a/n: first up, happy new year! can't believe it's almost the 6th of january in my corner of the globe.
part 3 of 3, ladies and gents. hope you like!
Henry, of course, was understandably eager to hang out with his kid mom that Regina allowed him to hold off doing his homework until Mary Margaret and Neal arrived. Emma had woken up not long after Regina's conversation with Henry. After a brief introduction in which Henry played his part out so beautifully, he and Emma are now enjoying a heaping bowl of sugary cereal each. Regina only shook her head affectionately at their snack of choice and went to the other room to answer her phone that rang.
"Yes, Mary Margaret?"
"How's Emma?" Mary Margaret asked.
"She's fine. Other than a bad dream during her nap, everything's okay. She's..."
"Is Emma okay?" Mary Margaret interrupted.
Regina exhaled impatiently. "Yes, Mary Margaret, aside from calling out for you and David in her dream, your older baby is all right. She's having a snack with Henry as we speak." Regina looked at her watch. It's almost three and a half hours since Mary Margaret left Emma with her. Have the hours really flown by that fast? She focused on what Mary Margaret was saying.
"Neal and I were on our way back there, but my car broke down just now. I'm waiting for Mr. Tillman to come and tow it to his garage."
"Okay. So when should I expect you?" Regina asked.
"With Mr. Tillman's garage on the other side of town, you can expect us in about thirty minutes or so," Mary Margaret replied.
"Good." Regina gazed at Emma, who was laughing at something that Henry said. She felt a little pang of separation. Gosh, she's going to miss the kid.
"Regina." Mary Margaret's voice cut through her thoughts.
"Sorry, what is it?"
"Can I talk to Emma, please?"
"Right. Of course." Regina went back to the kitchen and handed Emma her phone. "Here, little one. Mary Margaret wants to talk to you."
"My mommy?" Emma's eyes lit up. She took the phone with both of her hands. "Hewwo?" she said excitedly.
Regina and Henry couldn't help themselves. "Aww," both said at the same time. They stood at the kitchen counter transfixed at Emma. It seems that her w's are more pronounced when excited.
Although the two couldn't see it, Mary Margaret on the other line also got caught up in Emma's cute speech. "Hi, sweetheart, how are you?"
"I'm good, Mommy. Wegina and me pwayed a lot. We had a tea party, she let me pway on the swing, and she also chased me around the gawden. She runs vewy fast, Mommy!" Emma said in a rush. She continued before Mary Margaret could ask another question. "Then Wegina read a stowy about Snow White and Pwince Charming before I sleeped. It's diffewent, but I like it!"
Mary Margaret's heart jumped for joy at those words. She made a mental note to thank Regina later. She swallowed a lump in her throat before she spoke. "Wow. That's great, honey! I'm glad you're having a good time there."
"Me too. I like Wegina and Henwy a lot. But I also miss you and daddy and baby." A worried look crossed Emma's delicate features. "Are you coming back to get me?" The words had a sobering effect on everyone listening but that didn't stop them from still virtually cooing at little Emma.
"We miss you too, baby. We're on our way back there to pick you up, don't worry," Mary Margaret promised.
"Okay, Mommy." Emma nodded even though Mary Margaret couldn't see her doing so.
"We'll be there in a bit. Now, can you give the phone back to Regina, please?" Mary Margaret said.
"Okay."
Regina took the proffered phone from Emma and held it to her ear. "Is there anything else you want me to do, Mary Margaret?" she asked not unkindly.
"Nothing else, actually. But I told David about the situation, so I hope it's okay that he'll be picking the three of us up from your place," Mary Margaret said.
"Of course. Does that mean he's also done?"
"Almost, from the time we spoke. It seems the mission went well."
"That's good to know."
"I'm just glad you're available today, I don't know what... oh good, here comes Mr. Tillman's tow truck. Finally. We'll be there shortly Regina, then we can talk more."
"Great. Bye." Regina hung up. She turned to the two kids who were looking at her expectantly. "Mary Margaret and Neal are on their way now, so let's get you ready, Emma."
It seemed to Regina that only five minutes passed before the doorbell rang. As she opened the front door, a little blur rushed past her, yelling, "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy!"
Good thing Mary Margaret had Neal in his car seat now since she stumbled backwards a little when Emma came running to hug her. She gently untangled Emma's arms from her legs and picked her up. "Hi, baby."
Emma looked as if she couldn't believe someone actually came to get her. "You came back." She held Mary Margaret's face in her little hands.
