AN: Hey guys sorry for the delay, I've been battling a super cold; and I didn't want to let you all down by not posting this chapter and thank you for the reviews. Seriously you guys are the best, this chapter will be a continuation of the last chapter; there will be some fluff, read and review please as it would be greatly appreciated; MysteryFan1997
Disclaimer, I do not own any of the characters from OUAT
Ch23 - Home
Once we finished our coffee, my mom stood up. She looked at me, before speaking.
"Emma, can I talk to you?"
I nodded, before standing up to join her; we walked into her bedroom, and we sat down on the bed. I heard as she took a deep breath, I placed my hand on her arm.
She spoke softly.
"Emma, there's something I want to show you"
I watched as she stood up, before kneeling down; she pulled a box out from under the bed, she stood up and that's when I noticed that she had a small bag in her hand.
I quirked an eyebrow at her, my mom opened it; reached inside and pulled out a pendant. I couldn't help but stare at it, my mom cleared her throat softly.
I watched as she gazed at it, before smiling softly; she then looked at me before speaking again.
"This was your grandmother's pendant. She gave it to me a long time ago"
I looked at my mom, who refocused her gaze on the pendant; I knew that there was a story behind this. So I placed my hand on my moms arm, and I smiled at her.
"Can you tell me the story? Because, I'd love to hear it"
My mom smiled at me, she leaned back against the headboard, and patted the other side; I moved to join her and once we were both comfortable, she spoke.
"A long time ago, your father and I were fugitives...well kind of; we were hiding out in the woods, with Ruby and a few others and then chaos broke out. We spilt up, and your father told me to go to the cabin; because that's where your grandmother was, I was unsure however. Because she and I had never met before, but I was reassured by your father; that I would be welcomed, due to our engagement and that he wanted us to meet. I then ran off, and I was then knocked to the ground by Leviathan; I confronted him, and he sounded confused; he then revealed himself to be Lancealot..."
My eyes widened, I opened my mouth to speak.
"Mom, is that the same guy we met back in the enchanted forest; you know when we were sucked into the hat and then captured by Mulan and Aurora?"
She nodded, she then continued.
"I was stunned however, I did recognise his name; and it turned out that he was a former knight of the round table, he placed a hood over my head and took me to the king. Once at his castle, I was angry; you see, King George was a bitter and twisted person. He used your father, for selfish reasons; I didn't care about what he would do to me, I was protecting your father. I was given some water, I took it; but I didn't know it was laced with a curse. I was stunned, when I realised the type of curse that was used; it was given to me, to stop the ability to have children. His reason as to why I was given that particular curse was because his wife had the same happen to her many years before..."
I gasped softly, placing my hand on my moms arm again; she placed her head on mine.
"Mom I'm so sorry..."
I could hear her take a deep breath, before she spoke again.
"I was taken back to the forest, and I was thrown to the ground; just outside the camp that I had been taken from, the curse had taken affect by this point. I was still stunned, but then I heard someone approaching on horseback; it was Lancealot. I attacked him, because of what he did to me; he of course pointed out that it was the king who cursed me, not him. We exchanged words, and he knew about the cabin where your grandmother lived. The king had sent men to the cabin, because he knew that your grandmother wouldn't put up a fight..."
I sat there in complete silence, not knowing what to say; I kept my hand on my moms arm. She cleared her throat slightly, while keeping a tight grip on the pendant.
Her voice, thick with emotion; as she continued telling me the story.
"Once we arrived at the cabin, I found your father and your grandmother; she was lying on the ground, after being shot with a poisoned arrow and I apologised for not getting there sooner. Your grandmother, looked up at me; and she smiled after asking if I was Snow. We placed your grandmother in a cart, and we journeyed to Lake Nostos; your father and Lancealot scouted ahead. During the stop, your grandmother and I talked; she then reached up and unclasped the pendant from around her neck; she told me it was spelled by a gypsy. She told me that the pendant could predict the sex of your firstborn, even before you're with child. I of course was slightly wary, but your grandmother assured me it worked; as it had predicted your father and uncle. She told me if it swings North to South, it's a boy; and if it swings East to West, then it's a girl"
I sat up slightly, my mom then moved. She settled back again, as she finished telling me the story.
"After explaining to me how the pendant worked, your grandmother asked me to use it; I was shocked, because I knew it wouldn't work. She told me to indulge her, so I did. She lifted the pendant over my hand, and when it didn't swing; she assumed it didn't work anymore and it was nothing more than a silly superstition. She also knew something was bothering me, so I told her it was the king; and when he captured me, and cursed me. When I told her what kind of curse, she assured me that the water from the lake would heal me as well as her..."
