Hey everyone. Well I am so sorry it has taken this long, between work, taking 2 classes and life, it just gets away, but I hope you find this chapter worth the wait, enjoy!
It was one o'clock in the morning, the mothers could not sleep and were in a mood of reflection.
"What do you think they would they say?" Asked Snow.
"Who?" Belle replied.
"Their fathers? Not just Charming, Rumplestklin, Geppetto as well. We have two pregnant teenage daughters, and a son going around the world, being with one girl after the next. Chip seems to be the only one we didn't screw up."
"Chip is doing great in school, but he is far from prefect. He's still struggling to get out of his shell, it's like the way he was before he met Henry."
"My point is exactly. Did really, we do a good job raising the kids? Any of them?" Snow referred to the children's fathers.
"Snow, we gave up our home, loved ones, our entire lives for those kids. Their fathers wouldn't have helped us escape if they didn't think we could raise them the best way possible." Stated Belle
"I just feel like I failed them. Emma is supposed to be savior, how can I tell her now, ever, when she's going to become a mom? I feel I could have done more for little Pinocchio, help him have a normal life here."
"I have a pregnant seventeen-year-old too, I feel I could have done more for Chip, to help make friends. I could have done more too, to help them have a normal life. But let's be honest, with us as parents they never had a chance as normal." The comment made Snow chuckle. "They may have not turned out the way we wanted but they're good kids. Emma is turning her life around, she's showing up to work, focusing on the baby. Rosie is juggling school, work, and a baby, not many could do that. August has settled down to stay at home, and Chip got into one of the best schools in this realm, and at least made two friends from what I have been told. We did our best, all we can do now be there for them, and love them; all the perfect and imperfect parts them."
"Those are our kids in a nutshell. Perfectly imperfect." Said Snow.
"And their father's will love them for it too. Even if they didn't, we'll always have each other."
"Yeah, your right, thanks Belle."
"Mom!"
The conversation was interrupted Rosie running into the room, looking panicked and pale.
"Rosie what is it?" Lacey asked.
"It's-it's Emma. Something's wrong, just come look." Finished Rosie.
The three ran back to the girl's bedroom seeing Emma still in her bed, looking down at first what seemed to be her belly, but was really her sheets, that now wet.
"Mom, I-I woke up, and felt wet, I don't understand what's-what's happening." Emma struggled to speak as she was still in shock.
"It's okay baby, it's okay. Your water broke, which means it's time go the hospital. Henry's getting ready to come out and meet us." Explained Mary Margret.
"What?" Emma continued to be in shock. "No, no. It's too soon I'm only seven months, he's not ready, and neither am I."
"Sadly, babies have their own schedule." Said Lacey. "Rosie help Emma pack a bag, and let's go."
"Oh my god, this is so gross." Emma referred to her now wet bed and pajamas.
"That's child-birth sweetie. It can be beautiful but also gross." Mary Margret added in making Rosie chuckle.
"Shut up Rosie, this will be you in two months."
The women drove down to the hospital, calling August along the way, asking him to call and inform Chip on what was going on. Emma began having contractions in the car and grew closer and closer by the time the doctor examined her. There was no stopping little Henry from joining the party now.
Lacey agreed to wait outside for August and be the barrier to prevent him barging into the room to check on his sister. Mary Margret and Rosie did not leave Emma's side, allowing her to squeeze their hands with a vice grip as she screamed in pain.
"I-I can't-I can't do this!" Emma cried out.
"Yes, you can Em. You've made it this far, just a bit more and you'll have your son." Rosie attempted to encourage.
"No, I don't want this! This kid has a thief for a father, a screwup for mother. He-he's better off without me."
"Emma that's not true. You wanted this baby; you never wanted him to feel unloved. I know this is scary, but there is nothing you can't do. You're a princess, a hero. You're going to be savior to so many one day. But today, you're going to be a savior for your son, by bringing him into the world."
After an hour of encouraging, and agonizing screams later, the doctor announced the arrival of little Henry Swan… but he wasn't making his arrival noticed on his own.
"Mom, why don't I hear anything. Why isn't he crying?" Emma began to panic.
"Doctor what's going on?" Asked Mary Margret.
"His lungs are a little underdeveloped, it's common in pre-mature babies." Answered the doctor.
"You can fix him though, right?" Rosie then asked.
"We're going to take him to the NICU right now, he'll be in good hands. We'll let you know when you can see him." The nurse that present was also there responded.
The newborn baby was then rolled away with medical professionals. Leaving Emma, Rosie, and Mary Margret's faces white as the hospital sheets.
