Chapter Text
Evie sobbed under the big, warm covers of hee bed—clutching the dolly her mommy had made her close to her chest. Trying in vain to be quiet.
She didn’t succeed however, because she heard her mother at her door. “Evie? Are you okay, sweetie?”
That just made the little bluenette sob harder.
Regina opened the door. “Oh, sweetheart. What happened?” She sat on the bed next to Evie, rubbing circles on her back.
“M-Mal is still scary!”
Regina frowned. “Maleficent’s kid? Why is she scary?” She vaguely remembered Ursula bitching about how mean Maleficent’s spawn had been to hers, but she’d honestly only been paying half attention.
“Cause… cause her mama made me and mean mama stay inside forevers cause mean mama didn't invites her to my party.”
“...what?” None of that made any sense. Then again, nothing from the world that the kids came from seemed to make sense.
“My other mama didn't invites Mal to my’s birthday party and then Mal’s mama ban-ban-is–banned us from leavings da castle.” Evie sniffled. “I don't wanna stops goin’ to school again!”
Regina closed her eyes. Why didn’t the adults in that place act like adults? “Princess, you don’t have to stop going to school. None of that shi–stuff, matters here.”
Evie rubbed her eye, still sniffling but finally looking at her. “But.. but her mama ruleds the isle.”
Regina waved her hands around. “Look around you. Does this look like the Isle?”
“No… but Mal can still hurteds me.”
“Not while I’m alive.” Regina narrowed her eyes at the mere thought of someone hurting her baby girl. “Or your father. Or Henry. Or Auntie Zelena. Or the Charmings, now that I think of it. A lot of people.”
Evie laid her head in Regina's lap, hugging her doll tighter as she smiled weakly at her.
CJ turned out to like school, funny enough.
Harriet didn't care about it still but wasn't complaining.
And Harry.
Well, Emma was starting to regret sending him to school because he had sobbed the entire way home and it didn't look like he was going to stop anytime soon.
“Harry, baby, it’s going to be okay.” Emma was attempting to soothe him, knowing damn well that if Killian saw Harry crying, he’d march right down to the school and demand to know what kind of operation they were running.
He clung to her, burying his face in her leg.
She still didn't know what had happened.
He'd been the only one even remotely excited for school, damn it.
“Haaaaarry.” Emma gently played with his hair, trying to comfort him.
He just hiccuped, tiny fists gripping the fabric of her jeans.
She glanced at the girls for help. “Can either of you tell me what happened?”
Harriet shook her head. “I haven't seen him all day.”
CJ, on the other hand, looked gleeful. “Some boys biggerer than ‘Ette saids somethin’ to him on the plays-ground!”
Emma looked down at Harry. “Oh, they did? I’m sorry, Harry. What did they say?”
He shook his head, hiccuping.
Then CJ chimed in again. “Oh! And their mommy works at da school!”
Harry’s crying started up again at the mention of that.
Emma sighed. “Did the boys get in trouble?” She had a feeling the answer was ‘no,’ but it didn’t hurt to double check.
“Nope!” CJ said, before going back to playing with her backpack.
“Mom? Do you want me to take CJ upstairs?” Harriet asked, frowning in frustration but wanting to be helpful in some way.
“Yes, thank you Harriet.” Emma shot her daughter an incredibly grateful look.
Harriet didn't need any more prompting than that.
Harry whimpered.
“Harry? Baby, can you look at me?” Emma sat down on the floor, so she could look Harry in the eye.
He did so unhappily. Trying to swat the tears out of his eyes.
“Look, it doesn’t matter what those mean boys said, okay? They’re just a bunch of…a-holes, and you shouldn’t listen to a-holes, right?”
“But…” Harry bite his lip, hard. Unsure if he should bring up what they'd told him—he didn't want to upset his mama.
“No ifs, ands, or buts about it!” Emma booped him on the nose.
“... So Daddy's not gonna hurts me?”
Emma froze, and had to stop herself from physically recoiling. “What?”
“Karen’s brother saids daddy was gonna hurts me because he's a filthy pirate who hates little boys and girls, and likes hurting people.” He rubbed at his eye some more.
Now more than ever, Emma needed to have a chat with this kid’s parents. “Kid…you know your papa. Do you think he’d ever hurt you or your sisters?”
“No… but I didn't think other daddy would either.” He worried his lip some more. “And… they saids he killed Peter Pan, and that you didn't really loves daddy but stays cause you don't wants your mama and daddy to leaves again. They saids he killed his daddy and brother and his mama.”
Emma blinked, wondering what the hell this kid’s parents were on. “Okay, first of all…Gold kill–uh, defeated Peter Pan. Second, Peter Pan was a bad guy, remember Henry’s story? Third, Daddy and I are True Love. Fourth, if I supposedly wanted Grandpa David to stay, I would have married someone who’s not a pirate. Fifth, or sixth, whatever, Grandma Alice died because she was sick, and Uncle Liam I died in Neverland.
Harry listened carefully to what she was saying. “But… but if they was lyin then…”
“Then what, love?” She started gently stroking his hair again.
“Then why dids Mrs. Kingston take away all my gold stars?” Harry leaned into her touch, hunching in on himself slightly. “And why'd she say I have to x-cept da facts, wither I likes ‘em or nots?”
“...I’m gonna let you say one swear word today, okay? It’s because she’s a bitch.”
Harry gasped. And then, after a moment, he giggled. Hugging Emma tight.
