Poison & Wine

Chapter 30

"I can't believe your parents are getting married again." Regina chuckled as she and her lover stood outside of the loft.

Emma chuckled in disbelief. "I can't either."

The mayor chewed her lip for a moment. "Is it bad that I kind of feel like they stole our thunder with the whole moving in thing?"

If the sheriff wasn't laughing before, she definitely was then. "Not at all. I'm noticing a pattern here. We confess our love for each other and they're pregnant. Now we're moving in and they're getting married. Total thunder thieves. Not only are they stealing our thunder, they're one upping us!"

"Right?" The older woman played along. "I suppose I'll just have to destroy their happiness again."

Emma smirked, gripping her girlfriend's hips and pinning her against a nearby wall. "Baby, you're defiling their daughter on a near daily basis. I think you're punishing them enough with that."

Brown eyes glinted with sinister joy. "You're right and defiling you is miles more pleasurable than just creating this town and making them miserable."

"Exactly." The blonde agreed, leaning down to kiss her girlfriend.

Regina gripped the younger woman's neck and deepened the kiss, enjoying the soft flesh of her true love. Her tongue swiped the savior's bottom lip and she was granted entrance into Emma's warm mouth, tangling their tongues together in a slow erotic dance of pleasure.

The blonde moved one of her hands to cup the delicious backside of her true love. She made sure to squeeze the flesh and was rewarded with a gasp of pleasure from the older woman.

It was the loft door opening that broke them apart. The couple reluctantly broke apart to see Mary Margaret cringing slightly at the sight. "I-sorry." She flushed in embarrassment.

"What's up?" Emma asked her mother. She had no intention to push away from the pinned mayor, but she at least but she did turn her face towards the schoolteacher.

Snow cleared her throat. "David and I just need your opinion on some things. It can wait." She assured, waving her hand. "I didn't think you two would be…" She looked at the former queen was raised an eyebrow in waiting. Mary Margaret shook her head. "Never mind-"

"I'll be there in a minute, mom." The savior promised, lifting a hand to wipe at her lips.

"Just, whenever you're ready." The pixie haired woman sent them an uncomfortable smile before she went back inside.

The blonde laughed once the door was closed. She turned back in the direction of her girlfriend. "So my mom seems to be adjusting well to us."

Regina huffed a disbelieving laugh. "Yes. She looked extremely comfortable when she saw us together just now."

"Baby steps." Emma reminded with a grin.

"Should we be worried about how Henry reacted to Neal being in the hospital?" The older woman questioned, changing the subject. The couple had told him everything that happened the day prior and instead of being his usual big-hearted self, he seemed distant about what happened with Neal.

The couple stood in front of Emma's bed in the loft as Henry sat on it, facing them. They told him everything that happened, including the fact that Regina and Neal both ended up in the hospital. They assured him that both his adoptive mother and biological father were okay though and kept too many details out of it.

Henry looked at both of them. "So… you lied to me." He accused.

Regina glanced at the blonde for a moment before shaking her head. "No. We just waited to tell you. Yesterday was a world wind, dear. We were both exhausted."

"Because my dad tried to break you guys up… again." The boy reminded them. "Why'd you help him if he tried to break you up?"

"Because it was the right thing to do, kid." Emma told him.

The mayor nodded. "Neal needed help."

"He was stupid." Henry pointed out.

"Language, young man." The older woman sent him a slight glare. "You don't speak of your elders that way."

The boy shrugged. "It's true." He grumbled.

Emma agreed. "Yeah, he was stupid, but sometimes people do stupid things. I have. Your mom has."

"Why are you guys defending him?" The boy asked, angry. "He tried to break you up!" He exclaimed. "You guys aren't going to… are you?"

The two women simultaneously shook their heads. "No." The former queen assured their son. "Honey, you don't need to worry about anyone breaking us up because that's not going to happen."

The savior nodded. "Not only will we not allow that to happen, but Neal told me he wouldn't interfere anymore so you have nothing to worry about."

Henry furrowed his brown eyebrows. "You talked to him?" He asked his birth mother.

"Yeah. I had to get his recollection of yesterday." There was a small pause. "Do you want to go visit him in the hospital? We can all go together, right now if you want." The blonde suggested.

The kid shook his head. "No thanks."

Regina hadn't heard such a rude tone since before the curse broke. "Are you sure you don't want to see him? I'm sure he'd like to see you."

"If he really cared about me then he wouldn't have been mean to you." Henry argued to the brunette.

