I'm Coming Home

Chapter Twenty Four

*Emma's POV**time lapse*
I woke up at 10:15 and smiled. I looked over at my wife who was still asleep. I smiled at her 8 and a half month pregnant stomach. She's gained around 35 pounds which is ten more pounds than I gained with Henry. I laid my hand on her stomach and rubbed it lightly. I felt our little girl kicking and I smiled brightly. I sat up and leaned over her stomach. "Hi little girl. This is your Momma. Mommy's still sleeping." I started. "You know, soon you'll be here with us." I continued. "You're going to be just as beautiful as your mommy. You'll be so lucky. Cause she's the most beautiful woman in the world. And you'll be even luckier if you're blessed with her strength and dignity. She's going to be the best mommy in the world. I can promise you that. She'll make up for the times I mess up. So, I'll apologize for me now. I might not be as good of a mom, but I'll try. I've never raised a kid before, but I'll try my hardest. I can't promise I'll be a perfect mom like your mommy, but I'll love you more than you'll ever understand. I can't wait to meet you my little Princess. I love you so much." I said. I kissed her stomach and sat up. I stood up and walked to the closet. I pulled out jeans and a long sleeve, see through, white shirt. I pulled off my pajama pants, then pulled on my jeans. I put my white shirt on over my white tank top and Regina groaned in pain. "Shit." She mumbled. I looked at her as she sat up. "What's wrong?" I asked. She closed her eyes. "It's time." She said quietly. "Time for wha- It's time?! Like now?! Okay! Come on babe!" I said and began rushing around. I scooped her up in my arms and she held on to me. I quickly walked downstairs and to her car. I helped her get in the passenger seat. I ran back in the house and grabbed the duffel bag of her clothes and the bag of my clothes. "Henry! It's time! Come on!" I screamed. He ran out of his room and down the stairs. I followed him and opened the back door. I put the bags in and Henry hopped in. I closed the door, then got in the driver's seat. "We're having a baby!" I shouted as I started the car. I backed out and sped to the hospital. "Shit!" Regina screamed and squeezed the arm rest. "We're almost there." I said. "Hurry!" She shouted. I nodded. We finally got to the hospital and Henry and I got out. He grabbed the two bags and I walked to the passenger side. I opened the door and helped her out. She closed her eyes in pain and I picked her up, bridal style, again. I carried her to the door and we walked in. "Whale! It's time!" I said. He smiled and nodded. He led us to a room and I laid Regina down in the bed. She changed from her yoga pants and t-shirt, to a hospital robe and Henry set our bags down. Gina grabbed my hand and began squeezing it. I leaned down and kissed her forehead. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and texted Neal to come get Henry. "Emma.. I'm scared.." Regina whispered. I smiled. "Don't be scared. I'm right here." I said. She nodded and closed her eyes. "Alright. You're fully dilated. Time to push." He said. Regina nodded and Neal walked in. "Hen, go with Neal." I said. Henry sighed and stood up. They left the room and closed the door behind them.
