henrydaniel | (no subject)

[It's surreal, for him to be so much older and for herself to be virtually unchanged, at least physically. She has to wonder if this is what it was like for her parents, except for them, there was nothing in-between her birth and adulthood. Henry might have been grown now, but in her heart, he'll always be ten. She'll never forget the kid who showed up at her apartment and sat himself down at the counter with a glass of juice.

She pulls back just enough to smile wryly at him, her arms still hooked around him, fingers laced together behind his back for the time being.]

It's cute that you've been gone so long that you think that's weird here.

[Although he's not wrong, someone probably will call soon. This town doesn't have the best luck with portals. She doesn't notice his ring just yet-- if only because she's too busy studying his face, noting the ways in which it's changed.]

You were doing what you needed to. Working on finding your story, right? I've always known it wasn't forever, it just feels like it sometimes-- but whatever the reason? I'm glad you're here now. [Also:] I can't believe that you're even taller than when you left. I almost didn't recognize you.

[But only almost.]

[ He can take the scrutiny, he expected it, even, and then he laughs a little, shaking his head. ]

What can I say? There's something in the water out there.

[ There's a very, very faint scar on his cheek, still visible with all the studying Emma's doing, but it definitely wasn't a major injury and it isn't a big scar, by any means. It faintly resembles his grandfather's, even, just a little higher up. And he studies Emma too, re-memorizing her face because he's been in a place with no modern technology, it isn't like he could pull up photos of her or charge a smartphone and FaceTime. ]

Okay, so, tell me everything that's been happening here, and don't hold back. How're grandma and grandpa? And Regina and Hook, and...everyone?

[She reaches up without meaning to, ghosting her thumb along the length of the scar. It's small, and barely visible, but it's tough for something like that to escape a mother's notice.]

Looks like you're keeping up the family tradition.

[Those Charmings wear scars well, at least. Her smile blooms wider, and she grasps both of his shoulders in the absence of their embrace, as though if she lets go of him he might just vanish through another portal without warning. No thanks, not today.]

If you really want everything, we've got a lot of ground to cover. [But of course, she'll go through it all with him.] Your grandparents are still the same as they've always been, although I think they might be slowing down on the daring heroics-- we haven't had much use for those lately, but nobody's complaining. Regina will be over the moon to see you; we'll have to tell her you're here soon or else she'll think I was holding out on her. Hook is--

[Her expression shifts just a little, brighter somehow.]

He'll be happy to see you, too. Actually, I have some news.

Edited 2017-11-08 22:34 (UTC)

[ Henry tugs at her hand so they can go sit down on the couch, soaking in all the information she has to say and brightening himself. ]

I do too, but you first.

[ He needs to go see Regina, and soon, he knows, or her feelings will be hurt. Then will come everyone else. But when something's wrong, it's Emma he goes to first. She's been through so much, and he's actually really damn relieved she's fine. ]

What's your news? Don't leave me hanging, here, mom.

[He tugs at her hand the same way he used to when he was younger. Some things never change, no matter how many years have passed.]

Well--

[She drops down into a seat on the sofa, the same way she always has, leaning forward with her hands clasped between her knees as she angles herself towards him. No matter how different he looks, the scene itself feels natural, like this is how things have always been, the way they're supposed to be.]

Maybe it's not as good as surprising you with a dog, but I'm guessing we've kind of outgrown that. Can I interest you in a little brother or sister instead?

[ To say he's stunned is, well. An understatement. His mom is pregnant. His mom is going to have a baby, at least the's assuming because he's pretty sure she doesn't need his permission first. The shock is all over his face but it's not bad, at all, and it widens into a slow grin. He doesn't even answer, just wraps his arms around her. But this actually makes it easier for him to break his news.

Pulling back, he clears his throat, trying to look calm, cool, and collected. ]

Well, I guess that depends. Can I interest you in a grandson or granddaughter in return?

Are you serious?

[Her expression almost mirrors his-- the good kind of shock, with absolutely no effort put towards staying collected. There are times when Emma is great at maintaining her poker face-- this isn't one of them. She throws her arms around him again, hugging him tightly.]

I mean-- with who? Are you--

[She finally spots his ring, grabbing hold of his hand to examine it.]

You're married?

[ He laughs softly, squeezing her hand as she looks at his ring. ]

I am definitely married because if there's one lecture I don't want from Regina...although. Now comes the one about getting married without coming home first.

[ Henry looks at Emma, holding onto both of her hands. ]

We didn't have a fancy wedding, we were fighting the stupid regime - wicked step-mother and all. [ It was very Snow and Charming married by Lancelot. ] But we...knew. So we went for it. And now Ella and I want to come here. She's still back in her kingdom for now, I didn't want to bring her if there was danger, but...

[ He finally takes a breath and lets it out. ]

I'm coming home. For good. So I'll be here to help make sure my baby brother or sister is into comics and hot cocoa with cinnamon way before their first birthday.

[It's a lot of news to take in all at once, but it's undeniably the good sort of overwhelming. Momentarily at a loss for words, she leans in and pulls him into another tight hug, resting her chin against his shoulder. There's so much she wants to say, so many questions she wants to ask him, but what comes out instead sums it all up pretty well.]

Kid...

[There's a very faint twinge to her voice, the kind that sometimes accompanies the threat of tears, though even with her face hidden from her, he can hear her smile in her words.]

You really are all grown up, huh?

[She's not sure she's ready for this-- but it's so good to see him, and so good to see him happy.]

I really am.

