*TW Self harm*
I didn't know this when I started this chapter, but this is the final chapter of this story.
Read~Enjoy~Review
Chapter 6
Emma sat in the clearing after shifting back to herself. She knew she had just messed up everything. The people had accepted her and then she ruined it by killing David in front of them. She shuttered as she thought of that and was a little scared that she honestly did not regret doing it; only that she did it in front of everyone. The things he was saying just got to her and even now, thinking about it made her scratch at her skin. Emma focused and found she could make her nails into talons and with that, she started dragging them on her arm, watching the dribbles of blood run down them.
"Emma sweetheart, please stop doing that." Mal said, stepping closer to her daughter. "I know you're upset, but please don't do that."
"Who cares? Mom, I just killed a man in front of everyone. No one will want me to stay here now, and I don't blame them. I'm evil and vial and…"
"Now you stop that, Emma." Mal said, coming over and healing her daughter's skin. "The only vial, evil ones are them and everyone knows that. No one is mad at you, Emma. No one. They all want you here and they all understand. The things David was saying…honey no one blames you for getting upset."
Emma sniffed and looked into her mother's eyes. "They don't? But mom, I saw the fear in their eyes."
"Honey, they were scared for you, not of you." Mal said, stroking Emma's hair. "Come home, baby girl. Come let mom and I take care of you."
"Henry…henry saw me, mom. He saw me kill David."
"He saw his mother stand up for herself. He is not upset with you, baby girl, I promise. He called for you as you left, saying it was okay."
"Regina?" Emma asked, keeping her eyes down. "Is she upset?"
"She's upset that you're upset, my love. She's worried about you, but no way is she upset with you."
"I don't know what to do, mom. How can I be sheriff after what I just did?"
"Baby, stop worrying so much." Mal said, running her fingers through Mal's hair. "Come home, please. I promise nothing is as bad as it seems."
Emma gave a small nod and Mal used her magic to take them home. The blonde was surprised when she felt Henry's arms around her. "Mom, please don't run away like that again. I…I was so scared."
Emma hugged him and kissed the top of his head. "I'm sorry Henry but I was scared. I was scared everyone would want to come after me."
Regina made her way over and held Emma close. "First, we'd never let them, and second, literally no one was upset at you for what you did." She kissed Emma, not caring that everyone was watching. "Honestly, I'm proud of you. You stood up for yourself when he was saying the most vial things about you. Maybe some would say it wasn't fair, but baby, after everything he did to you, everything they did to you, I say he deserved it, and so do most people that were there. The council agree and will not be coming to punish you." Regina bit her lip. "Did…did you punish yourself?" She asked quietly.
Emma's eyes went down as they filled, but Regina just held her closer. "I'm sorry." The blonde whispered. "I'm so sorry. I don't know how to stop."
All those with magic could feel it filling and Cora took Henry's hand. "Let's give your moms some space." She said quietly, glad the child understood.
Emma didn't know if she was angry or sad or what, but it was filling her, and she could feel it. Ingrid came over and cupped Emma's cheeks, pressing her forehead to Emma's. "Breathe with me, darling." After a couple breaths, Ingrid continued. "You have every right to be feeling any and every feeling you have right now. It's okay to be mad, sad, angry, even scared. It's okay, Emma. I promise it is. We are all here and will be here to help you through all this."
Emma felt her tears fall as she took deep breaths. "I feel all of that plus shame. I'm so ashamed, mom. I let my anger take control. I killed someone and then I hurt myself. I just…I don't know how to stop. No matter how many times you all tell me you're here for me, I can't stop hurting myself. I want to; I truly and honestly do, but I just can't."
Regina was kicking herself for asking Emma if she hurt herself because in all honesty, it wasn't the most important thing right now. She looked at Mal and felt a few tears fall. "I'm sorry." She said quietly. "I shouldn't have asked."
Mal took her hand. "It's okay, Regina. You love her, of course you'd ask. Right now, she needs her mother to help her. She's feeling too much very deeply right now and Ingrid is helping to calm her."
Emma felt her mother's magic and closed her eyes, letting it enter her and course through her. She felt herself calming down and even felt a little numb. "What are you doing?"
"It's okay to feel sometimes, but it's also okay to not feel at times. Right now, I'm numbing you to the pain and anxiety. Think of it as magical Xanax." She said with a chuckle. "Emma my love, this is why we want you to come to us when you have that craving. We can help you. We understand why you hurt yourself and we know that it's just as much habitual than because you want to, but we can do things to help you before you get to that point. I know you aren't used to it; you're not used to people loving you and caring and it takes time to fully accept that you have that now. We're not upset, disappointed, or cross with you, baby girl. I promise."
"She's right, Emma." Regina said, feeling terrible. "I'm so sorry I even asked about that."
Emma took a few more deep breaths and pulled away from her mother, kissing her cheek. "Thank you so much." She then looked at Regina. "It's okay, Regina. I get why you asked that. Just please believe me when I say I am working on it."
Regina came over and took Emma's hands. "I do believe you, Emma. I honestly only asked to see if you needed healing. I swear I didn't ask to shame you."
"I know you didn't. I just have…well had, so much going through my head." She kissed Regina softly. "Thank you for caring about me." Emma then looked at everyone. "So, I'm not in trouble for what I did to David?"