Mary Margaret let out a teary laugh much like when Emma broke the first curse. "Of course I did. And don't you ever think otherwise." She held Emma closer to her heart as Emma threw her arms around her neck.
Regina had to discreetly wipe a tear from the corner of her eye at the exchange between mother and daughter. "Okay. This is a happy reunion and all, which we can continue inside." She gestured for them to come in and carried Neal inside herself.
Emma continued her happy chatter as Mary Margaret carried her to the family room. She eagerly showed the doll Regina gave her at which Mary Margaret oohed and ahhed. Sensing that Regina and Mary Margaret wanted to talk, Henry engaged Emma in a game he made up. The two women thanked Henry and went to the kitchen where Regina served up more cider and a plate of cookies.
"I haven't thanked you enough for looking after Emma today, Regina," Mary Margaret said as she gave Neal a cookie. "I really appreciate what you've done."
"Don't mention it."
Mary Margaret's brows furrowed as she remembered something. "By the way. Do you think Emma will remember all this when she grows back to an adult?"
"As with all other growing or shrinking spells, the memory is not affected, rather the events will just normally add to the memory bank. But since what your darling daughter did backfired, it would feel more like a nagging dream afterwards. Unless of course you corroborate what she would tell you about her 'dream'," Regina explained.
"Indeed I will. And I expect you would, too."
"Oh, I don't know about that. Although to be honest I find young Emma to be quite delightful," Regina remarked candidly. "Not to mention she got me a few times with her puppy dog eyes. I don't need to wonder who she got that from." She raised a knowing brow at Mary Margaret.
"And do I ever feel strangely proud of that," Mary Margaret replied cheekily. "It's obvious that you have the magic touch with kids, no pun intended."
"Uh. Right." Regina tried to downplay what Mary Margaret was implying, but the other brunette plowed on.
"I mean, look at Henry. That boy has the biggest heart anyone of us could ever know. Strong, courageous, always eager to help. He loves you for who you are and is your biggest fan. You've raised him well, Regina. And Emma. It's no secret how many times the two of you have clashed ever since she arrived here, but seeing her as a kid interact with you, well, she clearly adores you. I should also add that what you did was a really nice touch, reading Emma our story. It means a lot."
Regina struggled not to blush at the praise but colour seeped into her face anyway. "Yeah. Well..." she tried to speak, but the words got stuck in her throat.
Mary Margaret smiled. "No words, Regina," she said gently. "If there's anyone else who could say all of those with conviction, it's me. Hello? You saved me from my runaway horse when I was ten. From that moment I thought you were the bravest, most caring woman I've ever known after my own mother. You have been nothing but kind to me. Of course, that's all before you tried to kill me and then my family for telling your... but that's beside the point, obviously," she retracted hastily after Regina scowled at her.
"The point is," Mary Margaret continued, ignoring Regina's rolling eyes now, "Don't sell yourself short on anything, especially when it comes to family. Be proud of your ability to care because you have it in you. And of course you have us, crazy as our family tree might be." She raised her glass as if to toast Regina before taking a sip of her cider, in which Regina heaved an inward sigh of relief.
"And here I thought you would never stop with this newest version of your hope speech." Regina's tone included just the slightest hint of sarcasm.
"Come on, Regina. Deep within your heart, I know you appreciate it," Mary Margaret teased.
"Don't be too sure, Mary Margaret. I was this close to turning you into a toad. Anything to make you shut up," Regina said loftily.
But of course, Regina did appreciate it. She just wouldn't give her stepdaughter that satisfaction of knowing. She is still Regina Mills, after all. And Regina Mills isn't given to mushy shows of affection whatever the type is.
Until Emma's giggles caused her to melt into another mushy puddle as the little girl ran into the kitchen to show her and Mary Margaret a picture she'd drawn of herself and Regina. There were two stick figures drawn in crayons: the small one with a mess of yellow hair on a squiggly swing hanging from a huge green blob of a tree, and the bigger one with shoulder-length brown hair pushing her. Both were sporting ear-to-ear toothy grins.
Regina gathered Emma in her arms and held her close. "I love it, Emma. Thank you!" she managed to choke out. She then proceeded to stick the picture on the fridge with a magnet, not noticing Mary Margaret's smug smile.
"Mommy, I drew pictures of us and Daddy and Neal, too! Come on, I'll show you!" Emma grabbed her mother's hand.
"Like riding a bike," Mary Margaret whispered in a singsong voice in Regina's ear as Emma dragged her from the kitchen.
