So what do ya think we should do?" Emmett asked, munching loudly on a bear claw. Regina rolled her eyes at his lack of manners, but she was used to it by now. They were friends.
"I want her - to adopt her, I mean. " Regina said quietly with an uncharacteristic shrug of her shoulders.
Emmett looked at her, mouth stopping mid-chew, with wide eyes. Finally, coming to his senses, he said, "Okay...but what if she has parents or relatives? I mean, we don't know anything about her, Gina. You can't just up and take her."
Regina, becoming defensive, crossed her arms over her midsection, "And why not? If whoever had her wanted her, they wouldn't have left her in the park in the rain! They would have come looking. You of all people should understand."
A flash of hurt shined in green orbs. Emmett angrily placed his hands on the kitchen counter, palms down, "You have to understand, Regina, that it doesn't work that way. What if somebody does come looking for her? Then what?"
He sighed, his voice softening at the unshed tears in Regina's eyes as he continued, "Look its better if you don't get too attached okay?"
Regina sighed in defeat and sat heavily on the couch, "I know. I'm sorry Emmett. I just...She is so young. Who would let her go Em?"
Regina had gotten used to calling him by the nickname when they called their truce. She added, "What type of people just let a three-year-old wander away and not come looking for her? And they call me evil. "
She let out a scoff while Emmett finished his bear claw, "So what about the parents?"
"She doesn't have any. Apparently, they died in the enchanted forest a year ago. I believe Rebecca came in with Zelena's curse. I don't think she has any relatives and, even if she did, they certainly aren't in Storybrooke."
Unbeknownst to the two adults, Rebecca had been listening by the entrance, "Don't send me away, Regina!"
She cried, holding onto Henry's bear tightly as tears threatened to spill down chubby cheeks. Regina scooped the child into her arms and whispered into her hair, pressing a kiss to her temple, "I would never, ever send you away darling."
After several minutes of quiet hiccupping, Rebecca peaked through Regina's curtain of hair to look at Emmett, "Who's that?"
Regina looked at Emmett and then Rebecca. "That's Sheriff Swan."
At Rebecca's wrinkled brow, she continued, "Emmett. His name is Emmett. He is my best friend."
He was so much more than that. Regina loved him with her entire being, but no one needed to know that, not yet at least. He cocked an eyebrow at this, as he walked over to the duo, "Yeah, Gina's my bestie!"
"Can I be your bestie too?" Rebecca asked, becoming comfortable with the man that Regina seemed to trust.
"Sure you can 'Becca!"
"Of course darling. Are you ready for breakfast?" Regina asked, setting the child down on a kitchen stool.
Rebecca nodded, trying unsuccessfully to reach for the fruit bowl, "Can I have apples?"
"Hey, boo-bear, be careful." Emmett laughed, as he sat the girl down again, and was about to hand her the apple when Regina took it from his hand and set a plate of apple slices in front of her instead.
"I'm a Webecca not a boo bwear." Rebecca exclaimed around a huge piece of apple.
"No talking with your mouth full, darling. And take smaller bites. We don't want you to choke." Rebecca took the half-chewed apple slice out her mouth and apologized. Regina tried not to look disgusted at the apple slice dripping in saliva.
"Umm Becca, maybe you should put that back in your mouth before Gina has a heart attack." Emmett teased.
Regina sighed in relief and turned to make pancakes, "Where is Henry?"
"He's with mom, learning to build birdhouses." Emmett laughed around an apple slice.
Regina rolled her eyes and huffed,"I still don't understand why he is so adamant about this absurd bird obsession."
"Who's Henry?" Rebecca asked, this time remembering to finish chewing.
"He's our kid," Emmett answered, taking the plate of pancakes from Regina.
"Oh." The toddler pouted, tears shining in her eyes.
"What's wrong, mi dulce? " Regina tilted the child's chin up and looked her in the eyes. Emmett raised a brow at the action, never seeing his Gina - whoa! wait, what? where'd that come from? -like that with anyone but Henry and, occasionally, him.