"I-I didn't even get to hold him." Emma began to break down, crying from a different kind of pain now.
"It'll be okay Emma. Henry will be fine." Rose wrapped in her a hug but was just as scared as the new mother.
"Of course, he will be." As Mary Margret spoke, she could only hope in this moment she could honest with her daughter on this one thing.
After Emma was cleaned up, Lacey and August joined the others in the room. Rosie went over to her mother sitting next to each other on the couch. Rosie had one hand on holding onto Lacey's, and the other rubbing her expanding belly, as if doing so would encourage this baby to stay inside until her due date. The family attempted to call Chip, but he was not answering his phone, now reaching the wee hours of the morning, they hoped he will call back soon. August would not stop pacing back and furth between the room, as Emma laid in her bed, curled up next to her mother.
"August I can't keep looking at you pace; will you please jut sit down?" Requested Rosie.
"The doctor said he needed 2 hours to be observed under the medication it has been 3. I wanna go yell at somebody." Said Auggie.
"Yelling will not get us answers about Henry any sooner. We just need to be patient. Now sit down." Lacey demanded and August complied.
The door open and while the family was hoping to see the doctor, whom they did see was the next best thing.
"Hope I'm not waking anyone up." Chip stated coming through the door.
The family was happy to see him, but could not hide their exhaustion of being there, all night. Mary Margret smiled, as did Emma, happy to see him from the bed. The others went up to greet him.
"What are you doing here? You have an early morning class, in one hour." Lacey looked at her watch, remembering her son's class schedule.
"I just fell asleep right after a late study group when you called last night. My roommate was at a party and saw my phone left messages then woke me up. He and my friend helped me get a train ticket to get back here and had a cab waiting for me at the station." Explained the college student.
"You didn't have to come all this way Chip." Emma expressed.
"Your family, you had a scary experience. You never have to ask; I will always show up." He kissed Emma on her forehead. "How's little Henry doing?" The silent response from the others, gave Chip his answer.
At 8:15 am, the doctor finally came back with news. "Henry is responding well to the treatment; he will be just fine."
The family clapped and signed in relief; Mary Margret began to form tears in her eyes. Emma finally felt safe to let go over her mother's hand.
"How long will he have to stay in the NICU for?" Asked Mary Margret.
"Presuming the meds do their job, and Henry stays on track, it will be about 6 weeks." The family grew worrisome once more. "I know that seems like a long time, but it's to help him gain weight, and monitor his lungs while he is on the medication. I'm going to have a nurse find you a wheelchair so you can go see him. Okay mama?"
Emma's gaze was confused then she looked back up to her mother. "That's you mommy." The response made Emma form a small smile, I'm a mommy, she thought to herself.
The nurse rolled Emma in her chair, with Mary Margret by her side. The rest of the family would visit the baby soon, wanting to give Emma a moment alone with her mother and son. There were many other babies, all in little white boxes; and no matter how many years later, the site of anyone in box, was not an easy site for Snow, especially with extra tubes and wires. However, seeing the little boy, with a small mop of dark hair, her daughter no longer a little girl but a grown woman with a child of her own, the fears slowly melted away; as did her heart with her new grandson.
Emma continued to just look at her son, with a mix of fear for his health and astonishment he was here. "He's so small."
"You were too honey." Answered Mary Margret, Emma smiled slightly.
"You can touch him if you want." The nurse offered.
"I-I don't want to hurt him." Said Emma.
"You won't, you're not touching his wires, you'll be fine." Explained the nurse.
Mary Margret decided to go first, to ease Emma's tension. She began to stroke her grandson's little strains of hair, taking in every detail. His eyes were closed but could tell by the shape, they were Emma's, passed from Charming. She hoped like her husband and daughter they would also be green. He also had Emma's chin, her chin. Emma slowly placed her hand in the box, following her mother's tactic first of stroking his hair, then gently rubbed her index finger against his hand, prompting baby Henry to grab it.
"Oh my god mom, he's grabbing my hand." Emma said in amazement. "He's stronger than I thought."
"Just like his mother." Replied Mary Margret.
"Part of me wonder's what Neal would think, if he was here." Emma admitted, it was the first time she really spoke of Neal since she got the car.
"Do-do you want to call him?" Mary Margret offered but was hoping for the alternative.
"No. Even if we did wouldn't make a difference." Emma continued. "I asked a friend's parents to try and track him down; just to know where he was, contact info in case I wanted it. Nothing came up though. He changed his number, he moved from where his last known residents was. He could be anywhere now."
"I'm sorry honey."
