Second Chance

43

Emma Swan-

Every amount of pain is worth this very moment. Every heartache, every trial and error, every up and down and every push is worth bringing a child into this world and becoming my child.

"Miss Swan, on the count of 3, you need to push" the nurse says popping up from between my legs after assessing when is best to deliver our child. "Three..." it sucks being alone in a period of time as such, being alone when I need someone the most. "Two..." yet it's such an incredible moment and I'm beyond excited to meet the child that's been a part of me for nine whole months. "One... push Emma...!!"

"Aghhhh!!" My ears pop, my veins burst, but non of that matters. I know I'm already in love with this child that's surely making itself known. My knuckles turn white from just gripping onto the arms of the bed. "I can't... I can't do this..."

"You can Emma. You need to, one more push" and with that, I found the faith. My baby wanted to come out of me and I had no say. I needed to do this for the sake of my child. I need to know my baby is safe.

I scream so loud I'm tearing down the hospital walls. I lunge forward and bring my knees to my chest as I use all my energy to push. As soon as I fall back I wait... wait for the all clear.

"Why... why isn't my baby crying? What's wrong? Is everything okay? Please god be okay!" I hysterically cry as I watch them take my baby to the side ruffing the poor thing with a towel. "Come on little girl" I hear from afar and that's when I know, my little princess is struggling. "Please let her be okay. Please" I can't cope through all of this without her knowing I done my best but even that wasn't good enough. "She's not even met her other mother... she needs to see how amazing she is. Regina would know what to do"

Suddenly the cries fill the room and finally I can breathe. "Congratulations Emma, it's a girl, she's okay now. Just a blocked airwave but she's a fighter"

"Just like her mom" I coo, holding her tight and nuzzling my nose against hers as my finger tightly gets locked in her grasp. Suddenly I see Regina come to the hospital window and that's when I know we're not alone anymore. "Look mommy's here" I coo, signalling my wife to waltz on in and greet our newest addition to our family.

"Emma..." I hear from afar but my eyes are screwed onto a set of brown that resemble her fierce mothers and I already know we have a mini Gina ready to take over the world.

"Emma... baby..." I hear, but this time there's a ghostlike nudge against my shoulders as though someone's seeking my attention. "Wake up"

That's when I realise it's all a dream. No baby. No wife. It wasn't real and my heart shatters. Yet that's pushed behind when I see Regina crying.

"Baby what's wrong..." I sympathetically enquire, shuffling out of bed and sitting upon the end beside my girlfriend.

"I... I don't feel so good..." she stutters, clutching her stomach and bouncing her trembling legs. "I feel dizzy... and and sick... and my head ... I think I'm going to be..." she runs as fast as her shaky legs will take her to the toilet as she empties her guts.

I wonder into the bathroom, holding back her hair and brushing my hand along her back as she arches over the toilet, emptying her insides. "I think it's from the stress yesterday, either that or I caught your bug"

"Maybe" I shrug, helping her up. "I'll go get you some water" I quickly run downstairs getting an icy cup of water and resting it on the bedside table as she washes her hands and splashes the cool water against her face. She slowly begins to walk out the bathroom but I hear a thud, and when I turn, Reginas on the floor. Out cold. "Baby!!" I yell and Henry come bursting through the door. "Call 999 for me please bud?" I ask reassuringly yet I'm panicking.

"Is she okay mom?" Henry cries.

"She will be, she just needs hospital care, can you call an ambulance?" I ask and he nods in return. I roll her onto her side and support her head as I shake her slightly. Her eyes slowly flutter open with confusion as to why she's on the floor. "Babe you passed out but we're getting help, don't worry we're not going anywhere"

"I hate hospitals" she whines.

"I know you do baby, but you need help, somethings wrong" I brush my fingers through her hair as I help her to the bed for comfort. "I think your dealing with too much lately, you need to take time for yourself, stop worrying about me, about the town, about work, worry about yourself. You come first"

"No emma... you and henry... you guys always come first" she coos as I kiss her forehead placing a cold compress upon her forehead as Henry runs back into the room. His eyes stained red and his cheeks blotchy. "Baby come here, give mommy a cuddle" she coos as Henry leaps into my bed beside his other mother.

"The ambulance is on the way mom" he smiles but I see the worry behind those shiny glossy eyes.

"Im going to be okay little prince" she winks, placing a kid to his forehead. "Just a little stress. Nothing a little cuddle with my boy won't cure"