Chapter 19: The One Whose Always There
Emma Swan
"Well, I escaped that with my head still attached, I'd say it went well." I heard Killian's voice behind me. Laughing. Joking. I could feel his arms wrapping around me, the warmth of his body pressing against me lovingly. But it was like ghost noises, the imprints of a feeling. The only thing that was real were those words, 'I just found out I am pregnant and I'm not letting you destroy my happiness'. Mary-Margaret was pregnant. My mother, was pregnant. They would have their baby. They could watch her first steps, hear her first words, and love her all through her life. That baby would know its parents, know how loved it was. It would grow up knowing that it was special, a royal.
It wouldn't grow up alone. It wouldn't cry itself to sleep wondering why its parents hadn't wanted her. It wouldn't be shunted from home to home where it was considered a meal ticket. It wouldn't have to deal with foster brothers who were going through puberty with no girlfriends. It wouldn't have to deal with drugged out foster moms who got jealous when their husbands looked at the pretty blonde charge. It wouldn't have to be unsure about everything. It wouldn't have to turn to a life of crime in order to survive. Tears were streaming heavily down my cheeks by now and I could hear Killian calling out my name in the distance. He was the only one who wanted me. My parents were replacing me. But my pirate never would. I turned and snuggled into his warm chest, sobbing.
"Emma, darling! What is wrong?" he asked frantically.
"She's pregnant." I finally stuttered out. "And they can have everything they want with this baby. This baby isn't going to be passed around like a meal ticket. This baby won't be," I broke off sobbing as I thought about every slap, every grope, and every birthday I spent alone without so much as an acknowledgement from the people I lived with, wishing that my parents would come and find me.
"Emma, love, they aren't replacing you. You know that you will always have a special place in their hearts." Killian slowly rubbed circle on my back, soothing me with his words and his soft kisses that peppered the top of my head. "And you know that no one could replace you. You are the most beautiful, talented, loving and wonderful women who ever lived."
"They might be able to justify what they did, saying I had to break a curse, that they sent me away to be protected from Regina's wrath, but I'd rather face Regina any day then what I went through. I would rather have grown up not knowing who I was, living in some boring monotonous town with parents who loved me even if it meant living the same day over and over. They may be able to skip those 28 years when they think about what they have now, but I can't help but see the people I grew up with. Sons of bitches so evil that Cora looked like a loving mother." His hand stopped circling my back.
"What happened to you, in the foster system? You never really talked about it." Killian asked, leaning his head back suspiciously.
"The same thing that happens to most girls." I muttered angrily. "The dad's and brothers get excited when there's a new girl and like to show their dominance." I insinuated with a half-broken heart.
"Love, do you mean what I think you mean." I made a noncommittal gesture, but Killian could always read me like a book. "Gods, Emma. I didn't know." He sounded as if he were begging my forgiveness for his entire gender. I nestled my head against his shoulder and cried and cried as he held me tightly, rocking me back and forth until I fell asleep.
"Well, I escaped that with my head still attached, I'd say it went well." I heard Killian's voice behind me. Laughing. Joking. I could feel his arms wrapping around me, the warmth of his body pressing against me lovingly. But it was like ghost noises, the imprints of a feeling. The only thing that was real were those words, 'I just found out I am pregnant and I'm not letting you destroy my happiness'. Mary-Margaret was pregnant. My mother, was pregnant. They would have their baby. They could watch her first steps, hear her first words, and love her all through her life. That baby would know its parents, know how loved it was. It would grow up knowing that it was special, a royal.
It wouldn't grow up alone. It wouldn't cry itself to sleep wondering why its parents hadn't wanted her. It wouldn't be shunted from home to home where it was considered a meal ticket. It wouldn't have to deal with foster brothers who were going through puberty with no girlfriends. It wouldn't have to deal with drugged out foster moms who got jealous when their husbands looked at the pretty blonde charge. It wouldn't have to be unsure about everything. It wouldn't have to turn to a life of crime in order to survive. Tears were streaming heavily down my cheeks by now and I could hear Killian calling out my name in the distance. He was the only one who wanted me. My parents were replacing me. But my pirate never would. I turned and snuggled into his warm chest, sobbing.
