/Thank you all for following and your reviews/comments. I had fun with this one, but it's time to end it. I'm not sure which one I'll be focusing on next, but I have a few to finish. Enjoy!
Emma looked out and saw both women get out of the cab and smiled. "No way!" She rushed to the door and ran out, flinging her arms around Nikki and then Red. "What the hell are you doing here?"
Red smiled, cupping Emma's cheek. "Malyshka, look at you. You look amazing. Happy birthday." She kissed Emma's forehead. "I got out last week, and Nikki got out three weeks ago."
"I couldn't call you because I had to do a drug program, but I made sure I'd be here for this." Nikki said with a smile.
"Wait…you're both out as in free? Seriously? Do you live around here?"
"No, but not too far. I'm an hour away and Nikki's about forty minutes. We asked Regina not to tell you because we wanted it to be a surprise. Don't get mad at her."
"Congrats on tapping that by the way." Nikki said with a smirk. "Although, I'm a little sad there's no chance for us."
Emma smirked. "Sorry, you had almost ten years of chances in prison though."
"Yeah, when you never talked." The redhead laughed.
"Enough, let's go inside. I hear you have a foster child, Emma. I'm so proud."
"I do. It's new, but I think Maisy and I are doing just fine." She said, leading them to the house. "Come on."
Emma introduced or re-introduced them to everyone inside. She wasn't surprised at how well Nicky and Zelena got along as they were a lot alike. Sassy and witty and just fun to be around. She then smiled over at Red and Maisy talking and eating. She went and sat next to Red. "Why are my ears burning? You two talking about me?"
Red smiled and put an arm around Emma. "I was just telling her how I didn't even know you could talk for the first five years I knew you." She chuckled.
"Emma, you worked in the kitchen and still can't cook?" Maisy asked, teasingly.
"In her defense, all Mama Red let her do was peel potatoes." Nicky said, sitting by Maisy. "She's a mean potato peeler."
"She could have done more if she'd have asked." Red said, hugging Emma again. "I've missed you, Malyshka. I've thought of you every day. I had to reconnect with my family and save our market, or I'd have been here sooner."
Emma smiled, leaning in the hug. "I've missed you and being called Malyshka." She smiled and looked at Maisy. "It means baby girl. Red was the first one to ever call me that."
"You're the only one she calls that." Nicky laughed. "I've known her longer and still, I get parshivets."
Emma laughed. "That means brat." She explained.
Maisy smiled. "I can see that. No offense." She said, making Nicky laugh. She then looked back at Red. "What kind of market?"
"Well, it's just a mini-mart but we also have a bakery. That's what I run." She smiled. "You, Emma, and Regina should come down there one day. You haven't lived until you've tried my kartoshkas."
"She's not wrong." Nicky said. "I go every Sunday around ten when they're fresh and warm."
Maisy smiled, looking at Emma. "Can we go, mo…Emma?"
"We can." She smiled softly back at her. "It sounds like a great idea."
Mal came over, picking up empty plates. "Emma baby? Why don't you show Red and Nicky your house?"
Emma gave a smirk. "Trying to get rid of me?"
"Just for twenty minutes." She smirked back.
Emma then took Nicky and Red to her place. "Isn't it cute? I never imagined I'd live in a place like this. It's not grand or anything, but I love it. I feel so lucky."
"It's beautiful, Malyshka. It suits you." Red said with a smile. "I'm so glad your luck turned around after all the bullshit you went through."
"It was about damned time. This is a nice place and you should be proud." Nicky smirked. "Do you and doc Mills stay here or the big house?"
Emma rolled her eyes. "Mostly here since Maisy is here. I don't want to drag her back and forth and I also don't like leaving her alone overnight. She's old enough to be on her own when we're on dates or whatever, but I don't want her to be alone overnight. When she stays with friends, I'll stay at Regina's."
"So do you think you and Regina are meant to be and all that? I don't mean to sound rude, but you've not been with anyone else."
"I kissed you." Emma said, trying to joke when she'd had those same thoughts.
