Hello friends! Sorry for the long wait. Enjoy Chapter 16. I have absolutely loved writing this story and love your feedback. Message me if you want any more stories, I'd love any prompts or ideas. All the best.
Regina had been splitting her time between her two most important people during their stays at the hospital. The doctors were right, they both were fighters, and she couldn't have been prouder of either of them.
Emma had been released a day prior and had made it her personal mission to ensure that Regina's adoption of Henry went off seamlessly. Emma had made many phone calls, and as she made the short walk to 108 Mifflin she was happy to see Regina's car in the driveway, meaning they were home from the hospital. She knew she couldn't let their relationship jeopardize Henry's home. But she was still allowed to see them.
Regina wondered how Emma was doing, what she was doing, while she walked down the familiar hallway to Henry's room. She didn't want to bother him, but having her boy back under her roof was all she wanted, and checking on him didn't hurt, right? Happy to see that he was quietly drawing at his desk, she quietly turned and went to go back downstairs.
"You're not as quiet as you think you are, Mom," she heard from within his room. Damn, he caught me,
"Guilty as charged," she said, turning back and entering the doorway of his room, hands in the air. "I'm allowed to be a little worried, aren't I? You scared me so much. It's going to be a while until I feel ready to not be checking on you." She smiled and looked on as she tried to see what he was drawing. Naturally he was covering it with his body.
"It's kind of nice that you worry," he smiled. A knock on the door interrupted their moment of peace. He looked to her with concern in his eyes. They had discussed the issues with the adoption, but Henry wasn't sure where it left him. Regina had said to trust her and he was doing his best. "Is that Mrs. Davis?"
Regina knew the unspoken anxiety that they both carried. The woman who had called Emma the day of Henry's accident was due for a home visit today, but not for another 30 minutes or so.
"It shouldn't be. I'll go answer it, okay?"
Regina felt like time was slowing down as she descended the stairs. That is my son, they can't take him from me. They have no reason to take him from me. Emma said she'd do whatever it took, right? He's my son.
She opened the door to the familiar blonde and felt the stress roll off her in waves as Emma smiled at her.
"Hi," she said quietly, entering the house and Regina's arms in the same breath. God it felt good to be back here. Regina reveled in the moment too. There was time for questions after they took this moment. After everything they had been through, Regina had learned to take time, and appreciate these little moments. Which she did as she enjoyed the familiar scent of Emma's hair.
They sighed a mutual sigh of relief and hesitantly separated. Emma knew the questions swimming in Regina's eyes, so she took her hand and lead her to the kitchen.
"I was worried you were Mrs. Davis," Regina started.
"I know, and she's going to be here soon. Regina just remember what we talked about. You don't have to do anything differently. Just be yourself and she'll know you're Henry's mother. She'll know you're in it for the right reasons. She may be suspicious of me but she wont be able to deny how much you two love each other."
She's so strong, Regina thought, and so stubborn.
"What about you, Emma? You're a part of this family too."
"Today, I'm Henry's social worker. I know that's not what I am…but unless one of my calls went through, that's all I am today." She sighed.
"Emma, does-" Regina was cut off by a firm knock on the door. Mrs. Davis was early. Trying to catch them off guard perhaps, but Regina wasn't letting anything jeopardize today. She had been ready all week for this meeting. She took the last moment she had and pulled Emma to her, connecting their lips and filling her kiss with all the emotion she could manage. "Emma, regardless of what any of the papers say, I need you to know that you're a part of this family. I love you."
Emma smiled, she would never get tired of hearing the brunette speak those words. "I love you too, Regina. And that's why we're going to do this. And get through it. And Henry is going to be yours." She kissed her again quickly, and they reluctantly separated so Regina could answer the door at the second insistent knock.
"Mrs. Davis, hello." Regina said formally. The woman on the other side of the door greeted her with a curt hello and welcomed herself into the house. She was dressed in what Emma assumed was a typical outfit, a pantsuit consisting much of beige tones which fit perfectly with her beige personality, if Emma said so herself. She held a briefcase and glasses sat around her neck on a chain.
"Where is Henry?" She asked. Clearly she was wasting no time with pleasantries.
"He's in his room. I can show you to it, if you wish," Regina said. She led Mrs. Davis up the stairs. The woman had ignored Emma entirely. Great.
