I don't own these characters; Disney/ABC does.
8: Familial Bonds
Emma hated that they had to smooth things over with Snow after what happened at her birthday. It was Snow's fault, so why should she and Regina have to say something? Well, as Regina kept reminding her, Snow was not self-aware enough to realize she should say something. And, David would never think to push Snow into doing something she did not think of or something that might make her slightly uncomfortable. So, now they were on their way to sit down with Snow at Granny's. At least they had home court advantage.
"Should I have practiced an apology?" Emma asked as she and Regina eased into the booth. Snow and David were not there yet.
"You don't have to apologize, as I keep telling you. You just need to tell her what was said and why you said it. You don't want your non-relationship with her father to hurt your relationship with her," Regina replied.
Emma frowned. "Haven't we already gone through that?"
"Of course we have, but you might have noticed your sister isn't the brightest bulb in the pack."
Emma could not help laughing. "You leave my sister alone. She adores you."
Regina smirked. "You both like it mean."
Emma groaned and put her head on the table for a brief moment. "Oh, god, what if it's genetic?" Because, yes, they both did like Regina mean. Of course, Snow did not seem to notice Regina was being mean.
They both laughed over that one. Emma could only wonder what Snow thought happened after she outed their pregnancy at the party. Really, she could only wonder what Leopold said happened. He had yet to contact Emma, not that Emma wanted to hear from him. He had to smooth things over with Snow, had to spin things so he was the victim, but Snow knew better than to believe him when it came to Emma. Still, what could he have told Snow?
Her stomach twisted a little. What if Leopold poisoned Snow against her? Nah, come on. Snow might be oblivious to the pain she caused, but she was loyal to Emma, even when she wanted to keep her relationship with Leopold.
"Emma, Regina," Snow said as she entered the diner with David by her side. She smiled at them, so at least she was not mad at them. Of course, had she been mad at them, Emma would have been pissed right back. This whole mess was Snow's fault for not respecting Regina's wishes.
"Glad you came," Emma replied without getting up.
"Of course, of course." Snow slid in the booth on the opposite side. "I was worried after you ran out of the party."
"Yeah, after everything that happened, we thought it'd be easier for the party to go on without us," Emma explained, leaving Snow an opening to apologize for blurting out business they were not ready to share.
Snow sighed. "No, things pretty much detonated after that. Father was not happy with how you handled the situation and could barely keep himself together when I went to get him." Okay, so an apology was too much to ask for, as Regina assumed.
Emma snorted. "Yeah, well, I wasn't happy with how he handled the situation either."
"He didn't get much better after you left," Snow muttered. She glanced away and wrapped her arms around herself.
David wrapped his arms around Snow and Emma actually reached over to rub her forearm. Whatever the fallout seemed to have gotten to Snow pretty hard. Maybe it was wrong to leave. And maybe it was trauma that prevented her from apologizing rather than her usually self-centeredness.
"Lemme guess, he called me a freak." Emma rolled her eyes and squeezed Snow's forearm before sitting back. "It's okay. I've heard it all my life."
Snow grimaced. "That doesn't make it right, especially from your father. Plus, there were a lot of nasty words said about you and your mother."
Emma waved that off. "Of course." Hard to expect him to be original. He was a man who slept with a stripper before his wedding and got the stripper pregnant, so hardly a guy to be creative in the ways he might screw up or insult people.
Snow looked away and wrung her hands together. "I think he's going to revoke your allowance again. He even said something about taking you to court for fraud."
Regina laughed. "He doesn't have a leg to stand on."
"He was saying he wants a DNA test to prove you're a liar," Snow continued.
Emma snorted. "So the universe can disappoint both of us?" There was nothing in the world she would like more, beyond her children to be healthy, than to not be the daughter of Leopold White. "But, you know what, let's do it."
Three gasps and gawking faces stared at Emma. "Are you sure?" Snow managed to ask in a shaky voice.
"Why not? We've been taking my addict mother and Leopold's guilt as law. Maybe we're wrong."
"But, we wouldn't be sisters if that's the case." Snow whimpered.
"But, we'll still be friends," Emma replied. And while Emma understood it was not the same thing, if life had taught her anything, family was where she found it. "My feelings for you wouldn't change, Snow. I love you, sister or not. We're family."