*Neal's POV*
"Why wouldn't they let me stay?" Henry asked and looked up at me. "Well, I guess they think you're too young." I said. He sighed. "But.. I'm almost twelve." He said. I laughed lightly. "I'm sorry kid." I said. He shook his head. "Why'd you decide to stay here?" He asked as we walked outside. I sighed. "Because. I like it here. But, we're probably going to leave soon." I answered. Tamara and I started dating a month after she and Emma killed Greg. He nodded. "Well, we should keep in touch." Henry said. I looked at him and sighed. "I don't think your moms would like that." I said. He frowned. "They don't have to know." He said. I chuckled. "Henry, if Emma doesn't want us to talk, then we shouldn't because I don't want you to get in trouble." I said. "Come onnnn." He whined. I sighed. "Alright. I'll give you my number and we can text and stuff I guess." I said. He smiled and handed me his phone. I put in my number. Then handed it back to him. I handed him my phone and he put in his number. He gave it back and smiled. I got a text and laughed lightly. It was him. I shook my head at him as we got in my car. I drove us to Granny's and we got there around 12. We got out and walked in. We sat at a booth and ordered burgers and cokes. We both started eating as soon as Ruby brought us our food. "So, it could be all day before your mom has the baby." I said. He shrugged. "Well, what do you want to do today?" I asked. He shrugged again. "Do you want to go to the park?" I asked. He shook his head. "Um, I have some video games back at my place?" I said. He smiled. "Let's go play video games." He said. I chuckled and nodded. "Finish your lunch. Then we'll go." I said. He nodded and I pulled out my phone. I had a text from Tamara. "Almost done packing. Leaving tomorrow. Love you." I let out a sigh and quickly started typing a response. "Watching Henry. His moms having her baby. Might not be here yet." I sent. "Okay. We can leave after the baby's born." She sent back. I sighed. I didn't want to leave. This is where my first love is. Where my son is. Where my step-mother is. I don't want to leave. But Tamara wants to go back to New York. We've been here five and a half months so I don't know why we have to leave now. I don't want to lose my kid again. She's talking about getting married and having kids, but I miss Emma. I know she's in love with Regina, but still. I want her back. It hurts me that I hurt her. But, how many times do I have to apologize before she forgives me? Will she ever? "Hen, text your grandparents. Find out what they're doing." I said. Henry nodded. After about 5 minutes he looked up at me. "Grandma Cora is at the hospital waiting for mom. Grandma and grandpa are at my house setting up the nursery to surprise moms." He said. I nodded. It's 2 in the afternoon. We stood up and walked towards the door. I sighed and put my phone in my pocket. "Neal, I think you should stay here." Henry said. I laughed. "Why kid?" I asked. "Cause I'd kinda like to get to know you. You're my dad." He said. I nodded. "Yeah. But I don't think your moms want me in your life. I'm a bad guy." I said and got in the car. Henry got in and laughed. "Yeah but so was my mom and look how great she is now." He said. "Yeah kid. But I can't change like your mom did." I said sadly. "Why?" He asked. "Kid, I'm honestly a bad guy. I-I can't change kid. I'm not capable of it. Your mom had something happen that made her go evil and be bad. I didn't. I'm just bad. Kid, I shouldn't even be here. I'm amazed your moms trusted me with you." I said. He looked at me. "Do you even want me? Do you even care that I'm your kid?!" He screamed. "No! Maybe I don't!" I screamed back. Then he got out of the car and ran. What the fuck did I just do? What the fuck is wrong with me? I got out and slammed the door shut. Then, I punched the window. My hand went through it and the pain hit me after. "Shit!" I screamed. I looked at my now bloody hand and started running. I ran to the hospital. When I got there, a male nurse looked at me. "I fucked up. Help me!" I screamed. He nodded and took me to a room. He immediately started cleaning my hand. There was glass stuck in it. He pulled it out, then got the stitches. He stitched up the cuts, then wrapped my hand in gauze. "Good job. You broke your hand and screwed up your tendons." The nurse said. I nodded. He put my hand in a cast and then, I was ready to go. I checked my phone. "Holy shit. Dude. Did you know it's 8 pm?! Man! It's been 6 hours! Shit!" I screamed. He laughed and I ran out of the room. I smacked right into someone and we both fell to the floor. "I'm sorry-" I started but then I looked up. "Shit." I said. "Neal? What are you doing here?" She asked. We both stood up. "I uh.. Punched through my car window." I said. She raised an eyebrow. "Where the fuck is my son?" She asked. "I don't know.." I said. "You lost my son?" She asked. "He ran off.." I said. "What did you do?" She spit. "I uh.." I said. Her phone started ringing. "Henry! Kid, where are you?!" she said. She looked at me. "He said what?" She said. I closed my eyes. "Okay. Well, come to the hospital." She said. "Yeah kid. Okay." She said and hung up. "What the fuck is wrong with you?!" She screamed. "I'm sorry Emma.." I said. "You don't tell your kid that you don't want them! You don't tell them you don't care! You fucking asshole!" She screamed. I clenched my jaw. "I'm sorry. I know I fucked up. I'm sorry." I said. She shook her head. "No more sorries. This is exactly why I didn't want you to know about Henry. Okay? Get the fuck out of our lives and this time? Stay out." Emma spit. "You don't mean that." I said. She laughed bitterly. "Yes. I do." She said. I shook my head and walked away. Henry was walking in as I was walking out. "Hey Hen. I'm sorry." I said. He looked at me and shook his head. I turned and watched him run to Emma. She hugged him tightly and I frowned. They walked away and I sighed.
