Chapter 13

Zelena was helping Emma sat the dinner table when Henry walked through the manor's front door.

"Hey," the teenager called out. "Is anybody else home?"

"In the dining room, Henry," Zelena called back. Henry followed the sound of his aunt's voice. He went into the dining room and found Zelena and his blonde mother, finishing setting up place setting at the table.

"Hi, Ma," Henry said. "I didn't know that you were coming over for dinner."

"Well, it was kind of a last minute invite," Emma said. "I figured you wouldn't mind, kid."

Henry smiled. "Dinner with my two favorite moms and my favorite aunt," he said. "Of course I don't mind."

Robin, who was sitting in her high chair, starting to fuss. Henry approached her and when he got closer the baby reached her hands up to him. He lifted the baby girl from the high chair.

"Don't worry, Robin. I didn't forget about you," Henry said. "Dinner with my favorite little cousin will be the best part of the night."

Emma and Zelena smiled at their children interacting with each other. Emma leaned over to whisper to Zelena.

"Is it weird that I keep forgetting that your kid and my kid are cousins?"

"Not at all," Zelena whispered back. "With all of the strange family ties in this town, it's a wonder anyone can keep them all straight."

"You've got a point there, Zelena."

"Hey, Ma," Henry interrupted their silent conversation. "Where's Mom?"

"Your mom is in the kitchen, kid," Emma said. "Why don't you go see if she needs any help?"

"Sure." Henry set Robin back in her high chair. He walked into the kitchen and found his mom taking a pot roast out of the oven. He waited for his brunette mother to set the roast on the stove top before making himself known.

"Hey, Mom," Henry said. "Dinner smells great."

Regina turned around when she heard the familiar sound of her son's voice. The mayor smiled at the teenage boy.

"Thank you, Henry."

"Do you need any help with anything?" The teenager asked his mom. Regina's eyes did a quick sweep of the kitchen.

"No, I don't believe so. I pretty much have all the food prepared. Your mother and aunt have set the table set," Regina said "Oh, I know. You can go upstairs and get Danielle. The two of you can wash up for dinner."

"Sure. I can do that," Henry said. "So, Danielle is still staying here?"

"Yes," Regina arched one of her eyebrows. "Is that an issue?"

"No! Not at all," Henry was quick to say. "She's really cool. I was just curious about how long she'll be staying here."

"Well, Henry. Danielle will most likely be moving in permanently."

"Really?" Henry asked. "Why? Are you like, adopting her or something?"

"Or something...," Regina said vaguely. "It's a long story, Henry. And I promise that I will explain everything at dinner. "

Henry did not know what it was about Danielle that his mother wanted to tell him, but he could tell it was big.

"Alright," Henry said. "I'll go get Danielle."

Henry left the kitchen and went upstairs to look for Danielle. He figured that she was in her bedroom. While Henry was upstairs, Regina started bringing the food into the dining room. Regina entered the room and saw Zelena and Emma standing very close to one another and talking amongst themselves. Now, the mayor was no fool. Regina was well aware that her sister and co-mother had developed a close friendship between themselves. The brunette woman had a fleeting thought. She wondered if Emma and Zelena's friendship could grow into something more. Regina brushed that thought to the side. It was a silly notion. Emma just ended a relationship and Regina didn't want Zelena to be some rebound for Emma. Regina set the food was carrying down on the dining room table.

"If you two ladies aren't too busy," Regina said. "I would greatly appreciate some help with the food."

Zelena and Emma halted their conversation. "Sure thing, Regina," Emma said. "Come on, Zelena. Time to put food on the table."

Emma took the ginger woman's hand and together the two women walked into the kitchen to get the rest of the food. While they were in the kitchen, Zelena struck up their previous conversation from the dining room.

"So, Emma. What are you going to tell Henry?" Zelena asked. "You know, in regards to ending your relationship with Hook."

Emma picked up a salad bowl filled with Caesar salad. "Honestly, I don't think I should tell him everything that happened," Emma said. "Hook and Henry were really starting to bond. I don't want to ruin that for Henry."

"Are you going to encourage Hook to stay in Henry's life?"

"I'm not going to encourage it or discourage it," Emma answered. "I know that Hook is going to keep seeing Archie. Just because Hook and I are no longer together, it doesn't mean that he no longer wants to be a good person. He has come so far and he is a good man. Besides, I think Henry is old enough to decide whether or not he wants to spend time with Hook."

