Hands of Time
This time another scene appeared. It was blurry, just like the scene at the diner and they were standing inside an apartment, "Where are we now?" David asked wanting to take him mind off the previous memory.
"I do not know…" Snow stated as she walked around the apartment. Going over to the window she gasped at the marvelous view of a city.
Everyone went over by Snow and took a look out at the night life of the city. They could hear car horns and engines and Henry gasped as he again takes in the surrounding apartment and city night life, "I know this area." He says, "I know where we are."
"How? You never been outside Storybrooke, except to go to-" Regina paused as she immediately realizes what he means, "New York or Boston?" she asks eventually.
"Boston." Henry said, "I am sure of it."
Just then the door of the apartment opens and they look to the hallway were Emma stumbles in and tosses her heels against the wall, "What the hell is she wearing?" David asks his eye twitching as she makes her way to the kitchen with a small box in her hand.
No one answers as they go over to join her in the kitchen. She opens a box and takes out a cupcake and places a single, star-shaped candle on top and lights it, "She wasn't lying…" Regina states to herself.
"What do you mean?" Snow asks her, but Regina doesn't answer as she watches Emma lean on the counter and stares at it.
"Another banner year," Emma states as she watches the flame on the candle flicker. Taking a few more moments she closes her eyes and blows out the candle.
Hook was about to ask something when the doorbell rings. Emma picks her head up curiously and goes to answers the door; Henry in the present smirks as he remembers this and how confused his mother looked to him. The group follows her as she is opening the door, but they cannot see who is at it, "Uh? Can I help you?"
"Are you Emma Swan?" Heads snapped to the boy that is with them. Henry shrugs, but then an odd feeling came to him; it was weird to hear his own voice.
"Yeah," Emma says slowly, "Who are you?"
"My name's Henry. I'm your son." He states. Snow smiles as he did not beat around the bush and just blurted it out. He sounded so innocent and she was amused at Emma's shocked face.
"Wow, way to lay it on thick there kid." David states laughing as he slapped Henry on the back.
Gold smiles at the boy, "I must agree. Tact is not your strong suite."
Hook was just smiling as he watched Henry shrug it off as a no big deal. Yes, he thought to himself, he is definitely Swan's son.
Henry watches himself push past Emma into the apartment, "Ok Ms. Swan and I may not be on the best of terms, but I know I taught you better than to burst into peoples' homes." Regina said scolding Henry while watching in a bit of amusement as Emma hurried after him.
Snow could tell that Emma was flustered and in denial as she calls out, "Whoa! Hey, kid! Kid! Kid! I don't have a son! Where are your parents?"
Henry turns and looks at her as he says, "Ten years ago. Did you give up a baby for adoption?" They watch as Emma starts to turn white and her eyes widen in shock as Henry continued, "That was me." And just like in the diner they heard Henry's voice echoing as the scene darkened.
"Is it just me or are these memories coming faster?" Hook asked.
"No they are coming faster," Gold admitted as another scene came into focus and they realize they are back at the jail.
Looking around they see that they are in the dining area of the jail. Seeing Emma sitting at one of the tables with another person they walk over as they hear Emma say, "Leah I told you once and I will tell you again: The day I give this kid up is the day that my body becomes cold and lifeless and my corpse is being devoured by small fleshing eating bacteria like organisms." Her voice was firm and her eyes were fierce.
"Emma do you hear yourself?" Leah asked, "What chance do you have in taking care of this kid?"
They watch as Emma placed a hand on her large stomach, "I will not let this kid grow up the way I did. I am not sending it to the system just to be abused." Looking back up she states firmly, "It will not go through what I had to go through for sixteen fucking years."
Henry was in awe. His mother was fighting tooth and nail to hold on to him and that was when he heard her voice again: If you want to give this kid its best chance, it's going to be with someone who's ready, so know what that means. It was a memory from her earlier stay in Storybrooke, when Ella was trying to runaway to protect her unborn child from Gold. He shook his head again as he looked at his mother…it was obvious she was not ready for him, but yet she wanted to keep him…protect him from the life that she had to grow up in.
