Chapter 8

Emma's leg tapped as she sat at the kitchen bar drinking her coffee. She had tried telling herself over and over that she was no longer in danger and it was okay. She was just going to the private school to check out the helpline thing. She could do this. However, as she stood to go to the door, her feet wouldn't move.

"Come on, Emma. Stop being stupid." She muttered under her breath just as Mary came around the corner.

"You're not stupid, Emma." She said softly. "Come on. I have to run to the store. I'll drop you off."

"Mom, thanks, but I need to do this. I can't expect you and dad to always take me places."

"Not always, but right now you can. I'd have offered even if nothing had happened to you because I'm going that way anyway." Mary assured her, coming over and wrapping her arms around her. "It's okay to feel how you feel, my love."

"Is it?" Emma asked, holding onto Mary tightly. "Because sometimes I wonder if I'm being dramatic. I don't mean to be, but like…she's locked up. I know I have no reason to be scared, yet I am. I'm terrified."

Mary rubbed Emma's back softly. "Emma, everything happened so fast. Between you being attacked and Cruella being locked up, was only a matter of days. It's completely okay that you feel like you do. I hate it, I hate that you're scared, and I wish I could take it away, but it's normal. What does Mal say when you tell her? Assuming you have told her."

"I have." Emma said, sniffing and resting her head on Mary's shoulder. "She said the same thing you're saying. I just…" She closed her eyes. "I just can't help but wonder if I've been overreacting all these years."

Mary sighed, holding Emma close. "Honey, only you know how you feel. Only you know what you're going through." She pulled back and cupped Emma's face, raising it to look into her eyes. "Honey, if you're not ready, then you're not ready. We can tell Regina, you can take another week off school and do your work here. You have to make that choice and know that no matter what, your father and I support you." She kissed Emma's forehead.

Emma smiled softly. "I'm so lucky to have you. Do you really have to go to the store?"

"Yes. So let's go sweetie. Then you can call me when you're done and I'll pick you up. Unless you and Regina had plans?" She asked with a bit of a smile.

"I don't think we do." Emma said and wiped her eyes. "Mom? I…I like her."

"I know you do and I'm glad you two are friends now." Mary said carefully.

"Yeah but I mean…" Emma took a breath and licked her lips. "I think it's more."

Mary stroked Emma's cheek. "Let's talk about that tonight? It means the world to me that you're opening up to me and I don't for one moment judge you, but you're supposed to be there in five minutes. Your dad is doing a double today, so he won't be home until late, we can talk this evening."

"I'd like that. Thank you." Emma smiled. "Thank you so much for being the best mom I could ask for."

Mary smiled, her eyes filling with tears. "Thank you for letting me, Emma. You're the perfect daughter."

The two then headed out and Emma smiled seeing Regina waiting for her outside of the school. "Thanks mom. I'll let you know what the plan is when we're done. Oh…mom do you think if I like this and if Mal thinks I'd be good at it, can I maybe do this?"

"I can't say without talking to your father, but I really don't see why not. But only if you really feel up to it."

"Thanks. I'll talk to you later." Emma hugged her and then got out of the car. "Sorry I'm late." She said, going to Regina. "I kinda had an off morning."

"Don't apologize, it's fine." Regina said with a smile, handing a cup of coffee to her. "Ruby said this is how you like it. Very sweet." She chuckled.

Emma grinned. "Guilty. Thanks. Should we um, go in?"

"Right, yeah." Regina said and laughed a bit. "Sorry." She led the way. "Do you want to talk about this morning?"

Emma let out a breath. "Anxiety. For some reason, I can't quite believe I'm safe yet. I know that's dramatic…"

"No, it's not." Regina said. "Are you kidding me? You were innocently walking home and someone tried to kill you. You're not being dramatic."

"You really don't think so? Even though she's locked up?"

"I really don't think so. If you want to talk to Mal about it, you should, but Emma, don't be hard on yourself. You went through a traumatizing thing; a few of them honestly." Regina said as they got to the workroom.

"Emma." Mal smiled. "It's so good to see you. How are you?"

Emma smiled and gave a little shrug. "I'm okay I guess. Doing the best I can. I…I still don't like to be out by myself."

Mal gently touched her shoulder. "That's normal. But you're getting out and that's good. Here's everything to sign, basically just agreeing you won't share any personal information you may hear while you're here."

Emma signed it and handed it back. "Thank you for letting me do this. To be honest, I didn't even know we had this until I needed it. I could have used it years ago."

"I've heard a lot of people say that. I'm glad we're here now, but we should do some marketing."

"I think if you put fliers or something around the public school, it would be a big help."

Mal smiled. "Well, maybe you two could come up with something between chats today?"