Snow nodded. "Yeah, but… I like us being sisters." A light, but shaky smile ticked onto her face.
Regina sighed and took Emma's hand, like she was about to say something upsetting. "I'm sure Leopold had a DNA test done back when you were a baby, even if your mother wasn't aware or if your mother never said. He wouldn't just give her money on her word. So, baby-you definitely was related to Leopold."
Emma pursed her lips. "But, not adult-me?" How would that even work? Not like her DNA changed when she turned twenty.
Regina shrugged. "Now that he knows you a little better, adult-Emma could be a con artist. Adult-Emma probably comes across as a man pretending to be a woman."
Snow nodded. "He said something like that. Kept calling you a 'he' and huffing about how it was so obvious you were a man and that's why you didn't want to date any men." Snow frowned as she regarded Emma. "Did you tell him about it?"
Emma scoffed, loudly. "Showed him. He wants to be an asshole and mouth off over things he doesn't know about, well, now he knows. Screw him and his stupid DNA. Probably his DNA that did this, anyway." She was not sure if that made sense, but she did not care. Shoulda punched him when I had the chance.
"Did he call you a man to your face?" There were lines all across Snow's visage. She looked so stricken. Emma felt worse for her than she did for herself.
"He didn't call me anything and I wouldn't care if he did. It's more about the things he says about my wife that bother me than anything else." Emma gave Regina's hand a squeeze.
Regina moved a little closer to Emma, soothing her. "I'd suggest, Snow, for your own peace of mind, you get a separate DNA test with Emma. Your father is upset right now and may make outrageous claims, but you get to know for sure on your own."
All of the color drained from Snow's face. "Why… why… why should we do that?" She knew why. She did not want to face it.
Emma swallowed. "I think Regina's right. Being sisters is important to both of us. So, maybe we should get our own DNA test."
Snow looked like she was about to vomit. "Would he… would he… would he lie about that?" Her voice was so low, so broken, so shattered. Emma almost wanted to apologize for existing, for putting Snow through this, but it was not her fault. This was all Leopold.
"He's lied about me my entire life," Emma replied.
Snow's shoulders sagged. "That's true. Would you mind doing a DNA test with me?"
"Not at all," Emma replied truthfully. She would love to prove Snow was her biological sister, to have some kind of blood connection and be on good terms with that blood connection. If only that also did not prove that asshole was her father, but she was stuck with that lot no matter what. So, maybe, like Regina suggested, I start dealing with what that means, so I can get over it and move on with my life. "So, are you cool with the idea?"
Snow took a deep breath. "You're my sister, Emma. No matter what, just like Henry's my nephew. But…"
"Leopold is your dad?" Emma guessed as a pit sank into her stomach. Was she really about to lose Snow over Leopold being an asshole? Maybe if I apologize for ruining her birthday, she'll give me another chance.
Snow's chin wobbled. "It's not even that. I want you in my life, Emma. I need you to understand that. I want you here. No matter what some stupid test says. You're my sister."
Emma nodded as her stomach relaxed a bit. "So, you want to get the test?" It sounded like the test did not matter to Snow.
Snow sniffled. "Yeah, but I want you to know and understand, I don't care what the test says. You're my sister. You've been everything I wanted in a sister since we started doing things together. I want you in my life. I want you to be Nolan's aunt. I want you to be the aunt of any other children I have. I want you."
Emma nodded again and she finally understood. Snow had been searching for the same things she and Regina had been — family. And, it was through them Snow got to understand family was more than blood. People could make their own families, blood ties or not. Tears burned Emma's eyes, but she managed to hold it in.
"I want you, too. No matter what, we're sisters," Emma insisted.
And tears spilled from Snow's eyes. She excused herself to the restroom. David followed her, because he was the kind of guy. Emma released a breath that let go of some much tension she was not sure how she did not fall over.
Regina pulled Emma closer to her and Emma dropped her head on Regina's shoulder. She had not expected this to be so draining. And it was not over. There was still the issue Snow needed to actually apologize over.
"You okay?" Regina asked in a low voice.
