three
“Hi, this is Regina Mills, correct?” the lady on the phone, from the unknown number asked in a gentle voice.
“Um, who is asking?” emma retorted back, not willing to give a stranger personal information (especially personal information of someone whom she is not)
“This is Mal Drake calling from Child Protective Services in New York about Henry Mills.” Emma’s eyes shot open, and she quickly, but silently, made her way to the kitchen out of earshot from the ten year old sitting on the couch watching a movie.
“Ah, yes. This is Regina Mills,” Emma cleared her throat before continuing, “what can I help you with, Mal Drake?”
“We have set up a home in New York, a foster home, for Henry temporarily. I know you were on the fence when we last called about keeping Henry. I know it’s fairly sudden, having a ten year old walk into your life and we just want to make sure that you make a decision fit for the both of you.”
Emma nearly pouted. She had grown a bond with the boy fairly quickly. She thought back to the last conversation she had had with Mal, just last night. Emma had told Mal that she would hold onto Henry until they had something set up for him, but now Emma was regretting that decision. “I-i..” Emma looked over her shoulder to the boy sitting in the next room, a large smile spread across his face and some giggling she could just barely hear. “No, the foster home will not be necessary.” Fuck, what was she going to tell Regina?? “I would like to keep Henry. D-do I need to sign papers or something?”
Mal, clearly with a smile, responded, “He legally is your son, Ms. Mills. You will need to sign one form, just for legal ‘confirmation’ per say, but he is all yours. I’ll have someone come over tomorrow between twelve and five with the paper.” After confirming her address, “That is all, Ms. Mills. Have a wonderful life with your little boy.” the call disconnected.
Emma took another look back at Henry.. “Fuck”
~
Emma was pacing around the living room after Henry went to bed. Regina was supposed to skype within the next couple minutes, and Emma didn’t know what she could say. She did just impersonate Regina, and legally (but illegally) inherit? Adopt? Emma didn’t even know child under Regina's name. What was she supposed to say? “Hey Regina! Hope you’re having fun on your work trip, you’re now legally binded into a contract, and a kid that’s biologically yours from a woman you had a one night stand with eleven years ago because I couldn’t let him go to a foster home, how’s the weather?” she would be lucky if she wasn’t sued and kicked out of the apartment.
Eventually Regina’s call came through, so Emma sat on the couch in her pyjamas with her laptop resting in between her torso and her knees and listened to Regina tell her about her day. And then, Regina asked:
“So.. how’s Henry?”
Emma inhaled a sharp breath “i-Im so sorry. The lady, Mal, called again. But.. Henry looked so scared to go to a foster home.. A-and you know my experience as a child, I can’t put him through that. I mean I know technically it isn't my place, and I know he isn’t my kid, he’s yours, but I just couldn’t send him back. I’m sorry, Gina” the blonde admitted with a shaky voice and looked at the screen with tears blurring her vision of Regina.
“Okay.. don’t worry about it. I’ll be home next week and we can go from there. Thank you, Em, for taking care of him. I don’t think I know anyone else who would take in my ten year old son whom I’ve never met before and care about him the way you do,” and just as emma was about to protest, “And don’t say you don’t, it’s fairly obvious that you do. I don’t know the boy but.. He’s my flesh and blood, I suppose. And you’re my family, so.. We will figure it out when I get back, alright? I love you Ems, take care of yourself and Henry, and eat proper lunch, not just ice cream!”
Emma chucked and promised, wishing Regina good luck on her day ahead of her. After shutting her laptop and sitting alone in the dark, Emma’s mind started to wander to Henry’s other mother. Lily. Emma tried to remember a Lily. once again, she couldn’t. So, her mind wandered off to a memory of regina in their second year of college..
“Hey Ems? I’m going out tonight, the blonde down the hall, we’re going to get some drinks just down at Joe’s, don’t wait up for me. I’ll be quiet when I get back!” Regina had told Emma as she came out of their shared bathroom putting in her second earring, wearing a tight leather mini skirt with a rather high slit, paired with a simple white bodysuit. Meanwhile, Emma was in her sweats wearing glasses and had two textbooks in her hands, about to study for the test they both had the following monday with a bowl of cashews already waiting for her on her own bed.
“I’ll probably still be up, y’know, studying and all that. Something you should be doing too, instead of going out on a date,” Emma said with a twinge of disappointment and jealousy hinted in her voice, turning away from Regina to head over to her bed. Although Regina didn’t quite catch on.
Regina let out a huge, over dramatic sigh “you study waaay too much. Your grades are literally perfect, don’t worry. You’ll ace this test. Maybe you just go out and have fun every once and awhile, maybe even get laid!” the brunette wiggled her eyebrows suggestively at her as Emma turned furiously to look at her.
“I-i do NOT need to get laid, thank you very much! And I have fun. But my definition of fun is definitely not going out in a party scene to get groped by strangers until drunk and stumbling home with a bimbo.” Emma plopped down onto her bed and set the two textbooks off to her side.
Regina rolled her eyes in response “at least I know how to have real fun, and I know the real definition of fun is not reading so.. Have fun being boring, darling! I’m gonna go get me some real fun,” Regina winked as she grabbed her jacket and stepped closer to the door
Emma threw a cashew at her as she was leaving.
Emma spent the next couple hours attempting to focus on the subject she had to learn before the beginning of the week had started, but her mind kept wandering with her certain brunette woman. It didn't help hours later, after Emma had given up on studying Emma had been laying in bed, wide awake when she heard a small thud and some giggles coming from just outside the room. She heard keys jingling and one fitting into the slot. Was she bringing a girl in??
“Nono wait,” Regina giggled and spoke clearly but slightly slurred, “i-i have a roommate.. Sorry,” after a moment (and let's be honest: a lot more making out) the door key was pushed in and turned again. Emma quickly grabbed one of her pillows and switched her position so she faced the wall and not the door. Using the pillow, she cuddled up into it and used it to cover her face slightly. The door shut and heels were kicked off.
“Emma? Regina asked in a soft whisper, wondering if her roommate was still up at this “ungodly” time of the morning.
After no answer, “I love you, Em. Goodnight” just as Regina was crawling into bed.