Zelena nodded her head. "Ending an engagement is a big deal," Zelena said. "How are you really doing, Emma?"

Emma chewed on her bottom lip before answering Zelena.

"To be completely honest," Emma said. "I think that I'm still processing everything that has happened. But I'm sure I will be alright, given time."

"You are one of the strongest people I know, Emma," the red haired woman said. "If there's anyone that can get through this it's you. And I'm here for you if you need me."

"I appreciate that Zelena. I really do."

Emma and Zelena carried the rest of the food into the dining room and set them on the table. Regina, who was in the room, spoke to them.

"I want to tell Henry about Danielle," Regina said. "Only, I'm not sure how to tell him. Henry's been an only child for fourteen years. How is he going to react to having a new little sister?"

"Regina. Henry's going to be fine," Emma said. "It's not like he's a little kid that constantly craves his mother's attention. I know that you are going to want to spend quality with Danielle. I felt the same way when Henry came into my life. All I wanted to do was get to know my son. Henry will understand that you will want to get to know your daughter."

"Emma is right," Zelena said. Emma raised her eyebrows. "I'm what?"

"There's no way in hell that you're going to get me to bloody say it again," said Zelena. Emma and Regina each cracked a smile.

"Anyway," Zelena continued. "Henry is a good kid good, Regina. Just be honest with him."

Regina nodded her head. "Thank you," she said. "To both of you. Now, I believe we should call the kids down here before dinner gets cold."

Regina began to serve the food onto plates. Zelena prepared some baby food for Robin. And Emma called up the stairs t Henry and Danielle, telling them to come down for dinner. Zelena, Regina, Emma, Henry, Danielle, and baby Robin all sat together around the dinner table.

"I've never had pot roast before," Danielle said. "It's very good." The young girl stuffed her face with a huge bite. Regina smiled at Danielle.

"Thank you, dear," Regina said. "I'm pleased that you like it so much, dear, but please take smaller bites. I don't want you to choke on the food."

"Sorry," Danielle mumbled around a forkful of the roast, making Emma and Zelena chuckled. Danielle may look like a miniature Regina, but she certainly didn't have the older woman's table manners.

"You know, Danielle," Emma said. "I'm willing to bet that there's a lot of food from this realm that you've never tried. Like ice cream."

"What is ice cream?" Danielle asked.

"Ice cream is a magical treat," Emma said. "It's very sweet and cold, but if you eat it too fast it'll give you a headache."

"I want to try some!" Danielle squealed in excitement. Everyone at the table laughed at the child's delight. Even Robin sensed the excitement in the room and clapped her hands together.

"I say that someday in the very near future," Zelena said. "We all go out for a day of ice cream. How does that sound ?"

Danielle's eyes lit up and she faced Regina. "Can we Regina, please?" The child asked. "Can we? Can we?"

Henry joined in on the questioning. "Yeah, Mom. Can we?"

"Well, since the two of you are ganging up on me," Regina joked. "I think it sounds like a splendid idea."

Everyone was pleased and agreed that in a few days they would all go out for ice cream. Dinner continued on in relative peace with only the murmurs of various conversations going on. It stayed that way until Henry spoke up.

"Hey, Mom," Henry said to Regina. "Earlier you said that you wanted to tell me something. Something about Danielle?"

The sound of her name got Danielle's attention. In fact, all of their attention had been drawn to the mayor. They waited in anticipation for Regina to speak.

"You are right, Henry. I do want to talk to you about Danielle."

"Do you want me to go to my room?" Danielle asked.

"No sweetie," Regina said. "You are welcome to stay. Henry, has you are already aware I arranged for Danielle to stay with us until I found her birth mother. Those circumstances have...um...changed."

"How do you mean?" Henry asked.

"I found Danielle's birth mother, but Danielle will not be moving out."

Henry's curiosity had spiked. He liked Danielle and enjoyed having her around, but he wondered why she would be a permanent resident in the Mills household.

"Don't get me wrong," Henry said. "I really like having Danielle here, but why isn't she moving out if you found her mom. Did...did she not want Danielle?"

"No!" Regina's shout was loud and sudden. "No. No, that is not the case at all." Regina looked Danielle in the eyes. "Danielle's, mother wants her very much. More than anything in this world."

Henry was no fool and noticed the eye contact between his mother and the brown haired girl. "Wait a minute," the teen said. "Am I missing something?"