"I'm so wiped right now, babe. You think Tinker Bell will keep Henry a little longer?" Emma needed some downtime after this.
"I'll text her and send her some money, so she can take him to the movies or a museum. Knowing them, they'll end up lost hiking in the woods." Regina pulled out her phone.
Emma sighed and made herself comfortable against Regina. She noticed Ruby and Ashely across the diner, watching them. Ruby stepped forward, but Emma held up a hand to stop her. There was still more. She did not need a friendly pick-me-up yet, not until this was over. Ruby nodded and went back to work. Ashley stared a little longer before following Ruby's lead.
Too soon, but also not soon enough, Snow was back. Her face fixed, distress buried under makeup and glaringly obvious self-absorbed nature that allowed her to adjust by simply focusing on herself. David was still by her side, arm around her waist. They sat back down.
Snow smiled. "So, how come you two didn't say you were having a baby? Is that Why you needed help with the house so soon?"
Regina went stiff and actually growled. Emma jumped in before Regina bit Snow's head off for her continued insensitivity. "We were waiting a little while longer to tell people," Emma said.
A little wrinkle appeared between Snow's eyebrows. "But, why? It's such good news! I told you as soon as we found out." She pointed to herself and David.
"And that was your choice," Emma could not keep the bite out of her tone.
"You took that choice from us," Regina added, voice on edge.
Snow yelped. "I didn't mean to. I was just so excited!"
"That doesn't excuse what you did," Regina said.
"But, I'm just so happy," Snow said.
"Wow." Emma did not mean to say that out loud, but she really could not believe this. Snow still did not get that she had done something wrong.
David finally stepped in. He grabbed Snow by the hand. "It was their moment and their decision on who should know."
Snow's brow wrinkled even more. How could she still not get it? Emma was glad those genes skipped her. Or maybe it was because she did not grow up totally sheltered from the world. Either way, this was almost painful to watch.
"You told news that wasn't yours to tell," Regina said.
"We were waiting until further into the pregnancy to make sure…" Emma did not like to think about why, but she agreed with waiting.
"To make sure what?" Snow asked.
Regina shook her head. "It doesn't even matter. Our reasons were our reasons, as this is our pregnancy. You have to understand you crossed a line here."
"Oh!" Snow chirped and her eyes went up to the top of her forehead. "I'm just so happy for you."
"That doesn't excuse you from doing this. The ends don't justify the means," Regina stated, voice very close to a snarl.
"This is the part where you apologize," Emma said, because apparently it needed to be said and Emma would be damned if she let any more blood relatives spit on Regina's feelings.
"But, you—" Snow started, but she stopped and looked at David. Maybe he squeezed her hand or something.
"They're right, Snow." His voice was low, understanding, and so patient. "Imagine had they done that to you before you were ready for everyone to know about Nolan. How would you have felt, even if they didn't mean any harm?"
Snow deflated right before their eyes, looking down at the table counter for a long moment. For a second, it seemed like she would not admit to any wrongdoing.
Snow swallowed. "I'm sorry for stealing your moment. I just got so excited. I can't wait to be an aunt again!" She squealed. At least she definitely counted Henry as a nephew.
"That's good, but it still doesn't excuse what you did and you have a history of doing this," Regina pointed out.
Snow seemed thoroughly scolded and ashamed, which was good enough for Emma. She waved Ruby over to take orders before the silence grew awkward. Then, she switched the topic to how did Snow feel to be one year older. Snow smiled and laughed, but the conversation picked up and was much lighter than before.
-8-8-8-8-
Regina sighed when lunch was over. She was really at her limit of Snow White interactions for the day, but Emma promised a tour of the house. Regina did not refuse. They would not have the house without Snow, but after this, she would need to not see Snow White for a little while. Emma probably felt the same way, but the family was much too shaky right now to take any chances.
Snow and David stepped outside, possibly to have a private discussion. Regina sagged against Emma, even though Emma probably needed to be propped up. Ruby stepped over, face full of guilt with lines under her eyes.
"Now, you know I don't mean to eavesdrop and I tried to keep my distance, but you guys all looked so tense," Ruby said.
Emma shook her head. "It's fine, but don't tell anybody. And thanks for trying to look out."
