Jessie's girl
lynnebug01 asked for a oneshot of Henry's dad being a man named Jessie who died before getting the chance to propose to Emma. She hears the song "Jessie's girl" and it brings back memories of him that she shares with her family.
You know I wish that I had Jessie's girl
I wish that I had Jessie's girl
Where can I find a woman like that?
The oh so familiar Rick Springfield lyrics sent Emma right back a dozen years ago. She swayed gently to the music, unaware that her parents and her son could see quite clearly the slight trance she was in and the sad little smile on her face.
"Um, Earth to mom?" Henry said, waving his hand in front of her face. Emma snapped back to reality. "You were off in your own world there."
"Um yeah, I guess I was." Emma said sheepishly. Snow could tell there was something more going on here than a little bit of daydreaming.
"And what put you in your own little world, Emma?" Snow prompted her. Emma shrugged in response.
"Oh, it's nothing special. It's just that song. It brings back memories."
"Oh? What memories might they be?" Charming joined in the conversation. Emma bit her lip nervously. She hadn't meant for this conversation to come up- ever. But she could see no way of avoiding it now.
"Well, the thing is, Henry's dad was called Jessie. This was kind of our song." Emma explained.
"My dad?" Henry asked. With everything that had happened over the last couple of years, he'd never came up. But since Emma was speaking about it now, it seemed like an appropriate time to ask some questions. Henry took Emma's hand and pulled her over to the couch where they both sat down. Snow and Charming followed behind them and took seats in the living room themselves.
"So his name is Jessie?" Henry asked. Emma could feel the tears building up behind her eyes.
"Was Jessie- he way before you were born. He died before he even knew I was pregnant."
"Oh Emma, we're so sorry." Snow said, feeling her daughter's pain.
"It's ok." Emma croaked, quickly wiping away the stray tears. "He was killed in a car accident…he had an engagement ring in his pocket." Emma refused to cry in front of her son. She took a few deep breaths and calmed herself down. "I didn't do well getting over him. He was kind of our main bread winner and I found myself stealing things to make ends meet. I got caught, went to prison, found out I was pregnant. I knew I couldn't give you the life you deserved Henry so it was best you went to someone who could." Emma explained. "I don't want you to ever think I simply didn't want you, because that's not true." Emma gently wiped some hair out of his eyes.
"I know." Henry said gently. "I understand. It doesn't matter now anyway." Henry looked over at his grandparents. "Because we will always find each other."