Pearl of the Isle

Chapter 10

"Emerald we should just leave." Regina started as Emma pulled away from her heading for the door.

"No we can't doll. If he's sent some kid after me to get at you and me both then he's got a damn good reason for it. It's best if we get out of all of this before we leave or he'll hunt us down like dogs."

"He's going to do that anyways." Regina pointed out softly not moving.

Silence descended on the little room, the only noise the fan blades whirring around above them. Dust flew through the air kicked up by the moving air as the blonde gumshoe finally turned towards her moll.

"What do you want me to do Regina?" She finally asked.

"I want us to leave tonight." Regina's voice was firm.

"You think you can get away tonight?"

"I know I can. Meet at the Black Butterfly. Gold will be there doing some work. Your favorite bartender will be there. He'll let me out the back if I ask."

"I can't be seen going in or out. It'll be on you to get out."
"Just meet me out back with the iron and then we'll blow this joint." Regina's arms went around Emma's neck before she leaned in pretty red lips meeting full pink ones.

"If you're sure," Emma murmured studying the pretty brunette.

"I'm positive Emma."

Waiting sucked, Emma decided leaning against the iron and smoking a blunt for a change of pace. She sighed blowing out smoke as she tilted her head back looking up at the smog covered sky. She'd miss this place for all its stink and horrible people. The underbelly had been her home for so long she doubted she'd know what to do when she and her love finally reached the light.

She threw down her bold smashing it with the heel of her boot before straightening up. The lights were dim back here, nothing but the dumpsters and strays waiting so why bother lighting it up? She heard a commotion before the door pushed open and striding towards her in all her glory was the doll of her dreams.

Emma smiled her arms sliding around the beauty's waist as she pulled her close for their first true kiss in freedom. She felt arms slip around her neck holding on tightly as the kiss grew more passionate. "It's time to go love. Are you ready?"

"More than ready," Regina assured her, her kiss smudged red lips turned up in a smile.

"Let's go." They both turned and stopped dead in their tracks.

Standing in front of them with a small handgun aimed at them was none other than the little boy that started this whole mess.

"So my father was right. You two were going to run off with his jewels." Henry murmured his eyes narrowing as he glared hard at them both.

Emma carefully stepped forward tucking Regina behind her to shield her. "What do you want kid?" She asked.

"I want my father's money and I want you to acknowledge me."

"Acknowledge you? Kid I don't even know who you are." The gumshoe stared at the boy who's mouth was set in a hard line.

"Why did you leave this life?" He asked. "You were young, barely able to keep a roof over your head but you still left even though you know he'd have helped you."
"What are you talking about kid?" Emma asked breathing out slowly as the child blinked back tears, his hard eyes glaring into her own.

"Ten years ago Belle left my father. Ten years ago the night it happened he called you. You were always his favorite, he liked your spirit. You came over at his behest. A few months later you found out you'd gotten more than you bargained for that night."

Emma narrowed her eyes, "So what? So you know my history."

"I know your history because when you got out you were pregnant…with me."

Regina gasped behind Emma clutching her tightly. Emma watched the little boy waving the gun around as he spoke.

"So why then after working so hard to get out did you just give me up…mother?"

"I…" Emma trailed off staring at the angry eyes of the child.

"She wanted to give your best chance." Regina said softly causing the little boy to look up at her and set his jaw.

"If she wanted to give me my best chance she should've handed me over to my father!"

"If I'd done that then you would've turned out just like this and this is the last thing I wanted for you." Emma spoke softly watching the glimmer of hope in the little boy's eyes. "You were so small and perfect and I loved you more than anything. I knew on the run from this life like I was I couldn't provide for you the best life had to offer and that's what I wanted for you. I didn't want you to become a killer like me."

"You didn't?" The gun was slowly lowered as he stared up at the two women.

"Of course not; you're my son. I wanted you to be happy and taken care of above anything else." Emma felt the silent tears begin to track down her cheeks as the child stared up at her.