Ruby scoffed. "You know I won't, but if you two ever need any help, you know I'm around, especially if you need to get drunk. Well, not Regina obviously."
Emma laughed, like that was the funniest thing she heard today. "You're always around."
"And we're very grateful for it," Regina said. She was quite happy Emma had a friend like Ruby, who was there for her, who had hovered around when she noticed Emma was upset. Hell, for just noticing Emma was upset. Emma deserved to know she mattered, especially considering her father.
"Anything you need." Ruby leaned in and hugged Emma. She knew better than to touch Regina.
"I'll keep you posted," Emma said.
Ruby nodded and Regina and Emma left. Snow and David were already in David's beat up pick up truck, but they had no problem following to Mifflin Street to see the house the Swan-Mills children would grow up in. Emma seemed eager to give a grand tour, even though they barely had anything done. But, the tour allotted her a moment alone to get herself together.
"We really do need a sofa," Regina muttered as she sat at the dining room table. That felt more important than a couch when they bought it, but not now. She took a breath to keep from trembling. She was not sure why she was so anxious, beyond Snow's grating and obnoxious obliviousness. Emma really had to tell her to apologize!
Regina was not surprised, but so upset because Snow was still the same selfish brat from almost a decade ago. And it should not bother her, but Snow was Emma's sister and cared about Emma, yet had to be flat out told she had done the wrong thing to Emma. They were about to be put through something by Leopold and Snow needed it spelled out for her that her behavior hurt Emma. Would Snow be able to support Emma through such a mess? Would she stand by Emma if things got too hard? And even if she did, would it be healthy for Emma?
Regina did not have a say in it. She would be there for Emma no matter what, but she did not want to see Emma hurt by the sister she loved so dearly. Her hand wandered to her stomach, right below her belly button. I pray you and Henry have an easier time of it.
Too soon Emma was back with Snow and David, all singing praises of the house. Emma was going through the design ideas they had. Snow grinned and seemed to be excited about going shopping to help. Regina sighed. Okay, maybe they would be all right. I have to stop jumping on Snow the moment something goes wrong. That was how she could be there for Emma.
"Regina, this house is so cute!" Snow squealed. Hard to believe she was ever distressed at lunch.
"Now, you see why we needed the money so quickly. Couldn't risk someone else grabbing this place," Regina replied.
"So, when's the official housewarming?" David asked.
"I keep telling him when we get all of our furniture, but he doesn't believe me," Emma said with a huff.
Regina chuckled. "Yes, when we get everything. Right now, we've learned our decorating tastes clash a bit."
Emma threw up her hands. "I don't have any taste! You can buy anything and I'll be happy."
"Except when I listened to that and purchased this very table, you sneered at it," Regina replied. She would not buy another thing for the house without Emma's input.
Emma curled her lip. "It's like a banquet hall table. There's three of us, soon to be four. We don't need to seat eight."
"Until your sister, her husband, and your nephew want to have dinner with us as well." And that was why Regina got a table that could fit eight.
Emma opened her mouth and then closed it. She looked at Snow and David, who both smiled. Emma nodded. She finally got it. Snow and David stuck around for discussions on what they should do with the house. Snow was very much hoping for a play area in the back for Nolan and any other future children. Regina and Emma agreed with that. And then, they were gone. Regina could not help breathing a sigh of relief. Emma laughed.
"You okay, babe?" Emma asked, wrapping her arms around Regina.
"I should be asking you that," Regina replied.
"I will be. Can we sit down?"
"I'll do you one better. Let's go take a nap."
"Best idea ever!"
-8-8-8-8-
Emma startled awake from her nap, remnants of a nightmare still lurking at the edges of her mind. Her brain seemed to think Snow could end up siding with Leopold. Her heart knew otherwise. So, don't worry about it.
To help calm herself down, Emma glanced down at Regina, still sound asleep, tucked against Emma's side. She had on one of Emma's t-shirts and looked absolutely adorable. And, somehow, this simple sight of Regina, hair somehow perfect in her sleep, was enough to right Emma's world for now.
"But, there's something even better." Emma reached over to the nightstand and grabbed her phone. She called Henry.
