Chapter 3: line…
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The next day Hook pulled a 180 and didn't want to leave Emma's or Hope's side. Zero to clingy.
And Emma hated it.
That evening had been dinner with her parents, and it seemed Snow could tell something was up. On one end of the table sat her father with Hope next to him in her high chair. Neal was having a play date at a friend's house so his seat on the other side of David sat vacant. Snow had seated Emma next to her at dinner so she could check in on her daughter.
Hook, in all his clinginess, had at first been annoyingly whiny when realizing he had been seated across from his wife and not directly next to her, but upon determining that he could play footsy with her while gazing lovingly at her visage, he had settled down.
Unbeknownst to him, his foot was actually feeling up a magicked table leg, but Emma did not feel the need to clue him into that fact.
Instead she had quietly spoken with her mother, actually voicing her concerns that Killian actually missed being at sea and that she would, in fact, love for him to take a journey, preferably a very long journey. She also touched on his weird spaced out moments and the associated red and blue lights in his eyes. When her mother hadn't responded, Emma looked more closely at her and thought briefly that she saw the same lights circling around Snow's pupils.
But her mother was far faster in her response, assuring Emma that a little frustration was normal in marriages and that time apart was the last thing she needed from her true love. "Why your father and I can't bear to be apart." She whispered winking down the table at her husband who blushed and winked back.
Emma felt a small amount of vomit regurgitate itself in her mouth. "Yeah, that's not really the relationship we have." She muttered in response after swallowing back the bile.
Snow then went on a half hour long dissertation of true love and happily ever after that Emma promptly tuned out, wondering for the millionth time why she ever thought confiding in Snow would be helpful. There was only ever one person for whom she could solicit advice and receive it, whether she wanted the answer or not.
"… and Regina …"
Hearing the name brought Emma out of her thoughts. It seemed the table had moved onto a new topic of conversation.
"What about Regina?" Emma asked looking between her parents and disregarding the eye roll the pirate had given in response to her question.
"Oh, I was just mentioning how she invited us to come early to prepare…"
"Perfect. When do we go?" Emma interjected looking again between her parents and pointedly not looking at her pouting huffing husband.
"Er, oh, well I didn't realize, I mean I didn't think, what with Hope, that you'd, I mean, well she asked for our…" Snow gestured between herself and Charming.
Hearing his wife trailing off he jumped in. "Regina wanted the family to help prepare things, so I'm sure she would be most appreciative if you were able to be there Emma. I'm sure the sitters for Neal would be happy to watch Hope as well." David offered, attempting to smooth things over while giving his wife a pointed look.
"Oh, yes, right, I'm sure … that would be fine." Snow's gaze ran amongst those at the table.
"Ugh, why do we have to go see the Evil Queen…" Killian groaned, happy to see Emma react to him, noticing as she grit her teeth and finally glared in his direction.
"She's not Evil."
"Tomato tomahto." He said spearing the fruit on his hook and twisting it with a pleased look on his face.
Biting back a retort, she once again asked her mother, "so when do we head out to see Regina?"
Hearing her mother say the name, Hope slammed her hands on the tray in front of her and happily yelled out "Regina!" Looking around for her favorite person.
"How is it she can't say either of my name's yet but she can say that one clear as day?" Killian grumbled.
Hope tilted her head at him, in a perfect impression of her brother Henry (which he had picked up from his mom Regina, and which gave Emma an immense measure of twisted satisfaction) before singing her new favorite song, "ook, OOk, Ook, ook ook ook."
Emma snorted. David covered his mouth with his napkin. Mary Margaret managed an attempt at looking apologetic while also covering her own smile with her hand.
"Lovely," Hook glared at his wife, "so when do we see the old hag?"
Seeing the daggers Emma was now shooting at the pirate, David intervened, "I believe she mentioned the sooner the better. What with Henry getting in this weekend, I'd imagine…"
"Henry's coming?" Emma voiced in surprise. Looking at her father whose face mirrored Emma's surprise, she then glanced at her mother, whose mouth was hanging open slightly and whose brow was furrowed in confusion. So they hadn't known Emma didn't know, which only left…
"What?" He asked when they all came to the same conclusion and looked at him. "Oh, right, Henry's coming."
"And you were going to tell me my son was coming home when exactly?" Emma seethed.
"Now, I suppose," he waived his hand in a whatever gesture while gazing back at her defiantly.
The tension was thick enough to slice and there was no noise save Hope continuing to sing and babble "ook" over and over again.
No one moved. Snow and David exchanged a series of looks trying to get the other to interject something to break the silence. Before either could speak, however, a door slammed open announcing the loud arrival of none other than Regina's sister.
"Wid Wich" Hope yelled out happily.
"Awwww, hello poppet!" Zelena waved at the now squealing infant before removing her cape dramatically and sending it sailing over to hang itself on the coat rack behind her. Hope clapped her hands in delight as Zelena's hat shortly followed her coat.
"Why all the glum faces?" She looked around those at the table as if only just realizing the tense energy in the room. Humming as if in response to her own question, she quickly moved on, not actually caring a bit about any of the others in her presence, save for them paying attention to her. "Well, as we all know, my sister has invited us all to prepare for her gallant son's return. Do you think there will be some big announcement to share as well?" She waved her hand up on the air for emphasis. "Would make this visit far more interesting. She always did have a flair for the dramatic."