The mayor disagreed. "Well, when Emma first arrived to town we didn't get along but we still both cared about you."

"Really?" Emma asked in disbelief. "You're comparing the two?"

Regina rolled her eyes. "Fine, so they're slightly different."

"Slightly?"

Henry ended his mothers bickering. "I just don't want to see him. Okay?"

"No. I will not accept that as an answer." Regina shook her head. "You adored him weeks ago and now you're acting like you never want to see him again."

"I don't!" The boy stressed. "I lived ten years without a dad. I don't need one now." He huffed.

Needless to say, the rest of the conversation didn't go over all that smoothly. He didn't want to see his father, so both of the women relented.

Emma shook her head. "Neal insulted you and the kid is still upset about that. It'll pass."

"You're sure?" Regina asked, not feeling as certain about that as her girlfriend. Henry seemed rather angry.

"I'm sure. But can you blame him for not wanting to see the guy?" The sheriff asked. "Neal said some pretty nasty stuff about our relationship and you. Then he puts himself into a dangerous situation and nearly dies."

The mayor nodded her agreement. "I know, and I'm not excusing his behavior, but Henry seemed so… cold about the whole thing."

"Baby, he'll come around." Emma assured her.

Chewing on her bottom lip, Regina yielded. "I'll give it a week, and if no progress is made we're going to talk to him."

The sheriff beamed. "You're inviting me into the scolding of our son?" She put a hand to her heart. "Baby, that's so sweet."

Brown eyes rolled playfully. "Okay. I'm leaving now." She laughed, moving to kiss her lover sweetly.

"See ya, sexy lady." Emma winked. "I love you."

Regina flushed. "I love you too."

Emma watched the older woman descend down the stairs before she headed back into the loft where her parents were waiting for her. Henry was upstairs doing his homework, and it seemed Snow White and Prince Charming were doing some homework of their own on her MacBook while siting at the bar. The savior looked at the screen and saw an array of wedding decorations on the page.

"Wow. You guys move fast." She chuckled, going to fridge and grabbing the carton of apple juice and drinking straight from it.

Mary Margaret would scold if it were anything but the apple juice, but nobody else in the house drank it, so it was all right. She cleared her throat and explained, "This is our wedding day, sweetie and I don't want to get married when I'm nine months pregnant."

David nodded his head in agreement. "It would also be preferable if we got married before she started showing. Our anniversary is coming up in three weeks-"

"You want to get married in three weeks?" The blonde woman exclaimed.

Snow gestured with her hands. "I know it seems fast, but really we're already married. This is just a formality."

Emma shook her head. "No, I get that part. This wedding is just for the legal issues, but you said you wanted some dream wedding and you guys are expecting that to be done within the next three weeks?"

"Well we've recruited help." The dark haired woman defended.

The blonde huffed in disbelief. Her parents were speedy little planners. "Who'd you get to help you? You got re-engaged like an hour ago."

"Your mother called Tinkerbelle." Charming revealed as his wife scrolled through ideas.

Emma ran a hand through her thick blonde locks as she chuckled to herself. "All right." She relented. "Where's it going to be at? Who's performing the ceremony? Who's going to be your best man, dad or your maid of honor, mom? Oh, are you going to have bachelor/bachelorette parties."

Both of her parents gave her a confused look. "Is that a thing?" Snow questioned.

"What's a bachelor party?" David asked.

Emma shook her head, not understanding how old-time her parent's were. She leaned against the bar and closed her MacBook on them. She cleared her throat. "Before you guys go planning the ceremony, let me explain how weddings here are." She pointed between them. "Both of you have to pick a best man and a maid of honor. Those people will stand beside you and hold your rings." Her mother raised her hand. Emma rolled her eyes but motioned to her. "What's your question?"

"Does my maid of honor have to be a woman?" Mary Margaret asked.

The sheriff didn't know how to reply. What a stupid question. "I mean, I guess not? But usually it is."

David raised his hand and waited until his daughter waved for him to speak. "How are we supposed to pick?"

"Pick your best friend." Emma said in frustration. "You don't have any siblings so just pick someone."

"Well I'd probably pick Ruby." Snow thought out loud. "I'm afraid the dwarfs will be upset I didn't pick them though."

"You don't think they would. Do you? I figured I'd pick Grumpy to be my best man, but if-"

Emma groaned and rubbed her face. Her parents were getting off track. "You don't have to pick right now." She cut her father off. "And please don't try and decide when I'm around." She didn't even want to think how mind numbing that debate would be. "Anyways, back to bachelor and bachelorette parties. You guys seriously didn't have that back home?"