"She did, and now she's with someone else." Red smirked and then stroked Emma's cheek. "I get where Nicky is coming from, but you know your heart. If she's the one, don't worry about others." She then put her other hand softly on Nicky's cheek. "My girls. Look at us, on the outside. Please, let's not ever let this go. At least once a month, we get together."
Emma smiled and pulled them both into a hug. "It's a done deal."
"How are things going with your mom?" Nicky asked as they walked back to the Mill's house. "She seems really nice."
"She's amazing. She spoils me, no matter how much I tell her not to, but she's great. Everything I ever wanted and dreamed of."
"That's great, Emma. And other than being a mother, are you working?" Red asked.
"Not yet. I'm doing online schooling though. I offered and even put money in Regina's purse for rent from my foster care money, but she refused and gave it back. She said the house would be here even if I wasn't. I did get the electricity and cable switched to my name." Emma laughed softly. "Regina was not impressed."
"What are you going to school for?"
"Right now, just the general education classes. I honestly can't decide on what to do. One day, I think social services, but then the next, I think something stupid like a police officer or even some days, a doctor." She laughed but Red frowned.
"Why is that stupid? Emma, I can't think of any reason for you not to do that."
"Red, I didn't even graduate high…"
"You did, just not in a conventional way, but you did and with honors. Give me a real excuse." She said, stopping and putting her hands on her hips. "Emma, you could do anything you wanted if you worked at it. Please, don't ever sell yourself short."
Emma was and wasn't surprised at the same time. "Thank you for saying that. But I…I feel like I'm getting everything handed to me, when all I want to do is work and pay for my own way in life."
"Emma, I'm sure I'm not the only one to say this, but you were given a shit hand." Nicky said bluntly. "Even before you took the blame, life was shit for you. You were stolen from your mother and then tossed aside, adopted and given back, floated from one foster home to another. First the foster system failed you, then the justice system failed you. Now, you take your time and do what you would have done. Emma, you were thirteen. You have at the very least, five years where you'd have been in school. Give yourself at least those five years. There's nothing wrong with that."
Emma smiled softly and nudged Nicky. "If I didn't absolutely love Regina, I'd come after you."
Nicky smirked. "Promises, promises. Now, no more talk of what you can and can't do, okay?"
Red cupped Nicky's cheeks. "Malyshka, you've grown."
Nicky smiled. "Thanks, Ma."
The three made their way back and went in Regina's back door. "Um, where is everyone?" Emma asked, looking around.
Nicky pointed to the front door. "Looks like they're all out there."
Emma came out and stood in shock. "What…mom no. I told you…"
"It wasn't her, well not just her." Regina said. "We all chipped in."
Mary Margaret smiled. "Emma, we wanted you to have a gift you deserve."
Emma looked from the new car to everyone there. "I have more than I deserve with you guys. Thank you so much. This means…so much to me." She gave hugs to everyone and thanked them. She then looked at Maisy. "Wanna go for a ride?"
"Just us?" When Emma nodded, she smiled wide. "Yes!"
Regina grinned as the two left. "Those two are made for eachother. Emma knows how to treat her and Maisy respects Emma so much."
"Emma loves that kid." Maleficent stated. "She wants to adopt her."
Mary Margaret smiled. "Not many older teens get adopted. I bet Maisy would love it."
"Has Emma talked to her about it?" Zelena asked.
Regina shook her head. "She's scared. She doesn't want to ruin the progress they've made. I don't understand it, but Emma does, so I don't argue."
Lilly sighed and nodded. "When you're in foster care as a young kid, all you want is to be adopted. To be picked and wanted and loved. You grow more cynical and you don't believe you'll ever be wanted for any good reason."
"But wouldn't Emma saying she wants her, show her differently?" Red asked, trying to understand.
"It's hard. Logically, you'd be right, but…I don't know Maisy's history, so I can only really speak for myself and maybe even Emma, but…okay think of it this way. She's seemingly been to at least two foster homes that didn't work, right?"
"More than two, so yes." Mal stated.
