Chapter Text
After the investigation had been declared cold, there had been an uproar. Most residents of Storybrooke could not fathom that their beloved monarchs could not be found. Nevertheless, time continued to march on and the world began to right itself around the absence.
Emma and Regina adopted Neal quickly. They also promptly renamed him Daniel, as the name Neal held too many painful memories. Emma chose the name Daniel, as a way to honour the memory of Regina’s past loves. In time, Storybrooke forgot that there was ever a time when the child wasn’t named Daniel.
Years began to pass and before long, Daniel was two years old. He was precocious, and always getting into trouble with his older brother. Soon after his second birthday, there was a knock at the door. Daniel, perpetually curious, scrambled to the door and jerked it open. He stared up at the two worn and tired adults before him. The woman knelt down and smiled.
“Hi, sweetie. Can you get Regina for me?” she asked.
Daniel blinked up at her. He didn’t know who Regina was, but maybe one of his moms did. “Mama!” he shouted.
The woman in front of him began to tear up, and she reached out for Daniel. Just as she was to pick him up, Emma came to the door and scooped him out of her arms.
“Snow,” she acknowledged simply.
Snow frowned. “Is that any way to greet your mother?” she asked, irritated. Emma adjusted Daniel’s position on her hip and rolled her eyes. “I wouldn’t know,” she said. “I’ve never had one.
Snow pouted as Daniel buried his face into Emma’s shoulder. “I need to talk to Regina,” she insisted. “I think she had something to do with how your father and I ended up in Neverland.”
Emma sighed. “Fine. Come in and remember to take off your shoes,” she said, and stepped aside. Daniel wriggled down from her hip and scrambled to the living room where his toys were. Snow pushed past Emma into the house, but David stayed at the door for a moment.
“It’s good to see you again,” he said, and awkwardly outstretched his arms to give Emma a hug. She leaned in quickly, but they separated just as fast and led him inside, where Snow was glaring at Regina.
“You horrible witch,” she was saying, “first you take my daughter, now my son! Have you no mercy?”
Emma and Regina snorted simultaneously. “Please,” Regina scoffed. “You abandoned Emma in a closet. I hardly took her from you.”
Snow practically stomped her foot. She glared petulantly at Regina, but continued on. “And what about Neal? Why is he here, of all places?”
Emma resisted the urge to smack her forehead. “Because Regina and I live together and you and David were presumed dead. Who else was going to take Daniel in?” she asked rhetorically.
“I don’t know, what about Granny? She could have taken him in, or you could have—” Snow cut her rant off, ”did you just call him Daniel?” she asked, furious.
Emma and Regina glanced at each other, silently fighting over who would explain. Eventually, Emma sighed and turned to Snow. “You were presumed dead. Both of you were. Regina and I adopted Daniel after that and we decided to rename him. Neal is–was–someone who ruined my life. That’s not a legacy we wanted our son to carry,” she explained evenly. Daniel toddled over to her and hugged her leg.
Snow gaped, practically seeing red. “You renamed him?! We chose Neal for you! You’re the one that told us how much of a hero he was,” Snow practically shrieked.
Daniel covered his ears, tears filling his eyes. Regina got out of her chair, revealing her swollen stomach, and crouched down beside him to the best of her ability. She rubbed his back and held him close. “It’s okay, honey, it’s okay,” she whispered repeatedly.
David grabbed Snow by her hand and dragged her out. She was still ranting and raving as he pulled her out of Emma and Regina’s home. He waved goodbye and slammed the front door shut behind them.
Emma picked Daniel up and brought him to the large couch in the living room. He sobbed in Emma’s arms, confused and frightened. He had no clue who Snow was outside of the stories Emma, Regina, and Henry had told him and as far as he knew, a strange woman had walked into his home just to yell at his Mama.
Emma rocked him back and forth, attempting to soothe his hiccuping sobs. Eventually, he cried himself to sleep. Emma took him to bed and tucked him in, then stopped by Henry’s room.
“How are you doing, kiddo?” she asked. “I know that was a lot.”
Henry shrugged. “Honestly, I’m not too surprised. They’ve been gone for two years, no wonder Snow went cuckoo,” he said. “I just feel bad for Daniel. He’s not gonna handle this well, and he’s so young.”
Emma sighed and ruffled Henry’s hair. “You’re a good kid, you know that? And you’re a good older brother. Let your mom and I worry about Daniel, okay?” she said.
Henry nodded reluctantly. “Okay, mom,” he mumbled.
Emma ruffled Henry’s hair again and left his room. She returned to the living room, where Regina is staring blankly at the TV, which is playing Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Regina is sitting cross-legged on her armchair, her fingers lightly tracing her pregnant stomach. There were already tears in Regina’s eyes.
Emma rushed forward and turned off the TV. She sat down on the arm of Regina’s chair and hugged her close. “Hey. What’s up?” she asked.
“Am I as horrible as…” Regina’s breath shook, “as her?” she asked, referring to the version of herself who had just been on the television screen.
Emma pressed a kiss to Regina’s hair. “No, honey. You’re a good mother to Henry, to Daniel, and you’ll be a good mother to our girl as well. I don’t care what Snow said,” she whispered into Regina’s scalp.
Regina nodded and gently tapped her fingers on her swollen stomach, nervous. “But–” she started.
Emma cut her off. “But nothing. Go get on the couch with a blanket. I’ll get some popcorn and we’ll watch But I’m a Cheerleader, okay?” she said. It was not a question.
Regina nodded and kissed Emma quickly, then did as Emma said. She pushed herself out of her chair, grabbed the fluffy blanket on the back of the couch, and settled down to wait for Emma and the snacks.