CHAPTER 14

Under Graham's strict boss' orders Emma allowed the paramedics to check her out. Then she made her way over to the hospital while Graham stayed behind to fill in the mine.

When she got there, she immediately asked where Henry's room was. Then she went to check on him and Regina.

When she walked in Henry was sitting sullenly in bed while Regina spoke with the doctor. He became excited when he saw Emma. "Emma! You have to help me! You're my real Mom. You have to take me away!"

Emma's head thrust back at Henry's wild assertions. The doctor excused himself while Regina frowned at her son.

"The doctor has already explained to you that if you don't calm down, you're going to be sedated Henry," Henry gave her a death glare while he continued to breathe heavily while waiting for Emma to come to his rescue. "Now you can calm yourself or I can have him brought back in." When Henry turned his face away from her and threw his nose in the air she looked over at Emma.

"Umm… is he alright?" she whispered to Regina.

Regina squeezed her eyes shut and pinched the bridge of her nose before nodding. "He's fine. They're going to give him some more oxygen. They're only keeping him overnight because it's late."

Henry scrambled for Emma's hands, "You have to help me. The Evil Queen is trying to send me away so that you don't break the curse since I'm the only one who knows about it."

Emma wasn't sure how she should react to that one. "Um… sending him away?"

"I explained to Henry last night that his behavior would no longer be tolerated. He's hurting his entire family. I can't continue to allow it to happen and Dr. Hopper is doing nothing to help," in her frustration she ran a hand through her hair. "There are places for children like him. Kids who find themselves in something bigger than they can handle."

Emma nodded, "You mean like those wilderness camps and stuff? I'm not so sure about those."

Regina bristled. "It is not a wilderness camp. It is a residential treatment center. They have school there interspersed with therapy like art and counseling. They have very high success rates."

Emma nodded her head as she realized what she was talking about, "And really steep prices," Emma had heard about those places. It was the same type of country club that the guy who had murdered all those people got off with. They considered having horseback riding, concierge services with private chefs, and going to shows as therapy. "Are you sure that's necessary?"

"He's my son!" Regina put her hands on her hips and squared off against Emma, "Or do I need to remind you that you gave him up and have no claims here?"

Emma held up her hands in supplication. "I know. I know. I'm only saying," Emma's tongue darted out to moisten her mouth, "That's a lot of money for not much in return. Is he really that bad?"

"Yes he is," Luka interjected. "He makes everyone cry," she began to choke up. Regina put her arms around her and drew her close. Luka buried her head in her Mom's waist.

"As I said, the treatment center has a really high success rate. Of course I've checked everything out completely. Henry was given a choice, either he can act right or the next step would be finding him a place where he can do himself and others no more harm."

Henry was up on his knees now. Imploring Emma to listen to him, "You're the one who should go away! You should go away and never come back! You're the Evil Queen! Villains don't deserve happy endings! And my real Mom will break your curse. We're the good guys. And you're all evil."

Emma stared at the boy who was supposed to be her son. She'd never even gotten a DNA test to make sure that was the case. She knew that records were misplaced and misfiled all the time in the system. When she looked at Henry she saw nothing of herself. And his ugly ways just made it harder for her to bother to want to see past them. "I guess if you've tried everything else. I can understand how living with that must affect everyone. I'm really sorry that you have to go through that."

Henry's shock as he turned his head around to stare at her was obvious. "You don't understand! You have to listen to me! She took you away from your parents. They're Snow White and Prince Charming and you're the Savior. They're still alive and they've always wanted you. She's trying to keep me away from you because I know the truth. You can't let her win! This is your destiny Emma. It's what you were born for. To defeat the Evil Queen once and for all. You have to," his eyes pleaded with her for understanding as his outstretched arms reached for her.

Emma found herself stepping farther away. This was just too much for her. Henry had a tendency to overwhelm her in the span of a few seconds. Living with him must be hell. She walked over to Regina who was still consoling her daughter. She placed her hand on her back and rubbed small circles into it.

The two locked eyes. "I'm sorry," Emma mouthed over to her.

Archie would choose just that moment to walk in. He stood nervously in the doorway while Pongo bounded inside. He ran over to everyone greeting them all with a sniff and a vigorous tail wag. Luka let go of her Mom and knelt down on the floor to pet and play with him.

Archie cleared his throat nervously, "How's everyone doing?" When everyone turned on him with a glare, he got nervous and backed away.

"No thanks to you but he'll be fine. He just needs some oxygen and to calm down. Aside from that he's physically okay. We were just discussing the treatment center since you don't seem capable of helping him. What were you doing with my son in that mine Dr. Hopper?" Regina somehow made the harmless question sound like an accusation.

Archie's hands came up as if to defend himself. "Henry insisted there was something in there that proved his case. I agreed to accompany him so that he wouldn't get hurt."

"To a mine? It didn't occur to you - an adult man by the way– to tell a small child no? A child whose care you were entrusted to keep for the hour that he spends with you. As you can see that decision turned out just great."