Snow and David were trying to hold back tears as they looked at Emma. David was also fuming at Neal for leaving Emma like this. She helped him and this is how he repaid her? Sending her to jail pregnant? He looked over at Gold and he could see the struggle he was having with himself. But not bothering to care he continued to support his wife as Leah said, "Emma how do you suppose you are going to support this kid? You have no money, no house, no job, and most of all no support system when you get out of here."
Emma glared at the woman, "I have a house…well a car…I can track Neal down and demand that he give me the ten grand that I deserve from the watch heist, and I do not need anyone's help to take care of this kid." Pausing she thought about what she said and then stated, "I was fine for the sixteen years that I was pretty much on my own…I do not need any help."
Leah sighed, "Ok so you get the ten grand…then what? That kid is going to grow fast and let's face it, ten grand is not going to last you very long; how are you going to support not only yourself, but the child as well?"
"Duh! I will get a job!"
"And who is going to watch the kid? You going to leave it in the car, while you work? Because I am sure that is endangerment of the welfare of the child." Leah paused as Emma looked down. Reaching over she grabbed Emma's hands and said, "Emma I know you do not want it to grow up in the system, but sweetie that might be the kid's best chance right now. There are people that are involved in the system that are not all bad. Some really do take the best of care of the kids. When you were in there: did you have clothes available to you? Food? Water? Shelter?" Emma reluctantly nodded as an answer to her list of questions.
Regina noticed how Emma gripped her stomach and saw stray tear tracks running down her cheeks as Leah continued, "You are eighteen, and again have nothing that will benefit you or the kid right now. You can place the kid in the system and when you get your life straightened out you can always fight to get your kid back and-"
"No." Emma said her voice defeated, "No. If I am giving this kid up then it is going to be a clean break."
"You can't mean a closed adoption. Emma if you do that then-"
"I know…but let's face it. You are right. I was delusional to believe I can have my Tallahassee. Sure I would not have Neal, but I would at least have something to remind me of him," Emma struggled out of the chair as she stood up, "Thank you for bring me a harsh reality check."
Emma waddled away from the table and walked over to the guard and the scene started to dim as Emma said, "I want my lawyer. It involves my unborn child."
As they were thinking over what had just transpired, the scene opened up in a hospital like room. The see Emma in the bed, her face sweaty and red as she held a bundle in her arms; Henry gulped and made the first move over to the bed and noticed that his mother was crying, "I am so sorry little guy." She whispered as she placed her lips to the baby's small little forehead, "This is not what I wanted to happen."
Everyone's eyes were glistening as they moved forward. Snow was gripping on to Charming as she remembered the night Emma was born…how she and Charming looked at their daughter until the realization came that the wardrobe took one. Regina was feeling slight guilt as she realized that she pictured Emma giving Henry up without a second thought, now watching this it was clear that was not Emma's original intentions at all, "We were supposed to live by a beach…Tallahassee. It was supposed to be you, myself, and…well and your father." Emma smiled sadly, "I pictured a small cottage and it being just the three of us. You learning to walk on the sand and playing in the water…" Hook had to smile at the irony; she wanted to live by the beach, near the ocean. He was right as he whipped his eyes quickly…she did have a bit of pirate in her.
Gold had to look away from this. It was all getting too much for him. He was ashamed at his son for leaving her like this…how? Why? But then he stopped and scolded himself. No, his son was brave. He would have never had done this…it was a misunderstanding. Just then a door opened and turning around he saw two guards and a doctor coming in, "We have to take the baby now Ms. Swan." The doctor said trying to keep his professionalism.
"No, please…five more minutes." Emma begged holding the baby tighter.
The guards stepped forward as if knowing that this was going to be difficult, "Ms. Swan please. We have to take the baby now."
"No, no," Emma stammered out as the doctor took the baby from her arms. Emma tried to force herself to sit up and the guards took each side of her to hold her in place, "No! Please do not take him away! I made a mistake! No please!" The doctor left the room and the scene dimmed as they hear Emma's heart wrenching, blood curdling scream echoing in the blackness, "NO!"
