six
After two days in a holding cell, Emma was finally put into the courtroom on trial. They went through the standard stuff, “We’re here to determine proper custody of Henry Mills, also known as Henry Page, a minor child,” In the city of New York they had Mal Drake from social services and Mr. Gold representing the city of new york. And on Emma's “team”, she had Kathryn, a friend of Regina's, and recently Emma’s, representing her.
They called out their witnesses, representing either side. One of the witnesses was Ruby, who was on Emma's side, expressing that Emma was simply trying to help out a friend who was away and that she was an excellent acting mother to the boy, however that was considered ‘speculation’, which pissed them both off.
Then, there was the ice cream server man down at the park who had ‘witnessed’ them and their bond pretty much everyday as emma brought henry to the park, and he ended his statement with, “If OJ can get away with murder, surely Emma can have her kid,” which rose everyones eyebrows.
And then, the other ‘team’ called on the delivery person, who had met both Henry and Emma merely three times, who had said that Emma and the kid “fit together like lamb and tuna fish,”
Then, Kathryn had called upon Henry to take the stand, and proceeded to ask him questions.
“Where are you from, Henry?”
“I'm from buffalo,” Henry answered quietly, somewhat shy with the amount of people he was in front of.
“And for the past couple weeks you’ve been living with Emma, is that correct?”
He smiled and nodded, “yes”
“Did you and Emma have fun together?” that got another ‘yes’ from the boy.
“What kind of things would you do with Emma, Henry?”
“We played soccer and got ice cream. We even watched Disney movies! And we played with Emma’s friend Ruby. And we went shopping”
Kathryn smiled at the young boy before continuing, “now before you came to Emma’s house, do you remember the last thing your mommy said to you was?”
Henry sat and thought for a minute, as if he was trying to remember before answering, “that she loved me.. A-and that I was going to live with my new mommy,” his voice cracked and tears built up in his eyes
“And if you think your mommy could choose anyone else to be your new mommy, who do you think she would pick?”
“Emma!” he said immediately, no doubt in his voice and a smile reappeared on his face.
Both Emma and Kathryn smiled. “Thank you. You may step down now.” Henry was led out of the courtroom.
“Anyone else, Ms. Swan?”
“I’d like to call upon myself, your honor, and my adoptive father, one of the most respected lawyers in Florida, so i believe if i can make a believer out of him i can make a believer out of anyone in this court.”
The judge sighed, and internally rolled her eyes, just as Mr. Gold stood up. “Objection, Your Honor, this court is after the truth, not the opinion of Ms. Swan’s father.”
“You want my opinion? My daughter’s an idiot!”
“I withdraw my objection, please proceed.” Mr Gold spoke up quickly before sitting back down in his seat, almost as if he was cowaring.
The judge called upon Mr Nolan and Emma headed to take the stand. Reluctantly, he stood up and made his way to the front. “The only reason why I came today was to make sure you didn’t end up in jail for this,” he spoke aloud, “and cut your nails, they are far too long.'' Emma rolled her eyes, but nodded. “Your honor, this case is simple. It is absurd to think that Emma Swan is ready to raise a child.”
“Objection!” Kathryn called out and stood up.
“Shut up, Kat,” David shot back and Kathryn slumped back down into her seat.
“Sorry, Mr Nolan.”
“First of all, how did this sweet young man, Henry, end up under your supervision?” he asked, obviously annoyed with his daughter.
To which Emma plainly answered: “I told social services that my name was Regina Mills.”
“And of course, you are not Regina Mills.” he shot back
“No.”
“So you lied?”
“Yes.”
“Like the time I found a bag of pot in your sock drawer. And you told me that you thought they were pencil shavings.”
Emma shrugged, biting her lip as her cheeks started to flush. “..yeah.”
“Some role models,” David Nolan scoffed. “Your Honor,” he turned to the judge, “my daughter doesn't have health insurance, and she probably doesn't know how to cook an egg. Your Honor, to give this woman custody over another life is not only wrong, it’s insane.”
Emma got tears in her eyes and frowned slightly, as she reached out and touched her father's hand. “Hey.. I love you.”
“What?”
“You don't have to be scared. It's all right.”
“What are you talking about? I’m not scared.”
“If I get custody of Henry, I’ll be his mother. Forever. And that scares you, because you think there's a good chance I might fail.”
“Emma, it’s more than a chance. It’s a certainty.”
“You're wrong, dad. You can be scared that i might get pickpocketed in a bad neighbourhood, or i might break my leg skiing, but don't be scared about me being a mother because i will not fail at that. I can't. I love this kid too damn much. I love him as much as you love me, dad. And i'm gonna give him advice and I'm gonna guide him. And I'm gonna be there for him whenever he needs me. I’ll fly to New York to be at his court case, even if I disagree with why he’s there in the first place. And don’t worry about me making money..” she chuckled, “i’m in love with a beautiful woman who makes a ton of it, she’ll be my sugar mama,” she said jokingly, “I know this is the right thing to do, dad, because i would die for the kid, just so he wouldn't have to feel an ounce of sadness. That’s why you're here right now, to protect me, to be scared for me, to be a good father. And that's exactly what i’m gonna be. Well, a good mother, not father. “
“Your honor,” David spoke up after a moment of silence, “my daughter deserves this kid.”
Emma looked up at him with adoration and tears in her eyes. She carefully stepped out of the standard wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him in for a hug. When she pulled back, the judge banged her gavel and Henry poked his head through the door.
“Ms Swan, the fact is you kidnapped this child. Not only shouldn’t you get custody, but since you obtained the child by defrauding the state of New York, you should be in jail. Bailiff, please repremand her until i can figure out the punishment.”
Just as Emma was being placed into handcuffs, a voice spoke up from the back of the courtroom. “Wait,”
The person attached to the voice stood up and stepped forward, “you can’t take her away. As that boy's mother I refuse to press charges.”
Small gasps were heard around the courtroom as Regina stepped forward again.
After a moment, the judge spoke up, “Mr. Gold?”
He stood up, clearly in shock along with everyone in the courtroom, “i.. Pending a blood test, i.. Yeah.” he sat back down in his chair.
“Then the court grants custody to Regina Mills, pending a positive DNA test result.”
“Noooooooooo!” a young voice was heard as henry mills ran down the aisle and towards Emma, jumping into her arms. Emma wrapped her arms protectively around the boy, holding him in a secure hold as regina, and everyone else in the court watched. “I want you to be my mom, Emma.” a single tear ran down his cheek.
“I know kid, I do too. But Regina is your mom, and I'm sure you’ll love her,” she whispered back, and most people started to file out of the courtroom, giving the main personnel privacy. “Sometimes things don't work out as well as we hope it does, but i'll tell you what. No matter what, I can always be your friend, and I'll always be your family. I'll always be around..” once Henry let go of Emma, Regina spoke up once again.
“Wait.. Emma?” Emma looked up and smiled at her best friend, and pulled her in for a hug.
“I missed you while you were away..” Emma whispered shyly as they pulled away.
“Is what you said true? About the money.. A-and love?” Regina asked in the smallest voice Emma had ever heard. The blonde moved one hand up to cup Regina’s cheek and chuckled.
“I’ve been in love with you for like, a decade,” Emma breathed out, standing in Regina’s arms, one hand on the brunette's soft cheek and the other on her waist.
“Just a decade, darling?” she let out a small, breathless giggle, “I’ve been in love with you since the second you walked into that dorm room,” Regina told her, leaning in for a kiss.