"Emma, darling! What is wrong?" he asked frantically.
"She's pregnant." I finally stuttered out. "And they can have everything they want with this baby. This baby isn't going to be passed around like a meal ticket. This baby won't be," I broke off sobbing as I thought about every slap, every grope, and every birthday I spent alone without so much as an acknowledgement from the people I lived with, wishing that my parents would come and find me.
"Emma, love, they aren't replacing you. You know that you will always have a special place in their hearts." Killian slowly rubbed circle on my back, soothing me with his words and his soft kisses that peppered the top of my head. "And you know that no one could replace you. You are the most beautiful, talented, loving and wonderful women who ever lived."
"They might be able to justify what they did, saying I had to break a curse, that they sent me away to be protected from Regina's wrath, but I'd rather face Regina any day then what I went through. I would rather have grown up not knowing who I was, living in some boring monotonous town with parents who loved me even if it meant living the same day over and over. They may be able to skip those 28 years when they think about what they have now, but I can't help but see the people I grew up with. Sons of bitches so evil that Cora looked like a loving mother." His hand stopped circling my back.
"What happened to you, in the foster system? You never really talked about it." Killian asked, leaning his head back suspiciously.
"The same thing that happens to most girls." I muttered angrily. "The dad's and brothers get excited when there's a new girl and like to show their dominance." I insinuated with a half-broken heart.
"Love, do you mean what I think you mean." I made a noncommittal gesture, but Killian could always read me like a book. "Gods, Emma. I didn't know." He sounded as if he were begging my forgiveness for his entire gender. I nestled my head against his shoulder and cried and cried as he held me tightly, rocking me back and forth until I fell asleep.
Chapter 20: Protecting Her Forever
Killian Jones
I was seething inside. If Emma hadn't been clinging to me so tightly for comfort I would have gotten up then and there and had a little, talk, with Charming. How could anyone, see someone so pure, so innocent, and so full of beauty as Swan, and want to hurt her? If we were still in the land without magic I would have hunted every one of the men who had hurt her down, and ripped out their entrails with my hook. I would have taught them the meaning of fear, and I would have made them pay for what they did to my love by the tenfold. Except that Swan would never have let me. Emma. These men had hurt her and violated her, and yet I knew that she would simply say it was in the past, she would want to move on and she wouldn't let me wallow in her past. Gods but I loved that woman. I rubbed the curve of my hook in circles across her back, holding her head in my hand. My poor, poor love. And now she felt that her parents were replacing her, trying again, doing it right this time. It didn't matter how much her parents loved her and it didn't matter how well she fit in here, Emma would always have the memories of the ordeals she had to endure in the past. Her cries slowly subsided as she fell asleep in my arms. Sweeping her up, I tucked her into bed, planting a kiss on her forehead. Then I turned and walked out the door. I had a Prince to find. It was high time we had a little talk.
I found his door and pounded on it until it swung open. And irate prince stood on the other side, glaring at me. "You." He spat out. I strode in past him.
"I think it's time we had a little talk." I growled.
"Exactly!" His tone matched mine and I knew he was nearly as angry as I was. "Wait, why are you angry?" he added, noticing the same thing.
"Because, prince," I snarled furiously. "You're daughter has just cried herself to sleep in my arms." The look on his face turned from anger to concern in a single moment. "Look, I get that you two want your own family, that you want another child, and that you want to get it right this time. But did you really think that that was the best way and time to tell Emma you're expecting?" I heard a soft sob from the bed and saw that Snow White was looking completely torn apart by it. "Have you even asked Emma what it was like for her growing up? What kind of people she lived with?"