Regina looked at her son. The boy turned young man that she loved so much. "Henry. I'm Danielle's birth mother," Regina said. The fourteen year olds eyes widened and he went slack jawed. Henry began to stutter.

"What...when..how? Wait! I don't want to know how," Henry said. "Mom? Is Danielle really your daughter?"

"Yes Henry. She really is. And I want you to understand that you are not being replaced. I love you very much and nothing could ever change that."

"I know, Mom," Henry said. "I love you too and I don't feel replaced at all. Actually, I think it'll be cool to have a little sister."

"You do?" Regina and Danielle asked at the same time.

"Sure," Henry answered. He faced Danielle. "If any of those kids give you a hard time, just tell them that your big brother will beat them up." Henry beamed at his new sister.

"There will be no beating anyone up," Regina scolded.

"Yes, ma'am," Henry said. When Regina wasn't looking, he winked at Danielle. Danielle giggled.

"Henry, are you sure that you're okay with all of this?" Regina asked. Everyone looked at the teen with concerned expressions.

"Really you guys I'm fine," Henry said. "I'm glad to have a sister. Although, I am who your father is Danielle?"

"My father is Daniel," the blue-eyed girl answered.

"Mom's first love?"

Danielle nodded her head. "That's the one."

"Mom," Henry said. "I didn't know that you and Daniel had a kid."

"Neither did I," Regina said. "Not until I found out about Danielle. It would seem that my memory of her had been erased..."

"Erased memories. That's a twist," Zelena mumbled.

Regina rolled her eyes at her older sister, but didn't stop the smirk from appearing on her lips.

"As I was saying," the mayor continued. "There's a lot that I still don't know, but for now, none of that matters. I'm just grateful to have Danielle in my life now." Regina smiled at Danielle and Danielle beamed back. Dinner continued with happy conversation. Emma decided to wait on telling Henry about her ended engagement with Hook. The kid was happy right now and Emma didn't want to bring down his mood.

After dinner, Henry and Danielle helped Zelena wash the dishes. The sound of water splashing and laughter could be heard coming from the kitchen. Meanwhile, Regina took Robin upstairs for a bath. Emma decided to follow Regina upstairs. Emma watched from the bathroom door as Regina bathed the infant redhead. Robin's hand splashed the water as her aunt held her steady. Regina smiled at the baby. Robin held up one of her bath toys and splashed Regina in the face. Emma burst out laughing and Robin giggled. She splashed around some more.

"Yes," Regina said to Emma. "Please, encourage her."

Emma entered the bathroom and sat down next to Regina. "Sorry. It was funny. Wasn't it, Robin?"

The baby girl giggled and splashed some more. Both Regina and Emma got caught in the splash zone.

"I'll take that as a yes," Emma said.

Regina continued bathing her niece and spoke with Emma. "How are you doing?"

"I really wish people would stop asking me that."

"Forgive me for being a concerned friend."

"I'm sorry, Regina. I know that you're just trying to help."

"Yes, I am," Regina said. "So, Emma, how are you doing?"

Emma sighed. "I'm a little nervous to go back to my place. Hook's suppose to be there, packing up all of his things. I don't really want to risk seeing him."

"You can stay here for the night," Regina offered.

"I appreciate that Regina, but I'll just rent a room at Granny's."

"Emma, I insist. You can stay with Zelena in her room."

Emma mauled it over. "Fine. I'll stay the night," Emma finally said. "But only if Zelena agrees to let me bunk with her."

Regina agreed to the conditions and the two of them finished bathing Robin and dressed the infant in her pajamas. The three of them went back down stairs to find Zelena, Henry, and Danielle cleaning the kitchen.

"Alright, Henry and Danielle," Regina said. "It's time for bed. Go up stairs and start getting ready for bed."

Danielle followed Henry up the stairs. Regina handed Robin off to Zelena, who was happy to let Regina stay in her room. The women and the infant went upstairs. Regina and Emma each kissed Henry on either cheek and told him good night. The brunette woman then kissed Danielle on the cheek, tucked her into bed, and wished her sweet dreams. She said good night to Emma and Zelena and went to her bedroom to turn in for the evening. Emma followed Zelena into the ginger's bedroom. Zelena placed Robin in her crib. The baby girl was fast asleep. Zelena and Emma changed into pajamas. Emma borrowed some from Zelena. The blonde and redhead followed Robin's example and fell asleep as soon as their head's hit the pillows of Zelena's bed.