David shrugged. "I have no idea what it is, but it doesn't sound familiar."

"Basically it's a separate party for both of you. It's usually held on the same night and with a bunch of alcohol and sometimes strippers."

Dark eyebrows creased in confusion. "Strippers?"

Emma looked between them. Surely they had to know what strippers were. Her mother seemed oblivious, but her dad was blushing. The savior smirked. "I think dad can explain that to you."

Snow looked at her flushing husband, or fiancée, and she could tell from his expression that she wouldn't approve of whatever strippers were. "Are they like the girl's from the brothel back in the Enchanted Forest?"

David shook his head vehemently. "No." He assured her firmly. "There's no sex involved."

Emma chuckled at the scene. "How do you even know what stripper's are, dad?" She questioned the blonde man.

The deputy went pale. "I- it was before the curse broke." He made sure to tell them. "I to the Rabbit Hole with Happy and-"

"No way!" Emma gasped. "I didn't know we had strippers in this town!"

"We might not anymore." David argued. "Like I said, it was before the curse broke."

Snow rolled her green eyes. "Will someone please explain to me what a stripper is?"

"Someone who takes her clothes off for money." Emma enlightened her mother quickly before she turned to David. "So who'd you see naked?"

Mary Margaret was appalled. "You saw another woman naked?"

Charming looked like a deer caught in the headlights for a moment. "You slept with Whale." He reminded.

There was a pause and Emma was grinning at the sight before her. "Fair enough." Snow simply cleared her throat and turned to her daughter. "I don't think we'll be having bachelor/bachelorette parties."

Emma nodded her understanding, trying to hide her beaming smile. "No worries. So, let's talk about your vows." She changed the topic. "Now, you guys can either go traditional or write your own."

The next day Henry waved as his adoptive mother drove away from the school, oblivious to the fact that he wasn't going in. He waited until she was out of sight and looked around him. Thankfully his grandmother wasn't in sight, so he quickly scampered down the street towards the hospital.

He was angry with his father. The man was super cool to him since they met, so he was shocked when he found out how his father reacted to the fact that his moms were in love. He didn't want to talk to the guy with both of his moms' presence so he decided he'd skip school and explain to his dad how he hurt him.

Luckily for him, the school was only two blocks away from the hospital so he made it there pretty quickly. He walked up to the nurse's desk and smiled cheekily at her. "Hi." He greeted with a wave. "I'm looking for my dad. Neal Cassidy."

The nurse, Mallory, smiled at the boy. She looked through the computer, typing the name in. "He's on the third floor, room 304."

"Thank you, ma'am." He said politely and headed for the elevator. He pressed the button and waited for the doors to close. The memory of him bringing Emma to the third floor to find her dad flashed in his head. He took his mother to meet her father and now he was going to visit his own dad.

When the elevator lifted to bring him up, the boy started to debate if it was good idea to be there. His debating time didn't last because the doors opened again he walked towards the room. He thought about knocking, but decided to just walk in.

Neal was sitting reclined in the hospital bed. He was eating the breakfast tray he was brought. His eyes moved up when he heard the door click open and when he saw his son standing there in his school uniform, his jaw went slacked.

"Hey." Henry greeted nervously, shutting the door behind him.

The brunette man dropped his spork and wiped his hands on the bed sheets. He cleared his dry throat. "Hey dude." He smiled. "Are your moms with you?"

The boy shook his head and sat his book bag on the chair close by. "No. They think I'm at school." He said honestly.

"Oh." Neal knew the right thing to do was call his ex-girlfriend, but he wanted to see his son so he pointed his finger around his tray. "Want my pudding?" He asked. "They gave me vanilla. I only like chocolate."

Henry shook his head. "No. I'm mad at you." The eleven-year old revealed.

"Then why are you here?" Bae challenged, hoping it would get the kid to open up to him.

"I just… wanted to know you were okay." He confessed to the older man.

Neal smiled. His boy still cared. "I'm okay, buddy." He promised. "Your mom. Regina. She helped me."

Henry nodded. "I know. She's a good person." He glared at his dad. "Even though you were mean to her, she still helped you."

"I know." Neal told him. "I was a dick to mom and Emma too."

"Have you apologized?" The boy asked, raising a judgy eyebrow. "Because that's what you do when you're mean to people."

The man agreed. "You're right, buddy. I'm going to apologize as soon as I'm better again."

"Good." Henry said, arms crossing. "Because they're going to be together forever."

