Chapter 44
Killian drives towards the house, Emma in the back with Henry and Sophie.
"Ugh, I really wish Zelena hadn't been there," Emma groans. She makes sure that Sophie is covered with a soft blanket, one that came from the baby shower. "Especially for Regina's sake."
"Is she really pregnant with Robin's baby?" Henry asks.
"I'm afraid so mate," Killian says.
"Why did she do it?" the teen asks.
"Revenge on her sister," Emma sighs.
"But what did Regina do to make Zelena so angry?"
"It's not all Regina, it's also Cora, their mother. Cora neglected Zelena because she was born out of wedlock and was seen as unwanted. Regina got all the attention and love, which is not saying much for Cora Mills. Then some of Regina's actions sent Zelena onto the streets."
Henry nods, he'd heard the story of Regina losing Daniel before, it was very tragic, and he felt so sorry for his second mother. "But wasn't it Zelena who gave Regina the alcohol?"
Emma nods. "Yes, but she'll only blame others for her mistakes instead accepting the consequences. Unlike Regina who has accepted the consequences of her actions, Zelena has made it her personal mission to destroy her sister's life."
"But that was so many years ago,"
"Hatred can live with you for a long time Lad," Killian adds.
"And she finally hit Regina where it hurts the most, being unable to have children."
"She's a real wench that woman," the docks man hisses.
"While we're on the subject, I want to talk about your language young man," Emma says sternly.
Henry swallows. "I heard it from a movie once and it…"
Emma smiles and pats her son affectionately on the face. "I'm kidding Henry, although I don't approve of it fully, with Zelena, you can say whatever you want… out of earshot of your sister that is. Just don't make it a habit"
Sophie makes a soft noise in her sleep.
Killian pulls into the driveway of the house. Just outside their fence are Mary Margret, David, Ruby, Lacey, and baby Jacob. Regina had likely gone home to recover from the meeting with her sister. Emma climbs out of the van with her daughter's baby carrier with Henry and Killian close behind.
"Everything is unloaded," Mary Margret says with a smile. Lacey stands there with a camera, ready to take pictures of "Baby Coming Home." "There might be flowers in strange places though, I hope you don't mind a bouquet on the bathroom counter."
Emma just smiles and hugs her best friend. She couldn't believe that she'd found the family she'd always wanted. David and Mary Margret were like her parents, always there to watch over her and make sure that she's safe. They had done so much for her and Henry that she could never repay them. She was so happy to have them in her life. In fact, all her friends were now her family, the siblings she'd always wanted.
"Thank you," Emma says happily, tears coming to her eyes.
Killian reaches over and kisses his girlfriend on the cheek. The two interlock fingers and hold Sophie's carrier together. Emma offers her free hand to her son. With some reluctance, he takes it and his mother kisses him on the cheek. For once, he isn't repulsed or trying to escape from it. He wants to be with his mom. After all that they've gone through, he's happy to have her back. Sure, things had changed a lot and he'd have to share her with Killian and now his sister, but he still felt happy… mostly…
Lacey captures a picture of the family of four entering the house together, through the threshold into a new life.
"Welcome home Sophie," Emma says to her sleeping daughter.
Mother and father take their newborn daughter upstairs, Henry and the rest of the family trailing behind. They walk down the hall into the furbished nursery.
The newly hung curtains blew gently in the spring air, adding a cooling breeze to the room. The rocking chair stood by the window, so mother and daughter could see the view as they nursed and across from it was the small rocking horse from David's mother as well as the handcrafted toy chest that August's father made. The stencilled butterflies seem to fly off the peach walls and into the room around the new family. The pink also cast a warm glow throughout the room. Along one wall was a bookshelf that housed all the stuffed animals given as gifts as well as books. Sophie's new dresser presented the handcrafted sailing ship that Killian had help in making, a jewelry box which held his mother's necklace, one of the baby monitor's and Henry's old music box. The baby's bassinet is decorated with white lace, the white crib would be added when she was big enough, and hanging above it are the crystal unicorns, seeming to dance in the air. Emma lifts her little girl out of her carrier, allows Killian and Henry to kiss her tiny head before bestowing her own kiss of affection and then lays the little one in the bed. Inside the bassinet, there is the teddy bear that once belonged to Killian and the lamb with the pink bow around its neck from Lacey, both places at Sophie's feet. Emma then gently pulls Granny's hand knitted blanket up to her daughter's waist, to ensure she did not get too hot. The name to be stitched on very soon
Sophie makes several tired noises in her sleep and coos once, adapting to her new home. Her family stands back to watch with smiles on their faces, happy to welcome this little one into their lives.
A/N: Sorry if this chapter is short and it's mostly happy fluff, but things are changing...