"Hey, Ma," Henry answered almost immediately and the sound of his voice, the sound of that sweet term of endearment, melted her. She would never treat this lovely boy the way Leopold treated her.
"Hey, I'm just calling to make sure you're okay."
"I'm great. Me and Tinker Bell had pancakes for dinner. Pancakes!"
Emma chuckled. "I've done that a few times. It's always fun."
"Yeah, and now we're building card houses. Are you coming to get me yet? Is that why you called?"
"No, no, not yet. Actually, Mom's taking a nap right now. We'll probably come get you when she wakes up."
"Okay. Is Mom okay? Or is…" He paused for a second and then whispered, "the baby?"
Emma snickered. "Mom's fine. Just tired. I actually just woke up from a nap myself. It was just a rough afternoon."
"But, you got to see Aunt Snow. I wanna see Aunt Snow."
"We'll have her back over next weekend, kid. Or we could take a family trip to Mist Haven. School's almost over, so we should figure something out."
"Okay." He had such a smile in his voice.
Emma glanced at Regina and could not help thinking of their baby. "Hey, kid."
"Yeah, Ma?"
"I just want you to know again how lucky this baby is to have you for an older brother. You're going to be great and that's really important. You're really important."
"Thanks for saying that, Ma."
"I mean it." Emma needed Henry to hear that, to understand how important sibling relationships could be. Snow was precious to her and she hoped they weathered this storm. She did not want Henry and his sibling to have to deal with something like this, but wanted them to have bonds strong enough to survive anything together.
"I know. Can't wait to see you, Ma."
"Same." She would hug him extra-tight. Until then, she would settle for hugging his mother. Regina was probably wiped from having to hold Emma together before Snow showed up and then also having to deal with Snow being Snow. With luck, Snow would get better.
-8-8-8-8-
Regina stepped into the house with grocery bags in hand. The second she crossed the threshold, she could feel something was off. She put the shopping down at the door and pulled out her phone, calling Emma.
Emma answered immediately. "Yeah, babe?"
"Stay on the phone with me," Regina said in a low voice as she stared into the house, looking for something amiss.
"Something wrong?"
"Nothing I can see, but I stepped into the house and it feels strange, like someone's here." She peered around as far as she could see.
"I'm coming home. Wait for me outside."
Regina stepped deeper into the house. "It might be nothing."
"Or it might be a burglar. Wait for me."
"I don't hear anything," Regina reported and then she turned to the living room and yelped. "Mother!" Why was Mother sitting on the brand new family sofa? Mother regarded her with calculating eyes. Her heart rate climbed a very unhealthy amount in less than a second.
"Regina, are you okay?" Emma's voice sounded far away.
"I'll call you back," Regina said and ended the call before Emma could respond. "Mother, what are you doing here?" Her voice managed to sound even, almost normal. But, really, what the hell was Mother doing here?
Mother smiled. "Can't a concerned mother visit her daughter?" Her tone was perfectly calm, much like her very poised posture.
Regina frowned. "You disowned and disinherited me twice." The first one was formal and quite public. Yes, so don't let her presence bother you. She's not a factor in your life anymore. She had to handle Cora like Emma handled Leopold.
"As a means for you to learn to properly make your way in the world. Something you clearly haven't learned yet." Mother made a show of looking around the room. It was still rather bare. Beyond the couch, they had a television and some pictures up. Nothing more.
"Why are you here?" She would not let Cora distract her. Cora had no power over her anymore. Then, tell your insides to stop quivering.
"To try to put you back on the right path. You refused to listen any other time, but this is clearly your last chance. You're pregnant with the spawn of a con artist."
Regina sighed and her body eased up just a little. "Not this." So, Leopold already started saying Emma was not actually his daughter. That was going to bite him in the ass nicely.
"Yes, this. You're so foolish you didn't even attach yourself to Leopold's lesser child, but an imposter. And look at you, playing house!" Cora sneered, vaguely motioning around the living room with one hand.
Regina bit her tongue to keep from insulting Cora. This might be the thing to get Cora out of her life for good. It was obvious Cora would never be what she needed or wanted, so there was no reason to hold onto hope. "And what would you have me do?"