"Right, she's the dramatic one." Emma muttered under her breath still not ready to release her anger toward Killian.
"Exactly. Glad you agree." Zelena carries on, indifferent to the blond's sarcasm. "And she calls her spawn back from whatever realm with which he was engaging in diplomacy. So we know there must be a reason. I for one think it's going to be something big!" She finished excitedly, gazing at each of them in turn in hopes of a revelation.
"Well, don't all speak at once now." she gazed around again sighing. "Really, you all know nothing? No suspicions even?" Sighing dramatically, she sank into her chair. "Well then what do we collectively think? Is she resigning her post? Announcing her engagement to some power hungry lord? Bringing back public burnings? God, I hope it's the last one."
"Resigning?" David echoed.
Simultaneously, Snow White chastised Zelena, "we don't burn people anymore Zelena, and definitely not publicly, she's the Good Queen now."
At the same time, Emma choked on the drink she had unfortunately attempted to swallow at the exact moment the thought of Regina announcing her engagement registered in her mind. She continued to cough while attempting to glare daggers at her husband when he chimed in with, "personally, I hope it's that middle one."
"Regina!" Hope called out louder than all of them, smacking her hands down on the high chair tray in glee.
"Yes, poppet, what do you think Auntie Regina will be sharing with us?" Zelena got up and walked over to engage with the little one, the others currently on her boring list.
Hope smiled up at her, "Regina… bye bye!" proudly waving at her auntie Z before attempting a zerbert and ending up spitting all over herself. Zelena fortunately was able to step back just in time to prevent getting soaked herself. Hope giggled evilly.
"Was that a cackle I just heard?" Zelena smiled over at Emma. "Does she have any of your powers as well princess?" Looking back at the child, she levitated some pieces of Hope's meal in front of her, earning more evil giggles from the little girl as she grabbed at the flying food before shoving the pieces into her mouth.
"No magic," Emma replied, "not yet anyway."
"Well, there's plenty of time." Walking back to her seat, Zelena flounced back into her seat. "Seems the littlest witch thinks Regina is planning to resign." Turning to Emma, she asked, "What do you think princess?"
Emma glared at her in response. "No idea."
"Well aren't you two beasties, or whatever they call it?"
"I think it's besties." David offered, causing several surprised looks in response. "What? I try to keep up with what the kids are saying."
"I think it's sweet honey." Snow interjected in response to her husband's cheeks turning slightly rosy.
"Oh, get a room." Zelena groaned, earning a small conspiratory smirk from Emma.
"Someone ought to." The pirate glared challengingly at his wife.
"Ooh, things appear to be getting interesting." Zelena sat forward eyes darting between the couple.
Turning away from both of them, Emma looked at her mother. "When are you planning on leaving?"
But it was David who responded. "Originally, we were thinking the day after tomorrow, but there's really no reason to hang back here. We could leave as soon as tomorrow morning."
Emma turned at her father's words and nodded. "Tomorrow works."
"Does it now?" The pirate grumbled but she ignored him.
"Works for me." Zelena smirked hoping to further incite whatever unpleasantness was currently blooming between the pirate and the princess.
"Well, we can all meet at the town hall then, tomorrow." Snow interceded taking charge of the plans. "Say 8 am?"
Nods of affirmation, and one groan from the pirate, and the plans were set.
"Well now that's done, shouldn't we be weighing anchor? The lass needs to take a caulk."
"A what?" Snow asked in confusion.
"He means a nap." Rising and moving to pick up her daughter, Emma cleaned her as best she could with one of the cloth napkins from the table, before Zelena intervened.
"Seriously?" She cocked an eyebrow at Emma while waving her hand and magicking the little girl clean.
"We don't need to resort to magic for everything you know." Emma huffed.
"Just because you're still not so proficient…" the witch dismissed the comment, "you'll thank me later."
Gesturing towards her cape and hat, the items flew to her hands. Adjusting them about her person, she tapped the hat twice, before calling out, "Ta ta for now," and vanishing in a puff of smoke.
Shaking her head at the display, Emma couldn't help but feel a pit of uneasiness in her stomach at the prospect of the argument in store with her husband. While she bid her parents farewell, Hope nestled herself under her mother's chin and promptly fell asleep.
"She is such an angel," Snow cooed, gently stroking her cheek. "It will all work out fine Emma." Glancing pointedly toward the pirate. "You have your true love after all."
For the briefest of moments it looked as though her mother's eyes swirled with blue and red before returning to their usual state. Emma felt the hairs on her arms and the back of her neck stand up.
Emma's brow knitted in a scowl. Before she could ask her mother what had just happened, she was pulled into a hug by her dad.
"We love you Emma, no matter what, and we will be here for you, no matter what." He whispered into her ear. "Whatever you decide, we want you to be happy." Pulling back he smiled and ran his hand gently and affectionately over his granddaughter's head.
Nodding, and blinking back the tears forming in her eyes at his words (he was always so much more empathetic than her mom), she followed Hook out to the bug.