Chapter 12
Author's Note: So grateful that my story is still being read and enjoyed. Every time I see a vote I get so excited because I know the same people are keeping up with my story. That being said I would also love to see more comments if possible. I love to hear your thoughts as you read like I sometimes hide in easter eggs from teh show and I want to know if anyone noticed, or what you think about what might happen or certain relationships. While I am writing this story I am basically just 1 chapter ahead of you guys at all times so I feel like we are all going along for the ride together. One thing which I really should point out for the future, I'll randomly be putting the actual script from the show into my story to help make sense of Emma's storyline. Doubt I'll be doing it with Neal as much as I don't know if I'll be continuing through season 2. I will be skipping over most scenes in the future as they have nothing to do with Emma or the changes in the story I have made. For example, the parts where Snowing goes and run off, stuff like that wouldn't be effected so I wouldn't include it. Plus I won't be including anything from the past. So if you want all that maybe watch the original side by side? IDK. Well, hope you respond and enjoy this chapter.
"Why did you need to talk to Neal anyway?" Emma asked, sipping her cocoa. She was all cozy now in her pajamas; she wouldn't let August ruin her night. Emma laid with her legs across the couch; August sat on the floor across from Emma to place his hot drink on the coffee table.
"Why did you let me believe you had a stomach issue and not tell me you were pregnant?" August countered. He wouldn't lie, and he also wouldn't tell Emma what he'd been up to.
"Because I was scared? I'm not normally one to admit to weakness, but this wasn't an experience I could prepare for. Plus, we barely know each other." Emma subconsciously brought her hand to her abdomen.
"You shouldn't have had to prepare for anything. Both of you could have been a bit less stupid." He took a sip from his mug. "You can't even legally drink."
"Sometimes, I feel like you want to control my life, August. What I do is none of your business; stop stalking me. Neal shouldn't be your informant when it comes to my well-being; I know how you ask him questions... I'm done with people telling me what I can and can't do. I'm old enough to make my own choices." Emma went from heated to her voice breaking. She never fully realized how much it hurt that so many people wanted to take her life apart and put it on their path. Doctors, Neal, August, Lily, Sky, and even her criminal parents. Would she ever have enough strength to not let others influence her?
"I can understand that completely. I'm sorry for budding into your personal life; I just feel like I should protect you." August would have gone over and hugged her, but Emma's arms were crossed; it must have been hard for her to talk this way. "Can I ask why you're living with Neal? You said that you aren't together, and this is sending mixed messages."
Emma took a deep breath, "I needed a place to crash. My home in Phoenix didn't quite work out, and Neal was all I had left." She looked over at August, "I'm not really the best at making friends."
"I can see that." August chuckled, "Now, while I can't offer you living space, if you ever need me, just call. Family is important."
"And what makes us family, August?" Emma raised an eyebrow. Kind of hard to know about something if you never had it.
"My father has some memory issues. Currently, he has no idea who I am. Which means even though I want to speak with him, having a conversation would be useless. He isn't someone I can currently rely on. You and Neal are my only source of friendship. If that little circle of friendship ends, I'll have no one. That's what makes you both my family. I wouldn't call my one night stands my friends; I don't usually spend time telling them personal information." August smirked.
"And you got annoyed when Neal and I...very hypocritical August." Emma oddly felt the urge to smile. "Well, as I'm someone with criminal parents and consider myself an orphan, I'm honored to be your family. No celebrating birthdays, no parties especially surprise ones." Would Neal be considered her family based on this definition? Better not to overthink it.
"What do you mean your parents are criminals, Emma?" August nervously fidgeted with his fingers. Had Neal destroyed any chance of Emma wanting to break the curse?
"Well they not only dumped me on the side of the road; they did the same thing to someone else, a former friend of mine. They kidnapped her and then disposed of her. I would consider that criminal activity." Emma sighed, "Great role models."
"Did your ex-friend tell you where your parents are living? What exactly is this friend's name?" August needed to know more. Neal had obviously been keeping quite a lot from him.
"There you go asking for too much information, August. I told you I can handle myself." Emma looked across the room at an alarm clock. "He should be back by now."
He listened to the sound of thunder outside, "It's raining pretty hard out there; he might be held up. Don't assume the worst."
