By the time Emma packed up and talked to her landlord and boss, hit the road and reached Storybrooke, it was dark out. Winter had brought night a lot sooner than normal but, despite the darkness, Emma couldn't help but slow down her car and take in the differences the town had undergone. There were some new stores she didn't recognize. The street signs had been redone and looked newer, more pristine. She noticed as she drove into town there wasn't a line defining the town boundary anymore, but rather a larger sign signaling your departure from Storybrooke. The town was quiet and peaceful, but Emma knew better than to let that fool her. Still, it looked beautiful with the snow covering the ground and snowmen lining the streets every couple hundred feet. There were snow angels scattered amongst them, the children obviously enjoying the cold weather. Emma could see Archie who was walking Pongo stop and stare wide-eyed at the yellow bug passing by him. Emma self-consciously stared straight ahead at the road in front of her so she could avoid the stares she was getting from the few people lingering under the streetlights. The stares inspired an uncertainty in her. She breathed a deep breath. She could stick it out for a couple weeks, she'd be back in New York soon enough... maybe. She hadn't decided what she was going to do yet. She knew her parents and Henry would want her to stay and may not take no for an answer this time around, but she didn't think she could handle the inevitable new villain that was sure to surface soon and people looking to her for guidance because she was the Savior. She couldn't do that again. But wasn't this place her home? Neal had told her that you know a place is home when you're not there and you just miss it and she had missed Storybrooke, not so much the town but the people. Then again, Neal told her a lot of things that turned out to be bullshit, like the fact that he wouldn't leave her and he did that three times. She couldn't fault him the last two, but damn it if she wasn't still at least a little upset with him about everything even if she had made her peace with it.
Emma heaved another sigh as she pulled up to Mary Margaret and David's loft. She hoped they were there and not at Granny's. Last she checked, Killian lived at Granny's. Then again, last she checked was over a year ago so that may have changed, if he was even still in Storybrooke. He didn't have much reason to stay without her there, right? Maybe he did. He had friends besides her, didn't he? Emma shook her head, not wanting to think about him anymore. She knew her parents would be shocked at her appearance and pleased, Henry would be much the same. He was living with Regina, Robin and Roland. She didn't know Robin well and couldn't begin to think what his reaction to her would be when she did get around to going to Regina's. Regina, she already knew, would not welcome her with open arms and a smile. She might be getting more docile, but she had never liked Emma that much, she just tried to get along with her when crisis demanded it, or Henry wanted them to but Regina wouldn't greet Emma with cool indifference either. Knowing the former queen, she'd take every opportunity to put Emma down and make her feel worse than she already did. Good thing she was made of stronger stuff.
She stepped out of her car and didn't hesitate to walk inside, up the steps and stop outside her parents' door. She could hear movement from inside, so she knew they were home. She could hear the television playing, but she couldn't tell how many people were inside the loft. She grabbed on to all her courage and stamped down the urge inside her that screamed: run, run, run! Instead, she knocked soundly on the door. She held her breath as the door swung open and she was face to face with her mother. They both stood frozen staring at each other for a moment before Emma nervously shifted her weight and broke the silence,
"Hi..." She said, waving awkwardly. Her actions seemed to break Mary Margaret out of her stupor and she dove forward and pulled Emma into her arms.
"Oh my gosh, Emma! You came! I honestly didn't think you would." Emma felt a pang at her mother's disbelief but couldn't really blame her. Emma wrapped her arms around her in return and held her just as tightly. She had missed her. Seeing her through a computer screen and in person were two different things.
"Well, I almost didn't but I figured Ruby would probably drive to New York in her wedding dress and drag me back here kicking and screaming." Emma replied once Mary Margaret let her go so she could breathe.
"Damn straight, I would've." Ruby said popping up behind Mary Margaret before pulling Emma inside the apartment and into a hug.
"I never doubted you for a second."
"Oh really?" Mary Margaret replied knowingly.
"Maybe just a minute, if that. I'm just glad you came." Ruby finally pulled out of the hug and her mom took her hand and began leading her to the kitchen/dining room.
"The others are setting the table."
"The others?" She asked with a stab of fear hitting her heart.
"Your father, Henry, Leo and Whale." Emma felt relieved. At least Killian and Regina weren't here. When she stepped into the area Leo, who was in his high chair, saw her first. He began bouncing excitedly and reaching out to her. It warmed her heart. David turned to the little guy, his back to her.
"What's got you so excited?" He asked. Henry saw her next. He immediately put the plates in his hands down and ran to her. She huffed out a breath and staggered back a bit from the force of his hug, but she hugged him back. He had gotten so much bigger than the ten-year-old that showed up at her door all those years ago. He was a teenager now, 13 years old. He was smart enough to have started high school already. He would have girlfriends soon and prom, then he'd go off to college and before she knew it, he'd be gone.
Damn it, I really do not need to be thinking about this right now. She thought. She looked up as she was suddenly engulfed in larger arms, David joining her and Henry's hug. She put one arm around him before detaching herself completely. She smiled at them all, feeling a lot better. She didn't feel cold anymore.
"I knew you'd come." David said, nodding to himself in affirmation of his beliefs. Henry nodded along with him.
At least they believed in me. She thought even though she didn't know why they did and she understood Mary Margaret and Ruby's disbelief more. If there was any emotion she was an expert on, it was skepticism.
"Here I am." She replied, nodding to Whale while moving over to Leo and placing a kiss on his head which seemed to satisfy him for the moment. He'd want more attention soon, the spoiled prince.
"Get comfortable and let's eat. Your mother cooked enough for a small army." David said, smiling before kissing Emma's forehead. Emma went to hang her jacket up and remove her shoes before returning to the now set table where a chair between Henry and Leo waited for her. She saw that her mother had in fact made an excess of food. Emma's surprise must've shown as she sat and began filling her plate because Mary Margaret started explaining herself.