"We can try." Regina said with a smile. "Let me show you around." She walked Emma around, introducing her to others working before sitting at a station and logging in. "We are basically waiting to get a request now. The weekend mornings are a bit slower."

As the two waited, they pulled up a program on the computer and started designing a flier. They got a chat and Emma was quiet as she watched Regina talk to the person who was having issues accepting a step parent. When that finished Emma let out a breath. "Geez, I'm lucky I have Mary. I've never felt like she wanted to get rid of me and have my dad to herself."

"That's because Mary is awesome." Regina said with a smile. "I am kind of surprised they don't have more kids." She didn't want to say 'kids of their own'.

"I…I think they've tried. I don't really know though. Maybe I should talk to her and make sure it's not because of me that she didn't."

"I'm sure it's not, Emma." Regina said as another chat came in.

A few hours later, Emma and Regina walked out with arms full of fliers. They decided they'd put them around town and then Emma would take them to school on Monday and see if she can hang them around there too.

Emma couldn't stop herself from holding the papers close to her and looking around. Regina noticed and moved closer to her. "You're okay." She said quietly. "Do you want to call your mom?"

Emma took a few deep breaths and shook her head. "No. I'll be fine. Um…I know it's out of your way but would you maybe walk me to my street?" She asked, biting her lip.

"I'll walk you to your door." Regina assured her. As they started walking, however, Mary pulled over to them.

"Hey girls. Do you want rides home?"

Regina looked at Emma and then Mary. "Thank you. I'd appreciate that." She wanted it to seem like she wanted it, not that Emma needed it."

"Sure, mom. Thanks." Emma said, getting in the back with Regina.

"Did you have a good time?"

"Yes. Mom, I want to do this when I'm a little more healed. It's pretty cool."

Mary smiled. "Then we'll talk to your father. I don't see why he'd say no. I'm going to take him dinner later if you want to come with me."

Emma smiled. "Yeah, I'd like that." She looked at Regina. "He's working a double so he was gone before I got up and won't be home until I'm in bed."

"That's nice that you have dinner with him. My parents have actually been coming home for family dinners lately. I just wonder if this is going to last."

Emma smiled softly. "I'm sure it will. Sometimes it just takes something to open their eyes."

They pulled up to Regina's house and Emma looked at Mary. "I'll be right back." She then walked Regina to her door.

"You didn't have to walk with me." Regina said, smiling softly. "Can I maybe call you tomorrow?"

Emma nodded. "You don't have to ask, Regina. You can call me any time. Thanks for today."

They gave a bit of an awkward goodbye and Emma went back to the car, this time sitting in front. "Thanks for picking me up. Regina was going to walk me home, but I know it's out of her way."

"That's kind that she'd do that." Mary said. "And you never have to thank me. I'm your mom."

Emma smiled and then bit her lip. "Mom? Why haven't you and dad had more kids?"

Mary was a little surprised by the question and she took her time in giving her answer. "We tried a couple times. I had a couple miscarriages and then I said I couldn't do it anymore."

Emma felt terrible and she put her hand on Mary's arm. "I'm so sorry. I had no idea."

"Good. I didn't want you to. I didn't want you to see us upset or to get your hopes up and then have that happen. You've had enough loss."

"You're just such an amazing mom. I'm sorry it didn't work." She said sadly.

"I have the most amazing daughter I could ever ask for. Yes, I'd have liked more, but Emma, I've never felt that I needed more; you're more than enough."

Emma smiled softly. "Still. Maybe you guys could adopt?" Mary seemed to avoid Emma's question and Emma noticed. "What?"

"Your father and I did discuss it. We also discussed fostering."

"Why haven't you?" Emma asked and then realized. "Because of me?"

"Not like you're thinking." Mary said and parked the car, turning to Emma. "We were going to talk to you about it the weekend…the weekend we found you had overdosed. Then we decided we needed to focus on you. Emma, I don't regret it and I never will."

Emma felt terrible and she wiped away some tears . "I'm so sorry. I didn't know. I didn't mean to be so selfish."

Mary took Emma's hands. "You're not. Honey, you were in so much pain and you had no idea how to deal with it. You weren't and aren't selfish. It was our choice."

"You could still do it, you know. It's not too late, and I'm all for it."

Mary smiled softly. "That's good to know. If we do decide to open that door again, you'll be the first to know."

Emma leaned over and hugged her. "I'm so blessed to have you, mom. I love you more than you know."

Mary hugged her back, her own tears in her eyes. "Honey, I'm blessed to have you and your father." She cupped Emma's cheek. "I know I didn't give birth to you, but I also know I couldn't love you more if I had. You've always been so special to me." She kissed her forehead. "How about tacos tonight?"

Emma had helped Mary prepare everything and then worked on her school work until it was time to go see her dad. At the station, the three had a great time together and David agreed that once Mal and Emma felt she was ready, she could volunteer for the bully chatline. He knew it helped his daughter, so he had no problem with her helping others.

