This chapter is for wicked73 with the prompt: "How about an angsty one based on Lady Antebellum's 'Need You Now'". I wrote this chapter while listening to the song, so if you want to, listen to the song while you read this chapter :)
Emma couldn't sleep. Again. It was starting to become a recurring pattern these days. She reached over to her nightstand and picked up her phone, scrolling until she got to Regina's name in her contacts.
Emma smiled at Regina's contact photo, tears starting to gather in her eyes. She selected the call button. She knew that Regina wouldn't pick up, but just hearing her voice in her voicemail was better than nothing.
This is Mayor Regina Mills. I'm either with my family or trying to defeat some kind of monster. Leave your name and number and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.
At the beep, Emma hung up. She was thankful that she could still hear Regina's voice through phone, even if she would never pick up.
Sighing, Emma decided that she needed a drink. Getting up, she went down to the kitchen of the mansion. Even though it pained Emma to stay there, Henry had refused to leave. This was his home, and it reminded him of the good old days.
Pouring herself a glass of apple flavored whiskey; Emma sat on a stool by the kitchen counter. Regina had hated the idea of having whiskey in the house, but had changed her mind when she had realized that it was apple flavored. Apples had always been her weakness.
Emma picked up her glass before walking into the living room. She headed to the fireplace before picking up one of the pictures there. It had been from Henry's birthday, and the three of them were all smiling happily at the camera.
"I miss her too," Henry said, walking into the room.
Emma set the picture down before crossing the room and sitting on the couch. Henry came over and joined her, putting his head on her shoulder.
Emma sighed. "I don't know what to do anymore. Everything reminds me of her."
"Believe me, I know," Henry said. "I can't even open the storybook anymore. Even the Evil Queen is hard to see. It's still her."
Emma put an arm around him and set down her glass. "We should try and get some sleep."
Henry yawned. "Probably. But I know that you haven't been sleeping."
Emma shrugged. "I'm just having troubles falling asleep. It's hard getting used to not having her to fall asleep next to."
"I can't fall asleep either," Henry admitted. "I'm used to her hugs every night."
Emma sighed. "Who knew that the Evil Queen would end up being the person that we loved the most?"
Henry smiled. "Kind of ironic."
Emma chuckled. "Very ironic."
Henry yawned again, but tried to hide it. He didn't want to leave Emma by herself. Emma noticed his hidden yawn and stood up, pulling him with her. "Come on. Let's go to bed."
"But neither of us is actually going to fall asleep," Henry argued.
Emma thought back to a story that Regina had told her about Henry. She had told Emma about how when Henry was little, he would sleep with her sometimes. Looking at him, Emma saw that little boy.
"I think I have a solution to our little sleeping problem," Emma said.
"You do?" Henry asked.
Emma smiled gently before walking upstairs to Henry's room. Henry looked at her in confusion as she got under the covers before patting the spot next to her.
"What are you doing?" Henry asked, getting in next to her.
"Killing two birds with one stone," Emma said, pulling him in for a hug. "I can't sleep without someone next to me, and you can't sleep without a hug."
Henry smiled before snuggling up next to her. In a matter of minutes, both of them were fast asleep.
I had to throw in the bit with the picture for Henry's birthday because his birthday was yesterday and I missed it. Whoops. I also realized that I never did tell you guys what the hidden reference was in Day 101 with the wedding. Amywood.581, you were right. Regina's bouquet had red roses in it, a reference to Day 17. Seems like so long ago, right?
Challenge for you guys. Review with one word. That's all that I need for a prompt. It would be greatly appreciated!