Emma's phone ringing startled the three women, as Regina hadn't gotten very far. She looked down to Emma as Emma read the caller ID.
"I'm sorry, I have to take this," Emma said. Regina nodded and Emma answered the phone. This call could be the answer to all of her prayers over the last week.
Emma had to hold her tongue, though she felt like a kid who had gotten away with stealing the last cookie. She had been quietly listening to Mrs. Davis speak with Regina, and sharing the occasional secret silly face directed towards a nervous Henry. She glowed with pride every time she heard one of the questions meant to trip foster parents up answered with distinct clarity and precision. She would be a good politician, Emma thought.
Another knock on the door had Emma jumping up excitedly, greeting by confused stares from both women and Henry.
"I'll get it," Emma said hurriedly. She quickly excited the room and the three of them looked on, still very much confused.
"Were you expecting a social visit, Miss Mills?" Mrs. Davis asked.
"No, no we weren't." They awkwardly waited, and shortly Emma re-entered the room with another woman in a suit, who also had a briefcase, but who seemed to be a bit…older.
Emma couldn't wait. It was finally time to show this bitch who was boss.
"Mrs. Davis, I'd like for you to meet Mrs. Greene. Henry's new social worker."
Regina looked from Emma to the Mrs. Greene she hadn't met, and back to Emma. What plan has she come up with?
"Mrs. Greene and I go way back, Mrs. Davis. And because of that relationship, she agreed to do me a little favor, and take on one more case." Emma said smugly.
"Hello," Mrs. Greene said brightly. "Pleasure to meet all of you! You must be Henry, oh I've heard so much about you! And this must be Regina," The woman smiled and brought Regina into a gentle hug. Regina's eyes connected with Emma's, and Emma could read the woman's thoughts. She imagined them somewhere along the lines of Emma Swan, what on earth have you done?
"I'm so glad we're having some kind of reunion here, but I'd like to get on with the meeting. Miss Swan, how have you passed on Henry's file to yet another person?" Mrs. Davis' patience was wearing thin and sarcasm dripped from every word.
"And clearly you're Mrs. Davis," Mrs. Greene added, "I've heard about you as well."
Regina smiled. There was a fire in this kind, grandmotherly woman. It reminded her of Emma.
Henry sat watching everything trying with all his might to maintain the trust in Regina and Emma he had promised he would. They wouldn't turn on me now, would they?
"Yes Mrs. Davis, we will proceed with the meeting you have started. Miss Swan has updated me fully on Henry's case, and I wanted to talk to you professionally about this. You and I both know that when children are in a good home, even if their social worker changes, a relocation isn't always necessary, is that not correct?"
Mrs. Davis stuttered, and Mrs. Greene continued. "If you wanted to fight with me on this, we could discuss a few of your past cases where you have decided that certain rules are more like guidelines…perhaps the Walker case from 2007. Do I need to say any more?"
Regina and Emma looked on in awe as Mrs. Davis had somehow, finally, been effectively shushed.
"That said," Mrs. Greene continued, "I do think that before we can continue adoption proceedings, we should engage in private conversations with both Regina and Henry. Or were you planning on skipping that step as well, based on an assumed relationship between Henry's former social worker and foster mother? As we all know, we cannot make claims based on hearsay information that can frighten people into submission. That wouldn't be fair, would it? I mean really, I could be as outlandish and mention to someone that you display homophobic behaviours. And since I have experienced no proof of that, it would be completely unfair of me to do that, don't you think?"
"Yes," Mrs. Davis agreed, with next to no force left in her voice.
Regina marveled at the way this room had just changed. She glanced at Emma who was biting her bottom lip to prevent herself from smiling too hard.
"Regina," Mrs. Greene looked to her now, and like a light switch had turned off the daggers coming from her eyes and was again, as pleasant an older lady as Regina had seen. It was almost laughable. "Shall we go into the kitchen to have a quick discussion?"
As the women rose, Emma and Henry were left in the living room.
"Mario Kart?" he asked.
"Regina, we just have a few questions for you. Ultimately what we want to know when we are finalizing an adoption of this style is that Henry is in good hands with you. We want to know that you're stable and consistent, and trustworthy. We have Miss Swan's reference of your credibility, which helps significantly, but it's always best to talk directly to you. Especially considering you may be a single parent. So tell us about your relationship with Henry." Mrs. Greene smiled, but Regina could tell she was all business now.