Neal chuckled slightly. He still felt a slight ache in his chest at that fact, but it wasn't as bad as it had been. "I'm starting to see that."

The boys sat in silence for a couple of moments. "I'm happy you're okay." Henry confessed quietly.

"I'll have some cool scars once all is said and done. Wanna see my battle wounds?" The grown brunette asked.

Henry didn't say anything for a beat. He thought about saying no because he was still slightly upset with his father, but he eventually perked up and said, "Heck yeah!"

Neal laughed softly and took his shoulder out of one side of his robe to reveal the lashes across his arm and upper chest. Kids loved battle wounds.

Emma was fairly bored as she signed and read over the big pile of weekly paperwork. She was wishing that her and David had switched duties today. She'd much rather be out in the field than be stuck doing an inhumane amount of paperwork.

Killian had the day off too, so it was her lone day at the stations. She opted to drop the puppies off in her lover's house, placing them in the front yard with water and food. She made sure to lock the gate behind her so nobody would steal them.

Her day had been a total bore fest and it was only 9:30. Thankfully the phone rang. It was the only action she had gotten all day and eagerly picked it up. "Sheriff's department."

"Hi sweetie." It was her mother. "I'm surprised you're at work today. Did Regina take off instead?"

Blonde eyebrows furrowed. She took the time to lean back in her chair. "What do you mean instead? Why would Regina take off work?"

There was a pause. "To stay home with Henry…"

Emma's green eyes widened slightly. "Henry is a school." She stated slowly, feeling unsure as the words fell out of her mouth. She figured Regina would tell her if the kid was sick or staying home for any other reason.

"No." Mary Margaret disputed. "He's not here."

"What?" The sheriff demanded. "Are you sure?"

Snow scoffed. "Emma, I have seventeen kids in my class and only fifteen showed up today and the other kid that's missing was absent yesterday because he has lice."

Emma rubbed her forehead. "Regina might have him. I haven't talked to her since this morning and she told me that she was getting ready to take him. Maybe something happened. Let me call her and I'll call you right back."

"Okay."

They hung up and Emma dialed her girlfriend's cellphone number. "Pick up, baby." She instructed as the rings went on.

It connected. "You're interrupting my work, Miss Swan. This better be good."

"Do you have Henry?" The blonde rushed out.

"No." Regina informed slowly. "He's at school."

Emma huffed, not believing the situation. "Apparently not. My mom said he never showed up for school. She called to see how he was because she thought he was sick."

The mayor started to panic; Emma could hear it in her tone. "Oh my God. We have to go find him! I dropped him off at directly in front of the school as always."

"Did you watch him go in?" The sheriff asked.

"I-" Regina stopped herself. "No. He waved goodbye to me and I drove away."

Emma chewed her lip. It was likely he just skipped to avoid school. She allowed herself to relax. "Okay, well-"

"How stupid am I?" The mayor was appalled by herself. "I should have stayed and watched him walk in!"

"Baby." The blonde interrupted. "It's not your fault. The little bastard just skipped."

"Unless he was taken!" The former queen gasped at the thought. "Oh god, what if he was kidnapped!"

Green eyes rolled. "Yes. Because kidnapping the mayor's kid in a town that you can't leave from sounds like such a smart idea."

"I don't appreciate your sarcasm, dear." Regina hissed. "Neal found a loophole in the barrier. It's likely someone else could too."

Her mind flashed to Neal leaving town with Ariel's bracelet. A light bulb went off. "Oh, baby! We're so stupid." Emma complained. "Neal." She revealed. "He went to see Neal."

"He didn't want to see him last night." The brunette argued. "Why would he be there?"

"Maybe he just didn't want us there." The savior shrugged. "I'll call Dr. Whale and see if Henry's there."

"Call me back when you find out. I'll die of worry if you won't." Regina told her truthfully.

Emma softly grinned at the confession. "I'll call. Love you."

"Love you too, dear."

The sheriff glanced back at the boring as hell paper work once she hung up with her true love. She speed dialed the hospital, happy for a longer distraction from her work.

Victor didn't answer, but the front desk nurse, Mallory did. "Storybrooke Hospital. How may I help you?"

"Hey, this is Sheriff Swan. Could you connect me with Dr. Whale please?" Emma asked, fiddling with his pen as she spoke.

"Of course, Sheriff. I'll page him right now."

"Thank you." The blonde said and listened to the obnoxious call waiting music. She wished it would play something good or at least something that didn't restart after thirty seconds.