"So say you've been tossed from home to home, let down, trying your best to be good enough for somebody, anybody, but never finding that person. Then, you're suddenly with someone who seems nice, seems to do what they say and keep their promises, seems to be a perfect fit. You grow closer and you are comfortable just the way it is. I know it may not make sense, but any kind of change, good like adoption, or bad like being rejected can cause you to put your guard back up. I'm probably not explaining this right."
"They worry. Any kind of change and they worry and start thinking of the why's. Why would anyone want a teenager? Why would she want me? Does she really want me or does she feel sorry for me? All the questions she's worked on squashing these past few months come back, even if she doesn't want them to." Maleficent said softly. "I still see it with Emma."
"I do too." Regina said softly. "I hope one day that will be gone, but I understand why it's still there."
Red sighed. "Talk about strength. Those kids have to be stronger than they should be at such young ages. That explains a lot of why Emma was how she was while in prison."
Meanwhile, Emma took Maisy out for a drive and ended up at a small park watching the water fowl in the pond. "Maisy, I have something to ask you."
Maisy looked over at Emma, feeling a bit nervous. "You want to send me back so you can live with Regina, don't you?"
Emma took Maisy's hand. "Not at all." She ran her thumb on Maisy's hand. "I want to know how you'd feel about me adopting you?" She watched her. "I need you to know that if you say no, it changes nothing, okay? You will still stay with me, we go on as we are, and I'll always be here for you; even after you turn eighteen."
"Then what is the point of adopting me?" The teenager asked, though she really wanted to be adopted.
"Because I love you and I know what it means. I was never adopted, as you know, but I know how much it would have meant to me if I had been." She tucked some hair behind Maisy's ear. "I don't want to ruin what we have, Maisy, but I meant it when I said I love you."
Maisy sniffed and looked into Emma's eyes. "I love you too. I know you were like eleven when I was born, but I do think of you like a mom. I've almost called you that a couple times, but didn't want to upset you. In my head, you're the fun mom and Regina's the rule making mom and I love you both." She looked at Emma. "I feel like it's my birthday."
Emma chuckled and kissed her cheek. "You can call me mom if you want, Maisy. Are you saying I can adopt you?"
Maisy nodded and hugged Emma as best she could in the car. "Yes. Please."
Emma hugged her back. "This is the best gift ever."
"I did get you a real gift." Maisy said, not wanting to let go of Emma.
"You are my gift. But we should probably get back."
Maisy broke the hug and nodded, wiping her eyes. "Thanks, Ma." She said with a bit of a grin.
"I could get used to that." Emma started the car and headed back home. She was glad everyone was still there when they got back. After opening gifts and seeing the party was winding down, she went outside with Red and Nicky. "You two will come to her adoption party?"
Red nodded, hugging Emma. "It would be an honor, Malyshka. Now you come see me at my store, okay?"
"We will. Maisy can't wait." She looked at Nicky. "I'm proud of you. I'm not saying I can always have the answers, but if you need to talk to anyone anytime, I'm here to listen."
Nicky gave Emma a hug. "Thanks, Swan. Keep in touch, okay?"
After waving the two off, Emma came back inside and sat between Maisy and Mal. She looked between them and the rest. "Thank you for the best birthday ever. It really means so much."
Mal smiled and kissed Emma's hand, facing her. "Thank you for letting me into your life, Emma. I hate that your twenty ninth is the first birthday I get with you, but I'm so thankful it's here with all these people who care about you and not with guards watching us. I know you keep saying it's not my fault, but I am sorry that this is your first good birthday. I love you so much, Emma."
Emma smiled and hugged her mother. "I love you too, mom. I am so glad Lilly found you. I can't imagine being here without you. Stop blaming yourself, mom. I love you so much."
"I hate to say this, but we need to get going." Mary Margaret stated, taking David's hand. "Thank you so much for including us today."
Emma got up and hugged them both. "Thanks for coming. I appreciate it."
Mary went to Maisy and smiled. "Congratulations, sweetheart. I'm so glad that you didn't reject this. I can see how happy you are here."
Maisy smiled. "Thanks. I figured adoption was out the window years ago. I couldn't be happier or more blessed."
Emma looked around the room at the love and friendship and shook her head. "No Maisy, I'm the blessed one."
~End~
