Both from the system
Effervescent Dreamer asked for a oneshot of Henry, having been in the system for a little bit, gets into an argument with Emma. Emma mentions the system, and Henry snaps saying he does understand because he's been there before. Emma doesn't know because he asked Regina and Snow not to mention it to her. So for this chapter, Henry didn't get adopted until he was 3.
Guest: I'm pretty sure I've wrote something basically like that before, but involving Henry? Operation Ood?
"Why are you being so stupid about this?" Henry roared. Emma hardly batted an eyelid at his aggressive tone. Now that he was sixteen, she was growing used to them. That didn't mean that she liked it, or would tolerate it.
"Henry Daniel don't you raise that tone with me." Emma warned him. "I am not being stupid about anything. I am happy for you to go to the party, as is your other mother. However, you know the conditions to any house party are that we drop you off and pick you up. We know what some of your friends nowadays can be like…"
"So you don't trust me, is that it?" Henry snapped. "I can't believe you!" Emma was fed up with her son's current attitude.
"Listen, mister, do you even realise how lucky you are? You have two mothers who are willing to wait up for you to go to your party and care enough to come get you. You think I ever got that? You have no idea how it was growing up like I did. So don't you-"
"Of course I understand. I've been there before. For three whole years of my life!" Henry yelled. Emma felt like she'd been punched in the gut. Henry regretted the words as soon as they were out.
"You weren't adopted straight away?" Emma croaked. She had assumed Regina had Henry from birth. Henry shook his head. There was no point in lying now.
"No, I was in and out of foster homes. Some were meant to be permanent, but they just didn't stick. I was adopted when I was three. I remember the day every year." Henry gave a small smile. "Mom used to throw me a party." Emma couldn't smile. The one thing she had wanted to give her son, she had failed on. Henry could see the inner turmoil his mom was going through. "Don't feel bad." He said, placing his hand on top of hers. "I asked mom and grandma not to tell you, that was my choice. I honestly don't remember much of my time in the system. Just the odd memory here or there…I can't imagine living in it my whole childhood." Henry said, realising what a drama queen he'd been. "I'm sorry." Emma didn't say anything. She just pulled Henry into a much needed hug. The pair had a shared pain Emma never knew about; and would now never forget.