The small handgun fell to the ground with a loud clink and the little boy moved towards them. Emma found herself kneeling down, her arms opening as she swept the petite boy she hadn't even realized was her son up into her arms.

The first time she'd held him, he'd been so small. She could vividly remember that night, the smell of alcohol and the heart monitor beeping beside her head. The steady drip of the IV and there in her arms the small bundle of warm pink flesh and bright eyes. He'd been a beautiful baby and with his little flailing arms and open toothless mouth which he had opened to yawn a few times. Being born after all is hard work. She'd fallen head over heels in love with him and because of that she knew she had to do what was right.

That's why she knew she had to do the right thing for him. She had to give him his best shot at a happy life. He'd cried when the nurse had taken him and she in turn had sobbed her eyes out alone and handcuffed to the bed. She'd never told anyone about the son she'd given up. She hadn't even fully intended to tell Regina. She held her son and glanced up when she felt a soft hand land on her shoulder. She smiled up at Regina as the beautiful woman smiled back at her with such adoration.

"Well this is a touching scene. Mother and son reunited at last." A soft lilting voice spoke.

Emma tensed looking up and her mouth fell open in shock.

"Graham?" She asked sliding to her feet and pushing her little boy behind her with Regina who immediately pulled him into her arms and held him close. "What are you doing here?"

"Did you really think he'd let you two just get away like this?" Graham asked stepping into the little light above the darkened alleyway. "Did you really think he'd let you make off with his jewels and his moll?"

"He doesn't care about her Graham. You know it as well as I do." Emma stared at him, studying the glinting gun winking in his hand. She cursed silently in her head that the gun Henry had dropped was so far away there was no way she could get to it without Graham shooting her.

"That may be the case but she's still his and you above all else know he doesn't give up what's rightfully his."

"And you're here to stop us?" Emma asked keeping her family behind her.

"Would seem that way wouldn't it?" Graham gave her a small dead smile.

"What do you want from us? The jewelry? What?"

"That would be a good start and her." He pointed with the gun at Regina.

Emma shook her head, "She's non-negotiable. She goes with me and the boy."

"And the boy goes with me and her." Graham sighed, "Ems this doesn't have to be difficult. Hell he may even agree to give you the boy but not her."

"He doesn't get to separate my family Graham."

"You used to consider him family and me too."

"You still are my family." Emma replied to which he cut her off.

"No I'm not Emma. You're leaving with that bitch and the brat. I'm nothing to you you've proven that and after everything Gold and I did for you this is how you thank us?" The normally even tempered man exploded.

"You did a lot for me Graham. When I left that place you were the only one that was there for me. You helped me in ways no one ever had before and I thought you expected nothing from me. You are my brother in every sense of the word and I love you for it."

"Do you know why I helped you back then Emma?" Graham asked still waving the gun around.

The blonde shook her head keeping her back to her family. "No, why?"

"Because I was in over my head; and Gold asked me to. He said if I helped you, kept an eye on you he'd let me out of my debt to him. All I had to do was steer you clear of this place."

"He knew? He knew all this time? About Regina and I? About my son?"

"Did you really expect him not to?" Graham asked shaking his head, "He's willing to go light on you Ems. All he asks is that you hand over the jewels and his moll. You and I can go back to the way things were before. No harm done."

"What about my son?" Emma demanded knowing she wouldn't leave without either Regina or Henry in her possession.

"He's not yours. He belongs to Gold. You know that but he may be willing to give you the boy." Graham repeated his earlier statement.

"And if I try to leave them?"

Graham cocked the gun, the click of the bullet sliding into the chamber audible in the still night air. "I don't like your chances."

"And I don't like yours either." Regina's voice was soft, low and cold.