Regina felt like she was on trial. How could she describe the love she had for the boy in the next room in a couple of minutes in her kitchen?
"I've always wanted to be a mother. My own mother and I had a…strained relationship. And I knew that if I had a child they would help me to create a family, one like I had always imagined. And I don't know how to explain this, but motherhood has been nothing like what I expected."
She looked at her audience, they clearly were waiting for an explanation, and she looked to the doorway where she could slightly head what sounded like video games. Naturally.
"I never imagined I'd get a son and miss the first 11 years of his life. Or that he'd show up on my doorstep with a scowl and the disbelief that anyone could deeply care for him. I didn't think I wouldn't be able to hug him or that he wouldn't call me mom… but somewhere between Henry being sent to me and now, Henry has become my son. I love him more than anything. I would give my life for his. We've walked through this journey together; the nightmares, the mistrust. He's my son. We have a routine, you know? We get up in the morning and we have breakfast. We drive him to school and we go to work. When we come home he does his homework and I make us dinner. We've even enrolled him in art classes. He's a beautiful artist. His work is around this house. He's a smart boy, and he's kind and patient and a real thinker. And somehow, so many other people have passed him up and it's utterly ridiculous to me because he's perfect. But I can't say I'm disappointed they did because he never would have gotten to me. Emma never would have found me and created this family. He's thriving here and honestly, he's helped me to thrive. He has given me new life and all I want is to give him back the same, forever."
She wasn't sure when the tears had started falling but she composed herself now. She didn't know what else she could say. Mrs. Greene patted her hand and looked to Mrs. Davis. They nodded and stood.
"Thank you, Regina. Could you please send in Henry?"
She exited the kitchen, happy she had composed herself relatively quickly, and walked in on Emma and Henry in a neck-to-neck battle. She smiled to him and rubbed his shoulder.
"They want to talk to you, Henry."
"Okay," he said. He got up and straightened out the shirt and tie Regina had picked with him as she took his seat on the couch. She squeezed his hand.
"You can do this, just be honest okay? Say whatever you need to say." She could tell he was fighting off the same nerves she was. "I love you, Henry. It's going to be okay, okay?"
He smiled with that. "I love you guys, too." He leaned back down to hug her and hugged an otherwise quiet Emma as well. As he walked into the kitchen, Emma said nothing but opened her arms and squeezed Regina tight.
"Regina, it's going to be okay, okay?" She echoed. Regina smiled into Emma's neck.
"It's hard to know that these people hold the rest of our lives in their hands." Regina said.
"Our lives, huh?" Emma smiled. She still couldn't believe the future she had found with these two. Before them she was ready to be alone. And now it was the last thing she wanted. She kissed Regina knowing the women would be talking to Henry. Regina responded and then pulled back slightly.
"Emma Swan, who is that Mrs. Greene?"
Emily smiled slyly. "I knew I wouldn't last very long alone with you without you asking me that. She was my last social worker before I turned 18. One of the reasons I wanted to be a social worker. I don't know why I didn't think of her right away when Mrs. Davis first called but now it's as clear as ever. She's a hard-ass wrapped in floral perfume and that's part of why she's so awesome. And she helped me get where I am. But she knows her stuff and I knew she could help you get Henry. Because I know that's priority right now and I love you. And I need you to have him because that will make you happy."
"So do you, Emma. I want Henry and you. And maybe even more kids some day. Though our hands are kind of full with a 12 year old boy and a puppy right now. I want a life with both of you."
"Let's focus on his adoption for now, before we start talking about more kids," she smiled. She said a silent prayer to herself that calling in Mrs. Greene could solve the problems Mrs. Davis had brought up.
"Henry, can you tell us about your life in Storybrooke? How is it?" Mrs. Davis looked on quietly, pen and paper in hand as Mrs. Greene gave him eye contact and urged on his answer.
"I love it here. School is awesome. I have some really great friends. There was this kid that punched me but we sorted that all out. I have a puppy, his name is Lucky. I could introduce you if you wanted. I get to draw and paint whenever I want. I've learned so much about how to draw and drawing is definitely my favourite of all the stuff we did at art class. Emma had that idea actually. But I went every Saturday and mom always picked me up. She always tries to see what I'm drawing but I like to keep it private. She respects that. Mom…Regina is awesome for that. She's really awesome with everything."