*Emma's POV*
Henry ran up to me and hugged me tightly. I kissed the top of his head. "I'm sorry kid." I said. He shook his head. "It's okay. You were trying to protect me from him but I didn't get it. I get it now." He said. I sighed. "I love you kid." I said as we started to walk away. "I love you too." He said. We were standing outside the room and I heard a voice talking to Regina. The door was locked. I leaned against the door. "Regina, you've gone soft." The voice said. "I.. I'm not soft. I'm a lot stronger.." Regina said in a calm tone. "Hah that's a good one. You had a baby. You're married. You're good. I mean, that's sad dear." The mystery woman continued. "At least I've gotten my happy ending." Regina spit. Then, an evil laugh broke out. I clenched my fists. "Oh Regina. It's sad that you think this is your happy ending. I could've given you so much more." Who is this woman and why the fuck is she talking like this to my wife? "You couldn't give me anything Emma has." Regina said. "Like?" The woman asked. "Like love. A baby. Happiness. My son." Regina said again. "Regina. You don't know what I'm capable of. I could've given you everything you wanted." The woman said. "With magic. Nothing would've been real. With Emma? Everything is real. She's my true love." Regina said. I didn't like that I couldn't get in. "Yes. I know. You and Emma are truest loves. So you have the most powerful magic. But guess what? I have magic too babe." The woman said. I closed my eyes. "Guess what. Emma's magic is light magic. Yours is not. I don't want your dark magic holding me back." Regina said. I smiled lightly. "I will not stop until I have what I want." The voice spit and then there was a whoosh. I turned the knob on the door and it opened. I shook my head and Henry and I walked in. Regina was holding our little girl close to her and I smiled. "Is that my little sister?" Henry asked. Regina smiled brightly and nodded. "C-can I hold her?" He asked. I smiled. "You gotta be careful. Sit down." I said. He nodded and sat down on the couch. I walked over to Regina and took the baby in my arms. This is the first time I've held my baby girl. It's like in this moment... Time stopped. Like I was frozen to where I was standing. I was in a trance from the little bundle in my arms. I felt a tear roll down my cheek as I stared at the beautiful little girl. I felt a hand on my arm and I looked at my wife. She had a warm smile and I smiled. "We created this." I said quietly. She smiled and nodded. "We did dear." She said. I leaned down and kissed her forehead. She leaned back against the pillows and I readjusted the pink blanket wrapped around our sleeping baby. I smiled. "I think she needs a name darling." Regina said and looked at me lovingly. I smiled and nodded. "Can I help?" Henry asked. Regina and I both smiled and nodded. "I like the name Briar." He said. Regina's face paled a little. She cleared her throat. "Briar Maria Mills." I said. Regina looked up at me confused. "Here. I'll be back in a little while." I said and handed the baby back to Regina. "Emma. Where are you going?" She asked. I shook my head and walked towards the door. "Emma!" Regina said and I kept walking. I got in the hall and took off running. I ran towards Town Hall. I knew 'Mayor White' would still be there. It's almost 9 at night. I ran my heart out. It felt like my lungs would collapse. I didn't stop until I got to Snow's office. I flung the door opened. "Emma!" Snow shouted. I held up a hand, showing I needed a minute as i panted. I put my hands on my hips and breathed very heavily. "Emma what happened? Where'd you run from?" She asked. "I ran from.. The hospital.. Regina.. Had.. The baby.." I said between pants. "That's great! But... Why are you here?" She asked. "I want to surprise Regina..." I said after catching my breath. She raised an eyebrow.