"Of course we've asked!" Charming protested, leaning in, our bodies close and full of anger. "She doesn't want to open up to us and she doesn't want to relive the past so we don't push it."
"Well I should bloody well think she wouldn't want to relive the past from what I've heard about it." I pushed Charming away from me. "I don't know what you think but the bastards she lived with did more than just admire your daughter's beauty-they dishonored it! They dishonored her. She has to watch you give this child every luxury known to mankind knowing that she grew up, starving, alone, and feeling worthless as the men in her life that were meant to protect her desecrated her spirit ad violated her honor!" My words spat at him like a knife stabs at its target. "There was a way to tell her and that your majesties, was not it." I gave the best attempt at a bow I could manage in the midst of my anger at them both and stormed out of the room slamming the door behind me. I would watch over my Swan. No one would lay a finger on Emma again as long as I was alive.
I was seething inside. If Emma hadn't been clinging to me so tightly for comfort I would have gotten up then and there and had a little, talk, with Charming. How could anyone, see someone so pure, so innocent, and so full of beauty as Swan, and want to hurt her? If we were still in the land without magic I would have hunted every one of the men who had hurt her down, and ripped out their entrails with my hook. I would have taught them the meaning of fear, and I would have made them pay for what they did to my love by the tenfold. Except that Swan would never have let me. Emma. These men had hurt her and violated her, and yet I knew that she would simply say it was in the past, she would want to move on and she wouldn't let me wallow in her past. Gods but I loved that woman. I rubbed the curve of my hook in circles across her back, holding her head in my hand. My poor, poor love. And now she felt that her parents were replacing her, trying again, doing it right this time. It didn't matter how much her parents loved her and it didn't matter how well she fit in here, Emma would always have the memories of the ordeals she had to endure in the past. Her cries slowly subsided as she fell asleep in my arms. Sweeping her up, I tucked her into bed, planting a kiss on her forehead. Then I turned and walked out the door. I had a Prince to find. It was high time we had a little talk.
I found his door and pounded on it until it swung open. And irate prince stood on the other side, glaring at me. "You." He spat out. I strode in past him.
"I think it's time we had a little talk." I growled.
"Exactly!" His tone matched mine and I knew he was nearly as angry as I was. "Wait, why are you angry?" he added, noticing the same thing.
"Because, prince," I snarled furiously. "You're daughter has just cried herself to sleep in my arms." The look on his face turned from anger to concern in a single moment. "Look, I get that you two want your own family, that you want another child, and that you want to get it right this time. But did you really think that that was the best way and time to tell Emma you're expecting?" I heard a soft sob from the bed and saw that Snow White was looking completely torn apart by it. "Have you even asked Emma what it was like for her growing up? What kind of people she lived with?"
"Of course we've asked!" Charming protested, leaning in, our bodies close and full of anger. "She doesn't want to open up to us and she doesn't want to relive the past so we don't push it."
"Well I should bloody well think she wouldn't want to relive the past from what I've heard about it." I pushed Charming away from me. "I don't know what you think but the bastards she lived with did more than just admire your daughter's beauty-they dishonored it! They dishonored her. She has to watch you give this child every luxury known to mankind knowing that she grew up, starving, alone, and feeling worthless as the men in her life that were meant to protect her desecrated her spirit ad violated her honor!" My words spat at him like a knife stabs at its target. "There was a way to tell her and that your majesties, was not it." I gave the best attempt at a bow I could manage in the midst of my anger at them both and stormed out of the room slamming the door behind me. I would watch over my Swan. No one would lay a finger on Emma again as long as I was alive.