She waited a good five minutes for Victor to pick up the phone. Emma had continued doing paperwork as she waited for him. "This is Dr. Whale." The man spoke into the receiver.

Emma dropped her pen and looked ahead. "Hey, Whale. This is Emma." She clarified. "Is Henry there?"

"Uh, I haven't see him." The doctor informed her, highly confused. "Why would he be here?"

The sheriff had to assume the kid was there and that Whale just didn't know it. "He'd be with Neal. Can you check for me?"

Whale was quiet for a moment. "I've got an emergency c-section to perform, Sheriff. But I can transfer you to Neal's room. He has a phone connected to his bed."

Emma hit herself in the forehead. She totally blanked on that. "Yeah, do that please." She instructed.

"You got it." Whale said before transferring her.

Neal and Henry were playing chess on the food tray. The boy frequently brought it from his house because him and Nick liked to play it during recess sometimes when the weather was bad. Henry was sitting Indian style on the end of the bed, Neal's feet beside him.

It was the kid's turn and Bae was just watching him, realizing just how much he missed him. "I miss you, buddy." He told him honestly.

Henry looked up at his father, moving a white pawn before he replied. "I missed you too." He confessed. He still wasn't happy with the man's reaction to his moms' relationship, but he was getting over it, as long as Neal really didn't try to break them up anymore.

With a grin, Neal moved his own black piece and looked at the time on the TV guide channel. It was nearly ten in the morning. "Are you not going to school at all today?" He asked his son.

"Yeah." The eleven year old nodded. "Chances are grandma will think I'm just home sick. Mom and Ma won't find out until after school."

Neal was rather impressed. Obviously this wasn't his son's first time skipping school. His mind latched on to a certain wording. He cleared his throat as he waited for the boy to move his chess piece. "So is that what you call Emma? Ma?"

Henry didn't look up from studying the table. "Yeah." He nonchalantly told the man. "I'll call her mom sometimes, but when they're both around, she's ma."

The older brunette nodded. "She looks like a ma." He agreed. "More so than Regina."

Henry chuckled at the thought. "Mom would kill me if I ever called her that. She's too proper for that."

Neal joined the laughter until his bed phone rang. He furrowed his eyebrows before picking it up. "Hello?"

"It's Emma." The sheriff's voice came through the bulk device. "Is Henry with you?"

The former thief looked at his concentrated son. "Yeah, he-"

Emma cut him off. "Don't let him know it's me." She instructed firmly. "Pretend I'm someone else."

He was quick on his feet. "He's not here, Belle." Neal spoke.

"Belle? Really? That's who you choose?" Emma asked.

Baelfire cleared his throat. "What are you calling for, Belle?"

The savior shook her head to get back on track. "Right. Look, I know the kid skipped school to see you and believe me he'll be punished very soon for being such a sneaky little bastard, but I'll give you until noon with him."

Neal smiled softly. "Really?"

"Yeah. Regina will probably kill me, but honestly I was worried the kid was still mad at you-"

"Oh, he is." The man opposed. "I'm trying to fix it." His son made his chess move and Neal quickly foresaw the move and jumped him, smirking when the boy grumbled.

"Then fix it." Emma instructed. "Be the standup dad he's never had, Neal."

The brunette sighed deeply. "I'm trying." He swore.

"I know. That's why I'll be there at noon instead of in ten minutes." The sheriff informed him.

Neal smiled softly. "Thank you." He said sincerely.

"I'll see you at noon."

"See ya then." He said before hanging up.

Henry looked up from the board for a moment. "What'd Belle want?"

Neal waved it off. "Nothing important." He lied, smiling at his son. "So, want to explain why your last move was a horrible mistake?"

The boy nodded. "Yeah. I thought for sure it was good one." Henry pleaded his case. His dad just chuckled and explained it to him.

So I didn't plan for this chapter to posted on Father's Day but how adorable is that? Lol. Worked out perfectly! Oh the Charming's engagement/wedding is going to be a joy to write. A lot of good stuff is coming up, guys. We've got Henry's first football game, Swan Queen merging their lives together & Snow & Charming get married again. It's gonna be great.

Next post will be probably be Tuesday! I have a wedding to go to on Monday so I may not get it posted until Wednesday, but I'm aiming for Tuesday! I don't plan on diverting from the normal update groove I have going. This will be a one time thing. I hate when writer's slowly dial back on chapters & then eventually quit posting altogether. That won't be me guys! Hah. I promise!

Anyways, enough of my rambling. Let me know what you think! Until next time!