Thank you all for reading! I have an Epilogue planned for this story... Stay tuned it should hopefully be out in the next little while...
I want to thank you all for reading... and following. I had fun writing this. I am sorry it took me so long to finish. Writing is a strange thing. You can't write when your blocked... BUT you all kept me going!
ps sorry for any mistakes... :)
"Emma, wake up." Snow placed her hand on her daughter's shoulder. "Sweetheart, wake up." She repeated.
Emma groaned her head hurt, she tried to stretch but realized she couldn't. She sat up confused and found herself wedged in Neal's crib. Her neck bent at a weird angle.
"What…?" She sat up to find her mother holding Neal in one arm while resting her other hand on Emma's head.
Her mother didn't look like she towered over her anymore. "What?"
Snow's smile grew "You may want to climb out of that bed, you're a little big for it sweetheart…."
David stepped around Snow and offered his daughter his hand to help her climb over the rail safely as it was quite the step down over the rail.
"I am not small." Emma observed once she was standing on the ground and let go of David's hand. "I am not small!"
David pulled her into a hug. The top of her head fitting directly under his chin. The way she liked it when her father hugged her. Something about it made her feel safe and protected.
"Thank you." Emma exclaimed to Neal once she pulled away from her father as she went to her mother and took her brother from her arms and held him tightly. "Thank you, baby bro. Thank you." She covered his chubby little cheeks with kisses.
"He did it!" Regina came into the room quickly standing tall. "Good job, little prince." She smiled at her step-grandson. Before turning to Snow "Congratulations on having two…white magical babies."
Snow blushed slightly but smiled "Thank you?"
"Good luck with the teen years, darling" Regina teased. "You're going to need it."
Snow pulled Regina into a hug. "I'll be okay" She promised "Because I'll have you to help me, help him."
"And me." Emma added as she bumped foreheads with Neal. "We don't need just magic to bond us together though, we're siblings… Nobody else in the world has what we have." She whispered into his ear. "We have the best parents, and family that anyone could ever ask for, and magic so we can sneak extra cookies."
"Emma!" Snow scolded as she shook her finger at her daughter. "Don't say things like to him. He's listening and clearly understanding, no using magic for cookies." She shook her finger at both of them. "Am I understood."
"Yes, mom." Emma promised as she hugged Neal tight again. "We'll behave, won't we baby bro?"
Neal grinned, showing off his few teeth causing Snow to groan. Her children were going to be the death of her.
"As I said before, darling" Regina patted Snow's back. "Goodluck."
Snow groaned "Thank you."
Is this a private party, or may anyone join?" Zelena asked popping her head into the room with Robin in her arms. "Well well Savior, its nice to see you not so pint size." She observed as she passed Robin to David in one swift motion.
"Oh" he uttered in surprise of a baby being thrust into his arms quickly. Though he recovered quickly and cradled Robin in his big arms and began to talk quietly to her. Causing the infant to coo and reach for his finger.
Zelena made her way quickly to Regina and pulled her into a big very tight hug. "I am sorry." She whispered into her ear. "I am so sorry, I failed you."
Regina surprised herself as she wrapped her arms back around her sister and held on just as tightly. "Zelena, you didn't fail me." She responded back.
"You were counting on me." Zelena reminded her. "Depending on me to make this right for you, and I didn't."
Snow motioned for Emma and David to follow her out to the kitchen to give Zelena and Regina moment to themselves.
"Zelena." Regina broke the hug "You didn't fail me." She shook her head. She took a deep breath. Showing vulnerability was hard for her. She also knew it was hard for her big sister. Now she wasn't pint size, she knew the struggle to be honest with her emotions around her family, would still be a matter of constant work. Something she weas going to use all her energy to focus on, but not something that was changed overnight.
"I am just as tall as you are right now." She reminded her.
"Mmm, a few inches shorter, shortie." Zelena mumbled "I didn't figure out it was Neal that did this. I should have. You were counting on me to make this right for you. You asked me to fix this for you. It was my job as your big sister to do that."
"Nobody figured this out, right away." Regina reminded her. "Not me, not Gold, not you…Emma figured it out by stopping and retracing our steps." She pointed out. "This is not your fault…and Zelena…You showed up for me, that's what I was really needing and asking for. You saved me." She pointed towards the kitchen "You and my pesky stepchild, saved me."
"You love that pesky stepchild." Zelena muttered wiping away some tears.
"Don't tell anyone." Regina smirked "It's kind of our bit now. And thank you for helping me see how much I do and have always loved her, and for showing me that I am not alone here. That I have the family I always dreamed of having, even if I didn't realize it at first." She smiled "We aren't a typical family, but we are the best family. You, Henry, Snow and Emma and everyone else. You are the very best parts of me."
Zelena wiped at her fist to shake off the emotions she was feeling. "Wipe your face" She pointed to Regina. "Nobody needs to snot dripping down your nose."
Regina laughed "Right back at you queenie."
"Look what I am doing, mom." Emma grinned proudly as she poured herself a mug of steaming hot coffee.
"That's great, baby girl." Snow rolled her eyes and passed Emma the sweet creamer that she'd put in it. More creamer than coffee. Her girl loved herself sugar.
"Thanks mom." Emma took the creamer and did exactly what Snow predicted, causing her to wince at the amount of sugar in the coffee. Now she wondered how she was going to get Emma to put something healthy in her body to counterbalance all that sugar.
"Dad, I am going to work with you today." Emma added turning to David as she sipped her coffee as David settled Robin into a swing they had for Neal at the entrance of the kitchen. So he could chat with her while he made breakfast for his family.
"Of course you are." David assured her "And let me tell you, I have a lot of filing for you to catch up on."