Chapter 21: Not so Nauseated After All
Rumpelstiltskin
Well that was amusing in the least. Now the pirate had another angry man out after him. Although to be quite fair Prince Charming was far less likely to kill or mutilate him. As the commotion began to turn to happiness, Belle slipped her small, soft hand in my own and tugged me back in the direction we had come from. She was wrapped up in my shirt and the green silk brushing against her skin brought a smile to my lips. That delicate beauty was mine. All mine. My Belle. As she pulled me back into bed I brought my lips to her white throat. We stood out on our balcony, peering down at the land below us as my lips caressed her neck. I felt a drop of water on my cheek. I looked up. It hadn't rained since everyone had returned to this land. It was taking all the magic Regina had to grow the people's crops. Was this possible? Sure enough, clouds were moving in and water was slowly dropping on the parched ground. The land below us was seeming to blossom immediately, flowers sprung from the ground, the grass turned from the ugly brown color it had been to a bright, spring-filled green that reminded me of Miss Swan's eyes. The salt water that stretched out from the shores brightened to a pale yet bright blue, and thunder and lightning shook the sky.
"What on earth?" Belle breathed. "What is happening?" I smiled as I realized what had caused this bloom of life. I was certain it was happening across the kingdom. Charming and Snow were no longer going to have to listen to the complaints of the people that they were going hungry despite everyone's best efforts to provide for them, or that their wells had run dry even though Regina was doing all she could.
"True Love's Kiss, setting things right, dearie." I whispered, thinking of how happy Emma and Killian must be in this moment. And for once, I wasn't so nauseated by Killian Jones' happiness.
Well that was amusing in the least. Now the pirate had another angry man out after him. Although to be quite fair Prince Charming was far less likely to kill or mutilate him. As the commotion began to turn to happiness, Belle slipped her small, soft hand in my own and tugged me back in the direction we had come from. She was wrapped up in my shirt and the green silk brushing against her skin brought a smile to my lips. That delicate beauty was mine. All mine. My Belle. As she pulled me back into bed I brought my lips to her white throat. We stood out on our balcony, peering down at the land below us as my lips caressed her neck. I felt a drop of water on my cheek. I looked up. It hadn't rained since everyone had returned to this land. It was taking all the magic Regina had to grow the people's crops. Was this possible? Sure enough, clouds were moving in and water was slowly dropping on the parched ground. The land below us was seeming to blossom immediately, flowers sprung from the ground, the grass turned from the ugly brown color it had been to a bright, spring-filled green that reminded me of Miss Swan's eyes. The salt water that stretched out from the shores brightened to a pale yet bright blue, and thunder and lightning shook the sky.
"What on earth?" Belle breathed. "What is happening?" I smiled as I realized what had caused this bloom of life. I was certain it was happening across the kingdom. Charming and Snow were no longer going to have to listen to the complaints of the people that they were going hungry despite everyone's best efforts to provide for them, or that their wells had run dry even though Regina was doing all she could.
"True Love's Kiss, setting things right, dearie." I whispered, thinking of how happy Emma and Killian must be in this moment. And for once, I wasn't so nauseated by Killian Jones' happiness.
Chapter 22: Drawing out the Family Tree
Henry Mills
This was so cool. Like INSANELY cool. But they kept wanting me to remember and mom kept forcing me to spend time with the Evil Queen. I mean really, mom. You want your son to hang out with someone who has the word EVIL in their name? Do you want me to die? And I had heard Grandma and Grandpa talking. Baelfire was my dad. Which meant that Rumpelstiltskin was my grandfather too. I had been a bit concerned about that until I got to the part in this book about how Rumpelstiltskin was also the Beast from Beauty and the Beast which meant that he turns out okay in the end. Plus he was the Wizard of Oz! I mean seriously, how cool is that? These twists in the real fairy tale world made so much better stories than the books and movies back in my world.
Either way I couldn't remember. Sure having Prince Charming and Snow White as Grandparents was SO COOL, but I still wasn't so sure about everything. I knew that there was something going on with my Mom and Captain Hook. I could see it in his eyes when he looked at her but for some reason they were fighting. Maybe I should show her the story about how he became Captain Hook. He was really cool and taught me how to sail a pirate ship! It was so awesome! And when I read his back story I totally understood why he was the way he was. I like him. And even though I like Baelfire too, I could see that mom didn't love him anymore, and I just wanted her to be happy. Captain Hook would make her happy, I knew it.