"We were supposed to entertain more guests than this. Grumpy and the others were supposed to come, but they all decided it was too cold and stayed home."
"Pussies. It isn't that cold." Ruby commented.
"Ruby, there are sensitive ears present." David exclaimed.
"His ears aren't so sensitive when you and Snow are—"
"Okay! Let's get back to food talk." Emma interrupted as Henry giggled next to her. Damn, he knew what Ruby meant now, which just reminded her that he was growing up and now really wasn't the time to think of this.
"Anyway, Killian was supposed to come tonight too but he said Tinkerbell invited him to dinner and he ate dinner with us yesterday, so he went there instead." Emma felt a jolt at that. He was with Tinkerbell tonight. She stamped the rising jealousy down. That was what she had wanted for him, to be able to move on to someone more deserving.
"Hmm." She replied nonchalantly, not wanting to betray any emotions towards the comment. Her mother was oblivious to the falseness of her disinterest. Mary Margaret never put much stock in Emma having any relationship with Killian, she wanted Emma with Neal but she didn't know the truth because Emma never told her what really happened between them all those years ago. She could feel David and Henry's eyes on her. They knew better. It was weird. David and she hadn't been as close as she and Mary Margaret were during the curse, but he seemed to understand her feelings and actions better. Maybe it was a dad thing. She ignored them and changed the subject despite knowing it would cement whatever they were thinking.
"So, Regina and Robin weren't invited?"
That's a safer subject. Emma thought.
Suddenly the air got tenser. Even Leo stopped his mostly nonsensical babbling.
"Um, Mom and Robin, well they..." Henry answered with some nervousness. Whale didn't seem to notice the tension or didn't care.
"They'll be back from their honeymoon in time for the wedding." Emma nearly choked on her food.
"Honeymoon?" She asked incredulously.
"They got married two weeks ago."
"And no one told me because...?"
"Regina didn't want to tell you or for you to come. She didn't think you knowing just yet was important and I agreed." Mary-Margaret replied calmly.
"Not important? This is huge! Henry has a whole other parent now, how is that not important?"
"Robin's been there since before you left. He and Roland have lived with Henry and Regina this entire time."
"Yeah, they lived together. I didn't think Robin was playing daddy to my son. He already has a father... or had one."
"What's wrong with that?" Henry asked.
"He didn't legally put his name on my birth certificate like Mom wanted, but he's been there for me, even longer than Dad was. He's not replacing him, but it's nice to have a father figure other than Gramps. Robin's cool, so is Killian."
"What does Hook have to do with this?" She wouldn't call him Killian out loud, she just couldn't.
"He's spent a lot of time with me too is all." Henry replied, shrugging. A lot of things had changed, Henry's poor acting hadn't. She barely spoke the rest of the night, not wanting to hear any more news. She knew time wouldn't stand still just because she left. She left so her loved ones could have a better life and they obviously were living it while she stayed stuck with no idea what the hell she was doing. Could she come back with all her dreary baggage? It didn't seem fair seeing as how everyone was so damn happy without her in Storybrooke.
Later, after Ruby and Whale left and Henry and Leo were in bed, she declined the offer of the couch and opted for Granny's. Better to start distancing herself now. She did take David up on his offer to go to Granny's with her even though he was going to have to walk home after that. He didn't seem to mind. They made small talk for the most part on their way. She parked across the street from the dimly lit bed and breakfast and briefly surveyed the place.
"Well, at least this hasn't changed." She mumbled so lowly she didn't think David would hear but he did.
"Is that what dinner was about?"
"What do you mean?"
"You kind of overreacted back there."
"I think I have a right to know if something that big happens. It effects Henry's life and what effects him effects me." Emma defended.
"Sweetheart, you left. I understand why you did, I even thought you could use the vacation, but you didn't come back. Henry's been living with Regina, Robin and Roland and he's been happy."
"I know that." Emma mumbled in reply.
"Emma, I'm your father. I know you. I know what you're really thinking."
"Oh yeah, and what's that?" Emma asked with sarcasm in her voice.
"You feel like you're being replaced. You think that Henry's going to move on with this new, fully formed family and forget about you and that is ridiculous. That won't ever happen. He loves you just as much as he loves Regina. He's happy she got married, Robin's been a great surrogate father to him with Neal being gone now and he's happy having a family, but he misses you, we all do. I know why you left but can you seriously say it's worth being away from your family? Can you seriously say you're fine with our lives moving forward while you're out of the loop and out of the picture? Can you seriously say you don't want this, Emma?" Emma sighed as David spoke. He was spot on with how she felt, she wouldn't even admit it to herself. Either way she did leave for a reason and it was a good one at the time. Was it a good one now? She really had no idea and her mind was a jumbled mess that she didn't want to decipher right now, she was too tired.
"I'm going to head inside. I'm tired." Emma said in lieu of answering his questions. She could feel his eyes on her, but she didn't look his way even when he sighed in defeat.
"Let me walk you inside." She didn't protest when he opened her car door for her. She walked to her trunk and took her two bags out. He walked her across the street and held the door open for her. Granny's eyes showed surprise and pleasure at seeing Emma and she greeted her warmly before handing her a key.
"Room's on the house, seeing as how you're a part of Ruby's wedding party." She didn't protest and didn't comment when David kissed the side of her head and bid her good night. She trudged up the stairs, opened her room door and fell on the bed without taking off her clothes. She toed off her shoes warily and twisted off her jacket without getting up. She unbuckled her belt, opened her pants and crawled up the bed before laying down heavily. She barely had her head down on the pillow before she was knocked out cold.