That night, Emma and Mary were curled up together on the sofa when Mary turned the volume down on an episode of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit that they had seen at least ten times already. "Emma? You said earlier that you really like Regina?"

Emma blushed a little and nodded. "I know I'm young. I know I probably have no idea what it means to be in love, and I honestly had no idea I was attracted to other girls, but I really like her. It's so weird because she used to make me feel like I was nothing and now…she makes me feel like I'm everything. I can't stop thinking about her when I'm not with her and wanting to be around her. I'm sure it's puppy love but…what if dad isn't okay with that?"

Mary smiled as she listened to Emma, stroking her hair as she did so. "It does sound a bit like puppy love, but that doesn't mean it isn't real or scary or confusing or exciting. The fact it's Regina is a bit…well it'll be a bit of a hurdle with your father." She tilted her head. "Then again, Regina's proven herself, so maybe it wouldn't be. But the fact is, this is your life and we want you to be happy. Just don't rush anything. If you want my advice, I'd say to just let things happen naturally. Honey, your father loves you so much. He feels like he failed you and so now, he's a bit overprotective, but he does love you and wants you happy."

Emma rests her head on Mary's shoulder. "Let it happen naturally. I can do that." She sighed. "I know he does. I do understand it. I put him through a lot. I just have to be ready for it when I talk to him." She chuckled. "And I know I could just do what I want without talking to you or him, but I don't want to be like that. I like when we're all honest with each other."

"I do too, my love." Mary said, kissing her head. "You just listen to that amazing heart you have." They were quiet for a moment. "Emma, you know you don't have to go back on Monday. I know we talked about it before, but I want to just make sure you do know that. We can get you in to talk to Archie. I know you talk to Mal, and that's great, but he's worked with you for a long time and knows your triggers."

Emma swallowed and nodded. "How about if I feel I can't go to school Monday, I'll call Archie and see if I can talk to him? I want to try, but just being out today was a little hard." She closed her eyes. "Mal kept reassuring me that I wasn't stupid and that it was normal but…is it?"

"Yes. Completely normal. Emma, you didn't just suffer physical injuries; you suffered mental ones too. It takes time to heal and recover." Mary kissed Emma's temple as they snuggled. "Maybe tomorrow you can try just walking to the station to see your dad. Only if you feel like it."

Emma gave a little nod. "I will think about it."

David came and smiled as he took his boots off. "Look at my girls. You two look nice and cozy." He kissed both their cheeks. "I'm going to go shower quick."

"Okay daddy. There is room for you here too when you're done. We can watch something else."

"That's an amazing offer, but you look pretty tired."

"So? We're just being lazy anyway." Emma said with a smile. "Please?"

David smiled. "Okay, Princess." He then went to go shower. When he came out, he smiled and sat on the other side of Emma, snuggling with his daughter. "How are you?"

"I'm okay. I had a good day. How about you?"

"It was a long day for me, but at least tomorrow is just one shift."

"I'm going to come visit you tomorrow. Or…I hope I will. I want to try by myself so I know if I'm okay for Monday."

David kissed Emma's temple. "I have Monday off, sweetheart, so if you'd feel better if I gave you a ride, that's always an option. But if you're not ready, I want you to be honest with me."

The three talked for a while and eventually, Emma's eyes closed and didn't reopen. Mary smiled softly. "Why don't you take her up to bed. Then there's a few things I'd like to talk to you about."

David nodded and stood, picking Emma up as if she were as light as she was as a baby. After tucking her in, he came back down and opened a beer. "So, am I in some kind of trouble?"

Mary laughed lightly. "Of course not." She told him of her conversation with Emma and expanding their family.

"I'm ready. Mary, if you still want that, I'm ready to take the classes and do foster care or look into adoption or in vitro. Whatever it is you want to do. Or I'm happy just us three as well."

Mary smiled softly. "I think I'd like to look into fostering. I don't need a baby you know. But I'd like to help with a child who needs it."

"Then that's what we'll do." He said with a smile and a kiss to her lips. "What else? I know there's something else."

"There is. I won't say who, but Emma is crushing hard on someone right now and I think she's going to talk to you about it. I am asking you to keep an open mind."

David sighed. "I'm not blind or obtuse. I know she and Regina have gotten closer, and a month ago, I'd have moved her out of town before I'd let that happen. But now, after everything, I think I can support it. Other than this shit with Cruella, she's been happier than I've ever seen her. They're young, they're naive, but if she wants to date her, I'm okay with that."

Mary smiled and wrapped her arms around David. "You, my love, are an amazing father. Emma's lucky to have you."

"Thank you. And we're both lucky to have you. Now, I'm exhausted." He chuckled. "Let's go to bed."