"No." Regina said, still holding Emma's hands. "They're calling it 'delayed self-defense'. The whole town is in agreement."
"They got pretty upset when they thought you'd get in trouble. Leroy wasn't having it." Ingrid said with a smile. "They love you, Emma and know why you did what you did."
"You're to take the rest of the week off – Thomas' orders, and just relax." Regina stated, moving closer to Emma's ear so she could talk a bit quieter. "I'm hoping you'll spend some of that time with me. I know you love your moms, and I don't want to take time from them, but…well I've missed you."
"I've missed you too." Emma said, smiling softly.
"Then go and get out of here." Mal said with a grin. "Take my baby home and make her feel better."
Emma smiled softly. "Thanks, mom." She hugged both her mothers. "What about Henry?"
"My mom took him to my house. I think he really misses you too."
"Good. I'd like to spend some time with him too."
They headed to the mansion and once there, Cora gave Emma a big hug and kissed her cheek before heading out to give the family of three some quality time together. Regina went to make pop corn as Emma and Henry picked a movie out in the living room. With her arm around Henry, Emma couldn't stop herself from asking. "Henry? We haven't really talked much about what happened and…well I know the truth of who they were and the lies they were saying but please be honest with me. Are you or have you ever been disappointed or disgusted by being my son?"
Henry looked up at his mom and shook his head. "Never. Mom, I have never once been disappointed or disgusted. How could I be? You're amazing. You put me up for adoption because you knew I needed more than what you could give me at the time. You put me first then, and you put me first when you stayed here. There's no way I could be disappointed in you."
Emma smiled softly, wiping at her tears. "You're an amazing kid, Henry. When you say things like that, it helps me know that I did the right thing because it shows what an amazing job Regina has done with you."
"I was a little mad when I found out she lied to me, but you helped me see why she did, Ma. You both love me so much, and after seeing all of what you've gone through since the curse broke has really showed me how lucky I am. I just…Ma, I wish you could have been as lucky as me when you were a kid, but I'm so glad you have your moms now. I know you're healing; I know there's things I don't know and don't need to know, but please, never think I'm disappointed."
Emma hugged her son and when Regina came in, pretending she hadn't heard, she sat next to Emma and joined in. After Henry went to bed, Emma cuddled in with Regina, loving the feeling of being with her. "Emma, honey? I know you're enjoying spending time with your moms, but I mean…when you're ready, I'd love for you to move in here if you'd like."
Emma smiled softly and leaned up to kiss Regina. "I love my moms as well, but I'd love to move in with you, Regina. I can still spend time with them but live with you. Besides, I think they need some private time to reconnect as well." She said with a chuckle.
Regina laughed and kissed Emma. "You're probably right about that."
SQSQSQSQSQSQSQ One year later SQSQSQSQ
Emma smiled as she ran her hand over Regina's bump. It had taken them both by surprise when six months ago, Regina found out she was pregnant. Regina never thought she could have a baby, but when she found out and was literally freaking out because she had not cheated on Emma, her mother and Maleficent explained that it was True Love. Emma never once suspected Regina would cheat on her and she couldn't be more excited to have this baby. They had decided not to find out what they were having, and neither could wait to meet them.
"Emma, are you sure you're okay with this today? You don't want anything more fancy? This is your first wedding."
"My only wedding." Emma corrected. "And I'm positive. This is going to be perfect, baby. You, me, Henry, your mom, my moms, that's all we need."
"Well, don't get mad, but the council is invited too." Regina said, biting her lip.
Emma chuckled. "I'm not mad or surprised. I should have invited them anyway after how they were all there for me. I'm so glad Blue agreed to officiate because honestly, I don't know if I'd have made it afterwards without her. Her and Archie…they saved me just as much, if not more than anyone else did."
"I know, my love, and they were all worried about you just like we were. Granny is closing down to come here and she and my mom have worked out arrangements for the food."
"That's great." Emma said, kissing Regina. "I suppose we should get ready."
Two hours later, Emma and Regina stood next to each other in front of Regina's apple tree, Blue standing between them. Maleficent smiled, dabbing at her tears. "I never thought I'd get to see this day."
"Me neither." Ingrid agreed, kissing Mal's hand. "Look at our beautiful baby. She's glowing."
"She is. She really is a perfect mix of the two of us, isn't she?"
"She is." Cora said, standing next to them. "I'm honored to call her my daughter in law."
"And we're honored to have Regina as ours." Ingrid stated and Mal chuckled.
"Who would have ever guessed it?"
After vows were exchanged, dinner and dancing enjoyed by all, Regina and Emma stood holding each other, watching everyone. Regina then looked at Emma and kissed her. "I love you so much."
"I love you, too." Emma hummed. "Thank you for never giving up on me."
"Thank you for never giving up on yourself."
Emma smiled as she saw her mothers' approach. She went to them and hugged them both. "Thank you so much for being in my life."
Ingrid cupped Emma's cheek. "I love you so much, baby girl."
Mal smiled and took Emma's hands, kissing them. "Sometimes the hardest scars to heal are the scars we give ourselves, but Emma, I'm so proud of you for rising above all of that and coming out such an amazing person. You are exactly what I'd always dreamed my daughter would be."
"And you both are exactly what I'd hoped my parents would be like. I can't wait to live the rest of my life with the family of my dreams."