I would try to do something about that soon. I had just gotten in from petting the ponies in the barn and Grandpa promised that he would teach me to ride tomorrow. He said he had a friend who was one of the best riders in the land and that the two of them would make me an excellent rider. I couldn't wait. I closed my eyes and laid back on the pillows. This bed was about a million times softer than my bed back home. I could get used to this living like a prince thing. In fact, I think I already had.
/
I awoke to the chirping of birds and the buzzing of insects outside the window of my room. It hadn't been a dream. This was so cool. I jumped to look out the window and gasped. What had happened? Yesterday the plants had been dying and the ground had been dry and dusty just last night, but flowers were blooming and colors abounded across the land. In my tower I could see all the way to the next town over and the fields that surrounded them were full of life and plants as well. Life was rushing through the ground and it had clearly rained in the night because there were puddles and mud covering the previously parched earth. Magic. Did it get much cooler?
This was so cool. Like INSANELY cool. But they kept wanting me to remember and mom kept forcing me to spend time with the Evil Queen. I mean really, mom. You want your son to hang out with someone who has the word EVIL in their name? Do you want me to die? And I had heard Grandma and Grandpa talking. Baelfire was my dad. Which meant that Rumpelstiltskin was my grandfather too. I had been a bit concerned about that until I got to the part in this book about how Rumpelstiltskin was also the Beast from Beauty and the Beast which meant that he turns out okay in the end. Plus he was the Wizard of Oz! I mean seriously, how cool is that? These twists in the real fairy tale world made so much better stories than the books and movies back in my world.
Either way I couldn't remember. Sure having Prince Charming and Snow White as Grandparents was SO COOL, but I still wasn't so sure about everything. I knew that there was something going on with my Mom and Captain Hook. I could see it in his eyes when he looked at her but for some reason they were fighting. Maybe I should show her the story about how he became Captain Hook. He was really cool and taught me how to sail a pirate ship! It was so awesome! And when I read his back story I totally understood why he was the way he was. I like him. And even though I like Baelfire too, I could see that mom didn't love him anymore, and I just wanted her to be happy. Captain Hook would make her happy, I knew it.
I would try to do something about that soon. I had just gotten in from petting the ponies in the barn and Grandpa promised that he would teach me to ride tomorrow. He said he had a friend who was one of the best riders in the land and that the two of them would make me an excellent rider. I couldn't wait. I closed my eyes and laid back on the pillows. This bed was about a million times softer than my bed back home. I could get used to this living like a prince thing. In fact, I think I already had.
/
I awoke to the chirping of birds and the buzzing of insects outside the window of my room. It hadn't been a dream. This was so cool. I jumped to look out the window and gasped. What had happened? Yesterday the plants had been dying and the ground had been dry and dusty just last night, but flowers were blooming and colors abounded across the land. In my tower I could see all the way to the next town over and the fields that surrounded them were full of life and plants as well. Life was rushing through the ground and it had clearly rained in the night because there were puddles and mud covering the previously parched earth. Magic. Did it get much cooler?
Chapter 23: Flying
Emma SwanC
"But I thought you said there was a colossal drought?" I asked, fingering a silky rose petal between my fingers. "I thought there was death everywhere and everyone was running out of food."
"True Love's Kiss, dearie." Gold responded cheerfully. He was holding Belle's hand in his and I had noticed that since his return and the end of the battle he hadn't let her out of his sight. I didn't mind. I liked Belle, and even though I was allowing Gold to teach me magic I would rather not be alone with him. I hadn't spoken to my parents since last night and to be honest, my plan was to continue ignoring them until I absolutely had to confront them. Speak of the devil, David was riding his horse towards me determinedly.
