CHAPTER 13

Emma was in a rush to get back to the house. She had stopped by Granny's to grab a bite for them all and even that short period of time had practically killed her.

She was bouncing around nervously waiting for their order to come up when Neal slunk into the place. Emma averted her face and took a seat at the counter. She hoped to get out of there without incident. She prayed for once that Neal could keep his unwelcome comments to himself.

Neal took the seat beside her and Emma sighed. She knew exactly what was coming. "How're you Emma?"

Emma turned to Neal and took him in. He was still sporting the blackened eye she'd given him last time she'd seen him.

"Fine, you?"

Neal pursed his lips and took his time in answering, "I was wondering if I could spend some time with Henry soon. It's been a while since I last saw him."

Emma frowned over at him and thought hard. Had it really been a while since she'd last seen him?

Emma had rushed over to Regina's after her parents had delivered their news to her and Henry. Regina still had her barrier up. Emma raged against it as she screamed for Regina to let her in. She had a few things to say to her.

When she realized Regina was planning on keeping her away, Emma went back to the inn. Neal had the unfortunate position of being in her way while she was still seething.

He and Henry were inside the room talking amongst themselves. Neal had been sitting on her bed facing Henry but stood when she came in. The two of them exchanged a look that did nothing but incite Emma further. Then Neal nervously stepped up. "Hi Emma," he said as he jammed his hands in his pockets.

"Whatever it is, save it. Now's not the time," Emma kicked off her boots and threw down her coat. She went into the bathroom and shut the door.

Neal looked over at Henry. He squatted down beside the bed and put his hand on his shoulder, "Hey bud, you mind waiting in my room for a few while I talk to your Mom here?" He held out the key to his room for him.

Henry looked nervously at the closed door. He bit down on his lower lip. "Are you sure it'll be alright? She just keeps getting really mad all the time now."

Neal smiled over at him, "I'm sure. I'll be fine. You don't have anything to worry about. Now take your comic book and whatever else you want with you. We'll be out in a few minutes."

Henry nodded and grabbed up his things. He scampered outside the room. Things had been so easy for him just a few months ago. Everything had made sense. The curse was broken and he got his happy ending with his real family. But now Emma seemed to be doing everything she could to ruin that. Henry just didn't understand what was going on with her. The only thing that could make sense to him was Regina had put a spell on her. Or a curse. He just hoped that maybe his Dad talking sense into her would help. And then maybe they could have true love's kiss and it would break the spell Emma was under.

Emma swallowed a few pain relievers for her hangover. Then she ran herself a bath. She figured while she was busy soaking in a hot tub she could come up with a plan on how to get Regina out from behind that barrier. Practically an hour later, she was still no closer to a real answer. The only thing she could come up with was staking out the place until she went out for an errand. Then she'd ambush her.

She got out of the tub and stared at herself in the mirror. She had no idea how her life had come to this. She clenched her fist at the thought of that damned bug starting all of this with his little disappearance act. If it weren't for him, she and Regina would be together right now.

Emma brushed her teeth and ran a brush through her hair. The bath had been a good idea. She was more of a shower kinda person but she really needed something to help loosen up all her tight muscles. She made a mental note to get some bubble bath and lavender Epsom salts. Thankfully, she was at least semi functional now.

She stared at the door leading into the bedroom knowing she'd have to go and face Henry now. At the very least the kid needed some food. She hoped he'd gotten something to eat today even though she'd told him not to leave without her knowing about it. But she'd been in a rush to get over to Regina this morning that the kid had actually slipped her mind. She inhaled a deep breath and let it out slowly. She went into the bedroom with her brush still in her hand.

She looked around when she came out even though she saw nothing around her but Neal's stupid face looking like he'd just been caught stealing. Which for him, he probably had. "Where's Henry? The kid needs something to eat."

"He's in my room waiting," Neal explained.

Emma bristled at the sound of that. She didn't like it one bit. "Waiting for what?" she challenged.

"He's waiting for us to come and get him," Neal held up a hand to placate her. "I think we need to talk first though don't you?"

Emma shook her head. "No, I really don't. There's nothing we have to say to one another that I care about. I need to get back over to Regina's. She's being a pain in my ass so it looks like I'm going to have to sit her out on this one," Emma walked over to her things and looked around for some clean clothes.

She pulled a few things out and gave them the sniff test. She shrugged, they seemed fine to her. Then she walked back into the bathroom and got dressed.

When she came out Neal was still standing around gawking. "Why are you still here?" she wanted to know as she put on her shoes.

"I told you, we need to talk Emma."

"Make it snappy. I've got things to do," Emma began sorting through her stuff looking for her makeup.

"Henry says you yelled at him," Neal accused.

Emma gave him a frozen glance over her shoulder. "Henry's been out of control lately. He's lucky that's all he's gotten."

"He's just a kid Emma!"

"He's old enough to know right from wrong. Hell, between him and Snow preaching it almost nonstop you'd think I was in church or a convent. He needs to get himself under control."

Neal watched her with his eyes narrowed, "And what about you?"

Emma dropped her things and turned to face Neal head on, "What about me?"

Neal frowned and dropped his eyes. He took a step back, "I just think you need to think this through. I mean, he's confused. And you're not helping make things any better. What he needs right now is for you to be his Mom."

"What he needs is to understand that I'm the parent and not him! He doesn't get to tell me how to feel, what to think, how I should behave. And he doesn't get to manipulate all of the adults around him when he doesn't get his way. Now if you have nothing more to say, leave my damned room! I have things to do," Emma turned and started to walk away to finish dressing before she turned back.

"Henry's going to be staying with you only until I get back. And during that time I suggest you talk with him about what acting his age and staying in a child's place is about. That's what you can do for me to help me out since you're so concerned." Emma gathered her things and walked back into the bathroom. Before she slammed the door shut she turned to Neal again, "Now get the hell out!"

Neal put his foot in the door to keep from it closing on him. "We're not done!" he roared.

Emma set her jaw. Neal was skating on thin ice and as usual too stupid to know he was in the danger zone.

"You might have a kid on the way but you also have one right here, right now. Henry deserves some of this attention you're heaping onto a baby that you can't even be sure is yours," at seeing Emma bristle he stepped back. "You didn't even raise him Emma. I don't think a little of your time is too much to ask."

Emma set her weight evenly on both feet shoulder length apart. She pulled back her fist and let it fly right at his face.

Neal stumbled back holding his face, "What the hell Emma?! What'd you do that for?"

"Don't you ever – and I do mean FOREVER and ever – talk to me about MY parenting. If you know what's good, you'll stay out of my way until I've decided I'm ready to deal with you," Emma slammed the door shut and waited.

She heard the door slam outside the bathroom but for her it was too late. He'd done nothing but get her riled up. Emma knew she needed to work out the pent up energy his provoking her anger had caused. She slapped on enough makeup to at least cover up her trouble spots. Then she stalked over to Granny's. She got herself something to eat and drove back over to Regina's. She parked her bug directly behind Regina's car. Then she dove into her bag and devoured the contents. The ball was now in Regina's court. Emma leaned her seat back and waited for some sign from Regina.

"Henry has two mothers. And one of them just recently got out of the hospital. I'm sure Regina won't mind having you around. But you're going to need to take it slow and easy."

Neal studied her. He had been the first one that Henry had told about this plan of Emma's. "Is she worth this?"

Ruby came over and handed Emma her order. Emma grabbed it up and began to leave. "Not that it's any of your business but yes. She's worth all this and more," Emma walked out and left him behind. Just as he had those 10 years before her.