"Well, obviously, you cannot keep the child," Cora said coldly, as if this was a decision on whether to stop for gas or not.
Regina held in a flinch. "I can and will keep my child."
"You did this once before and you see how well that's worked out for you."
How could Cora be so nonchalant in basically saying Regina should have aborted Henry? That was her grandson, not that Cora ever showed much interest in him. Regina was actually happy for that. One less life for Cora to rule over and ruin.
"You might have had a chance with one child, but two with beyond questionable lineage. You'll never make it anywhere in the peerage again," Cora continued.
Nobility was everything to Cora, but Regina had learned to live without it. That was Cora's greatest lesson. Regina would not be upset if she never saw another noble again. Well, no, I do enjoy Kathryn quite a bit.
"You can still make something of yourself, Regina," Cora said.
"I have made something of myself," Regina stated strongly. "I'm a proud mother and wife." Not to mention, she was practically indispensable for Maleficent now, but she could not brag about work to Cora.
"And what will you be left with beyond your pride and two babies as you fraudster wife goes to prison for crossing Leopold?"
Regina almost rolled her eyes, but caught herself. "She's not going to prison, not that it matters. The nobles all know who I am and what I was. Any grand designs you had were long shattered by the past you refuse to acknowledge." Probably because it was Cora's fault. The lesson went too far and on for too long. Regina was ruined for the peerage.
Cora actually frowned for a brief moment. "That was workable. Do you think you're the first or last noble to do something sorted?"
"But, this was several sorted things, was it not?" Cora wanted her to believe she could come back from this, so she could fall under Cora's spell and control. Never again. She needed Cora to truly be done with her, so she was free.
"This can be managed, but you have to step away now before the whole situation explodes," Cora said.
Regina made sure to keep eye contact with Cora to show how much she had grown. "I'm fine where I am." Something Cora could not fathom.
Cora made a show of looking around, but before she could make a nasty comment, they were interrupted. "Regina!" Emma called out in a panic.
"Living room," Regina answered. A moment later, Emma appeared, looking frenzied and concerned.
"Oh, thank the gods!" Emma grabbed Regina into a tight embrace. "I saw the door open and all the groceries!"
Regina returned the hug to comfort Emma. "I forgot about them." Cora commanded all of her attention, as she never knew what Cora might do.
Emma turned her attention to Cora. "Hey, Cora. Didn't know you'd be stopping by."
Cora sniffed. "Yes, thought I'd see you again before your prison sentence."
Emma glanced at Regina. "I'm on my way back to jail?" A small smile played on her lips.
"According to Cora and Leopold." Regina shrugged and watched her mother scowl as she called her by name.
"Ah, my two favorite people." Emma smiled. "We'll see how that goes. So, Cora, staying for dinner? Regina's cooking is the best."
Cora stood and sniffed. "I have other errands to run. Regina, you could join me."
Regina tucked herself closer to Emma. "I'm happy where I am."
"A pity. Sometime soon you'll change your tune. I'll see myself out." And with that Cora was gone.
"Damn, I was hoping she'd trip over the grocery bags," Emma said.
"And ruin my store-bought cheesecake your child makes me crave? Heads would roll," Regina replied.
"Lemme actually carry those to the kitchen for you." Emma stepped away. Regina knew better than to argue.
Regina waited in the kitchen as Emma brought in all of the groceries. "You know I make more than one trip, right? I don't carry them altogether. I also use the shopping cart to get them from the store to the car."
Emma grinned. "I'm sure you're extra-careful, but let me do what I can. I mean, I can't grow this little tadpole like you." She stepped over to Regina and put a gentle hand to her stomach. "So, let me just do something, okay?" She kissed Regina softly.
With a smile, Regina nodded. "Okay. But, shouldn't you be at work?"
Another grin lit up Emma's face. "Shouldn't you? I mean, I know you work remotely today, but shouldn't you be at your computer?"
Regina smirked. "I'm on lunch."
"Uh-huh. Maybe I am, too."
"I doubt that."
Emma chuckled. "I said I had a family emergency. You thought someone broke into the house and someone did, apparently."
"Indeed."
"Wanna tell me what she wanted?"