"My brain goes straight to the worst because that's what seems to happen most of the time. At least in my world." She rubbed her eyes, "it's getting late."
August nodded. It would do him no good trying to push Emma right now. "We should have a drink. This conversation has gotten too deep."
"No thank you. As long as I'm living in the same apartment as my ex-boyfriend, I will not be intoxicated. Forget about my age. That level of vulnerability would cause too much trouble." Emma shook her head. Imagine if she began sharing all of her feelings with Neal, or even worse, kissing him.
"In the future, promise me that you'll go for a drink with me. No Neal, just us. That way, we won't completely lose touch." August got up from his spot on the floor, and Emma moved her feet so August could sit with her.
"Sounds like a plan. As long as that's not you asking me out because that would be quite disturbing." Emma smiled widely; she was lucky to find another friend. Hopefully, this one wouldn't leave.
"Nah. Dating someone who I considered family would be pretty disturbing indeed. Just friends." August took Emma's hand in his as the door opened.
Neal walked into the apartment with a drenched raincoat. The brown grocery bags in his arms were soaked through as well and seemed to barely stay together. "It's pouring outside. Didn't expect to see you here, August." Neal cleared his throat.
"We all seem to be finding out about things that we didn't expect this evening." August stood up off the couch, "Need help with the bags?"
Neal put the bags down on the counter and took off his wet jacket, "Could you both unpack? I need to change. This coat was basically useless out there." Neal brought the damp coat to the small bathroom and then grabbed some clothing to change there as well.
August began to take out groceries from the bags and place them in the fridge. It was very empty and unorganized, so he didn't feel bad as he kept placing all the food. Emma got up off the couch and began to unpack the things that didn't need to be put in the fridge. Emma held up a tissue box that was dripping water; she began to laugh, "This never happened in Phoenix."
"Who doesn't want tissues that have already soaked up water?" August chuckled along with her. "Need help? I finished with the food."
Neal walked out of the bathroom in a sweatshirt and new pair of jeans. "Actually August, I think we need to talk. Will you be ok here, Emma? We'll go out to the stairwell."
"I'll be fine. August did most of the work already." She nodded at the boys, "you both go yell at each other and bond."
Neal led August out of the small apartment and down the hallway to a narrow stairwell. Neal sat down on the steps and ran his hand through his hair, anxiously, "You found Emma."
"I did. I also found your son." He sat down right next to Neal. "That's why I came. Seemed like something we should discuss in person. But when Emma Swan opened the door, I was shocked." August sighed, "She was meant to stay in Phoenix."
"She was in Phoenix. I missed her and thought I'd just visit her one last time, give her all of her boxes and then start fresh. But when I got there, things went differently. She didn't want anything to do with me until we got talking. That's how I found out about the baby." Neal paused, "How is he?"
"Not saying anything until you explain yourself. I need to know that your thoughts aren't cloudy before I tell you anything else. You broke your deal; I know you don't like to do that." August really didn't know how Neal would handle what he had to say.
"Emma was sick, and Sky didn't realize. Emma was hiding her symptoms, so we ended up deciding to bring her to the hospital. Emma was ordered to live with someone once she left, and she didn't trust Sky anymore. Em hates doctors, I mean Emma." Neal mumbled a curse to himself, "So now Emma is living with me, which has been extremely strange. She won't talk to me about anything that's bothering her or the fact she gave up a human being. I know that must be part of why Emma wakes up screaming from nightmares; I don't ever comfort her, though. She made rules... it's just so confusing." He closed his eyes, "Emma has nowhere else to go, August. I can't just keep kicking her to the curb."
"I got some information out of her while you were gone. Something about her parents abandoning some other baby as well. I doubt the Charmings would do something so cruel; we know why they did this to Emma. Who is that friend from jail?" August rubbed his hands together. It was getting cold in the stairwell.
"Lilith Page, she comes from the forest as well. I assumed that she left before the curse, the same as us. Something about Emma's parents giving her darkness that was meant for Emma. I made sure Lily cut off contact with her." Neal crossed his arms, "Nothing for us to deal with."
"That might be a problem, Neal. We might not be able to convince her to save Storybrooke if she thinks her parents are a problem. Anything else?"