"Hey, Gold? You want to teach me that spell you use to run away and hide?" The man followed my line of sight and chuckled softly.
"I think it might be best if you just bit the bullet and had whatever discussion you are attempting to avoid." He suggested, sounding more like the Mr. Gold I knew and less like the bits of Rumpelstiltskin that slipped out from time to time. I thought about it for a moment and shook my head.
"Nope. I'm going to go with run and hide." I turned around and sprinted as fast as I could to the lake shore. Of course when you're running and the guy chasing you is on a horse they tend to catch up rather quickly. But I had magic. I poured all my emotions into running, flying away as quickly as I could and suddenly found that my sprinting feet were no longer in contact with the ground. Um, I was flying. Without pixie dust. I spread my arms and willed myself to rise higher in the sky.
"Emma!" I heard David yell, half worried and half angry. "Emma Swan get down here this instant!" His yells drew the attention of those in the castle who hurried out to see what on earth my father could be yelling about. I heard gasps from the ground below me and within seconds Tinkerbelle and Mother Superior were flying next to me.
"Emma, how are you doing that? Where did you get pixie dust?" Mother Superior asked.
"Um, I'm not sure and I don't have pixie dust, I just wanted to run away and all of a sudden I wasn't touching the ground anymore." I said nervously. Tink laughed cheerfully.
"That's fantastic!" she giggled, much to the blue fairy's overt and obvious displeasure. "Emma, you are doing magic that no one knew about! Looks like True Love is more powerful than we all knew." I sped up and landed on the balcony of one of the few people I actually wanted to talk to. Walking through the doors I pulled back the sheets and ruffled his dark brown hair.
"Hey, kid. It's nearly ten! Wake up Henry!" He groaned and rolled over.
"Morning, mom." He said, rubbing his eyes."
"Come on, they're almost done serving breakfast! I bet if you ask nicely Granny will make you some pancakes!" Henry perked up at this and hopped out of bed. Pulling on his Enchanted Forest-Princely in miniature clothing, he dragged a comb through his hair.
"Grandpa said he would take me riding today." He commented.
"Brilliant!" I said. "Why don't you go find him and ask him to explain everything to you while you eat? I am going to go and get some air this morning, I just need some space okay? I will be back by tonight." I promised him. He nodded, knowing me well enough to know that when I told him something I meant it.
"Okay mom." He gave me a sidelong glance. "Are you okay mom?" I smiled halfheartedly and nodded.
"Yeah, I'll be okay. If you need anything talk to my parents. Or Regina. Or Baelfire. Or anyone really, just find someone you know and ask okay?" he nodded but I noticed the crinkle in his forehead when I mentioned Regina. I decided to let it go. He would figure that all out soon enough anyway. And to be honest, Regina might be good now and might even deserve Henry, but that didn't mean I liked her. I kissed Henry's cheek and walked out to the balcony. Flying. It was so free. So unconstrained. It felt like something else I loved doing. With a deep breath I flew over everyone's heads, ignoring my parents' screams and Regina's chortles and landed on the wooden deck of a beloved ship with a thump. He stepped out of his cabins immediately. The happy look on his face soon disappeared to one of confusion as he peered over my shoulder.
"Love, is there any particular reason why your parents and half the castle are riding their horses and stampeding towards my ship?" he asked as he wrapped me in a salty smelling embrace.
"How fast can you get me out of here?" I begged him. A smirk appeared on his lips.
"Your wish is my command, love." Rushing about the Jolly we were soon off, my parents still on the dock screaming my name. I didn't look back. I didn't have to. Henry was safe, and the only other thing I had ever wanted was holding my hand and steering this ship out to freedom.
"But I thought you said there was a colossal drought?" I asked, fingering a silky rose petal between my fingers. "I thought there was death everywhere and everyone was running out of food."
