A/N: Last chapter for this week. Next Monday I will be updating all my stories, to keep it everything in order. And it gives me a chance to catch up on some. No Hook here, but here comes the build up ;)
Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time, ABC or any of its characters.
The next day I woke, feeling the effects of my crying on my face. I was puffy and my hair had matted to my face in my sleep from my dried tears. I groaned, getting up to shower quickly before Amaya woke up. After washing my hair and letting the hot water do its job, I got out and dressed.
"Momma!" Amaya yelled once and I felt the starting of a headache.
"Coming," I said softly. I looked down the stairs at the sound of the fridge opening.
"Henry?" I called out, as I grabbed a squirming Amaya from her crib.
"Yes Auntie?"
"How long have you been up?" I said as I walked downstairs.
"A few minutes. I let Purdy out to use the bathroom," He said, as he poured some cereal into a bowl. I poured the milk for him and took it to start Amaya's morning glass of milk.
"Eggs today, pumpkin?" I said as I set down a water dish for Purdy.
"Eggs!" She said excited as I strapped her into her booster seat. A knock sounded from the front door and I found Emma on the other side of it.
"You've been crying," She noted.
"Goodmorning to you to Emma. How was your night?" I rolled my eyes.
"Seriously? I was about to ask if you wanted to talk about it."
"Not really. Not right now at least. So how was your night?"
"Didn't even get to the bar. Hook tried to shoot Gold last night. He's in the hospital." She said, giving Henry a bag.
"I warned him," I said to myself as Emma walked into the kitchen.
"Amaya," She said, smiling at her niece and went in to get hugs from my little girl.
"How do you feel about, possibly going back?"
"To Boston? Em, I just got here."
"The Enchanted Forest. It's not really my speed, and I'm sure we could figure out a way to make penicillin over there."
"Give it a few weeks before approaching the subject with everyone. They've been here 28 years, and it's gonna be a big change. They'll think about it." I said, as I stirred the eggs.
"Well, I'm gonna get Henry off to school," She said, as I kept cooking. He had finished his cereal and left to get ready for the day, as I made the eggs.
"Love you," I called as Henry bounded down the stairs and out the door, and she followed him out.
"Love you," She chuckled, closing the door.
A little into the afternoon, I found myself singing to the dead air as Amaya played on the floor. She had coloring books on our table, and a tea party going on at her play table. She was talking quietly to herself, as I cleaned up little things around the house. Purdy was in a bonnet, patiently lying down next to the table.
"Knock knock," I heard Regina's voice. Smiling I went and hugged her in greeting, "How are you?"
"I thought you'd like to join me for lunch at Granny's." She offered.
"Sounds wonderful. Amaya," I called to my daughter. Her head snapped up as I said, "Regina's here."
"Gina!" She exclaimed, getting up and running over to the dark haired woman. She picked her up with a sweet smile, hugging her close.
"Miss Amaya, you've grown!" Regina said as I grabbed Amaya's stroller from the front porch and the diaper bag, just in case.
"So, what's up?" I said as I locked the door to the house. It may be the Enchanted Forest and its inhabitants that lived in the town, but it was a habit.
"I'm not doing so great. My mother came to see me last night."
"Oh, and how did that go?" I asked, as we started down the sidewalk.
"She's convinced that I'm going to lose Henry and that I should let her help me."
"You won't lose Henry, and especially not to my sister. She's convinced that you're sharing him. I would talk to her about working out a system. You get him a couple days a week and she gets the rest. Or every other weekend you switch. It's how the world works nowadays."
"I'm not worried about my mother, but that Emma will keep him from me."
"The only thing that kept Henry away when you kept him from Emma, was school and curfew. He found ways to be with her. Henry loves you, and you are his mother. You raised him for 11 years, and now you can continue raising him, but you guys can't fight over him. It will hurt him more." I said softly.
"Your sister will never give him up again, will she?"
"Do you think she will? My sister is the most stubborn person I've ever met. And Adam was pretty stubborn."
"He sounds like he would have sided with Emma."
"Do you see me siding with Emma? She's my sister and I think she's being a bit narrow-minded about this whole situation. So are my parents. Henry is a child that has two mothers, more family than he knows what to do with, I'm guessing, and a plethora of people that love him. This is as stable as it gets for a child." I commented I parked Amaya's stroller inside the back hallway of Granny's. We found a booth and Ruby brought over two menus and a coloring sheet for Amaya.
"I'm gonna have the soup today Ruby," I said as Amaya said, "Mac and Cheese!"
"I will have the chili," Regina said with a smile. Ruby nodded and went to go place our order.
"Now, I can tell you as a lawyer that you don't need to worry about my sister. I will get through to her."
"I'm convinced," She said softly as I laid my hand on hers.
"Now if I can only convince that pirate to give up on his revenge," I said rolling my eyes.