Neal tried to recall, "Lilly doesn't have access to Storybrooke. She wants Emma to break the curse early so she can kill Emma's parents. Lily tried to convince me to kiss Emma to break it."
"I'll have to monitor Lilith Page then. That's going to suck." August laughed, "You should have told Lily that Emma would kiss a frog before kissing you again."
Neal swatted August and then took a deep breath, "Now can you tell me about him? Does he have a name?"
"He was adopted by a single mother. His name is Henry, which could definitely be worse. Henry is loved by his mother from what I could find out." August decided to start with the good news first.
"Henry. Better than Baelfire," He laughed. "Should I tell Emma? She'll be thrilled he found a loving home." Neal's eyes shone brighter; this could be an opportunity for Emma to open up to him.
"That wouldn't be wise, Neal. You've met Henry's adoptive mother, Regina Mills." August gave Neal a sorrowful look, "You can't get him back; you would reveal it to her. That would be putting Emma and your baby in danger. Is that something you want?"
"The Evil Queen adopted the one baby in the world that...this can't be happening." Neal quickly got up and began to pace. "What am I going to do? Now Regina knows about Emma...wait. Regina has no idea about Emma, closed adoption. Thank goodness."
"Exactly, her Majesty has no knowledge of Emma. If you show up at her door and try to take her baby, you are setting Regina up to find out about that child's identity. An extra problem is she hates you and wants to hurt the people you love. You are better off having her love Henry then hurting him." August hoped Neal understood the logistics of the situation. "She also legally owns him. You don't want to be arrested."
"So what would you like me to do? I will not be my father and leave him behind." Neal began to laugh loudly, "Emma doesn't even know I'm looking for him."
"You wouldn't be doing what your father did to you; Henry has a mother and a home. Better than you or Emma ever had. Neal, I doubt you would be able to raise a baby on your own anyway." August argued, "Emma never has to know."
"I don't trust Regina; she was nicknamed evil for a reason. Why would she even adopt a baby? Everyone in Storybrooke is under her spell; I'm sure she could have one naturally with one of her puppets." Neal sat back down beside August, "Am I overthinking?"
"I don't think she can have children. On her forms where they asked why she wanted to adopt, Regina wrote that she felt like she was missing something in her life, like there was a void. Which means she is more than qualified to take in a child who needed a home. Regina, as murderous as she is, deserves to have a child the same as you." August knew that if he was still a young boy, he would disagree, but as someone who has lived as and lived with orphans, he knew it was the right thing. Children without a home deserve a loving one. While Regina was in Storybrooke, she wouldn't bother to be a bad influence; there was no magic. Plus, Regina could control everyone to her every whim.
"But why Emma's baby? Makes me wonder how she found him, Henry was born in Arizona and Regina lives in Maine," Neal mused. "I have to keep an eye on him."
"Are you sure you are ready to choose him over Emma? She can't go to Storybrooke, which means if you plan on visiting constantly, she will have questions." August put his hand on Neal's shoulder in solidarity. This definitely wouldn't be an easy decision. The girl he was in love with, or a piece of him embodied in a miniature human being.
But before Neal could answer, Emma walked out into the stairwell barefoot, still dressed in her pajamas. She looked pretty irritated by the look of her raised an eyebrow and crossed arms. Emma was freezing, but she wouldn't let that stop her, "Am I right to assume that you both were talking about me? As you both always do."
"You were mentioned, but you were not the focus of our conversation. I did say I wouldn't get involved anymore, and I kept to that." August held up his hands defensively; he couldn't lie to her.
"What was the focus?" Emma's eyes left August, and looked over at Neal. It would be fun to see him try to lie; she would use it as blackmail material if Emma needed more ice cream.
"Our baby." Neal wouldn't fall for Emma's trap, "The one thing I can't talk to you about without you running off or bursting into tears. August is helping me sort through my thoughts."
No lies discovered, which made it hurt even more. Emma closed her eyes and took a deep breath before turning around and heading back to the apartment. This way, they couldn't see the tears forming.
"I guess you made your choice." August stood up a couple of seconds later, "I would say don't hurt Emma too much, but that would be meddling in her life. Remember, you have to keep her angry enough to not contact you for the next 10 years." He quickly dusted off his hands, "Good luck."
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