"She basically just confirmed Leopold is already laying the groundwork to prove you're a con artist and not his child. She seemed to think this would be the thing to get me to return to her."
Emma kissed her again. "Little does she know, you're never going back."
Regina scoffed. "Not hardly. She dared to suggest I get rid of our child."
"Henry's kinda old to throw away. Smart, too. I doubt you could lose him in the mall or something."
Regina laughed. "No, he'd likely find his way back home, which is good. He wants to be home. He has a home. My mother… I don't think she understands that. You're my home. You and our children are my home and I'm quite happy to be home. I just…" She frowned.
"What?"
"I wonder why I'm not enough for her. I mean, yes, I have plans for Henry, but if he met someone wonderful at eighteen and was happy and wanted to live his own life… I like to think I would let him."
Emma tilted her head. "I'm not so sure and I don't mean that as a bad thing and I'm definitely not taking your mother's side. I just think if you felt Henry was making a mistake, you'd let him know. But, you wouldn't punish him for the mistake. You'd never make him feel like he was less than for having his own thoughts, his own life. You want to protect him, even from himself, but you'd never hurt him."
Regina gave Emma a squeeze. "You're right. You're the same, huh?"
"Yeah. We'd like to spare Henry pain if we could. Your mother isn't trying to do that, though. She wants you to break, so she can mold you into her image. Like Leopold wants me to disappear, so he can protect his image. You actually care about your child."
"You actually care about your child, too."
Emma smiled. "Both of them and their momma, too. Look, we got dealt a bad hand with parents, but that doesn't mean we have to be bad parents. It also doesn't mean we have to let them have power over us. Forget your mother. You know I'm not going anywhere. You know the truth."
"Indeed I do. So, I'll forget about my mother, but you should expect contact from Leopold soon. He'll want that DNA test."
"You think he'll cheat on it somehow?"
"I'm not sure. I don't think he'll believe he needs to. He's certain you're a liar, con artist, and male, apparently."
Emma shook her head. "I really, really should've punched him when I had the chance."
"You flashed him. That probably took years off of his life, so it was probably enough."
Emma sighed and rested her forehead against Regina's. "You still gonna love me once my rich daddy disinherits me?"
Regina laughed. "Your rich daddy hasn't helped pay a single bill around here, so I don't see how anything changes. I wish I could tell you how he'll react once he sees you're exactly who you said you were. He'll have to clean this up for Snow's benefit at the least, especially if she manages to keep the DNA test between you and her secret."
Emma laughed. "Her keep a secret? I wish. I'm not holding my breath over it. You think your mom is gonna be a problem? She knows we got this house and we got a little one on the way. What lesson might she want to teach you once I don't go to prison?"
"I'm not sure. She's seen we're quite capable on our own and we can get around her machinations. I don't want to go on the offensive, as that's a sure way to end up wounded. My mother frightens some of the most powerful people in the kingdom. I don't want to cross her unless we have to."
Emma nodded. "So, we just keep working around her like we've been doing?"
"That's the best way to deal with her. She's vindictive. You see what she does to me. Now, imagine if she didn't like you."
Emma winced. "Yeah, I don't want to imagine that. Okay, I should probably get back to work."
"Yes, considering you're about to lose your rich daddy." Regina smirked.
Emma laughed. "You're kinda bossy. You wanna be my daddy?"
"You wouldn't last a day."
"No, because you'd make me eat vegetables like a mom." Emma stuck her tongue out.
Regina laughed. "You're ridiculous, you know that?"
"You like me this way." Emma gave her a soft kiss.
"I like you even better employed. Please, go back to work. Everything's fine now. I have to put everything away and then go get Henry from school."
"You gotta let the kid take the bus, Regina. We're close to his school and he wants to be independent."
"I'll let him, next year. I want us all to be established here and have a set schedule before doing something like that."
Emma smiled. "See? Told you. You want him safe and you're such a mom."
Regina rolled her eyes and shoved Emma. Emma laughed, gave her one last kiss, and went back to work. It took all of Regina's willpower not to sink to the floor. She just wanted Cora to leave her alone forever or love her. Was that too much to ask?
-8-8-8-8-
Next time: Emma gets a visit from an old friend.