In the darkness no one said a word. Henry felt himself being pulled into a hug by someone…Regina he presumed. But he did not acknowledge her. All he wanted to do was to leave his mother's memory and hug her close and never let her go. He honestly did not know how much more he could take, and judging by the looks of his grandparents…neither could they. Before anyone could speak the scene changed and this time they looked around…they were in a small holding area in a police station and in one of the cells they spotted Emma with her arms draped over the bars looking bored, "You know if you would have just let me buy you a drink-" Their heads snapped to see a guy with bruises and cuts over him.
"Yeah and then what? Get me wasted enough to have meaningless sex with you? Yeah right. Besides I warned you to stop messing with me you jackass." Emma retorted, "Just because I am twenty-one and legal, doesn't mean I come cheap."
"Both of you shut your traps!" Came a voice of a cop from the desk glaring at the two people venomously, "Because of you two I have several incident reports to fill out!"
Snow pinched the bridge of her nose as Emma sighed out a, "Whatever," and began pacing her cell, "Oh Emma." Snow sighed out as she took in her girl's appearance. Her hazel eyes were void of the spark that used to shine in them, and her attitude was one of not caring. It was clear that her time in prison and ultimately giving up Henry and Neal had cemented her future behavior.
Regina shook her head and was suddenly feeling sympathy for the blonde. It was clear that she severely underestimated Emma in more ways than one. As she watched the blonde pace she realized that this must have been after her stay in Tallahassee…which means that she had already moved on. Just as Emma stopped pacing and sat down on the bench with a heavy sigh the same cop that had snapped at her and the guy came and opened the door, "Ok Swan someone posted your bail, you are free to go. Also you are clear of all charges."
"What?" She and the guy asked stunned at the cop's comment.
"Why the bloody hell is she questioning it?" Hook asked as he eyed her and the guy as he reminded himself to never piss Emma off.
No one answered as the guy started yelling, "How is this bitch cleared? Look at me!" The guy motioned to his face and overall appearance.
"Ah shut up, the gentleman gave a full witness statement and is charging you for harassment." The cop snapped.
Henry could tell his mother was stunned as she walked out of the cell, and the guy yelled something about the faults in the 'American Justice System'. The group followed her as she collected the few belongs that she had on her person and walked out when they saw a tall built man with jet black hair coming toward her, "Miss. Swam I presume?" He said holding his hand out and smiling a huge grin.
Emma eyed his hand and hesitantly shook it, "Emma, and you are?"
"My name is Leon Vance, I was the one who vouched for you and bailed you out." He stated.
"Something is not right…" David muttered not liking this man at all and everyone nodded in agreement as they continued to watch the exchange.
Emma looked at him and was once again stunned, but then composed herself and was immediately on her guard, "Well not that I am not thankful but was is the catch?"
"My dear Emma, there is no catch per say. I saw you holding your ground and I must admit I was impressed. I have a proposition that you cannot refuse. Allow me to treat you to a late dinner and explain."
Emma crossed her arms and continued to eye the man, and Henry felt the atmosphere tense up as she asked, "In all due respect, but could you kindly state your 'proposition' here and now?"
The man smirked and said, "I like you. You have a no bull shit persona. I respect that. Alright Ms. Swan, let me ask you…what do you think about working for me?"
"Depends…what exactly do you do?" Emma asked her eyebrows raised in speculation.
"I am a loan shark. And you my dear would be an…agent of mine…" David did not like the way this man looked at his daughter and his blood started to boil over. Snow placed a hand on his shoulder as the man continued, "Please, hear me out and allow me to treat you to dinner. If afterward you rather pass on the matter, I will respect your decision…besides what do you have to lose?" The man motioned to his car.
Emma eyed the car and sighed, "Alight sir; you are on." They watched as she drove off in the car and the scene dimmed.
"IS SHE INSANE?!" David yelled suddenly getting all parental making everyone cover their ears, "STRANGER DANGER!"
"David she was twenty-one and fully capable of taking care of herself, as we were clearly shown." Snow said calmly, but her mind was anything but calm. However looking at how distraught Henry was looking, she knew that she had to keep her head on her shoulders and that there would be plenty of time for a total meltdown later.
"Well least we know how she became a bailbonds person…" Gold shrugged. They all shot him a look, "What? Didn't you want to know?"
No one said anything more as now they were bombarded with memory, after memory, after memory. It was like everything was going into overdrive and Henry clung on to the nearest person next to him, which was Hook, "What is happening?" he asked getting almost like a motion sickness.