“I love you, kiddo.”
Harry just rested his head against her hip, hugging her a bit tighter but saying nothing.
The house was quiet except for CJ’s echo-y laughter when Killian got home.
That was never a good sign.
“Calista Jane…” Killian called out into the house.
“I didn't do nothin’ this time!” His four year old protested.
Not believing her, Killian kicked off his shoes and went to go find her. “Where are you, my little sea otter?”
“In da kitchen!”
Uh oh. That did not bode well. He quickened his pace.
Once he entered the kitchen, he saw CJ having a tea party with her stuffed animals and the family pets at the table—a sleeping Harriet and Henry next to her. Emma and Harry were nowhere to be seen, and neither were the twins.
Relieved that nothing was on fire, Killian relaxed. “Oh. That’s a lovely tea party you’ve got there, love.”
“Thank you!” Cj beamed, before going back to her tea party.
“Where’s Mummy and Harry?” Killian manuvered his way past the stuffed animals, trying not to wake Harriet and Henry.
“Harry crieds a lot so mummy took him to bed.”
“Right. Well, if you don’t mind, I am going to take Harriet here off to bed as well, but when I get back, do you mind if I join you?”
“I don't mind! I would love you here!”
Emma didn't come down stairs even as the hours stretched on by.
Neither did Harry.
Killian had shooed Henry off to bed when he awoke half way through the remainder of CJ’s tea party, knowing that he needed the sleep and around dinner time, Harriet came clambering down the stairs. School bag in hand.
“How was your nap, little love?” Killian asked in way of greeting.
Harriet yawned. “Good, daddy. Sorry I fell asleep before you gots here.”
“That’s quite alright, love. Will you be rejoining us for CJ’s…rather long tea party?”
Harriet shook her head, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. “I need ta look over what the papers at school gave me. What's for dinner?”
“Probably chicken nuggets, but I’d have to confer with your mother and brothers.” Killian got up from the dining room chair, wincing at the sounds his knees made. “Who I should probably go check on right now, unless you needed help with your school work, H?”
Harriet shook her head. “I'm fine, daddy. Thank you.”
Emma stared down sleeply at Harry, who was still out cold—face buried into her side.
The door to the bedroom opened very slowly, and Killian poked his head through. “Hello, love.” He whispered, slowly closing the door shut behind him.
“I'm sorry. I didn't mean to fall asleep.”
“Quite alright, love.” He sat down on the edge of the bed, trying to not disturb Harry. “Had a long day, did we?”
Enma nodded quietly, running a hand through their son's hair. “We…may have a problem to deal with at the school; Harry was very upset when he came home.”
Killian winced. “Uh-oh. Did he tell you what happened?”
“Some kids…told him some very mean lies that scared him. But I set the lies straight and he doesn't believe them anymore.” Emma hoped that was enough to ease his worry.
It wasn’t. “What lies? What kinds of lies would make the lad cry like that?” His brow furrowed in worry.
The blonde grimaced, saying nothing. Because how could she tell her husband that someone had used lies about him to hurt their son?
Killian read between the lines, however. “Something about me? About…my past?”
“It doesn't matter. He knows they were lying.” Emma couldn't lie to him. Not about this.
He swallowed hard, but nodded. “Alright. Can I join you two for some snuggles?”
“Of course.”
Harry chose then to shift in his sleep, closer to Killian. “See? Your little mini-me has no protests.” Emma laughed slightly, a fond look on her face.
“Well, who am I to deny our little lad what he wants.” He layed down next to Harry, sandwiching him between himself and Emma.
He could worry about what was said tomorrow.
Knock.
KNOCK.
KNOCK!
The knocking at Snow’s classroom door was incessant, which worried her. She quickly half jogged from her desk to the door and wrenched it open.
To find a very irate looking kindergarten teacher— Cj’s kindergarten teacher, Ms. Thrushbeard, to be exact—and her third youngest grandchild. Who looked very pleased with herself, despite the fact her hair was a mess.
“Oh, hello Hildegard.” Snow smiled as politely as she could.
The blonde scowled, pushing Cj towards her. “Take your demon spawn this instance!”
Snow’s polite smile faded. “What did you just say?”
“You heard me! I don't know how you can handle such a…vile… child.” At this she shot the five year old a glare.
Cj didn't seem bothered in the slightest as she fiddled with a bottle cap.
Snow however, was very much bothered. “How dare you use that language about a student! Much less a kindergartener!”
“She attacked another student and got the rest of my class filthy! You need to tell your daughter to get her under control.”
Now that seemed to bother Cj.
The little blonde scowled. “Don't be mean to my mama!”
“Shh. The adults are talking.”
Snow resisted the urge to facepalm. “Repercussions for bad behavior do not include verbal abuse, Mrs. Thrushbeard.”
“Just take her. I don't want to see her for the rest of the day!”
“Fine!” Snow snapped, gently grabbing CJ and pulling her behind herself. “The principal will be hearing about this. I’d be surprised if you had a job by the end of the week.”
“I'll be surprised if she's still here by the end of the day.” Mrs. Thrushbeard snapped back.
Cj watched her go with a scrunched nose. “She's just mad ‘cause she's friends with Mrs. Kingston and likes her meanie kids.”
Snow tried not to snort. “You’re not out of the woods yet, little miss. What was this about attacking another student?”
CJ crossed her arms. "Kyle deserved it for making Harry cry!"