[ He smiles, just lingering in this hug, in how good it feels to really be home. But then he pulls back, his grin huge. ]

And you're gonna be a mom again. How are you feeling? Okay? Do you need anything, like...errands taken care of or someone to take over Savior duty? Wait, you're not on active Savior duty are you? Someone else has to step up now.

[ It's a good thing he's back because there's no way his pregnant mom is running head first into any danger at all, even if it's just 100 baby dragons or something. NO. ]

Whoa, slow down! I'm not retired.

[Although maternity leave is definitely something she should be considering, but she hasn't had to do a lot of Savior-ing in recent years. Storybrooke has been quiet, almost too quiet, but it's been a break they all deserve. It had been years in coming, but finally people were able to relax and properly rebuild their lives.]

I'm fine. It's still early, you know? In some ways, it almost doesn't feel real-- kind of like your being here.

[She smiles all the same.]

I'm glad you are. [Like that wasn't obvious.] Think we can turn the Savior thing into a mother-son gig?

[ Henry chuckles, looking down for a second, looking very Charming-esque when he does. Then, he looks back up, grin still in place. ]

If there's room for one more on the team, I'm happy to be a part of it. Being back here doesn't feel real yet, either. I still have to go back and get Ella. Not knowing what was happening here, with her being pregnant, I didn't take any chances, you know? But I can't wait for you to meet her.

[ He lights up just mentioning her. ]

She's smart, and strong, and hit me in the face the first time we met.

[ You know, like Snow and Charming. ]

[Also not unlike Emma's first encounters with Neal and Hook. Neither of those first meetings had been entirely fairytale like, and she's lost count of how many times she'd punched Killian before they'd ended up together. Sometimes swords were involved, too.]

Keeping the family tradition alive, I see. Proud of you, kid.

[And teasing though she may be, she still means it.]

It won't be a long trip back, will it? She can travel safely with the baby on the way and all?

[Portals can be tricky. She doesn't blame him for wanting to play it safe.]

I mean, can't be a Charming and fall in love without either getting hit or hitting someone in the face, right?

[ But at her question he nods quickly. ]

Everything's above board. Hey, why don't you come with me to get her? She can't wait to meet you.

Of course not, it's in the blood.

[His grandparents will be so proud when they hear. She pauses at the offer, but only for a moment, surprised smile pulling wider.]

Yeah? It's been a long time since my last portal-jump-- I think we're overdue for a family trip, don't you?

[ Henry has to lean in and hug her now, wrapping his arms tightly around her and just resting his chin on her shoulder. ]

Yeah. But I'm gonna be selfish for five more minutes and make Ella wait. I missed you, mom.

[ He just needs this for a minute, a moment with no other family fighting for attention because he knows it'll be non-stop once he's back for good. ]

I can get behind that.

[She smiles, and there's a familiar waver to her voice as she hugs him tighter, turning her head to kiss his cheek as she makes a concentrated effort to keep her voice from becoming too thick with emotion. So far, she's losing the war-- but she doesn't care. It's been much, much too long.]

A few more minutes where I don't have to share you? Sounds like a dream.

[Sometimes, everyone has to be a little selfish.]

[ They have their time together, then Henry goes to see Regina, his grandparents, and finally goes back for Emma and sees Hook. He comes too and they all go through the portal to get Ella and their belongings. Henry's actually glad for the extra help as his wife had some particular ideas on what to bring back with them beyond just clothes and necessities. It's not like they can make multiple trips.

They're finally back in Storybrooke for good and Ella meets everyone in the family at dinner - not at Granny's because large gatherings there end in disaster. For now, they stay at Regina's because it's a freakin' mansion and she has space, and after the baby comes, they'll start looking for a place of their own.

When Ella has their baby girl a month later, modern medicine has her home within a day and Henry makes his way to Emma's with a tiny bundle wrapped in his arms, letting himself in, calling out. ]

Hey, guess who's here to see her grandma?

[ Emma's ears perk almost immediately upon hearing the door open, having been waiting for a chance to see the newest addition to the family ever since Henry had called to tell her that Ella was on her way home from the hospital. She's in the middle of washing a few dishes when he shows up, but she drops the task halfway through without a second thought, grabbing a towel to dry her hands as she goes, heading for the front room. ]

Hey, do I look like a grandma to you--

[ At the very least, she sounds cheerful when she calls back to him, and she lets out a long exhale of breath when she spots him. She smiles warmly, folding her arms across her chest for a moment. ]

This really is surreal. Now I know how Mary Margaret and David felt.

[ They'd been grandparents before thirty, technically. At least Emma had made it past that. ]

I mean, we can always have her call you something else.

[ He smiles and looks down at his baby girl before looking back at Emma. ]

But she is your granddaughter. Mom, meet Lucy.

[ Henry's lightly running his thumb over the blanket she's swaddled in, then nods toward Emma's own slightly rounded belly. ]

They won't be too far apart in age. They'll grow up like siblings.

[Any objection to the title vanishes when she gets her first good look at Lucy, and her hand trails downwards to rest over her own stomach. She's been showing for awhile now, and soon it's going to be even more obvious. Those months before the due date are going to fly by.]

It's wonderful to meet you, Lucy.

[She looks between the two of them, her smile hitching wider as she looks up at her son.]

She looks a lot like you, already. It'll be nice, don't you think? They'll both have someone their own age to play with.

It'll be great. Storybrooke could kind of use a baby boom now that all the kids who were stuck in time are grown up.

[ I mean, I don't know if they are or not or how we get to decide which characters age and which don't, but you know what, whatever. ]

Hey, you wanna hold her?

[ Henry's already shifting to put Lucy into Emma's arms. ]

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