Chapter 20: I'm Done Running
"Henry," David said as Emma and Henry walked into the apartment, "Why don't you-,"
Henry sighed, "Go upstairs and do my homework, I know." Henry looked at Emma, "When are you going to stop getting in trouble?"
Emma sighed too and placed a hand on Henry's back. "When I stop screwing up kid," she said to him.
"You've been doing that a lot these past few days."
"I know. Go upstairs while I talk to your grandparents okay?"
Henry nodded and made his way and Emma waited an extra minute.
"I know you're mad," she said to them.
"Damn right we are," Mary Margaret said to her daughter not fearing to show her anger. "You were gone all day again today."
"Yeah I know," Emma replied. "Something came up."
"Do I even have to ask about your phone," Mary Margaret asked.
"I had it turned off."
"Emma," said David. "Talk to us, please. We want to be there for you but we don't know how."
Emma gave a sad smile to them. "I know and I'm sorry for all the crap I've been putting you through these past couple of days. It's just been really hard."
"Having Neal here," said Mary Margaret.
Emma walked over and took a seat at the table.
"That and a few other things," she said. "I didn't exactly have the most normal upbringing. There was never really anyone there to talk to about the changes a girl goes through much less anyone to talk to when it came to stuff about guys so I internalized a lot. I'm not used to talking to people about that kind of stuff let alone family since I never had one. And when people did try to get close, foster parents or foster siblings or what have you, I retreated and remained silent. Eventually people got the hint and they left me alone."
David and Mary Margaret took a seat at the table.
"But you don't have to do that anymore," said David. "You can talk to us about anything. You're not alone anymore."
"I know and I'm more than grateful for all of that believe me I am. It's just sometimes easier to get back into old habits." Emma looked up at her parents. "I know I've been all over the place lately but I finally have things in perspective now. I just needed some time to sort out the mess. A friend told me that in order to do that sometimes you need to retreat from the world and be a part of the natural one. I'm not one for all of that tree-hugger stuff but she was right about a few things, most actually."
"What friend," Mary Margaret asked her tone now warm and genuinely curious.
Emma smiled, "Just a whispering willow," she said to them. "I'll explain later. The point is I finally got things straightened out.
Emma stood up and looked over at the stairs then back at her parents.
"Do you guys mind watching him for a little bit, there's something I have to do," she said to them.
"Emma-," said Mary Margaret.
"Don't worry, I'm not running. I may need to retreat and have some alone time every once in a while but not for a long while. I'm done running, I promise." Emma took a deep breath. "I need to go see Neal. I didn't exactly leave things on good terms with him and I have been avoiding him. It's time to finally sort things out between us."
Mary Margaret looked over at David and smiled and then back at Emma.
"So there is an 'us' between you two?"
Emma bit her lip and placed her hands in her back pockets. "I'm not sure but I know now I want there to be. I think I've always known. I just needed to stop and actually listen."
David smiled. Though he wasn't fond of Neal what he wanted was to see his daughter happy. It pained him that he couldn't help her but now that she was getting slowly back on her feet he was glad to see a spark in her eye.
"Sure," he said to her, "We can watch him."
"Good luck," Mary Margaret said to her.
"Thanks," Emma said leaving the apartment.