"True Love's Kiss, dearie." Gold responded cheerfully. He was holding Belle's hand in his and I had noticed that since his return and the end of the battle he hadn't let her out of his sight. I didn't mind. I liked Belle, and even though I was allowing Gold to teach me magic I would rather not be alone with him. I hadn't spoken to my parents since last night and to be honest, my plan was to continue ignoring them until I absolutely had to confront them. Speak of the devil, David was riding his horse towards me determinedly.
"Hey, Gold? You want to teach me that spell you use to run away and hide?" The man followed my line of sight and chuckled softly.
"I think it might be best if you just bit the bullet and had whatever discussion you are attempting to avoid." He suggested, sounding more like the Mr. Gold I knew and less like the bits of Rumpelstiltskin that slipped out from time to time. I thought about it for a moment and shook my head.
"Nope. I'm going to go with run and hide." I turned around and sprinted as fast as I could to the lake shore. Of course when you're running and the guy chasing you is on a horse they tend to catch up rather quickly. But I had magic. I poured all my emotions into running, flying away as quickly as I could and suddenly found that my sprinting feet were no longer in contact with the ground. Um, I was flying. Without pixie dust. I spread my arms and willed myself to rise higher in the sky.
"Emma!" I heard David yell, half worried and half angry. "Emma Swan get down here this instant!" His yells drew the attention of those in the castle who hurried out to see what on earth my father could be yelling about. I heard gasps from the ground below me and within seconds Tinkerbelle and Mother Superior were flying next to me.
"Emma, how are you doing that? Where did you get pixie dust?" Mother Superior asked.
"Um, I'm not sure and I don't have pixie dust, I just wanted to run away and all of a sudden I wasn't touching the ground anymore." I said nervously. Tink laughed cheerfully.
"That's fantastic!" she giggled, much to the blue fairy's overt and obvious displeasure. "Emma, you are doing magic that no one knew about! Looks like True Love is more powerful than we all knew." I sped up and landed on the balcony of one of the few people I actually wanted to talk to. Walking through the doors I pulled back the sheets and ruffled his dark brown hair.
"Hey, kid. It's nearly ten! Wake up Henry!" He groaned and rolled over.
"Morning, mom." He said, rubbing his eyes."
"Come on, they're almost done serving breakfast! I bet if you ask nicely Granny will make you some pancakes!" Henry perked up at this and hopped out of bed. Pulling on his Enchanted Forest-Princely in miniature clothing, he dragged a comb through his hair.
"Grandpa said he would take me riding today." He commented.
"Brilliant!" I said. "Why don't you go find him and ask him to explain everything to you while you eat? I am going to go and get some air this morning, I just need some space okay? I will be back by tonight." I promised him. He nodded, knowing me well enough to know that when I told him something I meant it.
"Okay mom." He gave me a sidelong glance. "Are you okay mom?" I smiled halfheartedly and nodded.
"Yeah, I'll be okay. If you need anything talk to my parents. Or Regina. Or Baelfire. Or anyone really, just find someone you know and ask okay?" he nodded but I noticed the crinkle in his forehead when I mentioned Regina. I decided to let it go. He would figure that all out soon enough anyway. And to be honest, Regina might be good now and might even deserve Henry, but that didn't mean I liked her. I kissed Henry's cheek and walked out to the balcony. Flying. It was so free. So unconstrained. It felt like something else I loved doing. With a deep breath I flew over everyone's heads, ignoring my parents' screams and Regina's chortles and landed on the wooden deck of a beloved ship with a thump. He stepped out of his cabins immediately. The happy look on his face soon disappeared to one of confusion as he peered over my shoulder.
"Love, is there any particular reason why your parents and half the castle are riding their horses and stampeding towards my ship?" he asked as he wrapped me in a salty smelling embrace.
"How fast can you get me out of here?" I begged him. A smirk appeared on his lips.
"Your wish is my command, love." Rushing about the Jolly we were soon off, my parents still on the dock screaming my name. I didn't look back. I didn't have to. Henry was safe, and the only other thing I had ever wanted was holding my hand and steering this ship out to freedom.