"You've met Hook?" She asked, confused.
"He found me the night they came to town, saved me from Tasering the Sherriff of Nottingham. But then he showed up at my front gate last night and asked what he needed to do to win my hand. I basically told him that it wasn't going to happen because he's a lying thief and went back in the house. Last I heard, he's in the hospital." I said as Ruby brought us our drinks.
"He did go after Gold. He's lucky he isn't dead."
"Belle probably had some say in that," I concluded.
"I just wish there was a way for us to snap our fingers and all our troubles go away," I said, as I picked up my hot chocolate.
"Maybe there is," Regina said, smiling to herself.
"Uh uh. No magic. I was kidding. My troubles go away with therapy and yours go away with shared custody."
"No, I meant my mother." She said, shaking her head.
"You want to send her away?" I asked, as I took a sip of my cocoa.
"If we get her to a secure location, we can trap her," She said quietly.
"Why are we whispering?" I asked quietly.
"She could be disguised as anyone." She said, as I remembered her mother had Dark magic as well.
"Okay," I said, making a zipping motion with my lips.
"So, you mentioned therapy." She said quietly.
"I know my issues aren't as urgent. I have a hard time letting people in, but everyone does in a sense. I don't want to seem like I don't have emotions, but the effect of finding my parents after being an orphan for so long, it's kind of worn off. I love them, and I'm excited to have them in my life, but I'm still working through losing Adam."
"I understand that. My mother forced me to marry Snow's father, after she killed Daniel. She didn't understand how cruel that was. Love is weakness in her eyes."
"And she claims she did those things because she loves you, right?" I said.
"No. She said she did all those things because she wanted me to have the life she never had. She wanted me to be Queen."
"That's manipulation. She made you feel obligated to fulfill her deepest wishes. That's not love."
"I know she has no room in her heart for love. She wants power," She sighed, "Power over me some days."
"Well, to crappy childhoods," I said, raising my glass slightly. She smirked and raised hers too.
"One bowl of soup, one bowl of Chili, and Mac and Cheese for Miss Amaya." Ruby said setting down our food and smiling at Amaya.
"Thank you Ruby," I said and Amaya said, "Thank you Ruby," in a cute voice.
"You are welcome Miss Amaya." Once Ruby had left, we started eating. Amaya was slightly less messy than she had been with her eggs this morning, and I was happy I brought a spare set of clothes for her.
"Well, I've got to head back to the office." Regina said, as we packed up.
"Thank you for inviting us out. I was gonna be a hermit today, but I needed this." I said, hugging her. She hugged me back, tentatively at first, and then genuinely.
"Talk more tonight? I provide the wine?" I laughed.
"Please." She said, groaning jokingly.
"Dinner too," I added as we parted ways outside Granny's. She waved goodbye as she nodded, and we both turned to go our ways. I went to take the long way home, but I stopped in front of Gold's store.
"Miss Swan, what can I help you with today?" Gold said sarcastically.
"Not something you can do for me, but for yourself."
"Enlighten me."
"You want to be a better man for Belle, and for your son, when we find him."
"Of course."
"Be the better man, by forgiving Hook. He took the woman you loved, the first, but you've found love again. Don't let your past get in the way of your future."
"Wise words. I believe I spoke something similar to Regina."
"A man that doesn't follow his own advice is foolish." I countered.
"What would you have me do? He is out for my blood."
"Only because you took the woman he loved as well. Two wrongs don't make a right. On top of that, you cut off his hand. It's like two year olds. When they see something that they think is theirs, they hit and take it back. It's not until they have it that they realize how much they didn't need it, and discard the toy."
"Spoken like a true mother."
"It's given me a lot of practice, but I'm still learning."
"Well, how should I forgive him? Verbally, or by Sky Writing?"
"Give him back what you took. His hand." I said, plainly.
"I think that is a great idea." Belle said as she came from the back room.
"Belle, I thought you were at the library," Gold said, greeting his love.
"I wanted to see you, and I heard what Aria was asking you. It puts things to rest Rumple. With the past behind you, and it will show your son how you've grown as a man."
"I…" He said, pausing. Belle's pleading look made him melt.
"I'll go now." He said, moving to grab a jar from inside a cupboard.
"Ugh, you kept it?" I said, covering my daughter's eyes as I looked at the severed hand.
"It was oddly satisfying." He said, as Belle gave him a look. I rolled my eyes and said, "And this is where I leave."
"Remember, I still need your help in recruiting your sister."
"I remember, and I'm working on it." I said as I left.
"You don't want to be there to make sure I do it properly?" He answered sarcastically as the door closed behind us.
"I don't care how you do it, as long as you forgive yourself. I told you something personal about myself yesterday, and I realize how much I don't want anyone to have that hanging over them. Even the Dark One." I said, turning to walk home.
A/N: Review for little ole me?