That should have been us
A guest asked for a oneshot of Emma and a four year old Neal spending the day together and Henry being jealous because they never really got to do any of it.
Henry growled behind his mom and uncle's back as they coloured in. How come they got to do all this kind of stuff together? It wasn't fair. Sure, Henry had his fake memories from when they were in New York, but they were hazy and tainted. Some of Neal's might fade over time, but they would always be real and Emma wasn't even his mom, she was Henry's.
"I'm going up to my room now." He grumbled moodily.
"Kay." Emma replied, not looking up from the picture of Scooby Doo she was currently colouring. Henry had to swallow down the rage inside him that she didn't even care he wasn't staying with them. If she didn't want him here then that was fine, he wouldn't stay. He couldn't go to his other mom's house; she was outside of town (after finding a way to return again) hunting for Robin. But he knew exactly where to go. When he got up to his room Henry quickly shoved some clothes, pyjamas and his toothbrush into his backpack before shoving his jacket and trainers on and creeping out of the house.
Emma was still colouring with Neal an hour later when the phone rang. Thinking it was her parents wanting to check up on them, she answered.
"Hello Emma?" Someone asked.
"Um, yeah?"
"It's Michael here, Hansel and Gretel's dad? Henry just came over to play with the kids about twenty minutes ago. The kids asked if he could stay the night and he said he texted you and you said it was ok. But I thought it was a little funny that he already had an overnight bag packed…did you say it was ok?" Michael asked. Emma was completely shocked.
"No I did not." She said, grabbing her car keys. "I'm sorry about this. We'll be right over to pick him up." Emma hung up as she put her shoes on. "Guess we're going on a car trip kid."
Emma quickly made her way round to the house.
"You stay in the car little man. I'll just be a minute." Emma then got out and knocked on the door. Almost immediately Hansel answered with Gretel right behind him. "Is Henry ready?"
"Henry's not here. Never was." Hansel lied.
"Nope, sorry, wrong house. Might want to try Granny's…" Gretel added trying to close the door, but their father stopped them with Henry trudging behind.
"Sorry about these two. You know kids. Anyway, Henry, I don't mind you staying over, but you should really ask your mom before leaving. I bet you gave her an awful fright." The look Henry gave said otherwise. He went to walk out, but Emma stopped him.
"Haven't you got something to say to Michael?" She said sternly. Henry looked at the floor, both angry and embarrassed.
"Sorry sir." He said quietly.
"That's alright Henry, we all make mistakes. Have a good evening." He said as Emma took Henry back into the car.
"Want to tell me what that was about?" Emma asked him when they were safely back in the house. Henry just shrugged his shoulders in reply. "Oh no, you're not going to give me attitude over this. Anything could have happened to you. Why did you just leave like that?"
"Like you would have cared." Henry snapped. "All you cared about was having fun with the cute kid." Emma suddenly understood what was making Henry so mad. She sat down beside him on the couch.
"Henry, no matter what happens you're my son. You always will be. Yes, I love Neal. He's my baby brother. But you're my baby boy. I know I didn't begin to be a proper mother to you until you were ten, but that doesn't mean I don't love you. You know I did that to give you your best chance. What do you say you and I go see the new Transformers movie tomorrow? Just you and me?" Emma offered, extending an olive branch. He gave a small smile.
"Yeah." He said simply. Emma understood that as him accepting, and knew they would be alright.