Chapter 24: Jealousy and Excitement
Regina
That silly girl had left us all to go off on some sort of adventure. And she could fly. I couldn't fly without fairy dust, why could she? This was ridiculous. On the other hand she had told Henry to come to me if he needed anything. Maybe she was just trying to give us some bonding time, while she had her own sort of bonding time. She seemed to be fighting with her parents and while I was no longer attempting to take their lives, it still brought me a bit of amusement.
There was a knock on my door and when I opened it I saw my little boy staring up at me. "Henry?" I practically gasped the word.
"Grandpa said that I should get you to help with my riding lesson." He said. I grinned and nodded.
"Of course sweetie, let me just get changed." I rushed to pull on my pants and coat and hurried out to meet them in the stables.
"Regina!" Charming said cheerfully. I figured if my grandson was going to learn to ride he should do so from one of the best riders in the realm." I grinned.
"You mean the best rider in the realm." I returned. I had come to enjoy Charming's company. He had fought with many of his own people to keep me safe and I was welcome in his councils. I asked him why once. It was clear he still trusted me just about as far as he could throw me but he told me that despite my evil tendencies I had been a cunning and rather clever ruler. Put that together with Snow's heart and his sword and we might be able to rule this realm better than ever. He leaned over to me while Henry fed a small black pony some carrots.
"Actually it was Emma's idea. She remembered what Snow had told her, about the day you two met and thought it might give you some time to show Henry you weren't what his storybook says you are." I nodded and willed out a silent thank you to Emma. Charming and I showed Henry how to groom and feed his pony and then we plopped him on, mounting our own horses and walked out towards some open fields. He wasn't half bad. By the end of the day he was cantering in loops around the field with great posture and I was so proud of him. I leaned over to Charming.
"He's a natural." He grinned back.
"Of course, he's got it on all sides. Including the adopted one." He responded. I grinned. Finally. I had a family. It was just missing one piece. True Love.
That silly girl had left us all to go off on some sort of adventure. And she could fly. I couldn't fly without fairy dust, why could she? This was ridiculous. On the other hand she had told Henry to come to me if he needed anything. Maybe she was just trying to give us some bonding time, while she had her own sort of bonding time. She seemed to be fighting with her parents and while I was no longer attempting to take their lives, it still brought me a bit of amusement.
There was a knock on my door and when I opened it I saw my little boy staring up at me. "Henry?" I practically gasped the word.
"Grandpa said that I should get you to help with my riding lesson." He said. I grinned and nodded.
"Of course sweetie, let me just get changed." I rushed to pull on my pants and coat and hurried out to meet them in the stables.
"Regina!" Charming said cheerfully. I figured if my grandson was going to learn to ride he should do so from one of the best riders in the realm." I grinned.
"You mean the best rider in the realm." I returned. I had come to enjoy Charming's company. He had fought with many of his own people to keep me safe and I was welcome in his councils. I asked him why once. It was clear he still trusted me just about as far as he could throw me but he told me that despite my evil tendencies I had been a cunning and rather clever ruler. Put that together with Snow's heart and his sword and we might be able to rule this realm better than ever. He leaned over to me while Henry fed a small black pony some carrots.
"Actually it was Emma's idea. She remembered what Snow had told her, about the day you two met and thought it might give you some time to show Henry you weren't what his storybook says you are." I nodded and willed out a silent thank you to Emma. Charming and I showed Henry how to groom and feed his pony and then we plopped him on, mounting our own horses and walked out towards some open fields. He wasn't half bad. By the end of the day he was cantering in loops around the field with great posture and I was so proud of him. I leaned over to Charming.
"He's a natural." He grinned back.
"Of course, he's got it on all sides. Including the adopted one." He responded. I grinned. Finally. I had a family. It was just missing one piece. True Love.