"Dad." Emma groaned.
"Sorry kiddo" He grinned
"Yeah, sure you are." Emma smirked. "But lets face it. You missed me." She grinned "You missed our witty conversations, our partner in stopping crime. You buying my lunches everyday..." She teased.
"I missed my work Emma." David walked around the counter and planted a kiss on the top of her head. "Great coworker, and best daughter ever. My princess." He laid one more tender kiss on her temple.
Emma looked up at him, her green eyes locked with his blue for a moment. "Thanks dad." She whispered.
He winked before heading back to the other side to get back to working on making breakfast for his crew.
Snow grabbed a box of cheerios and sprinkled them on Neal's highchair before taking the empty stool next to Emma. She was going to allow David to handle all of breakfast that morning. She was not going to complain about a break.
"Where's mine?" Emma teased motioning to the cheerios.
Snow stood up and went around the counter and pulled out the box of Fruit Loops she sprinkled a handful onto the counter in front of her daughter, before grabbing a small handful for herself as she took her spot next to Emma. "And don't give any to your brother this time…"
Emma popped a fruity piece of dry cereal into her mouth. "I was joking about needing some dry cereal." As she let the comment about giving Neal some Fruitloops slide.
"I know." Snow assured her she put a few in her mouth and chewed them. The sugar was so strong. How did Henry and Emma like these so much?
Emma ate a few more. Her eyes went to David who was humming as he pulled things out of the fridge in his own world. She then turned to Snow who was waving at Neal who was sticking two cheerios in his mouth.
"Mom?" Emma's voice dropped to a low tone capturing Snow's attention as she turned to face her daughter.
"I am sorry, that I put you through the ringer the last few days."
Snow looked confused as she dropped the rest of her uneaten Fruit Loops on Neal's tray. She just couldn't finish them. "It's your lucky day buddy" She told him. "Special treat like sister." She then turned back to Emma. "What are you talking about, Emma?" She asked, her voice sounding as confused as her face showed.
"The last few days." Emma said again.
"Were wonderful" Snow shrugged. "Wonderful days with my family."
"Mom…" Emma sighed rubbing her face.
"Sweetheart, you needing me to be your mom the last few days, is not putting me through the ringer." She pointed out. "It is literally my job, to be your mother…and I am your mother… ALL OF THE Time, honey." She stressed "Even in the moments where you don't need me to be your mom, I still am."
Emma couldn't argue that. She was Henry's mom all of the time. Even now as he was older and less hands on.
"You're my favorite girl, in this entire world." Snow added "And I have been thinking, you get to spend every day with your dad… and that's great." She smiled "But I am now declaring Tuesday nights mom and Emma nights. Every Tuesday we have a standing date.. Like Every Sunday is family night."
Emma thought about it before nodding "Just you and me on Tuesdays?"
Snow nodded "Just you and me." She repeated. "Just because you're grown, doesn't change, you are still always and forever my favorite girl" She repeated "And if you ever need or want me, you just call. I will be there. If it's just having lunch, or you need me to help clean out a closet. You're always my number one girl. Always."
Emma blushed as she went back to picking at her dry cereal. "Okay…"
Snow reached out and rubbed her back. "I love you, ALL of the time." She got up and went and wrapped her arm around Emma and kissed her hairline. "My forever girl" She whispered into her ear. "Now if you'll excuse me." She pointed to the kitchen. "Your father is about to use the wrong spatula on my good skillet." She said before quickly rushing around the other side of the counter to stop David from ruining her favorite pan, but also to give her no longer fun size daughter a break from the emotions that she was feeling. She knew Emma always needed a moment or two to herself after an emotional talk. An Emotional re-set.
"I smell coffee." Regina observed as Zelena and Regina joined Emma at the counter.
David slid a cup of black coffee across the counter to Regina. "Madam Mayor" He grinned "You are staying for breakfast, before you run off to you office." He stated not giving her a chance to say decline.
"I suppose, I can allow you pesky Charmings to feed me breakfast, after what your cute son did to me." She winked at Neal and tapped his nose before occupying the stool that Snow had been on minutes before.
"You too." David looked to Zelena who was gathering diaper bags.
"Oh, that's okay.."
"Sit down, Queenie." Emma patted the stool on the other side of her. "I know my parents, they aren't taking no. Might as well prepare yourself for breakfast."
"If I must." Zelena tried to sound put out by this news. However her smile gave her away. She glanced over at Robin who had fallen asleep in the swing. Once she was satisfied her baby was sleeping soundly she took a seat next to Emma and stole a green fruit loop.
"Green ones are the best." She smirked.
Regina rolled her eyes "They all taste exactly the same."
"LIke sugar and chemicals." Snow jumped in and finished Regina's sentence with her causing Emma to groan as she flicked a Fruitloop at Regina. "I can't tell her to shut up…" She motioned to her mother. "I'd be grounded for a month, but you I can." She teased. "Shut up…"
Regina shook her head. "Charming, vocab you have there Swan. Great example you're setting for the little ones in this room."
David couldn't help but laugh as Emma and Regina began to banter back and forth.
Snow was pulling out plates and silverware getting ready to feed this crew. Zelena was making face at Neal causing the little boy in the highchair to squeal in laughter.
He and Snow caught each other's eyes, their smiles growing wider, as in this very moment, just missing their grandson and their pirate they realized that all of their hearts desires, the most precious riches in the world were right there. Right in front of them.
True love really had given them everything.
"Emma." Regina warned "If you don't get that finger out of my face, I will break it."
"Aren't you a precious one in the morning?" Emma taunted back.
Regina crossed her arms over her chest. Narrowing her eyes at Emma. "Don't call me, Precious."