T/W Nightmares I guess...
David blinks into darkness with a sigh; unsure what woke him. He turns to his wife when his eyes adjust to the small amount to light filtering in through the gaps in the curtain. She's curled up facing away from him, the corner of the cover tucked up under her chin. A small smile graces his lips when he sees she's still fast asleep. He shifts onto his opposite side and props himself on his elbow about to reach for the cup of water on his bedside table when he hears sobbing from upstairs.
His shoulders slump as he recognises the sound that must have woken him up, as it has done multiple times before. He rolls out of bed and once again checks that Mary Margaret is still sleeping while making his way to the bedroom door.
"Stop!"
The shout jolts him into motion; his movements much faster now that Emmett's distress level seems to have increased. He hears Mary Margaret moving to follow him as he exits the door. He reaches the stairs and takes them three at a time, using the railings to pull himself up quicker. He calms himself down when he gets to Emmett's door and opens it gently. As he steps inside, the lights in the main part of the apartment turn on behind him, illuminating the room in front of him enough to see what's happening.
Emmett's covers are at the end of his bed, half of them hanging over the footboard. Emmett himself is still at the top of the bed, his eyes screwed tightly shut. He seems to be using his arms and legs to violently and frantically shove something off him; sobs breaking through his heavy breathing.
"Please," he whimpers when it doesn't work and he tries to turn his head into his pillow; arms motionless by his head but legs still moving weakly.
David walks towards the bed, keeping his movements relaxed and gentle. Another shadow moves over the room, and he looks over his shoulder to find his wife's worried face. She doesn't move into the room, though, her close presence after Emmett wakes up makes him agitated. So she just shifts in the doorway to allow more light in before settling her hands over her growing belly. He gives her what he hopes is a reassuring smile but he knows with his heart hurting from the sounds and scene before him he couldn't display more than a grimace. He turns back to the bed and kneels beside Emmett. He reaches for his son's shoulder with one hand as he lifts his other in front of his face–he'd learnt from the first couple of times; trying to wake Emmett during a nightmare could hurt.
"Em," he says, forcing his voice to sound calm, and softly shakes Emmett.
Emmett shifts onto his side facing David; his eyes shut as tightly as possible as he buries his face fully into his pillow.
David moves his hand to the boy's other shoulder and tries again, putting a bit more force into it this time but making sure not to increase his grip. "It's okay. You're safe, Emmett. Wake up."
Emmett's movements change, as if he's realised there's nothing there but still feels the need to push whatever had been there away. One arm moves up over his face as he opens his eyes and turns his face away from the pillow.
Glaze taking it's time to fade away until he finally sees David.
"Dad?" Emmett asks through a tight throat, mind still half asleep as he shifts into a sitting position. Sometimes it takes him a little while to fully wake up and understand it's been a dream.
"I'm here, son." David slowly pushes himself up to sit on the edge of Emmett's bed. Emmett drops his forehead onto his chest and he immediately wraps his arms around the boy's shoulders; Emmett's arms stay limp by his sides as his whole body shakes. Emmett had stopped making noises while he cries when awake long ago but David felt a wet patch form on his white tank.
David gradually releases his grip on Emmett as his breathing becomes normal. He looks over his shoulder when he feels the bed dipping behind and sees Mary Margaret giving him a sad smile. He watches as she avoids touching Emmett. The younger blond had always seemed jumpier around Mary Margaret than with others and never liked being touched by her when he hadn't realised she was there. Well, he's never liked being touch by anyone when he hasn't realised they're there but there's always a moment of panic flashing behind his eyes when it's her, the moment has gotten shorter and shorter over time, but it was still there.
Emmett sniffs and sits against the headboard, briefly making eye contact with both of them before looking down at his lap embarrassed. "Sorry," Emmett says after clearing his throat.
"It's okay," Mary Margaret reassures with a gentle smile as she softly places a hand on Emmett's ankle. "How about some hot chocolates?"
David looks at the alarm clock on the bedside table the same time Emmett does but before he can agree with his wife, Emmett interrupts him.
"No." Emmett shakes his head. "It's 5 am, go back to sleep. I'm fine. I'll go for a run or something." David watches Emmett as he realises his hair is wet from sweat and slicks back his normally wavy hair.
"Emmett, go take a shower while we get breakfast started." David stands, helps his wife up and they're out the door before Emmett can think of something to say.
Emmett stands in the shower, letting the cold water fall over him. He'd finished washing a little while ago but doesn't feel like facing the world just yet. He feels guilty for not telling them what the nightmares entail. He doesn't want them worrying; especially Mary Margaret, worry and lack of sleep can't be good for her and the baby. He's not sure whether what they're imagining is better or worse than what is actually involved.
If he says something, and all they were thinking were the one shitty, abusive foster family then telling them the truth will just make things worse for them.