I kept my gaze on the pendant, I then side hugged my mom. I had no idea, I knew a few things; but I didn't know about this. I wonder if it predicted me?
I spoke.
"Hey mom, I'm kind of curious; did the pendant predict me? I mean did it work on you after that?"
She laughed softly, before speaking.
"I'm getting to that, after your grandmother assured me that the water would heal both of us; she told me I would be a wonderful mother. We eventually got to the lake, and it was dry; I tended to your grandmother, who was fading; as Lancealot and your father searched the lake for any source of water. While they looked, I stayed with your grandmother; who told me she wanted me to take the water, as she wanted me to be healed instead of her. She also told me that parents always put their children first, and that someday I would understand. As we talked, I knew that she was weak; thankfully your father and Lancealot found enough water and when your grandmother was offered it, we all thought she had taken it. When she wasn't healed, your father blamed himself, and your grandmother reassured him it was for the best and she didn't want to waste the time she had left. So we journeyed on, and we stopped; I asked Lancealot to marry us, as a former knight of the round table. He agreed, he handed us a cup to drink from; what I didn't know was your grandmother, didn't drink the water from the lake. It was poured into the cup, because she wanted me to be healed instead of her, so I could give her son a family. She died a few moments after we were married. I used the pendant again, and when it started to swing East to West; I was stunned by your grandmother's selfless act. When your father realised, he was so confused; as he thought I was pregnant right at that moment, his confusion cleared up after I explained that I used the pendant. So yes Emma, the pendant worked and it predicted that my firstborn would be a girl"
We got up off the bed, and we stood up. My mom lifted her hand over mine, and we watched as the pendant swayed from East to West.
She spoke softly.
"It still works..."
I quirked an eyebrow at her, before speaking.
"What still works mom?"
She looked at me, a smile forming on her face; she glanced at the pendant before speaking.
"Well Emma, I wasn't sure it would work; because this isn't your first child. But it looks like your future child will be a girl"
I gasped, I sat back down; pendant still in hand.
"Wow..."
She grinned, and I smiled; before hugging her and as I went to hand the pendant back, my mom shook her head. She then spoke.
"No sweetie, it's yours now; take it home, and show Killian"
I smiled again, before placing it back in its bag; I hugged my mom again, before we headed back over to the table. When I placed the bag on the table, I noticed my dad was smiling.
We all fell into another comfortable silence, I kept glancing at the bag; still slightly confused as to how it actually worked, but I trusted my mom and I was slightly excited to show it to Killian.
Who would probably be just as confused. After a few more minutes of silence, my mom grinned at me, before she spoke again.
"Emma, honey; why don't you and Killian head home? I'm sure you can't wait to show him what's in the bag"
I smiled, before nodding; I stood up, and walked round to where my mom was sitting. I hugged her again, before turning to hug my dad.
I reached across the table, placing the bag in my jacket pocket; we made our way out of the loft, I could sense that Killian was curious.
We had just about made it down stairs, when I was stopped; I turned slightly, while keeping our hands entwined. I glanced up at Killian, who had his gaze focused on my pocket.
He spoke.
"What's in the bag love?"
I smiled softly, before answering.
"It's nothing to worry about Killian, it's a good surprise; kind of like the sleepwear set I bought. But this isn't like that, I'll show it to you at home. Now come on"
I smiled internally, and once we got home; I lifted the bag from my pocket and headed into the kitchen, I could hear Killian behind me. I sat down, opened the bag; I lifted the pendant out.
I glanced up, and I noticed that Killian was sitting in front of me; he raised his eyebrow slightly, I placed the pendant on the table. I decided to briefly explain what it was, as not to confuse him.
"It was my grandmother's, my mom told me the story; this pendant was given to my grandmother, it was spelled by a gypsy. A long time ago, my mom was cursed by King George; and my grandmother was poisoned by an arrow. They traveled to Lake Nostos, and the first time my mom used it. It didn't work, because she had been cursed. They got to the lake, where a small amount of water was found; enough to heal my grandmother, but she didn't drink it. She selflessly left it for my mom, and when my mom used the pendant the second time, it predicted that her firstborn would be a girl"
I watched the confusion grow on his face. I spoke again.
"According to my mom, if it swings from North to South; your child will be a Boy, East to West and your child will be a Girl"
I stood up, and let the pendant fall slightly; and it began to sway from East to West once more.
I looked up gasping softly, and that's when I noticed that Killian stood up; making his way towards me, he placed his hand on mine.
He spoke, confusion clear in his voice.
"Swan, what does this mean?"
I smiled softly, before answering.
"This captain..." I paused, lifting the pendant; before speaking again "means our future child will be a girl"
He grinned, before lifting me up; we kissed, and I smiled internally...
TBC
Chapter 24 will be published in a few days