times she honestly didn't know who was funnier, Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter or the voice of Ed Wynn as the Mad Hatter.
"That only works if it isn't your birthday, Mom," Jessica said as Emma closed her eyes to make a wish and blew out the candle.
"No, I am not telling you my wish, Jessie," Emma said as she pulled out the single candle.
"I'm not asking you to. Your wish is your wish, Mom," Jessica said as Emma folded her arms on the table and looked at the candle sadly.
"Another banner year," Emma said softly. Emma closed her eyes and blew out the candle. The doorbell then rang. Emma straightened up and cast a look at Jessica.
"Don't look at me. I don't know who'd be visiting us," Jessica said. Emma went to the door and opened it, to reveal no one standing there. Emma then looked down and, even though her back was to Jessica, it looked as if she froze.
"Um, can I help you?" Emma asked, sounding slightly confused.
"Are you Emma Swann?" a boy's voice asked and Jessica went to where her mother stood and she saw a boy with dark hair and blue eyes. He looked to be a little younger than Jessica, but only by about a couple of months to a year.
"Yeah. Who are you?" Emma asked.
"My name is Henry. I'm your son," the boy said with a huge smile. Emma and Jessica looked at him in shock that he could say something like that so easily.
"Oh, and you must be my sister, Jessica," Henry said and Jessica raised her dark eyebrows and he came into the apartment like he owned it.
"Kid? Kid?" Emma tried to get his attention as he came into the living room. "I don't have a son. Only my kid, Jessica," Emma said and Henry turned to look around the kitchen. "Where are your parents?" Emma asked.
"10 years ago did you give up a baby for adoption?" Henry asked. "That was me," Henry said as a look of shock crossed Emma's face.
"Give me a minute," Emma said as she turned and left the room.
"So, she adopted you?" Henry asked.
"Kind of. She found me abandoned in her car one night when I was a baby. She didn't have the heart to leave me with Child Services," Jessica said.
"I'm thirsty. Hey, do you have any juice?" Henry asked in the direction Emma had gone.
"Not really. Mom was supposed to g shopping tomorrow. We got root beer and ginger ale," Jessica said, handing Henry a root beer bottle.
"Never mind! Jessica found me something!" Henry said as he opened the bottle.
Henry started to drink it as Emma came out of the bathroom. "We should probably get going," Henry said, putting the bottle down.
"Going where?" Emma asked, folding her arms in front of her chest in what Jessica called her "Mom" mode.
"I want you and Jessica to come home with me," Henry said with a smile.
"Okay, kid. I'm calling the cops," Emma said, making her way to the phone on the coffee table.
"Then I'll tell 'em you kidnapped me," Henry threatened.
"And they'll believe you because I am your birth mother," Emma said with tired sarcasm.
"Yep," Henry said nonchalantly.
"You're not gonna do that," Jessica said, swallowing down an urge to laugh.
"Try me," Henry said.
"He has us, Mom," Jessica said.
"You're pretty good, but here's the thing. There's not a lot I'm great at in life other than maybe raising Jessica and I have one skill. It's called a superpower. I can tell when anyone is lying. And you, kid, are," Emma said and Jessica and Henry then heard the dial tone.
"Believe her, Henry. I never could lie to her. She always knows when I am," Jessica said as Emma started to dial.
"Wait. Please don't call the cops. Please, come home with me?" Henry begged.
"Where's home?" Emma asked.
"Storybrooke, Maine," Henry said.
"Storybrooke?" Emma and Jessica both asked, raising their eyebrows.
"Seriously?" Emma asked and Henry nodded.
"Hmmm-hmmm," Henry agreed.
"All right then. Let's get you back to Storybrooke," Emma said, going to her bedroom.
"Where's she going?" Henry asked.
"Changing her clothes. She's not taking you home wearing a dress when she can wear jeans and a t-shirt," Jessica said as she stopped Alice in Wonderland and went to her room to pack an overnight bag.