"I have always taken great care of Henry and you know it! Maybe this wasn't the best idea. But I thought that if he saw there was nothing there maybe he could stop obsessing over it."

"I'm not obsessing! And I'm right here! I can hear you!" Henry grumped and crossed his arms over his chest glaring at the room. "We were going to find what you keep hidden down there."

Regina rolled her eyes and took a deep breath. "Worked out for you did it? I didn't think so," Regina turned to Archie. "I think your services are no longer necessary. Henry isn't getting any better under your care. He's been warned that if his behavior continues he will be facing some very serious consequences."

"Mayor Mills, therapy isn't an instant cure. You have to allow it to run its course. I really do hope that you'd allow me to continue helping Henry. Giving up would instead do quite the opposite."

"I'm not giving up on my son. I would never do that. But I do know when something's not working. You had a chance. Now it's time for someone else. As I was telling Ms. Swan here, the treatment centers I've researched have great success rates. More than 90% of the kids go on to lead normal lives."

Archie's face turned downward and his shoulders slumped. It was disconcerting to see him without his trademark goofy expressions. He looked like a dog that had been kicked, "Then I'll respect your decision. I'm sorry for what happened today. If I had thought for one moment that the mine was dangerous I would never have agreed to go down there," Archie nodded his goodbyes and left the room. Pongo licked at Regina's hand and turned and ran after his master.

Zelena and Graham walked in at the same time. Graham carried an overnight case over his shoulder and some bags of food from Granny's. They both greeted the family with smiles. Graham dropped the bags of food onto a side table and handed Regina the overnight case. Regina took it and set it beside a chair she had dropped down into.

"We figured you'd be here," Zelena grinned over at Emma. "We brought you some dinner too."

Emma's belly responded with a loud growl. Everyone laughed as she placed her hand over it. "Thanks," she took the box that Zelena offered to her. She was glad to see her favorite meal of grilled cheese with extra fries.

Zelena continued handing out the food and everyone dove into it gratefully. When they had sated their hunger they began discussing plans for the night.

"Did you get the mine filled in?" Regina asked Graham.

"Yeah. You missed the fireworks. The dynamite lit up the sky. It filled in but we taped it off for the time being anyway. Tomorrow I was going to go with Leroy to make sure it's safe."

Regina nodded and continued eating.

"Can I stay with Emma tonight?" Luka asked out of nowhere.

Everyone looked at her surprised, "I thought we agreed you'd stay with your Aunt and Uncle while I stayed with Henry for the night."

"But I see them everyday and I hardly ever get to see Emma. She's new."

"She's also not family. I'm sure she has other things to do than have a sleepover with an 8 year old."

"Emma doesn't mind. Do you Emma?" Luka turned to her with a big hopeful smile on her face.

Emma crumpled up her napkin and took a loud swallow from her straw while she thought it over. She realized she was actually excited about the idea. It wasn't the same as spending the night with Regina. But she liked Luka. She was sure it would be fine, "It's fine with me. I'm sure we can find something to do. Plus there's no work or school tomorrow so you don't have to rush home or anything," Emma shrugged.

Henry glared at his sister. "She's my mom."

Luka jutted out her chin stubbornly and glared right back at him, "But she likes me and not you."

"Fine," Regina cut in to stop the argument before it started. "If it's alright with you I'll come by and pick her up as soon as we leave here."

Emma had finished her meal. She closed up her food box and collected her trash before throwing it away. "There's no rush. It's not like you don't know where we're going to be or anything." She smiled over at Luka, "anyway, the kid's right. I do like her."

Luka smiled over at Emma in return.

Regina frowned. She wasn't sure how she felt about the situation. It was bad enough Henry insisted on making sure that everyone knew Emma was the Mother he wanted. She couldn't lose Luka too.

Henry was obviously a force that was hellbent on her destruction. But Luka was her baby. And even though Emma made her feel things she didn't want to feel, Regina still wasn't ready to just let her take over her life either.

The family finished up eating and then made their goodbyes. Regina took her bag and went into the bathroom to get ready for bed. She would spend the night with Henry on a cot that the hospital had provided.

When she came out, the lights were out and Henry had his back turned to her. She wasn't sure whether or not he was asleep and honestly was starting to get to a point of not caring. Then she immediately mentally scolded herself for allowing such a thought to enter her head. She and her sister had sworn as children they would never be like their Mother.

She called Luka and said a quick goodnight to her. She wasn't completely comfortable after what had happened today with not having her around her. But for some reason she knew that no matter what Emma would give her life to protect her daughters.

She still wasn't sure what to make of the woman. She was destined to break her curse. And then who knew what would follow?

Her mind was swirling around with all the possibilities. Some good and some bad as to what the broken curse would end up looking like. The curse hadn't originally even been hers. But when it had attached itself to her there was nothing she could do except go with it.

She stared up at the dark ceiling hating the uncertainty. This position her Mother had forced herself into, her hormones for acting up everytime she was around Ms. Swan, and herself for not knowing what to do about any of it. Eventually the emotional roller coaster ride she'd been on today took over and her body began to cave to exhaustion. She curled up and fell into a restless sleep.