He runs his fingers through his freshly cut-that-night hair before tracing them over the newly revealed scar that slices into the shorter side just about his left ear. It's become a reflex, most of the time he doesn't even realise he's following the thin silver line.
Letting out a heavy sigh, he gets out of the shower. He towels himself off while looking in the mirror and gives it the best smile he can muster until it somewhat believes him. He re-bandages his knuckles, covering up the scars and yesterdays broken skin, as he tries to make himself believe his grin.
He ruffles the towel over his hair and watches as some of the wet darkness fades and his natural 'princess blonde', as Ruby calls it—he prefers Belle's 'surfer dude'–gradually returns. He takes as long as he can to get dressed in the clothes he'd brought in with him, before letting out another sigh and opening the door.
"Hey," Mary Margaret notices him first. She pushes a mug of hot chocolate towards him from where she's perched on a stool at the island watching her husband cook pancakes. "Just in time," she says with a comforting, motherly smile.
Emmett huffs out a chuckle through his nose as he settles onto the stool next to her and takes a sip of his drink. "Thank you," he hums at the tang of cinnamon; Mary Margaret really did make the best hot chocolate.
"Want to talk about it?" David asks.
"Nope. I'm fi-"
"Okay," Mary Margaret cuts in, "But this is the second night you've had a nightmare, is there anything we can do?"
Emmett sighs and scratches at the nonexistent stubble on his cheek, "You're both doing all I need you to do." He looks down at his drink before he continues, "You're being my parents. You treat me like an adult, you give me space and you don't lie to me." Mary Margaret and David share a look that he misses. "You wake me up and keep me safe from my nightmares," Emmett finishes with a shrug.
David sniff and Mary Margaret wipes her eye with one hand while lightly hitting her husband's arm with the other.
"Don't cry," she says. "You know if you cry, I cry."
Emmett rolls his eyes.
"Pancakes."
"What?" David asks, trying to discreetly wipe his eyes.
"You're gonna burn the pancakes."
"Oh, shit!"
"David!"
A crop of blonde hair catches Regina's eye as she makes her way out for lunch with her new friends, and old friend Jefferson. She follows Emmett out towards the field and is about to call him when he turns right, away from where everyone eats lunch, to make his way to the back of the school that faces the forest. She hesitates for a moment before curiosity gets the better of her and she follows him.
She peers around the corner of the building and spots him dropping his bag on the ground before practically falling after it. She watches him for a moment as he settles down, using his bag as a pillow.
"You're going to wake up with your shoes missing," she says walking towards him.
"Ha, just can't keep away, eh?" Emmett grins and cracks open an eye just in time to see her stop next to him.
She shrugs with an easy nonchalance and says, "Just never seen a student fall asleep at school outside of class."
"Oh, so I'm special."
"You're very special, Emmett," Regina confirms in her very best baby voice.
Emmett chuckles it turns into a yawn halfway through.
"Are you okay?"
"Fine," his smiles drops, "just a shit couple of nights."
"Do you want me to leave you alone?"
"No, it's okay." His grin is back in place. He sits up and pats the ground next to him as he leans against the school's brick work. He raises an eyebrow before asking, "If Her Majesty can sit on the floor, that is?"
She huffs and rolls her eyes but then looks at the ground, thinking about the possible grass stains on her jeans.
"Oh, for God's sake-" Emmett removes his leather jacket before laying it on the ground next to him. "Better?"
She settles onto the leather as gracefully as possible, only noticing after how close he'd put his jacket to himself. She tries to subtly shift away so their shoulders aren't touching and she can't feel his heat.
"So, was boyfriend allowed to dine with Madam Mayor and her beautiful daughter?"
"He was." Regina lets her legs out in front of her and crosses them at the ankles, smiling when they catch Emmett's attention. "I think mother," she starts again, slightly louder than before, and smirks when Emmett's eyes snap up to meet hers, "Saw your ugly car drop me off and thought Daniel was the better option."
"Ouch, double burn. I thought it was dads that were meant to scare off potential boyfriends."
Regina goes stiff, her mind sinking back into itself at the thought of her dad.
"Shit, sorry," Emmett apologises, and Regina can see the panic of hurting her in his eyes and how much he means his apology. "I guess your mum's scary enough on her own," Emmett tries with an awkward chuckle as he fiddles with the bandages on his knuckles.
And Regina appreciates the quick change of subject. "Who said anything about a 'potential boyfriend'?" Regina easily brings back the playful banter with a teasing smile. Everything just seems easy around Emmett. The relaxing sensation he instils in her and his lack of judgement about anything makes him a very easy person to be around.
They keep the talk light for the rest of lunch, and Regina doesn't dread living back in Storybrooke as much and Emmett doesn't feel quite as exhausted as before.