*Regina's POV*
Why'd Emma just run off like that? It's not like her. I'm kinda worried. I looked down at the baby and smiled. "Hen.. Where'd you come up with the name Briar?" I asked quietly. "My book..." He said. I nodded. "So.. You know who Briar Rose is.. Was..?" I said and looked up at him. He nodded. I smiled a little. "Henry.. No matter what, you'll always be my little prince.." I said. He smiled. "And Briar will always be your little princess." He said. I smiled and felt tears of joy building in my eyes. "I love you Henry." I said. He smiled. "Mom.. Can I ask you something?" He said. I nodded. "So... First of all, did Ma tell you what Neal said?" He asked. I shook my head. "Uh.. Well... He Uh.. He said he didn't want me or care about me.." Henry said. My face fell. "Hen.. I'm so sorry.." I said. He shook his head. "When you adopted me... Was it because you wanted me?" He asked. I sighed. "Henry... I picked you out. I knew from the moment I saw you that you would be my little prince." I said. "Why didn't Emma want me?" he asked sadly. This is the first time I've heard him call her Emma since he brought her back. "Henry. She did want you. But she wanted you to have your best chance at a good life.." I said. He sighed. "But... Why did she think putting me in the same situation she was in, was my best chance. That clearly messed her up. Why did she do the same to me. " He spit. "Henry Mills. She is your mother. You know she loves you more than anything in this world!" I shouted, waking up Briar. She began crying and I rocked her in my arms lightly. She fell back asleep quickly and I looked at Henry. "I just feel like the bad kid because Emma didn't want to give up Briar. But she gave up me." He said. "Henry. She realized she made a mistake when she gave you up. But then she couldn't take it back. Henry, we both love you very much." I said. He looked up at me. "Do you think... If Emma had kept me.. Do you think you would've found us?" He asked. I sighed. "I don't know kid. But I'm glad I'll never have to know." I said. He smiled. After over an hour, Emma came back with a wide smile on her face. "Emma. It's 10:30. Where'd you go?" I asked. She walked over and laid an envelope in my lap. I handed Briar over to her. She took her in her arms lovingly and I smiled. I picked up the envelope and opened it. I pulled out the paper and began reading it. I brought a hand to my mouth and covered it as I felt tears build in my eyes. "E-Emma.." I said. She smiled. "What is it?" Henry asked. "This certifies the name change of Emma Swan to Emma Mills." I said. "Check the other forms." Emma said. I pulled out the other forms. "Regina Swan-Mills to Regina Mills." I said. "Emma..." I said. She smiled. "Yes, Mrs. Mills?" She asked. I smiled. "I love you so much." I said. She smiled and looked down at the baby. "Oh and Emma?" I said. She looked up at me. "I heard everything you said this morning... To the baby.." I said, a smile plastered to my face. She turned the color of a firetruck and I smirked. A nurse walked in. "Mrs. Mills, do we have a name for the baby?" She asked and looked at Emma. She smiled and nodded. "Briar Maria Mills." Emma said and looked up at me. I smiled back and leaned into my pillows. The exhaustion just hit me. "That's a beautiful name.. I'm sorry, but I think it's time for me to take her to the nursery." She said. Emma nodded and handed Briar to her. I sighed as the nurse took her away. "I'm going to Aunt Zelena's house." Henry said and stood up. I raised an eyebrow. "She already said okay." He said. I nodded and he walked out of the room. Emma looked at me and smiled. I scooted over and patted the spot beside me on the bed. Emma smiled and laid beside me. She wrapped her arm around me and I leaned against her shoulder. "So.. Regina.. We promised to always be honest. Right?" She asked. "Of course dear." I said. She sighed. "Regina... Who was in here after you had the baby? Who came?" She asked. Shit. She knows. "Um.. An old friend." I said. "And that old friend? With dark magic? And wants you?" She questioned. "Just tell me who it is." She said. "It was Maleficent." I said. "Maleficent. Wants you." Emma said. I nodded against her shoulder. "Is she an ex?" Emma asked. "No. I never had a relationship with her. I didn't even know she felt like that towards me." I said. "I trust you." Emma said. "Good. Because you're the only person I have feelings for." I said. "I love you. So so much." Emma said. I smiled. "I love you more." I said. "Oh hush. Go to sleep." Emma said, causing me to chuckle. "We both need the rest." I said. Emma kissed my head and we laid down. "I really love our family.." I said, groggily. "Me too." Emma said and wrapped her other arm around me, then pulled me as close as she could into her embrace. I smiled as I drifted off to sleep. This was a long day.