"Don't push it, Mary Margaret," Regina replied in the same manner with a tight smile.
The rest of the afternoon flew by, and David had finally arrived at Regina's to pick his family up. Emma greeted David the same way she did to Mary Margaret, causing her father to laugh heartily. "Hey there, princess," he said, giving Emma a kiss on the cheek as he lifted her into his arms.
Emma clung to him like a monkey. "Silly Daddy," she giggled. "I'm not a princess, I'm me."
"Oh but you are, and don't you forget that. Our Princess Emma," David said proudly as he twirled Emma high in the air.
Regina, Mary Margaret, and Henry stood at the doorstep sharing warm looks at the interaction between Emma and David. Mary Margaret had tears in her eyes and Henry's smile was a mile wide. As for Regina, this was enough family mushiness that she could take on a normal day but her smile mirrored Henry's.
Good thing Henry suggested that they take pictures first because otherwise Emma might not believe the events that happened while she was a kid. "No pictures, it didn't happen, kid," Henry could practically hear adult Emma say.
But after the short photo session, it was really time to go. Regina found herself fighting back the waterworks that Mary Margaret had no shame in showing earlier. Just great.
"I guess this is it." Mary Margaret turned to Regina. "Thank you again for taking care of Emma today. She really enjoyed her time with you."
"That she did," David chimed in, jiggling Emma in his arms. "I've just been treated to a thirty-second narration of what you guys did this afternoon. Thanks, Regina."
"It's my pleasure, Charmings." Regina nodded. She was glad that her hair hid her watery eyes from them.
"Can we bring Regina home?" Emma piped up, causing the adults and Henry to burst out laughing.
"We can't, baby. This is her home," Mary Margaret explained gently.
To everyone's surprise, Emma's lower lip stuck out in a pout. "But I want her to come home with us. Henry too."
Seeing that Mary Margaret and David were caught in a bind, Regina stepped in quickly to save them from a possible meltdown. She knew that the Charmings needed more time with Emma for themselves and she wanted the same for them. She gestured to Emma, who leaned closer to her while she held on to David.
"Emma, sweetie, that was a very lovely invitation. But I think it would be nice for you to have your mommy and daddy to yourself now."
Emma nodded tearfully. "Yeah. I love them lots and lots."
Regina brushed a wayward lock of hair from Emma's face. "That's good. And you must know that they love you lots and lots too."
"But I love you lots too."
"Oh..." Regina did her best to recover quickly (as did everyone else). She spoke again after what seemed like an eternity. "Okay. Tell you what. How about Henry and I make time tomorrow and come over and visit you. Would that be all right?"
Emma looked at her parents questioningly, who both nodded their affirmation. Her face brightened at that. "Okay!" she exclaimed gleefully, clapping her hands.
"Thank you," both parents mouthed at Regina.
"You're welcome," Regina mouthed back. She laid an arm over Henry's shoulder. Henry in turn held her closer.
"Well, we better get going," David said. He turned to Emma. "What do you say to Regina and Henry, princess?"
Instead of simply saying thank you and goodbye, Emma scrambled down from David's arms and ran to Regina. "Thank you, Regina," she said, hugging the older woman and giving her a kiss on the cheek. Emma did the same to Henry before reaching up for her dad again.
"Bye, Regina! Bye, Henry! See you tomorrow!" Emma waved heartily.
Regina and Henry waved back at the little family as they walked to David's truck, with Mary Margaret carrying Neal while Emma rode on David's shoulders. What a pretty picture the four of them made, Regina thought. She was about to congratulate herself on holding back the embarrassing tears but of course an errant sniffle betrayed her when the Charmings waved a final goodbye as they drove off.
"You can wipe your eyes now, Mom," Henry stage-whispered mischievously as he handed her his handkerchief.
"Oh, Henry," was all Regina said while dabbing at her eyes. She let him get in the house ahead of her when she paused at the doorway, staring back at the street to where David's truck was parked. She smiled at the memory of the Charming family walking to the truck. A perfect family if she ever did see one.
Today had been full of extreme emotional highs and lows as Regina got a glimpse of what Emma's childhood had been like and a taste of what could have been. Yet she was glad for both because she could move forward on strengthening her relationship with Emma with the help of her family as well as the lessons from the past.
Regina grinned impishly. Maybe she'll tell adult Emma of her day with kid Emma after all. How she would enjoy seeing the other woman cringe at hearing how adorable she'd been.
She chuckled and finally entered the house.
fin