"If you already have a baby, then you don't need me. You're gonna send me away. " Rebecca sniffed, the trail of tears becoming a steady stream.
Regina and Emmett's hearts broke simultaneously at Rebecca's words, both understanding the feeling of not being wanted or loved. Rebecca was just four years old and she already knew this pain. What child deserved that? As Regina held the sobbing girl to her chest, she locked eyes with Emmett. He smiled sadly at her, his normally bright hazel-green eyes dull and sad, no doubt remembering his time in foster care.
It was times like these, when she saw the haunting looks in Emmett's eyes, that Regina regretted casting the curse. It hurt that she involuntarily caused the man she loved so much pain. Emmett shook his head at the apology on her lips. He knew she meant well, but in some ways, he was thankful for the curse. He wouldn't have met Regina and therefore Henry otherwise.
At eighteen years old, Emmett met Regina in a club in Boston, and a night of passion led to Henry. They had a connection that night but when he awoke the next morning, all that was left of Regina was the scent of apples and spices on his sheets and pillows. And boy did he regret not chasing after her. Maybe he would have gotten to raise their son and love Regina the way he was supposed, the way she deserved to be loved. They could have been a real family. Emmett held his head in his hands. They could have been a family but what does an eighteen-year-old kid know about raising a family, especially when they never had one?
"Emmett. " Regina rolled her eyes when he didn't look up and tried again, louder and firmer.
"Mr Swan!" Regina stifled a laugh as Emmett's head shot up and out of his hands to look at her.
"I, uh, I was just thinking about some things." Emmett ran a hand through unruly, shoulder-length, dirty blonde curls and put it in what he called a 'man bun'. He had let it grow out when Regina played with the ends and said that he looked better with long hair.
"Of course, dear. You've been sitting there, staring at your hand for the past twenty minutes."
"Sorry, I was in another world. Where's the kid?" He asked, getting up from the stool, his shirt riding up a muscular stomach as he stretched. Regina tried tearing her eyes away from the exciting sight, mentally groaning in pleasure, but was already caught.
"Like what ya see, babe ?" Emmett winked, sending a shot of desire straight to Regina's lower belly.
Regina scoffed, then cleared her throat, trying unsuccessfully to stop the burning in her cheeks. Shit. Regina flicked her hair, trying to gain some control of her emotions, "Mr Swan, please. I promised Rebecca that if she took her nap, we would get ice cream. After supper, of course."
"Sure, but it's only-" He glanced at the time on his phone, "2! Whoa! Henry will be here any minute."
"Yes dear, because of your horrible sleep schedule, we did not meet in the morning as we discussed but in the afternoon."
"Hey! You woke up late too. You were still in your jammies when I got here." Emmett argued.
"Oh hush, I had a long day yesterday. Now, will you be meeting us at Granny's or not?"
"I already said yes." Emmett rolled his eyes, as he shrugged on his red leather jacket. "Where's Henry?"
"He is still at your mother's. He will meet us there." Regina rolled her eyes when she saw the collar of the stupid piece of pleather tucked into the jacket still and pulled it out.
Emmett grinned lopsidedly at her, "Thanks, Gina. Seven right?"
At Regina's nod, he left.
When the makeshift family walked into Granny's towards their usual booth, Ruby ran over to them with a squeal. "Oh my gosh! Who is this little cutie? You and Emmett finally get your shit together?" She whispered the last part, going to pinch the child's chubby cheeks. Rebecca, who woke up very groggy and shy from her nap almost two hours ago, buried her face into Regina's chest.
"Miss Lucas, if you will, please stop scaring the poor child with your noise?" Regina asked, a little miffed. She didn't want Rebecca to become scared of anyone and she was already in a mood from a bad dream while she was taking her nap.
"Oh, so now I'm Miss Lucas. Come on, Gina. I'm sorry for scaring the kidlet. She's just so cute. Who is she?" At Regina's glare, she gave up on trying to get info about the little girl, "Okay, okay. I'll take your order and leave you to it."