"I do not know lad," Hook said as he too was feeling almost seasick, which is obviously something he has never had since he was a young boy.
"I think Ms. Swan is going into almost like a panic attack." Gold said as different memories flashed. They saw a few with Emma chasing down people for the man that offered the job, then more of Emma on her own, and then it flashed to a fancy restaurant area where is finally slowed down coming to a normal motion.
"Wow that was a rush," Henry said holding his head feeling dizzy.
"I agree with the lad…" Hook said holding his stomach, "I haven't felt like this in over three hundred years."
Before anymore comments could be made they saw Emma shake hands and sit down across from a guy, "Emma." The man stated
Emma smile, "Ryan? You look relieved."
"We are going to watch her on a date?" Regina asked, "Seriously?"
"I wonder what this is about…" David asked analyzing the guy.
Henry looked dejected as they watched the two interact…it was like she was a totally different person…she was happy and bubbly and almost like she totally forgotten about him and his father. Gold looked to Henry and noticed his posture and limped behind the boy and placed a hand on his shoulder, "It is ok." He said softly.
"How do you-?" Henry was going to ask.
"Because my dear boy I do know. Watch.." Gold smirked knowingly as Henry heard the man say, "You, Emma, are by far, the sexiest, friendless orphan I have ever met."
Henry saw a spark in his mother's eyes and it for some reason unnerved him…he couldn't remember why until it came back to him…she used the same look on him when he threatened to call the cops on her…"Okay. Your turn…no wait, let me guess," Emma stated and cleared her throat as she said, "Um… You are handsome, charming…"
David gagged, "No come on! He is not!" He yelled at Emma as he went over to her, "I'd rather you take the pirate seriously! Go for the pirate!"
"Wow I think I have just been insulted…" Hook said slowly his face blank.
Snow hit David in the arm and before he could speak she silenced him with a look, which Regina hid smirk behind her arm faking a cough, "Go on." Ryan purred out.
Emma smiled gently, "The kind of guy who – and now, stop me if I get this wrong," Emma paused and dropped her smile as she stated very seriously, "embezzled from your employer, got arrested, and skipped town before they were able to throw your ass in jail."
David let out a sigh of relief, "Thank god she was not on a real date!"
"Of course she wasn't," Snow answered, "He is clearly not her type!"
"And you would know?" Regina asked giving her stepdaughter a look; which Snow ignored.
They watched as the man's face paled considerably, "What?"
Emma chose to ignore this as she said in a voice full of pity, "And the worst part of all is your wife. Your wife loves you so much that she bailed you out, and how do you repay that loyalty? You're on a date."
"Who are you?"
"The chick who put up the rest of the money." Emma stated her voice now hard and her eyes narrowed.
Ryan sighed in disbelief, "You're a bail bondsman."
Emma looked a bit insulted as she said slowly, "Bail bondsperson."
There was a pause as the group waited to see what would happen next. Then without warning the man flips the table, spilling everything on Emma and he runs out of the restaurant, "Really?" Emma groans out as she rolls her eyes.
"Wow…" Snow said, "Not one swear word."
"She has him trapped," Hook says as they follow Emma out of the restaurant.
"How do you know?" Henry asks trying to keep pace as the man runs across the street, while dodging traffic, to his car.
Hook looks down and smiles at the boy, his eyes no longer holding a dejected look to them, "Because your mother bested me on more than one occasion, and we understand each other…"
Before Henry could comment further he saw his mother walking calmly walks towards the man's car. They watch as the man starts the ignition, but the car won't move. He opens the door to look out, and sees a boot. They watch as Emma catches up to him, "You don't have to do this, okay? I can pay you. I got money." He says pleading with her.
"No, you don't. And if you did, you should give it to your wife to take care of your family." She states firmly.
"The hell you know about family, huh?" He demands to know.
Emma pauses and grabs the man by the back of the next and slams the man's head against the steering wheel, effectively knocking him out cold, "Ouch." Everyone states rubbing their own head knowing that the guy is going to have a serious headache and bruise when he woke up.
"Nothing." Emma finally answers as she walks away. The scene darkens once more.