"Do you feel you have a good relationship with Miss Mills, Henry?" Mrs. Davis asked, still looking down at her notes.
"The easiest way to say it, Mrs. Davis, is that Regina is my mom. More than anyone has ever been. And I love it here. Mom and Emma and I, we are a unit, you know?"
"Henry, how nurtured does Miss Mills make you feel? This mansion and her apparent wealth are attractive, but I need to be sure you feel happy regardless of this." Mrs. Davis continued.
"The way I feel in Storybrooke has nothing to do with Regina's money. Even if she had none I know she'd be a great mom. We could be living in a shack and I know I'd feel as loved as I do right now."
"What exactly is the nature of your relationship with Miss Swan?" She asked. He looked to Mrs. Greene, who nodded gently. He knew he needed to be honest with them. And if they took him away, he'd just have to apologize to Regina.
"She started as my social worker, as you know. But Emma was the only person before Regina who even cared about me. And I love her as much as I love Regina. I don't want to lose either of them."
"Henry, do you know the nature of their relationship?" She continued.
"What does that have to do with my adoption?" He asked defensively. "Regina and Emma make each other happy and the fact that they love each other has never changed the fact that I know that both of them love me." Oh god, I said too much. Say goodbye to Storybrooke, Henry. "Whatever you do, please don't ask them to separate. I want to stay here but I don't want the cost to be Emma needing to leave…Storybrooke won't be the same without her."
Mrs. Greene spoke up then. "On the contrary, Henry, I had a different idea." He leaned in as she took papers from her briefcase.
Regina was pacing in the living room as Emma remained on the couch.
"Have they been in there a long time?" Regina asked.
"I don't know, it seems like a usual amount of time?" Emma wondered. She just hoped her plan was going off how she had hoped. With that, the women and Henry entered the living room and sat, motioning for Regina to sit as well. She sat next to Emma but was careful not to touch her, no matter how much she wanted to. And god, she wanted to.
"Miss Mills, I am happy to inform you that our meetings went very well. And I see no reason why Henry should not be adopted by you." Mrs. Davis said. Regina was so proud. Even that witch couldn't deny that they were a family. Mrs. Greene pulled documents from the folder she was holding and placed them down for Regina to read. Henry's adoption papers. She noticed that Henry had already signed the bottom and met his eyes across the room. He smiled to her. She looked back down, and her breath caught in her throat. Henry had signed his legal name, Henry White, but at the bottom had signed something else. His new name.
Henry Swan-Mills.
She looked to Emma urgently, who was calmly smiling and finally, finally, held her shaking hands between her steady ones.
"All I needed to see was that signature to know that Henry's adoption would be approved. And if you look on page two, you'll see in the parent columns, both of our names. I want Henry to be ours as much as you do, if you'll have me." Emma sat holding her breath and she, looking into Regina's eyes, could read Regina's next question. "If Mrs. Greene is Henry's official social worker, our adoption of him is no longer a conflict of interest. You are more than I ever imagined I could have and you, Regina, and you Henry, are my home. I love you so much. So I guess the better question here, Regina, since I already know Henry's answer, is will you be my family? Will you marry me?"
"Emma!" Regina took the blonde's face in her hands. "Yes. Yes, of course I will, yes!" The green eyes she had memorized countless times filled up and threatened to spill over but the smile that graced her face was even more radiant than Regina could have imagined. "God, I love you, Emma Swan." She kissed her lightly and proceeded to pull her into a tight embrace, still very aware of the audience in the room.
"Swan-Mills actually," Emma corrected, laughing. "I decided it had a better ring to it than Mills-Swan."
"I'll let you have this one, because you caught me so off guard and because I love you and because I'm far to happy to argue with you about that right now. And you're right. Swan-Mills does have a nice ring to it." She laughed back, now sitting as close as physically possible to Emma. She didn't know if she had ever been so happy.
"Let's sign these forms," Emma said, "and then we can start our lives, officially together," she looked at Henry who was equally ecstatic, "as a family."
And that, I must admit, is the ending! Hope you liked it!
Don't worry, I'm hoping to write an epilogue. Any fluffy requests will be accepted and considered. I don't think i'm fully emotionally ready to part with these characters.