Sometimes Regina wondered what came over her when she told Ruby that she loved Emmett. The only person to know previously was Henry. And just to rile her up, knowing that she was an extremely jealous person, Ruby occasionally made a not so subtle remark about her feelings or flirted with the man. Her man. Friendly, or not, she didn't like it.
After dinner, the family of four headed back to Mifflin street.
"I'm going to put the little one to bed. Make sure ours gets in his own please." She directed the sentence at Emmett but looked at Henry, making sure she got her point across. Regina picked Rebecca up from where she lay on Henry's lap, her feet dangling over the edge of the car seat. She was surprised at how fast the girl had taken to him. Less than half an hour through dinner, she had declared him 'my Henry'.
Rebecca mumbled tiredly on Regina's bed as the older brunette changed her into footie pyjamas. Her eyes fluttered softly as they opened, "Momma?"
Regina's heart stopped. Surely the child wasn't talking to her, she couldn't be. Rebecca had only known her for two days. She was pulled from her thoughts when the child tugged on her blouse, "Gina?"
Regina smoothed down thick chestnut curls, "Yes my sweet?"
"Can you be my Momma and Emmett be my Papa and Henry my brother?'
The woman's heart ached. Did this child know what she was asking of her? Regina sighed, "Darling, I - It's not that simple."
Was she really going to try to explain the complications of the request to a three-year-old who just wanted a family? And she apparently found it in Regina, Henry, and Emmett. One look at the hopeful, hazel eyes and she knew, "Okay, Mija. Time to sleep."
Regina kissed the child's forehead and whispered her love. She really was falling in love with the child. Downstairs, Emmett and Henry, too focused on their game, didn't hear Regina walk into the living room.
"Henry, it's 9. Say goodnight to your father." She said softly.
After Henry disappeared, Emmett stood to leave, "Yeah, so I'm gonna get going. "
He stuffed his hands into the pockets of almost too tight jeans, no doubt looking for his keys.
"No, please stay. I - I can't... stay with me." Regina pleaded, looking so incredibly small from where she sat on the couch, knees tucked under her chin as she hugged them and willed herself not to cry.
Emmett rushed over to her side and gathered the sobbing woman into his arms, "Gina, what's wrong? Tell me. Please."
That horrid nickname only sounded right coming from him. Regina sobbed into his chest, "Rebecca, she-she asked if I could be her Momma and Henry her brother."
"Oh." Emmett had to admit that he felt a bit sad at being left out of the family unit.
"And she asked if you would be her Papa. " Regina sniffled into his shoulder, trying to calm down.
"Oh."
"My sentiments exactly. I have known this child for exactly two days and I have fallen completely and undoubtedly in love with her. How could I not? She wants the four of us to be a family and I told her yes." Regina turned her head and looked at Emmett, her Emmett, through sticky tear-drenched lashes.
"You mean... do you mean... Are you asking me out?"
"If you'll have me?" Regina fiddled with the end of Emmett's shirt, suddenly shy.
"Gina, you don't know how long I've been waiting for this very moment. Four years ago when I saw you on that doorstep, all I wanted to do was love you. But you kinda hated me and I can understand why."
"I never hated you. I was scared that you would take Henry away or that you would try to worm your way back into my heart. It took me ten years to try and forget about you but I never could. I still remember that night like it was yesterday." Regina blushed, ducking her head. Warm, calloused hands engulfed her face.
"Hey, look at me," Brown locked on the green, searching, "I never stopped loving you. I didn't know it all those years ago, but when Henry brought me back here, it all slammed into me at once. I already loved you, but you were determined to hate me because you didn't want to get hurt. And I understand that Gina, but you also have to understand that I'll never hurt you, not intentionally anyway, and I'll try my best to protect and love you and our family. I'll protect and love you forever and always. You got that?"
Regina nodded, pressing a kiss to his lip. It was slow, sweet, and loving. They broke apart, forehead to forehead, breathing in each other's love.
"I love you."
"I love you too, Gina."
Henry stood at the top of the steps, the lovers oblivious to the happy dance he was doing. Finally they were going to be a family and he was going to be a big brother.