"Don't be. It's a sign. I know this life for Henry won't be the easiest, but now, seeing him here, all I want for him is to be with people that will love him, that are worthy him. That's not Neal, that's all of us. I… want him to have his best chance."
"That's why August's father asked your Aunt Lacey and I to take him with us; and why we had to leave your fathers behind. We wanted to give the four of you your best chance."
"Even without them?"
"Yes. As hard as it was for us, for them; and knowing it would be the hardest for the four of you."
Emma decided to change the subject. "I found my birth certificate. I was curious and looking through my old baby things. My father's name was David?"
"Yes." Mary Margret reminisced.
"I think Henry David Swan has a nice ring to it."
"Really?"
"Don't get all mushy mom. I really do just like the name."
Snow felt her heart melting even more if it was possible. Even if Emma never admitted it, no matter how hurt she was by it, she was still a little girl that cared about her daddy. "Nice to meet you, Henry."
Emma and Mary Margret continued to just stand and sit, cooing and in awe over the new member of the family, when the nurse returned offering for Emma to hold him, she was hesitant once again, but with guidance from the nurse, and support once more from her mother, Emma held her son, feeling the connection between mother and child for the first time.
"You were right about one thing."
"What sweetie?"
"I didn't think I could love anything this much."
After some time alone, Emma and Mary Margret allowed the rest of the family to meet Henry. Lacey was delighted to be a great-aunt, offering to red him a book every night to sleep. The boys were very much excited to be uncles.
"I'll teach how to carve wood, shave, how pee in the snow." August said to the infant.
"Auggie don't put ideas into my kids head." Emma reprimanded brother.
"Ignore him. You can be my little science partner in my experiments." Chip cooed to the baby.
"Chip he's not a guinea pig either." Rose then held out her hands for little Henry, August passed him over, and Rose looked in admiration, thinking she will be holding her own child in a short time. "Your name-sake would love you so much."
A few days later, Emma was released from the hospital. She did not want to leave without Henry, but he still needed to gain some strength before going home. The Blanchard-French family took the opportunity to prepare for his arrival, getting clothes, car seat, and finishing up the nursery. Emma would go and visit every day, until the doctors forced her out when visiting hours were over. After time and healing, little Henry Swan was able to go home.
Mary-Margret walked in with Emma and Henry, to a group of people yelling surprise, including Chip returning home from school once more; the entire room filled with baby-theme décor.
"We were going to give you and Rosie a baby shower, but Henry beat us to it." Explained August. "So, this is a baby-shower/welcome home party."
The party was enjoyable. Rosie played the pregnancy games, while Emma passed Henry along for everyone to see. Both girls got to open gifts for their babies together. After everything this family had went through, all the lows, this was the high. It was worth it all to have this healthy new baby apart of the family.
A few weeks after party, on the way home from the café, Rosie began to have contractions, Lacey turned them around from driving home, to the hospital, calling the family once they arrived. Now repeating the drill from two months prior, Lacey and Emma held Rosie's hands, Mary Margert and August in the waiting room calling Chip once again. Little Henry was back home being watched with his name's sake family, and would meet the new family member when the others returned home.
"Mom-I'm-I'm so tired." Rosie expressed panting between contractions.
"I know rosebud, I know. It'll be over soon." Lacey comforted.
"You got this Rosie." Said Emma. "I did it, you can too."
The doctor finished prepping placing himself at the end of the bed. "Okay Rosie, on the next contraction I want you bear down and push. One, two, three…"
Just like that, the newest member of the Blanchard-French family was here.
"She's beautiful cous. Looks just like you." Said August.
"She's going to have Henry's red-hair, I can tell." Rosie responded.
"Did you think of a name for her?" Mary Margret asked.
"I was thinking Sona. It means gold, kinda stuck with me. Is that weird?" Rosie wondered.
Belle and Snow gave each other inside looks, one's only August understood. "Not weird at all love." Belle expressed. "Back where your aunt and I are from, people say your father was very good at turning things into gold."
"Like King Midas?" Emma asked.
"More like Rumplestilskin." Lacey clarified.
"Well, if everyone agrees, meet Sona Colette French." Introduced Rosie.
"It's perfect, Henry would love it."
The voice came from the hall near the door. The family turned seeing Chip standing with his duffle bag. Best way to make an entrance.
"Keep coming back like this brother, you'll be getting kicked out school."
The family laughed, enjoying being present moment of the happy occasion.
Well hope you all enjoyed. Comment, like, and follow. Next chapter imagine what it will be like 2 small babies now in the Blachard-French family. Hope you all had a happy thanksgiving!