A few things seemed to happen in the space of a few moments. Graham twisted slightly, a gun shot followed by another fired and a body hit the ground. Emma blinked jade eyes adjusting in the light. Regina during the space of her and Graham's conversation had moved from around them and drew a gun from somewhere. Graham was lying face down on the ground a steadily growing pool of blood oozing out over the grey concrete towards Emma. The former gumshoe looked up watching as Regina calmly holstered the gun in a thigh holder before looking over at the blonde. The two stared at one another as all hell broke loose around them.

6 Months Later:

Emma stepped into the small house smiling as Henry greeted her by the white washed door his ever present storybook clutched in his hands. It was his favorite gift he'd gotten from her and she loved reading the stories aloud to him.

"Hey kid. What'cha been doing?" She asked ruffling his hair.

"Emma is that you?" Regina's appeared in the doorway of the bright kitchen and gave her a warm smile. "Welcome home darling. How was work?"

"It was work. Had to get Mrs. Henson's cat out of the tree again."

"Again? That cat must have a death wish." Regina disappeared back into the kitchen as her son and her lover both followed after her.

"What is that delicious smell?" Emma asking sniffing the air.

"Mom made lasagna Ma." Henry answered easily grinning over at his blonde mother.

"My favorite," Emma rubbed her hands together ready to go after her favorite meal with a vengeance.

"Hence why I made it," Regina laughed watching her family. "Out you two; let me cook in peace."

"You'll call us when it's ready…right?" Emma asked shifty eyed.

"No Em, I'm going to eat all this lasagna by myself." Regina rolled her eyes smoothing her hands over her apron. She looked so beautiful with her now longer hair and short simple red dress on. She looked like a house wife and Emma found it even more appealing than the beautiful gowns she used to wear back in the days when they'd first met.

"What'cha thinkin' about Ma?" Henry asked as he moved with her to the living room plopping down happily on the cloth couch beside her.

"Just how happy I am Henry. You?"

"Yeah I'm happy too. And so is Mom."

"I love you Henry."

"I love you too Ma. And I love you Mom."

"And I love you both." Regina called from the kitchen with a laugh at their usual ritual.

The Black Butterfly burned down six months after they'd left. Emma had read about it in the paper. Mr. Gold was found guilty of racketeering and sentenced to life. Graham's body had been found suspected of being killed by Gold or his boys but no one was ever convicted. The case remained open and would likely stay that way. Emma hadn't gone to the funeral but honestly she didn't think it was a good idea to show her face back there. It was better if she forget that part of her life and focus instead on the family she had now.

"Hey Ma?" Henry's voice interrupted her thoughts. He was standing in the kitchen doorway looking at her with big eyes.

"What's wrong?" She asked with a smile.

"Dinner's ready. Come on."

Emma smiled watching as her beautiful lover appeared in the doorway. "I hope you'll leave enough so you can take some for lunch tomorrow."

She laughed sliding to her feet, "I doubt it but I'll try."

Embracing Regina and pressing a kiss to her mouth they both laughed as Henry barreled past them with an ewww…gross…as he grabbed for a piece of fresh made garlic bread.

"Henry manners," Regina chimed as Emma pulled away. Emma laughed finally finding the one thing she'd finally sought all her life. A family.

Author's Ending Notes: Ah, another one finished. I'm rather proud of the way this one twisted and turned. It was a blast to write but I'm rather glad not to have it hanging over my head anymore. And honestly I'm a sucker for a happy ending. Originally this one was going to end on a more tragic note but honestly I couldn't write it even if I wanted to. The biggest twist was supposed to be Gold being Henry's father but then something else happened. Yeah I'm not even sure where the hell that came from. Well I hope you enjoyed this little swing into A/U territory. I'm all ready plotting my next story which will be an alternate re-telling of FairyTale Land as we know it and Storybrooke as well. I hope you all will join me when it finally makes it's debut and if you want to check out some of my darker works they're available on my tumblr under the name bellaheat. Hope you guys check those out as well. See you next time! ~Bella