Six months. Emma had been stuck in what seemed, an eternal hell for six months. Snow and Charming had tried everything to pull there daughter out of her depression, but with each day it only got worse.
She had discovered that if she concentrated hard enough, her magic would allow her to conjure quick glimpses of Regina's everyday life with their baby. She never caught anything that could potentially give away gender or even a name! She really hoped that Regina didn't know that she was watching, she knew that the older woman liked her privacy at all times, and despite their relationship, Emma still found the woman keeping things to herself. At this moment in time, missing both her baby and Regina, her morals went out the window.
Yet, somehow she must have, because no matter when she caught these glimpses nothing definitive gave away gender or even appearance. She knew the baby had changed quite a bit since she had last seen him or her, no longer the tiny newborn she had held.
Her baby had grown quite a bit already, and all without her. Emma didn't think she would ever be okay with missing out on this, but watching from afar, even partially, made her feel like she had some sort of connection to them.
The chubby baby crawled about the living room of the apartment Regina had gotten for them, as Emma watched proudly. This was the first time their baby had actually crawled! She saw Regina, squealing excitedly and clapping for the very proud child.
Sitting up right, the child mimicked Regina's actions, offering it's own high pitched squeal and trying to coordinate it's hands enough to give a proper clap. Emma smiled clapping quietly herself, as Regina rushed forward to pick up the baby.
"You did it, Henry!" Emma froze, paling enough to match her mother's skin tone. A boy, their baby was a boy, and Regina had picked a perfect name.
"Henry..." The name slipped easily from Emma's mouth, as if she had been born knowing the meaning of it. As if the name itself, was burned into her very soul. Residing there right next to Regina's, the two of them were her family. And knowing that only made Emma feel so much worse, she couldn't be with them... Not now anyway.
Still, she wished more than anything that she could be with them. Just for a moment, to hold her son, and kiss Regina until she couldn't remember her own name.
"Emma!"
Her eyes flew open at the all too familiar voice, and before she knew it her vision was blurred with tears as she glanced up at Regina. The white swirling of her magic was dissipating around her quickly, as she rushed forward to hug the woman. "Regina."
Her voice cracked just speaking that one word, her body trembling at the amount of control it was taking to keep from crying. Instantly, Regina's arms were around her, and it was as if no time had passed at all. They were just them again, there together.
Until a loud squeal broke them apart, Emma jumping as she spun around to stare at the small form of their chubby son. A smile claimed her face, the first one in months and it was so powerful her cheeks actually hurt.
Without a second thought, Emma strode over, scooped Henry up in her arms and snuggled him close. The small boy fitting perfectly in her arms as if she was always meant to be there. And, Emma thought, of course he was meant to be there.
"Hi, baby boy." Emma didn't know she was crying again until she heard the emotion in her voice.
Regina quietly crept up behind her, watching Emma and their son. Henry quietly babbled, trying to fit together the right string of syllables to talk to Emma. To speak to this pretty lady, who seemed so familiar, yet so much a stranger at the same time. He couldn't explain it, but he felt an unbreakable bond towards this woman, just as Emma felt towards him.
"Henry," the name whispered across Emma's lips as if she were praising this beautiful creature before her. And in truth, she was, completely. Her son meant the world to her.
Regina's echoing gasp caused a giggle to bubble up out of Emma. "How did you know?"
Emma turned to face the woman, gently squishing their son between the two of them. "I was watching, anytime I could... I didn't meant to pry Regina I'm sorry." Her face immediately showed guilt, afraid that Regina would see her peering into their lives as intruding upon Regina's time with their son.
"You've been watching? Your magic is strong enough for that!?"
To Emma's surprise, Regina's voice displayed complete pride. "Well, not exactly, I mean I have to work pretty hard at it."
Regina chuckled at that, nodding a bit in understanding. "I see, well at least you've managed teleporting, and mirror imaging."
Emma nodded proudly, snuggling their son close again. "Anything to be with him, and you. I would go through anything."
Regina nodded again, falling silent, she well understood what Emma meant. "I can't give this up, Regina. Not ever again, if I have to give up something in my life I never want it to be this." Emma spoke quietly, as she held her son against her shoulder, swaying softly with him.
Nodding, Regina offered a sigh as response. She knew Emma had to go back, that was their deal. They would stay away until she had graduated at least! And that was still three months away. Regina didn't want to deny Emma anything, yet she couldn't just give in.
"How are your grades?" Emma smirked proudly, settling Henry on her hip as she turned again to face Regina.
"Straight A's," she watched the proud smile claim Regina's face a smile of her own quickly replacing her smirk. "I've been working pretty damn hard."
"So you have, I'm quite proud of you," Emma's smile brightened at those words. Everything she had ever worked at was to make Regina happy, and especially to make her proud and that's exactly what she had done.
"Well, I suppose then, since graduation is only three months away, Henry and I can come back."
It wasn't giving in, Regina reminded herself. Emma had worked harder than she ever had at anything for this. The way she practically lit up at this, convinced Regina she was doing the right thing. They had been separated way too long as it was, although Regina had mentioned a year or two again, neither of them would have lasted that long.
Someone would have eventually snapped, and when both of them had magic, that was never a good thing.
"You mean it!? You'll bring him home? You'll come back to stay?"
At this, Regina couldn't help but smile and offer a light laugh, as she nodded. "Of course Emma, although... Are you sure you're ready for your parents to meet him?"
Emma frowned softly, suddenly more unsure than she had ever been. "Maybe they don't have to meet him... just yet, anyway."
Regina arched an amused brow, as she leveled Emma with the 'look'. "You honestly believe we would be able to keep that woman away from our child, once she knew we were back? Emma, I know that you're smarter than that."
Sighing, Emma nodded. She knew that once Snow was certain Regina had brought the baby back, she would want to see her. And then she would want to have 'the talk' with Regina. And no one was prepared for that just yet.
"Speaking of Snow, I have to get back before she realizes I'm not sulking away in the dark of my bedroom."
Regina frowned at this, she had never intended for Emma to be this miserable. "Yes, dear I suppose that's best."
Emma snuggled the baby closer for a moment, unwilling to part with him even for a short time. "Mmmma," Emma's eyes snapped down to her son, unbelieving even for a moment that he had really said that.
"What was that, my little Prince?" Emma waited patiently, Regina watching on behind her, on baited breath. Henry had yet to utter a single syllable, let alone a full word, and yet is seemed as if he was fully prepared to speak to Emma now. "Mmmmmma!"
Emma grinned encouragingly, nodding her child along. "That's it, c'mon you can do it!"
Henry frowned softly, his brows furrowing and drawing down on how face as he concentrated really reached up to touch Emma's face then, making it clear he had made the connection. "Ma...ma." It was slightly broken, as he was unsure in his ability.
Yet, it made Emma's eyes water, as she held her baby tightly yet gently against her chest. Her own voice was a broken whisper, nodding slowly down at her son as Regina pulled them both tightly against her. "Yeah, kid... I'm your mom."
Once again, this chapter is from the original author and all I have done is edited structure and grammar to my tastes. Reviews, follows and faves are always lovely and thank you to those who already have. Enjoy.